Serving, Suffering and Faith (Part B)

You say hello. I know my faith is genuine. I struggle struggle with these things very simple task you hate sin because of Jesus Christ. Your flesh loves some of the sins we want to do what you hate the job I 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 been best the blood of Christ. 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, and now here's Pastor Rick with his continuing study called serving suffering and faith in first Peter chapter 4 the love today is never that way is the opposite.

We double down with love and justify a loveless missing hotel. Geez, why don't love that guy. Because there can be no fervent love for the sinner until there is fervent love for the Savior. If you don't love and adore Jesus Christ you got no chance at agape love towards others love the Lord. I just hate people, these believers when in a world that hated them.

Why would you want to go to a church when they hate you to or you hating on them towards each other. There must be love.

I don't, I won't read the many Bible verses, especially in first John the deal with this because you know them you know of them and we have time constraints.

First, they is a 19 versus a more 15 minutes into this for level cover a multitude of sins and a multitude of ways but we don't give it a chance. Do we wait we don't I and there are times that I have shown love and I have set myself doing it will look at me. I can't believe I'm writing this beast, but that does not guarantee that the next time with the same person or someone else. The love is going to be there better fight for it is doable. I can say that I could say this, I would like to say this, characterizing my Christian walk.

I have sought to love everyone course people think loving them means doing it their way and that's not the meaning. Proverbs 10 hatred stirs up strife, yeah man, it does, but love covers all sins profound in Christ.

The greatest attribute of God is the same love is to be worked out in our lives. Verse nine be hospitable to one another without grumbling ever call someone on the phone and did what kind of his hospitable small hello manacled at the wrong time. Sorry I was calling the house of a Chris then hang up on know sometimes that yesterday I got a call. I thought it was a telemarketer return call and so I was a little bit on it I felt little conviction not a lot because I didn't go overboard with the but my tone was not the usual loving tone that I always have and you all know that stop before I make you go lives anyway be hospitable. The word there final Zeno's in the Greek and means literally love strangers course we understand what is meant here. You can make jokes about that but seriously speaking. It doesn't take much to be nice. It really doesn't. It takes more energy to to be a grumpy Christian verse 10 as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold graces of God. The manifold graces, RT Robinson, one of the long gone. Great Greek scholars said it that word manifold is multicolored and it's overworked.

I guess around certain equipment you have things a manifold. There are many ports and an it's a motley kind of a thing and so we're here we are at the manifold graces got there so many parts and colors and shapes and tones to God's grace that is supposed to show up in our lives.

The gifts are supposed to be used not saved. I'm saving myself for the big moment when you're wasting yourself. Those of you step forward and serve you. You understand this and those of you who don't step forward and serve well when not to vent, not chastening you but keep that before the Lord, don't be too comfortable with that. Second Timothy Paul, I love that second Timothy letter anyway. Chapter 1 verse six processor Timothy. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you stirred up Timothy was saying to Timothy you not doing it.

He was just adding to easy keeping moving the word minister here diagonals means to run errands for someone errand boy. That's what we are. We ministers and don't not just pastors we Christians as ministers. All Christians are to fall under the title of diagonals that the errand runner.

We are office servants told go there we go. Remember Philip felt God's is moving Philip around was Otis to the desert with the Ethiopian was a he was minister of the gospel. Verse 11 if anyone speaks, let them speak as the oracles of God of anyone ministers led him do it.

As with the ability which God supplies that all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ whom belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. So he sort of has this poetic outburst is as of though he has a flashback to those days and Capernaum Galilee, the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem and all the places he was with Jesus is Jesus of anyone speaks is he's kind of even sees their them speak the oracles of God you know of God that would God gives him anyone ministers.

He goes on, and then he says that in all things God may be glorified is building up through Jesus Christ.

He loved to say that name to whom belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Such electric and it is course in outburst of his own faith. They were picked up on that having it read to them in the congregation. So were going to speak the word of God.

Let's remember it's his word. One of the difficult things about preparing to preach from the pulpit is God what you want to say thank any doesn't take much to read a commentary to come up and repeat what you've read that's not preaching you want you want to emerge from your time with the Lord something to say and that is from him and I hope the people of God come to church so they can hear something from God. The man he has ordained is appointed to that position. When Moses came down from the mountain he has something to say and the people were often not ready they should of been going to serve the people of God, we have to remember whose people they are and why it is was serving those of you who serve why, why do you do it was to be an easy answer. I love the Lord. I serve him and many of us are very very grateful for this. So what is the objective.

The objective of the Christian life. What's the target when we in this for what is our motivation.

Jesus Christ will of God to honor him with verse 11 tells us if you go to speak speak as though God is spoken to you. You want to minister do so in the billability that God blesses you what he is imparted to you, believing that God is in touch with his people. Verse 12 stayover still have a long task and heated up there beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing is happening to you. Spoken like a man who gets it.

Spoken like a man who understands the Christian life that when Jesus said in the world you going to have a lot of tribulation, be of good cheer. I've overcome the world. I don't know about you but I wrestled with joy in the Christian life is just so many things in this world that do not stir up joy. It takes joy from Rob's joy. So what I notice okay. Joy is not easy because were in a cursed world is not God's will, but what is God's will is that we press through we overcome. So my conclusion for myself is this I'm not given up because joy is such an elusive place in the mind and heart of the believer. I'm not giving up I'm going to go ahead.

It was so much easier in the early days of Christianity, but as the years have gone by things of piled up, you know, it becomes when you're you when you're young and you face these things again facing the Dragon but when you allow cafés in my can and again and again and then when I face him. It doesn't mean that I just take out my sword and slay him to take hits hurt. Stick with me flashbacks of them unpleasant things well how my going to have grace in the midst of these things gotta stay clear in my keep it clear my head that this is the will of God, that in the world you will have much tribulation and after this world you will have none for now it's on and so what are you going to do Christian man what are you going to do Christian woman, child of Christ, will you going to do in this life. I am going to give it my best to comply with every single thing I'm told in Scripture by my Lord. And so here he is in a world where people were living against the Christians suffering as a Christian is not abnormal is expected of people that aren't Christian suffer.

The difference is supposed to be that our discounts in eternity. Stephen and Paul. They suffered they didn't think it was strange. Paul Stephen when they were stoning him, and keep you know he set them off at the end. Which of the prophets. Did you not killed in or you just like Stephen, we might want to say that, but he was not the appeasing mood when he gave that last sermon and when they started throwing a rock to sell at what was that for you to believe in doing this, just why you boneheads do that. He never saw the rocks as they were crashing into him. He saw the throne of God and he asked God would forgive you read these things and when it stopped being a story to start being God speaking to you.

You read these things you say I want that and I don't have it.

God says that to be there when you need it.

If you truly want. We sing songs we come to church on Sunday. We have a routine which is good. We sing songs. Maybe it's helpful to remember that many of the Saints face the burning steak by singing songs. Christ, how did he faced across they went out of the upper room and they crossed the brook Kidron, and they were singing hymns. See joy is something that the Christian has to take the fight for the other stuff is happiness and I don't like being inconveniencing who likes bumper-to-bumper traffic when you've had 5 cups of coffee so Stephen Paul. They didn't think it strange as wave of persecution on the believers, which lasted as I mentioned, probably historians believe. About four years from the burning of Rome until the death of Nero and a year into it. It's believed both Peter and Paul were executed by the Roman Caesars and then after Nero died there had so a relatively cool time until Domitian came along, the one who imprisoned John and set him on Isle of Patmos East. He was not as bad as Nero, but he was a killer. Nonetheless, murder is as of though some strange thing happened to you. You know we always say why me because you're in the scourge world of music did my single out.

Listen, he just encourage them to have love, he will encourage them to not murder and steel. In other words, he knew they had false however that's not why they were suffering they were suffering because you know they were busybodies and Poconos and just did things we people do suffering for their faith. Satan loves answer this question. Why am I suffering. Satan loves to come along and save because you and next Jesus fills in the blanks.

Maybe you struggle with something you just been struggling with her forever. Or maybe it's a new thing. Satan will come along and he will say you will.

You know you're 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 in oils on 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 said those ancient Romans. We did was going on in Nazi Germany. You don't like to fear. The fear is inferior. All right anyway, you are Nazi Germany and you said 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 how do I know my my faith is genuine when struggle 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 to try 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 been 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 crisis 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 that 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 first 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 the next week one after.

We probably will do that.

But Paul's quest in life was 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, the die is gain. But you know as you serve a lot.

The risk of becoming confused so clouded in some of your thoughts as they are yet to fight through them so it is something that I'm committed to. I 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 if I live to be older. There will be those that will seek me out that they want to hear what I have to say about Jesus Christ.

Villainy about anything else from me 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 is 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 in the book of acts. They took the apostles aside, we want to stop preaching the gospel.

They said no they beat them all yell 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 is why the book of acts is so exciting is justice. 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 with the 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 Philippian level Colossian letter a letter to Philemon put us in jail and we were right about Jesus Christ exposing Satan's workingmen turned us loose and will turn things right side up given the chance to preach acts chapter 17 in Thessalonica. This is what they said about Paul and Silas.

These two every these two have turn 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 activists. 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 your parties glorified very very logical, insulted, taunted and harassed for Jesus. All 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 does not mean you just do it. The other guy did because he chose you that it would be good for you to do it. We must each one meet Jesus. This life we are going to be with him in the next 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. We 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