Serving, Suffering and Faith (Part C)

You know is you serve a lot.

The risk of becoming views clouded in some of your thoughts is their fight through them so it is something that I'm committed to ask God, Lord, I want to go out like a minister that has been filled with the spirit. I do not want to become software I need to be firm and I don't want to be hardware.

I need to be loving and kind.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick continues in the book of first Peter chapter 4 and his message called serving suffering and faith. Satan loves to answer this question. Why am I suffering. Satan loves to come along and say because you and next Jesus fills in the blanks. Maybe you struggle with something you just been struggling with it forever or maybe it's a new thing. Satan will come along and he will say you will you know you are the different when you're the oddball nobody else got this problem just you trying to single you out so you can execute you. This is why your suffering. Remember what you did or written Revelation 12. Your choice.

You believe Satan. We believe Scripture is Scripture the accuser of our brethren who accuses them before our God day and night is relentless constantly accusing us and it is the blood of Jesus Christ that blows those accusations out the door so the persecution was not because of personal sin is because they came to Christ to begin be forgiven from sin. That's why they were suffering all they had to do is start you know honor. It went like this don't come to the festivals anymore.

How come I never see you at the temple offering up you know of incense up to our beloved Caesar, sandals, ancient Romans, we it was going to Nazi Germany you don't like to for your note of fear is inferior. All right anyway, you are Nazi Germany and you and I you know I'm not a member of the party you had problems and so it is with the it was with these Christians here.

You say hello. I know my my faith is genuine when struggling struggle with these things for very simple test. Do you hate sin because of Jesus Christ.

I am your flesh, loves the sum of their sins.

We want to do what you hate the Chai hate that I'm like that. Not because I lose the power of self-control, but because it is against what my Savior wants me to do that is you, then that's the blood of Christ in you, the unbeliever cannot do that the unbeliever can say I hate my addiction because of the stolen my life. The believer under the same trial can say the same thing, but adds or outputs first because it's not honor to my Lord. And this is the life we face in Christ is given us enough things to arrive at these powerful conclusions.

Verse 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed. You may also be glad with exceeding joy. Most of you know, the historians tell us that Peter was crucified upside down that he lingered for three days in that state that his wife was crucified next to him. I cannot substantiate that nearly anyone know no one else can either. But I don't have a hard time believing for a moment knowing the character of Peter. You applaud, just the idea can someone will someone ever say that about me, will they be able to say no. I know the character of that man. While there are many things in shortcomings that belong with him. That's not one of dying like a Christian that is consistent with the life of that Christian that that's the epitaph to go for he died like a Christian.

So rather know what when he says here in verse 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed. You may also be glad with exceeding joy. The Christ's sufferings. He's talking about here is not the cross of Christ that is exclusive to Jesus for dying for sinners is talking about the life of Jesus Christ in the face of opposition and trial intimidation. Paul put it this way, we read this last week is worth reading this week and next week one after.

We probably will do that. But Paul's quest in life is that I may know him power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, being conformed to his death. I tell you, as a new Christian that was so powerful these words, yes, that's what I want to be for me to live is Christ to die is gain what you know is you serve a lot. The risk of becoming confused clouded in some of your thoughts is they are yet to fight through them so it is something that I'm committed to ask God, Lord, I want to go out like a minister that has been filled with the spirit. I do not want to become software I need to be firm and I don't want to be hardware. I need to be loving and kind and a and and as I go grow older. I am not trusting my past victories I'm looking for fresh victories fresh experiences in Christ, so that if I am I live to be older.

There will be those that will seek me out but they want to hear what I have to say about Jesus Christ. Bill a bathing else from me. They want to hear about Jesus Christ.

What is wrong with that ambition. I don't think anything is wrong. The joy of rightly being related to the father in the midst of hardship of standing up to those who hate the truth with love and truth.

Nonetheless, so where persecution is the result of relationship to Jesus Christ.

We are being persecuted because we follow Christ is no shame to that, but there's rejoicing. That's what Peter is saying.

He says here in verse 13 that when his glory is revealed. That means when we see the Christ. You may also be glad with exceeding joy because he says well done stand face-to-face. This joy in persecution we read about it in the book of acts it took the apostles aside, we want you to stop preaching the gospel. They said no they beat them.

Molly L intervenes at you know believe these guys alone.

Some of the stuff might be from God or not. Assist with God. You know you can fight it, and so they let them go after they beat them.

We pick it up and accept five says, so they departed from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name and daily in the temple, and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ's why the book of acts is so exciting is just this.

It's it's just this movement of the Holy Spirit that appeals to every born again believer when we're faced with it.

I could just get past my own pity parties. I mean sometimes I can dress up pretty nice for my parties beat us, and you make us partakers of Christ's suffering.

What an attitude, mock us if you make us like Jesus Christ like Paul the apostle.

Note the educated set about Paul. Let's see what this C picker has to say.

Luke intercepted it. He says all he did was stand around quoting what other people said about what other people said Luke was on to them. Paul and Silas put in prison converted the jail keeper. That's Christianity and action from jail. He writes the Ephesian letter the Philippi 11 Colossian letter a letter to Philemon put us in jail and we were right about Jesus Christ exposing Satan's workingmen turned us loose will turn things right side up given the chance to preach X Chapter 17 in Thessalonica. This is what they said about Paul and Silas. These two have reaped these two have turned the world upside down have come here to all now the Christians are here. I heard about them over there all here. They are now kill us and you promote us to glory.

You make us like John the Baptist, James the apostle Stephen Peter Paul and to put us this is how the face persecution.

What if it comes here full-blown in this kid stuff, what we're facing now bunch of people walking around missing a color from the rainbow on their flag.

I mean were supposed to just be firm and what we do, we still supposed to love and preach the truth and regardless of what they throw at us.

That's that's God's Department verse 14. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the spirit of glory and of God rest upon you and their parties blaspheme real parties glorified very very logical, insulted, taunted and harassed for Jesus right don't expect Christ to stop it. He endured it and you must to bearing the name of Christ for believing in him for preaching Jesus Christ and the gospel. Matthew chapter 5 Jesus said blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad great is your reward in heaven.

So they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Great is your reward in heaven. Okay, if I could just remember that if I can remember that there's more life after this life. If I could just not get so in touch with this life is all I know by sight.

But I know a lot more by faith. So we walk by faith not by sight. Because the Bible tells us to just shall live by faith. Faith means you've been exposed to enough information to make a sensible decision. It does not mean you just do it. The other guy did because he tells you that it would be good for you to do it. We must each one meet Jesus in this life we are going to be with him in the next.

What about the unborn, they'll be in heaven. That's what I say that's what the Scriptures say. David said I will not go to him by the way Barney is not going to me. I will go to him. I see that child again. There are other areas with that's enough for now because time constraints again but eternity. I can preach to you forever. This wait-and-see verse 15 but let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, as an evildoer or as a busybody in other people's matters. Well, you know that I don't know what Peter was thinking, but I know I would perceive this in writing it. It's you know as you write your thoughts down you develop a style in his okay he says to it all is audience does suffer like your murderess was well on murder will going to the euro, call your brother rock 'n' roll that was just taken. I don't go around shooting people.

I'm not a thief. I'm not an evildoer busybody in my busybody Drake criticize other people is not just poking my nose in other people's business. The less the Greek word ghost deeper than that.

Criticizing them after you stuck your nose in their business were not to suffer for violating moral laws not to be lawless. We are to be those of under grace how we behave should matter ask Sampson Sampson matter what you did with your faith doesn't matter what you did with your life that gouged his eyes out. Why well we know why but I mean that's in the Bible when you read it against one of those stories. Once you read it you never forget the bore who will know what Christians been around where have you had a test.

What happened to Sampson's eyeballs who would fail that test, everybody knows this question out so behavior matters, the thief, the Greek word, theirs clapped these from where we get our kleptomaniacs. Of course, we've expanded the meaning that simply means to steal by fall deceit as opposed to maybe a robber who steals by gun or punch in the nose or something like that busybody's. The Greek word is metal or or he commented is quoting axes getting the this part of Proverbs 2019 he who goes around as a talebearer reveals secrets therefore do not associate with one flatters with his lips as he could tell about you if you associate with. And that's why verse 16. Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Of course, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. Paul wrote to the Romans gospel of salvation for everyone who believes. I'm not ashamed of it but I'm going to. I prefer to read this quite a play few places to go, but reread this when one of the Wednesdays ago, and I like it a lot. Lord grant mercy to the household of Vanessa forests, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain.

When he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me he wasn't embarrassed that I was in jail, nor was he afraid to be associated with me and himself put in jail because of his association but he worked hard to find me in that jail system in that big city of Rome, and he did find me. I pray God bless that man blesses house.

That's what Paul did about the whole thing. It went deep into Paul's life to someone that would do love him like that he was not ashamed. Verse 17 for the time is come for judgment to begin in the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel or the image of judgment with God's people.

First that comes right out of the Old Testament.

It's in Ezekiel's and Jeremiah Amos chapter 3 God says to the people you only have I known of all the families of the earth. Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities Peter saying God's eyes very much on his people. But there's more to this than this is not the punitive God is not punishing these Christians for serving him judgment in Scripture does not always imply condemnation for doing something wrong. It can mean trial put under stress. For purposes of God, as was as it was with in their case, and so here the churches were suffering, God was allowing the persecution for his purposes. Remember the church of Smyrna. They were suffering they were persecuted. The Lord said hang in there.

Bless you. After all this after they kill you all, you will be with me. Remember you don't die as a believer you transition, you wake up in glory.

Revelation 3 because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which cut shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth is talking to the church at Philadelphia at this point they were spared the turtle's burner. They went through it. Other things outside of Christianity by the Christians cannot be right. If the church is wrong. If the church is wrong on me with the salt has lost its Savior.

What is it good for the church is supposed to have her act together as best she can and she can do a good job at this in a church went to the church at the assembly of believers. Not one person. Those assembled together. Not the lone wolf out there I'm on my own. I do my own thing is that the body of Christ as an amputation. The goal is to be in the body with the action is. He says, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God, God chastens his own people of God allows persecution and lives of his own people whom he loves. What's going to happen to those who hate him is a very serious note, the church has to work to maintain her integrity house keeping house cleaning. The church is the center of God's attention and to go to church and hear Bible studies and just zilch with it is an affront on the Holy Spirit is an insult. I love that Bible study why you living in blatant flagrant sin.

What is that in his becoming an increased problem. I love the church. Go verse by verse. Do they stick by the things of verses tell us what do they ignore them. Many churches simply ignore them. They don't want to trouble that I want the attendants to go down to start looking the other way and may not ever happen here. May we always with love. Bring out the rod when necessary. Bring out the Royal Arad is no fun because we want everything to go slowly is always a great joy to have to tell somebody that you can have a couple coffee in the sanctuary during the service. We just love doing that course we don't. Fortunately, people have been honoring that, but that's an example of you have to uphold things that God has given to us.

We can do that nicely before going out into the world to begin to tell her the gospel. We have to turn the knives on ourselves Jesus to get the plank out of your own eye before you go messing with that mote in someone else's and Joshua before the Jews crossed over into the promised land for war. What did they have to do circumcise themselves.

They had to turn the knives on themselves.

In the illustration and from the New Testament is you cut a deal with your own covenant your own relationship with God, according to God's covenant must be addressed is painful is necessary. Got something you're going to be perfect, but he calls you to pursue perfection. Nonetheless, so remove and then of course we says with those that are outside at the begins in the house of God. What will the envy of those who do not obey the gospel. It will be a judgment without the blood of Christ to forgive them. That's what it will be horrific. Verse 18.

Now, if the righteous want to scarcely say where will the ungodly and the sinner appear is quoting Proverbs what's going to happen if the righteous are truly not righteous and there on their own strength but they're saved anyway.

Only by the blood of Christ was going to happen to those that are not righteous but on interested that stiff arm God and his plan for salvation shiver at the thought is the idea the critical reminder that salvation is not something we are owed for this what everyone needs grace gives us no rights. It gives us an immense amount of love and forgiveness and acceptance and a new creation that is finalizing glory when we are glorified and so was a Christian any rights I think I have with God are given to me by God. I can never say it is my right. I'm tempted sometimes in prayer you know to sneak one in to that you promised hand or just back down from it. We don't know what God is doing. That's the story of Ruth when her husband died when she found herself with nowhere to go but with Naomi, who was also who also lost her husband. What was God doing Naomi goes back she's a little better. I went out Rich. I've come back poor. Don't call me blessed because I'm not in God just kept doing his thing right on right on and Naomi begin to see it. I'll tell you what to do. She said the roof don't you be caught in anybody else's field at that man Boaz.

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit says that to us. Don't you be caught in any other field of worship than that of Christ in the Godhead, and of course we know the story. She never would've met Boaz and all that blossomed out of that. Did Joseph mean his own brothers going to kill him know some of you said that experience with your brothers and sisters, maybe I don't mind. My sister wanted to do me and when I was born because I wasn't a girl's true story.

She's a sinner, not me.

So what was mugged with Joseph and of course what came out of that he saved all of them just don't know what God is doing the righteous will just trust him and do it. I mean, there are those it to the trust generals go to their death.

How much more with Christ first 19 therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator bless the place it, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz arrived.

That's the place that Joseph arrived. You imagine Naomi speaking to her children.

Later, I mean Ruth, let me tell you story how all this happened.

Somebody told the story. Otherwise we would have the words and the kids had to of been moved by by that affair that took place in her life that was so wonderful and so he says commit our souls to God that is going to require resolve in faith in doing good we are to be characterized as do-gooders. Why is it an insult to call somebody a do-gooder what your do better for grammar, which is the as to a faithful Creator. Job of course slay me trust less. Don't know what is don't even like, but I know him know enough about him so trust and obey move. We are so glad you tuned in today to study the book of first Peter on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and we are blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you'd like more information about this program or want to listen to additional teachings from Pastor Rick please visit our website cross reference radio.com also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. We hope you tune in again next time to join us as we continue our study through the Scriptures like here on cross reference radio