Bible Study. December 5, 2012

Transcription

1 Bible Study December 5, 2012

2 Living In Expectancy Living in expectancy has come to mean never having to experience trouble in our lives. However that is not true. Good Christian people can have bad things happen in their lives. We live our lives in expectancy that one day Jesus is coming back. And so, how we live and serve today will determine how we are judged and rewarded on that day. Peter gave us instructions on how to keep life in balance while waiting for Jesus return. Stay cool and keep your mind clear even in turbulent times. 1 Peter 4:7 (NIV) 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

3 Keep on loving each other. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Keep on being hospitable 1 Peter 4:9 (NLT) 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. Use your gift well 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT) 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

4 When trials come, don t think that you were picked out to suffer. 1 Peter 4:12 (NLT) 12 Dear friends, don t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice anyhow 1 Peter 4:13 (NIV) 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Praise God for the privilege of suffering like Christ 1 Peter 4:15-16 (NLT) 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

5 Endure hardship like a good soldier 1 Peter 4:17-18 (NKJV) 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? 18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" An expectant attitude toward Christ s return involves a serious, balanced mind and an alert, awaken prayer life. The test of our commitment to the doctrine of Christ s return is not our ability to draw charts or discern signs, but our thinking and praying. If our thinking and praying are right, our living should be right.

6 Why Must We Sometimes Suffer For A Season Much of what goes on in the world depends on lies, pride, pleasure, and the desire to get more. A dedicated Christian builds his life on truth, humility, holiness, and the desire to glorify God. Cain was a religious man, yet he hated his brother and killed him. The world does not persecute religious people, but it does persecute righteous people. Why Cain killed Abel is explained in 1 John 3:12: Because his own works were evil, and his brother s righteous. The Pharisees and Jewish leaders were religious people, yet they crucified Christ and persecuted the early church. The fiery trials we endure is the evidence of the real war going on between God and Satan.

7 Turning Pain Into Pleasure We learned that glory is the expression of holiness. It is necessary to understand that God is not going to replace suffering with glory; rather He will transform suffering into glory. Jesus used the illustration of a woman giving birth in John 16. The same baby that gave her pain also gave her joy. The pain was transformed into joy by the birth of the baby. The thorn in the flesh that gave Paul difficulty also gave him power and glory. The cross that gave Jesus shame and pain also brought power and glory. We pay a price today in order to have enjoyments in the future. Our very sufferings will one day be transformed into glory.

8 Moving Into New Territories Believers ought to grow spiritual everyday. And that includes pastors and preachers. We are spiritual pioneers moving into new spiritual territories so we can experience new blessings and new challenges. Sometimes God permits fiery trials to come into a church or church people so that the people will be forced to grow and discover new truths and new opportunities. Certainly Peter grew in his spiritual experience as he suffered for Christ. He was not perfect by any means; in fact, Paul had to rebuke him once for inconsistency. But Peter yielded his will to Christ and he was willing to learn all that God had for him. New territories are discovered as we develops a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

9 How Peter s Experience Develops His Ministry It is interesting to read 1 Peter 5 in the light of Peter s personal experiences with Christ. The glory that shall be revealed reminds us of Peter s experience with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. 1 Peter 5:1 (KJV) 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Matthew 17:1-2 (KJV) 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

10 The emphasis on the shepherd and the sheep reminds us of Peter s experience with Jesus in John Peter 5:2 (NIV) 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve John 21:15-17 (KJV) 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

11 The warning about lording it over the saints reminds us of Christ s lesson about true greatness. 1 Peter 5:3 (NIV) 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. Matthew 20:25-27 (NLT) 25 But Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.

12 The warning about Satan parallels Jesus warning to Peter about Satan. 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour Luke 22:31-32 (NIV) 31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Of course we know that Peter ended up denying the Lord three times at Calvary. But this is also evidence that fiery trials can make you stronger.