More about fiery trials, and what to do in them.

1 Pet 4:13 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.

1 Pet 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

1 Pet 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.

1 Pet 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

The above verses, teach us about four specific things to understand, and do when we are in a fiery trial. 

1. Rejoice. This may seem strange to us, but, it's what we ought to do. Why would we rejoice in a fiery trial? Because says Peter, you are partaking in Christ's sufferings, and when His glory is revealed, ( in the trial itself, and when you see Him face to face ) you may be glad with exceeding joy.  In other words, as a Christian, you know that it's only a matter of time before you see Jesus, and when you do, you will see Him in all of His glory, and the joy that you will have at that moment will be exceedingly wonderful. 

2. Blessed. This is another truth for those are reproached ( insulted, reviled, undeserved reviling ) for the name of Christ. We are blessed if we are in this position, because the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon us. Those who reproach you, revile Christ, but for you who follow Him, He is glorified. So, to put it another way, God is with you. His Spirit is with you. 

3. Suffering. Peter is essentially saying, that suffering does not have to be the result of four different things. By the way, these acts will bring suffering into the life of a Christian. Murder, Stealing, Evildoing, and being  a busybody in other people's matters, or being a meddler. We are to keep ourselves from these things, and therefore we will not wind up suffering as a result. 

4. Not ashamed. That's something we do not have to have in our lives. If you are suffering as a Christian, do not be ashamed of it. Christians do suffer who hold to the Word of God in the midst of this fallen and wicked world. And when they do suffer, they do not have to have a sense of shame about themselves. Ashamed, is also translated "shrink".......in other words, a person who is ashamed will often kind of shrink back from others, feeling disgraced and dishonored. But, Christians don't need to be ashamed. Rather, they are to glorify God. Or to praise God, to give Him honor and glory. 

May the Lord give you grace and strength if you are suffering. And may the things said in these verses be of help to you, in helping you understand what to do when in a fiery trial. 

Application/Promise

1. Everyone goes through something fiery, now and then. 

2. You are not alone, God is with you.

3. It's not unusual to go through severe suffering. 

4. Jesus Himself went through more then we know. 

5. God will get you through it. 

6. God will purify your life through it. 

7. He is with you today.

8. You will praise Him when you see Him. 

For those who suffer according to the will of God

For those who suffer according to the will of God.

1 Pet 4: 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

1 Pet 4: 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

1 Pet 4: 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.

Peter says, a number of things in these three verses, all of which are related to the sufferings that his readers were going through.

1. He makes a statement, and asks a question. The statement is, that the time had come for judgement to begin at the house of God. Or the purging. Trials, fiery and difficult as they are, do bring the benefit of purging, or purifying our lives, and our faith. The question then is, "if it begins with us, who belong to God, what will happen to those who have not obeyed the gospel and come to faith in Christ.? He is speaking of course of the final judgement upon the lost. And, is implying the severity of what is coming upon those who have not obeyed the gospel.

2. Another question is asked.  If the righteous are scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?. This is a loose quote from Proverbs 11:31, which basically states that God's people do receive some rewards in this life. So, if God is attending to them, what will happen to the sinner when they appear before the Lord in judgement? If God deals with us, how will He deal with them is the idea. If God is rewarding us now, then what will be brought upon the sinner when they appear before the throne of God's judgement. 

3. Some direction or application are given.  Here's what to do if your suffering, and it's according to the will of God. That is, you have not brought the suffering on by your sinful actions, but rather it's for other reasons, ( in the will of God ) that these sufferings have come into your life. Then, here's what to do......Commit your soul to Him in doing good. The word commit means, to set before, to commit the keeping of, to place beside or near, to place down, ( from one's self ) and to deposit, and to intrust, to commit to one's charge )

Remember, He is a faithful and dependable creator. You can depend on God. So, keep doing good, God is faithful is the idea. 

Peter will actually have more to say about this subject in the next chapter. And, Lord willing we will get to that this next week. But, what an encouragement this letter from Peter has been. It reminds me of the truth, that "we are able to comfort others with the same comfort that we have received from God" 2nd Cor 1. 

Maybe today, you are comforting others, or maybe today, others are comforting you. Ultimately, that comfort has come from God. May He bless you and encourage you. 

Application/Promise

1. Comfort is from God.

2. He gives it to us in our trials.

3. We are able to share it with others later.

4. If you need comfort, ask the Lord, He will help you.

5. Be patient, God is faithful, He will help you.

6. Re-read 1st Peter. It's designed to help those suffering. 

How to handle a fiery trial.

How to understand a "Fiery Trial"

The title of this post, is the subject of the verses below. 

1Pet 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

1Pet 4:13 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.

Peter once again uses a favorite term to describe his readers. "Beloved"

It means, very dear to God, esteemed, worthy of love, and dear. It comes from the word agapetos, like agape love. 

At any rate, the point here is.........

First of all, Not to think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you. 

What does this mean? Simply, not to be shocked or surprised, by these fiery trials (Burning Calamities that come upon you, to test your character) which are going to try you, or test you. They will come. They are coming Peter says. And, when they do come, don't be surprised. Like, what happened, where did this come from? everything was going so well, and now this has happened, what's going on Lord? Etc, etc, etc.

Secondly, he says, "rejoice to the extent that you partake in Christ's suffering that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" Throughout this letter, Peter has acknowledged the twin facts, of Christ's sufferings, and of our's.

Jesus had stated beforehand, that we would have tribulation in the world. And, that if the world hated Him, they would also hate us. So, it's really par for the course. 

But, what Peter adds here, is once again a mention of the coming again of Christ.........that is, when His glory is revealed, when we see Him face to face, we will be glad with exceeding joy. 

What a hope we have in Christ. And, it's this hope that is to be the anchor to our lives down here, as we are tossed about on a ocean of trials and troubles. We are connected to God through Christ. He will not let us go, and no one can take us out of His hand, and nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. 

How blessed we are.......

Application/Promise

1. These verses might be good to memorize.

2. The truths in them are so important.

3. The truth is trials and troubles are no surprise to God.

4. We are under God's care and guidance and planning. 

5. He is working all things together for our good.

6. What a wonderful savior we have.

7. And, what a glorious living hope we have. 

8. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus today. 

Spiritual gifts, and how to use them.

Peter is going to in the verses below, state a truth about spiritual gifts that has to do with every Christian. And, then, he is going to identify two gifts, and explain how to use them. 

1Pet 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 1Pet 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

First of all, each Christian has at least one gift. We have received that gift(s) from God. The Holy Spirit is the one who distributed the gift(s) to us. See 1st Cor 12. 

Secondly, we are to use those gifts in ministering to one another, and in doing so, we are good stewards of God's grace. Gifts are not given to sit on the shelf of our lives as it were, but rather, they are dispensed to us, to be used for the benefit of others. See 1st Cor 12. 

Thirdly, if you have a speaking gift, that is, a teacher, a pastor teacher, an evangelist and so on, then we are to speak as the oracles of God, or to speak the Word of God. We are to teach God's Word, and not something else. 

Fourthly, if you have been given the gift of ministry, or service, that is, a gift to help, it is to be used with God's ability, or the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to seek God's power in the use of gifts, and helping others requires God's power. But, more then just needing God's power, it's really so that God can be the one who is glorified by and through the use of our gifts. All of the glory and the dominion belong to Him anyways. 

Jesus said, ( it's recorded in Acts 20 ) that it's more blessed to give, then it is to receive. May I suggest that by our using the gifts God has given us, we are indeed giving, there is a great blessing waiting for the one who serves the Lord through their spiritual gifts. 

Application/Promise.

1. God has given you gifts.

2. He wants to bless your life in using them.

3. Are you at this time using your gifts for the Lord?

4. May His power come upon your life as you do.

5. And, may others benefit by your service.

6. Many blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. 

How to live in these "Last Days"

How to live in light of the coming again of Christ.

Peter once again, in these verses, brings up the matter of the end times, the last days, the revelation of Jesus Christ. He has mentioned this truth either explicitly, or by implication many, many times in this short 5 chapter letter, and now he does it again. 

Let's look more closely at what Peter says. See the verses below.......

1Pet 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

1Pet 4:8  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

1Pet 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

The plan of God for the coming again of Jesus Christ is at hand in the sense that Christ could come at any moment, and upon His leaving this earth and going to heaven, the period known in the Bible as the "Last Days" began. And, thus we live with this truth as a reality and a very real possibility. 

Since this is true says Peter, then we ought to be living in the following manner.

1. Be serious.

2. Be watchful in your prayers. 

3. Be loving one another fervently.

4. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 

Serious means, to be in the right mind, to be of sound mind, to exercise self control, and to curb one's passions. He has mentioned this once or twice in his letter. It's important to pull ourselves together mentally, and stay calm, and not be afraid when threatening or difficult situations come about. 

Watchful means, to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, and dispassionate, ( or not influenced by strong emotion, and so be rational and impartial  ) This is of course closely linked with being sober. And, it really calls us to do what we can do, which is to exercise self control, and not give way to strong emotions. 

In your prayers. That is, to remain in fellowship with God, talking with the Lord, and listening to Him talk to you. To be in that communion with God. 

Be loving one another fervently, and to have this as the most important thing, the main priority in your life. To walk in love toward one another. To really be intent on this, and to be unceasing in it. 

Finally, he says to be hospitable to one another without grumbling, or complaining about it. It literally means, to be a lover of hospitality, and be generous to strangers. ( There were many people whom a Christian would come in contact in Peter's day, who would be complete strangers to them. Not unlike the world we live in today ) Grumbling by the way, is not to accompany our hospitality, that is not to have a grudging spirit, or a complaining spirit, or murmuring. 

So, we are living in the last days, the end of all things is right in front of us. And, there is a life to be lived in Christ, in the way that is described for us in the Holy Bible. What God calls us to do, He also enables us to do. It's not by our might, nor by our power that we can live the way God says to, but it's rather through the work of His Holy Spirit, and the power of God in our lives. 

God's Richest Blessings to you. 

Pastor Bob Grenier. 

Calvary Chapel Visalia .....

How to live in this world and understand it

How to live in this world and understand it.

Peter has been giving his readers very important and specific instruction, relating to so many different areas of life, and situations. 
Now, he speaks in a more general sense, and talks about what to do in general with your life as a Christian, and what you might expect to see and experience, and why. 


See 1st Peter 4:1-6 below........

1 Pet 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

1 Pet 4:2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

1 Pet 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

1 Pet 4:4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

1 Pet 4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Pet 4:6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

There are six or so things that Peter has said.......

Believers are to arm themselves with the same mind that Jesus had. And, that is, that He suffered, and so are they. It goes with being saved. 

Also, we are no longer to live our lives for the lusts of men, but rather for the will of God. In other words as new creatures in Christ, we don't live to do the things that we used to do, and wanted to do, but rather we now live to do the will of God. To please Him. 

We have spent enough of our time in the past living after the ways of unsaved people, walking in all sorts of sins and such. 

Unsaved people think it's strange that you don't want to live the way that they do. Doing things that are really a waste of one's life. And, as a result of your following Christ, they will speak evil of you. 

These same people will one day give an account to God for their lives. He is ready to judge the living and the dead. That day of judgment is coming. 

This is why the Gospel was preached to those who have died, ( the deceased christians, martyrs )  They were judged and condemned to death by martyrdom according to human standards, but the are now alive in the Spirit after their death. ( Just like Jesus died, and is now alive ) 

This chapter really does help us understand how we are to live on a day to day basis, and to have understanding about those around us, and what to expect from them. And, to recognize that there is life after death in Christ. 

May God bless you as you continue in your own personal walk with Jesus Christ.