Sermon Central
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Handling Life's Struggles Series
Contributed by Kurt Heisey on May 29, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Life has tremendous pressures and trials, yet Peter had learned how to respond to release God’s power in his trials.
VCC August 9, 1998
Handling Life’s Struggles
Introduction
Peter is written to those who were going through all kinds of trials (1:6)
Many go through life’s struggles relying on their own power, their own resources, their own strength, but God has not designed us to go through things alone…that is how we respond before Christ.
Joh 16:33 ... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
1:10-12, Holy Spirit is given not primarily for your own profit, but for glorifying the name of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the kingdom of God.
Pre-Christ
Conform to fleshly, evil desires (1:14) when the pressure gets tough, one without God caves in to satisfying the desires of the flesh…alcohol, immorality,
Conform
Romans 12:2--Our mind is very important to help us not conform to the pattern of this world.
Desires
Pr 11:6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
Hab 2:4 "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright--but the righteous will live by his faith--
Obeying in faith and conforming to natural desires are opposite.
Mr 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Ro 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (Galatians 5:16,17, NIV).
Ignorance…of God’s ways and principles (1:14)
We don’t know the irrevokable, unchangeable laws of God and act in such a way as to bring trouble and judgment upon ourselves.
IGNORANCE.. Hosea 4:6, My people are destroyed for LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
Leviticus 4:2,13,22,27– Sin offering for us when we sin unintentionally, in ignorance of God’s commands…it still needs to be taken care of
Nu 15:29 One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether he is a native-born Israelite or an alien.
Ac 3:17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
Ac 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Empty Life…(1:14) no meaning, purpose,
Deut. 16:16--No one was to appear before the Lord empty...God wants your life to be fulfilling, meaningful, fruitful,
Exodus 3:21--- God made sure that when He sets his people free from slavery they are not set free for emptiness, but for a purpose, vision,
Tools Given to handle Troubles
Mind (1:13)
It is important that our Christian life affects what we think about
Romans 12:2--talks about the transformation by renewing of the mind.
1 Peter 1:23--Born again, a work of the spirit comes through Word of God
1 Peter 4:7, be clear-minded.
The battlefield is in our minds...you can’t do it...God doesn’t care...it isn’t worth going on...I’m not sure God cares...no one loves me...I’m all alone...
Our thinking affects what we do. What we think, declare, and do is imporant.
By the Power of the Holy Spirit
Self control (Gal. 5:22)
This is not gritting your teeth, but by the empowerment of HS not making self the most important, not your selfish urges, natural desires, but the desires of God being the first thing in your life.
Yield to promptings of HS, not fleshly desires
True salvation always results in obedience (Romans 1:5, 1 Peter 1:2)
1 Peter 4:14, the spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
BE HOLY... root meaning has the thought of being “different”, means having a different lifesytle, responding to difficulties differently.
Eph. 2:1-3, Before Christ you followed the cravings of your sinful nature and its desires and thoughts.
1 Peter 4:4--they think that it is strange that you don’t do the same things.
Reverent Fear
Fear = reverential respect of a child to a father.
As a child, I knew that my disobedience would result in my father’s correction.
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? (1 Peter 4:17, NIV).
Judgment Seat of Christ as opposed to Great Throne Judgment
Nothing to do with salvation , except that salvation produces good works (Tit.1:16)
“Life is too short ot wast on sin and disobedience, 1 Peter 4:1-6
