Pastor Gary Faith Baptist Church

1 Peter 1:10-12 Do you know that we are a privileged people? We are witnessing what the prophets and the angles would of liked to witness. The prophets did not understand the suffering Savior even though they wrote about him. The angles cannot experience the grace of salvation, thought they would like to. 

1 Peter 1:6-9 - Is it possible to have joy even though we are experiencing the pain of suffering? The answer is yes, not because of the pain but because of what it can produce in us. Peter had learned that suffering was not bad, but had value in that it purified his faith.

1 Peter 1:5 - How can we make it to the end of our faith? Often times we sin and fail to live up to what we should be as Christians. But the truth is that it is no dependent upon us or our power, but on the power of God!

1 Peter 1:1-4 - When Peter first followed Jesus he looked forward to the glory that would follow him as he witnessed Jesus ascend to the throne and restore the glory of the kingdom of Israel. What he did not understand was that suffering comes before glory. Now he writes this letter to the scattered churches and reminds them that the celebration is coming, but we will have to suffer first. 

Psalm 6 we read about David's heart and how he cried out to God as he was suffering. But not only was he suffering, he was in distress about his relationship with God and the enemy having victory over God's people. Yet he knew that if he would cry out to God, God would hear him. Do we cry out to God so that we can be closer to him? Do we cry out to God in order that his work will be done on this earth?

How can we have a successful marriage? The only way is to follow the instructions or the laws of marriage. Genesis 2:23-25 instructs us on the four laws of marriage. 

2 Corinthians 5:10, Philippians 3:10-14Christians have been forgiven for their sins because of the blood of Christ. But all Christians will appear before the judgement seat of Christ. We will give an account for how we live our lives and we can gain rewards by being faithful to Jesus.  We can also lose rewards by not finishing the course. 

Acts 13:36-41 - There are times when good people don't see eye to eye.  Paul and Barnabas were two great men of God who came to an impas.  The conflict was so strong that they ended up going their separate ways. There are times when believers don't get along. There are times when they may separate. But that does not mean that one is right or one is wrong. In the end, God in His love continues to work in the lives of His servants.

Galatians 2:11-21 Paul declares that we are saved by faith without the works of the law. But he also adreses the question, if it is that easy, can we just do what we want and have fire insurance? The answer is emphatically no. The cross not only saves us, we live through the power of the cross. We are saved by faith and we live by faith. Paul says that he is crucified with Christ, he no longer lives but Christ lives in him. Many times we trust the power of the cross to save  us but not for us to live the Christian life. 

Psalm 80 Three times this psalm askes God to shine on them. In other words they were seeking God's favor in their lives to restore them to their former glory. As we begin the new year, we need the presence and power of God.