Entrusted to God

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**Turn to 1 Peter 4:12...

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Recap

Last WK- FOCUS....LIVING within the CHURCH in LIGHT of the END.

SELF-CONTROL

SOBER-MIND

LOVE

SELFLESS USE of GIFTS..

This WK- Turning back to FOCUS on RELATIONSHIPS w/ NONBELIEVERS & SUFFERING...

Last week- using GIFTS for GOD’S GLORY…this week, ENDURING SUFFERING for GOD’S GLORY.

Read Text & Pray

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Intro:

TRUST/ ENTRUSTING YOURSELF to OTHERS...

riding PASSENGER… or FLYING = TRUSTING DRIVER.

Driving w/ Spencer & DRUMSTICKS...

ENTRUST to ABILITIES, DISCERNMENT, of OTHERS

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Or, DR. w/ MEDICATIONS/PROCEDURES…you have to TRUST their EXPERTISE, NOT your OWN

THIS WK, WRONG MEDICATION? DOUBLE-CHECKING W/ DOC...

TRUST when you DON’T KNOW...

ENTRUST YOURSELF to THEIR CARE...

Need:

And see as Christians, we must never forget that the Christian life is one of faith, and trust. And that’s why we need this text today.

WALK by FAITH & TRUST GOD w/ RESULTS…esp. if we don’t understand.

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Text:

Thought 1: The Blessing of Sharing in Christ’s Suffering

1 Peter 4:12–19 (ESV)

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Peter begins- SUFFERING = EXPECTED.

* STRANGERS, DON’T THINK IT STRANGE…WON’T FIT IN has CONSEQUENCES...

WORLD STAINED by SIN…NO ONE KNOWS EXTENT!

TRIALS = FIERY (ch. 1) PURIFYING AGENT…as gold is purified, so our faith is purified & strengthened through trials

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(v13)

EXPECT SUFFERING BC CHRIST SUFFERED.

We “SHARE” in CHRIST’S SUFFERING...

“share” here

PARTNERSHIP/FELLOWSHIP

it’s as if we own PART of the COMPANY or business, or get a PIECE of the PIE..

We are together with Christ in suffering, it is to literally, “fellowship in suffering” (BDAG).

See, CHRIST = EXAMPLE in EVERYTHING, even in suffering.

DISCIPLE NOT ABOVE MASTER...

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INSOFAR/to the extent WE SUFFER, WE should REJOICE.

REJOICE NOW.... @ REV. of GLORY…WE SHARE in GLORY…SALVATION = SECURE...

WE REJOICE in ANTICIPATING SHARING W/ GLORY!

REMEMBER: Willing to suffer— “CEASED FROM SIN.”…suffering = turning to Christ instead of turning from Christ.

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(v14) INSULTED for name of Christ....SUFFERING BECAUSE a CHRISTIAN not just “as”,,,we are blessed (happy)

BLESSED w/ PRESENCE of COMFORTER, Holy Spirit, rests/relaxes upon us…we must never forget in suffering we aren’t alone!

Transition: Now after beginning by telling Christians how to respond to suffering, Peter will share what sets Christians apart from the world as it regards suffering. Look at verse 15.

Thought 2: The Importance of Suffering as a Christian

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Again, Peter shows us that our suffering as Christians shouldn’t be because we are wrongdoers...

We shouldn’t “deserve” what comes our way, or else how are we set-apart

4 things: (2 Civic/2 Social)

Murder

Hope this one’s an easy one!

Stealing/Being a thief

CIVIC THINGS…LAWS of LAND...

Remember, CHRISTIANS should OBEY LAWS of the land when they DON’T CONTRADICT our FAITH...

Shouldn’t bring needless suffering into our own lives!! - Speeding ticket??

Evildoer/Wrongdoer

Meddler

Meddling in affairs of others that aren’t our business.

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(v16) Suffer as a Christian…don’t be ashamed!

Christian, simply means Christ-follower.

If suffering because of our faith, DON’T BE ASHAMED... don’t fear…you’ll be vindicated some day!

Not ashamed, open about our faith, not backing down…not trying to hide under the radar.

We will not be disappointed/put to shame on judgment day, so we don’t have to be ashamed now!

Our faith doesn’t have to be publicly obnoxious, but it should be obvious.

People should know you follow Jesus if you’ve spent a lot of time around them!

God-fearing, holy, set-apart conduct as believers!

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In suffering, we are to glorify God.

GOAL of CHRISTIAN LIFE = living for GOD’S GLORY..

last week, gifts for glory of God, this week, suffering for glory of God by not backing down from beliefs!

Transition: Now, after illustrating how Christians should live while suffering, Peter is going to remind us of God’s coming judgment. Look at verses 17 and 18.

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Thought 3: The Judgment of God

17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Peter begins by mentioning judgment beginning at the house or household of God,

citing a vision that the prophet Ezekiel had in the OT.

D.A. CARSON, describes this as a SIFTING PROCESS, where God sifts the sheep from the goats, or the wheat from the tares.

Judgment in this sense is NOT FINAL CONDEMNATION…but EVALUATION PRIOR to the final condemnation.

EVALUATING & SIFTING those who “CLAIM” to be IN CHRIST..

REFINING FIRE (TRIALS)…PURIFIES BELIEVERS, CONDEMNS NONBELIEVERS

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Coming to church doesn’t equal coming to Christ.

Gospel:

YOU NEED to BE SAVED from your sins, washed in his blood, born-again…

ALL MANKIND BORN FAR FROM GOD.

It’s not through our church attendance or pious lifestyles that we are saved, but it is only through the blood of Jesus Christ and by grace through faith receiving his righteousness credited to our account.

**You can receive this free gift today!

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SAVED = profession of FAITH THROUGH WORKS…changed life.

Works don’t secure you / keep you, but they are an evidence.

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EZEKIEL’S DAY- judgment begin with house...

VISION- a messenger from God marked all the people who groaned or sighed at the abominations committed…and in the vision the others were killed.

Just as in Ezekiel’s day, God is doing a sifting/separating in the earth. From those who are right with him to those who aren’t.

If you’re a goat amongst the sheep it’ll become plain.

The fiery trials separate between the two…if you’re in the faith you’ll persevere, and for those who aren’t they’ll be separated.

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(V18) Righteous scarcely saved… “SAVED W/ DIFFICULTY”

Through the refining, God’s people are saved.

Those who disobey the gospel - nonbelievers

The fire of God purifies believers, but it is condemning for those who don’t believe.

Wayne Grudem points out that if the fire looked like the trials Peter’s audience were going through it, surely it would look like utter destruction to those who don’t believe.

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We must never forget how great our salvation is…It wasn’t accomplished easily.

Offended God doesn’t save all?? Question is why does God save any??

Grace = unmerited…why it’s called grace!

NONE of us DESERVED SALVATION.

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Jesus speaking about rich man’s salvation…camel & eye of needle…point is it’s impossible apart from God.

The rich man can be saved…the worst wretch can be saved...

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Man w/ legion of demons?…Unclean 4 ways (Sproul)

Possessed w/ thousands of unclean spirits...

lived amongst tombs

lived amongst pigs

Gentile territory

Jesus & disciples traveled across sea, in spite of storm to save this man…and then Jesus sent him on mission.

NO ONE IS TOO FAR!

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MIRACULOUS…WE WEREN’T BETTER OFF THOUGH!

All of us were dead in trespasses & sins…far from God…until the day that Jesus Christ came into your life and made you a new creation

Righteousness imputed by faith…he can do this for you today!

Transition: Now, Peter is going to conclude by tying all these pieces together and showing us what we should do when suffering inevitably comes our way. Look at verse 19.

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Thought 4: Conclusion

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Sometimes suffering = God’s will for us.

TRIALS =REFINING FIRE...

**God is sovereign, even over our trials!

Grudem: God controls both INTENSITY & DURATION of suffering!

Job’s example: SATAN getting PERMISSION…God is still sovereign.

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God’s promises = eternal…no guarantees for an easy life...

At some point- suffer because of your faith…probably not beaten or killed…but suffer insults & condemnation from others.

Aim in suffering - turn closer to God not farther away.

Secure salvation- Christ’s blood pleading our case...

So, we can entrust ourselves to God no matter what comes our way. He is our faithful Creator who is capable of anything.

Schreiner- “entrust” same as Jesus “committing his spirit”

We must ultimately entrust our care to God. He is faithful.

Schreiner further says this,

“Similarly, believers should entrust their lives to God as Creator. The reference to God as Creator (ktistēs) implies his sovereignty, for the Creator of the world is also sovereign over it. Therefore believers can be confident that he will not allow them to suffer beyond their capacity and that he will provide the strength needed to endure. Such confidence can be theirs because he is a “faithful” Creator, faithful to his promises and faithful to his people, never abandoning them in their time of need, always vindicating the righteous and condemning the wicked (cf. 4:17–18).”

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And we’re to CONTINUE DOING GOOD!

We aren’t sovereign. God is. We must trust he’s faithful & remain faithful to Him!

Romans 8:28---PURPOSE of CONFORMING us into image of His Son… “MAN OF SORROWS”

Cross:

Christ endured cross, entrusting himself to God, for JOY set BEFORE HIM...

Suffering wasn’t purposeless…look @ what he did!

Likewise, God has purpose in our suffering (not same, but still)…we must trust him, knowing his faithfulness…considering the joy set before us of our union w/ him in heaven!

Big Idea:

As Christians, when we suffer trials, we can rejoice that we will share in Christ’s glory in the future and entrust ourselves to God’s care while continually doing good.

Intention:

Our worship response to God this morning should be enduring trials that inevitably come by entrusting our future to God and continuing to do good, no matter what comes our way.

Takeaways:

Trials will come. Strangers shouldn’t think it strange.

Remember God’s blessing & presence of H.S.!

Consider the greatness of your salvation…thank God for it!

Impossible for us to secure…but God is in business of saving sinners like you and I!

When undergoing trials…entrust ourselves to God’s care & sovereign hand… & continue doing good!

He’s both sovereign & good!

Application:

Consider how little control you have...

When you face hard times you can’t change, remind yourself “God I entrust my life to you, because you are both sovereign and good”…put your faith & trust in him as your faithful creator.

Close in Prayer