WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.080 Good morning. So it's 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 12 to 19 page 1220. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:28.199 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:35.259 some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:42.859 sufferings, that when his glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:49.239 you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the spirit of glory and 00:00:49.239 --> 00:00:56.700 of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:06.680 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:14.020 people's matters. Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let 00:01:14.020 --> 00:01:20.780 him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:28.060 of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:35.599 gospel of God? Now, if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:43.040 the sinner appear? Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:49.080 souls to him in doing good as to a faithful creator. Amen. 00:01:49.080 --> 00:01:49.200 Amen. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.159 Thanks very much, Mary. Well, let's pray. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:31.500 Father, we thank you for this letter written thousands of years ago, written to a people 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:40.319 to encourage them as they seek to live as your people in the world. And Father, we need 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:49.800 to be encouraged today, for we also are seeking to live as your people in the world. Father, 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:58.039 you know the needs of each one of us, the particular struggles that we face. And so we pray that 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:08.120 by your Holy Spirit, you would speak into our lives individually and corporately so that we keep on going 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:16.120 as a Christian, that we do not turn from you, but keep our gaze fixed upon you. 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:25.039 So build us up and encourage us today. In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:29.039 Amen. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.039 Amen. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:40.939 But Jesus had just shared a meal with his disciples and during the conversation spoke these words 00:03:40.939 --> 00:03:55.259 to them. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Applying what Jesus had said to his 00:03:55.259 --> 00:04:05.879 disciples, the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy to teach the church. Everyone who wants to live a godly life 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:10.919 in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:21.279 Now those two references summarise the message of 1 Peter. If you are a Christian, if you're a follower 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:31.459 of Jesus, you must prepare to suffer. Either you have suffered, you are suffering, or you will suffer. 00:04:32.119 --> 00:04:39.819 There's no escaping the hard reality that living for Christ in the world will mean you face hard 00:04:39.819 --> 00:04:51.740 and tough times. In fact, suffering is a normal experience. Look at verse 12. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:05:03.759 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:15.439 were happening to you. The Christian life is a painful trial. It's the normal experience of life. 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:23.759 Yes, Christians will suffer like everyone else. We get sick. We develop cancers. We're not immune 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:32.939 from car accidents. Christians get caught up in hurricanes and wars. But on top of that, there is another 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:40.660 layer of suffering that is unique to the Christian. And that suffering is, if you look at verse 14, 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:50.000 are things like where we are insulted because of the name of Christ. Or verse 16, where we suffer 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:58.839 as a Christian. So if you are a Christian, you will experience that people will push you out because you 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:08.399 follow Christ and they will shut you up because you believe the truth of the Bible. So don't be surprised 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:14.959 when your work colleagues ignore you because you obey what the Bible says about same-sex marriage 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:23.559 or abortion. Don't be surprised when your college or schoolmates give you a hard time because you won't 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:31.920 enter into a sexual relationship until you are married. Don't be surprised when your unbelieving spouse or 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:39.019 family member thinks you're weird or odd because you say Jesus is more important than anyone else 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:46.959 or anything else. And don't be surprised that should you move and live and serve in another country 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:56.959 where it's illegal to be a Christian that you could be kicked out or worse, imprisoned or violently killed. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:11.859 Suffering as a Christian is not strange. It's the normal experience of life. Now if we don't get this, 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:21.300 when the suffering does come, you will be surprised. You will be taken off guard. You won't be prepared 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:27.699 for it and you will want to give up. You will become confused and wonder where is God in all of this 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:37.319 and why is he letting this happen. You will turn your back on Christ and his church. So, verse 12, 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:51.180 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange 00:07:51.180 --> 00:08:02.360 were happening to you. So, rather than be surprised, we should take comfort that our suffering 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:12.960 is under God's sovereignty. Look at verse 12 again. Dear friends, he says, do not be surprised at the 00:08:12.960 --> 00:08:25.120 painful trial or the fiery ordeal that has come upon you. So, the trial that's come upon you is not by 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:31.580 mistake. It's not some random experience that we just have to put up with. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:42.000 No, all our trials are all under God's sovereignty. That means when people malign you, when friends 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:50.759 leave you because you identify with Jesus, it doesn't just happen. It's all under God's control 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:59.000 and all under his authority. Have a look down at verse 19. Do you see what it says there? 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:08.860 So, then, those who suffer according to God's will or those who suffer according to God's plan. 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:22.960 So, the trials that we face have been allowed by God and designed by God for our good. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:27.280 I'm going to say that again because that's something hard for us to take on board. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:37.660 The trials we face have been allowed by God, used and designed by God for our good. 00:09:38.800 --> 00:09:45.240 Now, we may find that hard to take in, but just think about it the other way around. If God is not 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:53.320 sovereign over suffering. If God is not in control of these things, then what we're left with is with a 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:59.799 God who is impotent, a God who is not powerful, who's there scratching his head wondering what to do 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:07.000 with all these trials and struggles these people are facing. But if God is sovereign, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:18.399 He not only permits these trials, He has a purpose for these trials in our life. He not only permits them, 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:29.480 but He has a purpose for them. And here's the first purpose. Suffering is the path to joy. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:41.480 Suffering is the path to joy. Look at verse 12. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:54.560 you are suffering. Verse 13, but rejoice. Now, how on earth are we meant to rejoice when you're spoken 00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:04.839 against for standing for Christian truth? How am I meant to rejoice when I'm being treated unjustly for doing 00:11:04.839 --> 00:11:18.639 what is good and right? Where's the joy in being hit? Well, read the rest of verse 13. But rejoice that you 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:29.179 participate in the sufferings of Christ. We are to rejoice not in the trials themselves. We're not 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:35.580 jumping up and down and going, yippee, I'm getting opposed and I'm being insulted. We are to rejoice 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:45.419 not in the trials themselves, but that we participate in, that we share in the sufferings of Christ. 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:56.399 In other words, we're to rejoice in the fact that what happened to Christ will happen to us. What 00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:05.599 happened to Christ is going to happen to us. Have a look back at chapter 1, verse 11. I think this will 00:12:05.599 --> 00:12:12.799 help us understand a bit more. Chapter 1, verse 11. It's a difficult verse, but it's talking about the 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:24.399 authors, the writers of the authors, the authors, the authors who were writing about Jesus who was to come. 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:32.199 And this is what it says in verse 11 of chapter 1, the authors who were writing about Jesus who was to 00:12:32.199 --> 00:12:39.759 come. They were trying, verse 11, to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:50.299 Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:55.819 follow. So everything they wrote about was all pointing towards Jesus Christ who was going to come, 00:12:56.539 --> 00:13:07.360 who would suffer, and after his sufferings, glories would follow. So there we have it. There we have a 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:19.399 picture that the path of Christ, the journey of Christ, would go from suffering to glory. So as we suffer like 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:27.600 Christ, as we follow on this path, on this journey of following Christ, we will go on a path that will 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:39.440 involve suffering. But we can rejoice as we go along that path because there is a glory that will follow. So go back to 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:52.600 chapter 4 and verse 13. Let's read verse 13 again. Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you 00:13:52.600 --> 00:14:04.720 may be overjoyed. There would be an exuberance of joy when his glory is revealed. So that means when you go through a 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:15.480 painful trial this week as a Christian, you can be filled with joy today because you know that you will be 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:25.840 overjoyed when Christ comes again. You know that the suffering we face today, the trials and the struggles we 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:35.240 experience today are all going to be replaced with an inexpressible and glorious joy, an exuberance, an overjoy 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:45.460 when Christ comes again. So you see, we do not need to fear the trials and the struggles we face. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:49.500 We do not need to fear the trials and the struggles we face. We do not need to fear the trials and the 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:54.360 suffering we face. We do not need to fear the trials and the struggles we face. We do not need to 00:14:54.360 --> 00:15:04.360 respond with anger to other people because as I participate in the sufferings of Christ, as I walk the path of 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:15.399 suffering, I know that my sovereign God is keeping me and is working through all of that to bring me to 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:28.059 glory. So I can rejoice in my struggles today because God is with me and God is keeping me for what is to come. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:41.120 So, suffering is the path to joy. The second purpose, suffering is a sign that you belong to Christ. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:59.159 First, look at verse 14. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ. You see, when we trust in Christ, when we commit our life to Christ, where we turn in repentance and trust completely in him, 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:14.839 we are given, we are given, do you see what it says there in verse 14, the name of Christ. That means we now belong to the family of God. We're his special people. We inherit that name. 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:35.519 We have Christ's name. We have Christ's name. That's our identity. Now, there are many blessings with that, but it comes at a cost. If you bear the name of Christ, that means you will be treated like Christ. Just as Christ suffered opposition, you will suffer opposition. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:51.419 But we're not to see that as a negative. Look at verse 14. It is a blessing. Verse 14, if you're insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed. 00:16:51.419 --> 00:17:08.259 Now, how is suffering meant to be a blessing? Well, look at the rest of verse 14. You are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:32.379 So, when you experience insult, when somebody laughs down at you because you believe the Bible to be God's word, the spirit of glory, that is the spirit that was at work in Christ, that same spirit that rose Christ from the dead, is the same spirit that is now resting on you. 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:52.960 So, the spirit that brought Christ through his sufferings, from his death to the grave and through the grave to glory, that same spirit affirms and reassures and is working in your life to testify with you that, in fact, you are God's children. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:56.180 You bear the name of Christ. You are my people. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.520 Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:32.360 Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:35.200 of true discipleship. 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:39.500 Suffering is the badge of true discipleship. 00:18:39.800 --> 00:18:48.740 In other words, when you suffer for Christ, it's a blessing because it's evidence that you bear the name of Christ. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:59.160 Of course, we must make sure that our suffering is for the name of Christ and not for our sinful behaviours. 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:00.160 Let's look at verse 15. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:11.100 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any kind of criminal or even as a meddler. 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:15.660 Or as Mary read in her translation, a busy body. 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:18.060 What a great, great term, busy body. 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:23.480 Sometimes we suffer because we deserve to suffer. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:27.880 Okay, it might not be a murderer or a high profile criminal. 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:30.540 But we can all be busy bodies. 00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:33.220 We can all put our nose in where it oughtn't to be. 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:36.860 We can all speak down at others with a sense of superiority. 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:43.179 And if we come across as a holier than thou, well then you deserve insults. 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:45.039 You deserve to be slagged. 00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:51.779 If your behaviour doesn't match what you're preaching and claiming to be, well then you deserve to be ignored. 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:56.119 Sometimes we deserve to suffer. 00:19:57.180 --> 00:20:02.000 And if we do something wrong according to the law, we deserve to be punished for it. 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:05.539 However, verse 16, 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:17.899 If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:21.880 You see, the world may shame you. 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:25.640 The world may laugh at you and mock you. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:29.880 Family may think you're silly for being here this morning. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:34.700 But in the trial and in the hardship of those times, 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:41.380 we can praise God that, yes, I bear the name of Christ. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:45.820 Because your suffering is a sign. 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.640 It's evidence. 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.920 That we belong to Christ. 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:53.060 Suffering, as Bonhoeffer said, 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:56.980 is the badge of true discipleship. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:02.740 So, the purpose under God's sovereignty 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:06.500 is that suffering is the path that brings us to joy. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.240 And suffering is a sign that you belong to Christ. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:13.000 And a third purpose, 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:19.099 that suffering is God's means to purify the church. 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.859 Look at verse 17. 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:30.859 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God. 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:36.179 Now, we know from what we've read earlier that there is a judgment to come. 00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:39.159 Have a look back at chapter 4, verse 5. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:41.339 There is a judgment to come. 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.619 Chapter 4, verse 5. 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:54.939 You see, at the final judgment, when Christ comes again, 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:58.699 he will sort out who is for Christ 00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:01.720 and who is against Christ. 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:07.019 Those who've placed their confidence in Christ will enjoy glory 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:12.200 and those who've rejected Christ will suffer hell. 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:16.220 The judgment to come, that future judgment, 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:19.160 will sort out who are God's people 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:21.180 and who are not God's people. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.019 But, look what it's saying here in verse 17. 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:29.039 It is time for judgment to begin 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:31.360 with the family of God. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.539 So, the judgment that is to come 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.600 starts now 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:39.039 and it starts 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.259 with God's family, 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.299 God's people. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:46.519 This judgment is unique to Christians 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:49.259 and it's like a testing 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.539 from God. 00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:52.980 That's what the judgment means in this context. 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.339 It's a testing 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.659 from God. 00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.980 So, God allows 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:59.919 and uses the trials 00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:02.399 and the sufferings that we go through 00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:04.159 to test us 00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:05.459 to see 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:07.319 who are the true believers 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:10.940 and who are the false believers. 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.940 It purifies 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.240 the church. 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.660 Now, let me illustrate this 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:19.400 from two other passages of Scripture 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.940 to try and grasp 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:22.019 and understand 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.259 what's being said here. 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.120 The first one 00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:26.059 is Mark's Gospel, 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.000 chapter 4. 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:29.720 So, keep your finger in 1 Peter 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:32.519 and go back to Mark's Gospel, 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:34.100 chapter 4. 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:37.579 Mark, chapter 4. 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.039 Mark's Gospel, 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:42.140 written by Mark, 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.200 is actually 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.980 an eyewitness account of Peter. 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:48.000 So, Peter was the eyewitness 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.240 of Jesus 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.400 and saw and heard 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:51.200 all that he did 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:53.720 and he recounted his story 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.319 to Mark 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.880 and Mark wrote it down. 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.819 So, that's the connection 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:58.799 between Peter and Mark. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.220 But here we have 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.440 in Mark, chapter 4, 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.579 a well-known parable, 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.779 the parable of the sower. 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.240 The seed being planted 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.000 is like the good news of Christ 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.539 being spread 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.119 and taught 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.440 to different people. 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.680 Now, let's pick it up 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.859 in verse 16. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.940 So, the seed, 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.659 the good news 00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:18.839 of Jesus 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.139 is being spread around 00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:22.259 and he explains it like this, 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:22.879 verse 16. 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.480 Others, 00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:25.300 like seeds 00:24:25.300 --> 00:24:26.940 sown on rocky places, 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.500 hear the words 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.560 and at once 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:30.960 receive it with joy. 00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:32.960 So, it's like 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.660 people hear 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.840 the good news of Jesus 00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:36.980 and it appears 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.660 that they respond to it, 00:24:38.760 --> 00:24:39.820 they receive it, 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.460 they listen. 00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:42.900 They may even 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.900 start meeting 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.960 with other believers. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.120 They might even 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.940 be baptized. 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:50.660 But, 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.759 verse 17, 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:55.039 But since they have 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.160 no root, 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.000 they last 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.000 only a short time. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:02.039 When trouble 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.820 or persecution 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:05.120 comes because 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.000 of the word, 00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:08.000 they quickly 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.720 fall away. 00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:11.720 You see, 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.720 a time will come 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.420 in their lives 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.740 where they will face 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:16.160 some kind of opposition 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.460 and they opt 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.420 for comfort 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:21.060 and safety 00:25:21.060 --> 00:25:23.220 rather than 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.180 going the path 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.500 of Christ. 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.160 So, you see, 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.000 God allows 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.640 and uses 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.420 the trials 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.300 we go through 00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:32.220 to test 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.779 who are the true 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.259 believers 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:36.160 and who are 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.779 the false 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.440 believers. 00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:40.040 The second 00:25:40.040 --> 00:25:40.620 reference 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.259 that I want us 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.720 to go to 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.920 is in 1 Peter. 00:25:43.300 --> 00:25:44.060 So, go back 00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:44.840 to 1 Peter 00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.680 chapter 1. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:50.380 1 Peter 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.160 chapter 1 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.279 and verse 7. 00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.860 So, it's a similar 00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:00.660 theme to what 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.360 we've been looking at. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.000 Let's pick it up 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.340 actually in verse 6. 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.100 He's been talking 00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:07.060 about the trials 00:26:07.060 --> 00:26:07.800 and the struggles. 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.400 He says, 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.120 verse 6, 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.220 In this you greatly 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.940 rejoice, 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.540 though now 00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.500 for a little while 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.240 you've had to 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.160 suffer grief 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:16.059 in all kinds 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.640 of trials. 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.039 Now, why have 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.660 these trials 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.079 come? 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.740 Verse 7. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.180 These have come 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.480 so that your 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:24.180 faith of 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:25.120 greater worth 00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:25.859 than gold, 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.559 which perishes 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.359 even though 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.880 refined by fire, 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.859 may be proved 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.620 genuine 00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:34.839 and may result 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:36.039 in praise, 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:36.940 glory, 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.460 and honour 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.460 when Jesus 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:40.299 Christ is revealed. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:43.120 So, our faith 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:45.360 will be refined. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.200 Our faith 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.640 would be proved 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.480 genuine 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.079 through the trials. 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:50.920 You see, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.759 our response 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.680 to suffering 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:54.180 proves the 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.259 genuineness of our 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.620 faith. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.559 If we keep 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.019 going, 00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.980 we're of Christ. 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:00.380 If we turn away, 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.579 we're not of Christ. 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.740 So, the 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.519 sufferings 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.220 that we face, 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.899 the trials 00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.579 we go through 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.159 as God's 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:07.579 people, 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.839 is God's 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.279 way of 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.259 purifying 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.839 His church. 00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:14.179 Now, why 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:14.659 does God 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.759 work in 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.299 this way? 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:16.859 Go back 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.299 to chapter 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.839 4, 00:27:17.939 --> 00:27:19.079 verse 17. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.399 Chapter 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:22.779 4, 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.579 verse 17. 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.379 For it is 00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:29.119 time for 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.699 judgment 00:27:29.699 --> 00:27:30.519 to begin 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:30.980 with the 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.599 family of 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.019 God. 00:27:33.219 --> 00:27:34.199 And if 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:34.899 it begins 00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.859 with us, 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.939 what will 00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.439 the outcome 00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.000 be for 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.559 those who 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.119 do not 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.799 obey the 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:42.240 gospel of 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.599 God? 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.199 In other 00:27:44.199 --> 00:27:44.619 words, 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:46.259 he's saying 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.619 this, 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.599 it is better 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.719 to suffer 00:27:48.719 --> 00:27:49.740 now for a 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.579 while as a 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.059 Christian 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.879 and prove 00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.279 that your 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.799 faith is 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.279 genuine 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:56.119 than to 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:56.459 suffer 00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:57.459 eternally 00:27:57.459 --> 00:27:58.939 as one 00:27:58.939 --> 00:27:59.259 who is 00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.819 opposed 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.279 to Christ. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:03.099 that's 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:03.359 what he 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.159 begins to 00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:05.219 unpack in 00:28:05.219 --> 00:28:06.319 verse 18. 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.779 Let's read 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.500 verse 18. 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.439 It is 00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:11.119 hard 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:12.419 for the 00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:12.799 righteous 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.959 to be 00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:14.519 saved. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.000 Now, 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.819 salvation is 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.519 not hard 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.099 for God. 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.339 God can 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.379 save anyone. 00:28:21.439 --> 00:28:21.740 It doesn't 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.259 matter what 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.779 we've done 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.099 in our 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:23.599 past, 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.359 what our 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:24.879 sin might 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.139 be. 00:28:25.219 --> 00:28:25.459 There is 00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.019 no sin 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.740 so great 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.519 that God 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.240 cannot deal 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.480 with. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.140 salvation 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.799 is not 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.740 hard for 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.140 God. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.120 But for 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:33.819 the Christian, 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.779 it will 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.640 be hard 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.759 to face 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.319 the trials 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.900 of life. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.160 He's never 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.920 saying it's 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.360 easy. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.500 The opposition 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.240 we endure 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.039 makes following 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.539 Jesus 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.380 hard. 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:45.839 That's what it 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.299 means there 00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.740 when it talks 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.599 about it is 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.440 hard for the 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:48.980 righteous to 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.380 be saved. 00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:49.940 It's going 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.640 to be hard 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.240 to follow 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.539 in the 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.019 path of 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.420 Christ. 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:52.539 Christ. 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.060 So, 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.480 if it's 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:54.920 difficult 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:55.600 now, 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:57.120 look at 00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:57.420 the rest 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.000 of 18, 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.700 what will 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.320 become of 00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:01.519 the ungodly 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.039 and the 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.300 sinner? 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.019 So, 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:07.500 let me put 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:07.960 it to us 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.440 this way. 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.120 If you're 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:09.660 here this 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.100 morning, 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.000 and you 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.600 have not 00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:14.340 yet repented 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:16.320 and committed 00:29:16.320 --> 00:29:16.920 your life 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.640 to Christ, 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.620 and you're 00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.100 not yet 00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:20.779 willing to 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:22.039 suffer for 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.500 the name 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.139 of Christ, 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.859 the reason 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.740 might be, 00:29:27.899 --> 00:29:28.559 the reason 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.099 why you have 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.559 not yet 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.200 committed to 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.619 Christ, 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:31.920 is that you 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.639 want to save 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.379 yourself a lot 00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:33.859 of trouble. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.319 By not 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.119 committing to 00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.539 Christ, 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.920 you will 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.519 escape 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.659 suffering. 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.279 You will 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.859 keep your 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.220 friends. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.720 You may get 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.460 that promotion 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.059 at work. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.819 You may have 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.079 a more 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:46.539 comfortable 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.059 life. 00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:47.980 You will 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.720 avoid being 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.399 pushed out 00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:49.940 and shut 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.319 out. 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.319 But, 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.099 look at 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:52.359 the end 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:52.700 of verse 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.179 18, 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.559 what will 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.439 become of 00:29:55.439 --> 00:29:56.379 the ungodly 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.779 and the 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.039 sinner? 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.079 You see, 00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:00.659 you may 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.779 escape 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.319 suffering 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:04.759 now by 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.740 not turning 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.460 to Christ, 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.319 but you 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:08.960 will not 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.679 escape the 00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:10.279 eternal 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.019 suffering that 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.919 awaits those 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:13.159 who refuse 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:13.819 Christ 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:15.059 today. 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:17.339 it is 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.039 better to 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.940 suffer now 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.440 for a 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.159 while as 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:20.799 a Christian 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.619 and prove 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.039 that your 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:23.579 faith is 00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.059 genuine 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:25.759 than to 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.139 suffer 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:26.919 eternally 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.659 in hell 00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:29.119 as one 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.460 who is 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.119 opposed to 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:30.579 Christ. 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.099 So, 00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:34.440 you see, 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.339 God uses 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.159 the trials 00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:36.639 and the 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.119 struggles 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:39.039 to purify 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:39.919 his church, 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:41.620 to show 00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.660 up those 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:44.100 who belong 00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.660 to him, 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.980 to those 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.380 who are 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.200 his true 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.340 children. 00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:51.180 So, 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.120 God's purpose 00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:53.519 through our 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.980 suffering 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:55.500 is to 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.120 bring us 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.700 to joy, 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.980 to assure 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.680 us we belong 00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.200 to Christ, 00:30:59.300 --> 00:31:00.080 to purify 00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:01.920 us so that 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.539 we will 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.480 meet with 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:03.880 God 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:05.019 forever. 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:07.059 how should 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.799 we respond 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:09.779 to this? 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.400 Well, 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:11.839 suffering 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.440 Christians 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:14.139 should commit 00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:15.079 themselves to 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.400 God. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:15.779 Look at 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.559 verse 19. 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.740 So then, 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.019 in light of 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.039 all of 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.819 these things, 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.400 the response 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:22.940 is this. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.259 Those who 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.759 suffer 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:26.160 according to 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.819 God's will 00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:28.480 should commit 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.379 themselves to 00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:30.160 their faithful 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:30.799 creator 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:32.859 and continue 00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:33.480 to do 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.579 good. 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:37.279 I'm sure 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.859 like you, 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:40.180 as I think, 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.680 if I were 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.160 God, 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.980 I would do 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.879 things differently. 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:48.119 If I were 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.599 God, 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.339 I would not 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.500 allow Christians 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.879 or anybody 00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.579 else for that 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:53.879 matter, 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.119 to suffer. 00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.819 I would 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.700 make things 00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.740 easier 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:00.000 in life 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.180 if I 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.160 were God. 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.639 But in 00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:05.960 case you 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.200 didn't 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.500 know, 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.519 I'm 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:07.759 not 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.139 God. 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:09.900 And 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.160 neither 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.660 are you. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.619 I didn't 00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:13.180 create 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.119 this world. 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.000 I didn't 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.779 speak this 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.339 universe 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.539 into existence. 00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:18.480 God 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:18.920 didn't 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.539 consult 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.539 me or 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.400 ask me 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.160 for advice 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:22.799 about how 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.480 life should 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:23.980 work. 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.859 I'm a 00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:26.960 fragile human 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.019 being who 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.619 lives but 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.200 just a 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:29.599 moment, 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.019 dependent on 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.599 God for 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.599 life and 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:32.920 breath. 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.800 so, 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.440 verse 19, 00:32:36.300 --> 00:32:36.920 I will 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:37.660 entrust my 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:39.200 life to 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:39.900 my faithful 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.560 creator, 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.279 God. 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.880 The God 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.620 who created 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.120 me, 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.720 the God 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.580 who saved 00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.039 me, 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.060 the God 00:32:48.060 --> 00:32:49.100 who sustains 00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:49.960 me and 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.519 will keep 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.360 me for 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:51.779 glory. 00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:52.759 I will 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.440 commit my 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.500 life to 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:56.300 my faithful 00:32:56.300 --> 00:32:57.740 creator. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.180 I will 00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.019 place my 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:01.060 life into 00:33:01.060 --> 00:33:01.960 his sovereign 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.440 hands, 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.100 yes, 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:03.640 I've got 00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:04.240 questions, 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.039 yes, 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:05.480 there is 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.180 so much 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.759 I don't 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.380 understand, 00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:09.500 but I 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.039 will place 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.620 my life 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.400 into my 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.080 faithful 00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:13.120 creator 00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:15.420 because he 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:16.019 is working 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:16.860 good for 00:33:16.860 --> 00:33:18.320 me through 00:33:18.320 --> 00:33:19.900 the suffering. 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.420 He brings 00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:22.720 a joy to 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.380 my life. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.460 He brings 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:25.380 an assurance 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:26.100 that I 00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:26.720 belong to 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.019 him. 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.320 He purifies 00:33:28.320 --> 00:33:29.259 me so that 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.019 I am ready 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.160 to meet 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:32.180 God. 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:34.960 so I 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.460 no longer 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:35.900 have to 00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.519 fight 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.360 against 00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:38.120 the 00:33:38.120 --> 00:33:38.620 suffering. 00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:40.460 I can 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:40.880 now, 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:41.580 as a 00:33:41.580 --> 00:33:42.120 follower of 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:42.519 Christ, 00:33:43.080 --> 00:33:43.799 embrace 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.460 the 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:44.900 suffering 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.420 that may 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:45.860 come 00:33:45.860 --> 00:33:46.820 into my 00:33:46.820 --> 00:33:47.279 life. 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.840 I can, 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.700 look at the 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:49.940 end of 00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:50.660 verse 19, 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.059 continue 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:53.840 to do 00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:54.299 good. 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.180 When I'm 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.720 insulted, 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:58.500 I can 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.500 bless in 00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.940 return. 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.500 When you 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:01.860 suffer 00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:02.539 injustice, 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.480 you can 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.960 love in 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.660 response. 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:06.839 When you're 00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.600 shut out, 00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:08.639 you can 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.519 bring good 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.720 into their 00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:11.139 life. 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:11.920 Why? 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.840 Because God 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.599 is sovereign 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:16.139 over my 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:17.320 suffering and 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.940 over your 00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.420 suffering. 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.860 He is my 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.980 faithful creator. 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.220 He is your 00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:23.300 faithful creator 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.080 who will 00:34:24.080 --> 00:34:25.019 keep you 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:26.320 for glory. 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:30.680 So, 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:33.080 dear friends, 00:34:34.600 --> 00:34:35.840 my beloved, 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.700 do not be 00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.600 surprised at 00:34:39.600 --> 00:34:40.180 the painful 00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:40.860 trial you 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.460 are suffering, 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.280 as though 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.519 something strange 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:45.100 were happening 00:34:45.100 --> 00:34:45.660 to you. 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:48.320 But rejoice. 00:34:49.600 --> 00:34:50.480 Rejoice that 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.380 you participate 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.460 in Christ's 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.059 sufferings. 00:34:54.660 --> 00:34:55.660 Praise God 00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:56.059 that you 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:57.079 bear his 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:58.339 name today 00:34:58.339 --> 00:35:01.440 and commit 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.119 your life 00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:03.639 to your 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:05.019 faithful creator 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:06.859 and keep 00:35:06.859 --> 00:35:07.559 doing 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.539 good. 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:10.839 Let's 00:35:10.839 --> 00:35:11.099 pray. 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:11.259 Amen. 00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:23.619 Amen. 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.299 Amen. 00:35:24.299 --> 00:35:24.819 Amen. 00:35:24.819 --> 00:35:25.379 Amen. 00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.519 Our Father, 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.339 we have so 00:35:27.339 --> 00:35:28.399 many questions. 00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:32.500 So many 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.539 questions about 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:35.699 suffering and 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.500 hardship and 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:39.279 trials, the 00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:41.239 general day-to-day 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:42.139 sufferings we 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:46.279 face, but also 00:35:46.279 --> 00:35:47.239 the suffering we 00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:48.359 face as a 00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:48.759 Christian. 00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:50.760 God's 00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:51.760 salvation. 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:53.640 And yet we 00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:54.940 turn to you, 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.640 our faithful 00:35:56.640 --> 00:35:57.260 creator, 00:35:58.060 --> 00:35:59.520 and we 00:35:59.520 --> 00:36:00.060 commit our 00:36:00.060 --> 00:36:00.940 lives to you, 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.720 trusting that you 00:36:03.720 --> 00:36:04.680 have our life in 00:36:04.680 --> 00:36:05.420 our hands from 00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.460 beginning to end 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:08.320 and for the 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.340 duration of our 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.400 life on this 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:10.740 earth. 00:36:10.739 --> 00:36:13.599 trusting that you 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.519 are bringing us 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.919 on a journey 00:36:15.919 --> 00:36:19.199 where we can be 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:20.279 filled with joy 00:36:20.279 --> 00:36:22.579 and one day 00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:23.219 we'll be 00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:24.899 overjoyed 00:36:24.899 --> 00:36:26.359 when Christ 00:36:26.359 --> 00:36:27.079 comes again. 00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:29.959 We walk the 00:36:29.959 --> 00:36:30.759 journey knowing 00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:32.559 that we are 00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.319 your children, 00:36:33.479 --> 00:36:34.439 that we bear the 00:36:34.439 --> 00:36:35.679 name of Christ. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.159 we are your 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:38.219 special people. 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:43.159 And we walk 00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:44.079 the path knowing 00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.759 that through the 00:36:45.759 --> 00:36:46.719 difficult and hard 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:49.039 times, you are 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.219 purifying us, 00:36:51.919 --> 00:36:52.719 chipping off the 00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:53.419 bits and the 00:36:53.419 --> 00:36:54.639 pieces that need 00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.699 to be taken off, 00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:58.000 making us more 00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.719 like Christ 00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.739 every day. 00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:03.359 Father, thank you 00:37:03.359 --> 00:37:03.980 for the way in 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.699 which you work. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.279 thank you that you 00:37:07.279 --> 00:37:08.199 are bringing us 00:37:08.199 --> 00:37:09.739 to your eternal 00:37:09.739 --> 00:37:12.399 home and we 00:37:12.399 --> 00:37:13.399 entrust our lives 00:37:13.399 --> 00:37:14.579 to you afresh. 00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.579 Amen. 00:37:21.919 --> 00:37:23.000 We're going to 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.339 sing. 00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.839 It's a good old 00:37:26.839 --> 00:37:27.139 hymn. 00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.179 I like old hymns 00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:29.839 because they speak 00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.480 good truth. 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.339 Not that the new 00:37:31.339 --> 00:37:32.179 ones don't, but 00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:33.259 here we go. 00:37:33.259 --> 00:37:34.399 When peace like a 00:37:34.399 --> 00:37:34.659 river, 00:37:34.659 --> 00:37:36.619 attendeth my 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.179 way when 00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:38.399 sorrows like 00:37:38.399 --> 00:37:39.299 sea billows 00:37:39.299 --> 00:37:40.440 roll, whatever 00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:41.159 my lot, 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:42.539 thou hast 00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.239 taught me to 00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:43.839 say it is 00:37:43.839 --> 00:37:44.539 well, it is 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.159 well with my 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:45.319 soul. 00:37:45.379 --> 00:37:46.019 Whatever the 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.579 struggle we 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:48.279 may be in, 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.000 because he is 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.480 sovereign over 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:52.480 everything, we 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:53.980 can say it is 00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:54.239 well. 00:37:55.399 --> 00:37:56.299 May this be a 00:37:56.299 --> 00:37:57.259 cry of our 00:37:57.259 --> 00:37:59.819 trust in our 00:37:59.819 --> 00:38:01.219 faithful creator 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:01.559 God. 00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.219 let's stand 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:03.179 together as 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:03.619 we sing. 00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:04.219 Let's stand 00:38:04.219 --> 00:38:04.380 together as we 00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:04.719 sing.