2. TITLE: God’s Upside Down Kingdom TEXT: I Peter 4:12-19 THEME: The believer is rewarded by God when he endures the persecution of the world.

4. Common Testimony Before become a Christian I was miserable and unhappy.

5. Common Testimony Before become a Christian I was miserable and unhappy. I came to Christ and my whole life changed.

6. Common Testimony Before become a Christian I was miserable and unhappy. I came to Christ and my whole life changed. Now that I am a Christian I am no longer miserable and unhappy.

7. Common Testimony Before become a Christian I was miserable and unhappy. I came to Christ and my whole life changed. Now that I am a Christian I am no longer miserable and unhappy. My life is wonderful and prosperous because God has blessed me.

9. Prosperity Gospel “If God is good and He is our Father then He only wants the best for His children- which mean’s we should always be prosperous and happy.”

11. Why should the believer not be surprised when he faces hardship?

12. I.It is nothing strange or new (12-13)

13. I Peter 4:12-19 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed

14. Peter on suffering 1:1 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials."

15. Peter on suffering 1:1 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." 2:19 "For it is commendable if a person bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God."

16. Peter on suffering 1:1 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." 2:19 "For it is commendable if a person bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God." 3:14, "But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed."

17. I.It is nothing strange or new (12-13) A. Christ suffered.

18. I.It is nothing strange or new (12-13) A. Christ suffered. B. We participate in His suffering.

19. John 15:18-19 “ 18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

20. I.It is nothing strange or new (12-13) A.Christ suffered. B. We participate in His suffering C. There is an intimacy with Christ that can only be experienced by suffering.

21. The Many Faces of Evil, John Feinberg “And so he withheld that information, not because he accidentally overlooked giving it to us, and not because he is an uncaring God who delights in seeing his children suffer. He withheld it as a sign of his great care for us. There is never a good time to receive such news, but God knew that this was exactly the right time.”

23. Why should the believer not be surprised when he faces hardship?

24. II.It enables us to reveal the glory of Christ (14-16)

25. I Peter 4:14-16 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

26. II.It enables us to reveal the glory of Christ (14-16) A. If we suffer for Christ God’s glory rests on us.

27. "The Spirit of Glory," Used to describe the shekinah glory of God in the Old Testament—the visible presence of God in the tabernacle or the temple. In the same way, Peter says, the glory of God is revealed in you when you suffer righteously.

28. Chuck Colson “We haven't really talked about the problem of suffering today. If God loves us, and if he's all powerful, why does he allow us to suffer? It's so the world can see the difference between the way a Christian bears up under pain and hardship, as compared to those who don't know Christ.”

29. II.It enables us to reveal the glory of Christ (14-16) A. If we suffer for Christ God’s glory rests on us. B. In contrast, suffering for sin has no glory- only shame.

30. II.It enables us to reveal the glory of Christ (14-16) A. If we suffer for Christ God’s glory rests on us. B. In contrast, suffering for sin has no glory- only shame. C. Suffering for Christ has no shame.

31. Satan to God: Job 1 “Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." Job proved Satan wrong. But how many people in our world think like Satan?

32. Satan to God: Job 1 Job proved Satan wrong.

33. Satan to God: Job 1 Job proved Satan wrong. But how many people in our world think like Satan?

35. Why should the believer not be surprised when he faces hardship?

36. III.When we cross the finish line (death) those who endure will be rewarded. (17-19)

37. I Peter 4:17-19 17 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? 18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

38. I Peter 4:17-19 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good

39. III.When we cross the finish line (death) those who endure will be rewarded. (17-19) A. There is a coming judgment for everyone.

40. III.When we cross the finish line (death) those who endure will be rewarded. (17-19) A. There is a coming judgment for everyone. B. For those who give up they are saved but lose a reward.

42. APPLICATION: Sometimes Middle School or High School students may get teased or ostracized for their faith or morals or witness.

43. APPLICATION: Sometimes believers feel alienated from their extended family or friends because their faith in Christ is not understood or accepted.

44. APPLICATION: Sometimes we suffer economically for our commitment to Christ.

45. APPLICATION: Sometimes we suffer hardship as a result of our service to Christ.

46. APPLICATION: Sometimes we suffer hardship as a result of our service to Christ.

48. Jimmy Bakker, “I Was Wrong.” “I may not always have been so blatant about it, but I often preached a prosperity message at Heritage USA and on our PTL television programs. But when I began to study the Scriptures in depth while in prison, something

49. Jimmy Bakker, “I Was Wrong.” I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I rarely took time to do during the hectic years of constant building and ministering at PTL, I was very distressed at what I discovered.

50. Jimmy Bakker, “I Was Wrong.” I realized that for years I helped propagate an impostor, not a true gospel, but another gospel - a gospel that stated "God wants you to be rich!" Christians should have the best because we are children of God, "King's Kids," as I often put it. And shouldn't the King's kids have the best this world had to offer?

51. Jimmy Bakker, “I Was Wrong.” The more I studied the Bible, however, I had to admit that the prosperity message did not line up with the tenor of Scripture. My heart was crushed to think that I led so many people astray. I was appalled that I could have been so wrong, and I was deeply grateful that God had not struck me dead as a false prophet!”