1. Men's Fellowship and Meeting November 7 at 8:00 AM Dinner Bell in Flintstone October 28, 2009 Church Fellowship and Dinner November 14 at 1:00 PM
2. We are taught to be happy in time of trial , for God is with us. The trials come to test us, that we might see our own weaknesses and pray . When we suffer for Christ's sake , we know that we will share in His Glory . Heaven will be sweeter for having suffered in this life .
3. 1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Reproached : defamed, ridiculed, picked on, lied on: For the Name of Christ .
4. (TLB) 14 Be happy if you are cursed and insulted for being a Christian, for when that happens the Spirit of God will come upon you with great glory. God is fixing to bless you!
5. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. It is a shameful thing when a Christian suffers for sin .
6. There is no comfort in sufferings, when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary Any hardship or suffering is made lighter by the Presence and Comfort of God's Holy Spirit. But a rebellious child of God does not enjoy that blessing.
7. Even the best of men need to be warned against the worst of sins. Matthew Henry None of us can know absolutely that we will never fall ( or slide ) into gross sin.
8. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. Acts 16 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
9. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? Knowing that God allows His own children to suffer for sin in this life as He does, How awful will be the Judgment of God against those who have rejected His Son !
10. 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Where-fore let them that suffer accordin g to the Will of God commit the keeping of their souls to HIM in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Even the righteous are saved only by the Grace of God. Live a life of well-doing in gratitude unto The One Who is faithful to us.
11. There is no hope of eternal life outside of God. John 3 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already , because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
12. Since we know that we shall reign in glory with our Lord, Jesus Christ, We can gladly suffer persecutions and hardships for the sake of His Precious Name.
