
COMPLETED LIVING FOR GOD IN OUR WORLD, WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE ON TRIAL
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE ON TRIAL
March 12, 2023
THREE KINDS OF SUFFERING:
COMMON suffering - because I am a human being.
CARNAL suffering - because I sin.
CHRISTIAN suffering - because I am a believer.
1. REALIZE IT’S BOUND TO HAPPEN.
I Peter 4:12 - “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”
John 15:20 - (Jesus) “No servant is greater is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
Ephesians 6:12 - “We are not fighting against human beings, but against wicked spiritual forces.”(GN)
2. REJOICE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN.
I Peter 4:13 - “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ..,”
REASONS TO REJOICE:
A. IT DRAW ME CLOSER TO CHRIST.
I Peter 4:13b - ” … as these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory.”(LB)
Philippians 3:10-11 - I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
B. IT MEANS THAT GOD CAN BE SEEN IN MY LIFE
1 Peter 4:14 - If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Mark 8:38 - If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
C. GOD CAN TRUST ME.
Acts 5:41 - The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
3. REFUSE TO BE ASHAMED.
I Peter 4:16 - “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
The antidote to the fear of rejection is twofold:
A. Realize that you don’t need the approval of everybody in order to be happy in life.
B. Be more concerned with what God thinks about you, than what other people think about you.
Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. REMEMBER THE REWARD I’LL RECEIVE.
2 Corinthians 4:17 - “These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!” (LB)
Romans - 8:17 - “Since we are God’s children… if we share in Christ’s suffering, we will also share in his glory.” (GN)
5. REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD.
I Peter 4:19 - “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
Do people notice Christ in my life?
Have I been ashamed to take a stand?
Romans 1:16 - “I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven … everyone is invited to come to God in this same way.”
(LB)