1 Peter 4
We’ve been looking in the letter of 1 Peter for Encouragement in the Hard times.
Hard times,
When things are out of our control,
Not going as we had planned and hoped,
And prospects are few for turning things around.
Hard times,
When relationships go south,
Dollars don’t stretch,
Or the test results are bad.
Hard times,
When we don’t make the cut,
Can’t make the grade,
Don’t have the resources.
Hard times,
When loved ones are lost,
Friends are hurting,
Business goes belly up.
Hard times,
That have no relief,
That we must endure,
That we must suffer through.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people because those bad things are the
natural consequence of living in a sin saturated world.
Both people and the planet aren’t right.
Because things are not the way God created them to be,
Bad things happen.
Sometimes hard times happen as a result of our own actions.
When we behave badly bad things happen.
Sometimes hard times happen because God allows them.
When God allows the hard times we call them trails.
Trials are not purposeless or random.
Trails are used by God for correction, perfection, and infection.
In the writings of Peter we have found some encouragement during the hard times.
We’ve learned that even at your lowest
God has not forgotten you. (Hebrews 13:5)
God will keep you obedient. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God will give you His best. (Luke 11:13)
God has secured for you a good future. (John 14:1-2)
God is keeping watch over you. (Matthew 6:8)
God has great things in store for you.
(1 Corinthians 2:9)
We’ve learned how to handle hard times,
What we’re supposed to do:
live exemplary lives (2:12),
be a good citizen ( 2:13),
do good to others (2:15),
treat others with dignity and respect,
obey the authorities
In our darkest hour we are still called to
Be submissive, a servant for one another.
Be agreeable,
Be sympathetic,
Be loving,
Be compassionate,
Be humble.
And even though we are tempted
Refuse to retaliate,
Refrain from sarcasm (1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)
We’ve learned that our job in a hard time is to be a blessing to others. (1 Peter 3: 9)
We’ve learned to
Ask God for help to endure and persevere and be strong during the hard
times and God will give you grace, that you will find to be sufficient.
We’ve learned to tell our confidant, our dear brother or sister in Christ,
what we’re going through, because there is strength and encouragement
when others pull along side and help us with our burden.
We’ve learned that if we “say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace” (1 Peter 3:10-11 (MSG)
and “keep [our] hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ”
(1 Peter 3:15 (MSG)
and “maintain a clear conscience before God”
(1 Peter 3:16 (MSG)
That Jesus will have the last word on our hard times, (1 Peter 3:22)
And He deliver us through our trials,
He will redeem the hard times.
He will vindicate us.
Once again today we are going to focus on trials.
The hard times that God allows into our lives to correct us,
To perfect us, and make us infectious.
We’ll concentrate this time on correction and perfection.
I want you to leave here today knowing the secret of persevering through a
trial,
the way you get out from under the circumstances and on top of
things.
That secret is trust.
We will find that secret and more understanding, instructions and encouragement
in the letter of 1 Peter chapter 4.
There’s a word in the paraphrase of the scripture this morning that you may not be familiar with:
Profligate: unrestrained by convention or morality
1 Peter 4:1-19 (MSG)
Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
3 You've already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it's time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don't understand why you don't join in with the old gang anymore. But you don't have to give an account to them. They're the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.
6 Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus.
7 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
12 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.
14 If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!
17 It's judgment time for Christians. We're first in line.
If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse
God's Message!
If good people barely make it, What's in store for the bad?
19 So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in
stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.
Peter places before us our example in all things.
Be like Jesus.
Think like Him.
Jesus entrusted himself to the Father’s will.
Jesus had total confidence in the Father’s plan.
Jesus knew that His Father was in control.
Jesus trusted the Father.
Peter tells the way Jesus conducted His life is the way we as disciples of
Jesus are to conduct ours.
How is God going to help you learn to trust in Him?
Sometimes God sends us to the school of hard knocks to help us learn to trust in
Him.
We know trials can correct and perfect.
Correction would be to getting rid of the behaviors that are keeping us from
Being able to fully trust God
Perfection would be adding behaviors that we need to be to be able to trust
full in God.
Your hard time, just might be a course in the school of hard knocks,
To teach you that you can trust God in every aspect of your life.
Peter encourages us to think about the hard times as God’s way to get us squared
away.
1 Peter 4:1-2 (MSG)
Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
Hard times ain’t fun times.
We get uncomfortable, out of sorts, and start looking for ways to change the
circumstances we’re under.
We start asking questions.
We start wondering how long.
We fear that God has deserted us.
Peter says your hard time is helping you to become like Jesus.
Jesus didn’t do what he wanted to do.
Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father
Jesus pursued what Father wanted.
Egoism, wanting your own way.
That always stymies and stops spiritual progress.
Egoism tries to convince you to trust only in yourself for the wisdom
you need to do life.
Sometimes we feel like we are permanently enrolled in the school of hard knocks.
Our dreams start to look like sheer fantasy.
Our plans aren’t turning out the way we have hoped.
We don’t feel blessed.
We hurt, we’re in pain, we’re suffering and we want out,
We want an escape.
That’s when Satan comes along and tempts,
Satan suggests that God doesn’t care, or can’t help, or is just a tyrant.
God cannot be trusted.
Or Satan accuses you,
God is through with you,
you’re no good, no use, no value and
no importance.
With those kinds of thoughts running through our head,
we can give into despair, depression, anxiety,
we can want to quit, to give up,
to curse God and die.
But Peter tells us don’t give into those kind of thoughts.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG)
Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.
Here again Peter reminds us that our suffering is really a refining process.
What good can come out of this refining process?
Here’s some things that a trial can do:
1. deepens your intimacy with God. (Job 42:3)
2. prepares you for the miraculous. (2 Chronicles 20)
3. equips you for superior ministry (Genesis 50:20)
4. stretches you for greater growth. (Romans 5:3-4)
5. shapes you to be more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29)
6. gives you a greater blessing (Job 42)
7. calls you to Himself (Acts 16)
8. supercharges your testimony (Philippians 1:12-18)
9. removes your self-sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:5-10)
Peter encourages me when he tells me that glory is just around the corner.
There will be an end to the refining process.
The hard time will accomplish its work to correct and perfect you.
Trust in God’s program, Trust in God.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds the believers about the need to endure and persevere during the hard times.
Hebrews 10:32-39 (MSG)
Remember those
early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked
around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other
days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some
enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing
they couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing
set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then.
It's still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan
so you'll be there for the promised completion.
It won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute. “But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.” But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
Trusting All the Way—that’s what Jesus did, that’s what His disciples must do.
When life is hard it’s a temptation to cut and run.
But we are encouraged to stick it out,
Stay with God’s plan, even when you don’t know for sure what God’s
plan is.
Embrace the hard times knowing that God is doing
something important.
If you trusted God in the light, don’t doubt Him in the darkness.
God hasn’t changed, He’s changing something in you.
That’s the secret for getting out from under your circumstances.
1 Peter 4:19 (MSG)
So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.
The secret for getting out from under the circumstances is Trust Him.
Your single greatest tool for getting through the hard times is Trust God.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
“Through trust, we connect with God in a way that shows our reliance on Him and
our surrender to Him.” ( Henry Cloud, The Secret Things of God, p. 30
God rewards your trust with grace to persevere,
Power to triumph,
And Peace to comfort
I use the concept of trust in my definition of faith,
Faith is trust and confidence in God that moves you to action.
Trust is indispensable.
Trust God in the hard times that He is working for the good.
Asking the right questions can help you get out from under the
circumstances.
“What can I learn from this?
“How can I grow through this?
“What growth step is this situation asking me to take?
“What do I need to do to make it better?’ (Cloud, p. 88)
Finding God’s answers to those types of questions can help you get out from
under the circumstances.
But even if you find no answers,
Trust God, keep doing what Peter has told you to do.
Trust that God has better things in store for you.
Hebrews 11:1 (MSG)
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.
When we trust God that we’ll make it through we have hope in our hearts.
When we have hope in the future we have power in the present.
Hope that glory is just around the corner,
Can get you out from under the circumstances
Why do we have this hope?
We have hope because we trust God.
Jesus entrusted Himself to God,
Follow Jesus example.
How do you trust God?
You just do it. (Cloud, p. 31)
It helps me to think of the hard times that God has already gotten me
through.
He did it before, He’ll do it again.
Psalms 77:11 (NIV)
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
It helps me to remember that God loves me,
And that just as Jesus suffered,
my suffering will result in some greater good.
Trusting in God helps me get out from under the circumstances and
Start walking through the circumstances.
1 Peter 4:19 (MSG)
Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.
Today we’ve learned that if we persevere through the hard times,
That something good is going to happen.
It’s a huge source of power to hope that glory is just around the
corner.
We’ve learned that the way to get out from under the circumstances is to trust God.
Trusting God in the hard times won’t end the hard times,
But it will get you through them.
Hebrews 10:22-25 (MSG)
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Take the hard time your in right now.
Tell God all about it.
Ask those questions that you learn something from your hard time.
Then trust in God’s love, mercy and grace,
Trust in God’s compassion and forgiveness,
Trust in God’s empowerment
to see you through to the blessing.
Trust in God is your greatest tool for getting through your hard times.