We car
ry on this morning with the wonderful book
of 1Peter. Over the last couple of weeks, we have been hearing as Peter has ministered
as he has written into different contexts. Today, I want to bring together the
main theme of this book which has been how do we endure and stand strong in the
face of suffering. And it reminded me of a story about two weeks ago, we have
just taken a group of pastors, I was in Columbia, and we went to a little
retreat, to a little thinker, that is a little farm. On this little thinker, it
was beautiful; we had two days together with the pastors. Towards the end of
it, one of the new pastors began to explain the ministry he is involved in. He
planted a church in what is considered one of the most violent neighbourhoods
in that city in Columbia. Up on the side of the hill, nobody goes there, the
gangsters, it is simply a no – go area. As he spoke about this, we became more
and more intrigued. So, eventually he said do you want to come and visit? Of
course we want to come and visit. Now,
the pastor who was looking after us, said no. You don’t go there, it is way too
dangerous. We said but we come from Africa, we do dangerous stuff. He said if
you go, I am not coming with. We said that is fine, you don’t have to come
with. He said if you go, you can’t take my car. We said that’s fine, we won’t
take your car. He said if you go, you can’t take your watch, or your wallet, or
your cell phone. Then, we will not take our watch, or our wallet, or our cell
phone. But we are going. At that point, I began to ponder. Are we actually
being wise now? I began to think to myself; Columbia, violence, kidnapping, how
much will my family actually pay to get me back? I wondered how much your
family will pay to get you back. In the midst of this, I was reminded of a
verse that I felt God put in my heart right at the beginning of the trip in my
devotion one morning, I read this verse in 2Timothy chapter one and verse
eight. Paul wrote to Timothy and said: “Do not be ashamed to testify for your Lord,
or ashamed of me as prisoner, but join in me in suffering for the Gospel by the
power of God.”
Paul was saying to Timothy, I want you to join me,
come on board and come and suffer with me for the Gospel by the power of God.
And I felt at the time as if God has given me a choice. And I want to give you
the same choice today. Imagine if you had to make the choice right now. You
have to make a choice, here are two options. Option A, on my left, Okay God, I
am prepared to suffer for the Gospel, but taste and experience the power of God
at work in my life. Option B, I want a comfortable life, but I understand that
if I want a comfortable life, I will miss out on experiencing the power of God
in my life. Which option would you choose? When I heard that, something inside
me said oh, no way, one day in heaven, we can sit on a couch and be
comfortable. For now, we have this opportunity. So, with this burning in my
heart, I thought for sure, we are going there, so we drive into this dangerous
neighbourhood thinking how bad can it be? At one point, I was concerned when we
reach a corner, it’ is very built up, very poor, buildings all over the place,
and there was a knife lying in the middle of the road. That was very
interesting, but we drove on anyway. The reality was that they have this
amazing little church in this neighbourhood. Some of the most beautiful people
we have ever met. It’s like the presence of God was there, they invited us back
we are going to preach there on the next visit. But here is a thing. God was
with us. But when we get to face to make that choice even on a daily basis,
“Lord, am I going to choose comfort and convenience, or am I going to choose at
times to put my life at risk, to put my pride at risk, to take a risk, I want
to taste the power of God. Even if it means suffering.”
You see, Peter as he writes, he is writing to
Christians who really didn’t get that opportunity to choose. The only choice
they had was: “Do I accept Jesus or not?” Peter was writing in the context in
those days, where literally to be a Christian meant you were signing up for
suffering. Even now, all over the world, there are millions of believers, just
becoming a believer. Into the Middle East, China, just making a choice for
Jesus means you are signing up for suffering and persecution. So Peter is
desperate for believers to understand how do we work through this? How do we
stand, how do we push through this suffering, and not give up? I want to read a
portion of scripture in 1Peter chapter four verse twelve to nineteen. He has
covered this area of suffering a couple of times, and we have mentioned this
area of suffering over and over, but today, he brings it all together, and he
wants to highlight the main points. How do we stand strong? How do we find
grace in the midst of suffering? 1Peter four verse twelve to nineteen: “12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery
ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were
happening to you. 13 But rejoice
inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be
overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If
you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit
of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If
you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of
criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However,
if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear
that name. 17 For it is time for
judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the
outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be
saved, what
will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a
]19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” There
are four things I want to highlight. These four things I believe Peter was
desperate for every saint to know and be convinced of.
1.
Number 1: Suffering
is normal. We have to get this thinking in our hearts that as a believer,
it is normal, it is part of the process, it is God’s will, it is allowed by
God, it is part of what we do, we are going to go through seasons of suffering.
Does that sound like good news? Maybe it is good news, if you don’t understand
that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life that a couple of things
can happen.
·
One: You can
think that God is punishing you. For so many believers, they go through times,
it’s like; “God, what have I done wrong? Is it because I was naughty?” No. you
could be like Job, you could be the most righteous person, right in the middle
of God’s will for your life, and still, you will go through seasons of
suffering. We have to understand, this is normal.
·
Two; you could be
tempted to think that God has abandoned us. And for so many believers, there is
an expectation, surely with God on my side, things should go well, and when
things go bad, you say; “God where are you?” No, suffering is a normal part of
God’s plan for us. Here is the reality, not in any way has God abandoned us, if
fact, we will discover, in suffering, we can come to know God even more than
times when we did not suffer. God reveals Himself in suffering even more, and
even more intimately, there is a fellowship that you can find in God in our
times if suffering.
·
Thirdly; if you
don’t realize that suffering is normal to the Christian life, the devil can
begin to tempt you into doubting the character of God. Surely, God, if you love,
this shouldn’t happen to me. Surely, God, if you are strong, then you can
rescue me from this. Do you see how the devil will take this situation and will
get you begin to doubt the very character of God. Saints, it’s absolutely
crucial that we settle in our hearts, it’s a completely normal part of being a
Christian, we have to start from this foundation, it’s normal. When Paul and
his team were travelling around to different churches, and his point was to
encourage and strengthen the church, if you had to go into a church and it was
your job to encourage them, what would you preach? Jesus loves you, He is on
your side, and it’s all going to be easy from here on. Encouraging, listen to
what they preached. Acts chapter fourteen verse twenty two says “22 strengthening
the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go
through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” Do you feel
encouraged? Well, hopefully you do. Because here’s a thing. Probably all of you
are going through situations that you struggle and battle with. And my message
to you is with Jesus on your side, it’s plain sailing. If that was my message,
you are looking at your life, and think; what a mess. You are left not
encouraged, you feel discouraged thinking; “What am I doing wrong?” The reality
is, you have done nothing wrong. As long as we love Jesus, we are following
after His word, we are trying to be obedient to His Holy Spirit, even in the
midst of that, and there will be times of trial and suffering. You are not
doing anything, it’s normal to the process of God. Amen. We have to understand,
this is the normal part of the Christian life.
2.
Number 2: 1Peter
chapter four verses thirteen says: “But rejoice inasmuch as you
participate in the sufferings of Christ.” I want to say secondly, our
attitude is suffering is absolutely crucial. The normal response when we face
hardship, difficulties and trials, is to moan, grumble, feel self – pity, but
not for the believer. Our attitude when we face suffering is critical. Peter
wrote about it, Paul wrote about it, James wrote about it. And every time they
wrote about the Christian’s attitude in suffering, they used joy and rejoice.
James chapter one verses two to four: “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and
sisters,[a] whenever you face
trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of
your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its
work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Romans chapter five verses three to
four says: “3 Not only so, but we[c]
also glory in our sufferings, because we know.” Do you see how they keep on saying we
know?
You see, there is no joy
in suffering now. The joy comes from knowing what God is doing; the joy
comes when we realize the process of God, and what God is doing. Our joy is our
future joy when we realize God, knowing what you are doing; it is so worth
going through this right now. Because we know suffering produces perseverance,
perseverance builds character, and character builds hope. Saints, this is a
great sign of maturity in a believer’s life. Do you know what God is doing
enough to change your attitude from grumbling, moaning and complaining in the
tough times, to rejoicing and finding joy because God is at work inside you.
It’s exactly the same as Jesus, He suffered the ultimate, dying on the cross
was the worst form of death there is. Do you know that very word excruciating
came from the word crucifixion. It is the most excruciating pain, out of that
suffering, imagine Jesus faced that horrendous death, but I love the way the
Hebrew writer says it. Hebrews chapter twelve verse two says: “2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and
perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” How do we find joy in the midst of suffering? When we realize with
the joy set before us saying: “God, whatever you are doing, you are using
suffering now, it is worth it.” For we know.
3.
That’s point number
three: Why? Why, God, are you allowing your precious sons and daughters to
suffer they do? In verse seventeen, Peter said this: “17 For it is
time for judgment to begin with God’s household.” Yikes! God uses
suffering to judge us. Here is a question, what kind of judgement is it? It is
a judgement of our sin? It can’t be, because we know that Jesus Christ died on
the cross to be judged for our sin. All our sin was placed on Jesus, and right
there, bang! The Bible clearly says the wages of sin is death. Jesus took death
on our behalf. So, our sin, we are living now in post judgement for our sin.
Our sin has already been judged, and that is why we can live in freedom without
condemnation because of what Jesus has done. So, if judgement is not the
judgement of our sin, then what kind of judgement is it? It is a testing of our
faith. Peter spoke about it there, Peter spoke about it earlier. James also
wrote about it, he said the testing of your faith develops perseverance. In 1Peter
chapter one verse six and seven says: “6 In all this you greatly
rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all
kinds of trials. 7 These
have come” Why? You often say why God do you
allow your precious sons and daughters to suffer? “so that the proven genuineness
of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by
fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Here
is the understanding; Peter realized that our faith is so important to God, the
genuineness and quantity of our faith is of such value in God’s eyes that he
allows His precious sons and daughters to suffer, to purify, refine and judge
it. He said your faith is worth more than gold or silver. The faith you have in
Jesus, the faith and trust you have in God, in God’s eyes is worth more than
any resources, any gold, any silver, nothing can compare to the value of your
faith. Why? For a couple of reasons. Number one: Your faith is so
important to God, Ephesians two verse eight says:” For by grace by faith are you
saved, through faith, not of yourselves it is the gift of God.” What he
was saying is the very channel that gets God’s grace into our lives is through
faith. You have been saved by grace through faith. In other words, God’s saving
grace, God’s empowering grace. The grace of God that washes away your sin, the
grace of God that empowers you to live for Him. The grace of God that enables
you with gifts and abilities. All that grace gets into you through faith.
That’s why faith is so precious in God’s faith. Secondly, Paul said in
Galatians chapter five verse six: “6 For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that
counts is faith expressing itself through love.” In other words, faith
is the very foundation spring from which our love flows. When Jesus was asked
what is the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart
your soul your mind, your strength. And. Love your neighbour as yourself. In
God’s eyes, the most important command is that to love God and love others.
Where does that love come from? Faith. The only thing that counts is faith
expressing itself though love. You realize that’s why faith is so precious in
God’s eyes. Faith is eternal, these three things remain, faith hope and love.
It goes with us to heaven. And without faith it is impossible to please God. It
says so in Hebrews chapter eleven verse six: “And without faith it is impossible to
please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and He
rewards those who earnestly seek him.” In God’s eyes, we have all of
eternity in heaven with God to be comfortable and enjoy. Now, God’s agenda is
way bigger than us comfortable at the moment. God’s agenda is to refine and
purify and develop and mature our faith. Because He knows just how much it is
worth. So, why does he use suffering? Suffering is an incredible tool, if you
read what happened to Jesus in 1Peter chapter three verses seventeen and
eighteen : “17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer
for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring
you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” Guess what happens when we suffer? When we suffer, our flesh has
been put to death, and our spirit is made alive. Think about it. Every time you
go through a season of hardship, money is running out, relationships are not
working right. You have the boss from hell giving you grief. Whatever you are
going through, it’s your flesh inside you, like a two year old having a
tantrum, your flesh is being exposed and dealt with. At the same time, you need
to find life and strength and grace and ability in God. That’s why. It’s only
suffering, it has this amazing duel effect dealing with the flesh, and helping
you draw from the life in the Spirit. It’s a powerful tool God uses because our
faith is so precious to Him. Let me finish with this then. What is the correct
response for us as believers in Jesus? 1Peter verse nineteen says: “So
then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit himself to the
faithful creator and continue to do good.” I love those two key words.
What do we do right now? You might be in the midst of a season of trail,
suffering and hardship. How do we respond? Two things; Commit and continue. We
commit ourselves to God, we continue to do good. What does commit mean? Peter
wrote a whole bunch of advice on the topic of submission. We have dealt with
submission to authorities, to your boss, to your wife, to your husband. Why?
Because that is how we commit ourselves to God. We commit by submitting to the
processes and plans of God. Here is a quick summary of why submission is such a
powerful thing. We submit to authority for the Lord’s sake. Right now, that
suffering might be coming through your government, your husband, your boss. For
the Lord’s sake, we submit. Just like Jesus He submitted to Pontius Pilate.
It’s an act of worship, even though your flesh is kicking, we submit. We commit
ourselves to the creator, by submitting to authority. Even when it’s unjust, it
is commendable before God. God delights in us when in the midst of unfair
treatment, but it’s an authority figure in my life. God, because I love you by
faith, I will submit. That is commendable before God. That is submission to
earthly authority makes room for God’s authority. Can you imagine, Jesus, the
most holy and righteous, completely pure, submits to the earthly authority of
Pontius Pilate. And allows Him to be crucified. He submitted to earthly
authority even when it was unfair, and what happened, it made room for God’s
authority to come in. God could step into the equation, and God could deal with
this, and raise him up and make him a source of salvation.
4.
Fourth:
submission wins over the heart of the one being submitted to. How do you make a
difference to your boss? How do you make a difference in our nation? I was
using wives as an example; it said wives submit to your husbands, even if he is
an unbeliever, by submitting you can win him over to the Lord. Because when you
are in authority, and you have someone submitting to that authority, the Bible
says that makes your job as a leader a joy than a burden. Lastly, lack of
submission hinders prayer. Here Peter used husbands as an example. We should be
submitting to our wives, considerate, and respectful of our wives, treating
them with respect and honour so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Where
there is a lack of submission in our hearts, it puts hardness in our hearts,
which puts a ceiling onto our prayers. What you do in the midst of suffering?
You commit yourself to God. How do you commit yourself to God? By submitting to
His plan, to the authority figures in your life. Commit and continue. Continue
to do good, and Peter wrote about that, a couple of things. He said live in
harmony. How do you continue to do good? Continue to live in harmony with the
people around you. If you are in the midst of suffering and you are frustrated,
it’s a temptation to be nasty with the people around you. Peter said don’t.
Continue to do good, live at peace, forgive, watch your tongue, and keep
seeking to do good. Secondly, he said wrestle through those evil desires inside
you. Sometimes, in the midst of suffering, you get frustrated, that’s the time
we can so easily give in to temptation. You say God, you’re not helping me, I
will help myself. I’m going to sin because I want to sin. That’s the time. It
says commit yourself to God, continue to do good. Continue wrestling against
the flesh and living in victory. And lastly, how do we continue? Continue using
your gifts to serve others. Part of the previous passage was be faithful
administrators of God’s grace in its various forms. Here’s the temptation. So
many people in the midst of suffering and trial, instead of pressing in, they
pull back. Stop coming to church, stop coming to family group, stop coming to
prayer meeting. Because life is hard, they withdraw and the enemy has you. So
what Peter is saying is: in the midst of suffering and trial, commit yourself
to God, continue to do good, continue living in harmony, continue wrestling,
and continue serving with the gifts God has given you. Don’t pull back, press
in. This is God’s grace in our lives. So precious, is our faith to our heavenly
Father that he is prepared to make us go through times of struggle and trial
and suffering to refine and mould and purify our faith. It’s a vital tool the
Holy Spirit uses in the life of every believer. It’s normal, attitude is
everything, purpose is to develop our faith, and our response is to continue
and commit in Jesus Name. This is God’s grace, let’s stand firm in it.
Senior Pastor: Brent Brading
Web address: www.outlookchurch.co.za
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