“So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose, patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God; For whoever has suffered in the flesh…has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God” (1 Peter 4:1 AMP).
God was able to say of Jesus, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). In the same way, there is no reason why we as believers can’t please God as much as Jesus did. We have a reborn spirit made in His image. We’ve been given His righteousness. We’ve been filled with the same Holy Spirit. We have all the capacity that Jesus had in the earth to be just like Him and to do the works that He did because He lives in us (Col. 1:27).
He was dedicated. He was totally sold out to God. He was without sin. The Bible tells us that many times He ministered all day and then prayed all night, yet He had a flesh-and-blood body just like you.
He enjoyed a good night’s sleep just as much as you do. So there was an element of crucifying the flesh involved in giving up that sleep and doing what pleased God. He said no to His flesh, and yes to His Father.
“Well, Gloria, I know Jesus did that, but God doesn’t expect that kind of self-sacrifice from us.”
Yes, He does. First Peter 4:1 says so. You see, it’s time for the Church to stop living like Gentiles (those in the world without God and without hope)! It’s time for the Church to live like God says, regardless of what the world around us is doing. Just because the morals of the world slip doesn’t mean the morals of the Church should slip.
It doesn’t matter how dark this world gets, we are to be the light of this world. We need to fight against compromise by arming ourselves with the commitment to suffer in the flesh rather than fail to please God in any area of our lives. Suffering in the flesh is making your flesh do something it doesn’t want to do.
It’s dedicating yourself to do what’s pleasing to God even when it causes your flesh discomfort. When you are ready to do that, you’ll go beyond just “not sinning” and into a life that is pleasing to God. You’ll be ready to lay down those things that you enjoy, things that aren’t necessarily bad in themselves, but are hindering your walk with God.
If you want to walk in the best God has for you, those are the kinds of sacrifices you must make. You have to step into that higher life by faith. You have to lay down your life because the Word says to do it. Then, and only then, will you discover the wonders that are waiting on the other side of your obedience.
I know this can sound harsh…but I know you want to go on with God. I know you want to hunger and thirst after righteousness…so make some adjustments in your life. When you do, you’ll live to please Him!
Speak the Word: I suffer in the flesh rather than fail to please God. (1 Peter 4:1 AMP)
For Further Study: 1 Peter 4:1-7
Daily Scripture Reading: Exodus 20-21; Mark 10
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
They have seven ministry offices around the world: United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Ukraine and Latin America. Their God-given directive is to preach and teach the uncompromised WORD of God on every available voice, which is being accomplished through a variety of channels, including our Believer's Voice of Victory TV and radio broadcasts, podcast and magazine; Believers' Conventions, Victory Campaigns and Living Victory meetings; published books, website, and social media channels, to name a few.
With the expansion of technology, they have more work to do now than ever. They are determined to let the world know Jesus is LORD, and they are not slowing down anytime soon!
Website: https://www.kcm.org