Text: Hebrews 12:4-14<\/p>\n
Write on board: SIN DISCIPLINE GOLD<\/p>\n
I. We see and experience problems as we go through life.<\/p>\n
A. Sometimes we wonder why these things happen.<\/p>\n
B. If a person is trying to be good, why doesn’t God protect him from evil?<\/p>\n
II. First, what do we mean by “good”<\/p>\n
A. Technically, only God is good – Luke 18:19<\/p>\n
B. In God there is not even a shadow of darkness – I John 1:5<\/p>\n C. In contrast, we are unable to live without sinning at times – I John 1:8, Romans\n3:23\n D. When we ask “Why me?” we are implying that we have no responsibility for the\nproblems we sometimes face. \n 1. This might be true at times, but I’ve seen people say, “Why am I being\nevicted from my apartment?” Perhaps it is because you are behind on\npaying your rent.\n
2. People tend to ignore or make light of their own responsibilities.<\/p>\n
E. Yet there are times that bad things happen, which are totally out of our control. <\/p>\n 1. Still, we shouldn’t say that these things should not happen because we are\ntoo good to experience them.\n F. One of the things that the Bible teaches us is that sin has consequences – whether\nwe are referring to our own sin or the sins of another.\n 1. Jeremiah lamented that their fathers and sin, yet they still bore the\nconsequences – Lamentations 5:7\n
2. This is not to say they were being punished for the sins of their fathers.<\/p>\n 3. Notice in Jeremiah 31:28-30. God is saying they are suffering for\ncontinuing in the sins of their fathers.\n
4. People so often think they are different – Matthew 23:29-36<\/p>\n
III. Second, what do we mean by “suffer”<\/p>\n
A. When bad things happen to us, we often reflect that we are being punished.<\/p>\n
B. Bad times are not pleasant, but unpleasant times can have benefits – Hebrews 12:4-14<\/p>\n C. When someone desires to run a marathon, is it fun to get out and run many miles\nevery day? In the rain, in the heat, or when you are tired? \n 1. Why do people do it? Because winning a race requires discipline. Making\nmuscles move, even in adverse conditions\n 2. We are in a race for salvation. To reach the finish line, we must exercise\ndiscipline – I Corinthians 9:24-27\n
D. Discipline is not only self-induced, it is also imposed on us to improve us.<\/p>\n 1. We make our children do chores. It is certainly not because we want to get\nout of work. Often we could do it ourselves faster, better, and with less\ngrief.\n 2. Yet, we tell our children they must do their chores, they must do their\nhomework, even when they don’t want to, because it will benefit them –\nProverbs 29:15\n 3. It is done out of love for our children, though the children don’t understand\nit until years later. – Proverbs 13:24\n
E. God disciplines us by the rough times in life<\/p>\n
1. It builds up our spiritual muscles – James 1:3-4<\/p>\n
2. It doesn’t last forever, nor are you the only one facing it – I Peter 5:8-10<\/p>\n
3. We will not be disappointed with the outcome – Romans 5:3-5<\/p>\n
IV. We have begun to address the real issue, “Why does it happen?”<\/p>\n
A. Trials are proof of our faith – I Peter 1:6-9<\/p>\n
1. How do we know we faith until is measured against trials?<\/p>\n
2. Peter thought he would never deny Jesus – Luke 22:31-33<\/p>\n 3. But that very night, Peter did what he thought he would never do – Luke\n22:60-62\n B. Notice that Peter compares our trials to the refining of silver or gold. Zechariah\nreferred to the early persecution of the church as a time of refining – Zechariah\n13:7-9\n
1. Afflictions is a period of testing – Isaiah 48:9-10<\/p>\n
2. Pure gold is not found lying around, waiting to be pocketed. <\/p>\n
a. Rocks containing metals are gathered and crushed.<\/p>\n b. They are layered in charcoal with air blown over them to get them\nfiery hot.\n
(1) The heat breaks down the undesirable elements.<\/p>\n (2) The air oxides them so they easy crumble away or are\nleached with acid solutions.\n c. In these days, it was hard to get fires hot enough to melt melts,\nsuch as gold or silver, so other metals were mixed in and the\nreaction caused a lower of the melting-point – Ezekiel 22:17-22.\nWhat is left behind is dross\n d. Then through a series of steps, the purified metals are separated\nbecause of their different melting-points.\n
3. Even then, the metal is not pure. It has been smelted, but not refined.<\/p>\n a. To get really fine gold, a flux was placed on small wafers of gold.\nThe gold is passed though a hot fire and the non-gold elements\nwould react (oxidize).\n b. An acid bath would removed the oxidized elements, wafer pounded\nout to bring more to the surface and the process repeated.\n 4. What is interesting is that for this to work, the gold had to be heated to a\ntemperature were it almost, but not quite melts. \n a. Too hot, and the gold drips into your coals and you have to start all\nover.\n
b. Too cool and the non-gold elements will not oxidize.<\/p>\n c. As the bar becomes purer and purer gold, the needed temperature\nrises. Ultimately, pure gold doesn’t melt until the temperature\nreaches nearly 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. But impure gold bars will\nmelt at a much lower temperature.\n
C. Recall that the trials we face are to refine us like gold.<\/p>\n
1. At first, we will not be able to handle great tests – I Corinthians 10:13<\/p>\n 2. But as we become purer, the trials must increase if they are going to be\neffective in refining us.\n
3. Consider Abraham.<\/p>\n a. The first trial we read about is God asking him to leave home and\ntravel to a land which God would show him later.\n b. He is then told he would have a child, but then is made to wait 25\nyears for its fulfillment.\n
c. He is then told to sacrifice that child.<\/p>\n d. Each trial was harder than then last, but Abraham came through a\nstronger man of God – Romans 4:17-22\n (1) Notice that it doesn’t say Abraham overcame because he\nhad great faith.\n (2) It says he grew strong in faith. It came by a series of trails.\nAbraham’s faith was refined by God in the fires of adversity.\n
D. We should not think that being tested is some strange, unusual thing – I Peter 4:12-13<\/p>\n
V. Sufferings, bad times, trials are not going to disappear<\/p>\n
A. Some will be due to our own flaws – the consequences of our sins.<\/p>\n
B. Some will be there to discipline us – to keep us on the strait and narrow<\/p>\n
C. Some will be there to refine us like gold.<\/p>\n 1. The scary part is that refinement means we are able to handle more\nresponsibility and are therefore more accountable.\n
2. The trials to refine us will become greater as God seeks to perfect us.<\/p>\n D. God never gives us something we can’t handle, but it means we can expect harder\ntrials as our life progresses.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Based on a lesson developed by Darrell Hamilton Text: Hebrews 12:4-14 Write on board: SIN DISCIPLINE GOLD I. We see and experience problems as we go through life. A. Sometimes we wonder why these things happen. B. If a person is trying to be good, why doesn’t God protect him from evil? II. First, what…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32],"tags":[182,188],"class_list":["post-20392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-suffering","tag-trials"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48958,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/sometimes-theres-no-applause\/","url_meta":{"origin":20392,"position":0},"title":"Sometimes There\u2019s No Applause","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 17:7-10 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What do you do when no one pats you on the back? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You work hard, yet no one seems to notice your effort. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Why clean when you know the kids are just going to make a mess of it in a short\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63768,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-become-a-christian\/","url_meta":{"origin":20392,"position":1},"title":"Why Become a Christian?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Revelation 3:14-22 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many here are Christians. You've been Christians for a number of years. Do you remember why you became a Christian? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many people have never chosen Christ. There are some here who have yet to obey the Gospel's call. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Why do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":48025,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/things-to-remember\/","url_meta":{"origin":20392,"position":2},"title":"Things to Remember","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There are so many things to remember! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Need to tie a string around my finger, but then I wouldn\u2019t be able to bend it \u2013 there would be so many strings tied there. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then there are organizers: paper and electronic, for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":46549,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/open-my-eyes-that-i-might-see\/","url_meta":{"origin":20392,"position":3},"title":"Open My Eyes That I Might See (Sermon)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 5:11-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Discerning good - Hebrews 5:11-14 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I can understand a person not recognizing evil, but how does a person miss good? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The topic under discussion was seeing that Jesus was like Melchizedek \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This was something needful and good \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But the audience could not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63774,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-is-evil-allowed\/","url_meta":{"origin":20392,"position":4},"title":"Why Is Evil Allowed?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 8:6-13 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It has happened again. Incomprehensible horror has struck to kill innocent children. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But we want to know why? Why did it happen? Why couldn\u2019t it be stopped? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019ve seen guns blamed, drugs blamed, psychological problems blamed, schools blamed, and, yes, even God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63708,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-makes-a-good-ruler\/","url_meta":{"origin":20392,"position":5},"title":"What Makes a Good Ruler?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 29, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel 4:8-27 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Accepting the idea that Christians should vote when their government gives them the opportunity to do so, the question then turns to whom should we vote? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Far too often we are presented with choices where it appears we must choose between the lesser\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20392\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}