PSALM 57

1. The Disciples’ Fast (Matthew 17:21) – For deliverance from sin, addiction, bondage. If we fast, we can break the power of sins and addictions that limit our freedom in Christ. 2. The Ezra Fast (Ezra 8:21-23) – For God’s help in solving problems and for protection from Satan. Ezra said that they prayed and fasted and God answered their request. 3. The Samuel Fast (1 Samuel 7:6) - For revival. The people were bound by idol worship and needed deliverance. Samuel called them to seek God and to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. If we fast and pray for revival, God will pour Himself out on His people. 4. The Elijah Fast (1 Kings 19:4-8) - Mental freedom from emotional problems or habits. Through fasting, God will show us how to overcome emotional problems and destructive habits. 5. The Widow’s Fast (1 Kings 17:9-16) – Fasting to provide for the needy. The widow went without food to meet the physical needs of someone else. Because she sacrificed her food, God made sure that she had more than enough food. 6. Paul Fast (Acts 9:9) - For physical healing and to get direction from God. If we fast and submit our will to God, He will reveal His will to us. 7. The John the Baptist Fast (Luke 1:15) - To enhance our walk with God and witness. If we fast for the influence of our testimonies to reach others for Christ, God will use us. 8. The Esther Fast (Esther 4:16, 5:2) – For protection from the evil one. If we fast for protection, God will deliver us from evil. 9. The Jesus Fast (Matthew 4:1-2) - For spiritual power and victory over temptation, the flesh and the devil. 10. The Daniel Fast (Daniel 1: 5-21; 10:3) – Fasting for health and to seek God’s favor, purpose and vision for life.

1. నన్ను కరుణింపుము దేవా నన్ను కరుణింపుము నేన్న నీ శరణుజొచ్చి యున్ను న్న ఈ ఆపదలు తొలగిపోవువరకు నీ రెకక ల నీడన్న శరణుజొచ్చి యున్ను న్న. 2. మహోను తుడైన దేవునికి న్న కారయ ము సఫలముచేయు దేవునికి నేన్న మొఱ్ఱ పెట్టుచున్ను న్న. 3. ఆయన ఆకాశమున్నిండి ఆజ్ఞ ఇచ్చి నన్ను రక్షించున్న నన్ను మింగగోరువారు దూషణలు పలుకునపుు డు దేవుడు తన కృపాసతయ ములన్న పింపున్న.(సెలా.) 4. న్న ప్రపాణము సింహములమధ్య న్నను ది కోపోప్రదేకుల మధ్య న్న నేన్న పిండుకొన్నచున్ను న్న వారి దింతములు శూలములు అవి అింబులు వారి న్నలుక వాడిగల కత్త.ి 5. దేవా, ఆకాశముకింటె అతుయ ను తుడవుగా నిన్ను కన్నపరచుకొన్నము నీ ప్రపభావము సరవ భూమమీద కనబడనిముు . 6. న్న అడుగులన్న చ్చకిక ించుకొన్నటకై వారు వలయొడిరి ి న్న ప్రపాణము ప్రకుింగియును ది. న్న యెదుట గుింట ప్రతవివ దానిలో తామేపడిరి. (సెలా.) 7. న్న హృదయము నిబబ రముగా న్నను ది దేవా, న్న హృదయము నిబబ రముగా న్నను ది నేన్న పాడుచు ఱుిత్తగానము చేసెదన్న. 8. న్న ప్రపాణమా, మేలుకొన్నము సవ రమిండలమా సతారా, మేలుకొన్నడి నేన్న వేకువనే లేచెదన్న. 9. నీ కృప ఆకాశముకింటె ఎతయి ినది నీ సతయ ము మేఘమిండలమువరకు వాయ పించ్చయును ది.

✓ Psalm 57 is an individual lament (complaint) psalm. ✓ It is another “trouble and trust” psalm in a series of psalms extending from Psalm 54 through Psalm 59. ✓ Prayer for Salvation from Enemies ✓ Author: David ✓ The occasion when David fled from Saul “in the cave” could be the cave of Adullam (1 Sam. 22:1-2) or the cave of En-gedi (1 Sam. 24:1-7).

FROM DEEPEST DESPAIR TO DEEPEST DELIGHT

FROM DEEPEST DESPAIR TO DEEPEST DELIGHT I. DAVID’S DEEPEST DESPAIR & DISTRACTION (1, 3, 4, 6) II. DAVID’S DEEPEST DESIRE & DESTINATION (5, 11) III.DAVID’S DEEPEST DETERMINATION & DEPENDANCE (1, 2, 3c) IV.DAVID’S DEEP DEDICATION & DECLARATION (8, 9, 10) V. DAVID’S DEEP DELIGHT IN GOD’S SOVEREIN ACTIONS (6c – 7)

I. DAVID’S DEEPEST DESPAIR & DISTRACTION 1. నన్ను కరుణింపుము దేవా నన్ను కరుణింపుము నేన్న నీ (1, 3, 4) the psalmist prays to శరణుజొచ్చి యున్ను న్న ఈ a. ఈ ఆపదలు తొలగిపోవువరకు (1c) God for protection from ఆపదలు తొలగిపోవువరకు నీ b. నన్ను మింగగోరువారు దూషణలు his enemies (verse 1). రెకక ల నీడన్న శరణుజొచ్చి He believes God will యున్ను న్న. 3. ఆయన ఆకాశమున్నిండి ఆజఱ ్ఞ పలుకునపుు డు (3b) come from heaven and ఇచ్చి నన్ను రక్షించున్న నన్ను మింగగోరువారు c. న్న ప్రపాణము సింహములమధ్య న్నను దిsave him (verses 2-3). దూషణలు పలుకునపుు డు దేవుడు తన (4a) కృపాసతయ ములన్న పింపున్న.(సెలా.) d. కోపోప్రదేకుల మధ్య న్న నేన్న 4. న్న ప్రపాణము సింహములమధ్య న్నను ది పిండుకొన్నచున్ను న్న (4b) కోపోప్రదేకుల మధ్య న్న నేన్న పిండుకొన్నచున్ను న్న వారి e. వారి దింతములు శూలములు అవి దింతములు శూలములు అవి అింబులు వారి న్నలుక వాడిగల కత్త.ి (4c) f. న్న అడుగులన్న చ్చకిక ించుకొన్నటకై వారు వలయొడిరి ి (6a) g. న్న ప్రపాణము ప్రకుింగియును ది. (6b) Physical h. న్న యెదుట గుింట ప్రతవివ దానిలో Psychological తామేపడిరి. (సెలా.) (6c) Political Social Economic Spiritual Religious

II. DAVID’S DEEPEST DESIRE & 5. దేవా, ఆకాశముకింటె DESTINATION (5, 11) అతుయ ను తుడవుగా నిన్ను కన్నపరచుకొన్నము నీ ప్రపభావము a. దేవా, ఆకాశముకింటె సరవ భూమమీద కనబడనిముు . అతుయ ను తుడవుగా నిన్ను 11. దేవా, ఆకాశముకింటె కన్నపరచుకొన్నము అతుయ ను తుడవుగా నిన్ను కన్నపరచుకొన్నము. నీ ప్రపభావము b. నీ ప్రపభావము సరవ భూమమీద సరవ భూమమీద కనబడనిముు . కనబడనిముు . c. దేవా, ఆకాశముకింటె అతుయ ను తుడవుగా నిన్ను కన్నపరచుకొన్నము. d. నీ ప్రపభావము సరవ భూమమీద కనబడనిముు .

III. DAVID’S DEEPEST DETERMINATION 1. నన్ను కరుణింపుము దేవా నన్ను & DEPENDANCE (1, 2, 3c) కరుణింపుము నేన్న నీ శరణుజొచ్చి a. నన్ను కరుణింపుము యున్ను న్న ఈ ఆపదలు b. దేవా నన్ను కరుణింపుము తొలగిపోవువరకు నీ రెకక ల నీడన్న c. నేన్న నీ శరణుజొచ్చి యున్ను న్న శరణుజొచ్చి యున్ను న్న. d. ఈ ఆపదలు తొలగిపోవువరకు నీ 2. మహోను తుడైన దేవునికి న్న కారయ ము సఫలముచేయు దేవునికి రెకక ల నీడన్న శరణుజొచ్చి నేన్న మొ్ఱ పెట్టుచున్ను న్న. యున్ను న్న. 3. ఆయన ఆకాశమున్నిండి ఆజ్ఞ e. మహోను తుడైన దేవునికి న్న ఇచ్చి నన్ను రక్షించున్న నన్ను కారయ ము సఫలముచేయు దేవునికి మింగగోరువారు దూషణలు నేన్న మొ్ఱ పెట్టుచున్ను న్న. పలుకునపుు డు దేవుడు తన f. దేవుడు తన కృపాసతయ ములన్న కృపాసతయ ములన్న పింపున్న.(సెలా.) పింపున్న.(సెలా.)

IV. DAVID’S DEEP DEDICATION & 8. న్న ప్రపాణమా, మేలుకొన్నము DECLARATION (8, 9, 10) సవ రమిండలమా సతారా, A. PERSONAL DEDICATION: మేలుకొన్నడి నేన్న వేకువనే a. న్న ప్రపాణమా, మేలుకొన్నము (8a) లేచెదన్న. b. సవ రమిండలమా సతారా, మేలుకొన్నడి 9. నీ కృప ఆకాశముకింటె ఎతయి ినది నీ సతయ ము (8c) మేఘమిండలమువరకు c. నేన్న వేకువనే లేచెదన్న. (8c) వాయ పించ్చయును ది. 10. ప్రపభువా, జ్నములలో నీకు d. నేన్న పాడుచు ుఱ ిత్తగానము కృతజ్తఞ ాుితులు నేన్న చేసెదన్న. (11c) చెల్ిల ంచెదన్న ప్రపజ్లలో నిన్ను కీరిిి ంచెదన్న. B. PUBLIC DECLARATION a. నీ కృప ఆకాశముకింటె ఎతయి ినది (9a) the psalmist makes a promise or pledge to God b. నీ సతయ ము మేఘమిండలమువరకు వాయ పించ్చయును ది. (9b) c. ప్రపభువా, జ్నములలో నీకు కృతజ్తఞ ాుితులు నేన్న చెలఱ ్ిల ంచెదన్న (10a) d. ప్రపజ్లలో నిన్ను కీరిిి ంచెదన్న.( 10 b)

I. V. DAVID’S DEEP DELIGHT IN 6. న్న అడుగులన్న GOD’S SOVEREIN ACTIONS చ్చకిక ించుకొన్నటకై వారు (6c – 7) వలయొడిరి ి న్న ప్రపాణము ప్రకుింగియును ది. న్న యెదుట a. న్న యెదుట గుింట ప్రతవివ గుింట ప్రతవివ దానిలో దానిలో తామేపడిరి. తామేపడిరి. (సెలా.) (సెలా.) (6c) 7. న్న హృదయము నిబబ రముగా న్నను ది దేవా, న్న b. న్న హృదయము హృదయము నిబబ రముగా నిబబ రముగా న్నను ది (7a) న్నను ది నేన్న పాడుచు ుఱ ిత్తగానము చేసెదన్న. c. దేవా, న్న హృదయము నిబబ రముగా న్నను ది (7c) Even though his enemies try to trap him (verse 6), his heart is fixed on God (verse 7) and he promises to sing praises to the Lord (verses 8-9).

I. ACCEPTING THE II. ACKNOWLEDGING III. ANTICIPATING SCOPE OF GOD’S THE SENSE OF GOD’S THE SUFFICIENCY OF SOVEREIGNTY SOVEREIGNTY SOVEREIGNTY

I. ACCEPT THE SCOPE OF YOUR BLESSINGS No doubt, there are many this year who will fail to be grateful for what they have because they are too busy grumbling about what they do not have. In our text, our Lord gives thanks for what He had. Look back in the text, and notice verse 34. It says, “And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.” Jesus asks the disciples for an inventory on the food supply, and the disciples informed Him that all they had were seven pieces of bread, and a few sardines. In verse 36, we read that, “…he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks…” Though seven loaves and a few fish didn’t seem to amount to much, our Lord thanked God for what He had. Compared to some, your blessings may seem few, but true gratitude and thankfulness begins when we accept whatever we have been given as blessings from the hand of God. Notice a couple of things you can do to accept the scope of your blessings. First of all:

I. ACCEPT THE SCOPE OF YOUR BLESSINGS A. Be conscious of your little blessings Jesus thanked God for seven small loaves of bread, and a few little fish. Though these were little things, their significance did not escape the heart of Jesus. When was the last time you paused to thank God for the multitude of little blessings He has given you? When your alarm clock woke you this morning, did you stop to thank God for another day that you didn’t deserve and weren’t guaranteed? When you tied your shoes this morning, did you thank God for those shoes, or the feet to wear them, or the hands to tie them, or the strength to use them? When you walked into this building, did you pause to thank God for a place to assemble, and the privilege of worshipping Him in freedom? No, you may not have all you could want, but it is likely that you have more than you think. In fact, if you will heed the instruction of the songwriter, and “count your many blessings, [naming] them one by one,” it will in fact “surprise you what the Lord has done.” David said in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” We can more easily accept the scope of our blessings when we remember all His benefits in our lives, including the little blessings. If you are going to accept the scope of your blessings, not only should you be conscious of your little blessings, but you should also: B. Be content with your life’s blessings The disciples informed the Lord that all they had were seven pieces of bread and few small fish. In light of the thousands waiting for lunch, that didn’t seem like hardly enough. Yet, when we read verse 36, we do not find our Lord asking for more. He simply took what He had, and thanked God for it. Unfortunately, in our culture the contented man is an endangered species. Most people live with an insatiable appetite for more of everything from square footage, to horsepower, to T.V. channels. As a result of

I. ACCEPT THE SCOPE OF YOUR BLESSINGS B. Be content with your life’s blessings The disciples informed the Lord that all they had were seven pieces of bread and few small fish. In light of the thousands waiting for lunch, that didn’t seem like hardly enough. Yet, when we read verse 36, we do not find our Lord asking for more. He simply took what He had, and thanked God for it. Unfortunately, in our culture the contented man is an endangered species. Most people live with an insatiable appetite for more of everything from square footage, to horsepower, to T.V. channels. As a result of our gluttonous lives, few are thankful for what they do have because they are too busy striving for what they do not have. True gratitude begins only when we appreciate what we’ve already been given. Erma Bombeck tells of an eight-year-old little girl she met who was battling a cancer that eventually took her life. On her birthday, little Christina was asked what she wanted. She thought for a long time, and finally answered, “I don’t know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything.” Our Lord teaches us that even if we have only a little bread and a little meat, we must learn to accept the scope of our blessings, and be content with God’s gifts in our lives. There is a second lesson we draw from our Lord in this verse that teaches us how to celebrate Thanksgiving. Notice not only that you must accept the scope of your blessings, but notice also secondly that you must…

II. ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE OF YOUR BLESSINGS Look again at verse 36. It says, “And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks…” Notice that phrase “gave thanks”. It is translated from the Greek word that gives us our English word “Eucharist”. It literally means a spoken blessing. In other words, Jesus took the seven loaves and few fish, and blessed the lunch they were about to receive. He prayed to His Father, acknowledging that this meal had come from Him. At the heart of Thanksgiving is an acknowledgement of the source from which all of our blessings come. Someone once said, “The worst moment for the atheist is when he really thankful and has no God to thank.”i For you and I, there is always a God to thank. Notice a couple of things to remember when it comes time to acknowledge the source of your blessings. Remember first of all:

II. ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE OF YOUR BLESSINGS A. Without God, life is an impossibility In Acts 17, when Paul stood and preached in Athens, he contended that the one, true God didn’t need man- made temples because, “… he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” In Colossians 1:16-17, speaking of Jesus Christ, Paul says, “…all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Do you understand that the breath you just took was only because a sovereign, mighty, cosmos-controlling God gave your lungs permission to breathe? The sun could not shine if Christ didn’t give it light. The birds would not sing if He had not composed for them a melody. You and I would not exist had our God not formed us in our mother’s wombs. Thankfulness begins in the heart of the man who stops to acknowledge that God is the source of all things, and without Him, life itself is an impossibility. James, the brother of our Lord said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” If without God, life is an impossibility, then notice with me that we should acknowledge the source of our blessings because:

II. ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE OF YOUR BLESSINGS B. Without gratitude, life is an insult If God is the source of all life, and all blessings, then how insulting it is for a man to refuse to acknowledge God, and give Him thanks for His goodness. Shakespeare said: “I hate ingratitude more in man, Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption Inhabits our frail blood.” Lest you think Shakespeare was the only one to despise ingratitude, you should read the first chapter of Romans. There, Paul lays down a litany of charges against mankind. On that list are things like idolatry, homosexuality, and murder. However, before any of those things are listed, Paul writes that the wrath of God is coming upon man because, “…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful (1:27)…” For a man to go a single day without pausing to acknowledge that God is the source of His life and blessings is an insult to a holy God, and a sin of which far too many are guilty. John Maxwell said, “The moment we are born we already owe someone for nine months of room and board…and we never really pay that debt.”ii A man could never repay God for all He gives him, but that debt is compounded when a man insults God by living a life in which he refuses to acknowledge God as his source and supply. Jesus paused and prayed, thanking God for a meal that was about to be received. In so doing, He teaches us that if we would be thankful, we must acknowledge the source of our blessings. There is one more truth I want us to draw from this verse. As we observe the Lord Jesus, we see that to celebrate Thanksgiving, you must not only accept the scope of your blessings, and acknowledge the source of your blessings, but notice also thirdly and finally that you must:

III. ANTICIPATE THE SUFFICIENCY OF YOUR BLESSINGS I wan’t to remind you of the setting of our text. Jesus and the disciples were looking at a crowd of over 4,000 hungry people. As we have seen, all they had by way of food was a few pieces of bread and a few sardines. With that in mind, look again at verse 36. It says, “And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” Right now, many of you are having trouble getting into the holiday spirit because you are worried about how you are going to afford them. In these troubled economic times, some of you are looking at mouths to feed, and bodies to clothe, and bills to pay, and you are worried that what you have is not going to be enough. In this text, Jesus reminds us that “little is much when God is in it.” This Thanksgiving, we must celebrate, confident that God’s blessings will be sufficient for all our needs. Notice with me a couple of things about the sufficiency of God’s blessings. Notice first of all:

III. ANTICIPATE THE SUFFICIENCY OF YOUR BLESSINGS A. God sees the shortfalls Have you ever wondered about God’s math skills? Have you ever had one of those moments when you look at your needs compared to what you have to meet those needs, and you begin to wonder whether God has miscalculated. That appears to be the situation in Matthew 15. Jesus wanted to feed a crowd of over 4,000 people. Yet all that was available was an ancient Hebrew sack-lunch. When Jesus told the disciples that He wanted to feed the people, they wondered in verse 33, “…Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?” Perhaps right now you are looking at a need in your life, and like the disciples you are wondering how in the world that need is going to be met. Realize something; Jesus knows the numbers. Jesus knew exactly how many people there were, and how much food He had. He saw the shortfall. Yet, He knew that what appeared to be insufficient was more than enough. Celebrate this Thanksgiving, hanging on to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:8, “…your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Trust Him that His math skills are better than yours, no matter what the calculator and the budget may say. As you celebrate Thanksgiving, anticipate that what God gives you will be enough. Notice not only that God sees the shortfalls, but notice also further that…

III. ANTICIPATE THE SUFFICIENCY OF YOUR BLESSINGS B. God sends the supply Even though you know how the story ends, look down at verse 37. After Jesus took the bread and the fish, and broke it and passed it out, it says, “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” Verse 36 doesn’t explain exactly how the miracle of multiplication actually took place. I don’t know how the Lord multiplied seven loaves of bread and a few fish into enough food to feed all the people and then some. We are simply told that what was at one moment not nearly enough was taken by the Lord and made into more than enough to supply the need. In much the same way, we cannot always trace God’s work; but we can always trust His word. He has promised to supply all of our needs. How God sees fit to meet your need may still remain to be seen, but you can go ahead and thank Him this Thanksgiving, knowing that He is in fact going to send the supply you need. There is an interesting line in Philippians 4:6. It says, “…with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” The implication is that we can thank God as we make our requests, as if He had already answered them.

His enemies are fierce and cruel (verse 4), but God is exalted above them all (verse 5). After praying to God for help (verses 1-5), the psalmist makes a promise or pledge to God (verses 6-11). Even though his enemies try to trap him (verse 6), his heart is fixed on God (verse 7) and he promises to sing praises to the Lord (verses 8-9). God’s power and authority are above all things (including the enemies). God’s mercy (loving-kindness) and truth reach the heavens (verse 10) and his glory is exalted above the heavens and earth (verse 11). One literary feature of this psalm is “epizeuxis”, or the emphatic repetition of words (see verses 1, 3 and 10, 5 and 11, 7, and 8).



Fasting is not so much about food as it is about focus. • Fasting is not so much about saying no to the body as it is about saying yes to the Spirit. • Fasting is not about doing without, it is about looking within. • Fasting is an outward response to an inward attitude and cry of the soul. • Fasting is not a means of seeking God's blessings, as much as it is a means of seeking God. • Fasting is not a test for super saints, it is not a means of twisting God's arm, and it is not a magical formula for getting through to God. • Fasting is feasting on the Lord. Looking to him for comfort, power, strength, guidance, forgiveness, and hope. In the Bible, we observe the people of God fasting for a variety of reasons: • They were facing a crisis • They were seeking God's protection and deliverance • They had been called to repentance and renewal • They were asking God for guidance • They were humbling themselves in worship

1. INNER PRACTICE, OUTWARD CHANGE Matt. 6: 1-4, 5-6, 16-18 2. FASTING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH Mark 9/Matt 17

Psalm 57 explained. In this Psalm, David exalts God and asks Him for mercy. David exalts God above the heavens, because his enemies have prepared a net for him. They have dug a pit before, but they have fallen down there themselves. Psalm 57 illustrates how God is faithful and merciful towards His servants. David is indeed a faithful man of God who keeps remembering that all he needs in times of trouble is the mercy and favour of God.

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3 NASB

✓ Around the world, many Christians are persecuted — imprisoned, even killed — for their faith. ✓ Currently, there are over 300 million people facing persecution daily. ✓ Christian persecution comes in the forms of martyrdom, arrests, abductions, and abuse, just to name a few. ✓ Every day, 13 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned and another five are abducted. ✓ And these numbers are growing. ✓ According to the Open Doors Annual World Watch List, one in eight Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution. ✓ As Christians, we need to remember the brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution.

Pray that persecuted Christians would know the hope God gives (Ephesians 1:18). Pray that Christians facing persecution would rely on God, and not themselves (2 Corinthians 1:7-9). Pray that persecuted Christians would fearlessly tell others about Jesus (Ephesians 6:20). Pray that their witness would inspire those who plan to harm them (Acts 16:25, Luke 6:27-31). Pray that God would provide for the physical needs of persecuted Christians (3 John 2). Pray that they would experience God’s peace, despite their weakness and current circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9). Pray that God would protect them, according to His will (Matthew 26:39). Pray that God would ultimately rescue them out of dangerous circumstances (Psalm 91:15). Pray that persecuted Christians would feel deeply connected to Jesus in their suffering (John 15:19-20). Pray that they would be completely faithful and surrendered to God’s will (Revelation 2:10-11). Pray that they would have wisdom and discernment for how to approach every situation (Matthew 10:16-18). Pray that as they share in Christ’s sufferings, they would be able to rejoice in the hope God offers them (1 Peter 4:12-14).