Responding Rightly To Trials - [1 Peter 5:1-6]

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Years ago, I was in Chicago visiting a friend and I Have a couple memories of that trip
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One was I was staying at Mark MacArthur's house, and he said we're having a Bible conference at our church this weekend
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Would you like to attend I said sure who's the preacher and he said well, it's Alistair Begg I said well,
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I'd love to go hear Alistair Begg so we walked into the church in DuPage outside of Chicago and He said well, let's just go up and sit next to Alistair so we walked all the way up and there's
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Alistair Begg and I sat next to him and we said hello and I Have to tell you that I really
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Remember him kind of fidgeting with his notes because he was about ready to preach and he kept looking at his notes
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And I thought that's exactly what I do before I preach and so I said you know I remember the first time
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I had to preach in the pulpit I could not get any spit in my mouth and Alistair said
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I wish I could give you the Scottish brogue That's how I feel right now And I just rejoiced in his suffering yes, at least
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I'm not the only one I remember that But more importantly
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I remember something else in that trip or during that trip Mark MacArthur said his boss
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Financial company maybe 50 people Worked in this company and his boss gathered all the employees around believer and unbeliever and said to them
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I've been diagnosed with cancer. It's serious I don't know if I'll live or not, and I'd like you to pray for me, but don't pray that I would get healed
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Would you pray that I respond correctly to this trial? I never forgot that How do you respond to trials?
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Something goes on in your life. Maybe it's health. Maybe it's something else How do you respond when you suffer the world is filled with all kinds of trials sin has affected the world?
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How do you respond when things go poorly? trials temptations You might want to get rid of those things, but when you can't get rid of them.
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How do you respond in a godly fashion? So I'd like to take your Bibles today and turn to first Peter, and we're gonna answer that very question
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We've been in the book of Hebrews But I always have kind of what I call this is a technical word for it it's called a snow sermon and a snow sermon is
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Something that is been working in my own heart, and I know it will be effective for you as well because it's biblical
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But many people couldn't make it today, and I don't want to start Hebrews chapter 3 Until we have everyone here as it's such an important Continuity that we need to keep first Peter.
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We're gonna be looking at chapter 5 today how to respond to Suffering how to respond to trials when things are haywire.
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What do you do? Jesus experienced trouble he's the suffering servant, and he has servants who suffer.
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How do you respond? Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 4 he was troubled on every side
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Like it or not trials are a way of life Difficulties are here, and we need to respond correctly in light of who we are in Christ Jesus with faith and with perseverance and with steadfastness
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Peter as you know is writing this book to people who are exiled. They're scattered. They're suffering
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You've got horrible Emperor who is persecuting Them and as you read first Peter 1 2 3 4 & 5 what you'll see is not simply some
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Imperatives and exhortations you'll see throughout this entire book the person and work of Christ Jesus It's not just a moralistic book in other words
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It's not just a book that says I know you're suffering Give me a stiff upper lip what
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Peter does and you can just imagine Peter Seated at the feet of Jesus many many times throughout the life of Peter Recalling what about Jesus keeping
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Jesus front and center in any rejoicing are in this particular case in any trial If you look at first Peter chapter 1 for instance just to show you how
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Christ centered Peter's epistle is if you look at first Peter chapter 1 verse 17 through verse 21 and if you call on him as father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds
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Conduct yourself with fear throughout the time of your exile knowing that you were ransomed from the feudal ways inherited from your forefathers
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Not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ Like that of a lamb without blemish or spot
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He Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for you the sake of you who
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Through him our believers in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God Peter in chapter 2 does the same thing he sets forth the death burial and resurrection the person and work of Christ and Here in chapter 2 his suffering as an example to the disciples
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He he can't get away from who Jesus is yes He talks about husbands and wives and workers and the church, but he he's focused on Christ in the middle of all this suffering chapter 1 excuse me chapter 1 talks about substitution resurrection here chapter 2 talks about Jesus as example for his suffering
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It says in 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 21 For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example
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So that you might follow in his steps He committed no sin neither was deceit found in his mouth when he was reviled
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He did not revile in return when he suffered he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself
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To him who judges Justly he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness
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By his wounds you have been healed for you were straying like sheep but now have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls and Then before we get into our outline
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Additionally in chapter 3 you see the focus of Peter on the Lord Jesus Christ and his triumph
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First Peter chapter 3 verse 18, please For Christ also suffered once for sins the righteous for the unrighteous
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That he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh But made alive in the spirit in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison because they formally did not obey
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When God's patience waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared in which a few that is
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Eight persons were brought safely through the water Baptism which corresponds to this now saves you not as removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels authorities and powers
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Having been been subject or subjected to him So we come now to chapter 5 as we've set the table
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We see that the writer Peter is instructing by the ministry of the Spirit of God to these dear suffering
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Christians How do you respond when you suffer and these principles will be very applicable?
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Not just if you're persecuted for the faith as here is the case But any kind of suffering any kind of trouble?
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How do you respond? Let me give you six responses
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In light of who you are in Christ in the position that you have union with Christ Six responses so you can suffer.
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Well, I'm think I'm gonna just give you all verbs number one Humble now,
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I know what you're saying. You're saying humble isn't a verb Yes, it can be a verb and here in first Peter chapter 5 verse 6.
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It's exactly that the first response How do I respond to difficulties and trials in my job at I was gonna say at work?
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It's always a funny thing for me when I tell the children I say daddy has to go to work. I mean church I mean, okay. I just have to go number one humble
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Do you notice the text verse 6? Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you at the proper time
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Maybe I could put it this way except recognize that God is sovereign and humbly submit to that This is a passive verb
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It's a it's a command and it means to be humbled allow if you will yourself to be humbled with with a voluntary acceptance
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I Mean, what's our response? You're in a trial. Something's bad and and maybe you want to fight against the system
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Maybe you want to push back against God. Maybe you want to question God. I Think of Psalm 46 10 cease striving and know that I am
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God be still Jonathan Edwards The pastor here in New England was he an
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American or not Technically, he was still a British citizen, right? It was pre 1776
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But he died of a smallpox vaccination and here's what his wife said and it typifies this idea in first Peter chapter 5 verse 6
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His wife wrote what shall I say a? Holy and good
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God has covered us with a dark cloud Oh that we may kiss the rod and lay our hands on our mouths
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The Lord has done it but my God lives and he has my heart we are all given to God Peter wants to help these people.
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He's not going to change the circumstances But he's trying to help them with their attitude in light of who
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Jesus is and what he's done After all, do you notice the text under the mighty hand of God?
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God could change it at any time. God's powerful. God could change rectify Deliver you at any time.
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This is language under the mighty hand of God when you think of that language you should be thinking God with his mighty hand rescued
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Israel out of Egypt. It's right from the Old Testament. That is the expression Exodus 320 so I will stretch out my hand and strike
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Egypt with all my miracles Which I shall do in the midst of it and after that he will let you go he says in Deuteronomy and you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the
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Lord your God brought you Out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm
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God cares for his people. It's already been demonstrated in 1st Peter chapter 1 2 & 3 Jesus tithes for sinners
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Jesus grants forgiveness. He grants redemption. We are we are covered by the blood of Christ Jesus and Here when you when you just accept these situations and say
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God is sovereign and he's powerful. I'm under his mighty hand Notice the text it doesn't say you're under his thumb
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He's squashing you down. No, you're his child. He's he's dealing with you as beloved children We need to echo what
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Mary said he has done mighty deeds with his arm he's got power he's got dominion he could
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Help us at any time, but he he's not doing what we want him to do Shouldn't we then be thinking to ourselves when we think of that word to be humble?
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We are just going to rest we are going to say God you are in control we are weak you're powerful
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I'm inadequate. You're strong and you got a mighty arm I can't do anything and I'm just going to have to tuck myself under your arms and say
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I'll be humbled
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You might ask yourself the question. Does the trial last forever? You notice verse 6 that he may exalt you at the proper time
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Friends short of hell, right? If you're an unbeliever you go to hell that's forever
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That's true, but no trial on earth lasts forever. Not not one Not one single trial last forever.
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It seems like maybe forever. But here we have a God who who humbles us? Sovereignly and he exalts us at the proper time.
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Maybe not our time frame, but it's God's time frame Here's the promise for every believer
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In your suffering you submit to God's wise plan and sovereign providential
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Ordering, you know, he he could rescue two million people out of Egypt He could rescue you but he's got you there for a reason.
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You don't understand it, but you just rest in God's Promises and he says one day I will lift you up.
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I will raise you high at my perfect timing No wonder the psalmist talks about this regularly
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Psalm 27 wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the
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Lord Psalm 25 I will wait for you all the day Psalm 37 rest in the
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Lord and wait patiently for him You know this verse Yet for those who wait for the
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Lord, they will gain new strength. They will mount up like Mount up with wings like eagles.
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They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not get weary Isaiah 40 Micah 7, but as for me,
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I will watch expectantly for the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation My God will hear me we are under God's time frame and God will though one day exalt us
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Murphy's Law will not get after us in that particular case You will stay and I will stay in our particular trials until God seems
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God sees fit to change it It's Spurgeon had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you find yourself
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Divine love would have placed you there Did you get that? Had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you find yourself
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Divine love would have placed you there number one humble number two cast
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We're all gonna go through trials we're either in them now I I listened to Harry pray last week for the different even health needs for Bethlehem Bible Church sooner or later
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We're gonna be in one if you're not in one now, what do we do humble number one number two cast verse 7
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Casting all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you Now I know some of you probably have your
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Greek grammars in front of you I understand this is a participle modifying the first or earlier verse I get that but for sake of Being explicit in my outline.
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This is outline point number two Cast all your anxiety upon him
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In other words, you're never meant to carry all that anxiety. You can't carry all that anxiety You can't cast all your can't go it cares on your own back.
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You're you're not strong enough This is that great word cast It's only used one of the time in the
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New Testament and they brought it to Jesus and they threw our cast Their garments on the coat
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Colt and put Jesus on it. Have you ever thought of this?
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Okay, I've got anxieties about this particular trial. I'm going through and I'm worried about him.
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I don't know. Maybe I'm the only one in here that worries, but if anybody else worries You don't worry really is
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It's pride Worry is pride. I've got to take all these concerns.
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I've got to take all these trials. I've got to process all this stuff I've got to make the best decision. I have to do all these things instead of saying
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I'm supposed to just give them to the Lord I'm just supposed to say I can't do these things. But no deep down when we keep them.
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Here's what we're really saying I can do it. I can figure out I am smart enough. I do have the the acumen to kind of work through all these things
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Worry is really the baseline pride and here we have the passage just throw them on the
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Lord. I Can't take this. I can't do it. I have to throw my whole life's worth of care on you
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Psalm 68 19 blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden The God who is our salvation and you know, interestingly
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God has set it up So when we do have anxieties and worries and we don't cast them on the Lord Even our bodies can break down and you think about ulcers and ulcers insomnia tension headaches
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Every one of us we go through trials. How do we respond? Well, we just say I'll figure it out myself and I'll just do everything
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I'm not saying we can't do due diligence and go to doctors or ask for counsel But at the end of the day we have to say
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God I've got these anxieties I have to give them to you because what are my other options? I Found one place.
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I guess you could call. It's a real number one eight eight eight eight anxiety
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Maybe that'd be a good place to call If you didn't have God for a father, I mean, what are other options?
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Xanax Valium Prozac Zoloft Paxil Even from the medical pharmacists themselves.
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They say about those medicines But medications, although not cures can be very effective at relieving anxiety symptoms
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Because that's what they do. They deal with the symptoms So let's go to the root and God says just cast all your cares on me
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God. I can't handle it I'm just going to give it to you How about this verse in Proverbs 12 anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad Class I have a good word for you today.
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Here's the word of the day class cast But you know
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I'm just gonna keep a little for myself because it's kind of nice to nurse that once in a while I can feel really bad about myself, but the text says what?
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cast most cast a smidgen It cast all your anxiety the whole of your care the whole of your worry the whole of your anxiety
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It's like the Lord knows we can't even handle a little bit of that and notice what happens, can you see what
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Peter's trying to do? These people who are suffering big time compared to what we suffer if they turn themselves in and look at themselves and and and think about themselves instead of Worshiping God with their heart soul mind and strength instead of having that focus
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Jesus as Savior chapter 1 Jesus as example in chapter 2 Jesus the risen
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Savior who dies for my unjust deeds chapter 3 I lose focus and the whole world is designed to just bring us to look down down down until we're finally looking in on ourselves
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And he said just get rid of all that You were meant for better things That word anxiety there our worry just means to divide.
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It's got the root of divide Instead of giving wholehearted attention to the
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Lord you're divided because you're thinking about this and then you're not thinking about the other It's like with Mary and Martha, but the
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Lord answered and said to Martha Martha you are worried and bothered about so many things But only a few things are necessary really only one for Mary has chosen the good part
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Which shall not be taken away from her Martha you're worried about these other things and your focus is wrong.
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Jesus is right there before your very eyes Look at him and what's the motivation?
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What's the reason why we can cast our cares on the Lord do you notice the text
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Because he cares for you Because he cares for you God loves his children
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He's gonna care for them. You could translate it a couple different ways.
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There is care for him concerning you The old Ryrie study
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Bible translates it this way literally it matters to him concerning you God isn't up there watching this whole suffering thing play out just going
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I'm some Greek Stoic kind of God. I don't care. It doesn't matter to me.
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I'm indifferent Hope it works out for you Even if we go back to chapter 1 and you think okay the incarnation of Jesus should tell us that God cares
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I Like Psalm 55 verse 22 cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you
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I don't know if you know this or not sometimes for me the
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Greek can be very devotional and You know Reformed Baptist when they hear something really good.
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They they go. Hmm Charismatics might raise their hand Here's a
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Greek Verb tense that should make you go. It's a present tense.
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He cares He always cares he never stops caring thank you
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Lord that you care Lamentations 3 this I recall to mind therefore
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I have hope the Lord's loving kindness indeed shall never cease his Compassions never fail except maybe in this big trial.
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I'm in right now. They're new every morning great is thy faithfulness Worry just says, you know,
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I just don't trust you God. I mean, I'm sure Peter is thinking of these words
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He heard from Jesus himself On the Sermon on the Mount for this reason
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I say to you Jesus said Do not be anxious for your life as to what you shall eat or what you shall drink
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Nor for your body as to what you shall put on is not life more than food in the body than clothing
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Look at the birds of the air that they do not So neither do they reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly
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Father feeds them Are you not worth much more than they and which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his lifespan?
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Why are you anxious about clothing observe how the lilies of the field grow? They do not toil nor do they spin yet I say to you that even
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Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these If God so raised the grass of the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown in the furnace
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Will he not much more do so for you? Oh men of little faith
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Do not be anxious Then what shall we eat? What should we drink?
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What shall we clothe ourselves for all these things that Gentiles eagerly seek for your heavenly
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Father knows that you need these things But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you
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Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow. No matter what you're going through Christian God cares for you.
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He tells us right here in his Word. God isn't a deist winds everything up. Hope it works out
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God is not unattached. God is not remote Maybe I could ask you the question now and turn a
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Kind of a teaching session into preaching session. What cares are you holding on to now?
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What burden? Do you have right now that you need to cast upon the Lord?
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number three Humble cast and now maybe I'll use the word watch
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Watch The text here in verse 8 in 1st Peter 5 is a couple of imperatives, but we'll just summarize them by saying watch 1st
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Peter 5 8 be of sober spirit be on the alert Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour
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Now you'll notice Peter is not just saying lay back and let God you can be passive in all the sanctification
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He's not saying that But what's he talking about here with it with the devil? You got to pay attention.
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You got to be on the alert. You need to be Vigilant you have to watch out and it uses the word
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Devil well that word is slander Why would he say watch out for the slander now?
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We think typically slander as we say things about other people But who's the one
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Satan is going to be slandering here while you're down and out and you're you're you're you're really suffering
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I'm positive. He's talking about watch out for the slander Satan because he's going to make you think
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God doesn't care God is wicked How can
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God so love the world and give his only begotten Son and put you in this particular place He's like a roaring lion.
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Just seeking to devour people. What a word picture He just wants to drink them down literally
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He's walking back and forth. What kind of teaching style is this if I walk back and forth like this, what's it called? Peripatetic who said that both the
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Dunn's go like that father and son Satan is just going back and forth.
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You can just I mean I I can feel I know what happens. You're in a big trial And you know before you know it
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God, why are you letting this happen? God? I thought I was your child You kind of almost are like Godly in a godly way questioning
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God but before you know it those things just lead to another and lead to another and then it's like How could you do that?
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You have to be careful getting angry sinful questioning Job 2 then
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Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head
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Job took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes And then his wife said do you still hold fast your integrity curse
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God and die That's the kind of language that Satan would use But he said to her you speak as one of the foolish women speaks
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Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity in all this
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Job did not sin with his lips So friend when you're discouraged and the trial is more than you can bear
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Whatever you do you don't turn and say well, you know what? I'm just gonna question God's goodness and integrity
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I know he's been faithful this far. I know I deserved hell and I have forgiveness I know he's given me a spirit his word
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He's given me all these things even on earth the spouse and family and all these other things But I'm not sure maybe he doesn't do this and then you say no that that's that's talk like the end of the world
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Adversary would talk that's Satan like talk Malicious suggestions and accusing
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God that's that's not godly. That's that's satanic
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And Satan just loves to just devour people So let's not think that way
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You can almost see why Peter Waited to the end to say that because he was just recalling the goodness of God in chapter 1 2 3 4 and 5 go back
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In chapter 1 if you want he the opposite of slandering. God is praising
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God And you can just kind of you almost want to sing I know some people sing psalms only
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This is like you want to sing this song only if you're suffering Blessed be the God and Father of our
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Lord Jesus Christ According to his great mercy He's caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance
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That is imperishable undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for you
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Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time in this you rejoice?
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Now for a little while if necessary you have been grieved by various trials So that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes
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Though it is tested by fire May be found to result in the exact opposite of what Satan would do in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ humble cast watch now number four.
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How do we respond to trials? What's the godly way to suffer? number four trust number four trust verse 9 first Peter chapter 5
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But resist him Firm in the faith steadfast in the faith remaining firm in the faith holding your place in the faith
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Knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world
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Did you know God has proven himself faithful to other people who have suffered
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He has Saints throughout the centuries. God has been faithful to help them
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He first says in verse 9 Don't be a coward when it comes to Satan. You're gonna need to be courageous
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You need to be firm in your faith now some people think that means keep your good systematic theology the content of your faith
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Well, that's true. I think he's talking more about you need to just keep believing in the
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Lord Jesus Christ That's the essence of faith is believing right now Several times in the last month.
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I thought you know what? I have all kinds of issues now in my life that I need to deal with but Lord in spite of myself
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I'm believing in you right now. I believe that Jesus died was raised and he's coming back
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I believe that he's true. I am staking my eternity on The death burial and resurrection of Jesus his perfect life included and if Jesus has found a liar
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Our Jesus has found to be proven to be somebody besides Messiah. I'm going to hell
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I'm freely going to hell because I'm banking everything. I'm taking his word now My faith might be wavering but Jesus isn't wavering and that's
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Hebrews chapter 3, by the way Faithfulness of Jesus won't let you down even when we aren't faithful, but here you just keep trusting
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Peter says you just keep believing Confidently trusting in the
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Lord steadfast. Isn't that what the text is firm in your faith? Side note you're going through a trial and you're not reading the
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Bible Please start reading your Bible because you're not going to be looking at the object of your faith properly if you're just out there floating
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Around I've got so many problems Studying so many things here trust in the God who who served other people who's been faithful to other people trusting in God's promises
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Standing on the promises. I don't know what happened to our new hymnal, but I looked up standing on the promises It's not in there.
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Why is that? So let me just say amen. It's on my phone though Standing on the promises of Christ my king through eternal ages.
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Let his praises sing Glory in the highest I will shout and sing Standing on the promises of God Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
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I mean, I feel like I'm failing but the object of my faith He doesn't fail when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
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By the living Word of God, I shall prevail standing on the promises these trials
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Other Christians went through do you see the text the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world?
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Other people have been in a trial like you probably worse and by the grace of God They've made it through he's been faithful 1st
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Corinthians chapter 10. No temptation has overtaken you but what? Such is common to man and God is
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Faithful who will not allow you to be tempted be one beyond what you're able but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also that you may be able to Endure it.
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I know it's gonna be quite a while before we get to Hebrews 11, but you'll see many many men and women who gained approval as Hebrews 11 to talks about living by faith
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Gideon Barak Samson Jephthah David Samuel these people by faith conquered kingdoms performed acts of righteousness
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Obtained promises shut the mouths of lions quench the power of fire escape the edge of the sword
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From weakness were made strong became mighty in war put foreign armies to flight
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Since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us Let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that has set before Us fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith
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Did you know that Christ Jesus has never let anyone down and I just think about my own life
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Ever let anybody down God has never let anyone down He's always kept his word always kept his promises.
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That's why we memorize verses like Proverbs 3 5 & 6, right? Trust in the
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Lord with what all your heart lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him
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You might just have a shot pulling for you. He'll make your past straight
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Friends Psalm 46 is true. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob whose hope is in the
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Lord? Side note God of Jacob That's I'm glad for that for lots of reasons
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Hey, it's biblical and I want to submit to Scripture But I mean I would have picked like God's faithful to the God of Enoch I mean
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Enoch walk with God and then God took him. He was no longer. He's this godly guy Jacob though. I mean in one verse
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Genesis 27 19 and Jacob said to his father. I am Esau your firstborn I have done as you told me get up, please sit and eat of my game
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That you may bless me in one sentence Lie one
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I'm Esau. He's Jacob lie to I'm your firstborn He's second born lie three what
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I have done. No mom did it and number four. This is game No, it's domestic goat for reasons for lives
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But that isn't even that bad the next verse is the coup de gras Isaac said to his son how is it that you have done this so quickly my son and Jacob posing as Esau The second born posing as the firstborn.
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He said because the Lord your God caused it to happen to me Crazy, and then
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I think you know what just like that. God's the God of Jacob as well
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Well, we've got two more to go. And so we need to I guess we don't need to do anything. It's a snow Sunday I'm just gonna preach until I'm finished number five
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No, K and OW How do you respond to trials in light of your salvation number one humble cast
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Watch trust and now let's use the word no K and OW know that God will strengthen you on your way to glory
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That's really what verse 10 is all about The assurance that God when he begins a good work he's what to complete it faithful Philippians 1 6 and And by the way, he does talk about suffering he does talk about anxiety he doesn't address those things we're not living in a
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Christian science world where sin doesn't exist the illness doesn't exist These things really happen, but you see where everything's going
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It's all going back to focus on who God is starts off that way in the epistle and it's gonna end that way, too
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It's all about God and what he will do left to ourselves. We're going to fail. So keep your eyes on the one that doesn't
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Verse 10 after you have suffered for a little while What a name for God the
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God of all grace Boy don't you need that when you're in a trial who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Will himself
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Perfect confirm strengthen and establish You ESV says restore confirm strengthen and establish
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It's almost like you can sense that he's trying to say in light of eternity This suffering on the earth isn't that long
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Suffering doesn't last forever, but eternity does the eternal glory of God himself?
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Paul would put it this way for momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
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While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen For the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal
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God has plenty of grace for his children when they have plenty of different kinds of trials and He himself emphatically will perfect confirm strengthen and establish you
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God has strength McCarthy said God has resoluteness when it comes to getting you to heaven.
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This isn't going to cause me to lose my salvation This trial my poor response to the trial isn't going to cause me to lose my salvation think about it
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If you've got a child and that child Is sick going through what
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Thomas Goodwin called a loathsome disease a Good father a good mother does what to that child acts how to that how toward that child?
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How does it toward? Trying to think a good grammar today How does he act toward that child
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With pity I think about this to say all right
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Ever been through a trial and you go If you would have asked me six months ago How do you think you were to handle such and such a trial?
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Well, I think I would have done pretty good. I would have done this that and the other I would have got up I would have read the Psalms in Hebrew and then
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I would have done my Heidelberg catechism and then I would have got my nestle on 27 out and gone through a few things and looked at a few different verbs and Memorized a few with things but in trying to and then all of a sudden it happens to you and you're like I'm failing
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I'm weaker in this than I thought. I'm I'm letting myself down let alone everybody else in the
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Lord. I didn't think I'd do it that well. I mean, I don't think I think I'd do it better rather is my point and In spite of all this when
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God starts something he finishes it because it's all him. What if it? Was on our shoulders
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To make it all the way there Can you imagine You are going to make it to eternal glory and get out of your suffering
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Christian if you'll just restore yourself Confirm yourself strengthen yourself and establish yourself
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She's like I just can't do it. I'm weak I've already shown
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I'm weak with my anxiety and trouble and everything else It's all about who God is the focus is on the object of your faith
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And of course if you say God, I'm weak help me God strengthen me God give me grace
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He's glad to do it and so when God sees the failing Christian, of course in light of who we are
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Let's repent of our failings, of course, but what's what's God's attitude? What's God's disposition towards us?
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He's immutable. He's not changing just like Thomas Goodwin said when the Christian fails the kind father
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Has pity on his children and he will finish what he started and finally number six
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How do you respond to trouble? Maybe you've got trouble with somebody at work your boss
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Maybe you got trouble with one of your kids If you got trouble with your spouse Maybe I trouble with your health
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Maybe you have spiritual trouble. There's there's sin That you're not dealing with Whatever kind of trial you have here's how it ends number six praise
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Humble cast watch trust know and praise Peter Doesn't tell us to praise
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But it's a good apostolic example, isn't it? To him be dominion forever and ever amen
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ESV says to him be the dominion forever and ever Amen turn over just a few chapters to Jude and you can see almost an extended version of this doxology
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When you're in a trial, how do you respond? There's an ungodly way to respond
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There's a godly way to respond and Peter the shepherd The shepherd of the flock that he talks about in chapter 5 wants people to respond properly
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You know the end of Jude We sing it regularly verse 25 to the only
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God our Savior Through Jesus Christ our Lord and he gives three other praises
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Peter gives dominion to him be dominion Jude he gives four and it's interesting because Not really any verbs in there.
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He just shouts out these things. They're like these bursts of praise this these exclamations of praise
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You only need a verb for this glory Majesty dominion authority
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Not just now before all time and now and forever amen,
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I Love that doxology He just shouts things out essentially
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Glory the Incomprehensible weight and excellency of God. That's what he's after.
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He knows there's gonna be glory one day, too And he shouts out another one majesty
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That's so great. He's surpassingly wonderful Dominion he's powerful
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Controls everything ultimate victory is his and Authority, he does whatever he wants and juice says before all time
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Eternity past now present and then eternity future Forever and ever and Then he says amen.
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That's just a seal of approval sometimes if I was I was working the other day on a coffee grinder trying to get it fixed and Needed to see some little
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ULC, you know Symbol at the bottom or some kind of what else do they put on coffee grinders
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OSHA? They put a little OSHA tags on there or something Some good housekeeping seal of approval.
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I needed something and here with this. Amen. I mean we regularly say amen
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And do we remember what it says? When I'm overseas, especially in some of the Slavic speaking countries what we say in America, it's very simple
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You can tell people are kind of winding down their prayer and they're ready to land It's almost time to eat when they say something like this
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In Jesus name, okay, I can just I feel the soft landing
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Okay, but in Poland and the Czech Republic And they're praying of course in their own language, but I'll just do it in English And God we praise you for all you are and for all that you've done
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Amen, just I gotta know where I have solid time so I always keep my eyes open because I can see their mouth when they're about ready to go
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I like that because there's Gonna be just a man. I just like a wake -up call had Tomek stay at her house. I thought
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I'd better brace myself. Amen What does a man even mean?
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It means I assent. Yes, these things are true. I agree with them. Even though all these troubles are happening
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I agree God that you're powerful sovereign you care It means I have an earnest desire for them to be true,
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I believe it but but I'm wanting them to be true It's it's it's it's a longing that I have and it also means
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I'm confidently trusting that they're gonna they're gonna happen Assent desire and confidence.
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That's a good way to think about. Amen Friends even in your trials
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Spurgeons, right if I did not praise and bless Christ my lord I should deserve to have my tongue torn out by its roots
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If I did not bless and magnify his name I should deserve that every stone I tread on in the streets should rise up to curse my ingratitude
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For I'm drowned debtor to the mercy of God to the mercy of God Overhead and ears to infinite love and a boundless compassion.
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I am a debtor Are you not the same? Then I charge you by the love of Christ awake
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Awake your hearts now to magnify his glorious name May I encourage you and exhort you if you're in a trial now to say
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God I thank you for the trial and I praise you even though I'm in the trial
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Can you say it Let's pray father.
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I'm so thankful for this passage in first Peter We all have anxieties
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Yet, we're all as Christian people the believers here today Under your not just your mighty hand, but your caring hand
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We would ask that you would forgive us for our anxieties For any kind of thoughts we've had against you that would just be suitable only for the devil
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You are powerful gracious the God of all grace and we trust in what you're doing
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Yes, we're weak, yes, we're frail we fall but you don't you restore you confirm you strengthen and you establish
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I Hope that you I pray that you'd help Bethlehem Bible Church in the days to come
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Whether it's suffering and persecution like it's back in the days of Peter for their
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Christianity or any other kind of trial that sin in this infected world has has essentially caused