(s01) Why Should I Be Hopeful

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                                 WHY SHOULD I BE HOPEFUL

Text - 1 Peter 5:10-14

1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:15 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Introduction

Peter closes this book on a positive note and reminds us that God always knows what He is doing and that He is in complete control at all times.  That means, that no matter how difficult things become in your life, if you’re a Christian, you always have hope.

As we study 1 Peter 5:10-14 I would like us to look at several reasons why we should always have a hopeful attitude.

                                                    I Should Be hopeful Because...

1. GOD GIVES ME ASSURANCE

1 Peter 5:10-11  And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.  (NASB)

                                                             4 Guaranteed Facts

            # My SUFFERING is TEMPORARY

One of the main themes throughout the Book of First Peter has been suffering and is found at least once in all five chapters.  At least 16 times Peter refers to suffering in this book.  He also uses 8 different Greek words to give us an idea of the kind of suffering Christians might experience in their life.

Trouble is something that everyone is going to experience at some time in their life.  Yet, in spite of these painful experiences we can still be hopeful because in comparison to eternity, they only last for a little while.

CIRCLE THE PHRASE “LITTLE WHILE” IN VERSE 10.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.  (NASB)

Sometimes teenagers get upset because of their appearance at certain stages in their life.  Peter says, you can be hopeful because it’s only for a little while, it’s not going to last.

Those who have been afflicted with some kind of debilitating disease that is ravaging their body can be hopeful knowing that it is only for a little while in light of eternity.

            # My FUTURE is SECURE

Peter also says that God has called you to His eternal glory.

CIRCLE THE PHRASE “ETERNAL GLORY” IN VERSE 10

While our suffering is temporary, the glory that awaits us is eternal.  The road you travel in this life might be paved with difficulty, but it still leads to glory, and that is all that really matters.

But the hope that the Bible talks about is as sure as the One who offers it. God Himself gives us hope, and the Bible tells us all about it.

            # My ALL is PROVIDED

One of the most notable aspects of verse 10 is how personally involved God is in our lives.  This can be seen in how Peter says that God “Himself” is going to do four things for us.

It is also interesting to notice that each of these things are accomplished “after you have suffered.”  It doesn’t say, before you suffer or even during the time of your suffering.  But rather, “after.”  This means that God uses your suffering to accomplish these four things in your life.

1.      First, he says that God will “perfect” you.  This word means “to equip, bring to completion or maturity.”  How does God perfect us or cause us to become mature?  God has several tools that He uses to equip us for life and service.  He uses His Word, the church and He also uses suffering.

2.      Second, Peter says that God will “confirm” you.  This word means to make steadfast or stable.”  The way God makes us solid Christians is through problems.  Surveys have shown that those who have lost their jobs two or three times are much more stable than those who have only experienced losing their job once.

3.      Third, he says that God will “strengthen” you.  Parents who constantly bail out their children when they have some kind of problem are not making them stronger but weaker. 

4.      Fourth, Peter says that God will “establish” you.  This means “to be immovable or grounded.”  Christians who are always running away from problems in their life end up compromising their Christian principles and values.

Through our sufferings God gives us hope and the ability to go and do things that we never thought possible.

            # My GOD is POWERFUL

The word “dominion” refers to God’s sovereignty and shows us that He is in charge of everything.  When the circumstances of your life seem to out of control you can be hopeful knowing God is in control.

2. GOD GIVES ME GRACE

1 Peter 5:10a 10But the God of all grace,

1 Peter 5:12 12By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

 

1 Peter 5:12  Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!  (NASB)

When you depend on God’s grace you can turn trials into triumphs. In verses 10-11 Peter spoke of the glory awaiting us in the future.  But here he speaks of the grace available to us in the present.  The word “grace” is used ten times in First Peter and is found at least once in every chapter.

First Peter is a book of encouragement and it is a testimony concerning three aspects of God’s grace.

                        # God’s SAVING GRACE

1 Peter 1:10  It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you.  (TEV)

                        # God’s SERVING GRACE

1 Peter 4:10  Each of you has received a gift to use to (WHAT) serve others. Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace.  (NCV)

                        # God’s STANDING GRACE

That doesn’t mean we are to stand on what we have done for God but rather on what God has done for us.  God gives us the grace to stand when we are being attacked by the Devil.  God gives us the grace to stand when we are suffering for the cause of Christ.  God gives us the grace to stand when we are witnessing to others.

A little boy had a horse he wanted to sell.  A man found out about it and expressed an interest in buying it.  He wanted to know more about the horse and asked the boy what it was able to do.  “Is he able to run fast?” the man asked.  “No” the boy replied.  “Is he able to trot fast?” the man asked.  “No,” said the boy, “he can’t even walk fast.”  “Well,” the man inquired, “what can your horse do?”  To which the boy replied, “Well, he can sure stand fast.”

                               Those who KNOW God’s grace will SHOW God’s grace.

3. GOD GIVES ME COMFORT

1 Peter 5:13-14  She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.  (NASB)

                                                            2 Ways It Is Received

            # Through the LOVE of FRIENDS

When you think about the glory awaiting you in the future you can be hopeful.  When you depend on the grace available to you in the present you can be hopeful.  And when you receive a greeting of love from a friend you can be hopeful.

That’s why we are constantly encouraging you to build relationships with one another.  All of us need friends.

Peter tells us to greet one another with a “kiss of love.”  The customary greeting in the Middle East is for men to kiss men and women to kiss women. 

                               A friend WALKS IN when everyone else WALKS OUT

            # Through the PEACE of CHRIST

Peace is being assured, confident, and secure in the love and care of God.  It means you have a sense or knowledge that God will provide for you, guide you, strengthen you, sustain you, deliver you, save you and encourage you.

How fitting it is that Peter ends this book the same way he began by showing us the importance of having the peace of Christ in order to be hopeful.

It is the peace that we have as Christians that enables us to face and endure the troubles of life and be hopeful.  Where does that peace come from?  It comes by being in Christ.

When you keep your MIND ON GOD, God gives you PEACE OF MIND.

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