Christ's sufferings revealed in our trials (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] We shall be pleased to further help this afternoon.

[0:14] We desire to draw your attention to those words we were thinking of this morning in 1st Epistle of Peter chapter 4 and verses 12 and 13.

[0:28] 1 Peter 4 verses 12 and 13. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you.

[0:47] But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, he may be glad also with exceeding joy.

[1:00] As we were thinking upon these words during the interval, we felt how the Lord's servant Job must have known something of this pathway.

[1:16] That is why we read those two chapters this afternoon wherein we see how he knew this fiery trial.

[1:26] In the first chapter of that book we have recorded those many things that were taken from him, those losses that he sustained.

[1:40] One messenger after another came with the message that these things had happened. But how wonderful to be brought to that place where he was brought in the midst of his trial.

[1:55] When he said, naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither. I believe the Lord brings us there from time to time in these trials where we feel we are naked like Job and we shall go from this world in the same way.

[2:19] As the apostle says in writing to Timothy, we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we shall carry nothing out. Therefore, having food and raiment, let us be there with content.

[2:32] But dear Job could see this. He could see the Lord's hand in these things. He didn't speak of the Sabeans or the Chaldeans, but he said the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.

[2:50] That's what we need to see, friends, that these things are in the Lord's hand. It says the Lord allows these things to take place.

[3:02] The Lord allowed Satan to take away these things. And Job could see God's hand in it. What a mercy when the Lord takes away from us.

[3:14] And we can say the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. But you see that was only part of his trial, the losses that he received, because in the next chapter that we read, it was affliction in his body.

[3:37] The Lord allowed Satan to go forth and smite Job with the saw boils from the sole of his foot to his crown.

[3:50] And yet, when his wife said to him, Dost thou still retain on integrity, curse God and die? He said, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.

[4:03] What? Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord? And shall we not receive evil? Oh, how he was brought to realise God's hand in these things.

[4:15] And it is when we are brought to see the Lord's hand in these trials that I believe we are brought into the second verse of our text.

[4:27] And we can rejoice even in the midst of affliction and the midst of trial and loss. And we can rejoice even in these things. Beloved, think it not strange.

[4:39] Job must have thought it strange in the first place when those things happened to him. But afterwards he could see the needs before it.

[4:50] And I believe, you know, it was all that he might come to that place that he came to in the final chapter of that book.

[5:03] And I believe our trials are the same. They should have that same effect upon us. Because what did he say when he comes to the closing chapter of that book?

[5:20] It is to bring us to this repentance before God.

[5:36] Dear Job was brought to repent in dust and ashes. And I believe when the Lord brings us to this place of repentance, then we begin to realise his holiness and our unholiness.

[5:55] I believe we know that the Lord brought Isaiah to the same place that he brought Job to. And we need to be brought to this place where Isaiah was brought.

[6:10] For we read of the Lord's servant Isaiah in the sixth chapter of that prophecy that he was favoured to see the Lord.

[6:24] And when he had seen the Lord sitting upon his throne high and lifted up and his train filled the temple, we read that Isaiah was brought to this.

[6:37] And this is one reason why the Lord brings us into these trials, that we might realise our own unholiness, and God's holiness.

[6:50] Now where did Isaiah come to in his experience? He said, woe is me. Woe is me for I am undone.

[7:01] I am a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. And I believe the more we see of the Lord in his glory and beauty, the more we see our own uncleanness and vileness.

[7:22] One thing that Job was brought to was this. He said, behold I am vile. Oh what a mercy for him to be brought to that place where we feel to be vile in his sight.

[7:34] Beloved. Beloved. You see Job was loved by his God. And Job was one of those whom the Lord had blessed in many ways.

[7:49] But although he was loved and blessed, he had to pass through this same fiery trial. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you.

[8:06] I was not only thinking of Job in the interval but we have thought of those three Hebrew children in the book of Daniel and how they had to pass through this trying path.

[8:24] You know we read concerning this this morning before we left home and we felt how favoured those three men were as they were brought into this position to go into the burning fiery furnace.

[8:42] For we find that when they came before the king they could say this We are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

[8:56] If it be so, our God, whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.

[9:09] They were brought to that place where they were willing even to go into the burning fiery furnace rather than to fall down and worship those idols.

[9:24] If not be it known unto thee, O king, we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. And because of their faithfulness they had to be bound in their coats, their hosen and their hats and their other garments and were cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

[9:51] You see they were like the Lord's people they couldn't go round it they had to go into it in the midst of it and so we find them in the midst of that furnace but when the king comes and looks into the furnace what does he say?

[10:12] Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? And they answered and said True, O king. He answered and said Lo, I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the former the fourth is like the son of God.

[10:35] Now you see they had the Lord's presence in that furnace and that made all the difference and it's wonderful to read that when they were gathered together and saw these men the fire had no power upon their bodies and neither was a hair of their head singed neither were their coats changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

[11:01] You see they had been faithful and the Lord had been with them in the midst of the fire and this is what we want to come to this afternoon this wonderful part of the text where he says Rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering You see if we can look at all our sufferings in this light I believe those men in that fire were most blessed as they were in the presence of the Lord and it is when we find the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of our trials then we are richly blessed I often thought of that last verse that we sung just now and how it seemed to sum up our text today let all fruitless searches go which perplex and tease us we determine not to know but of bleeding Jesus it is when we can see the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of our sufferings and realise that we know something in some measure of the text in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings how is it then we are partakers of Christ's sufferings we are following in his steps as we saw this morning we are following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ and we want to look just a little this afternoon into the sufferings of Christ because though we have read of Job's sufferings and we have read of the sufferings of those three in the burning fiery furnace they were nothing to the sufferings of Christ you know friends when we are in these sufferings if we could only look to the Lord Jesus we should realise the truth of what one said how light while supported by grace are all the afflictions

[13:21] I see to those the dear Lord of my peace my Jesus has suffered for me and so this afternoon we want to look a little at the sufferings of Christ and we shall see that all our sufferings are nothing compared to his let us go then with the Lord Jesus Christ into those sufferings that he endured and we desire first of all to go into that garden of Gethsemane this is where he had to go when he had instituted that supper and that of course portrayed his sufferings there we see his broken body there we see his shed blood but as he had performed that and had brought those disciples together on that occasion and had administered the supper to them then we find it recorded in Luke's

[14:34] Gospel chapter 22 and verse 39 he came out and went as he was want to the Mount of Olives and his disciples also followed him you know there is something there he went as he was want to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him if we are his disciples we must know what it is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in this path of suffering oh this is where we should be favoured friends if we get a little insight into these sufferings of Christ as he went into Gethsemane's garden and when he was at the place he said unto them pray that ye enter not into temptation and he was withdrawn from them about a stone cast and kneeled down and prayed what the

[15:38] Lord Jesus Christ must have been suffering as he entered into this prayer it was when he was thinking of that which was before him that cross with all the pain an agony of it that he could pray this prayer Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thy will be done and in another gospel we read that his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground it shows the agony that he was in it shows how much he was suffering in his soul and we would desire to realize that when he was suffering in that way in the garden he was taking away the curse because we read in the book of

[16:43] Genesis in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread that was part of the curse and the Lord Jesus Christ was suffering now that curse and taking away that curse and we read this there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat were great drops of blood falling down to the ground this is when the Lord Jesus actually went into his suffering and if we can from time to time realize how much he endured in that garden we shall realize that our sufferings are small in comparison to his rejoice in as much as you partakers of Christ's sufferings all we do need to consider

[17:47] Christ's sufferings more and more and what it meant for him to put away sin the price he had to pay all these sufferings of Christ how great they were not only did he suffer there in that garden but as he went into the judgment hall how we read of those sufferings that he endured the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him and when they had blindfolded him they struck him on the face and asked him saying prophesy who is it that smote thee all these sufferings that the Lord Jesus had to undergo in the judgment hall we read of how he was scourged how he was crowned with crowned thorns and again friends we see there how he took away the curse for the curse had been spoken of in

[18:56] Genesis thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee and the Lord Jesus Christ had to bear that curse as he was crowned with a crowned thorns oh what suffering that was as that crown was placed upon his head and then we read in another place they smote him on the head with a crown but you know really to see the depth of these sufferings we ought also to look into the psalms because I believe we see there the very depth of those sufferings of Christ for instance as the psalmist wrote the 22nd psalm he speaks of the very depth of the sufferings of Christ and there we find him speaking those words in the opening verse of psalm 22 the very words that the

[20:08] Lord Jesus Christ spoke on the cross my God my God why hast they forsaken me or what words these were that the Lord Jesus uttered on that cross at Calvary you see has been through the sufferings in the garden in the judgment hall he is now nailed to the accursed tree and the darkness comes upon the earth and he feels this forsaking of his father and we have the very words that the Lord Jesus uses in his prayer as it were why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring and he comes to this I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people oh the

[21:09] Lord Jesus was despised despised by those around him despised of the people all they that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out the lip they shake the head saying he trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him oh this brings us into the very place where Jesus was on that cross and when we come down to the 14th and 15th verses we see the very depth of that suffering when he says I am poured out like water all my bones are out of joint my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels and then think of the thirst friends that he had my strength is dried up like a pot chert my tongue cleaveth to my jaw

[22:18] Deshalb rose I remember once particularly myself knowing just a little what thirst was I have been walking some distance in the hot weather and feeling the dryness in the mouth but I remember feeling on that occasion I know nothing of this that the Lord Jesus knew when he said I thirst my tongue cleaveth to my jaws thou hast brought me into the dust of death for dogs have compassed me the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me then we have these few words they pierced my hands and my feet all these things have to do with his sufferings oh do we sometimes feel what the hymn writer did I have pierced him through and through the soldier pierced his side is true but I have pierced him through and through they pierced my hands and my feet yes the Lord Jesus Christ was nailed to that cross and his hands and his feet were pierced and then we have another word which was spoken on that occasion when he suffered they part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture you see how the psalmist takes us into the into the very sufferings of Christ in these psalms and we have the Lord Jesus Christ set before us we feel not only in that psalm but in the 69th psalm the psalmist takes us into the depth of these sufferings and we find the Lord Jesus surely in this 69th psalm when we read these words in verse 21 they gave me also gore for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink oh when you think of these things that the Lord Jesus Christ had to go through what a mercy for him to be our partaker of Christ's sufferings to follow him in our measure in this way that he had to pass in this thirst that he had they gave me gore for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink oh how the psalmist then brings us into these things as he utters these words in the psalms it is wonderful to see the Lord Jesus Christ in all these scriptures you remember when he was speaking to those two on the Emmaus road he went back over all the scriptures and expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself and how many of the scriptures testify of his sufferings and his death we were looking into the prophecy of Zechariah this morning and in that same prophecy we have this concerning the sufferings of Christ in the thirteenth chapter and the seventh verse awake awake oh sword against my shepherd against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered this man is the man

[26:16] Christ Jesus this one who had to undergo this and the sword of God's justice awoke against him he had to endure that suffering and in that day that fountain was opened that is spoken of in the same chapter in that day there should be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness oh see the Lord Jesus Christ then spoken of in these wonderful parts of his word and surely if we want to see one chapter that deals with the sufferings of Jesus there is no better place to go in our minds than to the fifty third chapter of Isaiah and there we see this glorious person in the midst of all his sufferings and it speaks of him on this wise he is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief that is why he can sympathise with us that is why he can have that mercy upon us because he has been through it himself he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed and how in that seventh verse we are brought right into the midst of his sufferings as we find these words he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shears is done so he opened not his mouth this glorious person is the lamb of

[28:29] God the lamb of God that John spoke of John the Baptist when he said behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world and it was through this path of suffering that the Lord Jesus had to go and if we are his for among those we've been singing of this afternoon we shall have to go through a similar pathway we can never go through the same extent of sufferings but we have to know it in some measure rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings and so as we come to that time when they brought him to the cross we read that when they were come to the place which is called Calvary there they crucified him he was nailed to that accursed tree the Lord

[29:35] Jesus Christ is here set before us as a suffering redeemer and what was his prayer when he was hanging upon that accursed tree oh how wonderful it is to see the Lord Jesus praying like this father forgive them for they know not what they do you know I often think that dear Stephen was given a similar spirit when he was being stoned and he said Lord lay not this sin to their charge father forgive them for they know not what they do and they parted his raiment and cast lots and the people stood beholding and the rulers also with them derided him saying he saved others let him save himself if he be Christ the chosen of

[30:36] God and we find the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to that dying thief we're reminded of these words even this morning when that thief was brought to say Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom and the Lord Jesus said today shall thou be with me in paradise oh that wonderful change was wrought in that dying thief and he was brought home to that paradise with his Lord today shall thou be with me in paradise now we come to the close of that suffering and we find it recorded when Jesus had cried with a loud voice he said father into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost the Lord

[31:41] Jesus Christ had to pass through all these sufferings he had to go through that depth of suffering that we might be delivered from our sins and so we should rejoice in as much as we are partakers of Christ's suffering we follow him in the same pathway in some degree we are partakers of his suffering oh what a mercy it was for Peter that he knew something of this himself and he could write of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first chapter of this same epistle and he says therefore as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb with a blemish and with a spot here Peter realized where salvation was and he speaks in the second chapter he in much

[32:57] Peter spoke of the sufferings of Christ listen to what he says in the second chapter he says for even here unto were ye called called to suffer called to follow the Lord Jesus Christ because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example the Lord Jesus Christ has gone before us and lifted his example that we should follow his steps and that's why we come into these trials and sufferings because we're followers of the meek and lowly lamb but this glorious person of whom he writes he says who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth that's the difference between the Lord Jesus and us there was no sin in him but we sometimes feel to be full of sin when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatened not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree what a mercy friends of our sins were there placed upon the Lord

[34:23] Jesus Christ the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness by whose stripes he were healed surely Peter knew something of the sufferings of Christ and he speaks so much in this chapter of those sufferings as we noticed this morning in the first verse he speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ having suffered for us in the flesh and that we are to arm ourselves likewise with the same mind for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so we're following the meek and lowly lamb his was a path of suffering and we if we know something of these fiery trials as Job did you see we've been thinking also in the interval of how

[35:30] Job was brought to this on one occasion he could say I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth now what a wonderful thing for Job to be able to say to look down through the ages and say I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and he could look forward to the resurrection oh what a wonderful thing and Peter oh he knew something of this pathway he knew what it was to suffer oh he must have suffered after his denial oh he must have felt that when the Lord Jesus turned and looked upon him and he went out and wept bitterly see that was to bring Peter to the same place of repentance oh beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you but rejoice rejoice because you are following

[36:48] Christ in as much as you are partakers of Christ's suffering that when his glory shall be revealed oh Peter speaks of this glory in the first chapter too when he says a similar thing that he says here wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a season if need be you're in heaven is through manifold temptations that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ he's looking forward to that appearing of Jesus Christ and what wonderful glory will be seen when his glory shall be revealed and

[37:52] I believe the apostle Paul was thinking of that glory when he wrote to Titus and spoke of that wonderful time in those wonderful words that he uses in the epistle to Titus what does he say looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people sell us of good works Peter is able then to look forward to the glory oh that we may be able to look forward to that and realise that we know just a little of what it is to be partakers of Christ's suffering oh may we remember these words then when we come into these trials from time to time beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you we do sometimes think these things strange and perplexing but rejoice oh to come into this second verse to know something of fellowship with Christ in his sufferings rejoice in as much as you are partakers of

[39:30] Christ's suffering that when his glory shall be revealed he may be glad also with exceeding joy what joy there will be in the hearts of the Lord's people when they see his glory and when they should be like him when they should know that which we read of in the revelation they shall see him as he is and be like him they shall see his face and his name should be in their foreheads and there should be no night there and they need no candle neither light of the sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign forever and ever what a time for the Lord's people when his glory shall be revealed and we shall be glad also with exceeding joy may the Lord bless his own word to us for his name sake Amen will we will we give the heart his judgments is a prayer heaven number 683 hollow before свои handed rings em

[41:31] May river matt Oregon united than when we pray That waves the savit The land of Joseph's history Slame The Lord has resonated The Father'sい

[42:46] Thank you.

[43:16] Thank you.

[43:46] Thank you. Thank you.

[44:46] Thank you. Thank you.

[45:18] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[45:30] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[45:42] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hymn Thank you.

[46:50] Thank you.

[47:20] To do that which he did, help us to be willing to do thy will. Do be with us now as we separate. Grant us journey and mercies.

[47:32] Help those of us who gather in the evening of the day. May we worship thee on that occasion in spirit and in truth. We ask thy blessing upon each one here. Pardon and forgive all that thou hast seen amiss in our services.

[47:46] We ask it all in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God, our Father, the sweet communion and fellowship of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, rest and remain with us now and forevermore.

[48:07] Amen. Amen. God willing, our prayer meeting will be at usual on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock.

[48:26] We shall God willing, our prayer meeting will be at the same time. May I and my members of the church meeting tomorrow evening, God willing, at 7 o'clock.

[48:41] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.