A Living Hope

Introduction (10 min):

Jab 1: Video- 1 Peter Bible Project

Right Hook: Today we dive into a series through the letter am calling this series, Joyful Persecution. This is a very difficult task and let’s be honest, frightening. This series will take us through the entire first epistle of Peter teaching us how to endure Joyful Persecution. Throughout this series I challenge you to look at your trials a little different.

Pray

Read:

Explanation (10 min): This letter gives persecuted Christians a powerful reminder that they have hope in the midst of their suffering. From the time of Abraham, God's people were a misunderstood minority and should expect to face hostility because they live under King Jesus' rule.

However, they are chosen by God, and their persecution is actually a gift because it offers them a chance to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus, which is fueled by hope in His return and victory over evil. Peter is hopeful that their imitation of Jesus and demonstration of His upside-down kingdom, which includes baptism and service, will give power to their words as they bear witness to God's mercy and show people the beautiful truth about Jesus.

Peter wrote this book A.D. 60-67, most likely A.D. 64. The theme of 1 Peter is, “Believers should follow Christ’s example by joyfully enduring persecution.” Let’s look at a few things we learn from the first 12 verses.

Application (10 min):

We are Guarded for Glory

We are not, by our own strength, going to make it into glory. It is only by the power of God that we are guarded. Through our faith God protects us for salvation. This salvation is a further description of the hope in verse 3 and the inheritance in verse 4. We are guarded until Jesus comes again!

It is amazing to know that His children are protected and guarded for glory. The amazing thing is that those who are in Christ are already glorified,

Romans 8:30 ESV

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The assurance of salvation should be an amazing motivator for us. That no matter what we go through no matter what sufferings we endure, suffering actually becomes a blessing. Because as Warren Wiersbe once said, “Suffering today means glory tomorrow.”

We are being Prepared for Glory

Everything we go through in this life is a way that God is preparing us for Glory in heaven. No man knows what is to come for His children yet we know that God is preparing us for something magnificent! Peter addresses trials that we endure instead of calling them tribulations because he is addressing generalized problems that we face.

But we learn a lot about trials. Trials are varied. We must not think that since we overcame one trial we will win them all. Each trial is varied and God matches the trial with our strengths and needs.

Trials are not easy. We should never have a careless attitude towards our trials. Peter says you have been grieved by trials. If we deny our pain in our trials we will make them worse. We must accept that they are difficult.

Trials are controlled by God. The good news is that they are only for a season. These trials are endured that our faith may be purified and shown to be genuine. This is evident by Peter’s illustration of gold being tested and perishing. Our trials make us stronger.

We can Enjoy Glory Now

While we suffer in this life we can turn the suffering into glory now. Peter gives some ways that we can do this.

Love Jesus. Our love of Jesus is based on our spiritual relationship with Him and what the Word has taught us about Him. The Holy Spirit has poured out His love into our hearts, . While Satan wants to bring out the worst in us during trials, Jesus desires for us to focus on Him. He wants to bring out the best in us. In your trials lift your heart up immediately to Jesus in worship and love.

Romans 5:5 ESV

and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Trust Jesus. We are to live by faith and not by sight. Faith means surrendering all that you are to God and obeying His word no matter the circumstances and consequences. This goes hand in hand with loving Jesus. When you love someone you trust them. Loving and trusting in Jesus help to strengthen hope and there you will find confidence.

Receive from Jesus. We must receive from Him all that we need to turn our trials into victory. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to you soul.” Receiving from Jesus is not just the ability to long for heaven in the midst of suffering but to practice love, faith, and rejoicing, that we may experience some of the glory of heaven as we suffer.

dff

Conclusion: For Christians, it’s about glory. When we put our faith in Jesus we are guarded for glory. As we learn to obey Him and experience trials, we are being prepared for glory. As we love, trust, and rejoice in Him, we experience glory now! What an amazing opportunity that we have all through the trials that we face. Do you look forward to glory? Do you live glory now? I challenge you to start looking at your trials a little differently. Don’t fall into the “woe is me” lie that Satan tries to plant in your minds. Focus on Jesus and the glory we have in Him. You will truly grow and be refined as you face various trials. All for His glory!