Do We Really Want To Walk Where Angels Trod?

By Pastor Matthew

1 Peter 4:12-19

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Suffering as a Christian

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

• We must look at suffering from the perspective of eternity.
• God’s Glory always lies ahead
• Many Christians see to think that by being a Christian is that our lives are forever better and the spiritual climate around us is always ideal
• Peter is reminding us that that way of thinking is not true.
• Christians will suffer for doing good. It is a Fact!
• We are not to be thrown off balance by trials, rather rejoice in that we share in Christ’s suffering

1 Peter 4:12-19

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”

• Peter is telling us if we are reproached for Christ’s sake we are blessed.
• To be Reproached = (Greek) = oneidizo which means to demote, to revile, to taunt, to slander, or to abuse

Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

1 Peter 4:12-19

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”

• Suffering for doing evil brings shame not only to the evildoer but to his or her family and loved ones.
• Suffering for Christ-doing good-should bring glory to God, to the one that is suffering for Christ, and to the body of Christ.

Philippians 3:8-9

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”

1 Peter 4:12-19

“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

• This Glory is present tense as well as future tense on the Day of God’s Judgment.
• Then the heavy Question is Asked:
• Why do the Children of God Suffer and the Sinners seem to get away with no suffering?
• The refining Fire of God is a fire of Judgment.
• Judgment = krima does not mean condemnation which would be katakrima which has a broader definition of approval or discipline.
• The refining fire is leaving no one untouched; Christians are purified and strengthened by it.

1 Peter 4:12-19

“Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

• This quote is taken straight from Proverbs 11:31 and means that the fire of God’s holiness is so intense that even the righteous feel pain in its discipline. And the godless person or sinner will find it to be a fire of eternal destruction.
• We must trust our entire life to God the Potter who created us. We need to live in Purity and know that in all trials and sufferings it is according to God’s will for us, that we can become refined and useable.

To Worship God is to Know Your Worth

By Pastor Matthew

Welcome to the New LHWE Blog!  In our first discussion I wanted to talk about a subject that means a lot to me and is foundational in understanding how worship and living an overcoming life go hand in hand.

Psalm 24: 3-5 states,

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  Or who may stand in His holy place? 

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the Lord,  And righteousness from the God of his salvation

The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.

I want to pose a question to all of you.

What is Worship?

To me worship is the most important aspect of our maturing in the Lord.  We were created to worship God.  It is the single most important way of entering into His presence.  We worship Jesus because He is worthy of our praise.

            There are basic concepts of worship that I want to throw out for your consideration:

            All aspects of our coming before the Throne of God has some physical aspects to it:

• 1. Our Will
• 2. Our Going

In order for me to get any benefit from worship, I must not only will to go into the Holy of Holies…I must actually go!  However, this tends to bring up a very serious fact that every one of us has to face.  Each one of us comes to a place of asking ourselves this question:

Am I Worthy To Go Into The Holy of Holies?

It is so easy for us to isolate ourselves from Jesus.  We say things like:  God is perfect and Holy, and therefore, I am not worthy to be in His presence.  The truth is, the Most blessed privilege one can have is to bring people to Jesus for every need in their life.  Only Jesus Christ can meet the needs of the people, heal all their diseases, and solve all their problems.  This will only happen if they reach the Throne of God.  That is where we all fit in!