Class Lesson March 27, 2011

Hey Gang,

JESUS SAID - YOU ARE OWN THE RIGHT PATH. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to fully understand My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of life day by day, and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me.

WHEN SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE OR THOUGHTS makes you anxious, come to Me and talk about it. Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost. Well developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect peace to the extent that you trust in Me.

What will it take to get you off track with your faith in Me? What would it take for you to deny Me? Would you deny Me if it meant you could go to jail? What if your family said they would disown you for believing in Me? What if your faith in Me could put you in danger? What if it could put someone you love in danger? Okay, what if your faith in Me would bring you or someone you love immediate death - would you deny Me? Has anything like this ever happened to you?

When have you ever really suffered for My sake?

It’s easy to faithfully follow God when things are going well. But can you keep following God even when incredibly unfair suffering comes your way?

Peter wants us to change our perspective on the difficulties we face in life by strengthening our resolve to remain focused on Christ in spite of our suffering.

I. LIVE NOW – 1PETER 4:1-2, 7-11

Following Christ

¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same resolve —because the One who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin — ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God's will.

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End-Time Ethics

⁷ Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer. ⁸ Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, [his speech should be] like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, [his service should be] from the strength God provides, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Arm ourselves with what?

What is near? How should we behave while we wait for it? Why?

II. CHOOSE JOY – 1PETER 4:12-16

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a meddler. ¹⁶ But if [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God with that name.

Suffering because of faith is not unusual. Why do we act as though it is?

For what behavior should we not suffer?

III. PREPARE FOR GOD’S JUDGMENT – 1PETER 4:17-19

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And if the righteous is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? ¹⁹ So those who suffer according to God's will should, in doing good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.

What begins with the family of God?

What can we do today to prepare for tough times?

"Stay the Course" refers to staying on the same course. It assumes that you are going in the right direction. Peter wanted to assure believers that if they truly knew Christ, they were going in the right direction. When trouble comes, let the first prayer you pray be “God what do You want me to learn from this?” and then “How can I keep doing the right thing through this?” The song below says it so well and we need to truly understand what it says:

LEAD ME

Click Here to Watch

Prayer This Week

Lord, help me to live - in good times and in bad - in such a way that You will be glorified. Amen

JESUS SAID - I AM TAKING CARE OF YOU, Trust Me at all times. Trust Me in all circumstances. Trust Me with all your heart. When you are weary and everything seems to be going wrong, you can still utter these four words: "I trust You, Jesus." By doing so, you release matters into My control, and you fall back into the security of My everlasting arms.

Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day. Every day provides many opportunities for you to learn My ways and grow closer to Me. Search for Me as for hidden treasure. I will be found by you.

In His Love,

David & Susan