Revival Radio with John Miller

You often hear people talk about “luck.” “Wow, that sure was good luck!” Or “oh, that was terribly bad luck.” It’s as though things just “happen,” by themselves, at random, for no particular reason. But is that true? Not if you believe in God, according to Pastor John today. Because God has everything under control. If something distressing or harmful happens to you, it’s never by “happenstance.” It’s always by Providence. So, whether you’re prospering, or suffering, God has a purpose in it – for your good. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4, as he begins his message, Suffering As A Christian.

What are some of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re living in the Last Days spoken of in the New Testament? Probably you’ve thought of things like: “be sober,” and “watch and pray.” Today, Pastor John says, “yes”, those are two of the things you must do. But there are others. And they have to do with your relationships with your fellow Christians. Here are some examples: have fervent love, practice hospitality without grudging, and use your gifts to serve others. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4, as he continues his message, Living In The Last Days.

Sometimes you’ll hear a lot of buzz and excitement talking about the End Times, and the Last Days, and what’s gonna happen when. How should you react? Today, Pastor John shows that the New Testament has several very specific instructions about how you should live in these Last Days. And first and foremost: be sober. But what does that really mean? Do this: Keep calm. Don’t lose your sense of balance. Preserve your sanity. Then, you can continue on to the second instruction: watch and pray. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4, as he brings his message, Living In The Last Days

If your goal is to become more like Jesus, how will you do that? There are probably many good answers you can think of, but how about this one from Pastor John today? “Be persecuted.” Huh? Yes, believe it or not, if you have the correct response to persecution, it can actually make a huge contribution toward developing a life of holiness. When you have the right attitudes, ambitions, activities, associations, and assurances, God will work holiness in your life – through the persecution you receive. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4, as he continues his message, How To Face Suffering.

If you’re a Christian, your greatest aspiration is to become more like Jesus. Your plans, your ambitions, and your goals aren’t the driving factor of your life. Rather, it’s: “what does God want?” Today, Pastor John explains what happens when you do this: not everybody will be happy with you. (Just like, not everybody was happy with Jesus.) But, not only will Jesus give you the strength to suffer with Him, but He’ll also bring about great blessings in your life – when you face your suffering in the right way. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4, as he begins his message, How To Face Suffering.

Depending on where you live, there’s probably a favorite sports team that most people get excited about. It may be college or professional. It may be football, baseball, basketball, or something else. (If you’re in Canada, it might even be curling!) How awesome is it when your team wins!? Today, Pastor John tells of the greatest victory ever accomplished in history. Greater than any sports team, any army, any politician. It’s the victory of Jesus Christ over death. And you can participate in His victory. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he continues his message, Christ’s Triumphant Suffering.

Here’s a question that probably every person has pondered: What is the purpose of suffering? What’s its “end game”? Does it have a point? Is there any value in it? Today, Pastor John answers those questions with a resounding “YES”! There’s a finish line to suffering – a goal, a destination, a final outcome, a resolution to the dissonance. It’s called “TRIUMPH.” And it’s guaranteed to you by the Author and Perfecter of your faith: Jesus Christ. His suffering ended in triumph, and so will yours. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he begins his message, Christ’s Triumphant Suffering.

When you’re being attacked or criticized by people, how can you know how you should respond? How should you pray? Well, according to Pastor John today, it really depends on why you’re being disparaged. If it’s because of things you’ve done that are questionable, or outright wrong, then you really need humility and repentance… and you probably need to make an apology. But… if you’re being attacked for following Christ, you don’t have to wonder. Now have assurance: you are in God’s will. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he continues his message, How To Shine In Suffering.

If you’ve lived more than a few days, you’ve had opposition and criticism. Perhaps you had trouble in school – either from your teachers or from your classmates. No doubt you’ve caused some of your difficulties yourself, by your own unwise actions. Is that what it means in the Bible when it talks about suffering? According to Pastor John, today, yes, those things can cause trouble. But the kind of suffering that God truly blesses is the persecution you get specifically because you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he begins his message, How To Shine In Suffering.

Suppose you have a friend at work, and you find out that they’re talking behind your back, trying to make you look bad to your boss. What do you do? Today, Pastor John has a reminder: to be like God, you must return good for evil. This isn’t something that’s humanly natural, but you can do it through the power of the Holy Spirit. Would you like the eyes of the Lord to be upon you? Would you like His ears to be open to your prayers? That’s what the Bible says will happen when you cultivate this habit. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he continues his message, Submission: A Path To Blessing.

Would you like to enjoy life and see good days?” Who would say “no” to that? But how do you find that kind of life? Today, Pastor John lists five attitudes that you should cultivate with the help of the Holy Spirit. And, although these might just sound like a “nice list” of good attitudes, they really do affect the quality of your life. Interestingly, everything on this particular list has to do with how you treat others. It’s just another example of how loving God manifests itself in loving other people. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he begins his message, Submission: A Path To Blessing.

If you listen to most shows or get advice from your friends, what kind of “marriage” advice are you likely to hear? Finances, the kids, the house, who does the dishes, blah, blah, blah – a bunch of stuff dealing with externals. Today, Pastor John blasts those ideas out of the water with his explanations of what really makes a great marriage. And, in particular, today he focuses on husbands. Did you know that the Bible has very clear details about how you can treat your wife that will result in the best possible marriage? Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he continues his message, Submission in Marriage for Husbands.

If you’re a husband, and you hear that it says in the Bible, “husbands, love your wives,” that may not seem too difficult. Until you try to figure out what that means in the practical day-to-day realities of life. Today, Pastor John has a wonderful word of encouragement for husbands: God doesn’t just tell you to love your wife; He shows you how to love your wife, and He empowers you to do so. Today’s message is packed with theological and practical content for husbands. So: pay attention! Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he begins his message, Submission in Marriage for Husbands.

Our world is in love with externals. There’s glitz and glamour everywhere. Media stars and social media posts are made to look as “awesome” as possible. But, how important is that, really? Today, Pastor John looks at the instructions in First Peter for how women are to be made beautiful. And it starts with the inside: an inward beauty of holiness, radiating outward, a reflection of God’s glory and God’s beauty. Whoever you are, woman or man, child or adult, let your beauty come from within you. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he continues his message, Submission in Marriage for Wives.

Can you think of an example in your life when you submitted to someone else, even though you didn’t agree with them? Today, Pastor John shows again that “submission” is a concept that originates in the very nature of God. Jesus Christ, God the Son, while on earth, submitted to God the Father. Yet Christ is eternally coequal with His Father. God has designed marriage in such a way that both the wife and husband have specific roles and responsibilities. Yet, as image-bearers of God, they also are co-equals. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 3, as he begins his message, Submission in Marriage for Wives.

When someone honks at you, you honk back. When someone says something nasty about you behind your back, you do the same to them. Right? Of course, as Pastor John explains today, that’s the way we – as humans – want to respond. But that’s not the way we should respond. We have a model. His name is Jesus, and He demonstrated it to the greatest degree when He hung on the cross. He suffered blamelessly; He suffered graciously; He suffered trustfully; and He suffered vicariously, for you. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2, as he continues his message, Submission in the Workplace.

In the days when they had “kings,” the people in the kingdom were called “subjects.” Now, in countries where the governing authorities are elected, we don’t use that word anymore. So, what should be your model in your workplace? Are you “subject” to your boss, or do you “vote”? Pastor John explains today that, as a Christian, you are to submit to your boss. That’s not just a good suggestion to make things go well for you. It’s a way that you testify – to yourself and to others – that you respect God. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2, as he begins his message, Submission in the Workplace.

If you were looking for a word that would go against just about everything our culture promotes, it’d be hard to find a better one than “submit.” A great number of slogans and bumper stickers are fundamentally saying: “we hate authority!” But Pastor John is teaching through the Bible, and can you guess where today’s topic has landed? Submission to authority. Submitting yourself. Why? “For the Lord’s sake.” God is glorified, and your life is simplified, when you recognize what God has ordained. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2, as he begins his message, Submission to the State.

If you’re a Christian and you’re trying to live a holy and devoted life, why are you trying to do that? Today, Pastor John has several solid reasons. The first, of course, is that you are dearly loved by God – that should be reason enough. But there’s more! … There are blessings that you’ll realize in your daily life by being diligent in your spiritual walk. And there are others around you, who are watching you, who may be influenced toward God, too. This even includes those who are opposed to you. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2, as he continues his message, A Plea for a Blameless Life.

When you hear the phrase in the Bible that Christians are “strangers and pilgrims,” what images does that conjure up? Today, Pastor John recalls an incident from his early Christian days of how not to express that to an outsider. Yet it’s important to understand what it actually means. As he turns the corner in First Peter from who Christians are to how Christians must live, the descriptions are clear. It begins with a plea for what you are to abstain from, followed by a plea for what you are to aspire to. Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2, as he begins his message, A Plea for a Blameless Life.