THINK IT NOT STRANGE

                           1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange. . . .                    

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THINK IT NOT STRANGE THAT GOD WANTS US TO: THINK BIG

1. Think Big About Prayer [Psalm 81:10, Ephesians 3:20

I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

2. Think Big About Missions [mt. 28:18-20]

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.

3. Think Big About the second Coming of Christ [Matthew 24:44]

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

II. THINK IT NOT STRANGE THAT GOD WANTS US TO: THINK SCRIPTURALLY

1. About God [Acts 17:29]

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

2. About Man [1 Corinthians 4:6]

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

3. About the Bible [1 Corinthians 14:37]

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

III. THINK IT NOT STRANGE THAT GOD WANTS US TO: THINK SOBERLY, SERIOUSLY [1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8]

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1. About Trials/trouble [1 Peter 4:12-16]

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

2. About the Blessed Holy Spirit [1 Corinthians 2:13, 6:19]  

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

3. About the Judgement to Come [Acts 17:2, 18:4, 18:19, 24:25]

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance , and judgment to come , Felix trembled , and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.