1. Welcome Times of Assembly Sunday Wednesday Sunday Wednesday 9:45 am Bible Study 7:00 pm Bible Study 10:45 am Worship 5:00 pm Worship -Listening assistance devices are available. -Listening assistance devices are available. -Sermons are available on DVD, VHS & Audio tapes -Sermons are available on DVD, VHS & Audio tapes  Free of charge. -Please turn off cell phones and other devices. -Please turn off cell phones and other devices.

2. And God made everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind… …And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:25)

3. And God made everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind… …And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:25)

4. Fiery Trials 1 Peter 4:12-19 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved." "Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

5. Introduction A Godly life will experience persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12 A Godly life will experience persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12 Job, Family, Neighborhood. Job, Family, Neighborhood. No matter what you do or say they will find fault and criticize. No matter what you do or say they will find fault and criticize. There is a special kind of “fiery trials”. There is a special kind of “fiery trials”.

6. Introduction Four instructions to follow... Four instructions to follow... Expect suffering (4:12) Expect suffering (4:12) Rejoice in suffering. (4:13-14) Rejoice in suffering. (4:13-14) Examine your life. (4:15-18) Examine your life. (4:15-18) Commit yourself to God. (4:19) Commit yourself to God. (4:19)

7. Expect Suffering (4:12) Suffering persecution produces a different lifestyle. 2 Cor.6:14-18. Suffering persecution produces a different lifestyle. 2 Cor.6:14-18. World is built on… World is built on… Lies Lies Pride Pride Self-pleasure Self-pleasure Christian life is built on… Christian life is built on… Truth Truth Humility Humility Holiness Holiness Desire to glorify God Desire to glorify God

8. Expect Suffering (4:12) Righteous NOT the religious are persecuted. Righteous NOT the religious are persecuted. This is illustrated throughout the Bible. This is illustrated throughout the Bible. Cain killed Able. 1 John 3:12 Cain killed Able. 1 John 3:12 Jews persecuted the prophets, Jesus and Christians. (Matt.10:17). Jews persecuted the prophets, Jesus and Christians. (Matt.10:17). God declared war on Satan after the fall. Gen.3:15 God declared war on Satan after the fall. Gen.3:15 Satan has fought back by attacking God’s children. Satan has fought back by attacking God’s children. What ever glorifies God will anger Satan. What ever glorifies God will anger Satan.

9. Expect Suffering (4:12) Righteous NOT the religious are persecuted. Righteous NOT the religious are persecuted. Absence of Satanic opposition would be strange. Absence of Satanic opposition would be strange. Most through the form of religion. Most through the form of religion. Jesus told disciples to expect opposition. John 15:17-16:4 Jesus told disciples to expect opposition. John 15:17-16:4 Peter saw in the image of fire a refining process. 1 Peter 1:7; Job 23:10 Peter saw in the image of fire a refining process. 1 Peter 1:7; Job 23:10

10. Rejoice In Suffering (4:13-14) Our suffering means fellowship with Christ. (v.13) Our suffering means fellowship with Christ. (v.13) Fellowship of His sufferings is a gift from God. Phil.1:29;3:10 Fellowship of His sufferings is a gift from God. Phil.1:29;3:10 Christ is with us in the furnace. Dan.3:23-25; Mat.28:20; 2 Tim.4:9-18 Christ is with us in the furnace. Dan.3:23-25; Mat.28:20; 2 Tim.4:9-18 He will transform suffering into glory. He will transform suffering into glory. Illustration of woman in labor pain. John16:20-22 Illustration of woman in labor pain. John16:20-22 Thorn in flesh to Paul. 2 Cor.12:7-10 Thorn in flesh to Paul. 2 Cor.12:7-10 We pay a price today for future rewards. We pay a price today for future rewards.

11. Rejoice In Suffering (4:13-14) Spirit of glory & God rests on you. (4:14) Spirit of glory & God rests on you. (4:14) Stephen saw Jesus. Acts 6:15; Acts 7:54-60 Stephen saw Jesus. Acts 6:15; Acts 7:54-60 The “joy unspeakable & full of glory” 1:7-8 The “joy unspeakable & full of glory” 1:7-8 Don’t have to wait for heaven to experience His glory. Don’t have to wait for heaven to experience His glory. Example: martyrs. Example: martyrs.

12. Rejoice In Suffering (4:13-14) Polycarp arrested of his faith. Polycarp arrested of his faith. “Eighty and six years hive I served Him and He never did me any injury. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” “Eighty and six years hive I served Him and He never did me any injury. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” Roman officer: “simply say, “away with the atheist! Roman officer: “simply say, “away with the atheist! Polycarp pointed to the crowd of Roman pagans surrounding him and cried, “Away with the atheists!” Polycarp pointed to the crowd of Roman pagans surrounding him and cried, “Away with the atheists!”

13. Why am I suffering? (15) Why am I suffering? (15) Not all suffering is a “fiery trial” from the Lord. Not all suffering is a “fiery trial” from the Lord. Christians breaks the law he will suffer. Christians breaks the law he will suffer. Through anger we murder in our heart. Through anger we murder in our heart. Can not escape normal consequences. Can not escape normal consequences. Am I ashamed, or glorifying Christ? (4:16) Am I ashamed, or glorifying Christ? (4:16) Jesus is not ashamed of us (Heb.2:11) Jesus is not ashamed of us (Heb.2:11) God is not ashamed to be called our God (11:6) God is not ashamed to be called our God (11:6) Examine Your Life (4:15-18)

14. Am I seeking to win the lost? (4:17-18) Am I seeking to win the lost? (4:17-18) “Those that don’t obey the Gospel…ungodly and the sinner.” “Those that don’t obey the Gospel…ungodly and the sinner.” scarcely be saved refers to our resistance to being saved, (Gen. 19:15-26), scarcely be saved refers to our resistance to being saved, (Gen. 19:15-26), When believers suffer, he experiences glory. When believers suffer, he experiences glory.

15. Commit Yourself to God. (4:19) Deposit for safekeeping (2Tim.1:12) Deposit for safekeeping (2Tim.1:12) WE ARE VALUABLE TO GOD. WE ARE VALUABLE TO GOD. Commitment is a constant attitude. Commitment is a constant attitude. Sinners have a present that is controlled by their past. Sinners have a present that is controlled by their past. Christians have present that s controlled by the future. (Phil.3:12-21) Christians have present that s controlled by the future. (Phil.3:12-21)

16. Summary Expect suffering. (4:12) Expect suffering. (4:12) Rejoice in suffering. (4:13-14) Rejoice in suffering. (4:13-14) Examine your life. (4:15-18) Examine your life. (4:15-18) Commit yourself to God. (4:19) Commit yourself to God. (4:19)

17. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33