November 12, 2023
Morning Service

This is our fourth message on a subject none of us really want to talk about at all, but Peter has been very transparent with us that suffering is a part of following Jesus.  We began this study reading where Jesus warned us that the world would hate us and persecute us just as it did Him. Peter commanded us to “sanctify the Lord God in our hearts” setting ourselves apart for His will to be done in our life.  We have discussed the types of suffering we will encounter both from the outside as the world will persecute us and from the inside where we battle the fleshly desires that remain within all of us.  Last week Peter commanded us to have the same mind of Christ as He suffered by “being serious and watchful in our prayers and loving one another fervently!”  Our focus during our suffering needs to be on our Lord and our spiritual family around us.  We are better together, and our ability to overcome persecution is enabled by enduring it together.  Each of us are to use our gifts/abilities to build up our church family and bring glory to our Lord and Savior.  Today, Peter takes it to another level as he now commands us to rejoice in our suffering.  Remember he opened this letter with this in chapter one and gave us the reason for our trials/suffering.

  1Pe 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

            He commands us to “greatly rejoice,” not just rejoice, that these various trials are grieving us because through them we are purifying our faith through those fiery trials.  Our suffering has purpose, the growing of our faith (doing not just hearing).  Once our faith is proved, it is found to praise, honor and glory for our Savior.  Peter completes his commands now back in chapter four.

 

1Pe 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; (13) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

            When we are warned that something is coming, it makes it much easier for us to prepare for it.  That is exactly what has been done for us over the last month.  Suffering/persecutions/trials are part of our journey with Jesus, so be ready.  Peter says “don’t think something strange has happened to you,” when these struggles come your way, know that they are part of the plan for our faith to be challenged and hopefully grow.  They will come and there is nothing we can do about that, BUT we can control how we react to them.  He tells us to rejoice knowing we are partaking of this suffering with Christ and for Christ.  James says it this way:

Jas 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  (4)  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

            These trials are the tests of our faith (do we really believe and trust God or are we just along for the ride?) which build within us patience which brings us to a place of “being perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  Are you there yet?  If not, expect trials to come and “count it joy” that they are leading you to a place of being “perfect and complete” fully trusting in God no matter what circumstance you find yourself in.  I am not going to tell you this is easy to do, rejoice in suffering, but I can tell you it is what we are commanded to do and God will reward you for it.  We must take the mindset that it is a challenge laid out before us to exercise our faith and make it stronger, not a punishment brought on to defeat us.  Listen to the promise Paul gives us in times of temptation and trials:

1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

            First he says, don’t think it is just you that faces these struggles, we all do as it is “common to man.”  BUT GOD is faithful to know you and know your limits.  He never will allow you to be tried beyond what you are able.  He will grant you the strength, courage, and wisdom to endure it.  My mother always says at times of great trial, “I wish God did not think I was so strong.”  Rejoice in times of struggle knowing God is with you and will turn the suffering into something beautiful.  Peter now continues:

 

1Pe 4:14-16 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  (15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.  (16)  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

            If we suffer for our wrong doing, then it is shame on us, but if we suffer for following Jesus then there is no shame but actually the opposite is true; we bring glory to God through the suffering. Jesus at the end of His “Beatitudes” segment of the Sermon on the Mount had this as His two final blessing:

 

Mat 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (11)  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  (12)  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

            You are blessed by God when others persecute/revile you for your faith in Jesus and say all kinds of things about you.  Jesus also tells us to again not only rejoice, but rejoice and be exceedingly glad in it.  Why?  Because “great is you reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.”  To rejoice greatly, we must have our eyes, hearts and minds set on our reward that lies ahead, not the suffering of this moment in time.  Paul said it so well in Romans:

 

Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

            Are your eyes on the prize?  We must live our lives with a confident expectation that there is something far greater waiting for us in the future.  Whatever suffering we are called to endure, will not compare to the glory that will be revealed in us one day.  “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him!” (I Cor. 2:9) Our suffering will be only a short time, but our reward is eternal. When our mind is set on where we are going, we can cling to that hope to help us endure the struggle.  Peter now calls us out to be accountable for our obedience in this manner.

 

1Pe 4:17-19 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  (18)  Now "IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?"  (19)  Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

            Peter here is calling us to living a life that is accountable to our faith.  A father is often harder on his own children than the others around him and our Heavenly Father is no different.  We, God’s children, are the first to be judged and we are saved only by our accepting of the gift of salvation through Jesus.  How far the ungodly and sinners are from God on their own goodness.  Peter concludes this chapter and his discourse on suffering with a command for us to follow.  “Commit our souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”  Die out to yourselves and fully follow the path Jesus leads you down.  Commit to be “in it to win it” putting God first in your life.  He has warned us that there will be suffering/persecution/trials/temptations BUT they all have purpose in our lives.  They spur us to grow our faith and fully trust God with all our heart, mind, body, and soul.  He is our everything.  We are complete in Him.  Commit yourselves this morning to be a faithful follower enduring the suffering with your eyes on the prize.  Don’t just rejoice when we are called to suffer, but rejoice greatly knowing that it does not compare to the glory that will be revealed to us one day!

 

Heavenly Father thank You for the Word and the guidance it gives us in regard to our sharing in Your suffering.  Grant us to recall these commands as we endure times of struggle and put these commands into action.  Help us to live above the struggles keeping our eyes on the prize of being with You one day.