In some circles, suffering is all from Satan and you if you have enough faith, you can cast it off and if it doesn’t leave then it’s your fault for not having enough faith. In other circles, we are told that we can strategically avoid, change or eliminate suffering by manipulating things or people to become what you think they should be or how they should act to keep us comfortable. Picking up in verse 12 this morning, we see neither of these views regarding suffering line up with scripture.

We now pick up in verse 6, which stays on this very point of God’s judgment

1 Peter 4:6-7,

6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

I want to talk about thanks giving not just the holiday that we celebrate, but rather the attitude of thanks giving, an ongoing mindset which can only come with a transformed mind and heart.

We will continue our study in 1 Peter chapter 4. This chapter repeats things we have covered already which is our conduct, specifically the contrast of the old man vs. the new.

In this study, we continue the message of suffering for our faith knowing that Jesus suffered for us.

We will continue study as we look at suffering as Christ suffered for us.

Unity with others can only come when we are first united in the Spirit with the mind of Christ. For many today, unity doesn’t first begin with submission, but rather on how we can get others to come along side us and what we are doing. The mind of Christ is always about others. But this is the second greatest commandment. We cannot just do this command unless we first seek the first, which is to Love God with all of our heart soul mind and strength.

We will be finishing our study in the book of Malachi