October 22, 2023

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  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.

1. The word strange is foreigner, so first of all the apostle is telling us that the fiery trial is your friend, not a stranger. To be foreign is to not know the territory; but this is no stranger of danger, but a friend of faith and revelation. Jesus called Judas friend. He knew what Judas would do. Anything that helps shape your destiny is your friend and though it becomes your enemy, the result reveals it was as if a friend had done you a favor.
2. Happened. Not happening. Past tense, not presently occurring. So, this means whatever was taking place has already happened. It’s over. Your past it. You’re through it. You’re at the end of the chapter. You’re over the mountain of conflict. You’re beyond the valley of strain and stress. You’re out of the wilderness of confusion. Your victory has developed out of the darkness. Your treasure has come out of the fire. Your faith has come out of the furnace of anxiety. It has processed into a promise. It has formed from broken to something priceless. Also, happened is a word that speaks of an event. An event has a time stamp on it. It is based on something transpiring at a particular time. If you buy tickets to some type of entertainment, it has a date and time on it. You can’t show up a day later and use the same ticket. Hey, devil you can’t show up in my tomorrow promise with yesterday’s pain…listen now.

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