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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
April 2, 2023
Suffering According to the Will of God
1 Peter 4:12-19
Introduction
This past Monday, a mentally / emotionally disturbed 28 year-old woman who self identified as a man violently broke into a private Christian school in Nashville, TN , The Covenant School, and murdered three adults and three 9 year old children before Metropolitan Nashville Police officers who placed their own lives as extreme risk eliminated her. As of the time of the writing of this sermon, the manifesto left by the murderer had not been released, but Police Chief John Drake did reveal that the school was targeted with “a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place” and he did say that the investigators believe the killer had “some resentment for having to go to that school,” which she had 17 years earlier when she was 11 years old. We can be thankful that the police took quick action to eliminate this killer before she could murder even more people.
All of that is bad, very bad. Yet, I find even more disturbing the reaction to this by many in the main stream news media which seems to become more leftist and anarchist all the time. Their attempts to justify the cold-blooded murderer by blaming her actions on others including the victims reveal their own wicked hearts. As usual, leftists, also known as “progressives,” blame the guns instead of the shooter. Also as usual, they blame conservative Republicans. In this case it is the state government of Tennessee for passing legislation to protect children from being exposed in public and in schools to LGBTxyz propaganda and pornography, and to prohibit those under 18 from being chemically altered and surgically mutilated by a portion of the medical community that is chasing the very lucrative “trans-affirming care” market and has either forgotten or never subscribed to the Hippocratic Oath which includes “do no harm.” They prey on children and scare the parents with threats such as “you can either have a dead daughter or a live son” instead of helping the child work through their gender confusion. And as is becoming increasingly usual, they blame Christians claiming that “trans-phobia” is a cause for people self-identifying as trans-gendered acting violently. In this case, they are blaming the victims, including the three 9 year old children, for the evil actions of the perpetrator.
Frankly, I have never met a Christian who is trans-phobic. We do not fear people who have gender dysphoria. We pity them for we know that the life God had granted them can be so much better than what they are experiencing. We want them to know Jesus Christ and the peace, hope and purpose that comes from having faith in Him. However, after this incident and the promotion of Trans Day of Vengeance” which scheduled 130 rallies in 46 states for yesterday, April 1 – an appropriate day, “April’s Fools Day” – perhaps we and everyone else that is still sane enough to recognize that God has created only two genders, male and female, which is affirmed by science in the chromosomes in every cell of your body, should be very cautious of particular trans groups openly promote violence.
Spiritual War
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee gave a very good response, made even more personal and relevant in that two of the victims murdered on Monday were family friends. Tennessee is blessed to have such a Governor. Among his comments was a reference to Ephesians 6 that our battle is not with flesh and blood but with evil itself. If you want to understand why people do such evil things and such horrible tragedies occur, you must understand that we are in a spiritual war.
We have an adversary known as the devil, Satan, the accuser of the brethren, and the god of this age. He was “the anointed cherub who covers” (Ezek. 28:14) whose elevated pride resulted in his downfall to become the enemy of God. He seeks to usurp God and turn people away from Him in any way that he can. He seeks to keep non-Christians from becoming Christians through cults, false religions, secular philosophies and increasingly even within our own nation, overt occultic and Satanic groups and activities. He seeks to pervert Christians from following Christ properly, to get them to follow the ways of the world, and to destroy us if he can. However, we have confidence based on many Scripture passages including Job, that God is sovereign and Satan cannot do anything to us unless God gives him permission to do so. Therefore, we also know that regardless of what circumstances may befall us and what tragedies we may experience, we are confident that God has a purpose in it that will ultimately be for our good. We believe Romans 8:28 is a promise, not a cliche. God does indeed “cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Other people may intend to do evil against us as did Joseph’s brothers, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20). I will be addressing this spiritual war, Satan and specifics of resisting him when we get to 1 Peter 5:7-8, but for the rest of this morning I want us to turn our attention back to 1 Peter 4.
Review – 1 Peter 4
One of the ways in which Satan tries to move us away from following Jesus as we should is through suffering. Persecution of Christians was rapidly rising in the Roman empire and Peter was preparing his readers to face it and handle it properly. In this section of his letter, Peter points to Christ as the example. Jesus suffered according to the will of God with the result being victory over both sin and death (1 Peter 3:17-22). Based on that, Peter commands them to arm themselves with the same purpose, the same mind set of Jesus. Life is to be lived for God’s will and glory and not our own.
To arm yourself is the language of warfare for it refers to the soldier putting on his armor and picking up his weapons. These will be used both defensively against the lusts of men and ways of the world and offensively in striving to live in righteousness. We have covered being armed in the last two sermons in this series.
You are to no longer participate in the ways of the Gentiles of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. You have to be prepared to lose former friends and even be maligned by them because you will no longer participate in their “excess of dissipation,” their sinful ways. We are motivated by the fact that God will judge everyone according to their deeds, the wicked with condemnation for their sins, and those made righteous by God’s grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ to receive rewards in keeping with our faithfulness and service to Him. We have a promise of eternity with Christ that enables us to overcome the fears of present dangers.
In keeping with the fact that the end of all things has drawn near, you are to live in the present with eternity in view resulting in sound judgment and sobriety for the purpose of prayer. You develop a fervent love for other believers resulting in practical expressions of that love which includes protecting each other’s reputation while helping one another deal with personal sin, being hospitable, and serving one another with whatever spiritual gift, ministry and empowerment God has entrusted to you whether it is related to speaking or serving so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
This morning we continue our study with an examination of 1 Peter 4:12-19 which is the focal point of the purpose of this letter. Peter had pointed out in 1:7 that their faith had proven to be genuine by being tested by the fire of suffering due to their faith in Christ. He now points to the fiery ordeal that was among some of them that was refining them. They needed to be prepared for what had started and would continue. This is a passage that is directly applicable to our own time and society as seen in the events this past week. Christians in this nation have suffered at times and had their faith tested, but unless the Holy Spirit brings a spiritual revival for righteousness to our nation, we who are Bible believing Christians can expect more of these direct physical persecutions as well as being maligned and slandered by evil people in the various aspects of our society that hold power and influence – government officials, news reporters and commentators, political groups, educators and entertainers. This is in turn affecting the rest of the society so that local businesses, neighbors and even those we thought were friends join in. This has been demonstrated over and over throughout history, and the responses people had to the fears generated by the Covid pandemic was a dry run of what will happen in the future according to prophecy. This is the reason for the “cancel culture” that has risen in the last few years.
1 Peter 4:12–19. 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Suffering is Not Strange – 1 Peter 4:12
Jewish culture was already accustomed to suffering as God’s chosen people because that had already been occurring for many centuries since oppression started when the new Pharaoh did not remember what Joseph had done for Egypt. For Gentile believers, suffering persecution because you loved God and were striving to follow Him was something new. Peter speaks from a pastoral role to comfort and encourage them referring to them as “beloved.” I find the translations with “dear friends” a bit weak since the word is derived from ajgaph / agapā. These are people that are loved by Peter.
He gives the command to not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among them. Surprise here is the same word he used in 4:4 to describe the astonishment sinners have when their friends who have become Christians no longer join them in their sinful activities. It does not make sense to them. It is as if an alien had replaced their friend. Though such persecution would be a new experience for these Gentile believers, Peter tells them not to be surprised, astonished, shocked, amazed by what was happening as if something foreign had arrived.
Fiery ordeal, puvrwsiV / purōsis, describes burning or the effect of fire such as baking or boiling or the destruction of a city. It is used in Proverbs 27:21 to describe the smelting of gold as a metaphor for testing a person’s character. That is the meaning here as shown by the immediate reference to it being for their testing. It is a trial that would reveal and refine their character as they went through it. Such trials are actually normal for the Christian and God has a purpose for them as expressed in James 1:2-4, 2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In Romans 5:3-11, Paul expresses the same idea that God uses the tribulations that we experience to bring us to spiritual maturity.
Peter makes a general statement that some particular fiery ordeal had arrived and it was affecting some of those among them. Because he ties it directly to sharing in the sufferings of Christ and being reviled for His name, we know it was some form of persecution. Scriptures give many warnings that we who are Christians will be persecuted by the ungodly. Here are few of them. Jesus warned His disciples in John 15:19–21, 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Acts 14 records that when Paul was in Lystra he was stoned and left for dead, but after the mob had left, Paul got back up and went back into Lystra, which I am sure caused quite a stir. Verse 21-22 then records that after Paul & Barnabas had gone to Derbe, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Paul explains in 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4 that he had written to them to strengthen and encourage them in the faith 3 “so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.” Paul warned in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
With these warnings along with so many more as well as the examples of Jesus and the Apostles, Christians should never be surprised when they suffer for the name of Christ and sake of righteousness, yet professing Christians often are surprised. That may be because of living in a society in which open persecution of Christians is very rare as it was in our own nation in times past. Or it could be because they have been told a partial gospel in which all the benefits of believing in Jesus are promoted without any warning of the world’s negative reaction. Troubles and trials are then quite surprising to them since they were falsely led to believe God would keep them from all harm. That becomes an extreme challenge to their faith in God with some walking away because God is not how they imagined.
Rejoice in Suffering for Christ – 1 Peter 4:13
Peter’s second command in verse 13 would be a shock to such people, but it is a comfort to us who do truly have faith in Jesus. 13 “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
As I already pointed out, when a Christian is persecuted by the world it is because the world hates Christ. Those who are worldly and those professing to be Christian but acting like the world will be accepted by the world. It is when you live to reflect Jesus living in you and even more so when you proclaim the teachings of Jesus that the world will persecute you. Jesus’ teachings expose their sinfulness as does your living in righteousness by the contrast, and even sinners who flaunt their sin do not like it exposed for the unrighteous evil that it is. If the society is upholding righteous standards, those not meeting those standards will try to hide their evil. To the degree that a society tolerates unrighteousness, sin will be more openly displayed, and when unrighteousness becomes an acceptable standard within a society, the demand for tolerance becomes a demand for acceptance by all and then a demand for celebration by all. We have seen that happen in our own lifetime in regards to sexual perversions and other forms of ungodliness.
The Jewish religious leaders persecuted Jesus because He exposed their hypocrisy and unrighteousness. Pilate allowed Jesus to be crucified because he lacked the courage to do what he knew was right. When you are persecuted because of walking with Christ, you enter into what Paul called the “fellowship of His suffering” in Philippians 3:10. You are a partner with Christ in His sufferings because the persecution is due to your reflection of Him. The proper attitude when this happens is the same as that of the apostles in Acts 5:41 who left the Sanhedrin after being flogged by them “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer for [Jesus’] name.”
Rejoicing in present suffering for the sake of Christ is then multiplied when Jesus is revealed in His glory when He returns from heaven for then we will “rejoice with exultation,” “be glad with exceeding joy.” Peter uses the same word as he did in 1:8 in greatly rejoicing because of having faith in Jesus. Why will there be such great rejoicing? Because as Paul explains in Romans 8:17, suffering with Christ also means we will be glorified with Him.
The Blessing of Being Reviled for Christ – 1 Peter 4:14
Peter continues this point in verse 14. 14 “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Revile here, ojneidivzw / oneididzō, is more than an occasional insult that may hurt but can be shrugged off. This is to upbraid, scold, harshly criticize, bring reproach against. Jesus uses this word in Matthew 5:11 and Luke 6:22 linking it to persecution. It is used to describe how the mob and the robbers treated Jesus at His crucifixion. This the kind of action that incites others against you and leads to being ostracized, persecuted, and in our uncivil culture, cancelled which can also result in loss of customers or employment. Notice again that it is due to being identified with the name of Christ.
Peter states if this happens to you, you are blessed, which refers to a spiritually prosperous state or condition of life. Peter specifically states here that this blessing is because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. These enable your spiritual reality and attitude to be the opposite of physical and social reality. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, referred to here as the Spirit of Glory and the Spirit of God, is important to us. It is the Holy Spirit that enables you to be joyful in Jesus’ love and content in God’s provision even if other people hate you and your physical circumstances are humble.
Jesus gave additional reasons for being blessed when persecuted at the end of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:10–12, 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Having a great reward in heaven is a reason for looking forward with joyful anticipation of Jesus’ return as Peter has already mentioned. Being equated with the prophets is a great honor in the present. God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things in and through them.
Suffering for the Right Reason – 1 Peter 4:15-16
Peter gives a caution in verse 15 and an encouragement in verse 16. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
Christians may suffer for righteousness, but because we are still in these bodies of flesh and not in heaven yet, we still sin and suffer the consequences. Don’t expect God’s blessing when your suffering is due to your own acts of unrighteousness. Peter gives four examples of sin that can bring suffering. Murder, theft and evil doing are obvious acts of breaking God’s commands. Murder and theft are specific violations while evil doing, kakopoivV / kakopois, is a general term for acting badly, doing evil which would encompass violations of any other law of God. Troublesome meddler, ajllotpiepivskopoV / allotriepiskpos, is only used here and has a literal meaning of overseer of what is not his concern, and so it is also translated as a busybody or troublemaker. This is in the category of being a social nuisance which could bring suffering due to legal action, but more likely it will be suffering in a social context. People do not like others to meddle in their affairs when it does not concern the other person. In 1 Thess. 4:11 Paul instructed them to “lead a quiet life and attend to your own business” and in 2 Thess. 3:11-12 to correct those who were “leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.”
In contrast to the shame that suffering for doing what is contrary to God should bring, Peter tells them to not be ashamed if they suffer as a Christian and instead to glorify God in this name. Acts 11:26 records that sometime in the early 40’s the term Christian was first used by the pagans in Antioch as a label for the disciples of Jesus there. It was meant as a derogatory slur that these people were trying to be “little Christs.” Herod Agrippa II’s use of it about A.D. 60 shows the term had become widely used by unbelievers as a slight, an offense. Peter writing just a couple of years later is telling believers to not be ashamed of the name Christian but to instead glorify God in it. By the beginning of the Second Century, disciples of Jesus had adopted the term Christian as a positive identification for themselves.
The Judgment of God – 1 Peter 4:17
In verse 17 Peter gives another warning of God’s judgment. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
As I have pointed out previously, God’s judgment of Christians is not for rendering punishment for as Paul states in Romans 8:1, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus for He has been judged on our behalf substituting His own life for ours as the redemption price for our sins. Our works will be judged as to whether they will bring reward or not (1 Corinthians 3:12-14). Christians were already suffering because of being judged by the world. God would use that suffering to refine His people into greater holiness, but He will also judge and condemn those who have done such evil against His children for their sins. Peter may have had in mind the prophecies of Malachi 3 in which the sons of Levi are purified and refined first so that they were pleasing to the Lord and then God’s judgment extended to condemnation of sinners.
The rhetorical warning to the unsaved is strong. If God’s people suffer for righteousness as part of His refining process of His children, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel? Paul gives a direct answer in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, 6 “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”
Hopelessness of the Godless and Sinners – 1 Peter 4:18
And if there was any question about what Peter meant, he repeats the point in verse 18. 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Peter is not suggesting that men are saved by their hard, difficult work for salvation from sin is by God’ grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and not by any works of righteousness which we have done (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5). It is so difficult for sinful man to be saved that it requires the intervention of the Holy Spirit to convict him of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11) and making him alive (Eph. 2:5) and the Father drawing him to Christ (John 6:44).
However, since Peter is referring to the righteous, I don’t believe he is referring to initial salvation but rather the working out of it as Paul states in Philippians 2:12 and Peter describes in 2 Peter 1:5-8 in applying diligence, faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in order to be fruitful in the cause of Christ.
If this is difficult for the righteous, it is impossible for the unrighteous which Peter describes here as both godless and a sinner. Godless indicates the person neither loves or worships God. Sinner marks the man as a wicked transgressor of God’s laws. Without Christ, there is no hope for any man. Revelation 20 describes the Great White Throne judgment in which each person will be judged by their deeds and condemned to the second death, the lake of fire, unless their name is in the lamb’s book of life.
Trusting God and Doing Right – 1 Peter 4:19
Peter concludes this section with an encouragement and final command. 19 “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” This is the conclusion of Peter’s lengthy discussion about suffering. In light of all that he has taught concerning suffering including God’s sovereignty in using the evil of others to accomplish His will, then we are to commit ourselves, entrust our souls to our faithful Creator. When we suffer according to His will, then we can be confident that He is using the troubles and trials of life and even unjust suffering to refine His children into greater holiness. For that reason we can yield our lives, present and future, to the God that created us. There is no risk in this because He is faithful, reliable, dependable, trustworthy due to His very nature and attributes. He is loving, merciful, gracious, kind and good, and He has the ability to accomplish His will in carrying out anything and everything He promises because He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and sovereign.
Because we can entrust our souls to our Creator in all circumstances, then we have the basis by which we can continue doing what is right. The Christian life is actually very simple. We don’t worry and fret about the future as unbelievers do. We only have to seek first Christ’s kingdom and righteousness and then rest in His promise He will provide for us. We don’t get bogged down in deep philosophical arguments trying to figure out what should be done. Instead we reject the futile musings of men to take captive every thought to obedience to Christ. We know what is right to do because God has revealed it in His word. We care about other people, but our decisions are based in seeking to know and carry out the will of God instead of satisfying the desires of other people.
Do not despair in the least when you suffer because you are a Christian and pursue a life of righteousness. You remain safe in God’s hands and nothing can separate you from His love in Christ Jesus. Even if the extreme occurred and you would lose your life here, your life will continue eternally in God’s presence. Jesus warned us that in this world we will have tribulation, but we can take courage and have His peace, for He has overcome the world. He will enable us to do likewise.
Sermon Notes – March 19, 2023
Suffering According to the Will of God – 1 Peter 4:12-19
Introduction
Tragic murders
Main-stream News Media response
Christians ________the sexually perverse because we know their lives would be better if they walked with Christ
Spiritual War
The adversary (devil, Satan, accuser of the brethren, god of this age) seeks to _____God & keep people from Him
God is ___________and Satan is limited. God can bring good even out of Satan’s evil – Romans 8:28; Gen. 50:20
Review – 1 Peter 4
Peter points to ____________as the example of suffering according to the will of God & achieving victory
Like a soldier arming himself for battle, arm yourself for ____________warfare
Do not participate in former __________ways of life, remember God is judge & the Christian has eternal life
The ______of all things has drawn near, so have sound judgment & sobriety for prayer & live for God’s glory
We need to be _____________for the fiery ordeal that is present and for those that are coming
Suffering is Not Strange – 1 Peter 4:12
Jewish culture was used to ______________for God, but Gentile Christians were not
They are not to be _____________at the fiery ordeal among them – it is not as if something alien had arrived
Fiery ordeal – in this context, a reference to Proverbs 27:21 – a __________fire – see James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-11
There is a particular fiery ordeal among them that is related to suffering for ___________
A few of the ________of suffering for Christ – John 15:19-21; 16:33; Acts 14:21-22; 1 Thess. 3:2-4; 2 Tim. 3:12
Christians may be surprised because 1) It is _______their frame of reference. 2) They received a ________gospel
Rejoice in Suffering for Christ – 1 Peter 4:13
Peter commanded them to keep _____________if they share the sufferings of Christ
The world hates Christians who live for Christ because the world __________Christ
The _____a society upholds righteous standards the ______it will persecute those who live by righteous standards
Rejoicing in present suffering for the sake of Christ is ______________when He returns
The Blessing of Being Reviled for Christ – 1 Peter 4:14
Revile is more than occasional insult – to upbraid, scold, _________- it is linked to persecution Mt. 5:11; Lk 6:22
Blessed when reviled because the __________of glory and of God rest on you
Blessed because your _________in heaven is great & you are being treated like the prophets – Matt. 5:10-12
Suffering for the Right Reason – 1 Peter 4:15-16
Christians can also suffer because of their own ___. Murder & theft are specific violations and evildoer is general
Troublesome meddler – “overseer of what is not his concern” – a social _____________
We are not to be ashamed of being a “______________” – a derogatory term that became a title of honor
The Judgment of God – 1 Peter 4:17
God does not judge Christians for condemnation (Rom. 8:1), for Jesus has _________the redemption price
Malachi 3 – God purifies and __________His people first and then judges / condemns sinners
2 Thess. 1:6-10 – God will deal out ___________to all who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Christ
Hopelessness of the Godless and Sinners – 1 Peter 4:18
Salvation cannot be earned – Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5, it requires the Holy Spirit’s _____________- Jn 16:8-11; 44
Salvation is to be worked out (Phil. 2:12) and maturity requires ________work (2 Peter 1:5-8)
What is difficult for the righteous is ______________for the unrighteous – Rev. 20
Trusting God and Doing Right – 1 Peter 4:19
In light of God’s sovereignty even in suffering, commit your soul to our __________Creator
God’s character and infinite attributes assure us He will carry out His will & ________His promises in everything
By believing & trusting God, the Christian life becomes a matter of simply knowing & ____________- God’s will
You’re are safe in God’s hands even when you suffer for righteousness – Jesus’ has _____________the world
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help.
Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Write down all the verses mentioned in the sermon and look them up later. 2) Count how many times the word “suffer” is used. 2) Discuss with your parents how to respond when other people treat you badly for doing what is right.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. How should you respond to someone that things they are the opposite gender of what how they were born? Why do people do evil things? Why is our battle not against flesh and blood even when people do evil things to us? What is Satan’s desire? What are some of the ways he tries to carry that out? How does He use persecution to keep people from becoming Christians? To keep Christians from living in holiness? In 1 Peter 4, how does Peter we are to arm ourselves against doing what is wrong? For doing what is right? Why were Gentile Christians surprised that a fiery ordeal had come upon them? Why should Christians not be surprised when they suffer for Christ’s name, for the sake of righteousness? Why then are some professing Christians surprised? How does God use fiery ordeals in a positive way in the life of a Christian? Why did the Jewish religious leaders persecute Jesus? Why do worldly people persecute Christians? Why can Christians rejoice for suffering for Christ’s name? Why will they rejoice even more when Jesus returns? What blessings come to Christians who suffer for the sake of righteousness? Is there any blessing for suffering when it is for doing sin? How was the term “Christian” first used? Why then did disciples of Jesus adopt it as a title for themselves? In what way does God judge Christians? How does God judge unbelievers? What will happen to those that do not know God or disobey the gospel of Christ? Can a non-Christian have hope apart from Jesus? Explain. Why should you trust your soul to God? Why is trust of God essential to continuing to live in doing what is right?
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