Rejoice in the suffering

We are wrapping up our series this morning Trust and Obey. A study through the book of 1 Peter.

As we seek to trust and obey Christ, we will discover that obedience often means suffering and even persecution. Following Peter’s counsel to early believers, this series fuels the journey of sanctification by offering biblical, applicable advice on how to put our faith into action.

Last week we look at how we are the living stone and has the living stone we are part of the living church. We has look at how Jesus is the living cornerstone of the church. If Jesus was not the cornerstone there would be no reason for us doing any of this.

A cornerstone is true and correct. Its place in the spot that to start a building. Thats whys its so important for us to understand that Jesus is that for us. He will never go anywhere. He is always here for us to lean on. He is the rock the stone that he church was built on.

To close out this series we will be in 1 Peter 4:12-19. So if you have you bible go head and turn there or you can follow along on the screen in a few minutes.

Before we look at these verses. Think for a moment.

What do you do when facing suffering?

do you run the other way? Do you find in the dirt? or do you run to Jesus?

Has Christ followers we should run to Christ when we face suffering or when bad stuff comes our way. We should be able to rejoice with Christ instead of blame him.

Lets take a look at what Peter had to say about suffering to the early church.

1 Peter 4:12–19 CSB

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

We will face suffering

in verse 12 Peter worns us to not be surprised when suffering come. We will all face some type of suffering in our life. IF you have not gone through suffering then it will come at some point. Has christ follower we will face suffering in some sort. It

Peter was telling us this so we can learn what to do as christ follower when suffering come. We should be surprised that its happening. We should n’t hide in the dirt.

what can we do when we are suffering or go through ruff times

1 Peter 4:13 CSB

13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.

We can rejoice with Christ through the suffering

Because suffered too.

This is not an easy thing to do but it can be done. When we are going though what life throws our way. We have to be dependent on what God has provided.

1 Peter 4:17–18 CSB

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

The judgement will come

Judgment will come for each and everyone of us. The term God’s household refer back to the temple that was in the OT. Has we learned last week we no longer have a temple but we are the temple though Christ the living stones of the church.

So this judgment begin with the God’s house to purify and cleanse the house of God. Like it say if the puification start with the house of God then what happen to those who disobey? Has Christ follower we can pass through the judgement.

Peter quotes Prov 11:31 in verse 18.

We are saved for the judgement we do not have to worry about anything. We are saved by the grace of Christ and what he did.

1 Peter 4:19 CSB

19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

Trust and Obey during your trails

You will face trial and suffering all believer will. When you face this you rely on your faith and trust that God has everything in control. God allow thing to happen so we a can learn for them and come to knew him more though those times.

Our suffering—no matter the intensity—can always be used to point people to Jesus. As we continue to trust him in our present situation, knowing that he also has the future in his hands, we are saying to the world around us that we know who our Lord is and what he can do.