Glorious Suffering
May 16, 2021      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Last Week Recap - “How Do You See Jesus?”

Hebrews 2:8-11 (NIV)
8     and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.
9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

Christ is Our Example
We - like Christ - are made Perfect / Complete / Obedient THROUGH / BY / IN Suffering

Jesus - “It is Necessary”
Paul - “I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name”
Us - “We must go through many hardships/trials/sufferings to enter the Kingdom of God”

Christ’s Path:
Beginning - the narrow path of the Cross
Ending - Indescribable Glory

“Narrow Door” - difficult

Luke 13:22-27 (NIV)
22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.
23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them,
24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

1 Peter - Covers Suffering the Most Extensively in the New Testament

Six times: Christ’s examples of suffering (unto glory)
Six times: Believer’s preparation / endurance through suffering (unto glory)

Examples:
1 Peter 2:18-20 (Believers)
1 Peter 2:21-23 (Christ)
1 Peter 4:1a (Christ)
1 Peter 4:1b-2 (Believers)

1 Peter 2:18-20 (NIV)
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

1 Peter 2:21-23 (NIV)
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 4:1a (NIV)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, …

1 Peter 4:1b-2 (NIV)
1 … arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

DO. NOT. BE. SURPRISED.

1 Peter 4:12-19 (NIV)
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Same Fire
Two types of Suffering
Two Different Purposes / Effects
Purification / Punishment

Treasures in Jars of Clay
Seeds must break open 

1 Peter 5:9-10 (NIV)
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

“Sterizo” - To make stable, to place firmly, to set fast

"Making you what you are meant to be in Christ"

Natural Man / Flesh ALWAYS resists the Way of The Cross

The Habit of Rising to the Occasion | My Utmost For His Highest
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10).Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (NIV)
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.