Now and Later

Preach for a Year #2 The Best Is Yet to Come

The Best Is Yet to Come

Prophecy Series

1 Peter 5:10–11

I. Introduction

A. First Peter: A Book of Triumph in Trials

1. Begins with blessed promises (1:1–9)

2. Ends speaking of trials and ultimate victory

B. Facing the Reality of Suffering in Life

C. Looking Beyond to Glory

II. Body

A. There Is Suffering Now (v. 10)

1. Who can deny it?

2. Suffering because we are part of a fallen race

a. How wonderful before the fall

b. No sickness, no sorrow, no death

3. Suffering because of the attacks of the Adversary

a. The roaring lion seeking to devour (vv. 8–9)

b. Persecution of believers through the centuries

c. Grief over wayward loved ones

4. What is your present area of suffering?

5. God’s grace will be sufficient for you (2 Cor. 12:9)

B. There Will Be Glory Later (v. 10)

1. “After you have suffered a while”

2. There is a time limit on all suffering (1:6)

3. Peter saw God’s glory at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17)

4. Promises of heaven

a. “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1–3)

b. “To depart and be with Christ is far better” (Phil. 1:23)

c. “Present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8)

5. Our future is as bright as the promises of God

C. In Our Suffering, God Is Preparing Us for Glory (v. 10)

1. God is preparing us for glory through suffering

a. He is perfecting (maturing) us

b. He is establishing us (building our faith)

c. He is strengthening us

d. He is placing us on a firm foundation

2. We are partakers of Christ’s sufferings (4:13)

3. We shall then share also in His glory (v. 13)

4. Suffering is to make us like Jesus (Rom. 8:28–29)

D. The Suffering Now Cannot Compare with the Glory Later (v. 10)

1. We are “called to His eternal glory”

2. Paul agrees (Rom. 8:15–18)

a. Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ

b. Suffering with Him … reigning with Him

c. Groaning now … glory later

3. We understand suffering

4. The glory ahead is beyond our understanding

III. Conclusion

A. All Earthly Gain and Glory Is Temporary

B. His Glory and Dominion Last Forever (v. 11)

Sometimes we can’t always see the good that’s going to come from the challenges we are facing

A wife went to wake her husband for church one Sunday morning. When she nudged him on the bed he said, "I'm not going!” "Why not?" asked his wife. "I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "One, they don't like me. Two, I don't like them."His wife replied, "I'll give you two good reasons why YOU WILL go to church. One, you're a grown man and Two, you're the pastor!”

A wife went to wake her husband for church one Sunday morning. When she nudged him on the bed he said, "I'm not going!” "Why not?" asked his wife. "I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "One, they don't like me. Two, I don't like them."His wife replied, "I'll give you two good reasons why YOU WILL go to church. One, you're a grown man and Two, you're the pastor!” Big Idea: My struggle NOW is His glory LATER

Big Idea: My struggle NOW is His glory LATER

1 Peter 5:10–11 NLT

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

Peter starts with blessed promises (great expectations…inheritance waiting)

Ends speaking of trials and ultimate victory

Peter encourages a group of people who will be acquainted with suffering to look beyond what’s happening now…to God’s glory later

1 Peter 5:5–11 NLT

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

Introduction:

1 Peter 5:

1 Peter 5:5–9 NLT

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Big Idea: My struggle NOW is His Glory LATER

1 Peter 5:10–11 NLT

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

Scripture

1 Peter 5:5-

Truth 1: a promise without a process is dangerous

There is suffering (fallenness of humanity, etc)

Jesus: in this world you will have trouble

How do we define suffering? —> Undergoing pain, distress or hardship

While we attempt to avoid suffering…we actually need it at times

Young men: suffer by being humble (God opposes the proud)

Be sober and vigilant: When you’d rather just cut loose and relax

Story: Patti’s picture of me: Car getting stripped

What will set us apart is HOW we suffer and WHAT we suffer for.

The UNCOMMON way we MAKE OUR MARK will not be THAT we suffer but it will be HOW we suffer and WHAT we suffer for.Your greatest TREASURE may come from your hardest TRIALYour greatest STRENGTH may be revealed in your STRUGGLEParts of your DESTINY will only be revealed in the DESERT.

Your greatest TREASURE may come from your hardest TRIAL

Your greatest STRENGTH may be revealed in your STRUGGLE

Parts of your DESTINY will only be revealed in the DESERT.

The same grace (last week) that moved me from where I was

is the same grace that will push me towards where I want to be

PROMISE without PROCESS is dangerous.

PROMISE without PROCESS is dangerous. Promise: Godly Wife / Process: Staying Sexually PurePromise: Life Giving Marriage / Process: Hard conversations/Serving Promise: Better Career / Process: Steward current one Promise: Restored Family / Process: Prayer, Trust, HumilityPromise: Healing / Process: Take care of health and contend!

Promise: Life Giving Faith.......................Process: Death to yourself (humility)

Promise: Godly Wife............................... Process: Staying Sexually Pure

Promise: Life Giving Marriage................Process: Hard conversations/Serving

Promise: Better Career...........................Process: Steward current one

Promise: Restored Family......................Process: Prayer, Trust, Humility

Promise: Healing ....................................Process: Take care of health and contend!

Apply: Pray First

Pray First

Embrace the PROCESS (vs.10 suffered a little while…then you get the reward)

1 Peter 5:10–11 NLT

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

There is a time limit on suffering (GRK: Oligos — temporary, short time)

Suffering Prepares us for something (vs.10)

restoring us…strengthening us…supporting us…establishing us

Peter might be thinking about:

what he saw at the Mt. of Transfiguration ()

Jesus— “I go to prepare a place for you” ()

Paul— “To depart and be with Christ is far better” ()

Romans 5:1–5 NLT

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:1-

Suffering: purpose is to develop the character to handle our future victor

Suffering: results in our endurance, character and hope

Suffering: purpose is to develop the character to handle our future victorySuffering: results in our endurance, character and hopeSuffering: leads to a hope that will never disappoint, a love poured out on us

Suffering: results in our endurance, character and hope

Suffering: leads to a hope that will never disappoint, a love poured out on us

Struggle deepens character, not necessarily understanding

Apply: Be Prepared

Be ready in and out of season

Find a friend

Conclusion: Horatio Spafford

He was a rather wealthy businessman that lived in Chicago in the mid 1800’s. He was a married man with 5 children.

was a rather wealthy businessman that lived in Chicago in the mid 1800’s. He was a married man with 5 children.

In 1871 tragedy struck when his youngest son became ill and died. Shortly after this, the great Chicago fire broke out. All of his investment properties were destroyed. He lost everything. It was a time of immense turmoil for the Horatio and his wife, Anna. It was so bad that he decided he, his wife, and 4 remaining children needed a vacation

In 1873 they decided to go to England and travel with evangelist and close friend DL Moody. However, at the last minute Horatio had a business emergency. he was unable to go. Despite this, he encouraged his wife and 4 daughters to get on the ship and head across the great pond. He would meet up with them later.

Several days later he received a telegram from his wife in England that another ship had run into the boat his family was on. He lost all 4 of his daughters. Only she survived. She wrote, “saved alone, what shall I do?” In the midst of just 2 years he had lost all 5 of his children. Absolutely horrific.

He quickly made plans to meet up with his grieving wife in England.

On the way there, the captain of the boat came up to Horatio and let him know when they were passing over the spot believed to be where his 4 children drowned. At that moment he penned the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul.”

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

As we sing this song this morning. I want you to bring whatever you may be wrestling with to God. I want you to be as honest with God and yourself as you can be and I want to still let our worship be the weapon we use as we declare, “no matter what, it is well with my soul!”

Now and Later

Introduction: I’m not going!

Big Idea: My struggle NOW is His glory LATER

Story: Patti’s picture of me: Car getting stripped

Big Idea: My struggle NOW is His glory LATER

Context:

1. A promise without a process is dangerous

Explain

Illustration: Where I was…where I am and ......where I want to be

Apply:

2. A process without a promise is hopeless

Explain

Story: My dream of Dad in the Truck

Conclusion: Horatio Spafford