GOD IS THERE NOT ANOTHER WAY ?
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
The Greek word translated “make you perfect” means “to equip, to adjust, to fit together.”
It is translated “mending nets” in Matthew 4:21. Matthew 4:21
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
God has several tools which He uses to equip His people for life and service, and
The Word of God is another tool
2 Tim. 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
thoroughly furnished means “fully equipped”).
The fellowship and ministry of the church
Ephes. 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
[15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
[16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Our Saviour in heaven is perfecting His children so that they will do His will and His work
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
[21] Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
THE WONE WE WILL LOOK AT TONIGHT IS THE TOOL OF SUFFERING WITH THE THOUGHT :
Suffering is one of them.
Peter used three words to describe the kind of character God wants us to have.
GOD IS THERE NOT ANOTHER WAY ?
THENI’M REMINDED SO MANY TIMES -- THE SUFFEIRNGS DO FOR US WHAT NOTHING ELSE COULD HAVE DONE !
What we often call tragedies actually serve to produce triumphs in our life.
The thing that we think will break us, often serves to build us.
No one likes to suffer.
No one enjoys going through the trials of life, but oftentimes it is the dark clouds of suffering that bring the greatest showers of blessings.
In 1 Peter 5:10, Peter says "after we have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish....you."
The word "stablish" is found often in the New Testament and means
; to set fast, to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or to confirm :- fix, , stedfastly set, strengthen. "to set, fix firmly."
God uses suffering to ground us, to anchor certain things, fix firmly certain things in our life.
Looking at other occurrences of the word in the Scripture, I want to point out three areas in which we are to be stablished or firmly fixed. First, let me say a word about how God uses suffering to:
1. OUR LIVING FOR JESUS
One thing that God wants firmly fixed in our life is the matter of living for Him. T
1 Thes. 3:13
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
We have our word "stablish" in Paul's instruction and it involves the matter of living for God.
As we look closer we see:
A) The Life That Is Proper for a Christian
Paul speaks of being established in a life that is "unblameable in holiness before God."
Paul is speaking of the kind of life that should be lived by Christians. It is a kind of life that is proper for a person that is saved.
Paul also speaks of it as a spotless life.
The word "unblameable" speaks of that which is without blemish or spot.
We are to live a clean life before both God and the world.
God should not look on the inside and find something there that is not proper.
Neither should the world around look upon the outside and find something there that is not proper.
Philip. 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Paul speaks of it as a sacred life.
The word "holiness" speaks of that which is sacred.
Holiness speaks of a separation and consecration.
There is a separation from the world and a consecration unto God. The Bible says in
1 Thes. 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
The Bible tells us in
Ephes. 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
I read about a pastor who had a dream that he died and was met at the gates of heaven by St. Peter. Peter began to give him a tour of heaven. One immediate observation the pastor made was that on the celestial walls were thousands and thousands of clocks. All of these clocks were ticking away but at different rates.
The pastor also noticed that under each clock was a name. He asked what the clocks meant and St. Peter told him that each clock was designed to keep track of an individual on earth. Each time the person on earth, represented by a clock, committed a sin, the hands of the clock made a complete revolution.
Upon closer examination the pastor noticed the names of some of his members. He noticed that some rarely moved, while others moved more than he expected. He began looking for the clock of his deacons. He couldn't find and asked St. Peter about it. He replied,
"Oh, his clock! Well we moved it into the office and are using it for a ceiling fan."
As Christians, there is a life that we are to live that is proper for one who is a Christian. Furthermore, I am mindful of:
A) The Life That Is Proper for a Christian
B) The Life That Is Produced in a Christian
2 Thes. 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
Notice that it is God who "stablishes" or fixes firmly the life that is proper for a Christian. God wants us to keep from evil, and He works in our life to keep us from evil.
Now think about what Peter said about suffering. \
He spoke of being "stablished" as a result of suffering.
God often uses the
trials and tragedies, the
storms and sorrows, the
adversity and affliction of life
to stablish us in the life we should live.
Suffering is often the means whereby God keeps us living for Him.
Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
At times we find ourselves drifting from God. He often uses the winds of adversity to draw us back and get us where we will live for Him.
Suffering is one the way's God brings us back to God when we stray. It is also the instrument by which he keeps us living for God. Sometimes we are in and out, up and down, on and off when it comes to living for God.
However, God wants this matter of living for Him firmly fixed--stablished--in our life.
Peter tells us that suffering is a means where such a life is produced in our life.
Secondly, He uses suffering to:
1. OUR LIVING FOR JESUS
2. OUR LABORING FOR JESUS
Another occurrence of the word "stablish" in the Bible is found in
2 Thes. 2:17
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
God not only wants the Christian to live for Him, but also labor for Him. God wants to establish us in every good work.
A) Service That Is Required By God
As you read the Word of God you find that Christian service is a requirement that has been given to every Christian by God. In
Mark 13, Jesus gave a parable of a man taking a far journey. In
Mark 13:34
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
The lesson that Jesus was giving is that He would go back to heaven, and when He went away, He would give to every man a work to do.
Each Christian has a work to do, a work that has been given to them by God.
For me, it may be one thing; and for you another.
Whatever, there is a work for each Christian.
I came across a survey that found that only 1 out 4 adult's volunteered free time during the week prior to the survey to help a church.
It was also found that in any given month, only about one-third of all adults share their religious beliefs with others.
In a nutshell, what that survey was really saying is that the majority of Christians are SPECTATORS INSTREAD OF PARTICPANTS !
1 Cor. 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
When we consider Peter's words about the purpose of suffering we are reminded of:
A) Service That Is Required By God
B) Service That Is Restored by God
1 Thes. 2:17
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
God wants to bring us to a place where service is a matter firmly fixed and established in our life.
Suffering can be the means whereby God brings this to pass.
It is not unusual for a Christian to get out of God's work.
We let things discourage us or distract us and we quit serving God.
But then, God sent a trial or time of suffering in their life and used it to get them back in God's work.
When General Lee was soundly defeated at Gettysburg, he wrote Jefferson Davis,
"We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters."
Suffering is used by God to
"call forth greater energies."
It is a way that God get us in His work and keeps us in His work. Service becomes a matter firmly fixed in our life. I know of many who are serving God because of a trial they went through. It may be that God used suffering in your life to get you into His work.
Let me give you one more area of our life that God uses suffering to firmly fix in our life. Thirdly, God uses suffering to:
1. OUR LIVING FOR JESUS
2. OUR LABORING FOR JESUS
3. OUT LOOKING FOR JESUS
Another occurrence of the word "stablish" is found in
James 5:8
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
One of the great promises of the Bible is the return of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus will come again just as He promised.
The Bible speaks of the attitude the believer ought to have about the Lord's return.
A) The Longing That Is Commanded
2 Peter 3:12
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
The word "hasting" speaks of a deep longing for the return of Jesus.
We are to look for His return and long for His return. As Christians, we are live each day in anticipation and expectation of the Lord's return.
A fishing fleet neared the Scottish coastal village from which they had been absent for many weeks. The captain scanned the shoreline with his binoculars. "Willie," said the captain, "there's your Freda. And Jock, there's Mamie and the two children. John I see..." and so on he described the group of waiting ones at the wharf. One fisherman asked, "Do you see my wife, captain?" "I'm sorry, Angus, I don't see her; she's not there," replied the captain.
When the ship docked, Angus was the first off. Hurrying through the crowd, he looked for his wife. Realizing she was not there, he ran home, afraid that something was wrong. When he ran into the house, there was his wife. When she saw him, she said, "Oh Angus, I have been waiting for you." Angus said to her, "But all the wives of the other men were watching and waiting for them."
We are to watching and waiting for the Lord to return, as Peter said,
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Dr. Horatius Bonar, who was in God's service for over 60 years, as he drew the curtains at night and retired to rest, he would repeat to himself the words, "Perhaps tonight, Lord!" In the morning, as he awoke and looked out on the dawn of a new day, he would say, looking up into the sky. 'Perhaps today, Lord!'
The Lord could return at any day. He could return this very day, therefore we ought to watching and waiting, looking and longing for His return. Now in light of Peter's words about the purpose of suffering I think of:
A) The Longing That Is Commanded
B) The Longing That Is Created
James said, "stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
He doesn't want an occasional anticipation or expectation, but a constant looking and longing for His return.
Through suffering God creates in our hearts a longing for His return.
Many a saint on the sickbed has longed for the Lord's return.
The burdens and trials of life have often turned the eyes and heart of a person toward heaven with a longing for the return of Jesus.
James Dobson, in one of his film series, told about a five-year-old boy that was dying of lung cancer. His lungs would often fill with fluid making it difficult to breathe. His mother, a Christian, stayed at his side every moment. She would cradle him in her lap and talk to him about the Lord. Instinctively, she was preparing her son for the final hours to come.
One day a nurse walked into his room and she heard the little boy say, "Mommie, the bells are ringing. I can hear them mommie." The nurse thought that since he was so near death that he was hallucinating. She left and returned a few minutes later and again heard him talking about hearing the bells ringing. The nurse said to the mother, "I'm sure you know that your baby is hearing things that are not there. He is hallucinating from his sickness and the medicine."
The mother pulled her son close to her and said, "No, he is not hallucinating. I told him that when he was frightened, when he couldn't breath, if he would listen carefully, he could hear the bells of heaven ringing for him. That's what he has been talking about all day. The little boy died on his mother's lap later that afternoon and he was still talking about hearing the bells of heaven ringing when he breathed his last.
It is when we suffer that we began listening for the bells of heaven, the ringing of bells that will call us from this world of suffering and sorrow.
IS THERE A REASON FOR OUR SUFFERING? Oh yes! God allows His people to suffer to stablish and fix firmly in our heart certain things.
It is His way of keeping us
Living for Jesus,
Laboring for Jesus, and
Looking for Jesus.