Footprints On Life's Road: Suffering According to the Will of God (Part 4C)

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Introduction

Text - ; ;
1 Peter 3:13–17 NKJV
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 4:12–14 NKJV
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
1 Peter 3.13-17
1 Peter 12-14
1 Peter 4:19 NKJV
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Title - Part 4C, FootPrints On Life’s Road: Suffering According To The Will Of God
Series - 1 Peter: A Message Of Hope For Pilgrims
Intro
Footprints on Life’s Road - the focus of Peter’s epistle
Suffering according to the will of God - Peter’s third admonition on this part
Consider the order of Peter’s admonition
Submission - submission to authority allows for a peaceful living
Peace - peaceful living prepares your life suffering
Suffering - gives us lessons we cannot receive otherwise
Main Point
As pilgrims on earth, Christians will do well if they consider suffering as part of their life and learn from them instead.
Despite our painful experiences, God is using suffering to bring glory to His name.

Sermon Points

How is God using suffering in our lives for His glory?

Suffering is God’s way of shaming those who do evil

1 Peter 3:14–16 NKJV
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1 Peter 3.13-16
When you suffer for the sake of righteousness, there are 4 things you must remember:
you are blessed!
you have nothing to fear
you need to sanctify the Lord God in your heart
set apart
give Him your heart exclusively and devotedly
you need to be ready defend your beliefs to those who are asking
When you have these 4 things with you, the evildoers are put to shame!
they could not find fault in you
they cannot get evil things out of you
When Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, the unbelievers were put to shame!
The unbelieving dead were put to shame - He “preached” to spirits in prison
His death paved the way for Him to prove the truth of God’s words since the time of Adam - He “preached” to spirits in prison
On the cross, a centurion declared, “truly this was the Son of God!”
Noah’s obedience and longsuffering vindicated the truth of God’s message for his day
he was saved by from the flood judgment
THE POINT IS -
SUFFERING DOES NOT REALLY TAKE ANYTHING FROM US - BUT IT PUTS THE EVILDOERS TO SHAME

Suffering is God’s way of saying your days of sinful living are over

1 Peter 4:1–3 NKJV
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
When we suffer for the sake of righteousness, it shows we have ceased from sin.
1 Peter 4.1-
you go with righteous living because has no more part in your life.
THE POINT IS -
EVERY TIME WE SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE NO LONGER BOUND TO SIN!

Suffering is God’s way of showing there’s glory up ahead for you

1 Peter 4:12–14 NKJV
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Those who partake of Christ’s suffering will also share in His glory!
1 Peter 4.12-1
Romans 8:17 NKJV
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
2 Timothy 2:12 NKJV
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
You are reproached because the Spirit of glory rests upon you!
Stephen, the first martyr was stoned to death
his face was like the face of an angel -
those who heard him preach gnashed their teeth, cried out with a loud voice, closed their ears and ran to him -
THE POINT IS -
EVERY TIME WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST AND HIS WORD, IT IS A REMINDER THAT GLORY AWAITS US!

Suffering is God’s way of judging your life

1 PETER 4.15-
1 Peter 4:15–18 NKJV
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
God is judging our lives today so we will not be condemned together with the world.
Verse 18 is quoted from
Proverbs 11:31 NKJV
If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
Proverbs 11.31
1 Corinthians 11:32 NKJV
But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11.32
God is judging our lives so that we may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:4–5 NKJV
so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
2 Thessalonians 1.
Acts 14:21–22 NKJV
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
THE POINT IS -
SUFFERING IS GOD’S WAY OF SHAPING YOUR LIFE FOR HIS COMING KINGDOM!
IN GOD’S KINGDOM - ARE NOT A MERE CITIZEN, YOU WILL REIGN AS KINGS!

Conclusion

Keep on doing good - the right thing - and commit your soul to God!
1 Peter 4:19 NKJV
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
SONG - GOD WILL MAKE THIS TRIAL A BLESSING
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