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Good evening precious saints of God and greetings in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is a blessing to be with you via the internet in your home. I would like
to thank you for visiting our web page. God has made a way for us to visit
in the homes of thousands of people at a time to bring you the good news of
of the gospel. This a wonderful way to minister to the sick in body where we
may never had the chance to do otherwise. So spread the word about us here
and let people know that we are here and what we are doing for the Gospel's sake.
Today's Message Text: 1Peter Chapter 4:12:15
Verse 12: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the firey trial which
is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened unto you:
Verse 13: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Verse 14: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the
Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on thier part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified.
Verse 15: But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an
evil doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Verse 16: Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but
let him glorify God on this behalf.
Verse 17: For time is come for judgement to begin at the house of God: and if
it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel
of God?
We as Christians are to stand up under the firey trial of persecution. Persecution
is a strange thing. We ask God why does he allow persecution to come our way.
We ask this when we are following him closely and obeying him and still this
persecution comes. Six points are made in this scripture.
First: Do not think it strange that you suffer persecution (v12)
Second: Rejoice in persecution (v13)
Third: Know God's Spirit, that a glow of God's glory rest upon you (V14)
Fourth: Do not bring suffering or persecution upon yourself (V15)
Fith: Don't be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian (V16)
Sixth: Accept persecution as the purifying judgement of God (V17)
When we really start to live for Christ that, is really when persecution starts. It takes
a man and a woman to live for God. When you really come under subjection to
God the world will reject you. But one more; sometimes your own church will.
When paul said " For in the last days Perilous times will come" This is one
of the things he was talking about, persecution of the Christian or the
Body of Christ.We live in a day when the Christian is avoided, ridiculed,
mocked, isolated, ignored, neglected, overlooked, by-passed, cursed, questioned,
abused, mistreated, slandered and much more.
Why does God allow us to suffer persecution? This is the reason.
(1). Persecution will measure how strong our faith is. A Christian's faith
is measured by how much he is willing to sacrifice and bear for it.
(2). Persecution proves our trust in God and teaches us to depend upon God
more and more.
(3). Persecution proves and strengthens our patience and endurance.
(4). Persecution proves our faith and attracts others to Christ.
When persecution comes we can't think that God has turned his back on us he has not
or will he ever. He is refinning you as fine gold. You are in the fire and
as the impurities come to the surface he draws it off. When he is finished
you are like a fine gold vessel. When people see you they see the glory of God
shine from you.
With this I will close. As the poem Footprints in the Sand tell us when we
look down we see one set of footprints. But believe me these are not yours
but Jesus carring you in his hands. Dear brother and sister you may can't
see the light at the end of the tunnel but, Jesus is there carring you through
this trial and when you come from it you will be able to endure greater things
than before through Christ Jesus our Lord.
It has been good speaking with you today. Until next week, God bless and
keep you as our prayer.
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