1 Peter 4:1-11

Last night we talked about following the example of Christ's suffering and living life with an eternal perspective.  We will all go through suffering at some point in our lives.  Peter has definitely communicated that to us multiple time in his first letter.  When we go through and experience times of suffering we are as Christians to follow the example of Christ.  He suffered doing the will of God.  It was not because he sinned our messed up or because he deserved it.  He was doing the will of the Father.  In 1 Peter 3:17 it says, "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil."  We are to follow the example of Christ by living a life in obedience to God.  Trusting God in all situations regardless of our day to day circumstances.

We also talked about living life with an eternal perspective.  This requires to see life through the lens of redemptive history.  Understanding that Christ has come in the flesh, lived a perfect life and died on the cross for your sins, in your place taking the punishment that you deserve so that if you place you faith in the sacrifice that he made for you... you will be saved!  Christ rose from the dead three days later and was exalted to the right hand of the Father where he now sits awaiting the time when he will return to judge the living and the dead.  When we see life through this lens we can look past all of the little things in our life that seem so difficult.  When we live with an eternal perspective we are less likely to fall in the temptation of sin as living for God, and sharing the gospel are far greater in the scope of eternity then seeking to satisfy our earthly fleshly  desires.

This week re-commit yourself to God.  Remember that your time is not your own... it is God's.  We don't know when, where or how God is going to act so give of your time and energy freely.  Be praying that God would point someone to Christ through you this week.  We are all called to share the good news of Jesus Christ, so do it!

Next Sunday night we will continue our series through the book of 1 Peter.  Aeric Estep will be bringing the word from 1 Peter 4:12-19 as he talks about sharing in Christ's sufferings.  I would encourage you to be reading this passage once a day so that God would begin to prepare your hearts to hear from Aeric next Sunday night.  Also, be praying for Aeric.  Pray that the Spirit of God would reveal the truth of his word to Aeric.  That the Spirit would speak through him next Sunday night.  It is our job as participants on Sunday nights to be praying for the speaker.  We are to come expecting to hear from God and so we are obligated to pray for that to happen.

I love you guys and can't wait to see next week.

John