9/7/25 SERMON NOTES - FORGED IN THE FIRE WEEK3 | Tyler Kirby
Psalm 115:1 NLT “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name goes all the glory…”
1John 4:4 NLT “…the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world."
Series Verse: Job 23:10 NIV “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Title: Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake
Acts 6:8-9 NIV “8Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen…” They had Stephen arrested and produced false witnesses to testify against him. Soon afterwards, he was stoned to death"
Living like Jesus puts you at odds with a world that rejects Him.
John 15:18,20-21 NIV “18If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first … ‘20A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me.”
As a Christian…
1. Suffering is expected
1Thessalonians 3:2-3 NIV “2We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.”
2Timothy 3:12 NLT “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Opposition doesn’t mean you’re failing - it means you’re following.
2. Suffering is a great honor
Acts 5:28-29,40-41 NIV “‘28We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said. (The high priest) ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching (may we fill our area with Jesus’ teachings) and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ 29Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings’ … (Peter then gives them the business…‘God raised Jesus…whom you killed’ - they wanted the apostles dead!) 40They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
Richard Wurmbrand - “It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners… But we had to do it. To the preacher caught, it meant a severe beating. A number of us decided the price was worth it. So we accepted the Communist terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us - so everyone was happy.”
3. Suffering should be our joy
Matthew 5:11-12a NIV “11Blessed (happiness due to divine favor) are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice (to be glad; the core concept is ‘joy at heart’) and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…”
Richard Wurmbrand - “We were filled with joy when we were tortured for Christ’s sake. There were times when we sang in prison. We felt the angels were with us.”
Joy is not denying the circumstances … it’s declaring - Jesus is worth it.
1Peter 4:13-14 NIV “13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
How we respond to persecution can be a great witness.
Mark 15:39 NIV “And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
The world notices when we suffer with grace and peace.
Philippians 1:12-14 NLT “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.”
Hebrews 12:2b-3 NIV “2For the joy set before Him (Jesus) He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”