Getting Ready For Jesus
1 Peter 4:12-19
1. The Refining of Faith Is Difficult but Expected. (Vs. 12, John 15:18, 1 John 3:13, John 16:33)
a. John 15:18, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.”
b. 1 John 3:13, “Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.”
c. John 16:33, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
2. When You Suffer as Jesus:
a. Rejoice! (Vs. 13a, Matt 5:11-12)
i. Matthew 5:11-12, ““You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
b. Look Forward to Eternity! (Vs. 13b)
c. Know God is With You! (Vs. 14)
d. Suffer in and For THE Name! (Vs. 15-16)
e. See Them as Birth Pains of Purity! (Vs. 17-18, Ezek 9:6, Acts 14:22, James 1:2-4)
i. Ezekiel 9:6, [God brought judgment upon Israel. When the judgment was carried out, He gave these instructions], “Begin at my sanctuary.”
ii. Acts 14:21-22, “After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.””
iii. James 1:2-4, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
f. Entrust Yourself to God’s Good Will! (Vs. 19, Prov 11:31)
i. Proverbs 11:31, “If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful.”