Rejoicing In Suffering - [1 Peter 4:12-19]

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Well, you know this this may come to surprise to as a surprise to some of you, but this world is
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Cruel all you have to do is turn on your TV, and you get that Paternity tests announcements of infidelity that passes for entertainment these days and There's a lot of money to be made in exploiting the pain and suffering of others
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Again, all you have to do is look at the Kind of what we call entertainment
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Walk by some of the magazines that are for sale and see how they exploit The emotional pain that many are going through But to be frank.
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I mean if we get right down to it. That's pretty small potatoes It's one thing to be embarrassed or to have your suffering broadcast to millions of couch potatoes
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But in the big scheme of things it's pretty insignificant
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Consider the suffering and even the martyrdom of Christians in the first century
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Begins of course with in the book of Acts Acts chapter 7 with the stoning of the
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Apostle Stephen later in the book of Acts Paul called
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Stephen Jesus is martyr and Acts 22 verse 20
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However, the history of Christian martyrs does not end with Stephen's death It goes on and on and on even till today, but let's go through some of The Christians put to death in the first century many of them
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Jesus very close disciples some of them Apostles James the son of Zebedee was beheaded this is all according to history and tradition
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Was beheaded in approximately 44 AD Philip crucified in 54
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AD Matthew Was killed with a halberd, which is an axe like weapon in 60
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AD James the half -brother of Jesus was beaten to death Matthias was beheaded
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Andrew was crucified Mark was torn to pieces Peter was crucified upside down Jude Bartholomew and Thomas were also martyred
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Paul suffered martyrdom in Rome where he was beheaded Other early leading
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Christians Luke Barnabas Timothy and Simon were also killed for the sake of Christ on and on and on it goes and We worry because somebody calls us a
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Jesus freak. I would invite you to open your Bibles to first Peter Chapter 4 verses 12 to 19 as we continue
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Our glacial pace, I mean it seems like I'm going super fast, but I'm not because you know
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We've been at this for almost a year now first Peter chapter 4 verses 12 to 19
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Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes beloved Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you
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Which comes upon you for your testing as Though some strange thing were happening to you, but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ keep on rejoicing
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So that at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice with exaltation
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If you are reviled for the name of Christ You are blessed
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Because the Spirit of God or the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you
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Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer or thief or evildoer or a troublesome meddler
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But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed but is to glorify
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God in this name For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God and if it begins with us first If it begins with us first what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God and if it is with Difficulty that the righteous is saved
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What will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore those also who suffer according to the will of God Shall entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right?
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Now this morning as we walk through this text, I want to show you five reasons to rejoice five reasons to rejoice
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So that you will react rightly to persecution and suffering even praising
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God that he has Ordained it for you To put in another way suffering for the cause of Christ is not an aberration.
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It's not abnormal It's not something that we should not expect. In other words, we should expect it
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This is the case historically and biblically and our text has five truths that the world would reject the world would say
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This is stupid. It's foolishness You cannot possibly embrace this but God has given you these truths that you might rejoice
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Even in the midst of affliction may I go so far to say that you will barely flinch
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When these trials and difficulties come upon you if you've properly prepared yourself for that eventuality first reason to rejoice
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Your ordeals are to be expected You go that's a reason to rejoice.
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Well, yes it is You're being prepped for it right now even this morning you are being prepared for it
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They are to be expected verse 12 beloved Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing as though some strange thing
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Were happening to you? Now, I don't know and I've said this before I don't know how you can go through first Peter how you can teach through it
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How you can read it? With any kind of comprehension and then go out and teach the health and wealth gospel the so -called prosperity gospel
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This book is absolutely antithetical. That means it is the opposite There's your 25 cent word for the day antithetical
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It is opposed to the Word of God that that's that kind of thinking that we can somehow tell
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God what we want And he is obligated to do it that we should never expect Poverty that we should never expect
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Sickness that we should never expect suffering that is not what the Bible teaches. It's not what
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Jesus taught It's not what Paul taught and it's not what Peter teaches Look at the text fiery ordeals or literally suffering
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I Mean it literally it's it talks about burning buildings down everything but suffering sent by God for the spiritual
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Refinement of believers This is not a surprise. It is sent by God for the refinement of believers
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Peter commands Them and you not to be surprised when it happens.
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Don't be surprised. Don't be shocked. It's going to happen Again think about the great persecution of Christians under Nero It had not yet begun but it was coming and there was already part.
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I'm you read through the book of Acts There's persecution in there just as you just scan through the book of Acts and look at the
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Opposition and the persecution that comes upon those who preach the gospel Why should any believer be surprised when he or she is visited by some testing or persecution?
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Why would you be? Does the world hate Jesus? Yes John 15 verses 18 and 19.
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You don't have to turn there. I'll read it if the world hates you You know that it has hated me before it hated you if you were of the world the world would love its own
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But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world because of this the world hates you
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And again, I said Peter is no innovator and he's doing the same thing here. He's telling you exactly what
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Jesus taught him The world is going to hate you. It's going to persecute you
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Because of what you represent because of who you represent Now you might sit there and say well people say they love
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Jesus He's a good teacher. He's a good role model. You know, he said a lot of really good things
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And you know what? He never said one bad thing about gay marriage They'll love
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Jesus right up until the point where you say, you know what? Jesus said there's only one way to heaven and it's through me
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They'll love him right until you press the claims that Jesus Christ is God and that they must obey him and then they'll hate him
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They do not want that Jesus. They reject him and they don't just reject him.
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They reject his people They reject his message They hate the gospel first Corinthians 123
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Paul writes But we preach Christ crucified to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness
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If you're gonna preach the gospel to someone you have to tell them that Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of every single person who would ever come to faith and yet when you say that The Jews say
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I I can't accept that. I can't have a suffering Savior and the Gentiles think you're a fool
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It's literally in the Greek a more it's a moronic idea. It is stupid is beyond comprehension
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They hate Jesus they hate his gospel they hate his truth claims and they hate his people
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Jesus promised his followers that they would be hated just as he was Why does
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Peter tell his readers not to be surprised? Because they shouldn't be surprised.
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This is exactly what the Lord told him But furthermore, he tells us that because it is our natural inclination to think hey
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I'm a good person. I don't hurt anybody. I'm a warm Big teddy bear nice guy.
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I go around doing good things. Why would anybody be mean to me? Well, it's not just because they hate you but look back at the text verse 12 again
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These things are gonna come you should not be surprised But look which comes upon you for your testing it comes upon you passive From outside of you
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Ultimately, what's the source? Well, it is the people the unbelievers around you But what is the purpose of a fiery ordeal as I said, it's a refining fire it is your testing
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Well, if it comes from outside of us and it is our testing Ultimately that idea by the way of testing means that has a positive outcome that it burns off as it were the dross the the
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The non -valuable part of us refines us Brings our gold as it were to the fore so that we are going through a smelter in fact one commentator says this only valuable metal only valuable metal is smelted in a furnace and Smelted the reason is smelted to bring out its brilliance and lasting value
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In other words, you don't pass a bunch of junky rock through the smelter. What would be the point in that? you pass through a bunch of junky rock through the smelter that has gold in it so you can burn away everything else and get to the gold and These trials are brought about from an outside source
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The unbelievers, but it's through God The outside the outside world the unbelievers.
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They don't care if we have any gold in us They don't care if you know, our sinful excesses are burned away as it were but God sovereignly sends these trials and And sinful men bring them to fruition just consider what the
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Bible says about other situations like this Job 1 verses 13 to 14 again, you don't have to turn there by the time you get there all have read this
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Job 1 verses 13 to 15. We know the story of Job And I want to focus in on a couple of verses here now on the day when his sons and daughters and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house a
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Messenger came to Job and said the oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them and the
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Sabians Attacked and took them They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword and I alone have escaped to tell you
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Now what preceded this? Satan Went to God God said have you considered my servant
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Job, right? And Satan said, you know what if you let me take everything away from him, he'll curse you and This is it.
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This is Satan working through the Sabians He's taking those things away from him the protection of God as it were removed and this is
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God's purpose in Job's life Acts 2 verse 23 talking about Jesus Peter says he's giving the gospel to many
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He says this man again about the Lord Jesus Christ Delivered over listen by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.
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It was God's plan from the beginning You the Jews nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men the
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Romans and put him to death So who did it
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Just as with Job God designed it God purposed it but men carried it out and were
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Responsible God is sovereign man is responsible Say how can that be?
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Because the Bible says it is This is not a contradiction but two truths
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That run parallel and so close to each other that never intersect in our finite minds cannot fully reconcile it
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But that's because we're not God How is God sovereign a man responsible because the Bible says that he is not the author of sin in any way
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So why did Peter feel compelled to write this? What what what was it that compelled him to say don't be surprised these fiery ordeals and I think the answer is implied again in our text
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If we just take out that little Comma that little comment in the middle there for our testing.
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Listen to this Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you as though some strange thing were happening to you
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Now for Gentile converts many of whom many of the people that he was writing to were
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Gentile converts the idea of persecution for what they believe for just being in a
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Religion for believing for adhering to something that would be a shock that didn't happen to other people
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Peter wanted his readers to understand that this was part of being a follower of Christ that there was a price
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That was attached to being a Christian When your life changes in a tangible way those unbelievers who knew you before salvation
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You know, they might say something like they're happy for you I'm glad that works for you, maybe
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But then when you go to give your testimony to them and you preach the gospel to them There is a change in the relationship there's a change in their perception of you
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They might still like you but there's a distance that is suddenly there so ordeals are to be expected and They are from God Through human agents and they are designed to burn off as it were spiritual impurities
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They are going to bring the spiritual gold as it were Up from out of the muck and mire
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That's first they are not surprising Ordeals are not surprising secondly your ordeals will result in rejoicing
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Your ordeals will result in rejoicing These fiery trials will make you rejoice and you go.
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How can that be verse 13? But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ keep on rejoicing
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So that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice with exultation
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Now that first word sometimes it's not so critical here it is the first word but Indicates a sharp contrast as I said in the
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Greek or as I've said many times There are two different words there for but and this is the one that says look on the one hand this
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But on the other hand in other words a very stark difference So instead of being surprised
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You should expect it and furthermore not only should you expect it, but you should rejoice don't be shocked instead rejoice
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He does offer a qualification though your sufferings ordeals trials persecutions should cause you to rejoice but To the degree notice.
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He says to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ What does he mean by that?
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Put simply the more you suffer for the cause of Christ the greater cause there is for rejoicing
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Now let's think about that for a minute burned at the stake rejoice stone to death rejoice
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Put to death by the sword for refusing to capitulate to a false religion rejoice called
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Judgmental well rejoice But don't think that somehow that's on the same. You know it's not like being put to death
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It is a matter for rejoicing. It is a great thing to be persecuted for the cause of Christ But if somebody just says you know you're so judgmental.
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You're so dogmatic You just think you're better than me well
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It may be true. There is some truth to that so you have to look at yourself but there are degrees in which we share the sufferings of Christ and That verb share is the verbal form of listening see if you've heard this word before koinonia
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What is koinonia? Fellowship right we get together for fellowship and it's that idea that if we fellowship in the sufferings of Christ if we are
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Bonded into the sufferings of Christ Lenski writes it this way. He says we fellowship in Christ sufferings
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When we suffer for his name's sake when the hatred that struck him
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Strikes us because of him we read that again
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We fellowship in Christ sufferings when we suffer for his name's sake when the hatred that struck him
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Strikes us because of him now just to be clear.
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We know this isn't in some measure. We're not paying for our sins We're not atoning for anything we're not
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Fellowshipping in the Price that Christ paid to propitiate the wrath of the
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Father to satisfy his wrath, but When those trials come we are to refuse to flinch
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We take the persecution because we wish to honor what the Lord has done on our behalf
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Think about it. What did Jesus suffer? How did he suffer? When commentator says this he endured unmerited suffering we talked about unmerited grace
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We'll think about the opposite end of that. He endured unmerited suffering as the object of the world's hatred
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When we suffer the world's hatred because of our love for Christ we are sharing in his suffering
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When we were fellowshipping in his suffering when we suffer the world's hatred because we deserve it
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When we bring it on ourselves There's no reward in that Listen to what another commentator says he says about this idea says their enemies
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Would persecute Christ if he were among them in other words He's talking about believers their enemies would persecute
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Christ if he were among them For it is really he who is the object of their hatred and therefore in being persecuted themselves
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They are partakers of Christ's suffering they can't get at the master so they go for you
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They flail out at whatever bears his image and the more starkly you Portray that image to them the more they flail out at you
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Now if you are called to share to have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ Peter commands that you continually rejoice
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Says keep on rejoicing Don't stop never stop Constantly rejoice
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You think how do I do that? By the grace of God as we'll see but look at the end here the purpose.
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Why would you keep on rejoicing? So that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice with exaltation with exaltation
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When the Lord Jesus returns in glory how much more will those who belong to him and have suffered for him rejoice?
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He comes back and you have lived a life of ease. Will you rejoice? Yes, how much more if you've been suffering?
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The Bible tells us that the Lord will return with a shout. I Believe that his
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Saints will answer that shout I think they will be excited and the more you've suffered
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I mean, I think about there are places in the world literally where Christians are being put to death today And you think those people of the
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Lord Jesus Christ was returned today You think those people wouldn't be the happiest people in the face of the earth not only to see their dear
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Savior But to know that they are faithful right to the end and to go straight to heaven with him
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So we've seen your ordeals are to be expected Secondly your ordeals will result in rejoicing
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Thirdly your ordeals make your salvation evidence Your ordeals make your salvation evidence
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Verse 14 if you are reviled for the name of Christ Now wait a minute Are you saying that if I haven't suffered
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If I haven't gone through some kind of fiery trial of persecution that if I haven't been put to the sword That I'm not saved
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Well, no the if here is does not mean that Everyone's going to suffer to the same degree.
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It just means that Christians will suffer Let me give you just a small personal example
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When I was saved and I was in a position of middle management we had a very strict
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Sexual harassment policy on the sheriff's department and one of the things that The the deputies were not allowed to look at certain and this was pretty crazy when you think about I think about this the inmates
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Were allowed to look at certain magazines and the deputies were not The only way the inmates could get those magazines was through the mail that the deputies had to give them
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Now does that make any sense no, of course not but then you know, that's the way things run and there were certain deputies who would take these magazines and Peruse them on their own
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Stash them in very various places throughout the facility. I went around one day and I just I grabbed a huge trash bag and I Been the official tip line and I found out where a bunch of these were and I took it
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I filled up an entire Huge. I mean I couldn't even carry this thing. I had to drag it through the hallway and one of the deputies walking by me
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Saw what I was doing. He goes. Oh good job senior Puritan You know, like I was just holier -than -thou.
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I was wrecking things by following the rules It's a small thing.
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It's a very small thing, but you know to be called a Puritan who hurt me you know in my dreams maybe but But it doesn't take much to Upset sinners who revel in their sin who are very, you know comfortable in their sin.
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It's small things like that That even caused them to lash out just even a little bit but to be reviled to be reviled which is what
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Peter writes here is to have unjustified accusations and insults hurled at you
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Again, it's not difficult step into any situation where wrong is occurring and ask or Demand that it stop take some kind of action and see what happens people say.
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Oh, thank you I didn't know I was doing the wrong thing. I I really appreciate it Have a nice day. And if your faith is known if they know that you're a
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Christian, what are they gonna say? You're judgmental You think you're better than us?
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Maybe even worse. You're a hypocrite Whatever this is what they do, but look at the promise in 14
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If you if you are reviled You are blessed You're blessed.
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God has blessed you he has put He's poured out a blessing on you look because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you
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Wayne Grittem writes this he says it is an unusual fullness of the presence of the
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Holy Spirit to bless to strengthen and to give a foretaste of heavenly glory
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Now maybe you're sitting there this morning thinking, you know what? I I know that people have been put to death even
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Modern times and from the Reformation forward, you know burned at the stake or all these horrible deaths having their tongues cut out.
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I Could never do that I just don't have that kind of strength. That's not me
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Peter's message is this The grace of God is sufficient for you
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Furthermore the more difficult the situation the greater the grace Act 6
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I talked about Stephen earlier act 6 verses 8 to 10 Stephen Full of grace and power
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Was performing great wonders and signs among the people but some men from what was called the synagogue of the freedmen including both
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Syrinians and Alexandrians and some from Cilicia and Asia rose up and argued with Stephen But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking
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Now what happened in the end? They said hey Stephen good job And you are just filled with scripture and knowledge and I really appreciate the way you impart it to us brother
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No, we all know he was stoned to death and what did he do even as he was dying preach the gospel of these men who brought false charges against him and He asked for there that these things not be held against them and you think well this must have been some huge spiritual giant
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Well, he was But he wasn't an apostle
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He wasn't an elder He was a faithful man of the church called to serve tables
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He was stacking up the chairs He had a menial task at the local church He was faithful he was full of the
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Spirit of God and Only the grace of God working through the Spirit of God can bring about such faithfulness in Sinful men and women
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Stephen as Faithful as he was was still a sinner and it is the
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Holy Spirit that bestows the glory that gives the grace that gives the strength not some kind of vague glory as we might think but the glory the glory that related to the suffering of Christ When writer says
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God who sent his son also sends the Spirit of God on Those who suffer as loyal followers of his son
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We looked at the life of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was upon him frequently
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It was a spirit who impelled him out of the wilderness. It was the spirit by which he did most
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We would see all of his ministry was filled with the Holy Spirit and the same was Stephen here
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He was filled with the Holy Spirit How was he able to do this not because of his great spiritual strength, but the
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God of all glory who worked mightily within him and No one apart from the
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Spirit of God could possibly deal with such persecution No one could so we've seen first that your ordeals are to be expected.
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Secondly your ordeals will Result in rejoicing thirdly your ordeals make your salvation evident.
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Why because the Spirit does not work in Those who are not his own Fourth your ordeals glorify
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God look at verse 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer or thief or evildoer or a troublesome meddler
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Now not all suffering in life is because you're a
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Christian In other words, you can be a Christian and not suffer because you're a Christian Have you ever experienced that where you brought something on yourself?
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I did I Certainly did I was kind of a knucklehead sometimes
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But Peter gives a command against Christians. This is the basic thrust of this is don't bring reproach
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Upon the name of Christ and then say wait a minute You know, I'm being persecuted.
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In other words, please don't call me 11 o 'clock at night and say pastor. I'm being persecuted What's going on?
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Well, I'm at the police station. They've arrested me for murder. That's not persecution That is not persecution
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And Peter wants to make sure that his readers know that it's not okay to sully the name of Christ that it's not okay to drag the name of Christ through the mud and Then say well, you know what?
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They're just doing this because I'm a Christian and let me just you know as a pastoral aside note very well
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He says that murdering and thieving are right out. You can't do those things.
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Those are not acceptable. You can't do that Those don't really need much comment, but the idea behind the term evildoer
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It's just a more garden variety criminal any violation of the law. He says don't
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Violate the law in any way even in the great things murder theft or in any kind of way don't be known as someone who breaks the law who brings shame upon the name of Christ by You know if you're on the police blotter every week
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Don't really, you know don't want to pick up the local holding paper and see you know Police had to respond to your house over and over and over again.
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That's not a good thing So what about this term?
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Troublesome meddler that sounds really bad.
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It is a word. I I mean basically for my stay I would say it's almost a word that Peter made up because apparently doesn't appear in much
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Greek literature for several centuries afterwards and it occurs only here in the
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New Testament and it pictures one who acts listen to this as an Overseer in matters that belong to another in other words.
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He involves himself in things that have nothing to do with him now some take this word as being like a spy or a revolutionary and Others just simply take it as a busybody somebody who's always poking their nose into someone else's business
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But the key thing is this and this is what we need to focus on here It's someone who delights in stirring up trouble
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Someone who just cannot stay out of other people's business and is willing to create all manner of difficulty
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So let's say it's a spy or a revolutionary Well, what is Romans 13 say it says you need to submit to the government if it is just being a busybody
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Even that's condemned why you're not supposed to gossip. You're not supposed to be certainly I can't come over to somebody else's house and start telling them how you know
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Their home is all messed up and you know, hey, you know what? You missed a spot over here in the corner and all that that is not my job
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Just think about this job description Wanted a Christian who causes trouble by involving himself in the affairs of others that it's just not it's just Antithetical the opposite of what we should be right?
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We're to be peacemakers We're to be submitted to government were to help one another not create trouble
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The bigger point again is to do nothing Nothing that brings reproach upon the name of Christ and then somehow think that this punishment that is rightly yours is persecution
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As an example MacArthur Relates this story that he remembers a conversation.
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He once had with a Russian pastor who suffered greatly under Soviet communism Says I asked if he or his fellow
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Christians ever rebelled against that form of government He the Russian pastor replied that it was all of their convictions that if they were ever
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Resented and persecuted by the secular authorities. It would be for the gospel only and The Russian Church actually grew strong in that environment and then this pastor
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Wondered how pastors in America with no persecution could have holy people without their suffering for the gospel
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Good question however
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When you suffer as a Christian Peter has some words of encouragement for you verse 16 but if anyone suffers as a
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Christian He is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name
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And this is the only place in the New Testament other than acts Where the word
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Christian appears the only place? And it doesn't mean by the way a little
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Christ It means to be of the party of Christ a follower of his it is patterned after other similar words like Herodian meaning of the party of Herod not a little
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Herod If you suffer as a
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Christian if you suffer because of the cause of Christ You are not to be ashamed.
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You ought not to feel shame You ought not to be embarrassed about that but to glorify
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God in this name in the name of Christ That you are counted worthy to suffer in this way
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It is not a curse to suffer for the cause of Christ, but a blessing Peter wants us to understand that So don't do anything that would cause you to be punished by the law
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But rather if you are doing nothing wrong and you get punished just for being a
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Christian You are to glorify God to rejoice to be thankful for the opportunity to suffer for the cause of Christ and finally number five
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Your ordeals prove your trust in your Creator Your ordeals prove your trust in your
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Creator and there are three aspects of this First children of God will be judged first the children of God will be judged first look at verse 17
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For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God Now what time are we talking about?
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Remember in 1st Peter? Chapter 4 verse 7 Peter wrote the end of all things is
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Near the end of all things is near so he says now in verse 17 for it is time
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What time the time the end time? It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God You say wait a minute.
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I thought judgment was for non -christians a Few points of explanation here first.
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This is not judgment For the children of God in the sense that unbelievers will experience
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Second this judgment is refining again one might even call it Sanctification the process of being conformed into the image of the
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Lord Jesus himself This is indicated even by the word for judgment in verse 17 the word judgment there means the community suffering under persecutions as the administration of judgment in other words the church's persecution is of God and it is both an examination of the church's faithfulness and a foreshadowing a foreshadowing of the wrath
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God will unleash against even those committing the persecution against the church
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Think about it who will have vengeance upon those who afflict the children of God is
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It not the father of those children himself. Is it not God himself? so it starts with The people of God and I'll explain that more in just a minute but Let's move on to verse 17 the second aspect of it the hopeless plight of the godless
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Again verse 17 and if it begins with us first What will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God and this same picture occurs in the
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Old Testament with? God promising universal judgment beginning with his own people
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One commentator writes this in Malachi 3 the Lord is presented as the refiner.
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He's the one who's going to refine everything So purifying the
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Levites the priests that they are able to offer sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord Then the judgment which began at God's house the temple will move from there to unbelievers
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No longer as a purifying fire but as a judgment of condemnation in other words, he begins by refining his own people by sifting them by sorting through them by burning off their dross by Sanctifying them but as that fire moves out from the center it is
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No longer a fire of refining. It is a fire of consuming It is a consuming fire and that next verse illustrates it very nicely in verse 18 and it is taken
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It's a quote by the way, anytime you see Capital letters like this all capital letters.
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That means it's a quote from the Old Testament and this is actually straight out of the Septuagint of Proverbs 11 31 and If it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
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look the wrath of God is being revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man, isn't that right and Peter illustrates that this wrath is being revealed and Is appearing in the persecution of the church and spreading and increasing exponentially and Finally culminating with the return of Christ in terms of judgment
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So it is difficult If it is difficult to survive persecution if it is difficult for the church to survive
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Persecution sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's shocking. Sometimes it's deadly how much more as the wrath of God visits unbelievers
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Unaccompanied by the Spirit of God Having no opportunity to be filled with the
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Spirit of God no protection from the wrath of God No shelter behind the righteousness of Christ What will happen to those who hate
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God and who do not have his compassion? For those who are not vessels of his mercy, but vessels of his wrath who are not his children
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But instead our children as it were the ruler of this age Just by means of a crude illustration
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You're getting more cop stories than you'll probably get for the rest of my life here this morning But I was thinking about if there's one thing
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I hated during my time on the sheriff's department absolutely Hated was hot -fire training
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I would see that come up on the schedule and I was just like and the first time really kind of scarred me for life
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You basically would walk into an oven. I Mean, that's it. You know, they would yeah I mean they would watch you or you know
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They would show you how they were getting the fire started and you walked into this room and it was basically a sealed room and You were walking into an oven and you would have you know firemen gear on and all that stuff
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Well the first time I went in I don't know what happened I don't know who you know forgot the memoir or what happened
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But I had you know a jacket and helmet and all that stuff and no protective pants
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It was not that was not fun. And I came out literally they said all you'll be right. I Went in there.
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I came out and I had first degree, you know first degree just means your skin's all red I had first degree burns all over my legs Yeah, I'm alright.
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Sure. Good deal But how much more when we think about?
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Heat and fire how much more sinful man? Exposed to the wrath of a thrice.
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Holy God. What is his protection? What will insulate? the unregenerate man the unsaved man from the full -blown wrath of a holy
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God nothing So if it is difficult for us if we have to suffer if God refines us through even the actions of unbelievers
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There's no refining that goes on with unbelievers When they are subjected to his wrath when they are subjected to His fire there is no hope for them third aspect of this
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Trusting God means submitting to his will verse 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
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Now as Peters summarizing and that's why he has the therefore he's summarizing this whole section he says that He mentions those also who suffer now.
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This is a participle Meaning it is part of their DNA to suffer. They're in a constant state of suffering they bear the score and the abuse and even the punishment heaped upon them by the same world, which hates their
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Lord and Note that he says that they suffer according to the will of God He's just kind of making plain what was implied earlier
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And this is so critical for us to understand that this suffering is the will of God We talk here at Bethlehem Bible Church all the time about the sovereignty of God Why because the
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Bible talks all the time about the sovereignty of God. In fact, Micah said and I agree I think it's one of God's favorite doctrines
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I think he really likes that and if you are persecuted if you are suffering for righteousness sake if the world hates you
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It's not outside the will of God. In fact, it is the will of God He did not fall asleep
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He didn't somehow miss it He did not permit it It is his will
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One dictionary says this about it. There is no doubt of the fundamental and decisive power of the divine will
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Think about it this way if Jesus came to do the will of the
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Father and what do you say again and again? he said he came not to do his will but The will of him who sent me the will of the
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Father and the Father was pleased to crush him
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Why should we be surprised if it is his will? To make a much smaller display of his grace at work in us
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Why would that be shocking and it is the will of God and as it is the will of God believers are commanded to do?
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What to entrust their souls to him? To entrust is MacArthur notes a banker's term referring to a deposit for safekeeping
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Now imagine you had something of infinite value that you wanted to protect and you could not do so yourself the picture here of entrusting your soul is to put it in a complete a place of complete safety with a person of complete reliability of complete faithfulness
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Notes right there that You entrust to a faithful creator. What does it mean that he's faithful.
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God is characteristically faithful. In fact, it's an adjective without a Definite article and basically what that just means is it's kind of the same as a participle
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It is part of his character. It is who he is. He is faithful. He sets the bar for faithfulness revelation 1911 says this and I saw heaven opened and Behold a white horse and he who sat on it the
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Lord Jesus Christ himself is called Faithful and true and in righteousness.
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He judges and wages war 1st Corinthians 1 9 God is faithful Philippians 1 6 4
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I am confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will Perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus why because he said he would do it and he will he is faithful to do as he said
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So we could trust him we can entrust our souls to him because he is faithful and also because he is the creator
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Your father is also your creator. He is mindful that you are but dust and he has
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Every right to do with you as he wishes But he has set His affection upon you.
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He has promised his faithfulness to you Why would you then doubt him in a time of persecution?
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He has perfectly worked out his will and will continue to do so he is a faithful creator
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Finally as you trust him With your soul as you reflect on his faithfulness and power
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Why would you not continue in doing what is right? You prove your faith and confidence in the sovereign of the universe as you entrust your soul to him by continuously doing good
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Literally being a do -gooder No matter what the cost no matter what it costs you.
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No matter what Afflictions visit you on account of doing what is right you continue to do good and you entrust
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God with your soul You trust him to give you the grace and the strength that you need
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Don't worry about those things So we've seen that your ordeals number one are to be expected number two
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Your ordeals will result in rejoicing number three your ordeals make your salvation evident number four
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Your ordeals glorify God and number five your ordeals prove your trust in your
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Creator Now what if you've never been persecuted? What if that has never happened to you?
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Well, there are many possibilities One is that it's not your time. One is that you were persecuted you didn't even recognize it because it was so slight another is
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You may not be saved if you've not Bowed the knee to Christ if you've not stopped relying upon yourself to be good enough
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With a holy God Stop measuring yourself against everyone else and compared yourself to the standard that is
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God and said I fall short of that if you've not
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Received Christ not in the sense that I want to be forgiven of my sins that but also Said you know what?
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I know I fall short short of God's holy standard But I know that Jesus Christ perfectly obeyed
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God's standard did everything right never did anything wrong I know that he died for my sins
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That he rose on the third day and that he now sits in heaven and will come back and judge and I trust in that Christ and I pursued that Christ and I obeyed that Christ if you've never made that commitment, may
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I urge you to do so today? Finally, can I just say again?
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This is not a friendly world. It hates what you love and loves what you hate
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Let me say that again. It hates what you love and loves what you hate You hate sin.
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It loves sin you love Christ it hates Christ and Yet you have not been called upon to suffer as the early church did not yet or Even as Christians across the world are suffering even at this moment
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Nevertheless you should know this be aware of this Persecution will one day visit all who are godly and when that time comes
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Be it a great persecution or a small one. I pray that each of us Will entrust our souls fully to our faithful Creator that Christ might be glorified and that we might rejoice mightily when he returns
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Let's pray our
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Father What a joy it is again to be reminded that you are sovereign that yes, you have set your affections on us
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Yes, you have justified us. Yes, you've set us free from the penalty and the power of sin, but Lord you have not promised us that we will have problem -free lives
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In fact, you have told us that we should expect and not be surprised by difficulty
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But father as we've just read we know that your grace is sufficient.
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We know that your spirit is Able to sustain us even through the most difficult times
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Lord. I pray that for each of us this week We would not
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Shirk doing what is right that we would be those who would do right no matter what the cost is personally professionally
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No matter what Attacks or threats might come our way as a result father, let us not be those who would cause a difficulty distress or seek
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To cause problems But father find us faithful Lord, we would pray for those who are suffering for the cause of Christ for the name of Christ Even at this moment be they in China In Africa in Europe wherever they are being ridiculed being beaten even being put to death
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For your glory father, would you
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Causes each to look forward to the day when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns
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That we would be among those who would shout with joy both in his return and In the relief that you've granted your
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Saints across the globe and that they will no longer suffer father