Thanks, Ken. We're doing things slightly differently because Steve is sick this morning,
so I'm stepping in and I'm going to step out to go to the Mandarin to preach. So it's a
very interesting day for our church, I think. We've been looking at the sermon series, Get
Up and Grow, and particularly from the letter that Peter wrote to the churches in Asia. And
today's topic is growing in suffering, I think, which predicates a relationship between growth,
Christian growth, spiritual growth, and suffering. I wonder whether you've thought about what
that relationship might be. Is it growing by suffering? That is, you grow as a Christian
if you suffer. Or is it growing in suffering? Suffering is to context the sphere in which
growth is to take place. So slightly different, maybe is that. Or growing despite of suffering?
Could be that. Well, Peter certainly was concerned about growing. That's why he wrote this letter.
And the context in which he was writing was suffering. But not any suffering, not suffering
in general, not suffering because of sickness, ill health, economic downturn, because you've got a
grating personality, not because of that you're a thief, murderer, or someone who can't keep his or her
nose out of other people's business. Not suffering because of blown tires, a leaking roof, difficult
children, tsunamis, flooding, nuclear disasters, none of that. The context in which Peter was writing is
suffering as suffering as Christians, for being Christians, and always Christian suffering. Very specific
context. Christian growth and Christian suffering. For you and I need to know that there is a great cost.
There's a great cost in being followers of the one who suffers, who has suffered.
And as a corollary, there is a great cost in growing as a follower of the suffered one.
Growing and suffering. I just want to point out five things. Two things is to do with our thinking,
and three things to follow is to do with our conduct. Come with me back to 1 Peter chapter 4,
verse 1, to see what Peter has to say about growing and suffering. So 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 1.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude,
because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. So the first thing that Peter wants us to
know is that in our facing of suffering is that we should have the same mindset, the same attitude as Jesus.
And it has to do with the changing of our minds, particularly about two things, which I will
draw out for you. The first thing, the first mindset that we are to adopt is that death ends sin.
Death ends sin. At this point, I have to say I'm not a big fan of the NIV at this point, for there are two
translations which doesn't really quite bring out what I think Peter's trying to say. Firstly, the word
suffer. Suffer could mean suffering, going through stuff. But in the context, when he talks about Jesus,
is talking about the suffering of death. And you can see that back in chapter 3,
verse 18. If you can flip to it, chapter 3, verse 18, which I can't do on my iPad. Anyway,
it is great stuff. Suffer, you know.
He talks about how Jesus died once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous. And the word that
he used is actually suffer. Jesus suffer once for all. And in the context, he's actually talking about
death. It's the suffering of death. But more importantly, NIV translates to a word, a phrase,
that there is suffering in the body. He died in the body, which is an unfortunate translation,
because it makes it sound like the contrast is between a physical suffering and a spiritual
sort of whatever it is. So suffering in the body, raised by the spirit. That's how 3.18 is translated.
And here, he says, Jesus suffered in the body. So in the same way, I'd have the same attitude.
See, I don't think that's the right contrast. The contrast isn't between
the physical and the non-physical, you know, body and spirit. But rather, the contrast,
the real contrast is between flesh. That's the word that is used, the word sucks,
which is otherwise translated as flesh or sinful nature in Romans. The contrast is between flesh
and spirit. The contrast is between two worlds. The world of flesh,
this world, this age, which is a very physical world, but at the same time, a very non-physical
world, this world, and the world of the spirit, which is also a very physical world. But that
talks about the world that is to come, the age that is to come. For 3.18 talks about the resurrection
of Jesus. It's not a non-physical resurrection, but rather, it is a resurrection that's brought
about by the spirit. The hand of the work of the spirit is in it. Jesus rose in the spirit,
for that is the age to come. That is the world that is to come. There are two worlds. It is in these two
worlds that we exist. What Peter is saying in chapter 4, verse 1 to 3, is that when you become a
Christian, you are dead to this world, which is kind of like a funny idea because you and I are still
walking around in this world. What he's saying is that because you are united with Jesus, you are dead
to the world of flesh. And if you're dead to the world of flesh, you are dead to sin. How can you sin
if you're dead? You know, temptation, if you're dead, you are, on the other hand, alive to God.
You are alive to the world that is to come. For the spirit has come upon you, has made you alive.
You belong to the next world even now. And this is the attitude that you are to have,
that you are dead to the world of flesh and alive to the world of the spirit. That is why you suffer.
For, in verse 2, have a look at that, there is a conundrum, a problem. As a result, he, that is anyone,
does not live the rest of his earthly life, his life in the flesh, for evil human desires,
for passions of the flesh, but rather for the will of God. You see, there's a problem for Christians.
We are dead to the world of flesh, but we are still living in the world of flesh.
This is where the conflict, the dilemma, the war, the struggle comes. This world keeps pulling us,
making us want to settle, become citizens of this world. And Peter says, resist it. You no longer
belong to this world because you died in the flesh. So, so stop living like as if you belong to this world.
Have this attitude, have this mindset. The time has passed for you to be living for this world,
to have his value. Put all the things of this world, his values, his priorities, his ambitions,
all behind you. Be done with it. You don't live like people of this world, verse 13. That's why
they find it strange. For in the rest of your time here, in the flesh, you are to live for the spirit
world to do God's will. That is what he's saying. This is the mindset. So, it's a little bit like
migration. Anyone comes from overseas here? Yeah, I did. Josh did. And a couple of other people.
If you migrated, he's kind of saying, don't keep trying to go back. It's not like other sort of
migration. So, imagine if you come from a crazy place like North America or Europe or France or something
like that, you've learned to drive on the wrong side of the road. So, when you come to Sydney, Australia,
put that behind you. Don't drive on the wrong side of the road. Don't drink Canadian beer.
Don't watch hockey. Just change to cricket or something. You know, the tension is, you know,
when you get into that car, you keep wanting to go to the wrong side of the road. And Peter says,
no, come to the right side. Don't do that anymore. Put that behind you. You've moved to a new place.
Live like people of that place. You see, this is the Christian difference. Not that we've got a new
set of rules. Christian ethics is applying applicable to everyone. That's not what makes us different.
It's not because we try harder. We live differently because we are dead. This is why we live differently.
We are dead. And we are born again. We've been made alive again. That's what Peter says in chapter one.
We are new people. We are born again. We've been created, recreated into new people. We have new lives.
This is why the world doesn't understand you. So, this is the first mindset that we need to adopt,
that we are dead to this world and alive to the age that is to come. The second mindset is in chapter
four, verse five. Well, let's start reading from verse four.
They think it's strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation,
and they can hit abuse on you. But they will have to give an account to him who's ready to judge the
living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,
so that they might not judge according to man in regard to the flesh, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Note, this is the changing attitude. Verse seven. The end of all things is near.
The end of all things is near. This is what we need to do to live differently.
We are to realize, to think, to put ourselves in the position of people who know that the end is,
you know, when the end is near, it really focuses your attention.
So, assuming that you're one of the poor people who lived in Japan in the last two weeks,
imagine you're living right on the path of the tsunami,
and you are told that you've got ten minutes before the tsunami comes and takes you and your family away.
What would you do
knowing that?
Would you go to your bookshelf and say,
this is the time for me to read James Joyce.
I've never managed to finish Ulysses, and I'm going to do it now.
Or, gee, you know, I've always wanted to work on my golf swing.
So, I'm going to...
Or, there's something I left at the office I need to do, so I'm going to call them up to fix this up.
Or, you know, this tsunami thing is going to ruin the garden,
so I'm going to start arranging for a landscape.
No!
You've got ten minutes before the tsunami comes and takes you away.
What are you going to do?
You run.
You will run for your life,
and you will take your family with you to safety.
When you know that the end is near,
your mind focuses on things that are important.
The people of this age, of this world,
are ignorant.
They are ignorant of the end.
They are ignorant of the nearness of the end.
That is why they are wasting
the remaining time that they have
on their petty ambition
and on their hobbies.
Imagine when the flood of judgment comes
and they're found to have the best shell collection in the world.
They'll be washed away
when the judgment of God comes.
People of the next world,
people of the spirit,
are to have a different mindset.
We know that the end is nigh.
That is why we live differently.
We know that we are dead
to the world of flesh,
alive to the world of the spirit.
We know that the end is coming
very, very soon.
I won't go through verses 12 to 19.
We don't have time.
But essentially,
it's saying that,
in saying that God begins his judgment
with the household,
his own household,
it means that
what we experience in suffering
is what the world will experience,
but how much more?
See, this is saying
when Christians suffer,
it's not a sign that we are weak
or that our God is weak
and he cannot protect us from suffering.
This is saying that God is strong
and he will bring about his judgment,
the end,
the accounting,
and we can tell that
because we as Christians suffer first.
Purification comes with us
and because we experience purification,
the world will experience it
in a much greater way.
The end will come
and our suffering and purification
guarantees it.
Well, what are we to do
if we are dead to this world
and that the end will come?
Are we to lock ourselves away
in a monastery?
Are we to vote the Christian Democrats
so that they can go into government
so that, you know,
maybe not in New South Wales
because it's too sinful,
we can go and take over Tasmania?
You know,
we'll create a little Christendom
in Tasmania,
bringing our own laws
so that we can live there.
Is that what it means
that the end is near?
What does Peter say?
Well, there are three things.
Come back to chapter 4, verse 7.
He says,
The end of all things is near.
Therefore,
be clear-minded and self-control
so that you can vote.
No.
What does it say?
Sober-minded,
so that you have the right sort of thinking,
focus,
so that you can
pray.
That's what it means
for people who are dead
to this world
and who knows that the end
is near.
We are people who pray.
We're prayerful people.
Verse 19 says
a similar sort of thing.
We are to commit ourselves
into the hands
of our Creator.
He is faithful.
He will bring about
righteousness
and justice
and our vindication.
That's what He will do.
That's what the Lord's prayer
is about.
Remember the first two lines.
Our Father in Heaven
is all about
the bringing of
the nearness
of the end,
isn't it?
And the same in Luke 18.
You know,
the parable of the widow
and the unjust judge.
You know,
it's persisting in prayer.
And Jesus ends that parable
with saying,
however,
when the Son of Man comes,
will He find
faith on earth?
What does He expect to see
of His people
when He returns?
Faithfulness.
Faith.
Trust in the one
who can save.
Prayerfulness.
We need to be
clean-minded and sober
so that we can focus
our mind
on praying.
That is what we do.
But what else
do we do?
Are we to evangelize?
Is that what we do?
Is that what Peter says?
Verse 8.
Have a look at it.
What do we do?
We love.
I don't know
whether you expect this.
This is what we do
because the end is near.
Because we don't belong
to the world flesh.
We love each other deeply
because love covers
a multitude of sin.
What does it mean to love?
He goes on to expand
on this.
We are not to,
you know,
we don't love
like the world.
The people of this age,
they love as well too.
But what do they love?
They love themselves.
That's what 2 Timothy says.
People will become lovers
on this earth.
The people of this age,
of the flesh,
they take and they take
and they take.
They come to church
and they take and they take
and they take.
But Christians,
people who live
belonging to the next world,
they are people,
we are people who give.
That's what love is.
We give and we give
and we give until we can't give
and then we give some more.
This is why we love
one another deeply.
This is what it means
to be living
in the light of the end,
in the world of the spirit.
Love means,
verse 8,
forgiveness.
Love covers a multitude of sin.
That's a quote from
Proverbs 10,
10-12.
Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.
That's what love does.
It forgives.
It overlooks.
It does not keep an account.
The reality is,
in this world of sin,
of flesh,
there will be great suffering
and injustice.
Love forgives the hurt
caused by sin and suffering.
But love also does another thing.
Verse 9,
what does love do?
Have a look.
You tell me.
Hospitality.
Ungrumbling,
joyful,
grateful hospitality.
Hospitality.
Hospitality,
the Greek word for hospitality
is philosanos,
philosanos.
Zanos,
as in xenophobic,
is a fear of strangers.
Philo,
as in Philadelphia,
is love of strangers.
That's what hospitality is.
It's not entertainment.
It's loving people
who are not one of us.
You can see why
it doesn't have to be done
just at home.
You know,
it's not just entertainment.
Hospitality is when you invite people
out for a cup of coffee,
maybe,
or accept their invitation
to have a cup of coffee.
Hospitality can happen
even on Sunday mornings.
How?
By us being,
Deb,
welcoming.
That's what welcoming
is about, isn't it?
It's about hospitality.
We love people
who are not one of us.
Churches that are not welcoming
has no love for the strangers.
They live in a world of flesh.
They don't know
that the end is near.
We are different.
We have a different mindset.
We love strangers.
We, you know,
hospitality can,
doesn't have to be,
you know,
it can be exercised
right here this morning
as we stay
and talk to people.
And, I mean,
we can be hospitable
at a social convention.
It's easy to do that.
But Peter says,
do it without grumbling.
Don't complain.
But do it with joy
and thankfulness.
So,
forgiving,
loving,
hospitable,
what else?
Verses 10 to 11a.
How else
is love
express,
expresses itself
in the last days?
In,
that's right,
in a working bee.
Oh,
shameless plug there.
In teaching scripture.
In tidying up
after everybody else leaves.
Isn't that what
love expresses?
So, you know,
each of us
are actually gifted
by God in some way.
Our resources,
experience,
abilities.
The people of this age
who don't know that end,
they use this stuff
for themselves
to make their lives easier,
to get recognition,
to feel good.
But the people
of the world to come,
the world of the spirit,
we use what we have
for the service
of other people.
And it can be done
whether in words
or in deeds.
If we are to use it
in words,
we are to speak
as if we're speaking
the very words of God,
which could mean
in what we say,
that is not just our opinion,
but the words of God,
or in the manner
in which we say our words.
For when God speaks,
how does he speak?
He speaks truthfully.
He does not slander.
He does not grumble.
He doesn't complain.
He doesn't lie.
He doesn't gossip.
When he speaks,
his words can be trusted.
He's dependable.
He has pure words.
He has loving words.
That is how our words
are to be
as we serve one another,
but also in deeds.
If we serve,
Peter says,
we are to serve
with the strength of God.
In other words,
whatever God
has asked you to do,
he will pay the bills.
He will not assign you,
he will not call you
to do something
that he's not prepared
to equip you for.
If you think
that your body is spent,
you're too weak,
you're too young,
you're too old,
you're too stupid,
whatever it is,
do you really trust
that God will pick up
the tap for you
when you serve?
And the intention
of all this,
verses 11b,
verse 11b,
there's evangelism,
isn't it?
It's so that,
you know,
when people see
how forgiving I am,
is it so that people
will say,
gee,
isn't Brian such
a wonderful human being?
No.
When we have this
sort of mindset,
when we love one another,
when we minister
to one another,
when we welcome
one another,
it is so that
people can say,
you know,
I know St. Paul's,
I know these people,
but you know what?
Jesus has made a big difference
to this church,
in these people's lives,
so that Jesus
might be glorified.
See,
as we wait
for the nearest
of the end,
this is what we are to do,
in words and in deeds.
Christian growth,
Christian suffering.
If you're a Christian,
if you're living
as a Christian,
you will suffer.
There is no question
of that.
In other parts
of the world,
the suffering comes
in the form of violence
and deprivation.
I think in our context
is less of that,
but rather,
our trial,
our testing,
comes in the form
of seduction.
That is our temptation.
That is our trial
in the West,
in Sydney,
in Chesford.
Our trial,
our testing,
comes in the form
of abundance,
not the lack of.
This will come to us.
How will we grow
in this suffering?
In the face of abundance
and seduction,
we are not to live
as this world,
the world of flesh.
We are to count ourselves
as dead to the world,
but alive to God
in Christ,
made alive by his spirit.
We are people
who are deeply aware
that the tsunami
is coming in 10 minutes.
So we give up
our petty ambitions
for us and our children
and we do things
that are important.
What are the things
that are important?
We pray,
we love,
and we serve one another.
Amen.
So we are
God's every single
May could
exhale without
つtezings.
Amen.