Introduction:
It doesn’t happen often. But recently a brother strongly urged
me to repeat a sermon that I presented five years
ago. Since the
congregation is significantly different from 2004, I decided it
might be good to revisit the inexpressible joy God provides us. I
Peter is an amazing book. Peter points out nearly 25 times in
this 5 chapter letter that Christians will deal with suffering,
trials, reviling, oppression, and pain. Yet, five times he says we
need to rejoice and be happy. How can we have a positive mindset
regarding God, Christianity, and life if we are going to go
through so much suffering, especially if some of it comes directly
from obeying Christ? Throughout this letter, Peter provides seven
insights into serving God and suffering that can help us maintain
a positive outlook and help us continue to serve God despite what
we suffer.
Discussion:
I.
We are not alone in our suffering; rather, it is part of
being a Christian.
A.
I
Peter 5:8-9
said that the devil is trying to steal us back. That is the reason
for the suffering we endure. But Peter also pointed out we should
resist him and gain strength from knowing that this is the common
lot of all our brethren. Everyone faces suffering. We are not
alone.
B.
Granted, the fact that other people have been in pain will
not make ours less painful. But, knowing that we are not alone can
help us maintain the strength to face whatever we must endure.
Keep in mind Hebrews
12:1ff. We have a great cloud of witnesses who have endured
a great number of things (Hebrews
11:35-38). Their endurance can provoke us to realize
first, maybe our sufferings are not so bad, and second, if they
could do it, so can we.
II.
Our suffering demonstrates that we have the Spirit of God.
A.
In I
Peter 4:12-16, Peter points out that suffering reproach
for the name of Christ gives us great reason to glory in God.
Peter points out that suffering reproach and persecution is not an
indicator that God has abandoned us. Rather, it is an indicator
that we have God’s Spirit with us.
B.
He additionally pointed out that all suffering does not
indicate this. If I am suffering because of my own sins, murder,
theft, evil or being a busybody, then I should be ashamed. But,
suffering as a Christian gives me reason to glorify God, because
He is with me and I can commit myself to Him, just as Jesus did
when suffering on the cross (I
Peter 2:23). Considering this, we should not be concerned
when people are speaking ill of us, but rather when everyone
speaks good of us and we never suffer. Jesus also taught this in Luke
6:22-23, 26.
III.
Our suffering increases the genuineness of our faith
A.
In I
Peter 1:6-8, Peter claims that the suffering we endure is
a test. However it is not simply a test to see whether our faith
is genuine enough. It is a test that, like gold refined in a fire,
causes the impurities to rise to the top so we can skim them off.
Is our faith just for show? Is it just on the surface? Is it
shallow or misplaced? How we deal with the sufferings we face in
life will demonstrate to us, to others, and to our God the reality
of our faith. Then we can work to improve it. Without suffering,
we have no idea where we need to grow. It has often been said that
a person’s character is not revealed until he has to suffer.
When our resolve is pushed to the limits and is tested, then we
learn who and what we really are.
B.
Romans
5:3-5
drives this home pointing out that suffering produces endurance,
which produces character, which provides hope. Our hope will not
put us to shame. This is not because we came through suffering
unscathed proving we are so great, but because our suffering
caused us to see our weaknesses and pushed us to grow and
overcome.
IV.
Our suffering is only for a little while.
A.
In I
Peter 1:6, Peter claimed that the trials and grief were
only for a little while. He repeated that sentiment again in I
Peter 5:10. In the context of both passages, Peter reminds
us of the eternal reward that is waiting for us. We can rejoice,
because we know that whatever we face here will eventually pass.
Even if it kills us, it will be over. Following that, the eternal
glory of God awaits us in heaven.
B.
Consider, which of the following would you prefer? Eighty
to a hundred years of comfort and pleasure and then an eternity of
torment. Or eighty to a hundred years of discomfort, suffering and
persecution followed by eternal glory and happiness? The choice is
really quite simple when we keep in mind that every thing we face
here will be over soon, at the most a matter of years. But
eternity in heaven will never be over. Think on that when you are
suffering and rejoicing in Christ will be much easier, no matter
what you face.
V.
We are following Jesus’ example.
A.
In I
Peter 2:21-23; 3:17-18, Peter demonstrated that before we
suffered for the faith, Christ left us an example of suffering. We
can rejoice, because we are following in the footsteps of our
Master. We are like Him. Remember what Jesus said to His apostles
in John
15:18-20. We are not greater than our Master. We will not
figure out some way to avoid the suffering and be faithful to God.
So, when we are suffering and held in reproach because of our
faith, then we demonstrate ourselves to be His disciples. That is
a reason for joy.
B.
Secondly, Peter demonstrates that the example set by Jesus
was not just one of suffering. Rather, it was suffering followed
by glory. He made this point in I
Peter 1:11, 21; 2:4; 3:18-22. Jesus suffered and then,
because He endured the suffering, was glorified. If we follow His
footsteps in suffering, we will also follow His footsteps in
glory. More on this in a moment.
VI.
Those who cause our suffering will either repent, becoming
one of us, or they will be judged.
A.
When we commit ourselves to Him who judges righteously (I
Peter 2:23), we can rejoice knowing that one of two things
will happen to those who oppress, revile or persecute us. First of
all, our hope is that they will repent and have the forgiveness
that we also have, becoming one of us and one with us. That, in
fact, will happen with some as Peter taught in I
Peter 2:11-12 and in I Peter 4:6.
B.
But if they refuse and continue with their oppression or
persecution, they will not get away with it. They will be held
responsible. I
Peter 4:4-5 said they
will be judged and punished. In the middle of this letter, Peter
reminds us of a time when God was very long-suffering with those
who were disobedient. But eventually, He judged the world with the
flood. Only eight souls were saved by the flood waters, the rest
were destroyed by them (I
Peter 3:18-20).
VII.
We can see, by faith, the end result of our suffering.
A.
If we suffer with Christ, we will be glorified with Him. We
can rejoice in the midst of suffering because we know where it is
leading us. In I
Peter 1:6-9, Peter made it clear that we suffer for a
while, but then we will praise, honor and glory at the revelation
of Jesus when we receive the salvation of our souls. In I
Peter 5:10, Peter taught that we will suffer for a while
but that will lead to God perfecting, establishing, strengthening
and settling us.
B.
This is the repeated theme of New Testament Christianity.
When Paul established elders in the churches he had previously
started, he taught them saying, “We must through many
tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts
14:22). In Romans
8:17, he wrote that if we suffer with Christ we will be
glorified with Him. Paul demonstrated his own suffering and the
endurance that all Christians must have that leads to salvation
and reigning with Christ in II
Timothy 2:8-13. The letters to the seven churches of Asia
in Revelation
2-3, repeatedly speak of the blessings and glory that will
come to “him who overcomes.” What was he overcoming?
Suffering. This is true for us. When we suffer, we can rejoice
because we know the reward suffering with Christ produces.
Conclusion:
Suffering, persecution and reproach are all a part of the
package. Today it seems that the normal approach to this is to
somehow try to make Christianity palatable to the masses so that
they will leave us alone. But if we are really disciples of
Christ, we will never achieve this. After all, our Master, who is
greater than we are, was unable to achieve this. Instead, we must
learn to rejoice in suffering, committing ourselves to God all the
more, trusting His way and proclaiming it to others so that they
may also be forgiven. Keep this in mind, whatever you are facing
now, it will pass. But heaven will endure forever.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
Franklin
Church of Christ
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