1 Peter 4:12-19 (NASB)

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Theme: How Christians should handle Times of Suffering and Injustice

Outline:
   1. Expect suffering
   2. Exult in suffering and injustice
   3. Examine ourselves in suffering and injustice
   4. Entrust ourselves to God in suffering and injustice

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1 Peter 1:3-4 (NASB)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

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7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“ The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”

8 and,
“ A stone of stumbling and A rock of offense”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

9 But you are A chosen race, A royal priesthood, A holy nation, A people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10 for you once were not A people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul
(1 Peter 2:7-11 NASB)

Theme: Four distinct Christian acts to practice in 2015.

I. The Priority of Prayer vs. 7

II. The Preeminence of Love vs. 8

III. The Practice of Hospitality vs. 9

IV. The Performance of Gifts vv. 10-11

A. No one is left out, but each one has received a gift
B. The purpose for the gift you have received is for serving one another
C. There are two broad categories of these gifts

1. Speaking gifts
2. Serving gifts

D. The ultimate goal of serving is to glorify God

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Intro

1. An attitude of Submission

2. An attitude of Humility

3. An attitude of Trust

4. An attitude of Self Control

5. An attitude of Vigilant Defense

6. An attitude of Resistance

7. An attitude of Hope

8. Attitude of Worship

What does that mean for us?

1. So, Spiritual maturity begins with some fundamentals…an attitude of self-control, defense, resistance, hope, worship, faithfulness, affection, submission to those in spiritual authority, an attitude of humility toward others, toward God under His mighty hand, and an attitude of trust that says I can humble myself because I’m going to give this whole burden to the God who really cares
2. In the midst of being hunted by our enemy is that the attitude that represents your life? How are you holding up in the battle? Do you have an attitude of vigilant defense? Do you have your priorities right? If you don’t Satan is going to chew you up and make you in effective for Christ.
3. If you are a “younger man” do you seek to honor and learn from those who are older? If you are the” older one” are you living a life that is a good spiritual model to those who are younger?
4. Do you resent or appreciate spiritual warfare? Do you see suffering and adversity as a way to strengthen you, to establish you, to confirm you, to perfect you, to make you more the man and woman of God that you should be ? Or is it more of an inconvenience to you?

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