Good morning everyone in Hawaii, and throughout the world, I am good to see you all back again for another Sunday service, today is our 83rd and we are approaching our two year mark in August, now we are following the great commission to go to all of the world and preach the gospel of Christ. As you know my heath is still in the air, which takes a toll on my spirit, and it seems nothing is working and I am still living in the unknown, with no future doctors except our very important one with social security on Wednesday but I know God’s healing is coming, that is His promise. You all know this church is following the path of the early church, we don’t need buildings and picnics and bake sales, etc. We are here to break bread and to praise God, and worship with love, fellowship, teaching sound doctrine, and share what we have with all who come as individuals of this assembly, you know the Ekklesia the body of Christ, or the called out ones, however we put it, we are trying to stay in the realm of the bible, as a Bible Truth Christian Church, we will not conform to the traditions of men and share in any divisions, or be apart of any so called denominations, we are one body, the Body of Christ, with Christ as the head, and we will preach to the world, as best we can using the guidance of the Holy Spirit, without the Holy Spirit talking through me it would only be a man’s interpretation, we need God’s interpretation and leadership. I hope people fully understand that, there are so many churches that follow the routine of traditions of men. And as in this time of the end of the age, approaches we have to remain as pure as possible, waiting for the Lords return. We are not an organization we are an organism, in the dictionary an organism is something as a complex structure of mutually supporting basics whose relations and properties are largely determined by there function as a whole, so you see this church is trying to follow the path of what Jesus truly wanted, from the beginning with His apostles as a group being an organism not and organization, we are to care for one another as a whole. We can also look at it a different way let us say that the church as a body living as an organism, so it has life, now in this world an organization does not really have life at all. Our aim is to follow the early church doctrine the way the church began and still should be this was so to speak to follow bible history, so when Jesus comes back He can find a church very similar to the way He wanted it to be, when He left. Today with the complete glimmer, and the grand cathedrals and all the perfect buildings, none of this brotherhood and sharing like this goes on of this day and age. There are some that express love, and compassion, and fellowship but not like in the early days. We love our Bothers and Sisters and we are here to help anyone in need if possible to all the world, and with all the electronics and the internet, we find a wonderful way to spread the gospel as we piggy back and evangelize to all those places that are not hearing the word of God.
Dear Heavenly Father, as we open today with our prayer to You, we all come forward seeking love and peace of mind. I come to You with all who are gathered here today. We all need you Father, You are so abundant in goodness and truth, we pray Father that we all come to You in purity and we ask that the Spirit of the Living God come upon us all and anoint us with true harmony and openness, plus to hear Your word and teachings. Have mercy on us all, Father as we approach the throne of grace, as we gather here today to worship You in Spirit and in Truth please forgive us of all our sins and sanctify us, please make us holy, so You see us as One. Father through this week we have come through many obstacles, we have all been going through all kinds of different tests or trials and many of us are truly in pain and hurting deep inside, we are all facing some sort of spiritual warfare, and to be truthful Lord it has been draining us, these trials and tests have been very strong and we are suffering more than normal, Father we feel the weakness in our body, mind and spirit.. Sometimes we become very distressed, to the points of shaking and pains in dangerous areas but only You Lord can bring us the light that explains all we don’t understand. Father, grant us the grace to forget about the hurts and pain, the misconceptions, and bring us the abundant life of service to You and all your people. Father we truly need Your protection against all evil. Show us how to use Your gifts, so we can bring happiness to You and this church. Please climb deep within all our souls, cleanse us, heal us and open us up to Your love this day and forever.
Dear Church, I am not going to mention any announcements because this week has been the hardest week I have ever lived, we are having people die and we are having people get hurt and one of our fellow pastors had just got out of the hospital in India, and we need prayer for him to heal up, Pastor Andru Vijay Kumar, we also need prayer for assistant pastor Fred and his family, from a church in downtown Hilo who just passed away into the arms of Jesus, we also need prayer for Pastor Robert who is the senor pastor. We also need prayer for Joanna who is a nurse in New York who is under intense spiritual warfare, a lot like what I have been going through, we also need to pray for Pastor George, from a church close by to my home and office. We also need to pray for Carol that the Lord helps her with decisions which focus on the future of this church and my health. We also need to pray for Theresa for her health and her family’s health and that the Lord guides her with finding that right home. We wish to thank Jeffery who runs the Spiritual Warfare Prayer Warriors in Australia for his care, understanding, fellowship and prayers, also we need to thank Janel who is a minister and occult and deliverance counselor for the same prayer team who has given me and the church much help, also for Jan who is also affiliated who has helped this church and myself with so many words and prayers. We also wish to thank Mary and Jay from “His Will Ministry” in Wyoming, my good friend Angel from Arizona who has given me the right words and prayer and abundant help. Keith Radclif from Texas who has given his heart to prayer. We cannot forget to thank Randal for his devotion to prayer and Ilona for her many prayers and reaching out to others for additional prayer. Plus Joaquim from Angola who has fasted and prayed for five days for me and this church. Plus Jacob and Daisy from the A&N islands India for there continued prayers and Scott and Eileen for there love, care and compassion. So Congregation please pray for us all.
Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad--because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world. Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his wonderful name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin first among God's own children. And if even we Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who have never believed God's Good News? And "If the righteous are barely saved,what chance will the godless and sinners have?" So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you. 1Pet. 4:12-19 NLT
As we bounce around the book we have to be at a state of mind and body for preparing for persecution as we are going through various trials.
We all have to understand as we study the book of 1st Peter, what many of the children of God are going through I feel it is a good subject during these hard end times being we are persevering through persecution (4:12-19)
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.1Pet. 1:6 NLT
As you all know we are to trust in the Lord through any situation it is written all through the bible. We are to trust weather we are happy or sad, rainy days, dark days or sunny days, plus if we have full pockets or empty pockets. God will supply us with everything we need, in the end of these two months of severe suffering and in total confusion, still yet I don’t have even a clue what to do. I really believe that God will show everyone His glory through all of this, and I know He will come through for me. Trust overcomes fear we know God will get me out of this situation. And all of you will be my witnesses. Trust overcomes depression so no matter what situation I am in or how over whelming it may be or how bad an insecure feelings I have, even to the point of really shaking from fear I mean this is not healthy for my heart or anything, I know God will draw all the people to the light. We must understand that trust overcomes all things dislike or confusion, not understanding which steps to take next, and here I am reaching out for help and I don’t have a single soul to even help me pack or to even talk to . And you all know me I can’t even carry any hate for any people. I am right now praying for every one and that is all I can do, I have been hurt and my whole heart is totally broken and I don’t even know what to do, I feel like a human yoyo. We have to trust in the Lord and stay in the will of God and to continue on our work for God. God can fix anything in seconds He can make arrangements and people can come out of nowhere. Our God will be there right in the nick of time and He will straighten out anything he always has his promises and we always have His hope. We have to commit ourselves to Him with complete trust otherwise our faith and or life would be worthless. I am up against the wall with incredible odds and I haven’t trusted my Lord enough but know as I write this sermon I have to, we should be rejoicing with all our misfortunes, I know it may be hard to do. But the promises of God do not go void, they are the truth and they are the peace to our hearts in any circumstance, His word says to rely on Him when you face persecution pain or suffering and any type of spiritual warfare. Remember when Peter and John were preaching in the court yards and they were persecuted for preaching Christ and the good news they all rejoiced because such persecution was the mark of triumph coming out of jail. We don’t seek out looking for suffering we must at all times avoid it. I feel I am doing the will of God and following the great commission, and just sharing my faith to everyone that is reading or being interpreted to or some other preacher is preaching these words we all have to have faith, and we all need that trust in Him, telling about His power and His timing and taking about the power of our Lord to bring Him the Glory, watch and see, and He will take me out of this hole mess, as long as I am trusting Him and continuing to do His will.
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ also suffered when he died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1Pet. 3:13-18 NLT
As Peter continues to discuss persecution there are other veiws we need to discuss . What we need to concentrate on is enduring at the time of great trials.
The situation is that he now mentions things that relate to "persevering
through persecution",
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 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. 1Pet. 4:12-19 KJV
Here I am facing physical, emotional, and spiritual persecution, plus verbal and social persecution Therefore, what Peter has to say can help us through any situation and help us to persevere in such circumstances, For instance we should expect persecution.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 1Pet 1:4:12
A. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL...
1. A point Peter stresses twice in this verse
a. "do not think it strange"
b. "as though some strange thing happened to you"
2. It is something other Christians were experiencing at that
time as well - 1 Pet. 5:8-9
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 1Pet 5:8-9 NASB
As you have noticed that he mentions strange twice in the out line and there are so many Christians that are truly suffering right now, I got off the phone last night with a girl a nurse who works in Buffalo who I know and she is under so much attack just because she cares for her patients and she prayers with envy one of them and technically they are trying to stop her whole of approach and healing and communication.
As my nurse friend across the country says, there are lions out there and in the scripture (1Pet. 5:8-9).
You have to figure Lions attack sick, insecure, unprotected and struggling animals. They seek to destroy the ones that are alone and the same lions can cause nature to let their prey get sicker and sicker and can keep them alone and vulnerable. Peter is giving us a warning to watch out for Satan and his agents, while we are suffering. I am alone, sick, weak, helpless and almost cut off from other believers. Do not forget my experience, you can go to Church and still be alone and you can say hello, how you and a few sentences are are passed and you still are alone. No matter how much you are an outgoing personality. I have said no one knows how you feel, so how can anyone help you if you do not tell them what you need and if they do not want to listen how can they help you. Remember when you are alone, Satan will drill at you to focus on your troubles, then your outlook is for danger and you are down and you are susceptible to more attacks and more warfare. Peter is giving us a warning and when you seek fellowship and come up empty, you now ate worse off then you were before. (James 4:7-8) If it was not for the internet and the prayer groups, I might have lost some of my faith. There are so many good people in the world, but they are scattered about. As we go through these tests and trials, hindrances persecutions and with me, pain and sorrow, but these things strengthen our faith, making us a purity for Gods work.
Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:7-8 NASB
We should respond to Our Lord with confidence in Him. We know all things work out for good and God loves us and He will not let us hang on longer than we can bear..
God leads us to a better life of strength and stability. He also gives us strength to endure when we are facing grief and difficult adjustments to our lives. We need, sometimes, to express our pain to others and there are some Christians that do not want to even hear about your grief. There is this new thing going around that you can not even tell how bad you feel, because it is considered negative speaking. How can you explain what you are suffering and ask for prayer and advise if you are not aloud to speak? It is not possible to only speak positively, joy and happiness, unfortunately. I mean it is not telling of gory details, but simply communicating. We all understand negative and positive. This is getting out of hand, like the law and how the chief priests and Pharisees invented over a thousand additional laws. There is always one that sits in my mind, if you spit on the ground on the Sabbath and you your spittle hits a rock that is fine, but if your spittle hits dirt and causes mud, you are sinning and breaking the Sabbath laws of working, because you have made mud with your spit. Unbelievable! I as a Pastor, have to listen to everyone’s problems and prayer requests and then write a proper, edifying prayer response to the problem at hand to make the person feel at ease and build there faith, strength and trust in God. What am I going to say? I do not want to hear your negative problems or confession. People need to talk and express their inner pain or they will get ulcers for instance, and other mental and physiological damage. Remember when your Mother and Father would tell you not to hold anything in because it will eat at you. Children need to let out everything the same way you and I do. People pay Psychologists a lot money to listen to your problems. What would Jesus do? He would listen and comfort the person that is suffering. Jesus gives us the courage because He is our brother and friend and savior. We should have no fear. He who went through all that suffering, will not just throw in the towel, He will defend us and carry us through eternity!
3. Jesus warned His disciples of hard times to come - Jn 15:18-21
4. Why does God allow such things to happen? Read on... "When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you. The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don't. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? `A servant is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you! The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don't know God who sent me. John 15:18-21 NLT
"FIERY TRIALS" SERVE TO TRY ONE'S FAITH...
1. Just as gold is tested by fire, so our faith is tested by
persecution . 1 Pet. 1:6-7
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1Pet. 1:6-7NLT
It is just really heavy about my friend Pastor Andru Vijay Kumar- He is such a good man and he is very close to me we have had many emails and he even sent a letter and he is definitely a part of this church, plus he has a congregation of 150 and he uses a lot of my writings and the sermons and prayers because he even has a school for kids on Wednesday night that he teaches and we have become close. It totally broke my heart to find out he was in an accident and all of the children and the students were writing me for prayer, all of this just does not make any sense.
2. This is why God allows the devil to bring such persecution
(remember Job?)
3. But just as God blessed Job after his trials, so He will bless
us! - cf. 1 Pet. 5:10
In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.1 Pet. 5:10 NLT
Sometimes when we are suffering and it seems like it will never end, the pain at times gets more intense as the stress and confusion build. We are bound for eternity if we must suffer for Christ the rest of this life, so be it! Peters “a little while” could mean at anytime. God has invested time and love for each one of us, why would He stop now? He will not! God cries when we cry, God gets happy when we are happy, and as we approach eternal life there will be no suffering. I believe we will see happiness in this lifetime.
As someone has said, "First comes the cross, then comes the crown."
So don't be surprised if you find yourself facing ridicule,
ostracizing, even physical persecution for the cause of Christ.
Acts 14:22;
After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned again to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. Acts 14:21-22 NLT
Paul and Barnabus were great men of faith and they went back into the fire by returning to the cities where they were physically threatened and attacked. They knew the dangers, but they still wanted to encourage the new believers. No matter how difficult it may seem, we are here to spread the word and edify any human soul. All new believers need encouragement and support, even Pastors. It was not easy for Jesus to face the cross for us, so why can we not go out of our way to help others?
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2Tim. 3:12
"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. "And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20:24-30 NASB
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." Acts 9:15-16 NASB
Should it come, what then?
REJOICE IN PERSECUTION (13-14)
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1Pet. 4:13-14 NASB
It is very simple, anyone who obeys God and lives for Christ, will be persecuted. I have said before, do not be surprised when people just do not understand your motives, or criticize your actions or your theories. People in other lands are being put to death for having a bible! We are very fortunate, but I think I would rather be in the true battle ground then here. Here, people can be a Christian and do something else, work for the world, live in the world looking for that big paycheck. The point I am trying to make is the only one we need to please, is God, and He will bless us with everything we need to continue on our Christian walk.
A. THE CALL TO REJOICE IS NOTHING NEW...
1. Jesus taught it in His sermon on the mount - Mt. 5:11-12
"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matt. 5:11-12 NASB
Now, here is a situation, something I wanted to explain, this holds a deep importance. We understand that the great prophets were persecuted, Elijah, Jeremiah and Daniel. We are not great men yet, but we are serving the Lord on all different values. We should feel comforted that even great men were persecuted. Now here is my point, listen, the fact that we are being persecuted proves the facts that we are faithful, faithless people just go unnoticed and there is no reason to go through the refiner’s fire for purification. For an example, we have two people working in a hospital many miles away and one is getting persecuted daily and I see the prayers she sends in. Then you have the other person’s prayers. I read what he sends in and he is not facing any troubles or persecution. They are both Christians working in the same place. They both pray with there patients. The girl has gone through more suffering than the male. The prayer network people think that there is something wrong with her. Was there something wrong with Elijah or Jeremiah or Daniel? No 1 the thing is, Satan does not want any valuable people to do Gods work! There is a big target on anyone that holds so much love for others and God. All the others are just simple. All I can say, is God will reward the faithful by receiving them into His eternal kingdom.
Paul found reason to "glory in tribulations" - Rom. 5:3-5
We are made in the future not to just become, but to over come. In other words, we will experience many burdens and trials to help us be refined and grow We have to get it deep within our hearts to rejoice in our sufferings, not because we enjoy being tortured, but we know God is using life’s difficulties and torments from Satan to build our character. The many problems we face will also develop our personalities and perseverance, which in turn will help us grow in our character and strengthen our trust in The Lord. Praise The Lord with our sufferings, and we get more out of praising God and rejoicing than anything else. We cannot just sit back and cry and be depressed. We have to thank God for all our torment and pain. We are being tested everyday and we do not realize it, but we are. God wants us to be more like Him! He has called His people for His Kingdom.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rom. 5:3-5 NIV
3. And James taught that trials ought to be an occasion for joy
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NASB
We need to look at troubles and heartbreak as a profit for our individual inner self, whether it is here on earth or in Heaven. We cannot be like those Christians with the smile and everything is just a blessing. I have seen too much of that, when you look deep into someone’s heart, you have to know it is an act. People suffer and that is the way it is. God loves us and He wants us to be trained beyond any normal reality. He wants us to be brave and step up to the next level of faith for a job that God wants us to do. If we cannot handle the small things, how do we handle the big things? Everyday is a day of learning and teaching. David, as a boy, was a Shepard and he mastered his weapon on other animals that was after his flock, so this gave him the experience to take on the massive Goliath.
B. WHY REJOICE IN PERSECUTION?
1. As explained by Jesus...
a. "for great is your reward in heaven"
b. "for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you"
2. As explained by Paul...
a. "tribulations produces perseverance"
b. Which in turn produces "character, and character, hope"
3. As explained by James...
a. "the testing of your faith produces patience"
b. And patience can help one be "perfect and complete, lacking
nothing"
C. PETER OFFERS THREE REASONS TO REJOICE IN PERSECUTION...
1. It means glory in the future...
a. "when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with
exceeding joy"
b. This will occur at His second coming - 2 Th 1:10-12
when he comes to receive glory and praise from his holy people. And you will be among those praising him on that day, for you believed what we testified about him. And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds. 2Thes. 1:10-12 NLT
2. It means blessing in the present...
a. "blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you"
b. A reference to the Holy Spirit, and possibly alluding to
that blessing...
1) Described by Jesus in Lk 12:11-12;
"And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about what to say in your defense, for the Holy Spirit will teach you what needs to be said even as you are standing there." Luke 12:11-12NLT
"But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will be accused before kings and governors of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me. So don't worry about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply! Luke 21:12-15 NLT
2) Exemplified in the case of Stephen - Acts 7:54-60
The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen's accusation, and they shook their fists in rage.But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand!"
Then they put their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts, they rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The official witnesses took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.[m]
And as they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died. Acts 7:54-60 NLT
c. Such a blessing might have limited application to the
special circumstances of the first century, but God's grace
will still provide whatever we need to endure trials -
1 Co 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and (W)God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1Cor.10:13 NASB
3. It means Christ is glorified...
a. "on your part He is glorified"
b. When we endure persecution through the strength Jesus gives
us, we make manifest the "life" (power) of Jesus - 2 Co
4:7-11
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2Cor 4:7-11 NASB
The message of salvation to frail and fallible human beings, we are not to look at the container. Our bodies, but the goodness is on the inside, and we have great contents inside. That is why when Jesus was yelling at the Pharisees in Matt. 23 he said you have to clean the inside of the cup or dish. Gods power with all of us! Though we are fragile, we still have a great impact of spreading the words of God with power. We all know the power within us is God and not ourselves, so we should stay in constant contact with Our Lord to continue to draw on the power of and not for us to get prideful through any good deeds we do. Soon, the better our relationship with God, the more people can see God within us!
c. And so by our conduct we can bring glory to Christ (God)
- 1 Pe 2:12
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1Pet. 2:12 NASB
We have every reason, then, to rejoice in times of persecution. But
for us to make the most of such situations, we need not only to
"rejoice", but also to "reflect".
1. Certainly we should hope and pray that we never have to endure the
sort of persecution experienced by the early Christians
2. But if we do, will we be prepared? We can be, if we take to heart
the words of the apostle Peter as found in his epistle!
As for being prepared, have you yet "obeyed" the gospel?
Some may think it odd that the gospel is to be "obeyed", and not just
"believed"; but both Peter and Paul warn of the end of those "who do
not obey the gospel" (1 Pe 4:19;
Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God's will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them]. 1Pet 4:19Amp
To deal out retribution (chastisement and vengeance) upon those who do not know or perceive or become acquainted with God, and [upon those] who ignore and refuse to obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Thes 1:8 AMP
Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other. We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. But God will use this persecution to show his justice. For he will make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering, and in his justice he will punish those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power when he comes to receive glory and praise from his holy people. And you will be among those praising him on that day, for you believed what we testified about him. 2Thes 1:3-10 NLT
How does one obey the gospel? - Mk 16:15-16
And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16NLT
As we all face such trials and we go beyond to the point of being upset with our hardship but when we share the light of God into the darkness. So we are going through a sort of refining process, or a serous of tests because we stand in faith the devil gets mad and he can’t do anything he can’t fight the faith of the Lord, he tries to destroy it a bit at a time but we are always on the lookout we are not ignorant of his schemes. So as we know as Gold is heated and becomes a liquid there are certain impurities that float to the top to be taken off which as we get tested be are being refined by our Lord.
Dear Lord, We just want to thank You for letting us be apart of the great commission. As we come to a close of our service today, we want to thank each and everyone of you for attending and sharing our service, we don’t need a building, we need the fellowship of our people, and we need to express our love to all mankind and to show the way to salvation to all that do not know Christ, and to have a personnel relationship with Jesus. We are the farmers that do the planting, and the watering, and our mighty Father does the rest, all we can do is love and forgive all people, and give a hope of joy to them until Jesus returns, it may be tomorrow or the next day but if we keep our hearts pure without envy and jealousy, and wanting money and power, God will take care of His children, I am a proven fact. Just to be here this day and be able to say this prayer is a gift from God. See you all next week, grace and peace be with you always, In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen
