Be Encourage

“ Be encourage “ ( KJV )

1 Peter 1:1–7 (KJV 1900)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

> No matter what we face in life

> God always leave us with a reason to be encourage

> Peter is saying in the text to the people of God

> The reason why you can’t be encourage is because

> You’re looking at your situation wrong ( Perspective )

>> We all at one time on this christian journey have told God “ This just don’t make no sense “

>> There are times that we are going to suffer.

>> And while you and I are suffering we’re going to try to make sense out of our suffering.

>> But one of the things that we are going to have to come to grips with

>> And that is suffering is inevitable. ( can’t avoid or get around it )

>> No matter how hard you pray suffering is inevitable.

you can pray for your relationship — but you will suffer relationally you can pray for your children — but you will suffer parentally you can pray for your health — but you will suffer medically you can pray for your job — but you will suffer financially

>> Since suffering is inevitable we ought to try to stop praying against suffering

>> And start preparing for suffering.

>> And if we read our Bibles like we suppose to

>> The Bible will tell us that we are going to suffer and have hard times.

2nd. Cor. 1:7

7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, shall ye be also of the consolation. ( 2nd. Cor. 1:3-9 - God will put more on you than you can bear )

Define: Partaker — Partaker arrive for a Greek word which simply means we are Companions, we are Partners, we are Co-laborers.

>> In other words the moment we got save at that very moment we became partakers of the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

>> The moment we got identified with Jesus Christ it was as if we gave the Devil our number and address.

>> Simply because we are partakers of Christ's suffering as he went through we have to go through.

Since Jesus was speared in the side we have to expect to be stabbed in the back. If folks walk away from Jesus folks will walk away from us. If John 11:35 say “ Jesus wept “ that means we will have to drink tears for water.

Note: Because the Scripture says we are partakers of the suffering of Jesus Christ.

2nd. Timothy 3:12

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

>> the mere fact that you're trying to live godly trouble and somebody will trouble you.

There's a level of grief that comes with living for God. There's a level of harassment that comes with trying to live holy. There's a level of ridicule that comes with trying to be the redeemed of the Lord.

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Define: Tribulation — The greek word for tribulation ( thlipsis )

Note: This Word connotes the fact of pressure being placed on a BODY, squeezing the life out of you.

Note: You can’t get out of have trouble.

>> And because suffering is inevitable.

>> Peter in the text is not writing to them to help them make a stoppage of their suffering.

>> Peter is writing to them to help them make sense out of their suffering.

>> Peter opened this text by talking about the foreknowledge of God in verse 2.

>> Peter won't these suffering Saints to know that regardless of their situation it has not caught God by surprise.

“ Be encourage “

>> 3 things Peter says about the knowledge of God.

Peter says God Knows WHO we are Peter says God Knows WHERE we are Peter says God knows WHAT we’re going through

1st. God knows exactly WHO you are

Verse 2

2nd. God knows exactly WHERE you are

Verse 1

>> Peter tells these suffering saints that your location has not lost the Lord.

>> The Lord knows that you have been scattered throughout 5 different areas.

3rd. God knows exactly WHAT you’re going through

Verse 6

>> You & I have to find consolation that God knows WHO - WHERE - WHAT

>> Just what God knows about them in the text, God knows the same 3 things about you and I right now.

1st. God knows WHO you are

2nd. God knows WHERE you are

3rd. God knows WHAT you are going through

Note: In Psalm 139 the writer David perfectly illustrate the Omniscient of God

>> David tells the Lord you know these 3 things about me.

1st: David says, Lord you know WHO I AM

Verse: 1-2, 4-5

2nd: David says Lord you know WHERE I AM

Verse 7-10

3rd: David says Lord you know WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH

Verse: 11-12

Note: Both darkness & light is the same in God’s sight.

>> So God is the ONLY person who is qualified to make sense out of our suffering

>> Take it to God because There’s a reason to be encourage of your suffering.

>> What you’re going through has not caught God by surprise. (NOTHING at ALL )

>> Now God speaks a word to Peter to help these struggling saints

>> Peter suggest that if you’re going to be encourage in your suffering

>> There’s 3 things you have to remember while you’re suffering

1 Peter 1:1–7 (KJV 1900)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1st. Our suffering is Seasonal

2nd. Our suffering is Strengthening

3rd. Our suffering is Survivable

“ Be encourage “

1st: Our suffering is Seasonal ( V. 6 )

1 Peter 1:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Yes we have to suffer but it’s seasonal

Verse 6—Peter says regardless of what we are going through in life as a child of God we always have a reason to rejoice.

Verse 6—Peter says we have a reason to “greatly rejoice”

Define Rejoice—Rejoice in the Greek gives us an English definition of a person showing enthusiasm by jumping & leaping .

Note: It connotes the thought of a person being so excited that they literally start jumping up & down & dancing with joy.

We will never really experience

the manifestation of God

until we learn

how to handle

the situation as God tells us.

Note: God will command us to do some CRAZY things at times to experience His manifestation.

Moses hold out your rod over water

Abraham had to sacrifice Isaac

Gideon had to walk around the wall 7 days Peter launched out into the deep Peter says Greatly Rejoice

Note: Peter says every child of God has a reason to rejoice.

Peter uses the word rejoice

in spite of what

they are going through

Keep in mind

that Peter is writing

to a people

who in Verse 1

is describe as scattered Strangers

He’s writing to a people

that was catching hell

He’s writing to a people

that he know they are suffering

Yet Peter tells them to rejoice

And the reason

you have a right to rejoice

Is because

of the knowledge

that what you are going through

And you got to know

that your suffering is not going to last always

Peter says what should shout you

is yes

you have to suffer

But your suffering is seasonal

Peter says

whatever we are going through

God has placed a statute

of limitations on it

I’m not praising God because things are well

I’m praising God because trouble don’t last always

Note: Somethings we’re not going to come out by prayer but somethings we will come out by ( Rejoicing )

Note: Somebody is saying Pastor that’s easy for you to say because you don’t know what I’m going through (Look at verse 6B)

Peter says you are in heaviness

Define Heaviness—In the Greek it connotes sorrow, deep sorrow

The kind of sorrow when a mother has to bury a child

A.) The Season will Be Difficult—“ye are in heaviness”

> Somebody today is going through a difficult season in there life

Everyday you have to fight back tears because it’s a difficult season Everyday you have to stick a smile on you face because it’s a difficult season Everyday you got to write yourself sticky notes reminding you to praise God because it’s a difficult season.

A.) The Season will Be Difficult—“ye are in heaviness”

B.) The Season will Be Diversity—“manifold Temptations”

Define manifold—Suggest multiple

Peter says

it’s bad enough

dealing with adversity

but it’s worst

when you’re dealing with

the diversity of adversity

Peter says

it’s bad enough

dealing with one thing

but when it’s one thing after another.

A.) The Season will Be Difficult—“ye are in heaviness”

B.) The Season will Be Diversity—“manifold Temptations”

C.) The Season will be Directed by God

Scrip: Daniel 2:21

21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise,

Note: The reason why this verse doesn’t move you is because you don’t understand how God operates in time.

There’s two words that describe time

1st: Chronos

2nd: Kairos

Chronos—gives us the word chronological

Chronological—mean one thing after another

Chronological suggest that Tuesday come after Monday

Chronos suggest things have to go in an orderly fashion

But God doesn’t operate on Chronos time

God operates on Kairos time

Kairos time is this

Example: The doctor says you got 6 months to live But God gives you 16 years.

Example: Chronos says you’re facing 20 years in prison but Kairos says I’m giving you probation.

All God got to do

is speak a word

and the times will change

your praise

can speed up

God’s time table

If you’re going to make sense

of your Suffering

first you have to know

it’s just a season

Yes I got to suffer but it’s just a season

God got the power to change your season right now.

That’s why when I come to church I’m not coming to see

Who’s with Who

Are what you got on

I’m coming for God to change my season

Because I’ve been

Dating — Disaster Coating — Chaos Walking with weary Singing with sorrow

But it’s just a season

When I was growing up

they used to tell me

that if you talk to yourself

you’re crazy

but I found out

that if you don’t talk to yourself

you will go crazy

Every now and then you have to remind YOURSELF by TALKING to yourself it’s just a season

When I’m riding down the street

in my truck

people think I’m on my cell phone

But I’m on my SOUL PHONE talking to myself to encourage myself

I got to tell God

to sustain me

in this season

I got to tell God

Sustain my mind

Keep my heart

Hold my tongue

Guard my affections

Hold my desires

Because it’s just a season

>> Someone may ask how long is my season

>> Our seasons is predicated on 2 things

1st. God’s timing ( Galatians 6:9 ) - and let us not be weary in well doing:for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not

2nd. How well we develop in our season

“ Be encourage “

1st: Our suffering is Seasonal ( V. 6 )

2nd. Our Suffering is Strengthening ( V. 7A )

1 Peter 1:7 (KJV 1900)

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

If you’re going to be encourage in your suffering you got to remember suffering is strengthening.

Peter shifts gears in verse 7 & he stop talking about the season of suffering.

And he starts talking about strengthening while suffering

Peter want these suffering saints to realize that

God was not going to allow them to go through what they’re going through.

And not come out empty handed.

God was not going to allow their life to be filled with derision.

And not let that derision give birth to development.

God was not going to allow them to go through.

A period of pain, perils & persecution

And not allow that period of pain, perils & persecution to produce something positive.

God is saying yes you got to suffer.

But when the suffering is over, you’re going to be stronger.

Verse 7

Peter says their lives was being tried by fire.

That phrase “ tried by fire “ gives the imagery or thought.

Of a potter working with clay

It is a pottery phrase

When Peter talks about their lives being tried by fire

He’s liken their lives to what a potter does to the clay

There’s a process that the potter has to use to move the clay from the shop to the show room

The potter is not investing all of his time, talent & treasure & resources to allow the pottery to stay in the shop

But the potter is trying to move the clay from the shop to the show room

But in order for the clay to make that process

There’s several things that the potter has to do to the clay

1st. The potter has to FIND the clay

2nd. He has FORM the clay

3rd. He has to FRAME the clay

4th. He has to FORTIFY the clay

5th. Then he FINISHES the clay

1st. FIND the clay — clay has to be found, look for outside in the dirt

2nd. FORM the clay — He has to have an image in his mind how he wants the clay to

look like. ( vase — ashtray — Bowl )

3rd. FRAME the clay — He puts his hand on the clay & start framing

4th. FORTIFY the clay — the clay is frail so the clay has to be strengthen to be able to be used

Now after the potter has FOUND — FORM — FRAME — FORTIFY the clay.

Now the potter has to use something & the only thing at his disposal that can make the clay fortified is a furnace.

And now the potter turns on his furnace to 660 degrees - 1500 degrees

Because the only way the clay is going to get fortified is by some fire

The good news is before the potter puts the clay into the furnace

He put a glaze all over the clay.

Because the potter don't want the clay to look like what it's going INTO

The same thing that the potter does to the clay is the same thing God does to you and I .

God ( Found us — Formed us — Framed us — We was Fragile Fortified us ) —

Put us in the Furnace — God put something on us GRACE )

Note: The only reason we don’t look like what we’ve been through is because God got a glaze on us. ( GRACE )

Note: you don’t look like —-> Divorce — Cancer — Layoff — buried mother — buried child — bankruptcy — foreclosure — bad relationship — transplant — depression — etc.

God gave you the extra strength you needed when you was struggling

When you was at your lowest

Times you knew you wasn’t going to make it

If your suffering is producing nothing else

It’s producing another level of ?

If we’re going to be encourage by your suffering

know that “ It’s not as bad as it seems “

You GOT TO SUFFER

“ Be encourage “

1st. Our Suffering is Seasonal ( V. 6 )

2nd. Our Suffering is Strengthening ( V. 7A )

3rd. Our Suffering is Survivable ( V. 7B )

1 Peter 1:7 (KJV 1900)

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Realize that you can survive this season of suffering in your life

Realize that this is not going to take you out

Realize that this is not the ending of your STORY

It can’t END like this ( TO BE CONTINUE )

If the Devil had the power to take you out he would have by now

If the Devil had the power to make you lose your mind you would have lost it by now

1st: Peter 1:7 ( NLT )

7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

>> Peter is saying I know you have been caught by suffering

>> But you’re not going to be killed by what you’ve been caught by

>> Because I just told you that your faith is going to remain ( strong )

Verse 5

>> Peter says the power of God has been keeping you & will keep you

>> The hand of God is ON YOU.