Thanks be to God, the bad ice storm that was predicted did not materialize. Just as the trees and power lines started to ice up, the rain stopped. I am glad to be able to post the Weekend Sermon today.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers over the last few weeks. Last week, I was feeling down about my new job, but this week was so much better. I came to the realization that this job is about 1,000 percent better than the last job I had. That job left me feeling very bad, especially with all that happened there. This new company has an entirely different atmosphere. I am very thankful to the Lord for providing me with this job and for keeping me pretty healthy these last few months.
As we go to prayer this week, let us remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ around this world who are suffering terrible persecution. It saddens me greatly to hear about what happened to the Christians in Libya. In many parts of the world right now, believers are suffering and dying for their testimony of Jesus. Please pray for strength and help for those facing these hard times.
Let us also continue to pray for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. Let us pray for the spread of the Gospel of the love of Jesus all across the world.
In last week's message, we saw that because of the fact that Jesus has risen from the dead, we who are believers in Jesus have the hope of eternal life. We need not fear death, because Jesus has prepared a place for us and we are kept by the power of the Lord.
Today, we see that our hope in the world to come and the return of Jesus in power and great glory can sustain us even in times of suffering and difficulty. Everyone who lives on planet Earth will face hard and trying circumstances at sometime in life. Unfortunately, no one is immune from suffering.
Peter was writing this epistle to those who were suffering persecution for their faith. I hope that those who are facing persecution for the faith right now will read and take comfort in the words of the Apostle Peter found in this epistle.
I Peter 1:7 speaks about the trial of faith might be a time of praise and honor to Jesus. I believe that what Peter is saying in our section of Scripture this week is that even when we face persecution or difficulty in this life, we still have hope. We should not become discouraged and lose heart. The reason for this lies in the fact that Jesus is alive and has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven. No matter what type of persecution is thrown at a Christian on earth, the believer has an ultimate hope that this life is not all that there is. Because Jesus died and rose again from the grave, we have eternal life and salvation. Though we may suffer even unto the point of losing our lives for the sake of the Gospel, we will have eternal life with Jesus for all of eternity.
Most of us in North America and Europe( as well as many other nations) don't face the persecution that our fellow believers are facing in some countries. However, all of us face suffering and difficulties that make life hard. As I have told you many times in the past, I find life to be very hard to get through. But I can make it through and have hope because Jesus is my Lord. He sustains me and He gives me the strength to face each new day and make it through.
One thing that keeps me going through difficult times is the realization that what is going on right now will not last forever. This current hardship is just a microcosm of the eternity that awaits. As bad as a situation may get, try to remember(and I know that it is hard to do this)that it will pass. Also remember that in every hard and trying time, Jesus is there to comfort, guide, help and provide peace. This is all that sustains me in the most difficult times when I am plagued with depression.
No matter what happens to the believers in Jesus in this life, we will be with the Lord that we love in the world to come. We will be with Him for all of eternity. As Peter says in verse 8, we have not seen Jesus, but we love Him. He lives in our hearts and gives us joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Why do we have this joy? Jesus has saved us by giving His life for us and rising from the dead.
The ultimate hope for all of creation is the Second Coming of Jesus. That is the concluding event of the work of salvation. One day, Jesus will come again to rule and reign in righteousness upon this earth. Everything in all of the entire created order will be made new. All things will be restored to the state that existed before sin entered into the universe. All will be well and good as Jesus reigns from His throne in the New Jerusalem that will descend to this earth from Heaven at the time appointed by God at the Second Coming.
The world often looks like a bleak place. War looms everywhere. Disease, famine, persecution and suffering just seem to continue in spite of people's best efforts to do something about it. Know this. The present state of things will not last. Jesus will come again, and all things will be made right and good. Justice will prevail against the forces of evil. Love will overcome the power of hate.
We have a great salvation that has been provided for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. Verses 10 through 12 speak of this great salvation. The prophets of God in the Old Testament spoke about the great day of salvation that Jesus would bring. Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Zechariah, and many other prophets, told of the salvation the suffering servant Jesus Christ would bring to this earth.
If you have the chance sometime, an interesting Bible study is to look up all of the prophecies concerning Jesus found in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled completely all of the prophecies found in the Old Testament about the coming of the Messiah. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament about the reign of the Messiah upon the earth. This is the completion of the work of salvation. Just as Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies concerning His first coming, Jesus will completely fulfill all of the prophecies related to His Second Advent.
This is a hope that we can hold onto even in life's darkest hours. We have a salvation that will ultimately bring us into the very presence of Jesus for all of eternity. Even now, in the midst of desperate trials, tribulations and heartaches, the risen Jesus is in our hearts giving us the strength, power and ability to carry on.
If you do not have the hope of Jesus in your heart, you can turn to Him in repentance and faith today. Ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins. Believe that Jesus died for you and rose again. Accept Jesus as the Lord of your life.
If you are facing a trying time in your life, ask Jesus to give you a fresh awareness of His presence at this very moment. Immerse yourself in the Word of God and draw hope from the fact that because Jesus lives, all is well and all will be well.
Next week, I will post a verse on Monday. I will try to post a review, but bad weather is once again forecast. The sermon will appear on Saturday, Lord willing. May God bless you all. Amen.
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