Expected and Prepared
Series: Holy Living in a Hostile World
June 23, 2024
Frank Foreman
1 Peter 4:12, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ————— Life would just be so much easier if we didn’t have to deal with problems; if we could avoid suffering at all costs. In fact, most of us, given the option would pray for such things to be removed from our lives rather than having to deal with them. ————— While that all sounds good, it is unrealistic. In his book, Eating Problems for Breakfast, author Tim Hansel wrote about dealing with problems in life, “Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy.” In short, pain, difficulty, and suffering are going to happen, what if we prayed instead for the strength to endure such things and for joy in spite of them. It might radically change the way we face each day. We wouldn’t have to go out of our way to seek out suffering, but we could be better prepared for dealing with it. ————— Hansel went on to say, “One of the ways that our faith expresses itself is by our ability to be still, to be present, and not to panic or lose perspective. God still does his best work in the most difficult of circumstances.” Join us Sunday as Frank shares from 1 Peter 4 about this very concept of expecting suffering and being prepared to respond to it, so Christ might be glorified through our circumstances.
Episode Notes
Big Idea: Expect suffering and be better prepared to respond.
1st Peter 4:12, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1. Rejoice in suffering for the sake of Christ.
1st Peter 4:13-14, But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
- We suffer for the sake of Christ when the hatred that struck Him… Strikes us because of Him.
Matthew 5:10-12, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2nd Corinthians 12:9-10, But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2. Evaluate the reason for your suffering.
1st Peter 4:15-18, But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God? And. “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
- When we suffer for our own shameful choices… We have no right to complain or expect the Spirit’s comfort.
Philippians 4:6-7, …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1st Corinthians 11:30-32, That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Next Step: Entrust suffering to God and keep on doing good.
1st Peter 4:19, Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
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