The Glory of God

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

1 Peter 4:12–13 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 4:19 NKJV

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

What does it Mean to be Like Christ?

As Christians

++Do we walk on water?

++Do we heal blinded eyes?

++Do we cast out Demon spirits?

++Do we speak with divine authority?

Jesus Christ did All of These Things

He did it

++Without any visible preparation

++Without a pattern

Some believe to be like Christ we must

++Pursue of divine power

++Manifest the miraculous

++Do what Christ did

++Find significance through signs

In the Bible Miracles were Minimized

People were not impressed

++By the sick being healed

++Miraculous Provision

Man Sought for a Reason for Blindness

John 9:1–3 NKJV

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

This man had a condition

++From birth

++There was no one to blame

++There was no sin to sight

++To reveal the work of God

We are not much different

++Born in Sin

++Shaped in iniquity

++Blinded to God and his plan

++God is working on us

John 9:8–9 NKJV

8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.”

When God works

++There will be a change

++There will be a difference

++We cannot hide what God has done

It is not About the Miracle

God is working through us

++To reveal His Glory

++To show all that He is

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Miracles Brought Division

John 9:16 NKJV

16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

John 9:25 NKJV

25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

Miracles Brought Greater Persecution

John 10:25 NKJV

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

John 10:31 NKJV

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

John 5:16 NKJV

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

Peter Reminds us of Christs’ Suffering

1 Peter 4:1–2 NKJV

Christ Endured Suffering

Suffering is

++Hardship

++Pain

++Loneliness

++Rejection

Isaiah 53:3 NKJV

3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

John 1:11–12 NKJV

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

His suffering Increased his Understanding

Hebrews 5:7–8 NKJV

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

In the flesh

++Jesus Prayed

++Jesus Cried

++Jesus Learned

2 Peter 3:15 NKJV

15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

Philippians 3:10 NKJV

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

The Mindset of Christ

Luke 22:42 NKJV

42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

This Mindset

++Empowers Obedience

++Enable Endurance

++Equips Faith

1 Peter 4:2 NKJV

2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

We Must Live for The Will of God

What Does This Mean?

Romans 8:5–7 NKJV

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

To Be Like Christ is to Suffer with Him

1 Peter 4:12 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

The Power of the Cross

++Brings Heaven and Earth together

++Reveals God’s Will

Mark 8:34 NKJV

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

God is Calling us to Himself

Not everyone

++Will Hear His Call

++Will Answer His Call

++Will Want His Call

Those that Desire to Come

++Will deny himself

++Will take up the Cross

++Will Follow Him

1 Peter 4:13 NKJV

13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The Blessing of Suffering

Our Rejoicing is Connected

++The extent of our commitment to Christ

++The Revelation of His Glory

There is a promise

++Of gladness

++Of Joy

When His Glory is Revealed

1 Peter 4:19 NKJV

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Are you Suffering for Christ?

Let us

++Examine our commitment

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Let us

Examine our commitment

++Do what is Good

Luke 6:45 NKJV

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Let us

Examine our commitment

Do what is Good

++God’s Faithfulness to Us

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

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