1 Peter 4:8-19

(1.) LOVE ONE ANOTHER – v8

Above all things – it means before everything else

fervent – means intense…deep…continual & constant

       a. this is the picture of a runner stretching toward the finish line

           this is the picture of a horse at full gallop

***It is a full capacity and intense love

-for the Lord, yourself, your enemies and other believers

(1.) PETER GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF FERVENT LOVE –

a. Fervent love is a love that covers – v8

-this is a love that refuses to deliberately expose the sins of others

-cover like Jesus covers

Example:  Genesis 9:18-28

b. Fervent love is a serving love – vs9-11

v10 – every believer has one gift from the Lord

-our gifts are for other people

minister –  means to wait on people

-God gives you the power and ability to do what He wants you to do

-our gifts are to glorify the Lord

vs12-19 – when you begin to serve the Lod and love people, trials come

Remember: Every step forward you make in Jesus Christ enrages the devil

                    The enemy is powerful, but he is not all powerful

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THESE FIERY TRIALS?

1. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE LIES OF THE ENEMY – John 8:44

              2 Lies From The Enemy

          1. God does not love you – ROMANS 8:35-39

DIVINELY LOVED ONES – Beloved or dear friends – v12 – God loves you and nothing can separate you from the love of God…

           2. If God loved you, you wouldn’t be going through these fiery trials

-we get the word furnace from the 2 words fiery trials

-don’t think it strange – stop thinking you will not go through fiery trials

-we are all furnace Christians – Daniel 3:1, 15, 19-25

2. UNDERSTAND FIERY TRIALS ARE NOT TO HURT YOU BUT TO TEST YOU – Daniel 3:25 and 1 Peter 4:12

-to see what we are made of

-to see if we know doctrine

-to see if we live by feelings

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3. REALIZE THE PURPOSE OF THE FURNACE – 1 Peter 4:12

To purify us – get all impurities out of us

concerning the fiery trials – means by the burning in you

-this burning is us causes pain as we repent, turn to the Lord, admit our sins and humble ourselves before the Lord

(4.) PRAISE YOUR WAY THROUGH – V13

REJOICE – -this is not a single isolated time of praise, but continuous praise

***Rejoice before, during and after the fiery trial……..

***v13 – with exceeding joy – no trial will last forever because we are going to be with the Lord forever – this is dancing, bubbling over enthusiasm…