1 Peter 4:1-11
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1. Refine Our Faith

The big question is this: "Are you growing in your spiritual life?" Some of us even go back before the movement. How is that possible? You find yourself as a leader, entering another year. How do you feel? Are you the same as last year? Have you even gone backward?

This passage talks about how Jesus suffered in his flesh. We are to have the same attitude. Suffering is evidence of growth. How is our suffering going? If we're suffering, we're having victory over sin. If we're not growing, then we're probably not suffering at all in our faith. Because of that, there's not as much victory over sin as there should be.

Suffering is a bit like fasting. If you've ever fasted, I'm sure you've asked… "Why am I doing this?" Fasting begs that question, doesn't it? The Bible isn't exactly totally clear on the purpose of fasting. It only tells us how to fast when we do it, and that we need to do it. One of the things we do learn from fasting, though, is the power of our desires. It's incredible how powerful that drive to eat is inside of us. If we can control that desire to eat, we can control other evil desires as well. Learning to say "no" strengthens our resolve to say no in other areas.

Suffering is a lot like that, too. Suffering for Christ strengthens our resolve. You learn to enjoy doing right, even when you don't want to. It's powerful. Being a disciple challenges our emotions, our hearts, even our bodies. By remaining faithful, though, we grow in our ability to resist sin.

We all know we don't stop sinning when we become disciples. We learn from 1 John, though, that we can find strength to say no. Sin really saps us of our zeal, spiritual fire, and of our openness. It saps our ability to be joyful and happy and to encourage one another. As strong as we are, we still get whacked by sin. That's a big deal.

a. Suffering makes us compassionate

Suffering teaches us compassion, so we can feel for others when they suffer (esp. in our family group). When comes to some death of closed ones, babies or miscarriage we can't say why it happened, but we can see the lesson. This is intended to make us more compassionate and empathetic.

Here's the question: Are you growing from all the things God is sending your way? 1 Peter begins by drawing the comparison between our lives and a furnace. The Scripture uses that metaphor many times. Why do we suffer?

b. Suffering helps us overcome sin

Romans 6:7
because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

1 John 5:18
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

What are these passages saying? We need victories over sin in our lives. The question is, are we having victories? If not, then we're not suffering.

c. We need each other when we're suffering

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

We need relationships to sharpen one another in the furnace of life. We have to ask ourselves, when was the last time I was sharpened? When was the last time somebody got the file out and scraped the splinters off? How do you know when you're being discipled? Easy - It hurts. What does the doctor say when you go for treatment? "Where does it hurt?" When iron sharpens iron, there are meant to be a few probes and pokes. If we want to do great service for God's Kingdom, we need great discipling.

Hebrews 3:12
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

We need great relationships in our groups, and amongst this group as well. We need to be discipled, to disciple others and also to have peers in the ministry. Remember all the "one another" passages? That's who we are, right here. We all need honest brothers who will challenge us. "Direct, with respect". Have them repeat it back to you to ensure they heard what you said. Sometimes people get attitudes when you challenge them. That's part of the process. What do you talk about next? The attitude!

1 Timothy 4:7-8
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

We're meant to be training ourselves to be godly. We're responsible for ourselves. At judgment day, when we stand before God, we can't look to anybody else. We stand there alone. It's a narrow gate, one at a time . . . If you're not training yourself, you won't make it in there. How's it going?

Don't forget that the goal of Quiet Times is your personal righteousness. It's not just a legalistic thing we do in the Indian church of Christ. What am I learning? I like to read my Bible every day, and a book about the Bible as well. There have been times in my life when I've stopped reading, and it's hurt me. Reading keeps our faith alive. It's so crucial, essential for life.