09-11-11 PM - God's Promise to You

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1 Peter 5:10-14
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Matt. 28:19-20  Jesus gives a command to His disciples.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.                                                                                                    
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  Acts 5:41.                                                 
First he reminds them of God’s great resource.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory …

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Why would this be important for the believers to hear?
1. Eternal glory is not something easy to grasp. It’s almost foreign to us.
2. It is easy to be clouded by the hardships that we face in life.

Secondly he reminds them of God’s great provision.                                          
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.                                                                                

A. God uses suffering to Perfect the believer.
“perfect” means to make fit or join together; to restore.
It’s used of mending nets;
Restoring an erring brother;
Framing the body and the worlds:
And of the union of members in the church.                                                       

Matt. 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

James 1:3-4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

B. God uses suffering to stablish the believer.

“stablish” means to make stedfast, firm, solid, immovable.

1 Thes. 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

C. God uses suffering to strengthen us.                                                                         

D. God uses suffering to settle us.

The word “settle” means to secure as in a foundation; to ground with security. 
Eph. 3:17-21 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Third thing Peter reminds them of God’s great power.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen                                  

The word “glory” is omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions.  Dominion Greek, “the might” shown in so “perfecting,” you.