Temple Baptist Church - 8-23-2017
1 Peter 4:1-2
Introduction:
A. As Peter writes to the “strangers scattered,” the dispersed Jews—he spends much of this first epistle showing them how to get along in this world and with each other. The reason being, outside and inside of the body of Christ, you will suffer if you try to live a godly, separated life for Christ.
1. The Fact of Suffering. vs 1, 12 Suffering is a way of live in this old sinful world. It rains on the just and the unjust. But, in our text, Peter is looking at suffering for well doing. God’s children have and always will pay the consequences for living godly in an ungodly world.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
a) The Example – “Christ hath suffered”
b) The Exhortation – “arm yourselves”
c) The Encouragement – “likewise with the same mind”
2. The Fellowship of Suffering.
John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
a) We Share Christ’s Sufferings – vs 1, 13
b) We Share Fellow Believers’ Suffering – vs 16-17
3. The Failure of Suffering.
a) To Realize That God Has Something For Us In Suffering – 1 Peter 1:7 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:
b) To Realize That God Controls Our Suffering – He Will Never Place More On Us Than We Can Bear
B. The Preparation of Suffering. “arm yourselves”
1. The Realization - vs 12; 1 Pet 1:7 Suffering Is A Part of Life.
2. The Resolve of Suffering – vs 1 “arm yourselves likewise with the same mind”
(a) The Resolve To Continue To Suffer - James 5:10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
(b) The Resolve To ContinueTo Serve – vs 19 - Joshua 24:15 - And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
3. The Repose of Suffering - vs 19 – Trust in the Lord at all times.
C. The Period In Suffering.
1. 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.
2. Gives encouragement and hope.
D. The Results of Suffering.
1. Vs 1 – Suffering Will Cause You To Cease From Sin.
James 5:14-16 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
2. Vs 2 - Suffering Will Cause You To Become Submissive To God’s Will.
Hebrews 5:6-9 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
3. Vs 3-6 - Suffering Will Cause You To Become Separate From The World.
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.
Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
4. Vs 7 - Suffering Will Cause You To Spend More Time In Prayer.
2 Corinthians 12:7-8 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2 Samuel 12:15-20 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
5. Vs 8-9 - Suffering Will Cause You To Draw Closer To The Brethren.
1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
6. Vs 10-11 - Suffering Will Cause You To Be Able To Minister To Others.
2 Corinthians 1:4-6 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7. Vs 12-13 - Suffering Will Cause You To Rejoice In Tribulation.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
8. Vs 14-16 - Suffering Will Cause You To Worship.
2 Samuel 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
9. Vs 17-19 - Suffering Will Cause You To Commit Your Life To The Lord.
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
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