Thank you again for the invitation to be with you,
and as I have done before,
thank you for your prayers and support
of the outreach and witness of Christian students
through the Christian unions throughout Scotland.
We're very grateful to you for praying for that evangelistic effort.
The door of opportunity for the gospel on the university campus
is still pretty much wide open.
Some pushback, and we're coming to look at that in 1 Peter.
But we're just off the back of five mission weeks
run by the CEUs throughout Scotland,
and we have seen a small number of people profess faith
and many more elsewhere in the UK,
and others now reading Mark's gospel,
which we have specifically produced in a version for students
with their Bible studies at the back of it,
and then others still engaged with their questions and struggles
and issues as they pursue truth and meaning.
So thank you for your prayers,
and do pray for the Christians at university
as they gather around the gospel
and seek to make it known to their campuses.
Well, we had our Bible reading here in 1 Peter 4,
verses 12 to 19,
and in one sense,
this is one of these Bible passages
where there is not much about the passage
that is difficult to understand.
As the Apostle writes,
and I guess you've been looking through 1 Peter,
is that right?
As the Apostle writes this letter,
and indeed as he writes the next letter,
which is known to us as 2 Peter,
he is writing,
and he says this explicitly about both letters,
in 2 Peter 3, verse 1,
he is writing to stimulate the believers
to wholesome thinking.
And he goes on in verse 2 of that chapter
to say,
I want you to recall the words spoken in the past
by the holy prophets
and the command given by our Lord and Savior
through your apostles.
Wholesome thinking for us Christian believers
is recalling what the Scriptures say,
the prophets and the apostles.
And the message of the prophets
was so often, wasn't it?
A day is coming.
Judgment is coming.
And the message of the apostles,
Christ will return again.
Look to the future.
A day is coming.
And you can live now
in the light of what you know is ahead.
And what Peter is saying
throughout both of these letters
is live today,
live this week,
live now,
not just focusing on the here and now
and being all consumed
by what you can see and experience,
but live today
with biblical perspective
in your mind.
Wholesome thinking,
remembering that what we do today
for the Lord Jesus
is lived out
with the day
that is still to come
very much in mind.
Now, part of that
living today
for tomorrow,
for the last day,
is
how do we cope
when people are suffering
for following the Lord Jesus Christ?
How do we cope
specifically
when there is
direct and overt
persecution
or action
against Christian people
simply because
they are Christians?
That's what
Peter is speaking about.
And as we look at the passage,
very simple
in one sense
in terms of what
we are being taught,
but very profound
in terms of how
we understand
such things
and respond to them
throughout the world
or in our own lives.
What is wholesome thinking?
That's what Peter
wants us to have.
What is wholesome thinking
with regards to
overt
persecution
of Christian believers?
I have seven
things that I want
to just briefly
run through
that might constitute
something of wholesome thinking
as we find it
in this passage.
And first of all,
this combining
of suffering
and glory,
that's a theme
in 1 Peter.
Suffering
and glory
are absolutely
held together
in the teaching
of the apostles.
Not just Peter,
of course,
but John and Paul
and the other
New Testament writers
as well.
it has been
this way
since the beginning
of the church.
As one
early church
writer put it,
and you'll have
heard this phrase
I suspect,
the blood of the martyrs
is the seed
of the church.
And so,
over the history
of the Christian church,
as predicted
and taught
in the scriptures,
when Christians
are most severely
persecuted
for following
the Lord Jesus,
far from
extinguishing
the Christian gospel
from society
or from a nation,
what the persecutors
inadvertently do
is spread
the Christian gospel.
Something happens
when Christians
act
as Peter
asks them
to act here.
And what happens
is that
their suffering
becomes a sermon
to all who look on.
I want you just
to turn
to the letter
of the Philippians,
if you can,
in your Bible
or on your phone
or press the buttons
backwards
and get to
Philippians
chapter 1.
Just look at
the last
section of
Philippians chapter 1
with me for a moment
just so that we can see
a very clear
example of what
Paul is speaking
about here.
Philippians chapter 1
verse 27.
Whatever happens
and Philippians
was written
just at the time
that Nero
was beginning
to come to power
and the Christians
were beginning
to be persecuted.
Whatever happens
and he means by that
whether I live
or die
conduct yourselves
in other words
current behavior
in a manner
worthy of the
gospel of Christ
then
whether I come
and see you
or only hear
about you
in my absence
I will know
that you stand
firm
united in one
spirit
contending
as one
for the faith
of the gospel
without being
frightened in any
way by those
who oppose you
this
in other words
this united
standing firm
in the gospel
this
is
a sign
to them
that them
being the opponents
this is a sign
to them
that they will
be destroyed
but that you
will be saved
and that by God.
Isn't that a
remarkable thing?
As persecution
comes to
Christian believers
and those
who are
viciously
opposed to
the gospel
put Christians
through one
kind of suffering
another
the Christian
response to
that suffering
becomes a
sermon to
them
in which
they are
told what
they increasingly
know to be
true that they
are on the
road to
destruction
they see
the response
of a Christian
believer with
the help of
the Holy Spirit
in their lives
and they know
that these people
have something
before almighty
God that they
do not have
a remarkable
thing
and that is
just woven
into the
pattern of
the New Testament
and into the
pattern of
1 Peter
so that's
the first
thing
suffering
and glory
belong
together
and that
is not
unique
to this
particular
passage
secondly
there is
something about
being persecuted
for following
Jesus
that is
in keeping
with our
other
relationships
in the
church
in the
family
and in
society
as Christian
people
we are
constantly
conscious
of the
fact
that just
as Jesus
submitted
to the
costly
will of
his
father
for him
so we
reflecting
our union
with Jesus
are involved
in all
sorts of
relationships
where we
willingly
submit to
one another
it's the
turning upside
down of
the human
sinful
ego
when the
spirit comes
and we're
given new
life in
Christ
we become
those
who
are more
and more
inclined
to think
in a
Christ-like
way
about
kneeling
and serving
or
submitting
to a
God-given
authority
rather than
exerting
ourselves
over and
above
others
that is
part of
our
Christian
demeanor
and it
is that
part of
our
demeanor
that we
are still
portraying
if
Christians
are
persecuted
we become
like the
Lord Jesus
we are
willing to
be subject
to one
another
Romans
talks about
it being
subject to
those whom
God has
given us
in society
to rule
over us
that is
good for
society
Paul teaches
in our
church
family
we are
subject
to our
leaders
because
God has
given them
to us
to care
for us
and protect
us
in the
family of
the gospel
and so on
now that
kind of
language is
an abomination
to the
sinful
unbroken
human heart
but to
Christian
people
that is
just a
reflection
of how
the Lord
Jesus
submits
to the
will
of his
father
for us
it is
the
norm
it is
not
lacking
in
dignity
but it
is hard
and painful
in a
fallen
world
so it
is very
often
right
and possible
for us
to submit
to one
another
in church
in family
in society
and even
in persecution
for the
sake of
Christ
and being
subject
is not
the same
as being
silent
ever
being
silent
may mean
in this
case
where we
are being
persecuted
that we
are no
longer
willing
to
profess
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
Peter
doesn't
call us
to be
silent
but he
calls
Christians
to be
subject
to
something
that's the
second thing
here's the
third
and now
more
into the
text itself
for
three
through
seven
suffering
like this
persecution
for following
Jesus
is
normal
Christian
experience
if you
take
the
global
church
and
if you
take
the
span
of the
history
of the
church
suffering
for
following
Jesus
is
entirely
normal
and that's
what Peter
says
isn't it
in verse
12
we should
not be
surprised
at the
painful
trial
you are
suffering
we should
actually
expect
it
we should
be
prepared
for this
to happen
and indeed
experience
teaches us
because we
have 2000
years of
history
since Peter
wrote this
letter
experience
teaches us
that what
Peter wrote
is indeed
the case
it just
is not
surprising
don't think
that something
strange is
happening to
you he
says
get used
to the
fact
that this
is
normal
Christian
experience
and you
folks
like many
of us
in our
evangelical
churches
will pray
for and
follow
the instances
of Christians
who are
overtly
persecuted
for their
faith in
Christ
you will
probably read
the magazines
and the
prayer leaflets
of the
likes of
the Barnabas
Trust
to name
but one
organization
that is
there to
encourage
awareness
and promote
support for
those who are
suffering
for following
Christ
and the
range
of
ministries
and churches
that exist
who pray
for persecuted
believers
should simply
teach us
that this
is what
happens
when the
gospel takes
root in a
culture and
in a nation
and is
proclaimed to
those who
don't know
the Lord
Jesus
persecution
is what
happens
it's normal
and we
know that
but still
in some
way when
we read
a passage
like this
we feel
slightly
distant
from it
and were
the day
to come
when you
were
persecuted
in some
way for
following
Christ
then
Peter says
just have
this in
your
foundational
thinking
don't be
surprised
it's not
something
strange
that's
happening
now I
would say
that we're
all well
aware
that the
days of
any notion
of Christian
privilege
in our
society
and culture
are well
passed
and indeed
we're probably
increasingly
living in
the context
of low
grade
Christian
persecution
by some
that I
don't think
would come
as a great
shock to
us
we see
the battles
that go
around
particularly
in the
university
world
around
the
issues
of
free
speech
and who
is allowed
to say
what
and who
is allowed
to say
things
that might
upset
someone
else
and the
responses
to that
one of our
small
Christian
union
groups
here's
just one
example
put on
or wanted
to put
on a
lunchtime
discussion
around
the theme
where was
God
when the
terrorist
bomb
went
off
and the
university
said no
somebody
could be
offended
by that
discussion
and it
was shut
down
now
the
the kind
of
notion
that
some
others
might be
really helped
to come
and talk
about that
doesn't
count
for anything
the notion
that we
live in a
society
where nobody
has to
come into
that discussion
they're just
invited to
if they
want
that doesn't
count for
anything
no
that's
not
happening
interesting
and yet
in other
universities
some of our
Christian unions
are being
given
awards
by the
students union
body
for being
a really
welcoming
and open
and genuine
and upfront
and transparent
organization
and part of
me thinks
could the
people in
this
students union
not speak
to the
people over
here
but there
is the
beginnings
in the
university
world
of this
kind of
persecution
this kind
of
closing you
down
action
there will
be many
cases
and here
you can
follow
the
news
produced
by
CAIR
or the
Christian
Institute
and others
of people
being
passed
over
for
promotion
because
they're
a
Christian
or people
indeed
being
put out
of work
because
of
Christian
beliefs
so there
are lots
of examples
there
and my
guess is
that as
we see
society
being
increasingly
cowed
and swayed
into only
being able
to say
and articulate
and think
what is
the approved
social norm
of the day
only if you
fit in
with the
cultural
beliefs
of the day
with the
up-to-date
doctrine
of our
culture
will you be
accepted
that I
think
is
gaining
ground
where
will it
end
who
in the
world
knows
the
Lord
knows
so it
is
normal
Christianity
but look
on beyond
verse 12
and here
fourthly
suffering
like this
for following
the Lord
Jesus
is actually
part
and parcel
and here
is something
even more
profound
of our
core
identity
in
Christ
look at
verses
13
and 14
so
don't be
surprised
but instead
rejoice
that you
participate
in the
sufferings
of Christ
so that
you may
be overjoyed
when his
glory is
revealed
if you
are insulted
because of
the name
of Christ
you are
blessed
for the
spirit
of glory
and of
God
rests
on
you
that is a
remarkable
sentence
isn't it
something
profound
is happening
when
you are
targeted
or singled
out
for following
the Lord
Jesus
at that
moment
you are
participating
in
you are
united
to the
Lord
Jesus
and his
sufferings
and the
spirit
of God
Peter
says
rests
on you
at that
moment
now that
is very
spiritual
and very
profound
but I
think
we could
do a
very
very good
job by
equipping
our
children
and young
people
to understand
that
when they're
at school
I think
we forget
unless we
are parents
of young
children
we forget
just how
cruel
the playground
or the
classroom
can be
by way of
an environment
that is very
quick to slap
someone down
who sticks out
for whatever
reason
and we
forget
because
it's
unpleasant
and it's
hard
and we
move on
in life
but
probably
for most
of us
if we
paused
and took
time
to remember
the most
difficult
things
if you
were
following
Christ
as a
school
people
the most
difficult
things
that occurred
because of
that
no wonder
we forget
but for
all of us
who have
kids at
school
today
the atmosphere
is no
different
in fact
it's probably
harder
how do you
equip a
six year old
a ten year old
a thirteen year old
to be willing
to say
yeah I follow
Christ
I believe
what the Bible
teaches
I have a
church family
that I belong
to on Sundays
to say
any of
those things
even
something as
low grade
as I'm
going to
the
scripture
union
group
do you
want
to
come
with
me
those
things
are
really
tough
and
persecution
in that
context
can be
fairly
undetected
below the
radar
parents and
teachers
may or may
not know
about it
but to
train
and
encourage
our
children
that if
just because
they believe
in Jesus
people are
going to
say
cutting
damning
offensive
critical
things to
them
then
God
himself
their
heavenly
father
says
when that
happens
we are
very close
to Jesus
in his
sufferings
and his
spirit is
with us
what a
wonderful
thing
to be
taught
by the
scriptures
and how
much more
profound is
that than
just reckoning
it to be
normal
it is part
of our
core
identity
in the
Lord Jesus
we follow
someone and
belong to
someone who
did not
stand on
his rights
to be
treated in
the way that
we would
expect him
to be
treated
remember
his trial
remember
his
responses
yes it
is as
you say
I am
the
Christ
simple
straightforward
uncomplicated
responses
in the face
of those
who eventually
put him
to death
and the
Lord Jesus
our risen
king
knows
and is
with us
by his
spirit
every time
something like
this happens
that's very
wonderful I
think
number five
suffering
for
Christ
is not
to be
confused
and here
Peter is
very wise
and
shrewd
in his
teaching
is not
to be
confused
with suffering
because we've
been sinful
or stupid
look at
verse
15 and
16
if you
suffer
it should
not be
as a
murderer
or thief
or meddler
however
if you
suffer as
a Christian
do not
be ashamed
but praise
God that
you bear
that name
I wonder
how many
of us
can
relate
to this
and think
of situations
where the
other Christian
in our
workplace
or the
other
Christian
in a
context
is actually
behaving
badly
in a way
that makes
our toes
curl up
in our
shoes
and we
think
for whatever
reason
that Christian
is giving
out all
the wrong
signals
about following
Jesus
we get
angry
we lose
our temper
we have
a reputation
of being
the person
who is
short
with others
or who is
overbearing
with people
we line
manage
who is
constantly
ducking
out of
work
that others
have to
pick up
and so
on and so
on
well then
that Christian
will suffer
because naturally
people will turn
on them
won't they
either subtly
or overtly
but they're not
suffering for
following Jesus
in that case
they're suffering
because they're
being sinful
and unwise
and Peter
says don't be
confused
between these
two things
or similarly
you may have
known people
who have
suffered
terribly
in their
lives
and faced
ferocious
persecution
and as far
as they know
before the Lord
they've done
nothing wrong
but they're
consumed
with the
question
what have I
done wrong
Lord
to have
brought this
upon me
and Peter
says no
no
don't be
confused
about these
things
don't
get
sinfulness
and suffering
muddled
up all the
time
some
suffering
is because
we are
sinful
some
persecution
is just
because
you are
Christian
and if
it's just
because you
are Christian
the chances
may well
be that
you've done
absolutely
nothing wrong
it's just
normal
Christian
experience
do you see
what he's
saying there
how wise
of him
to put in
that caveat
don't you
descend
to the
behaviour
of everybody
else around
you
if you
suffer
for goodness
sake
don't
let it
be
because
you've
been
wicked
in some
way
or another
no
if you
suffer
as a
Christian
hold your
head up
high
do not
be ashamed
and praise
God
that you're
worthy
of owning
the name
of the
Lord
Jesus
that's a
very
challenging
thing
isn't it
because
the
pressure
is to
just
creep
back
put your
head
down
beneath
the
parapet
step
back
from
proximity
to
Jesus
and then
the
suffering
will
go
away
that's
how it
was
with
Peter
who wrote
this
letter
right at
the very
point
when the
Lord
Jesus
was being
crucified
you were
with him
weren't
you
from
Galilee
no
I
don't
know
him
at
all
see
lessen
the
association
and we
can soon
stop
the
suffering
why there
are many
many of
our
brothers
and
sisters
in
glory
now
aren't
there
because
they
were
told
either
renounce
your
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
or
lose
your
life
and at
that
in
those
extreme
situations
believers
are given
extraordinary
ability
by God
himself
to
have
that
perspective
which
sees
glory
and
honors
the
king
and
knows
that
death
if it
comes
will
simply
be the
gateway
to
eternal
life
in his
presence
but
2nd
Peter
again
if you
turn
over
the
page
to
chapter
1
of
2nd
Peter
himself
is very
conscious
of this
chapter
1
verse
13
I think
it's
right
to
refresh
your
memory
as long
as I
live
in the
tent
of
this
body
because
I
know
that I
will
soon
put it
aside
as our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
has
made
clear
to
me
he
knows
the
end
is
coming
well
Jesus
told him
that
didn't
he
when he
reinstated
him
he
told
Peter
how he
would
die
he
knows
the
end
is
coming
he's
writing
these
letters
to help
others
be
strong
in their
faith
even
to the
point
of
death
and
he
knows
that
road
is
the
one
he's
on
himself
and
he
was
as
legend
has
it
crucified
upside
down
in
the
city
of
Rome
and
put
to
death
as
one
of
the
first
Christian
martyrs
so
Peter
is
not
writing
this
first
letter
with
some
kind
of
blissful
distance
between
himself
and
the
theory
he
is
writing
these
letters
knowing
that
he
will
walk
that
road
and
that
the
Lord
Jesus
and
the
eternal
life
given
to
him
in
Christ
and
the
proclamation
of the
gospel
in the
world
means
it's
worth
it
number
six
suffering
this is
verses
17
and
18
suffering
is to
be
viewed
in
keeping
with
and
in
proportion
to
the
judgment
and
justice
of
God
listen
to that
again
suffering
is to
be
viewed
in
keeping
with
and
in
proportion
to
the
judgment
and
justice
of
God
look
at
verses
17
and
18
for
it
is
time
says
Peter
for
judgment
to
begin
with
the
family
of
God
that
great
sifting
process
has
begun
in
the
gospel
age
and
if
it
begins
with
us
what
will
the
outcome
be
for
those
who
do
not
obey
the
gospel
of
God
and
from
the
book
of
Proverbs
if
it
is
hard
for
the
righteous
to
be
saved
and
to
endure
what
will
become
of
the
ungodly
and
the
sinner
from
the
moment
of
the
resurrection
onwards
as
soon
as
the
gospel
of
the
risen
Christ
was
being
taught
and
proclaimed
by
his
apostles
and
by
the
earliest
believers
the
sifting
of
men's
hearts
was
beginning
because
every
time
the
gospel
is
proclaimed
people
will
either
respond
and
repent
and
turn
towards
the
Lord
Jesus
or
we
humans
will
bit
by
bit
harden
our
hearts
against
him
so
as
the
gospel
is
taught
even
within
the
family
of
God
that
sifting
process
Peter
says
is
already
beginning
and
as
it
does
there
is
this
tendency
for
Christian
people
to
think
that
those
who
are
sinful
and
opposed
to
the
gospel
are
somehow
getting
away
with
it
they
are
able
to
lord
it
over
the
Christians
in
prison
in
the
first
century
and
they
go home
at the
end
of the
day
and
have
their
supper
as
the
Christians
are
left
languishing
in the
prison
cell
chained
to
their
Roman
guard
and
all
mouths
will
finally
be
silenced
there
will
never
be
full
and
final
justice
in
this
world
although
we
are
very
glad
to
have
systems
and
the
rule
of
law
that
work
towards
it
but
we
sense
the
longing
for
justice
when
for
example
a
sentence
given
out
by a
judge
is
deemed
to
be
too
shallow
or
too
weak
and
somebody
who's
lost
their
loved
one
or
something
says
he's
going
to
walk
free
after
five
years
or
whatever
it
is
we
feel
that
sense
of
rage
or
when
a
prisoner
or
a
criminal
or
somebody
who has
committed
heinous
crimes
takes
their
own
life
and
somebody
at
some
stage
will
say
well
they've
got away
with
it
and
we
as
the
Christian
think
no
they
haven't
there
is a
higher
and
final
court
in
this
world
and
Peter
says
here
if
it's
hard
for
us
to
be
persecuted
for
the
gospel
and
we're
conscious
of the
pain
and the
agony
of
brothers
and
sisters
going
through
the
most
horrific
situations
because
they
follow
Jesus
if
that
is
hard
Peter
says
don't
underestimate
what
the
outcome
is
for
those
who
inflict
the
pain
and
do
not
obey
the
gospel
please
remember
he says
that
God
holds
the
scales
of
justice
and
in
the
final
day
when
all
justice
is
dished
out
there
will
not
be
a
single
solitary
sentence
from
any
voice
saying
that
it's
unfair
what a
wonderful
thing
to
know
as
Christian
people
and to
keep
in mind
and to
remember
that all
suffering
in this
world
particularly
suffering
inflicted
on
others
in
wickedness
can
be
viewed
in
proportion
to
the
justice
of
God
finally
number
seven
as he
sums up
in
verse
19
so
then
having
said
that
those
who
suffer
according
to
God's
will
should
commit
themselves
to
their
faithful
creator
and
continue
to
do
good
this
is
the
remarkable
thing
about
Christian
persecution
Christians
are
persecuted
having
done
nothing
wrong
the
Christian
gospel
comes
into
the
world
as
the
only
message
of
salvation
for
men
and
women
proclaiming
a
savior
who
is
loving
beyond
compare
proclaiming
a
family
to
belong
to
the
world
over
proclaiming
the
only
possibility
of
human
beings
being
reunited
to
their
creator
proclaimed
by
people
who
are
willing
to
serve
in
Christ's
name
and
to
give
up
their
rights
and
to
let
go
of
ambition
in
this
world
for
the
sake
of
others
to
belong
to
Christ
what
is
there
to
hate
he
would
imagine
that
why
would
there
ever
be
such
a
thing
as
a
persecuted
Christian
when
Christians
serve
the
world
in
love
and
live
in
godly
harmony
with
one
another
and
put
others
needs
before
their
own
and
go
so
far
as
to
love
their
enemy
when
Christians
live
like
that
who
would
ever
persecute
such
a
person
who
would
be
tempted
to
think
it
will
never
happen
but
quite
the
opposite
is
the
case
because
of
the
sinful
human
heart
that
finds
it
deeply
offensive
to
have
a
gospel
light
shone
on
it
which
shows
that
person's
own
heart
and
mind
their
own
need
for
salvation
why
the
witness
of
the
Christian
church
throughout
the
world
is
both
good
news
and
a
unacceptably
offensive
and
unique
message
to
those
who
want
to be
lord
of
their
own
lives
and
rulers
in
God's
world
that's
the
problem
isn't
it
so
Peter
says
when
it
happens
carry
on
commit
yourself
to
a
lovely
phrase
your
faithful
creator
and
continue
to
do
good
commit
yourself
to
your
faithful
creator
you
may
be
living
in
the
presence
of
a
wicked
destroyer
but
you
commit
yourself
to
a
faithful
creator
he
made
you
he
died
for
you
right
now
as
you're
suffering
for
him
he
is
with
you
by
his
spirit
he
will
hold
you
and
will
never
let
you
go
commit
yourself
to
him
and
continue
to
do
good
keep
going
carry
on
let
the
world
see
and
hear
and
Christ
Jesus
on the
last
day
will
deal
with
all
the
rest
amen
well let's
just pray
for a
moment
heavenly
father
we wonder
ourselves
if we
are
sometimes
spared
direct
persecution
for the
gospel
because we're
not
yet
fully
prepared
to live
consistently
under that
yoke
so strengthen
us tonight
we pray
through your
word
build into
the very
foundation
of our
lives
the
thinking
that
enables
us
the
wholesome
thinking
that
enables
us
as
Peter
says
to
commit
ourselves
to
you
our
faithful
creator
come
what
may
whatever
anyone
says
about
you
or
about
us
as
your
followers
help
us
to
take
the
next
step
for
the
next
day
the
next
week
doing
good
in
your
name
and
to
know
that
you
are
with
us
in
it
we
do
pause
Lord
to
pray
for
brothers
and
sisters
tonight
who
are
suffering
greatly
for
their
faith
and
pray
that
you
would
be
as
you
promise
with
them
by
your
spirit
in
Jesus
name
we
ask
it
Amen