“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
1 Peter 4:12-19
thedailylily.com 
How this speaks right now of the “fiery trials” , the persecutions, killings and murders of the people who are dying for their faith every day….the Christians, the ”front-liners”…those who are preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the front lines of battle; people like Pastor Abedini and Ms. Sokor imprisoned for their faith.
I pray daily for those Christians in distress.
Voice of the Martyrs has put out a prayer sheet, 10 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR PERSECUTED FAMILY [OF GOD].Here are a few of the points to pray for these courageous souls. And I Quote……
“* Persecuted Believers will sense God’s presence [Heb. 13:5]
“*They will feel connected to the greater Body Of Christ [1Cor. 12:20,26]
“* Be comforted by Holy Spirit when family or fellow laborers are killed [2Cor.1:3]
“* Get more opportunities to share the Gospel & boldness to make Christ known.
“* Forgive, love & pray for their persecutors [Matt. 5:44
“* Ministry remain undetected by those who would silence them [Luke 4:29-30]
“* They might count it all joy when they suffer for Christ’s sake [James 1:2]
“* God’s Word refresh them & help them grow in their faith [Eph. 6:17]
“* Strengthened through the prayers of intercessors & that their faith will not fail at the point of persecution and/or death. [Jude 20-25] ”
I pray too for myself and those whom I love in Christ Jesus, that if and when the time of persecution would come, my faith, our faith would not fail for it will be “worth it all when we see Jesus’. He says in Matthew in the Sermon on the Mount….”Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when you are reviled, insulted and lied about…for GREAT is your REWARD in HEAVEN!! Praise our Good God of Mercy!!
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
This verse stood out to me because if there is no ‘Spirit of Glory and of God’ resting upon, resulting in insults ‘for the name of Christ’, then it looks unlikely that one lives a life of obedience and righteousness.
Hebrews 4 gives us a starling encouragement to show fruit for others. “10) For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11) Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”
When I read from our Blog text; “the spirit of glory….rest upon you…” As well as rejoice and be glad when His Glory is revealed,” I pause to rest as I do in the presence of music giving me a rest. I worship the beauty’s Source and not the beauty. Romans 1:22-23 where the Apostle Paul reveals how we claim to be wise but we are fools by exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like the image giver. Today, it is making nature look like Nature! We make the Creator the created.
As I glance again @ our Hebrews’ passage rest vs disobedience is a glaring spotlight vs Glory!
It’s interesting and a mandate concerning some of mankind that the glories of nature have been placed there by the Creator. Romans states that ever since the the creation of the world HIS invisible nature and attributes, eternal power and divinity have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made, that is…His handiworks. His Gospel is written in the stars. So men are entirely without excuse and altogether without defense or justification if they decree that there is no God…and yet they DEIFY nature…so, there is their god…it would seem, even if they do not recognize it. Rom. 1:19 Psalm 19 Rom. 10
Matthew 10:32(NIV) “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” I can’t help but think of this verse when I read this blog. They are “encouraging words”.
I agree with Tammy and the others with so much persecution of Christians in various ways it gets harder and harder to confess faith!
Tammy, this verse also makes me think that we can also continue to confess our faith before one another….as you have written, and take every opportunity to confess, profess, praise and thank God and His Christ before our fellow Christians whenever we gather. As you indicate, it is exhorting one another and encourages us to speak about the goodness, mercy, kindness of God and is “good practices” for the time when we will need to confess before hostile witnesses rather than our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
That is so true..that we must pray for one another that our faith will NOT fail at the point of persecution and threat of death. And that we have it fixed in our hearts and minds that if and when we are confronted by those who would hate Christ….that we will be prepared spiritually, mentally,…..to “count it all joy”. Oh my!