1 Peter 3, 13-17.
Hear God's word.
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
!
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.
But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy,
always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience,
so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will,
than for doing evil.
Amen.
I think one of the greatest weaknesses of the modern church,
at least perhaps maybe the church in the West,
the American evangelicalism perhaps, if we want to narrow it down to a particular group,
I think one of the greatest weaknesses that we can find is that
so many Christians seem to lack a biblical understanding of suffering.
Suffering.
And I don't think that it's so much the result of ignorance,
but of just really bad theology.
And we can see it in lots of ways, right?
The most extreme versions of it we would find in what we routinely call the prosperity gospel.
And I know many of you have been impacted in that in some way,
or maybe you have friends or family who are caught up in the midst of that.
It's kind of taken root in American Christianity.
And because of that, it's beginning to spread around the world.
And it's a great anti-gospel that teaches us, or at least tries to teach us,
that suffering and Christianity don't work together.
Those two things don't fit together.
It's just bad theology.
But even in places where it isn't so extreme,
maybe even in places like our church and in churches like ours,
sometimes we can live and think, function,
as if God's purpose, frankly,
is to make us as happy and as healthy as possible.
And think about the way we pray.
Our prayer lists are loaded with what?
All the things that we would like for God to do for us,
or all the ways that are difficult that we would like for God to spare us from.
Now, I'm not suggesting that.
We shouldn't pray for that.
Peter's going to go on to tell us in chapter 5
that you actually very much should pray for that,
that you are to cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.
So that's not what I'm saying.
What I mean to say is that there's some Christians that,
if they're going to pray,
that's the only reason they're ever going to pray.
So that when suffering comes our way,
either we're absolutely spiritually devastated
because we've been led to believe that our faith in Christ,
if it's strong enough and if it's vibrant enough
and if we prayed enough,
that God would be good to us
and we begin to get spiritually just devastated, right?
Because we've prayed all the prayers
and we've given all the money
and we've attended all the services
and we've done all the volunteering
and we've done all the things
and now we're left to wonder,
well, maybe God just isn't good.
Maybe he just isn't good.
And then there's the skeptical side of it, right?
We see this, but perhaps, in fact,
there's no question in my mind
that every one of us in this room know people
and have people that we love
who have abandoned the faith,
they've walked away from,
or maybe they've resisted it altogether.
And really what it boils down to
is the issue of suffering and of evil in the world.
It's the old Epicurean trilemma
that Epicurus came up with this
a few hundred years before Christ even.
Basically says God may be good
and God may be all-powerful
and God may be all-knowing,
but if evil exists and suffering exists,
he can't be all three.
Either he's good and he's all-powerful,
but he's not all-knowing,
or he's all-powerful and he's all-knowing,
but he's not good,
or he's good and he's all-knowing,
but he doesn't have the power
to do anything about it.
And of course, we would say,
well, we would like to introduce as Christians
a fourth possibility into that equation,
that there is a possibility
that God has a good and greater purpose
for the evil that he allows to take place
in our lives.
And of course, that purpose is ultimately his own glory.
And so many people are left wondering,
how could God be good and also allow me to suffer?
But what if the only way to truly know God,
what if the only way to really understand his faithfulness
and to display his glory as his people in the world
requires that we endure great hardship?
Is it possible that our greatest good
necessitates that we do at times suffer?
And of course, the Bible's answer to that is very clear.
Yes.
The Bible has a lot to say about our suffering.
Sometimes suffering that we face
is just part and parcel of living in a fallen world
ruined by sin.
Some of the things we suffer,
it's just the consequence of natural law, right?
If Andy Allen decided he's gonna take a walk on the roof today,
20 feet or so high,
and he gets to the edge and he thinks,
you know what?
I think I'm just gonna go one step further,
what happens?
It falls.
And he'll probably suffer as a result.
Why?
Because there's a natural law that God has created
in our environment, in our earth,
even though some may question it today,
that's called gravity, right?
Now, does gravity mean that God isn't good?
Of course not.
Does Andy falling off the roof
and suffering as a result of it
mean that he did something sinful
or that there was this great evil that has befallen?
No.
Just sometimes we do stupid things
and we have to deal with that, right?
Sometimes, maybe many times,
the suffering that we endure
really is just the consequences of sin.
Maybe it's our own personal sin
and we face as believers
the discipline of the Lord
as he allows the natural consequences of sin
to take place in our lives.
Maybe it's the consequences of someone else's sin
that has been perpetrated against us,
but so much of the suffering we endure
is really, it's the consequences of sin.
But the Bible speaks of a particular kind of suffering
that Christians should actually expect to face.
suffering on account of their faith in
and obedience to Jesus Christ.
In fact, Jesus' very call to discipleship
and to follow him includes the very warning.
If you will come after me, Jesus says,
you better be ready to take up a cross
not as a symbol,
but as a daily dying
in identification with Christ.
And as you're doing that,
you're gonna have to be prepared
to deny yourself
in order to follow me.
It's right there.
Jesus says,
it's maybe not what we would hear
from most pulpits
who just want to get people
to come over to the Christian faith, right?
But Jesus does it.
He says, look, if you want to be a Christian,
if you want to follow me,
this is what it's gonna take.
You're gonna have to endure some things
that are hard on account of that faith.
We've reached a point in Peter's letter
where suffering for the faith
is actually the main idea.
Of course, the Christians in Asia Minor
at the time,
they didn't need to be convinced
of the reality of this kind of suffering.
They were living it in real time.
Peter's just gone through
three very specific examples
of people in the church
who were suffering
on account of their faith in particular.
But what they did need
was to be reminded of the hope
that was theirs in Jesus Christ
what they needed
was to be encouraged
to keep going,
to keep persevering in the faith,
to keep being obedient
in discipleship to the Lord Jesus.
And that's the aim of the text
that we just read.
It shows us how that we can thrive
in times of suffering
for righteousness sake.
And I want to present this paragraph to you
as four requirements
to suffer well for Jesus.
Four requirements to suffer well for Jesus.
What will it take
if we are to thrive
in this world,
in this exile,
with this kind of suffering?
Number one,
ponder your blessed future.
Ponder your blessed future.
Look at verses 13 and 14 once again.
Now who is there to harm you
if you are zealous for what is good?
But even if you should suffer
for righteousness sake,
we might understand that
but even really as more of an indeed.
Indeed,
when you suffer for righteousness sake,
you will be blessed.
Future tense, right?
You are suffering.
You will be blessed.
Now Peter has just finished using Psalm 34
in the previous paragraph
to remind us
that God has promised eternal blessing,
eternal for his people
and he has promised victory
over all who do evil.
God sees the suffering of his people.
God inclines his ear to their cries.
He will deal decisively
with all their enemies
who will not repent
and trust in him.
And now he introduces
this rhetorical question
at the beginning of verse 13.
He's confronting suffering Christians
in their fear and distress.
If you are zealous for good,
he says,
meaning you are trusting Christ,
you are following him in holiness,
all of those things
giving evidence to the fact
that you have truly been born again of God,
which we've seen in the earlier chapters.
If that's you,
you're zealous for good,
you're believing Christ,
you're following Christ,
who is there to bring you harm?
Who can harm you?
And of course,
the immediate answer might be,
well, lots of people could harm me.
Isn't that the point?
That there are some
who will not only threaten harm,
but actually have the power
to deliver that harm.
And of course,
we understand as we begin
to meditate on this text,
Peter isn't referring to harm now.
He's speaking of harm
in the ultimate sense.
Your enemies,
no matter how great they are
in this life,
have no final power over you.
You belong to God,
Peter says.
You're safe in him,
Peter says.
Who is there to harm you
when you're God's?
The body they may kill,
Luther says.
God's truth abideth still.
His faithfulness,
his goodness,
his promise
of our eternal inheritance
that is undefiled
and unfading
and kept in heaven
for us
who are being guarded
by God through faith.
All of that
is true for you today
and it will be true
for you in eternity.
So who can harm you?
Who is there to fear?
Peter says.
It's the same reasoning
that Paul used
in that amazing section
of Romans 8.
Andy read the first four verses
of Romans 8 a minute ago.
Let me read the last few verses
of Romans 8 to you.
You know the text.
What then shall we say
to these things?
If God is for us,
who can be against us?
Why would you say that, Paul?
What do you mean?
Where is this security
coming from, Paul?
He continues.
He who did not spare
his own son
but gave him up
for us all.
How will he not also
with him,
with Christ,
graciously give us
all things?
What's the all things?
That's the future inheritance.
The inheritance
that is ours
in Christ Jesus
as joint heirs
with Jesus.
That's what Paul's
talking about.
If God's for you,
if he's the one
that predestined you
and called you
and has sanctified you
and will glorify you,
who can be against you?
He did not even
spare his own son.
Who shall bring a charge
against God's elect?
Paul goes on to say.
It's God who justifies.
Who cares
what your enemies think?
Who is to condemn you?
Jesus Christ
is the one who died.
More than that,
who was raised,
who's at the right hand
of God,
who is indeed interceding
for us.
And then there's that
great line of questions,
rhetorical questions
that Paul presents.
Who shall separate us then
from this love of Christ?
Shall tribulation do that?
Shall distress do that?
How about persecution, Paul?
What about famine
or nakedness
or danger
or the sword?
And then Paul quotes
the Old Testament
to describe what our experience
could be like in this life.
He says,
for it's written,
for your sake,
for the sake of the Lord,
for the sake of Jesus Christ,
we are being killed
all day,
all day long.
We're regarded as sheep
to be slaughtered
by this world,
the prophet says.
What does Paul remind us of?
Oh, no,
he says.
The no's emphatic.
May it never be said,
no.
In all these things,
we are more than conquerors
through him
who loves us.
For I'm sure
that neither death
nor life
nor angels
nor rulers
nor things present
nor things to come
nor powers
nor height
nor depth
nor anything else
in all of creation
will be able to separate you
from the love of God
in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
That, loved ones,
is your blessed hope.
Who's there to harm you?
You belong to him.
Who can ultimately
bring you ruin?
It's Christ
that has died
for your sin.
Before God,
you stand justified
as if you never sinned.
That is your hope.
There's a reason
that Peter began the letter
with this amazing affirmation
of the Christian's
future inheritance.
There's a reason
he continued
in chapter 2
to instruct us
to set our hope
on the grace
that is to come to us
at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.
It's the same reason
that he reminds us here
of our blessed status
before God.
It's because
to thrive in exile,
which is always
going to be characterized
by suffering
in some measure,
that will only happen
when we keep our minds
focused entirely
on the future inheritance
that awaits us
beyond this life.
even though you may suffer
for righteousness' sake,
now,
Peter says
in verse 13,
you will be blessed
and honored
and vindicated
in the judgment.
When it's all said
and done,
you're the one
who will receive
the blessing.
Christ
has won
your victory.
We just sang it,
Christus Victor.
on that day,
who will but tremble
when he stands,
Christ the victor.
It's amazing.
Says Jesus
in Matthew 5.
Blessed are those
who are persecuted
for righteousness' sake.
Why, Jesus?
for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
You suffer now?
It's fine.
The kingdom belongs to you.
Don't be afraid.
It's yours.
Christ has won it for you.
Blessed are you,
Jesus goes on to say,
when others revile you
and persecute you
and utter all kinds
of evil against you
falsely
on my account.
Now, let's not get
that twisted up.
Jesus isn't saying,
don't worry
when you do stupid things
and people call you out on it.
That's not what he's saying.
What's he saying?
He's saying,
when you live faithfully
and you preach the truth
and you do exactly
what I call you to do
and people revile you
and slander you
and persecute you
and talk all kinds
of evil about you
and ridicule you
falsely
on account of the gospel,
he says,
instead,
rejoice.
Be glad,
Jesus says,
for your reward
is great
in heaven
for so they persecuted
the prophets
who were before you
so they persecuted
our Lord and Savior
who paves the path
forward for us.
How can we thrive
in suffering?
Well, it starts
by preaching the gospel
to ourselves
every single day,
regularly pondering
our blessed future,
the internal inheritance
that God is keeping safe
for us in heaven
as he guards us
through faith
here on earth.
Number two,
how will we thrive
in suffering?
we're going to have
to persevere
in following Jesus.
We're going to have
to persevere
in following,
we're going to have
to keep going,
keep going.
Look again
at verse 14.
Have no fear
of them
nor be troubled
but in your hearts
honor Christ
the Lord
as holy.
As is typical,
the indicative
of verses 13 and 14
is immediately followed
by imperatives
and as we've come
to get used to
with Peter's style
of writing,
he delivers
the initial imperative
by way of contrast.
He does that a lot
in the letter,
doesn't he?
He gives the negative
and then it's immediately
followed by the positive.
Not this but that,
right?
He's doing it again
here
and here's essentially
what he's saying.
Because your enemies
cannot ultimately harm you
and because you are
blessed forever
in Christ Jesus,
don't be afraid of them.
Instead,
just keep going.
Keep honoring Jesus
as Lord
in your heart.
How do we suffer
well for Jesus?
We keep trusting.
We keep following him
even when you're threatened,
even when you're slandered,
even when you're persecuted.
Just keep going.
For the Dory fans,
just keep swimming.
Don't stop.
Persevere.
What exactly
does that look like?
Well, let's break it down
a little bit more.
Looking at this contrast,
don't be afraid,
don't be troubled,
but honor Christ as Lord.
The contrast itself
is what helps us
understand what Peter
has in mind
when he uses these two words,
fear and trouble.
He's not insinuating,
let's get this right,
he's not insinuating
as the Bible never does,
that the feelings,
that the emotion
of fear
and anxiety
and distress
are inherently
sinful
and problematic.
Some of us feel
more deeply
than others.
the feeling
itself
is not sinful
in this case.
It's what we're doing
when we're confronted
with the feelings
of fear
and distress
and hardship
and anxiety.
It's what we're doing
with that.
It's how we're responding
to that that really makes
the difference here.
And in this case,
to fear those
who would harm us
and be troubled
by their reviling
would be to shrink back
from faith
in Jesus Christ.
It is to allow
the threat
of opposition
to accomplish
its objective.
Isn't that what
the opposition
is trying to do?
They're trying
to silence
the Christians.
They're trying
to make the Christians
look foolish
so that they might be
anti-evangelized
and return back
to the way of thinking
that the world has.
That's the objective.
To get us
to give it up.
To stop being
so ridiculous
and to turn around.
Fear
and trouble
if not handled
in light
of God's word
and God's faithfulness
and God's truth
will cause us
to shrink back
allowing our enemies
to get exactly
what they want.
It's when
we begin
to turn away
from faithfulness
and begin
to compromise
the truth.
It's shifting
your convictions
to align
with what's
culturally acceptable
rather than
with God's word.
That's what it means
to fear
and to be
troubled here.
It's to continue
in the sin
that marked
your life
before coming
to Christ
hoping that
it will appease
those in your life
who ridicule you
for living
in such stark
difference now.
It's in Jesus' words
an attempt
to save your life
rather than
to surrender
it to him.
That's what it means
to fear
and trouble
in this text.
It doesn't mean
that somebody's
coming at you
ready to take
your head off
that you can't
be afraid
of that.
I would be
afraid of that.
That's not what
he means to say.
No, he's saying
what we do
with that
is really
what matters.
To thrive
in suffering
Christians
are going to
have to
persevere
in faithful
discipleship.
We must
persevere
in following
the lordship
of Jesus Christ.
That's the
positive side
of this.
Don't be afraid
but keep
honoring Christ
as the Lord.
Holy here
set apart.
Keep setting
Jesus apart
as the Lord God.
This is the
lordship of Jesus Christ
showing itself
every day
in our lives
and we are
to do that
from the heart
for as Tom
Schreiner wrote
the heart
is the origin
of human behavior
and from it
flows everything
that people do.
So then
recognizing
our blessed
state
as God's
people
we must
persist
in genuinely
following Jesus
as Lord
refusing to
fall away
when danger
rears its head
and it's that
heart level
faith
that is
always
evidencing
verse 13
a zealousness
for what is
good.
When the heart
is settled
when we're
persevering
not on the
surface
but in
genuine
faith
the result
is a
zealousness
for good
and this
contrasting
imperative
it's really
just a
reiteration
of everything
Peter's been
saying in the
last two
chapters
though we
are to
respect
others
our fear
is to be
reserved for
the Lord
alone
so don't
shrink back
even when
you're
threatened
persevere
!
Why?
Can't we
just get in
and then
just try to
stay out of
the way?
What Jesus
said in
Matthew 10
you'll be
hated by
all for
my name's
sake
but only
the one
who endures
to the
end
will be
saved
you said
does this
perseverance
really matter
or can I
just you
know walk
the aisle
and say
the prayer
and fill
out the
card
and go
to Terry
and Kathy's
place to
get baptized
or whatever
it is
and we
just
be done
isn't that
just enough
and then I
can just
kind of go
on with
business
as
normal
well no
that's not
biblical
Christianity
only the
one who
perseveres
to the
end
will be
saved
why should
you care
about this
because it's
what makes
all the
difference
in your
spiritual
life
keep
going
third
prepare
to display
and defend
your hope
prepare
to display
and defend
your gospel
hope
look again
at verse
15
always being
prepared
to make
a defense
to anyone
who asks
you for
a reason
for the
hope
that is
in you
yet do
it with
gentleness
and respect
having a
good conscience
so that
when you
are slandered
those who
revile
your good
behavior
in Christ
may be
put to
shame
now I
want you
to notice
how Peter's
line of
thought
continues
to build
this
section
is not
my
sister's
English
teacher
it's
not
technically
grammatically
an
imperative
but
she
doesn't
know
Greek
in
Greek
not
that
you
care
to
know
Greek
either
I
don't
really
care
to
know
it
that
much
in
Greek
it's
functioning
as
another
imperative
it
looks
a bit
like
a
participle
it's
actually
an
adjective
it's
functioning
like
an
imperative
here
now
why
is
that
important
for
us
because
Peter's
giving
us
instructions
!
And
what
is it
that he
says?
Well
he's
addressing
a particular
circumstance
that could
arise
from your
perseverance
if you
just keep
going
despite the
suffering
what might
happen?
Right?
Just as
faithful
Christians
will attract
the attention
of unbelievers
in the
beginning
which leads
to the
potential
of threat
and
slander
Peter
now
indicates
that
persevering
in that
suffering
by
continuing
rather than
shrinking
back
that
even
more
attention
could
be
drawn
to
your
faith
and
whenever
it
does
he
says
whenever
that
happens
whether
the
inquiries
from
unbelievers
are
sincere
as
they
might
be
or
just
mocking
as
they
might
be
we
must
be
prepared
to
make
a
defense
for
what
make
a
defense
for
your
what's
the
word
hope
this
hope
that's
buried
deep
in our
hearts
what is
it
it's
that
blessed
future
that is
secured
to us
by the
death
and
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
for our
sins
by the
regenerating
work
of the
Holy
Spirit
on all
of those
who have
been
called
of God
that's
the
hope
this
hope
is the
assurance
of our
future
inheritance
and that
someone
would
inquire
about
it
means
that
we
have
persevered
in
such
a
way
that
they
could
actually
witness
the
legitimacy
of our
hopeful
expectation
that
beyond
this
life
for us
is God
that
beyond
this
life
for us
is
Jesus
that
beyond
this
life
for us
is
heaven
and
sinlessness
and
paradise
and all
that God
has promised
for his
people
we have
suffered
in such
a way
that they
would
say
you know
I think
they really
believe
this
I think
they really
think
this is
what's
going to
happen
to them
after
they
die
in
persevering
through
suffering
we
let
our
persecutors
see
our
hope
on
display
and
then
notice
what
Peter
does
implicitly
by telling
us to
be
prepared
to
make
a
defense
here
he's
acknowledging
that
the
Christian's
hope
in
Christ
is
not
superstitious
it's
grounded
in
rationality
it's
grounded
in
an
intellectual
reasoning
and
it
can
be
legitimately
defended
he
doesn't
say
hey
when
they
ask
you
about
the
hope
just
say
well
you
just
gotta
have
faith
no
he
says
make
a
defense
tell
them
why
you
have
faith
tell
them
why
you
have
hope
tell
them
that
the
word
of
God
that
the
Bible
is
really
the
word
of
God
and
why
you
believe
it
is
tell
them
that
God
really
does
exist
that
he
really
did
create
the
world
that
we're
in
and
tell
them
why
you
believe
that
give
the
evidences
for it
that
has
persuaded
you
not only
spiritually
but
intellectually
to believe
that
that's
true
tell
them
that
Jesus
Christ
is
God
in
the
flesh
who
came
and
lived
a
sinless
life
and
died
an
atoning
death
on the
cross
in our
place
so that
all
who
trust
in
them
will
receive
his
righteousness
as
he
takes
on
their
wickedness
and
sinfulness
in his
body
on the
tree
and
then
he
raised
from
the
dead
and
then
say
this
is
why
I
believe
that's
!
true
make
a
defense
it's
rational
it's
reasonable
it really
is
the
slander
of the
world
against
Christians
will
always
be
shaped
like
ridicule
for what
they see
as an
irrational
and foolish
faith
but we
do not
have an
irrational
faith
we do
not have
a foolish
faith
there are
parts of
what we
believe
that are
incomprehensible
that is
we are
finite
creatures
that are
trying to
comprehend
the nature
and the
work of
an
infinite
God
we will
never
be able
to
supply
every
possible
answer
that
anyone
might
ever
ask
about
God
and about
the
Bible
and about
all of
those
things
we don't
have
that
capacity
no one
ever
will
but we
do
have a
rational
faith
and it
is
reasonable
and even
when they
bring their
slander
and they
question
they put
you in
a
corner
and they
think
they've
got
the
trump
card
and
you're
not
exactly
sure
what
to
say
you can
rest
assured
that
in
2,000
years
of
Christianity
they're
not
going to
ask
you
a
question
that
some
other
Christian
hasn't
been
asked
and
hasn't
sorted
through
just
because
you
don't
have
the
answer
doesn't
mean
there
isn't
an
answer
so
what
do
you
do
you
get
in
your
Bible
and
you
start
to
talk
to
the
other
people
in
the
church
and
say
hey
I
was
talking
to
my
friend
the
day
and
one
another
in
that
we
study
Peter
goes
on
to
say
that
there
is
a
righteous
way
to
defend
our
faith
and
that
in
our
defense
we
need
to
be
concerned
to
do
it
a
particular
way
notice
what
he
says
our
defense
of
the
gospel
must
be
given
with
gentleness
respect
and a
good
conscience
now
I
the
people
that
we
are
to
be
making
this
defense
to
have
been
harsh
disrespectful
and
everything
that we
would
say
is
how
could
their
conscience
even
let
them
do
that
to
another
person
and
Peter
says
who
cares
you
make
your
defense
in
the
way
that
Jesus
would
make
his
defense
gentleness
humility
respect
them
as
human
beings
made
in
the
image
of
God
do
it
with
a
good
conscience
so
that
after
you're
finished
making
your
point
you
don't
have
to
go
and
beg
for
God's
mercy
on
your
life
because
you
sinned
a dozen
ways
in
the
process
of
it
in
other
words
if
unbelievers
are
to be
offended
let
it
be
for
the
truth
that
we
proclaim
and
not
the
way
that
we
have
chosen
to
proclaim
it
and
in
the
final
judgment
Peter
says
I
think
that's
what
he's
referencing
when he
talks
about
them
being
put
to
shame
in
the
final
judgment
you
will
receive
your
vindication
because
God
has
saved
you
and
they
will
receive
their
judgment
if
they
have
not
repented
and
believed
so
you
don't
need
to
take
the
!
judgment
on
yourself
you
don't
have
to
sit
in
the
place
of
God
and
give
them
what
they
deserve
you
haven't
been
called
to
do
that
I
haven't
been
called
to
do
that
that's
God's
place
he
is
the
only
one
that's
righteous
enough
to
do
that
without
sinning
that's
not
our
job
what
is
our
job
to
display
the
grace
of
Jesus
Christ
in
the
people
in
our
lives
it
is
to
speak
the
truth
of
the
gospel
with
all
the
grace
that
our
enemies
do
not
deserve
and
that
they
have
not
afforded
to
us
why
because
that's
what
Jesus
modeled
for
us
it's
what
he
did
not
only
in
his
life
on
this
earth
it's
what
he's
done
in
your
life
he
has
been
a
gracious
savior
and
a
gracious
teacher
merciful
we
need
to
show
that
to
others
well
how
are
we
going
to
thrive
in
suffering
well
we
need
to
start
by
pondering
our
blessed
future
and
we
need
to
do
that
every
day
we
need
to
make
sure
we're
persevering
!
on
you
need
to
talk
to
somebody
here
you
come
talk
to
me
you
come
talk
to
any
person
sitting
in
this
room
you
say
I
just
want
to
be
honest
with
you
I'm
struggling
right
now
can
you
just
pray
for
me
can
you
help
me
keep
going
don't
back
up
you
keep
going
God's
faithful
be
ready
to
make
a
defense
and
when
you
do
it
do
it
the
right
way
good
there
is a
fruitfulness
that
comes
from
this
I
think
it's
what
he
means
in
verse
17
and
we
need
to
pursue
that
fruit
we
need
to
be
conscious
of
it
and
we
need
to
chase
after
it
so
that
rather
than
shrinking
back
we're
pursuing
something
that
we
believe
God
will
do
in
the
midst
of
our
suffering
look
at
verse
17
for
it
is
better
to
suffer
for
doing
good
if
that
should
be
God's
will
than
for
doing
evil
now
Peter
may
be
saying
in
verse
17
if
I
can
just
offer
an
alternative
view
of
the
verse
and
what
I'm
going
to
present
to
you
he
may
be
saying
that
it's
better
to
suffer
at
the
hands
of
men
for
doing
good
now
than
to
suffer
in
the
judgment
of
God
for
doing
evil
later
!
He
means
to
say
in
this
particular
instance
he
has
affirmed
that
these
people
have
been
called
of
God
that
God
is
guarding
them
through
faith
that
their
inheritance
is
secure
there's
nothing
in
Peter's
letter
that
suggests
that
they
would
be
in
a
position
or
even
in
danger
of
having
to
face
the
judgment
of
God
because
Christ's
judgment
has
been
insufficient
there's
nothing
there
that
suggests
Peter's
line
of
verse
is
favorable
if
we
are
to
suffer
at
the
hands
of
men
let
it
be
for
good
rather
than
evil
like
if
you're
going
to
have
to
suffer
make
sure
it's
for
righteousness
sake
and
not
just
because
you're
a
jerk
right
or
just
because
you've
done
something
that
you
shouldn't
have
done
or
something
that
is
I
think
that's
more
the
sense
that
he's
giving
us
here
let
it
be
for
our
faith
and
not
for
sinfulness
or
for
aggressive
acts
of
retaliation
against
them
now
here's
what's
most
striking
to me
in
the
verse
it's
Peter's
use
of
the
word
better
it
is
better
it's
not
that
we're
better
off
suffering
in
one
way
rather
than
another
I
think
what
he
means
to
say
is
there
is
a
kind
of
fruitfulness
that
comes
from
suffering
for
righteousness
sake
and
if
we
interpret
this
in
light
of
the
very
next
verse
that
we'll
get
to
next
week
in
verse
18
I
think
it
clears
it
up
for
us
look
at
verse
18
for
Christ
also
suffered
once
for
sin
for
is
the
key
word
there
right
meaning
verse
18
is
being
built
off
of
what
he's
just
said
in
verse
13
he's
or
verse
17
he's
grounding
verse
17
in
verse
18
he's
linking
them
for
Christ
also
suffered
once
for
sin
the
righteous
for
the
unrighteous
and
here's
the
fruitfulness
of
that
so
that
he
might
bring
us
to
God
being
put
to
death
in
the
flesh
but
made
alive
in
the
spirit
what's
verse
18
all
about
Christ
suffered
righteously
in
the
will
of
the
father
and
it
brought
great
fruitfulness
it
brought
salvation
and
in
that
way
I
think
Peter
when we
suffer
for
righteousness
sake
there
is
something
to
gain
God
has
a
purpose
in
that
notice
what he
says
in
verse
17
that
this
happens
according
to
whose
will
God's
will
which
means
that
your
suffering
has
been
decreed
by
God
which
must
mean
that
God
has
a
particular
purpose
in
you
suffering
for
good
suffering
for
righteousness
sake
okay
well
that
leaves
us
with
an
important
question
what
could
that
purpose
possibly
be
what
good
could
come
from
this
what
is
there
for
us
to
gain
by
making
ourselves
so
vulnerable
to
this
kind
of
situation
I
want
to give
you
three
things
to
consider
the
first
is
I
think
we
gain
personal
sanctification
personal
sanctification
there
is a
uniquely
sanctifying
work
that
God
accomplishes
in
his
people
when
they
suffer
for
the
faith
we
talked
about
this
in
the
men's
group
on
Wednesday
night
it's
in
hardship
that
God's
faithfulness
is
most
visible
this
is
important
to
those
who
actually
desire
to
see
that
faithfulness
he's
always
faithful
whether
we
acknowledge
it
or
not
but
it's
in
our
distresses
it's
in
our
troubles
it's
in
our
hardships
that
his
faithfulness
is
actually
most
visible
to
us
and
genuine
Christians
are
always
thankful
for
those
things
that
draw
us
nearer
and
nearer
to
Christ
and
to
faithfulness
in
him
and
unfortunately
suffering
is
the
thing
that
probably
does
that
most
that's
why
Spurgeon
is
reportedly
to have
said
that
great
statement
I'm
sure
you've
heard
it
he
said
I've
learned
to
kiss
the
wave
that
throws
me
against
the
rock
of
ages
what
does
he
mean
he
means
that
there
was
a
time
in
!
his
life
where
trouble
and
difficulty
was
something
that
all
he
could
do
was
disdain
it
and
he
hated
it
and
he
worried
about
it
and
he
was
always
worried
for the
next
time
it
was
going to
come
I
understand
that
maybe
you do
too
even
this
week
and
always
get
worried
that
whatever
it
is
that
I'm
preaching
that
God
is
going
to
make
me
live
it
out
sometime
soon
and
Lord
I
don't
want
to
suffer
what
does
Spurgeon
mean
he
means
well
there
was
a
time
when
all
I
could
think
about
in
relationship
to
suffering
is
how
much
I
hate
it
he
said
but
I
actually
learned
!
through
the
process
that
God
does
something
in
me
in
that
suffering
as
he
draws
me
nearer
and
nearer
to
Christ
and
he
said
I've
learned
to
embrace
the
very
things
that
I
hate
if
it
means
that
I
know
Christ
better
and
that
I'm
more
faithful
to
him
and
that
I'm
more
satisfied
in
him
and
I'm
longing
for
his
return
even
more
to
suffer
well
is
to
pursue
!
sanctification
that
is
born
of
endurance
and
endurance
comes
through
difficulty
second
what
could
we
gain
from
this
I
would
say
the
second
thing
is
corporate
edification
so the
first one's
personal
right
God's
doing
a unique
work
in you
a unique
sanctifying
work
the
second
one
is
corporate
we're
thinking
of the
church
now
corporate
edification
that
is
God
does
something
in
my
life
that
spurs
along
my
faith
when
I
see
Marty's
life
going
through
trouble
and
distress
and
hardship
and
yet
he
stays
the
course
and
it
doesn't
hinder
his
song
and
it
doesn't
cause
him to
shrink
back
from
his
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
his
faithfulness
does
something
in
me
and
who
of
us
has
not
been
strengthened
by
the
faithful
endurance
of
someone
else
that's
why
Christian
biography
particularly
missionary
biography
is
so
edifying
to
us
God
uses
our
perseverance
to
spur
along
the
faith
of
other
believers
who
are
bound
to
suffer
as
well
now
here's
how
that
can't
happen
if
you
suffer
alone
listen
we
get
together
I
like
to
talk
about
all
kinds
of
things
and
I
just
enjoy
being
with
you
baseball
season
starting
to
come
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about
baseball
as
long
as
you
like
the
Yankees
which
is
why
I
don't
talk
to
Shane
about
it
I
talked
to
you
about
baseball
we
can
talk
about
how
hot
it
is
and
I'm
not
ready
for
that
and
we
can
talk
about
all
kinds
of
stuff
right
you
know
when
you're
struggling
with
something
in
your
life
I
want
to
see
your
perseverance
not
just
because
I'm
nosy
but
because
God
does
something
for
me
when
you
suffer
well
this
week
someone
texted
me
this
week
and
said
hey
there's
things
going
on
my
life
it's
been
really
hard
and
we
had
this
exchange
where
I
think
we
were
able
to
encourage
one
another
a little
bit
in
that
just
to
say
look
the
Lord
is
faithful
and
they
followed
up
a little
bit
later
and
said
hey
this
thing
that
the
Lord
is
already
working
in
this
situation
that
did
something
for
me
their
suffering
helped
me
to see
God's
faithfulness
!
you
know
private
with
other
Christians
not
saying
that
you
always
have
to
say
everything
that
you
want
to
say
to
every
person
not
everybody
can
be
trusted
with
the
deepest
things
in
your
life
I
understand
that
I'm
not
advocating
for
that
but
you
can't
do
it
alone
and
you
shouldn't
do
it
alone
and
you
should
pursue
the
fruit
that
God
may
be
doing
in
someone
else's
life
through
what
you're
going
through
right
now
so
when
you
go
to
Bible
study
tonight
ladies
and
you
go
through
the
prayer
time
if
something's
going
on
in
your
life
lean
on
those
ladies
tell
them
how
you're
dealing
with
it
you
don't
know
what
may
be
going
on
in
their
life
and
God
could
be
using
you
to
be
the
very
thing
that
will
hold
them
together
don't
suffer
alone
here's
the
third
thing
and
of
course
the
sinner
salvation
over
and
over
Peter
has
said
that
it
is
through
the
faithfulness
of
God's
people
that
unbelievers
are
drawn
to
faith
in
Christ
themselves
he
said
it
many
times
in
the
letter
even
in
this
paragraph
the
opportunity
to
win
our
very
enemies
to
Christ
is
so
evident
and
again
we
look
at
the
cross
don't
we
what
is
it
that
Jesus
does
father
forgive
them
they
don't
even
know
what
they're
doing
and
then
the
captain
who's
responsible
for
killing
him
says
wow
surely
this
is
the
son
of
God
the
Lord
may
be
using
your
suffering
to
bring
someone
else
to
saving
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
I
think
all
of
us
would
say
as
hard
as
suffering
is
you
know
that's
probably
worth
it
that's
worth
it
here
we go
back
to that
beginning
question
if
if I'm
going
through
something
hard
does that
mean
that
God
isn't
good
of
course
it
doesn't
mean
what
does
it
mean
well
it
means
he's
God
and
he
can
do
with
your
life
whatever
he
desires
to
do
with
your
life
and
sometimes
that
means
things
will
get
a
little
hard
and
we
trust
that
he's
always
working
for
his
glory
and
our
good
our
ultimate
good
and
the
good
of
others
around
us
now
all
of
these
things
why
am
I
bringing
up
these
things
there's
probably
more
so
that
when
we
do
face
the
hardship
and
the
persecution
from
others
and
the
slander
from
others
however
that
may
come
in
this
case
it's
more
like
people
are
talking
bad
about
you
is
really
what
Peter
is
getting
at
in
this
paragraph
when
that
happens
just
say
you
know
what
God
is
going
to
do
something
in
this
and
I
just
want
him
to
be
fruitful
in
my
life
and
I
to
be
good
and
God's
plan
than
for
doing
evil
let's
wrap
it
up
to
be
surprised
by
suffering
might
mean
it
may
not
be
this
but
it
might
mean
that
you're
just
not
reading
your
Bible
well
if
you
go
through
suffering
and
that
causes
you
to
think
less
of
God
or
that
this
isn't
supposed
to
happen
you
need
to
read
your
Bible
better
because
it's
there
it's
all
over
the
place
really
I
suspect
that
like
the
Christians
in
Asia
Minor
none
of
you
need
to
be
convinced
of
that
I'm
sure
that
you've
dealt
with
it
we've
had
enough
conversations
that
I
know
that's
the
case
I do
imagine
however
that all
of us
could use
the
encouragement
and
exhortation
that
Peter
gives
us
in
this
text
we
mustn't
lose
sight
of
the
eternal
blessing
that
awaits
us
beyond
this
life
of
exile
we
gotta
be
focused
on
the
gospel
every
day
and
when
one
of us
is
struggling
you know
what
the
other
way
you say
I'm
not
sure
what
to
say
here's
what
you
say
if
you
don't
know
what
else
to
say
you
say
if
everything
in
your
life
falls
apart
everything
you
think
corporately
as a
church
if
for
some
reason
we
come
in
tomorrow
and
the
landlord
decides
you
know
what
I
don't
actually
want
you
in
here
you
gotta
leave
and
all
of
this
and
people
get
mad
and
they
leave
!
If
the
whole
thing
falls
apart
!
You
know
what's
true
your
sins
are
forgiven
your
salvation
is
secured
in
Christ
and
that
will
never
change
and
beyond
this
life
of
exile
and
beyond
this
life
of
suffering
is
nothing
but
infinite
glorious
blessing
from the
God
who loved
you
enough
to
call
you
out
of
darkness
into
his
marvelous
light
that's
the
truth
and
this
life
is
hard
and
that
doesn't
mean
that
your
relationships
are
going
to get
any
better
and
the
pain
will
hurt
less
but
it
does
mean
that
it's
coming
and
if
everything
else
is
falling
apart
you
can
trust
in
that
don't
lose
sight
of
that
don't
lose
sight
of
it
instead
keep
following
Jesus
don't
be
afraid
of
the
people
don't
be
afraid
of
them
don't
shrink
back
you
just
be
faithful
you
be
found
faithful
in
the
eyes
of
the
Lord
and
when
they
ask
about
that
and
then
let
this
text
shape
your
prayer
rather
than
always
seeking
for
God
to
remove
you
from
suffering
I
think
it's
an
okay
prayer
to
ask
but
rather
than
always
being
fixated
on
when
can
I
just
be
over
with
this
begin
asking
him
to
bear
those
unique
fruits
of
faithfulness
in
the
midst
of
your
suffering
Lord
if
it's
your
will
that
I
suffer
in
this
moment
let
me
see
the
fruitfulness
of
it
bear
your
fruit
in
my
life
make
me
more
like
Jesus
let
me
be
an
encouragement
to
other
people
in
my
church
bring
somebody
to
Christ
as a
result
this
is
how
we'll
thrive
in
suffering