Sermon Tone Analysis

We have the wonderful privilege of looking at God's word this morning.

So let me invite you to take your Bibles and turn the 1st, Peter chapter 2. 1st Peter chapter 2. Today.

We are looking at verses 21 to 25.

Our subject matter for some time now has been the subject of the submission.

And today we're going to see the greatest example of that submission.

As we look at the suffering Christ.

Wasn't coincidental that the passage of scripture that we were reading, Mark chapter 14 with highlight his suffering.

Had no way to plan that we would be where we are in 1st Peter and to read that passage as well.

I take that as the Lord directing us.

What we're looking again, verses 21 through 25.

What's notice what it says?

For you have been called for this purpose.

Since Christ also suffered for you leaving, you an example for you to follow in his steps.

Who committed?

No. Sin.

Nor was any deceit found in his mouth.

And while being reviled he did not revile in return while suffering, he uttered no threats.

But kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously.

And he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds, you were healed.

For you were continually string like she but now you have returned to the shepherd and the guardian of your souls.

As we've been studying this letter.

We have been seeing the constant theme of suffering.

These Believers were suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ.

People today, suffer for their faith in Jesus.

But I believe the suffering that we're reading here in 1st Peter is unlike much of what we see today, especially here in America.

There are places where Christianity is restricted.

And if you follow the voice of the martyrs Ministry, you will certainly understand that there are restricted areas where Christianity is hostile.

And that will happen here in America.

We are already moving, so much in that direction.

But we need to understand that suffering is inevitable for the believer.

In fact, the scripture teaches us that it's God's will that we suffer?

In Philippians, 1:29 and 30.

It says for to you, it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Experiencing the same conflict.

What you saw in me and now here to be in me.

Pause life was full of conflict as a follower of Jesus.

He suffered many things in his relationship to Christ and he still in the Philippians and that book, by the way, as a book about joy, and he's telling them, it's God's will that you suffer?

It's been graciously granted to you.

I know, we don't understand that.

Graciously, granted to suffer.

There are many reasons why we suffer.

And Jesus said, one of those reasons, is that the world hates you.

The world hate you.

And the world hates you and me, because it hates him.

He said in John 15:18 and 19 if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before I hated you.

If you were of the world the world would love it song but because you are not of the world but I chose you out of the world because of this, the world hates you.

And that right there, identifies a lot for us as to why we suffer in this world.

The Jesus also said, in John 15, 20, that we suffer, because we identify with him.

He said, Remember the word that I said to you, a slave is not greater than his master.

If they have persecuted me.

They will also persecute you.

If they have kept my word.

They will keep yours.

Also, we identify with our Master.

We identify where the Lord Jesus Christ, and we're not greater than him.

And since he was persecuted, we are persecuted to Remember the world hates us.

And the world hates Jesus.

The Nestor very motive for persecution.

It's also what leads to Outkast and ultimately the murder Jesus tells us that.

That's exactly where hatred goes that if hatred is not cut off, if it's not dealt with in your life and it will lead to murder.

But he tells us in John 16 to, as he speaking to his disciples.

He says they will make you Outcast from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.

We can understand that today because of the name of Islam.

They believe that they're killing is Justified because it says, in the Quran to kill all infidels and all infidels are those who are not of Islam that are not Muslim.

And so they justify that is a service to Allah.

Insults.

False accusations.

These are just some of the things scripture talks about.

Luke 6 22 as the word ostracize.

Which basically means to exclude the separate to isolate apart from others?

And there are times when it happens.

When you get excluded, you're not included with the crowd or with the group from work or the guys from work or whatever.

It may be.

Despite how we are treated.

We are called to endure suffering.

He says, for you have been called for this purpose.

What is this purpose?

Well, the pronouns this it refers back to what had preceded, what he has already been talking about.

It corresponds to the couple other times.

He's used that word in verses, 19 and 20, and he's basically saying that it refers to being called to endure suffering while you're doing good.

And you find that as I said, as you back up, if you look at verse 24, what credit is there?

If when you sent her harshly treated you enjoy it with patients, but if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure, it this finds favor with God, for you have been called for this.

Our faith is subject to testing Peter, made that clear from the beginning.

Look at what he said in 1:7.

After talking about them being greedy by the various trials, he tells them the purpose of those trials is inverse 7 so that the proof of your faith be more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire may be found result and praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Our faith is subject to being tested.

Tested to find out if it's legit.

If it's true, saving Faith, or if it's dead, demonic faith is James talks about But he says here that is more precious than gold, which is perishable.

And the end result is praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

That's the end result it.

So we have to be tested.

It is through those tests things that we grow.

That James tells us, it is through the testing of trials that we grow.

Spiritually.

We grow into spiritual maturity.

He says, but let endurance have its perfect work that you may be perfect, and complete lacking, nothing.

You're perfect and complete.

You like nothing and there is talking about maturity.

It is through the trials.