Untitled Sermon (2)

1 Peter LEB

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen who are residing temporarily in the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 6 in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom, although you have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, although you do not see him, and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry, 11 investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things, 12 to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels desire to look. 13 Therefore, when you have prepared your minds for action by being self-controlled, put your hope completely in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires you used to conform to in your ignorance, 15 but as the one who called you is holy, you yourselves be holy in all your conduct, 16 for it is written, “You will be holy, because I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence, 18 because you know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb 20 who was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you 21 who through him are believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from the heart, 23 because you have been born again, not from perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For “all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that has been proclaimed to you. 1 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is kind, 4 to whom you are drawing near, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God. 5 And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe, “The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,” who stumble because they disobey the word to which also they were consigned. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, 10 who once were not a people, but now are the people of God, the ones who were not shown mercy, but now are shown mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires which wage war against your soul, 12 maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in the things in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority, 14 or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good. 15 For the will of God is as follows: by doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as free persons, and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the community of believers, fear God, honor the king. 18 Domestic slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unjust. 19 For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps, 22 who did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth, 23 who when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly, 24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful, pure conduct. 3 Let your adornment not be the external kind, braiding hair and putting on gold jewelry or putting on fine clothing, 4 but the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is highly valuable in the sight of God. 5 For in the same way formerly the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves by being subject to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you have become when you do good and are not frightened with respect to any terror. 7 Husbands, in the same way live with your wives knowledgeably, as with the weaker female vessel, showing them honor as fellow heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 And finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, showing mutual affection, compassionate, humble, 9 not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others, because for this reason you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing. 10 For “The one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips must not speak deceit. 11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 13 And who is the one who will harm you if you are a zealous adherent for what is good? 14 But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed, 15 but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you. 16 But do so with courtesy and respect, having a good conscience, so that in the things in which you are slandered, the ones who malign your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order that he could bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 who were formerly disobedient, when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, while an ark was being constructed, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were rescued through water. 21 And also, corresponding to this, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him. 1 Therefore, because Christ suffered in the flesh, you also equip yourselves with the same way of thinking, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God. 3 For the time that has passed was sufficient to do what the Gentiles desire to do, having lived in licentiousness, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries, 4 with respect to which they are surprised when you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and so they revile you. 5 They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 Because for this reason also the gospel was preached to those who are dead, so that they were judged by human standards in the flesh, but they may live in the spirit by God’s standards. 7 Now the end of all things draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for your prayers. 8 Above all, keep your love for one another constant, because love covers a large number of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as the oracles of God; if anyone serves, let it be as by the strength that God provides, so that in all things God will be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be glad. 14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name. 17 For it is the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if it begins out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 19 So then also those who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good. 1 Therefore I, your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a sharer of the glory that is going to be revealed, exhort the elders among you: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly, 3 and not as lording it over those under your care, but being examples for the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, younger men, be subject to the elders, and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the right time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, because you know the same kinds of sufferings are being accomplished by your community of believers in the world. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 12 Through Silvanus, the faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly to encourage you and to attest that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen the same as you, greets you, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

The Joy Arising from Our Hope

LIFE CONNECTION:

The Christian life is often portrayed in a positive manner, to the exclusion of any trials, difficulties, or sacrifices. Living for Christ can be hard. The Christian turns his or her back on the former way of life and embraces a new way of living in Christ. Unfortunately, non-believers often react with anger and rejection. Our hope in Christ not only carries us through such circumstances, but gives us cause to rejoice and glory in Christ.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE:

After a diving accident in 1967 left her a quadriplegic as a teen, Joni Eareckson Tada longed to be free from her suffering and walk again. After two years of intense rehab, she left the hospital in a wheelchair, still longing for a breakthrough. She eventually grew bitter and cried out for God to help her know how to live this new normal. While reading the Gospel of Mark, Joni read where Jesus had been healing crowds of people, but then He went off to be alone and pray. When His disciples found Him the next morning, Jesus urged that they go elsewhere to preach—even though more people needed His healing touch (Mark 1:33-38). Joni noted, “That’s when it hit me …. It’s not that Jesus did not care about all those sick and diseased people, it’s just their problems weren’t His main focus. The gospel was …. To me, physical healing had always been the big deal, but to God, my soul was a much bigger deal. And that’s when I began searching for a deeper healing, not just a physical healing.” 1 Joni had joy in her walk with Christ. No matter how much suffering we face, God can use it to deepen our walk with Him.

THE PASSAGE:

1 Peter 4:1-2,12-19

THE SETTING:

Peter’s theme throughout his first epistle was to encourage believers in Asia Minor who were suffering persecution to remain faithful to Jesus regardless of the cost. The apostle often reminded them of the blessedness of their status in Christ (1 Pet. 1:1-12; 2:4-10). He blended a reminder of their blessings with a call to maintain high standards of morality and holiness and emphasized the rewards of such conduct.

1 Peter 4: 1-2 Lexham English Bible

1 Therefore, because Christ suffered in the flesh, you also equip yourselves with the same way of thinking, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God.

KEY WORDS: The flesh (v. 1)—Though this term is sometimes used to refer to the human sinful nature (Rom. 8:1-8; Gal. 5:17,19-21), here it refers to Jesus’ suffering in His physical body during His crucifixion.

1 Verse 1. As followers of Jesus Christ, our constant focus is to be on His teachings, His example, and especially His attitude toward His mission (Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 12:2-3). Since Peter was challenging his readers to be faithful as they faced persecution, he resumed (Forasmuch or therefore) his description of how Jesus suffered when He was crucified (1 Pet. 2:21; 3:18). From what Peter wrote, apparently the believers in Asia Minor were not yet facing physical persecution; primarily they faced false accusations regarding their faith in Christ (2:15; 3:16; 4:14). However, Peter most likely recognized the possibility that his readers could suffer more intense persecution in the near future, as occurred late in the first century (Rev. 2:9-10,13).

After reminding his readers of Jesus’ willingness to suffer for them, Peter challenged these believers to arm themselves with the same mind (attitude). 

Peter was encouraging these believers to be prepared for suffering in the flesh. The phrase hath ceased from sin is somewhat difficult to interpret. Yes, believers are freed from the guilt and slavery of sin (Rom. 6:6-11). However, Peter did not mean that Christians would never sin again (1 John 1:8-10). So what did he mean? 

Paul said emphatically that Christians should no longer continue in sin (Rom. 6:1-2,12). The reason is because when we confessed our faith in Jesus, we were baptized into Christ’s death; in a sense, we were crucified and died with Him (vv. 2-4). Our slavery to sin is over (vv. 3-11). While believers still wrestle at times with the temptation to sin, our lives (lifestyles) are now characterized by “the new man” the believer becomes at the moment of conversion, the one God “created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24; see Col. 3:1-11). While before faith in Christ a person’s natural inclination was to sin, the believer’s inclination is now toward living a life of faithfulness to God. Paul described this new inclination to live according to God’s standards of holiness as walking by the Spirit (see Gal. 5:13-25).

 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God.

Verse 2. Peter then reminded his readers of the basic expectations of their call to follow Jesus. Jesus expects— He demands—that His disciples dedicate their lives to the will of God and not to the lusts of men. Jesus stressed this point multiple times (Luke 9:23; 14:25-27). Peter went on to list some examples of how nonbelievers in Asia Minor followed their natural, sinful desires (1 Pet. 4:3). 

What did Peter mean by the rest of his time in the flesh? He could have meant the time before Jesus’ return from heaven (4:7). Peter could have also been referring to the time each believer had left before he or she died. He was calling on them to be faithful, to live good lives, and to be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ—to live out the will of God.

1 Peter 4:12–19 (LEB)

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. 

13 But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be glad. 

14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 

15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 

16 But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name. 

17 For it is the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if it begins out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 

18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 

19 So then also those who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. 

Verse 12. Being willing to suffer for Christ takes a huge step of faith, but Peter went even further. He challenged his readers not only to endure their trials but to demonstrate the depth of their faith by the attitude in which they accepted and endured such suffering. Peter began this section of his letter by reminding his readers of their loving relationship with one another in Christ, addressing them as beloved. He urged them not to be surprised

by the suffering they were having to endure or to think that something unusual was happening to them. 

Peter referred to their suffering for their faith as the fiery trial. The Greek term (purosis) was used to describe the process of metals being refined or purified by fire. Although Peter could have been referring to actual persecution as the fiery trial, more likely he was associating the persecution of believers with how fire was used to purify metals.

A test can serve two functions: (1) to reveal a person’s knowledge or the quality of some material; and (2) to make the person or material better. For these Christians their testing would confirm to them the genuineness of their faith. In the same way fire reveals the quality of a metal, the fires of persecution demonstrate the reality of a believer’s faith in Christ. Through the Christian’s suffering and faithful endurance, he demonstrates the genuineness of his faith and gains assurance of the authenticity of his relationship with God through Jesus (1 Pet. 1:6-7; 2 Pet. 1:3-11).

A test can also strengthen a believer’s faith. For example, Genesis 22:1 says that God tested Abraham by instructing him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God already knew Abraham’s heart; He wasn’t testing Abraham to discover the reality of Abraham’s faith. God tested Abraham for Abraham to know more about God, that He was the God who could always be trusted to keep His promises (Heb. 11:17-19). 

13 But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be glad. 

Verse 13. Instead of being surprised by their suffering (1 Pet. 4:12), believers should rejoice (1:6,8-9). Peter gave two reasons why a Christian could rejoice in suffering. The first was the privilege of getting to share in Christ’s sufferings. Paul said that he had given up everything from his former way of life so that he could know Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:8). He wrote, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (vv. 10-11).  Believers could rejoice that through enduring suffering for Christ they were being faithful to Jesus and His calling to always live in a manner worthy of the gospel they had received (Eph. 4:1)

The second reason why believers could rejoice while enduring suffering for their faith in Christ was they may be glad also with exceeding joy when they met Jesus face to face. Believers can rejoice when they suffer persecution for Christ’s sake because of the even greater joy that will be theirs when Jesus commends them and rewards them for their faithfulness, particularly for their endurance of suffering for Him.  As Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12).

14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 

Verse 14. Peter referred to the form of persecution his readers were most likely facing—verbal abuse (1 Pet. 2:15)  He noted that such abuse was for the name of Christ. When the apostles were arrested and beaten for telling others about Jesus, they were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” Peter said that his readers should react the same way he and the other apostles had responded. They should know that they were happy (blessed) to be reproached for their faith in Jesus. Peter’s words echo those of Jesus Himself when He promised His disciples they would be blessed for being persecuted because of Him (Matt. 5:11). 

Peter wrote that these faithful believers would be happy (blessed by God) because the spirit of glory and of God was resting on them. Glory refers to the power and majesty which belongs to and is always associated with God alone: God the Father (Eph. 1:17), God the Son (John 1:14), and God the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:8).

15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 

Verse 15. While the believers would be blessed for suffering for the name of Christ (1 Pet. 4:14), they should clearly have understood that they would not receive a blessing for either doing or suffering the consequences for evil, immoral deeds (3:17)

What about busybody or meddlers? Peter was describing a person who was spending time looking into others’ business. Christians should care about the needs of others and respond appropriately, such as sharing with the needy (1 John 3:17) or in confronting a fellow believer who wanders from the truth (Jas. 5:19-20). However, none of them should be known as a busybody.

16 But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name. 

Verse 16. The word Christian appears only two other times in the New Testament—Acts 11:26 and 26:28. This term was originally used by Gentile unbelievers in reference to followers of Christ. The Jews who opposed Jesus’ followers apparently called them “the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). The reason for Gentiles using the name Christian was perhaps to identify these individuals as followers of Jesus Christ and to distinguish them from the Jews. The Christians’ opponents may have also used the term to mock believers since their religion was so strange to Gentiles. Christians referred to themselves as “disciples”, “all that believed” (Acts 2:44), and “saints” (9:13). Peter urged his readers not to be ashamed of this label or to bring shame on it by suffering for doing wrong. ). Rather, Christians should bring glory to God by proudly accepting Christ’s name when they suffered for doing good (3:17).

17 For it is the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if it begins out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 

Verse 17. The concept of God’s judgment beginning with the house of God comes from Ezekiel 9. Ezekiel wrote that the Spirit gave him a vision of God’s judgment on the people of Israel (Ezek. 8:3). In his vision Ezekiel heard the Lord ordering His angels to kill the unrighteous in Jerusalem and to start at His temple in Jerusalem (9:1-6). In the Old Testament the temple was the place where God’s presence dwelt among His people (1 Kings 8). Under the new covenant established through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s temple became the body of each of Jesus’ disciples, where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20). Peter did not mean that God was going to punish the Christians, but rather that He was going to purify them through their sufferings (1 Pet. 3:13-14; 4:1-2,12). However, them that obey not the gospel of God and refuse to put their faith in Jesus will face God’s final and eternal judgment (4:3-5; Rev. 20:11-15). If God’s judgment of His faithful was difficult due to the suffering they experienced, how much worse would be His judgment on those who disobeyed His gracious offer of salvation in Jesus Christ?

18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 

Verse 18. Peter asked just such a question as he quoted from the Greek translation of Proverbs 11:31 to reinforce his statement in verse 17. The righteous in this context are genuine believers who endure suffering for the sake of Christ. Going through God’s purifying process would be difficult. At times the faithful disciple might even feel that he could hardly endure such trials and tribulation. However, the judgment faced by the ungodly and the sinner will be infinitely worse (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48)

19 So then also those who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

Verse 19. This verse is a summary of verses 12-18 and essentially of the entire letter as well. Peter again stated that the Christian’s suffering is according to the will of God. God will not allow His children to suffer beyond what they are able to stand and will give them the strength to endure to the end (1 Pet. 1:5; see John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-39). Because this is true, believers can commit the keeping of themselves to God.

 Because God is their loving, sovereign, and faithful Creator, Christians can live with confident trust in and consistent obedience to God, even when it means suffering for being Christ’s disciples. 

LIVE IT OUT

How will you let God deepen your walk with Him through suffering?

> Rejoice. Choose gratitude. Voice a prayer of thanks to the Lord no matter what you are currently facing. Make a list of ten things that have brought you joy today, and allow that practice to set the tone for a lifestyle of rejoicing in Christ.

> Memorize. To remind yourself to think with the mind of Christ, memorize 1 Peter 4:1-2: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

> Listen. Talk with other believers about their trials and suffering. Listen for the ways God has deepened their walk with Him because of what they have experienced. Offer prayer and encouragement as needed.

Wrap it up:

Let God mold you more and more into Christlikeness. It will lead you to glorify God, and as others see Christ at work in you, it can be a cause for them to also glorify God.

THE POINT

Suffering for Christ can deepen our walk with Him.