Living for Christ and His Kingdom

Surviving Times of Suffering

1 Peter 4:1-6

In 1 Peter 4:1-6, Peter urges his readers to repent (turn their backs on their former sinful way of life), look to Jesus’ example of suffering, and separate themselves from the practices of those who would persecute them.  Ultimately, believers will receive their reward in Heaven.

Four attitudes that we need to cultivate
so our lives will be all that God wants them to be:

1.     sin (v. 1)

“If you would judge of the lawfulness or the unlawfulness of pleasure, then take this simple rule: Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, and takes off the relish of spiritual things—that to you is sin.”                                                                -Susannah Wesley

You don’t arm yourself in the middle of a conflict, you arm yourself you go into a conflict.

Think of what sin did to Jesus.

“There is something terribly right about . . . realizing that our struggle with sin is in many ways similar to an alcoholic’s struggle with drinking. It’s never over. How often I find myself talking about sin in the past tense as if being a sinner is something I’m beyond—a page turned in the book of my life. But sin is like alcoholism. Sinners are never cured; they simply decide to stop sinning . . . and it’s a daily decision.”                 -John Fisher

PAUSE IT’S Suffering, plus , can help us have victory over sin.

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?”                       Romans 6:1, 2

2.        God’s Will (v. 2)

Psalm 33:11

God is not out to frustrate us or to His will from us.

What is the will of God?

o   2 Peter 3:9 “God is not willing that any should perish” (salvation)
o   Ephesians 5:17, 18 “Understand what the Lord’s will is . . . be filled with the Spirit.”
o   1 Thessalonians 4:3 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.”

John 14:15; John 15:14

Guidelines for us to use
in order to arrive at right decisions:

·       We must be willing to think – God made us thinking beings, and He guides our minds as we think things out in His presence.
·       We must be willing to think ahead and weigh long-term consequences of alternative courses of action.
·        We must be willing to take advice.
·       We must be ruthlessly honest with ourselves.
·       We must be willing to “wait on the Lord.”
-J.I. Packer, Your Father Loves You

3.        you’re past (v. 3)

We sometimes remember only the passing pleasures of sin but forget that we were to sin!

 “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when he said ‘Repent,’ willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.” -Martin Luther

 “Repent and believe the good news.”                                          Mark 1:15

4.        the Lost (vv. 4-6)

2 Corinthians 5:8

One of our motivations to share the gospel is that God !

2 Corinthians 4:4

Daily Meditations

Memory verse: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” 1 Peter 4:1

Monday
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.  What did Peter say about the person who has suffered in 4:1, 2?

What does it mean to be done with sin?

Tuesday
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.  According to 4:2, what benefit can there be in suffering?

With what human desires do we continue to struggle?

Wednesday
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.  What did Peter’s readers do in the past? See verse 3.

What about your Christian lifestyle do unbelievers might find strange?

Thursday
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.  What did the pagans think was strange according to 4:4?

What human desires with which you continue to struggle will you ask God to help you overcome?

Friday
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.  To whom did Peter say the pagans would have to give account in 4:5?

In what simple way this week can you let unbelievers see that you live by a unique set of priorities?

Saturday
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.  Explain in your own words, in verses 5 and 6, how Peter encourages believers who have to endure mocking from unbelievers?

For what reason was the gospel preached?  See verse 6.