Welcome Suffering as a Part of Life: Fiery Trails (Part 1) - 1 Peter 4:12-19

1:48You know, you really don't know how something is going to hold up until you test it. I remember in high school, a young man bought a new Jeep. Was it new? It was new to him. He thought he'd take it up on the ski hill, mind you, this is in the summer, and drive it up and down the ski hills. Well, he found out very quickly that that Jeep was not ready for the task. Blew the engine, had to get his dad to come tow away his new jeep. I remember many times classes. How many of you are freshmen here? Can I see some hands? Okay, a lot of freshmen. How many of you are pre-med or have any pre-med freshmen? Okay, you got some pre-med. Well, I remember in my freshman chemistry up at Baylor University that my professor made such a boast that he had called more people into the ministry than God had. Because after people took his chemistry class, they decided they were called into ministry instead of medicine. Well, and I think many of you will start classes, and there'll be all these.

3:00Noble effort at the beginning, only to see as the semester goes on that people will drop out. Many times, those who finish the race are not nearly as numerous as those who begin the race. Well, the same is true in the Christian life. God is going to test those who call upon his name. The world is going to test those would-be followers of Christ to see to what degree their faith is genuine. And many who start out naming the name of Christ drop out after the first round of persecutions. Some may make it through the first round, but then they drop out during the second round. Last week we looked at verses 7 through 11, and Peter lays out before this suffering church that the end of all things is near. And therefore, in light of the reality that things are going to come to an end, that this age is going to come to an end, that Christ is going to return, how should you live in the very face of eternity? And he boiled it down to really three exhortations. Number one, be a thinking people. Be one that has sound judgment. Second, be a loving people, one that fervently loves one another. And third, be a people who serves one another, who gives yourself a chance. Your life in service for the name and cause of Christ.

4:36And if you live like that, you will be marked as a different kind of person. In fact, you will be a stranger and an alien, as Peter refers to his audience. You see, people will come to know who you are by who you are not. Have you ever travel abroad? And you get out and all of a sudden people, they see you, they know you're not from their neck of the woods, right? They may not know where you're from, or likewise. You see, people among us, many international students here, you may not be an expert on what country they're from, but you know they're not around from these parts. Maybe it's the language that gives it the way. Maybe it's you look in their grocery cart and you say, man, I never thought of food combinations like that before in my life. You're not from around here, are you? Well, likewise, when a person lives his or her life by faith in the face of eternity, others will notice that you're not from around here. And some of them will be surprised. And some of them will even be offended.

5:48And out of this situation, fiery trials can come. And this is what was happening to Peter's audience. And Peter wanted to encourage them. In fact, the whole The purpose of his book is summed up right there in chapter 5 and verse 12. I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying, this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. He wants them to stand firm, and so he teaches them four lessons about the fiery trials that they are going to face. And I want us this morning to learn these four lessons so that you and I will know how to glorify God through whatever fiery trials may come our way.

6:35This morning I intend to work through about half of them. There's four I want to look at to this morning. So first, the first lesson about fiery trials is to expect fiery trials. Expect them. Look at verse 12. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing as though some strange thing were happening to you. Fiery ordeal, literally burning fire, the ordeal of burning fire. It's a severe trial. Nero burned Rome and then blamed it on the Christians. And this letter may have been written just after that, or maybe just before. But it is in these intense times of persecution. That Peter is speaking to them. And he speaks to them in a very gentle tone: Beloved. You see, we can't, we're not really sure what the specific fiery ordeal may have been, but I can tell you it involves intense persecution. When you use the word burning ordeal, something intense is upon them. And this ordeal seems to be very widespread because this letter is written to at least 10 major churches over Asia Minor. So it's written, one thing's for certain, it's written to a persecuted people that are scattered over a wide area, and they are intensely being persecuted. I think the only thing we could probably compare it to today is what's going on in the Middle East under ISIS.

8:20There is a very systematic effort to identify Christians and to persecute them. And that's what is taking place in Peter. It's really a book about how to survive intense persecution. And he says to them: first of all, do not be surprised. It's an imperative command. Don't be blown away with surprise by this. You see, the Roman culture was surprised at the behavior of the Christian population. And if you back up to verse 4 of chapter 4, in all This, they, speaking of the culture, are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation. That is like a raging river of wasteful living. They are surprised that you don't just jump right in headlong with them into the same wasteful lifestyle. And what do they do? Verse 4, they malign you. They're offended. And so they malign you. And so, although the population may be surprised, you should not be surprised by the reaction of the culture. They may be surprised at how you live. You are not to be surprised by how they treat you or may treat you.

9:49Look at the word strange thing. Beloved, in verse 12, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you as though some strange thing were happening to you. Literally, don't think of this as some shocking thing that they're mistreating you. This isn't something you should be blown away with surprise by. This isn't that shocking. Human behavior is predictable. There is going to be negative responses to the gospel. Don't be blown away with surprise by that. And also, there are going to be negative responses to those who adhere to the gospel.

10:30Don't be blown away with surprise by that either. This is not something out of the realm of human behavior. You can expect it. It's not a strange thing. Do not be shocked if people don't applaud your decision to follow Christ. In fact, you can expect, and you should expect, that some will find your new life in Christ offensive. And after all, Christ didn't fit into his world, did he? If they crucified him, don't be shocked if they mistreat you for being identified with him.

11:16His morality was offensive then, and it's offensive now. His exclusive claims were offensive then, and they're offensive now. And those of you who are identified with him, do not be surprised that you bear some of the brunt of Christ's hostility against you. You know, many think that following Christ brings God's blessing and protection, and it does, for sure. But sometimes our definition of blessing and protection is very different from God's. Sometimes his blessing and his protection can only be realized in the fires of Suffering. And this is what Peter is trying to impress upon his audience. Fiery trials are to be expected. Why? Well, because God has a purpose for them. Look back at verse 12. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing. There it is. God has a purpose for your trials, for this ordeal.

12:29And he's talking about a very extreme ordeal. Most of us are probably not going to face such an extreme ordeal, or I hope we don't. But there's all kinds of little ordeals that will take place all the way to that extreme. But the fiery ordeal that they were experiencing was for their testing, literally for their proving, to see what was in them. There was the wicked that were persecuting the righteous. They were offended, and they took out their aggression upon the righteous. But behind the scenes, it is God who is sovereign over the testing. And the question is: who needs to know? Who needs to know about my faith? I mean, does God not know what's really in me? Yeah, I think he does.

13:25But sometimes that testing allows us to know what's inside of us. And sometimes that testing allows others to know what's truly in us. In Malachi 3, the Messiah is seen as a refiner. Do not be surprised that God uses the wicked acts of men to refine his people, to separate the wheat from the chaff. Malachi 3, Messiah is seen as the refiner. In Psalm 11:4, let me read to you about the Lord. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven, his eyes behold, his eyelids test the sons of men.

14:14The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked. And oftentimes, I'll add a parenthetical here, that God uses the righteous to test the wicked. He, through the righteous, he makes known his ways. And sometimes he uses the wicked to test the righteous by how they respond. So the Lord tests the righteous and the wicked. And the one who loves violence, his soul hates. Upon the wicked, he will rain down snares. Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be their portion and their cup. For the Lord is righteous. He loves righteousness. And the upright will behold his face.

15:09You remember in Mark 4, Jesus said, this is what's going to happen as he spoke the parable of the soils. Chapter 4, verse 16, speaking about those that fell on the rocky places. He says, in a similar way, these are the ones whom the seed was sown on the rocky places, who then hear the word immediately receive it with joy. They're like everybody signing up for freshman chemistry. And they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary. Then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. Persecution is exactly what Jesus said would come as a way of separating true and superficial believers. Are you a true or a superficial believer? The way you respond to persecution in whatever form tells us, shows, reveals whether you are a superficial Christian or a true Christian. And Jesus said, this is going to happen.

16:26But God has a purpose for persecution. Understand that evil people may be responsible for it, but God uses evil for his ultimate good. In fact, that's what he says in 1 Peter 3:17, that God's will for you may be at some times to experience some form of persecution. And if God should will it, that you should suffer for doing what is right, then expect it. Because sometimes he wills it, expects it, and he has a purpose for it. So expect fiery trials.

17:08The second lesson that Peter wants to impress upon his audience is that they should rejoice in fiery trials. Not only should you expect them, because they will come, if you truly are identified with the person of Christ, and you truly live your life in the face of eternity, if you think like Christ, and you love like Christ, and you serve like Christ, you will be noted as someone different. And expect trials because of Christ's name to come about. But when they do, rejoice in fiery trials. And that's pick up in verse 13. But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the rest of the Revelation of his glory, you may rejoice with exaltation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and God rests on you.

18:13Rejoice in fiery trials, because there is a cause for you to rejoice. Notice the opening line of verse 13. But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ. Stop there. All you mathematical minds will see this. The degree of suffering is proportional to the degree of rejoicing. In fact, you don't even have to have a mathematical mind to see this, right? The increase of earthly suffering increases the degree of rejoicing. The greater the suffering, the greater the basis for rejoicing. That's what he's saying.

18:56The question is: what does sharing in the sufferings of Christ mean? Well, it certainly does not mean that they're suffering in some way of providing redemption. There's no redemptive quality to the suffering of Christians. Scripture is very clear that Christ's sacrifice for sinners was sufficient. Hebrews 10, 14 says, For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. So there is no redemptive sense that we share. And the word for share is that word, the noun form of it is koinonia. You guys are probably familiar with that word.

19:42Koinonia speaks about fellowship. It's the word we use for communion, the word for participation or intimacy. So it's this idea of communing with, sharing with. We share in. And in this context, it speaks of an intimate sharing or an intimate communion with Christ in his sufferings. We commune with Christ in suffering, in his sufferings. So in what sense does the church share the sufferings of Christ? I think there are two aspects that we can draw out of this. First, there is a suffering by proxy or suffering by substitute. You see, when the world persecutes Christians, they are in effect taking out their aggressions on Christ.

20:39You see, Christ has been exalted. Christ has been taken to heaven. And he is out of reach of those who hate him. So aggression against Christ must be taken out on those who are identified by his name. Must be taken out on his people. This is why Paul could make that bold statement in Colossians 1:24 that he was filling up that which was lacking in Christ's sufferings. How in the world could Paul fill up that which was lacking in Christ's sufferings? Didn't he complete them all? And what Paul was saying is that the punches and the lashes that were intended for Christ, he took in his body because they hated Christ. And so they took it out on Paul.

21:31Well, for us, I hope it's not physical punches and lashes. Maybe sometimes it could be. But I think we're more prone to see those disparaging looks, those subtle mockings, maybe open ridicule, maybe a loss of privilege, loss of promotion, or just an out-and-out being cut off from a certain social group. I think those are the forms of rejection that we will sense or experience. But it's important to understand that Christ does indeed suffer when his people suffer because of his name.

22:13You remember on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:3, as Paul was traveling, it happened that he was coming to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul. Paul, why are you persecuting me? He was heading up to take out the Christians in Damascus. And Jesus is saying, Why are you persecuting me? Christ does suffer when his people suffer. He suffers the rejection with you as you are rejected for his name's sake. And there is an intimacy of communion there.

23:02So, how does the church share in the sufferings of Christ? Well, I think there's a suffering by proxy or suffering by substitution, but there's also a suffering by imitation. Christ suffered for righteousness' sake, and so do his followers. And when you, as a believer, willingly suffer for righteousness' sake, you are imitating Christ's example. And when any of us suffer for his righteous name's sake, we commune with him in his love for that which is right. When we are willing to stand up for what is right, that's exactly what Christ did. And we commune with him in his love for what is right, for saying what is right, for doing what is right, for affirming that which is right, for participating in that which is right.

24:01And shunning that which is evil, offensive, and contrary to the name of Christ. You see, we are being made into the image of Him who testified to the truth. So we will also be ones who testify to the truth. We are being made into the image of Him who testified to the truth of sin, who grieved over sin, and who suffered hostility for the sake of righteousness. So we will share in Christ's sufferings by substitution or by imitation. Either way, there is a special communion. In fact, we see this in the elements themselves.

24:521 Peter teaches us a lot about baptism and a lot about communion. It's in the context of communing with Him in His sufferings. And those who do will also commune with Him in His glory, as we shall see in a minute. So instead of being an occasion for being surprised and shocked, trials are an occasion for rejoicing. In fact, if you look back at verse 13, they are an occasion for continual rejoicing. Keep on rejoicing. You see that? Verse 13? It's an imperative command. You must be rejoiced. Rejoicing. Why?

25:33Why should you be rejoicing? Because sharing in the sufferings of Christ is reason to rejoice. And he lays out two reasons here. And the first reason is due to future glory, and the second reason has to do with present glory. I'm going to walk through each of these. You see, fiery trials are cause for rejoicing because of your future glory. It's cause for you to rejoice right now because of the glory that awaits you in the future. Look at verse 13. Keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice with exaltation. Why should you keep on rejoicing? So that at the time of Christ's glory you may rejoice. You see, Christ's sufferings have already been revealed to mankind.

26:31His glory has been revealed to but a few, but his glory will be revealed for all to see. It's a matter of when, not if, the world will see God's anointed king exalted as such. In fact, Jesus Himself speaks of his revelation of himself as a point. In time, as a specific day, in Luke 17:30, he speaks about the day when the Son of Man is revealed. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. And Peter has already spoken much about this day throughout the book. Verse 1:7, 1.13, and 5:4.

27:22Peter has repeatedly brought this theme up about the revelation of Jesus Christ. There is coming a day. In fact, his whole letter is built upon this reality. And he is exhorting them in light of this coming reality that Christ is going to be revealed, that God has established his king. And his king is going to be the head of humanity. But what's interesting is the revelation of Christ is also going to be the revelation of those who are his. We will see Christ for who he is, but also those who are his will also be revealed for who they are. Romans 8:19, Paul says this: For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

28:19All creation waits. Who are the sons of God? Well, that's going to take place at the revelation of Christ. He and his people will be revealed. You see, Christ's sufferings and his glory are connected. Those who share in the one will share in the other. And it is the privilege of Christians to share in both. That's what Peter is saying. In fact, Paul echoes this. In Philippians 1.29, he says this, For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. Again, in 2 Timothy 2.11, Paul says this, it's a trustworthy statement, for if we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. And at the closing chapters of Revelation, there is a picture of the saints that they are going to be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him.

29:24Picture of the reigning saints, priests of God and of Christ. You see, for those longing for him, the glory of Christ's second coming is going to be joy unspeakable. Notice the phrase at the end of verse 13, that you may rejoice with exaltation, a rapturous joy, an over-the-top kind of joy, an uncontained joy, a delirious kind of joy, beyond human comprehension and beyond human ability to understand. Or even describe Romans 8:18, Paul says, This, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. Jesus in Luke 6:22 says, This, Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. How would you like for that to be the promise laid at your feet?

30:45Willingly rejoice in suffering for Christ. It is a rare opportunity. Enjoy. Rejoice in it. You see, present sufferings are reason to rejoice because of the future blessing that is guaranteed to come. If you share in the one, you will for sure share in the other. And that's what Peter is saying. Rejoice, rejoice. All the promises of what the Bible has concerning you are beyond comparison, beyond something we can even describe. Rejoice. But there's a second reason why sufferings. Are an occasion for continual rejoicing, and that has to do with present glory, not just the future glory, but that which is now, the glory which is now present. Look at verse 14. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. The word for reviled means to pile up abuses on someone, to heap insults, to mock, abusive language, all that. It means to denounce. A reviled person is somebody that is considered an outcast.

32:08You see, believers back then were often rejected by their social group. Believers today are rejected by their social group and by society. Why? Because of their identification with the name of Christ. So when the world shuts you out, think about what that's saying about you. When the world shuts you out because of the name of Christ, what is that saying about you? It's saying the world sees you as somebody who is in fellowship with Christ. Sometimes some of the most reassuring comments will come from your enemies or from those who do not like Christ because they will say, don't call her up, don't call him up, don't call up. Don't invite this person to that party because I tell you what, they have no business here.

33:08That's a testimony. I tell you, keep in mind, it was the Gentiles, that Roman government, that crucified Christ, that rode up there, King of the Jews. Sometimes the most reassuring comments will come from your opponents. When cultural or social animosity for the name of Christ reaches the point of being reviled, you are blessed. Your current social group may see you as a loser and accursed, but Peter sees you as blessed. Remember in chapter 2 and verse 23, Christ was reviled, and he did not revile in return. They heaped insults and physical pain upon him, but he did not respond in kind.

33:59But what Peter is saying here, why are you blessed? Why are you blessed? Why does he call them blessed? Certainly you bear the marks of Christ. Certainly you personify him. You are a testament to his grace. But he gives a specific reason here. Look at verse 5. Why are you blessed? Why does Peter see you as blessed? Because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Literally is. Currently resting on you. Now, this is a remarkable statement.

34:36The glory of God. There's a rich history throughout the Bible about this spirit of glory coming to rest in certain places throughout time. In Exodus 24, 16, right after God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, takes them to Mount Sinai. And I want you to read what it says in verse 16. I want you to hear. The glory of the Lord rested, came to rest on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. And on the seventh day, he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. And to the eyes of the sons of Israel, the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. So if you were there that day, what you saw is the spirit of glory was a fire.

35:27And then in the tabernacle, Exodus 40, 34, then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because of the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. That is the tabernacle in the wilderness. And then in 1 Kings 8, the glory again shows itself in Solomon's temple. It happened in 1 Kings 8:10 that when the priest came from the holy place, the cloud filled the tables. The house of the Lord said that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. And it's this glory in Ezekiel 10 that departs from the temple and it didn't return.

36:19And then in Isaiah 11:1, we read these words, Then a shoot will spring forth from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And then you remember Jesus when he comes into the synagogue in Luke 4. He takes up the book of Isaiah and He reads these words: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery to the sight, to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. And he said, This is fulfilled. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon me. You remember John? John said, I did not recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. And you remember when he was baptized, Matthew 3, 16, the heavens. were opened up and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on him.

37:39This glory in Acts chapter 2 when the day of Pentecost comes it doesn't speak doesn't use the word glory but it uses that little picture of the tongues of fire coming down and resting upon the disciples and it gave them utterance. It brought them known languages that they then turned around and went and proclaimed the gospel to many there in Jerusalem. And you just trace this through Acts chapter 2 chapter 8 chapter 10 chapter 19 and the glory of the gospel going forth in the presence of the Lord. Now coming back to 1 Peter 4 14 let me reread it to you. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. The Spirit of glory rests upon those who do what is right because they love the name of Christ. And as the apostolic era came to a close, Peter and Paul were killed, as tradition says, under the very persecution of Nero from which he's writing. But the glory didn't depart with him.

38:59Peter 20, Tells us that the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon those willing to suffer for the name of Christ, and that this is a reason to rejoice. Tell you what a good definition of a Christian is: someone who loves Jesus. Someone who loves Jesus. A person who loves Jesus and are not ashamed to be identified with him. A person who would rather suffer social rejection than bring shame on his name. This is where the glory of God rests today.

39:36Isn't that incredible? Incredible language, incredible blessing, reason to rejoice. And one of the most things about you, one of the most important things about you, is how you respond to suffering in the name of Christ. It is there that the truth of your relationship with God is revealed. One commentator says what Peter's emphasis here is that only he who suffers with Christ and for his cause is a true disciple of Christ. But this idea of rejoicing because of the presence of God is throughout Scripture. The Spirit and of glory is, or the Spirit of glory and of God is the evidence of God's presence. That is why you are to rejoice. It is the evidence of God's power. It is the evidence of God's. Blessing where he is, there will be refreshment and strengthening. And probably one of the most important things there is his purpose. Remember, in chapter 2 and verse 2, why is he so interested in the way you behave before the Gentiles? It says in chapter 2 and verse 12, keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so in that which they slander you as evildoers, they may, because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. God is interested in their redemption. And so he sets you forth as a follower of Christ. And he's going to allow you to be tested to the degree that that which is genuine in you will be revealed not only to yourself, but to those around, so that they will know the real deal when they see it, and they will give heed to your words, so that they may glorify God in the day of his favorable visitation.

41:38It's a great encouragement that God, that those that God calls to suffer in the cause of our Redeemer are not going to be forsaken. And it's even a greater encouragement that we can conclude that we are in communion with His glory because we are in communion with His sufferings. And that is why in Acts chapter 5, after Peter gets flogged, verse 41, they went out on their way from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name. He understood this principle. He understood it. So, fiery trials, expect them and rejoice in them.

42:29You know, if the only reason you have a relationship with Christ is because you want some kind of fire insurance plan, if you can get the joke in that, you know, there is kind of a subtle joke in there. It's not a fire insurance plan, it's almost a fire-welcoming plan. But anyway, judgment, if the only reason you want a relationship with Christ is to avoid eternal judgment, you have not really been either born again or you have a lot to learn. You see, a call to be in Christ is a call to be in union with him. It's a call to hate what he hates.

43:10What does he hate? He hates sin. He hates the effects of sin. He hates what sin does to people. And he hates what sin has done to this world. It grieves him. So a call to be in union with Christ is to hate what he hates. But it is also a call to love what he loves. What does he love? He loves the will of the Father. He loves that which is good. He loves that which is pure. He loves that which is right. And he loves to do that which is right. And he loves those whose lives have been destroyed by sin. And he even loves those who persecute those who are identified by his name.

43:57So, friends, don't let the mission field become your enemy because they revile you. That's the point of where you can be most effective in ministering to them. That's when the Spirit of glory is resting upon you to make his ways known. You see, God's plan is for you to proclaim and personify righteousness. And sometimes you're going to be mistreated for it. Why is that so? Well, number one, God wants you to know the genuineness of your faith. And number two, God wants others to know the genuineness of your faith. You see, our God is a redeeming God, and you are his people to make his ways known.

44:48Well, quick question. What's holding some of you back from following him? Some of you may not be following him right now. What's holding you back? Some of you who have taken some initial steps with Christ, he calls you to repent, to turn away from your sins, to put your faith and trust in him, and to be in union with him, and so take on life, a new life, a life with meaning, a life with purpose, a life with blessing, a life in the very presence of God. That is what he extends today. Are you willing to turn away from your existing life and put your faith and trust in him?

45:28Believe the good news. Some of you have taken some steps. And we're having the baptism here in a couple of weeks. We're going to draw the waters of baptism. Some of you have not been baptized. Some of you have never stepped through the waters of a believer's baptism. I want to invite you to that. And I'm concerned that why does he want you to be baptized publicly? Well, first of all, he died publicly. But I'm concerned that if you will not be baptized as a visible proclamation of your union with Christ among friends, I wonder how you're going to stand in front of your enemies. You see, baptism is nothing more than a public proclamation. It is a public proclamation of your union.

46:22It is a testament to what God has done in your life. And those who don't take that seriously, I really question. So I encourage you: if you've never been baptized, two weeks, come up and be baptized. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your word, for your grace, and it's great in all its greatness. Father, help us to understand and help us to glorify you. Forgive us where we crater, fall short. We know that you call us to confess and move on. And we thank you, Father, for we all fall short in so many ways. We fall short in acknowledging you, confess that sometimes the threats and inclusion into this world, Lord, is important to us. Father, forgive us where we let that rival your rightful throne in our lives.

47:29God, I ask now by your Spirit that you would do what you need to do in each of us. In Christ's name, Amen.