Francis Chan: Enduring Suffering — We Are Church, Nov 2015

you know we had a couple of Thanksgiving gatherings as I'm sure some of you did you kind of go from place to place and you know at our house we just kind of did one and we went around and just shared like what are you most grateful for were you most thankful for and and as I thought about it man I was just sharing how I don't know that I've ever been this thankful for the church this church I mean just just my church experience of all these years I go gosh right now it's just good it's good you know you even worshiping with you guys today was just it was awesome seeing Jonathan up here with the team leading and it was just I don't know I just think just feel right coming in the presence of God as I thought of different ones of you I've just been so grateful because I you know when I read scripture all these years I've been been a Christian for like 30-something years and and I'd always read about the love that was supposed to be in the church and I just didn't get it because there was such a gap from going to a church service to what I would read in the Bible but then as we've grown together I'm seeing that gap narrowed and going wow I'm starting to see that love that the Bible talks about not just oh I love you brother I love you you know but like practical love where you're letting people into your home you're giving up your evenings your you know the pastor's here you know just giving up their free time to Shepherd others and care for them and just hearing more about how you're caring for one another and loving each other and and it's so cool to be a part of a church that's known for that and and and growing in that I was thinking about how how grateful I am that so many of you are not ashamed of the gospel and it's not like a group of five people that go out and share their faith but it's like you all do you know like on a weekly basis it just seems like wow people are are not just saying hey come to church but you're actually telling people about God and about Jesus and about your relationship with him and it's it's natural to you it's right to you it's the norm here it's like well I always always wanted to be a part of a place like that and and then I think about the growth I've seen in some of your lives you know that's happening in your lives I go man where you were a year ago to where you are today you know as I start thinking about some of your faces and and where you came from and where you are today I'm just going God that the growth is happening and then I then I hear about more and more of you getting into the Word of God every day and and for some of you there's the first time you've been spending daily time alone with God and you're growing more in love with him and you're coming to the prayer gatherings when we come together to pray and dogs just coming out everywhere you know these are all good things I'm grateful for um but I I just I think about the church and I just want to say man I'm just grateful for what we have right now and and sometimes I think too much about the future and what it's going to be like I start worrying like oh man we're barely fitting here what's going to happen when it gets bigger you know this and that and rather than just thanking God for the moment and going you know what today is a good day and it's just nice to be around a group of people that are pretty like mind and I know some of you guys are new some of your visiting but understand there's a family being developed here where we've got the same attitude like man we'll take the shirt off our back we'll give the back well we'll give stuff um well we'll do stuff for each other you know we're going to go out we want we have a picture of what we want to be and we're all going after it and I love that and I was praying for you guys this morning because I have a message to give and I've been praying that you would accept it not because it's like a weird obscure verse and I'm going to you know point something out and hope you believe me know it's an obvious teaching it's all through the New Testament you read about it this week several times every week you'll read about it it's just that you don't hear a lot of people preach about it so you almost like it's not really in the Bible and I'm going now it's all over the thing and the topic is suffering and how as believers we need to learn how to embrace suffering as I've been praying for you because as a church I get okay man we're doing so well in these different areas and if we can really embrace this and get this truth that you'll see all through Scripture we read about all week long all year long if you understand it and accept it man that's what's going to make us unstoppable as a church once you learn to embrace suffering because there's so many churches out there that are going off you follow Jesus everything will be good that's not what Jesus taught he taught the opposite every time he called people to himself because you sure you want to do this because this isn't going to be easy because hey don't make don't think that I came to bring peace to your family I actually came to bring division I'm is what Jesus said I actually came to bring a sword I mean sometimes you have to stand up against even family members because I'm bigger than all of that and I want you to love me with all your heart soul might because you sure you want to do this is if you want to follow me you don't have to deny yourself pick up your cross and follow me I mean Jesus laid it out from the start and it's so different from how we teach Jesus nowadays where we just want to talk about the good part and then of course we want to talk about the grace of God of course you want to talk about is forgiveness what is there without God's mercy but at the same time Jesus was very truthful and very upfront you know we don't try to lure people into becoming Navy SEALs by saying oh it's gonna be a blast alright you just lay it out and go okay are you sure you want to do this okay it's going to be worth it in the end you're going to be a stud I'm you're gonna be amazing gonna be ripped you're gonna be like no one else on but you sure you want to do this and that's the way Jesus taught he goes look this is like a treasure and a field there's nothing greater than this but I'm telling you the truth it's going to be tough he goes I don't even have anywhere to sleep tonight I'm worse than a fox I'm worse than a bird I don't even know where I'm gonna live tonight you sure you want to do this that's the way Jesus taught and Peter we read through first Peter day that this week right those who are doing the Bible reason it would in a what an amazing book but I caught some things in in chapter 4 that that just really stood out to me as I was I was praying I was like what am I going to teach what am I going to teach on and then I went through the reading and I'm like whoa this is it this is what I want to teach on on Sunday he says in chapter 4 first Peter chapter 4 verse 1 he says since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh arm yourselves with the same way of thinking for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God ok so since Jesus suffered in the flesh okay everyone you with me you guys agree Jesus suffered in the flesh okay he didn't live a comfortable easy life I mean it was suffering it was rejection non-stop he had that one moment the triumphal entry where everyone's cheering for him but a couple days later the same people are yelling crucify him okay his life was crazy he was he was a man of sorrows and he's because Jesus did that then he says arm yourselves with the same way of thinking arm yourselves are the same way of thinking I thought arm yourself that we don't normally think this way arm yourself like think of armor I was going to bring my motorcycle helmet and I forgot oh I called you you didn't answer the phone okay my my because I was just going to put on a motorcycle helmet and have you throw things at my head you know because I want to show like I love like like you know as Zeke was playing baseball this year and every time he had his batting helmet on I couldn't help but throw things at his head you know cuz it's just funny you know it just bounces off them don't thought you know hit it with the bat it's just that's the idea of arm right you can't hurt me because I got my armor on and he says he goes this is this is why I want you to think it's like armor when you arm yourselves with the thinking that Christ gives you it with that same way of thinking that look following Jesus is going to hurt because once you arm yourself with that mentality you can't get hurt anymore you realize I actually expect suffering and I kind of want some see once you you you get what Jesus says you know like Jesus not taught in Matthew 5 and the Beatitudes he goes okay when they curse you when they say just malicious things about you he goes rejoice rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven this is what Jesus taught ok so if you arm yourself with that kind of thinking where you go wow he wants me to rejoice when I suffer for the kingdom when I suffer for his name because that's a great reward and my reward in heaven is greater than any suffering and this is like light and momentary trouble so then you're like oh man I hope someone curses at me for the name of Jesus because I'll get any ternal reward today he says once you arm yourself with that who can hurt you then it's then then I have nothing to fear like if I suffer for the gospel I get eternal reward whatever pain that that they inflict on me whatever rejection he promises me a great reward so if I arm myself with that mindset the same mentality that Jesus who endured the cross why for the joy set before him the reward was going to be so great this relationship as to him he saw that as valuable that we would be his children that we would be with him forever the father would exalt him to the highest place and give the name above all names it's like man I'm going to adore this I'll go through the cross so when we can arm ourselves with this same mindset and we actually expect suffering it's like putting a helmet on go ahead throw things in my head it's not going to bug me anymore see it's just this false teaching that tells you hey follow Jesus he'll make you rich I'll make you healthy he'll make everything work out your family back this this this is I mean you just heard from de Mario's testimony right I follow Jesus not everything came together and perfect what we call blessing things get tough in the home I ever because I used to speak at youth camps all the time and and kids would come forward I'm like okay God now just bless them like crazy shown that by following you it's just it's just awesome everything's great and and they go home and the parents were divorcing or a brother or sister dies and I'm like Lord what the heck I thought I thought you were just gonna make everything nice and smooth and the opposite would happen and you start realizing okay that's not promised in Scripture that's just what people say what the scriptures say is arm yourselves with the same way of thinking see Jesus way of thinking he says look the son of man didn't come to be served he knew that ahead of time because I did not come on the earth to have everyone served me even though I'm your Creator and I would think that would make you want to serve me I didn't exist until I made you he goes but when I came I didn't come to be served but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many so Jesus understood look I didn't come here to have all of you worship me and serve me I actually came here to serve you and actually to die for you that's where I came with see do we even have that mindset coming here today I think people even come to these gatherings to be served you know and so then we get disappointed well I didn't really like the songs they chose ain't like the you know didn't sing the one I wanted and you didn't teach you know the verse I wanted taught and that you know the testimony I was hoping for someone older you know and then you go home it's like man outside really it's cold and it's hot it's like I know what to do what is this about why cuz you came to be served well the son of man didn't come to be served he came to serve and he came to give his life for many and he says they arm yourself with this way of thinking then you won't ever be disappointed see then you go back and you go gather next week you know in the house and your mindset is I actually came to serve other people I actually came as a servant can I clean up the bathroom afterwards when you guys are done you won't be disappointed you know if that's your mentality because the bathroom will always need to be clean okay it's like you're not going to let go it's like okay that's cool reward in heaven let me go actually encourage someone else let me go in to die to myself to use my gift for other people his arm your what yourselves without we're thinking because whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin you ever thought about that I love that phrase whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin okay once you get this this is when you can walk away from your sin is when you understand suffering like when you can rejoice in suffering which I got to ask you have you ever think this through have you ever done that rejoiced and suffering where you go to bed at night and go that was good chi-ching you know it's like reward reward oh I took this I took this I took this I'm actually glad that was a good day I got rejected one of my buddy's was telling me he was on a campus just they were talking about abortion and he was trying to hand something out to this gal and this girl looks at it basically throws it on the ground it says f you you little you know ya beep beep you know you should have been aborted and he's like why was first time someone said that I'm like man is so cool you know I mean if you he goes man I tried to do it in LA but you know it wasn't like he was being a church I you know I know the guy real humbly it wasn't like but and it was like wow that's awesome I remember being on the TLC Sean breaky one time and and you know I get his phone call hey Sean just got punched in the lip I'm like wow it's so awesome you know like it's just this is good this is good stuff as long as we're going in love but have you have that mind Sage's once you get that because that's when you can cease sinning who ever suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin look the conquering of sin requires suffering the conquering of sin requires suffering so if you refuse to suffer you will remain in your sin can you kick heroin without suffering No yeah you you go nuts right can you kick anything without suffering it's all about suffering even those of you that are right now addicted to pornography you every time you walk away that's its it's suffering you you can't get away from your sin without suffering that's why says whoever suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin it's those of us who refuse to suffer you're going to remain in your sin for the rest of your life but those who suffered in the flesh cease from sins so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God I hear people man I'm in the past a long time and I hear people whine about well but I prayed to God that he would take away my desire for you name it for weed for alcohol for pornography I prayed and I begged God to take it away from me and he didn't so in other words you were hoping to defeat sin without suffering you were thinking God would just magically take it away and you wouldn't have to suffer at all I'm just saying that's not what the scriptures say people will didn't work it didn't work and I look what the scriptures say unless you're willing to suffer you're not going to overcome your sin whatever it is and then he goes on and he says no longer for human passions but for the will of God you can spend the rest of your life once you get this mindset that this suffering is good you know whether it's that glance at that girl or just that they're putting down of the drink and walking away from it and you can just walk away and rejoice and come in I did I was good that was difficult but I did it he goes until you get that you're not going to be able to figure this out and be able to to no longer live for human passion see we live in a day and age now where people say man god can't tell us to not live for our own passions our own desires if I want to do something he put that desire in me and so he should make me free to do whatever I feel like doing I'm like man as a whatever philosophy that that's not that's not biblical what is he saying here the whole point is that you wouldn't live for your human passions but you'd live for the will of God the passion or desire of God and he goes on I love verse 3 I love this whole thing so I'm going to say that a lot I love the Bible but verse 3 it says for the time that has passed suffice is love that word the time that has passed suffice is for doing what the Gentiles want to do living in sensuality Shen's drunkenness orgies drinking parties lawless idolatries he's speaking of the believers and he goes come on the time that's passed that's enough right have you had your fill of sin okay I don't care how much sin you've had or how little sinned but look back to who you used to be was that enough for you it easy feeders didn't come on you guys you saw where that led you are you at a point right now where you go I've had enough just that one word enough I'm done with it I saw where that took me I saw what that was doing to me I saw that what I was doing to my relationship with God I'm done with it whatever I did in the past or is there a part of you that goes man I kinda want to go back maybe maybe just one more day maybe just one more month and then I'll start January 1 I'll change my life first of January or argue right now going on had enough I've had enough of the old me and where I was taking myself I want Jesus now I want to die I'm willing to suffer because I want this man that the past it'sif Isis it's good enough did I do everything I wanted to do no you know what I did enough I I did enough to see where that led me and I'm done it's enough you know we read this this week also in second Peter 2 how it talks about how the dog returns to his vomit right and the pig returns to his mud why is that because dogs always going to be a dog and a pigs always going to be a pig it's such a gross picture it is picture picture me vomiting right now beautiful huh you know just all over and we all just Gaga gross gross and then I come running back with a spoon exactly but that's what I've seen many people do you saw how ugly your sin was and then you go running back with a spoon that's just gross or Pig you wash it all off spray it all off and what's the first thing it's going to do just look for some mud right my sauce for the first time cold weeks ago over at this ranch you know they wash this pig eye then they had to just you know chain it all you know how die you know whatever just keep it away from any dirt because that's just as natural tendency as to run back to the dirt why because he's still a pig see and that's what Jesus can change in you is he can change your very nature where you're no longer a pig you're no longer a dog it's like I'm a new creation so I don't go back to my vomit you know that's not me when I go back to my mud it's like whatever is done the past suffice is I'm good now I'm a new creation oh man I'm so done with all the stuff the unbelievers do the Gentiles do I'm not in it anymore whatever I did in the past the hell was good enough I know where that lieth that's a great passage man this is what we read this week then he goes on verse 4 with respect to this they're surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery and they malign you but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead this has happened to some of you right you give your life to Jesus and then suddenly your whole crowd it says they're surprised when you don't join them anymore remember the first time you looked at some of your friends and you're like I just don't want to do that anymore I'm not into that anymore and they just look at you like what what are you talking about this is our whole lives is all we've ever done you just got that that day when you may that break and you just go man what I've done that that was enough for me I don't need anymore I don't want anymore I'm a different person now I don't go back to that I used to do that and it says that they get surprised like what do you mean you're done with it how does a pig not go back to mud and you have that opportunity to share them you I've got this new nature now it's like my desires are different I used to be a slave to sin and now I'm like a slave to what's right and when I do sin it's not even fun anymore it's like I hate it I hate that it just it does not even enjoy because I've got the spirit in me now there's like every time I do something that's evil it's like ah it's like this master beating me I don't enjoy it anymore I've got this new nature I don't enjoy rolling around in the mud I don't know it's weird but it's not fun like it used to be the time that of the past that suffice it says they they don't join you they're surprised when you don't join them and they malign you they start talking trash about you they start talking about how you're the one that's off see and this is where the suffering comes in right and Jesus saying okay when that happens don't don't give in to the pressure of all men now they're talking bad about no rejoice in that arm yourself with that thinking knowing hey when I go back to my friends and tell them I'm not going to live that way expect suffering put on that helmet arm yourself going okay this is what Jesus went through and I'm about to get some of this and I'm going to get some eternal reward right now they're going to reject me I'm just expect I'm not going to expect them to go oh that's beautiful you're following Jesus now you're not going to do it don't expect that arm yourselves with the way of thinking that Christ had he says they malign you but verse five this is why we don't go back but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living the dead this is why we don't join them right it's either we suffer now or we suffer later and forever looks ins tempting I'm not saying that like I said it's suffering to not give up our sin some are you guys are in relationships you know you shouldn't be in you know Jesus would not have picked that person for you and to give that person up man you talk about suffering you talk about weeks on the couch crying yourself to sleep is suffering it's big-time suffering but you suffer now you suffer later you know walking away from your friends I mean there and I'm not saying walk away like never talk to them but walk away from what they do and maybe you need to take a break if you're not strong enough but man that's suffering when those are the only friends you've got it's suffering and he says man but do it because when they malign you you got to understand they're going to give a count to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead I'm not making this stuff read it yourself right it's right there the one who is ready when people say all God doesn't judge God doesn't judge what he's ready to judge that's why he's like come on come on you know he's right there it's the moment you die he's right there he's ready you know people who say well just just one more week I mean I used to I used to work with youth a lot young people and they'd always say well when I'm older right now I want to have fun when I'm older you know maybe on my hospital bed maybe you know when I've got a few minutes left really then why don't you take a walk with me through a cemetery sometime let's just read the tombstones how long they lived you think everyone lived to 80 now you see five-year-olds you see two-year-olds see twelve-year-old 20 year olds 30 year olds it's just this lookit just just read the dates man and gods on the other side just waiting he's ready to judge the living and the dead it doesn't matter that no one knows he some of you you're doing stuff that none of us know about Here I am going on man when an awesome church but there's stuff hidden I know and I don't know about it but you're not getting away with anything you you reap what you sow God says it right there he's ready to judge he's on the other side he's waiting for it he says for this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead that though judged in the flesh the way people are they might live in the spirit the way God does he's talking about those who are now dead people who have died that heard the gospel that's why the gospel was preached to them it may you may not have seen it on in life but they see it now they're living like Jesus did who died and rose again see that that's why we do this it's you can follow Jesus that's what it means to follow Jesus we follow him in his suffering and we follow him in his glory it's like okay I'll suffer on this earth I'll suffer what I need to suffer in fact I want to suffer give me some of that because I really believe something better is coming and he says the gospel was preached to these people who are now living the way God lives you see you can end up like Jesus or you could end up like your old friends for some of you your old friends where they going to know tl laying in the streets talking to themselves or holed up in an SRO with all the curtains shut paranoid just waiting to die and then face the judge who's standing and ready to judge on the other side that that's the way you want to end it or for the others of you maybe it's not like that maybe on earth it means you're rich and you're comfortable and you're laying on your couch watching movies spoil your kids golf and shop the rest of your life then you stand before the Living God and what you do with your life CEO or do you want to be like Jesus do you want to join us and go you know what I'll take one on the chin I'll do it I'll do what I need to do I actually want some in my life and I want to rejoice and some but this because I'm not living for this world like Jesus you know what I can die to myself and I actually have armed myself with this way of thinking so even if some of you hate this message today please tell me like I want it I I want you to tell me I'm insane you know sufferings okay and I'm learning more and more Batman I'm like you okay it's not like I in the flesh like to get beat up it's not like I like to be rejected but when i armed myself with this mindset it's actually okay it's all good and so we join together and work together at this and that and then he says in verse 7 the end of all things is at hand therefore be self-controlled sober minded for the sake of your prayers because look what the end is near we don't got much longer he go so be self-controlled show some self-control I know you want to do this you want to do that show some self-control he goes and be sober minded your mind clear don't get it all foggy with all of this junk in there all this media all these movies all this this this this this just it's just like I'm just cluttered with all this stuff because no don't be sober-minded clear minded and that takes self-control take self-control not to be checking your phone every few minutes and go you know I'll watch this video watch this video look at this look what this guy said look like man just calm down get in the presence of God get your mind clear read the scriptures get in the word every morning erase your mind of all the other junk and just stand before God without your mind just going 100 miles an hour show some self-control he says show that for the sake of your prayers so that you can have a good prayer life man if Christ is returning you want to have a good prayer life is but that takes self-control that doesn't just mean there's some supernatural that happens once you get in that room alone with God know take self-control ahead of time what you do ahead of time is going to determine how your prayer life is going to be whether you exercise self-control he goes on above all keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins okay crises come in so let's just love each other even more okay is because love is what's going to cover up our sins look I'm going to offend you I'm going to sin against you but if you love me you overlook it right haven't you done that in your life where someone like I remember one day Lisa and I were first dating like she has a coke with her everywhere and she used to be more clumsy I feel like you're less clumsy now but when you're younger and she would just spilled coke you know on the car on me on whatever and it was just like that's so cute you spilled coke you know why because I'm in love I don't care Phil all over me why I can't believe you're still going out with me you know you know then over the years you get used to someone it's like spilling it you know it's but love right love covers over a multitude of sins and so if you really love me man I'm going to do stuff that bout you okay but you love me so much as I had just Francis now right spill some more you know and for us to start looking at each other if you get bugged by these people around you it's because it's a lack of love you're just just if you find yourself always getting bugged and annoyed by people it's because you're not a very loving person and I'm talking to myself I know when I love someone they don't irritate me that much so you arm yourself you keep loving each other you show hospitality to one another without grumbling I love this where hospitality it's it's the care and to love strangers you show hospitality you love strangers people you never even met before without grumbling without grumbling keyphrase there you know why because when you complain about serving God who gets the glory when you walk it oh I'm so exhausted because you know it's calling my people all night and oh man it's like I'm fasting I'm just exhausted and you know people are harsh on me who gets a glory right then it's all you every time you complain it draws the attention to you but when you can just show hospitality and not complain about it's like man who gets the glory hands like that's so good I get to be like Jesus why because Jesus changed your nature and you just love serving it I mean these these things I can't go through every verse I don't get me one more as each as each has received a gift use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's very grace whoever speaks as one who speaks the Oracles of God whoever serves is one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong glory and Dominion forever and ever amen is everyone has a gift so serve as everyone's been given a gift you did not come here to be served today just put that helmet on put that mindset on the same mindset of Christ you didn't come for me to serve you for Jonathan the worship team to serve you forever you know people cook to serve you came to serve you came here to give and that's what we do all right let me just keep going verse 12 because I'm using my gift like he says verse 12 I'm not doing it because it's like all I have to do this it's like man is my joy I want you to get this passage ok verse 12 beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you but rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed if you're insulted for the name of Christ you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you okay can he be any more clear his brothers don't be surprised when the fiery trial comes upon you and isn't it crazy that we read that passage this passage on the same day that we read Daniel 3 when I talked about Shadrach Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace that's crazy they gave us an Old Testament reading New Testament reading because don't be surprised at the fiery trial when those guys were like hey go ahead throw me in the fire I mean God may have me die there and he may rescue me there I don't know I mean just right there that's a lot of good theology right there it's not like go ahead throw me in the fire I know God's gonna rescue me because I don't know God may have me die your gods had people die plenty all throughout the scriptures you see it on TV now pull it up on YouTube our brothers and sisters are being killed okay sometimes that's his will and that's what Shadrach Meshach and men and go they go go ahead and throw us in the pit I don't know what he's going to do either way I'm not going to bow down to some gold statue you made I'd rather die than that that's ridiculous look at that thing I think then create me I'm not scared I actually I'd be happy to die in the name of God throw me in there and God rescues them and he says don't be surprised see what I'm saying don't be surprised I mean how many times do you hear Christians whine going why why is this happening to me why is it so hard it's because we don't preach passages like this if we preached what the Bible obviously preached we wouldn't be asking why except during times of comfort because the the gist of this book man over and over and over is expect suffering don't be surprised at the fiery trial and mostly this was written during the time of emperor Nero when he was taking Christians and he would just put fuel on them he would just light him on fire just to light up his garden every night just grab a couple Christians and Peter's telling those people hey don't be surprised by this you knew what we were getting into you remember what our master said rejoice and be glad that's what the Apostles did right you see in acts 5 they get beat up and what do they do they rejoice improving and they just tortured us in the name of Jesus so this was not just a vague you know like what we do to so many Bible passages we go no this is the real thing if you're insulted for the name of Christ you're blessed see that's not when we teach today we teach if you're rich you got big old house and all this money in the bank you're blessed that's not what Jesus said he says if you're insulted for the name of Christ you're blessed because the Spirit of God spirit of glory and of God rests upon you it's like oh man you're a blessed person because you can endure suffering that means God's spirits really in you that means just like Jesus suffered and you rose you're going to suffering you're gonna rise may you're the blessed one because it's going to last see that man is that what you hear on Christian television is that what you hear preached all around the States so what do you see in the scripture though verse 15 by let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler he just had to throw that in because Christians man sometimes we go all man so suffering for the Lord you're hung over cuz you got tried nothing to do with the Lord you're in prison because you shot that that has nothing to do with the Lord there's no eternal reward in that okay just make sure we don't get rewarded for hangovers you understand that okay okay you lost your job because you didn't go to work that's why your landscape you were lazy okay you don't get eternal gone we blessed and heaven oh this is about suffering for the Lord then I actually made through the whole chapter watches at the end yet if anyone suffers attic Chris as a Christian will not be ashamed then glorify God in that name for it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God and if it begins with us what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God and if the righteous is scarcely saved what will become of the ungodly and the sinner therefore memorizes versa few can verse 19 therefore let those who suffer according to God's will and trust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good got that let those who suffer according to God it's going to be God's will that some of us suffer probably all of us because at that moment just entrust your soul to God to a faithful creator god I know you see this right now I know my soul it is well it is well with my soul blessed be the name blessed be the name of the Lord I got God we got this we got this eternally we're I'm entrusting my soul you're faithful you see all this on my blessed and he goes while you're doing good just keep doing good just take it take it on the chin look I am so grateful like I said for this church not just because oh good we love each other not just good because I feel like you guys got my back and I got yours and it's just nice but I I know that some of you you'll suffer for them for the name of Christ and it may sound weird but one things I'm most thankful for this Thanksgiving is I've got some brothers and sisters that are willing to suffer with me I don't know what the future holds and but I know some of you well enough to know you know what I could look you in the eye and the myths of suffrage and go come on let's take it let's take it and it's an honor to serve and to suffer with some of you and if that day comes where it gets real physical and that's what I'm really grateful for some of you because this isn't just a game to you this isn't just something you show up for on a Sunday morning I know some of you well enough to know that and go when the persecution comes you're not all going to run I know some of you well enough that we'll look each other in the eye go come on or on your self we got this we got this man I praise God for that because a real thing then as Jesus was lifted all have you lifted up the game

Channel: Crazy Love

Views: 78,454

Rating: 4.9443932 out of 5

Keywords: francis chan, church, GOD, Jesus, Crazy Love, Crazy, Love, we are church

Id: prEYIW2gbiU

Length: 44min 40sec (2680 seconds)

Published: Wed Dec 02 2015