1. HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR TRIALS

2. I Peter 4:12-14 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

3. I Peter 4:15-18 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”.

4. 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.

5. What do you need to know to bring you closer to Him when trials come?

6. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. - v12

7. A. It’s not a matter of will you suffer, but when & to what degree. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

8. A. It’s not a matter of will you suffer, but when & to what degree. Psalm 66:10 - For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

9. A. It’s not a matter of will you suffer, but when & to what degree. Psalm 66:10 - For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. Isaiah 48:10 - I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

10. B. Why? I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

11. B. Why? 1. Because you are a foreigner in Satan’s society. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

12. B. Why? 1. Because you are a foreigner in Satan’s society. John 12:31 - The ruler of this world. II Corinthians 4:4 - The god of this age. Ephesians 2:2 - The prince of the power of the air. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

13. B. Why? 1. Because you are a foreigner in Satan’s society. I John 5:19 - We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Satan is in control! I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

14. B. Why? 1. Because you are a foreigner in Satan’s society. 2. Because you make non- believers nervous. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer.

15. II. How Should You React When You Suffer? - v13-16

16. A. Rejoice! II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

17. A. Rejoice! 1. Because you get to suffer for the Lord! But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. - v13 II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

18. A. Rejoice! 1. Because you get to suffer for the Lord! But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. - v13 a. Participate ( κοινωνέω ) = to share, to have something in common. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

19. I Corinthians 10:16 - Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

20. Romans 15:26 - For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution (participation) for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

21. Romans 6:3-4, 8, 11 - Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life... Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him... In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

22. A. Rejoice! 1. Because you get to suffer for the Lord! But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. - v13 b. When the Lord returns it will have been an honor to have suffered for Him. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

23. A. Rejoice! 1. Because you get to suffer for the Lord! 2. Because His Holy Spirit will rest on you. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. - v14 II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

24. Probably refers to the Shekinah Exodus 13:21 - By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

25. Probably refers to the Shekinah Exodus 34:29 - When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. II Corinthians 3:7 & 13 - Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory... We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

26. Probably refers to the Shekinah Matthew 17:2 & 5 - There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light... While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

27. Probably refers to the Shekinah Acts 6:15 - All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

28. B. Your suffering needs to be undeserved. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. - v15 II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

29. C. Wear the name Christian proudly. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. - v16 II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

30. C. Wear the name Christian proudly. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. - v16 Acts 11:26 - The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

31. C. Wear the name Christian proudly. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. - v16 Acts 11:26 - The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 26:28 - Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” II. How Should You React When You Suffer?

32. I. Holy People are Going to Suffer. II. How Should You React When You Suffer? III. What is the Purpose of Suffering? - v17-19

33. A. To test your genuineness. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? - v17 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

34. A. To test your genuineness. I Peter 1:6-7 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

35. A. To test your genuineness. I Peter 1:6-7 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. James 1:3 - because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

36. A. To test your genuineness. 1. Faith testing in the Old Testament. Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

37. A. To test your genuineness. 1. Faith testing in the Old Testament. Hebrews 11:17 - By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

38. A. To test your genuineness. 2. Faith testing in the New Testament. Matthew 9:27-30 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

39. A. To test your genuineness. 2. Faith testing in the New Testament. Matthew 15:21-28 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

40. B. To make an obvious separation. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - v17-18 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

41. B. To make an obvious separation. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - v17-18 1. Judgment ( κρίμα ) = the result of a decision, a verdict. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

42. B. To make an obvious separation. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - v17-18 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

43. B. To make an obvious separation. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - v17-18 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

44. B. To make an obvious separation. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - v17-18 John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

45. B. To make an obvious separation. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - v17-18 2. Obedience to the gospel + God’s grace = salvation! III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

46. C. To compel you to entrust. So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. - v19 III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

47. C. To compel you to entrust. So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. - v19 1. Commit ( παρατίθημι ) = to place beside or set before, “to deposit money”. III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

48. C. To compel you to entrust. So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. - v19 2. Trust God for your salvation like you trust the bank for your money! III. What is the Purpose of Suffering?

49. If you are really living a holy life, you will probably suffer for the Lord eventually. Count it a privilege & rejoice!