In this episode of the Weekday Podcast, Pastor Bobby addresses the reality of trials and their role in strengthening our faith in today's podcast. He highlights 1 Peter 1:7, explaining that trials purify our faith like fire refines gold. Acknowledging the presence of a real enemy, Satan, he encourages listeners to recognize the spiritual battle around them, referencing 1 John 3:8 and Matthew 4:1, where Jesus confronts Satan. Despite the challenges, he reminds listeners that trials can build perseverance and strengthen faith, urging them to resist the devil and trust in God's ability to use difficulties for growth.
Well, hey, friends, welcome to another edition of the Weekday Podcast. As always, man, we're glad you're here today. If this is encouraging to you, if you don't mind, hit the subscribe button within your podcast app. If you're listening to something besides our app, that's a great way to make sure it's delivered overnight, every night, every single weeknight, so that you've got the latest and greatest episode.
Well, today we're talking about trials. And I'll be honest, trials don't seem like a positive thing. But listen to what 1 Peter 1:7 says. It says these trials. So real trials that we're going through will show that our faith is genuine. And he goes on to say, it's being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.
And so think about this. Today we have an enemy. And the enemy, Satan, He's not absent from the story of God. In fact, he's in the middle of it, and he's trying to wreak havoc on God's children. And the reason why this is so important is I was talking to my friend, Bruce, today. Most people don't realize there's a war going on. They don't realize there's a battle. But listen to what First John 3, verse 8 says. It says the reason the son of God appeared was, listen to this phrase. To destroy the works of the devil. To destroy the works of the devil.
Now there's an enemy. The enemy is very real, alive and well, attacking us. But the enemy would love nothing more for us to be skeptics, to act like he doesn't even exist. When people deny his existence, they don't think there's a battle going on. They chalk up his works and his attacks to society or somebody else. Man, he rubs his hands with glee thinking that he's won. The more we doubt the war, and the more we doubt his existence, the more he can work without hindrance.
But think about this. Jesus didn't doubt the reality of the devil. In fact, Jesus strode, went into the into the lands with one goal, to unmask Satan. And he made him the first stop on his itinerary. The Bible says in Matthew 4:1, "Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." And so I just want to encourage you today that there is an enemy and there's an enemy that wants to attack us and and man. I just want to encourage you. Don't allow the attacks to go unnoticed. Scripture reveals that God can, in the middle of those temptations, strengthen us.
In fact, there's times that we're going to be tested, and those are actually times of training and of purification and of strength building. James 1:2-3 says you can even consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Today, don't drop your guard. Don't give in. Resist the devil and allow trials to turn your faith into strength.
Have a great day. We'll see you back here soon.
