for our good and for your glory we pray amen
now again if you have your bibles and perhaps you can open them at the book of first peter
and keep them open there at first peter chapter 4 and we're going to be in verses 12 to 19 just
two more sundays in first peter this one and then keith will finish up our time in chapter 5
next week so first peter chapter 4 at verse 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
but rejoice in as much as 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 if you suffer it should not be as a murderer or thief
or any other kind of criminal or even as a meddler however if you suffer as a christian do not be
ashamed but praise god that you bear that name 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 and
if it is hard for the righteous to be saved what will become of the ungodly and the sinner so then
those who suffer according to god's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator
and continue to do good amen this is god's word for us today so what we're going to think about today
as peter continues to take us to the theme of suffering is about troubleshooting our view of
suffering and especially our view of suffering as christians now i am sure that we are most of us
at least or probably all of us familiar with troubleshooting many times it is a modern day
lifesaver isn't it your computer freezes or your washing machine won't spin or you find your phone is out
of memory what do we do perhaps almost by instinct now we either go to our troubleshooting guide or we
look up online for those set of questions that are given to us that logical working through of questions
to identify the source of our problems ideally then to provide the simple fix
what's the problem that peter is bringing to us he's bringing to us the problem of suffering
suffering as a christian suffering because you are a follower of jesus now we've seen through this
letter that that for the people that peter writes to that's that's things like insults and rejection
and slander it's the beginning of opposition and perhaps the question that emerges is that
why am i suffering i'm trying to be faithful to jesus why is this happening why should i bother being a
follower of jesus if life becomes hard for me a few months ago i was recommending a book called
evangelism as exiles it was written by a guy called elliot clark who'd spent over 10 years in the middle
east and then came back to the states and having lived in a place where persecution was normal
one of the things he was recognizing was that in the western church we really struggle we've got used
to the idea of respect and perhaps we are struggling and sometimes fearful with this new reality that we
tend to be ignored as christians our views are on the margins and we perhaps often find ourselves on the
margins and that can cause us to be fearful and cause us to have questions and that's why i think
first peter is so helpful for us as a church today as he repeatedly remind us about the realities of
suffering and how to respond so we're going to use verses 12 to 19 as a troubleshooting guide with some
questions for when we suffer but before we get to that let me remind each of us of two important
principles and that have governed peter's whole discussion of suffering and he's come back to it again
and again throughout his letter the first big principle is that all of our suffering comes to us
from a sovereign a wise a faithful a good god and father that's important to recognize we can see
that in a couple of places chapter 3 verse 17 for it is better if it is god's will to suffer for doing
good than for doing evil and then the last verse we just read chapter 4 verse 19 so then those who
suffer according to god's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good
so all our suffering passes through the hands of our sovereign wise and good god and also and he keeps
reminding us of this christian suffering is always set in the context of the gospel of a suffering servant
a suffering savior who gave his life in order to save his people to bring them to god and again we can
see that a couple of places chapter 3 verse 18 for christ also suffered once for sins the righteous for the
unrighteous to bring you to god or how he begins chapter 4 therefore since christ suffered in his
body arm yourselves also with the same attitude so we're invited to trust in our good god and we're
invited to remember the reality of the gospel and a savior who loved us and gave himself for us
and now we get to our specifics here we get to our four troubleshooting questions when it comes to
suffering for jesus first of all what is my expectation that's be question number one secondly what is my
attitude when that suffering comes thirdly what is my perspective on the suffering and fourth and finally
what is my response what does life look like when suffering comes my hope is that this will be helpful for us
perhaps laying a foundation perhaps we're not suffering right now for the sake of jesus and we
hear some principles to apply and to reflect on for when that day comes
but some of us will be right in the middle of that right in the heat of suffering for
the gospel and again i hope that these truths will be an encouragement and if we're wondering
it is faith in jesus worth it for not yet christians that hopefully this will a point us towards the
reason why it's worth it even with suffering so let's get to our questions the first question
what is my expectation and this takes us to verse 12 you can look down there at verse 12 and what we
see peter say is don't be surprised by suffering 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 you gotta love peter's honesty don't you as he recognizes and he's not ashamed of
the fact that suffering is normal not abnormal it's not weird if our friends think that we are weird
because we're followers of jesus with this fiery ordeal image he goes back to something he's already used
chapter 1 verses 6 and 7 the idea of suffering as a refining process we'll come back to that
the reality that god is able to use suffering for his good purposes in our lives and so in a sense
here is peter giving advance warning don't be surprised if following jesus brings suffering
we recognize that if we think about the life of jesus
we think about what happened when jesus came to earth we see the evil targeted jesus
as an infant king herod tried to have jesus killed as he began his public ministry the devil tried to
pull jesus off course from following god's will and as hostile forces came together to have jesus
arrested and then killed on the cross we recognize jesus life was one marked by suffering and peter says
remember we follow in his footsteps
peter of course heard the words of jesus for example in john chapter 18 if the world hates you
keep in mind that it hated me first a servant is not above his master
so our most basic question is what do i expect peter says don't be surprised by suffering
it's a challenge to us it's a challenge to us because we live in a very comfortable part of the world and we
live in the culture of comfort makes us ask the question am i ready to count the cost for following
jesus am i ready to share this as part of our message knowing that people like ease and leisure
and pleasure nobody likes the idea of suffering and cost is this something that i'm going to share
with someone as i share the reality of of the gospel that it might involve and it should involve
suffering for jesus in different times and in different ways do we recognize that suffering
for the sake of jesus is not a bad thing to avoid at all costs
peter also gives us encouragement the encouragement that when we suffer we're not alone in the sense that
it's not something that's unique and unusual for us rather it's normal but there's also the comfort of
shared support what we are going through brothers and sisters in christ perhaps are going through too
or have been through and so there is support and fellowship for us in our sufferings built into the
church and even more than that we recognize that jesus does not leave us alone as we suffer for him
i've been reading a book by paul tripp about church leadership and he says this he says at the heart of
every hope that the gospel offers is a suffering servant jesus is our hope he's the center of all our
hopes all our hopes are pinned on him and without his willingness to suffer even to death there would be
no forgiveness there would be no church so we suffer we think about suffering we must never lose sight of
what jesus suffered for our sake so that's the first question what's my expectation we're told not to be
surprised by suffering second question what's my attitude and here peter using again very striking
language says that we can rejoice in suffering for jesus in verses 13 to 16 now normally in about two
weeks time our city would be so inundated by people coming from all over the country all over the world to
run the edinburgh marathon and we can look back fondly on those days and the travel chaos that we used to
have on a sunday morning when the when the marathon was on um i don't know if you've noticed i i spot
them still occasionally the people wearing the blue t-shirts uh proudly saying edinburgh marathon
finisher and sometimes they're like really old t-shirts sometimes they're just from a couple of years back
whenever i see that my my thought is always how in the world has anyone put themselves through that
much suffering i was like no wonder they're wearing that if i managed to finish a marathon i'd be
wearing that i'd be wearing the medal and everything it's a badge of honor isn't it if you complete that
most grueling of races the t-shirt it's that badge of honor i suffered by finished as peter continues
troubleshooting our view of suffering he uses really striking language in this section so verse 13
you see he talks about rejoicing in verse 14 he talks about being blessed in verses 15 and 16 he
says it's not a social shame rather it should be a source of honor to suffer for jesus in other words
christian suffering should be like that marathon t-shirt it should be a badge of honor for us as the
people of god that we are so closely identified with jesus that we have the privilege of suffering for him
now what does he mean and what does he not mean when he talks about this how can he call us to rejoice
well let's have a look at the language let's look at verse 13 and think about what he says about joy
rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of christ so that you may be overjoyed
when his glory is revealed again he's calling to mind that as christians we follow in the footsteps of
jesus jesus jesus life on earth was one of suffering first before entering into glory
and that's where our joy is found
that that will be our joy too that we will see and enjoy the glory of jesus in the glory of heaven
and so we can have joy as we keep our eye on the prize as we remember future glory that's laid up
for us we don't rejoice in suffering for suffering's sake we rejoice because there's a reward coming
then in verse 14 he talks about being blessed
and notice how he reminds us again of the nature of their suffering verse 14 if you are insulted
because the name of christ you are blessed
for the spirit of glory and of god rests on you
there is blessing to be insulted as a follower of jesus it is evidence of faith the reality that the
spirit of god lives in a believer that the glory of god is made visible
that we get to bring glory to god as we suffer there's blessing in that
again we remember that peter heard the teaching of jesus and no doubt peter is remembering
words of jesus in the sermon on the mount at the end of the beatitudes
let me remind you of what jesus said in matthew chapter 5 and verse 11
blessed are you when people insult you persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me so there's the qualifier that's always there because of jesus rejoice and be glad
there's a rejoice word as well because great is your reward in heaven so there's blessing because there's
reward because we're identified with jesus and because we have the spirit in us and then verse 15 and 16
we see that there's honor to bear christ's name now we recognize in verse 15 not all suffering
it is good and honorable he says if you if you suffer for being a criminal for hating and hurting others
or if you suffer for being a busy body that's meddling in the lives of others there's no honor
in that rather that's that's a shameful thing for a christian but verse 16 however if you suffer as a
christian do not be ashamed but praise god that you bear that name there is again there's no shame
in suffering because you are a christian rather there is honor maybe not honor from the world but honor
from god takes us again to peter's own example if you read acts chapter 5 it's a wonderful chapter
of courageous faith peter and some of the apostles they've been arrested they've been told stop talking
about jesus and they say well we can't we got to obey god not men and so eventually they're released
but not before they've been beaten before they've been flogged and what's said of peter and the other
apostles is that they they came back to the church and they were rejoicing why were they rejoicing after
being beaten and imprisoned rejoicing because they've been counted worthy of suffering disgrace
for the name
to so honor jesus to recognize the privilege of being one of his is to be able to rejoice in suffering
that's the attitude that we are to have but that's a hard attitude to have isn't it that's really hard
to cultivate to have joy as we suffer for jesus is that a t-shirt i'm ready to wear as a badge of honor
that will only be true if we see jesus is worth it only true if we understand all that jesus has done for us
the bible is inviting us to see suffering for jesus as a gift of god's grace
freeing us from focus on ourself and pursuing happiness in in self and now rather pursuing ultimate
happiness in jesus our savior having our life centered on him we're being invited to see suffering for jesus
as a source as a source of honor not shame think about that if someone else sees something of jesus
in us if somebody else hears about jesus from us that should be a good thing
we should be glad of that even if people don't respond well there's honor in that
and of course he's reminding us always to see suffering for jesus in light of the gospel
our suffering can seem hard seem all-encompassing until we think about jesus suffering and dying to
forgive us suffering and dying to adopt us into his family suffering and dying to give us eternal life
suffering and dying to show us the full extent of god's love for us and in that light then our suffering
seems so small and temporary especially when we remember our reward is eternal and that takes us
towards the third troubleshooting question which is this what's my perspective on suffering and here in
verses 17 and 18 we are certainly being reminded that suffering for the christian it refines and not
destroys again going back to that that picture from verse 12 and back to first peter chapter 1 let me read
verses 6 and 7 of first peter 1 you can turn there if you have your bible in all this you greatly rejoice
though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials
these have come 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 honor when jesus christ is revealed so
peter uses this image for the church to think about suffering imagine a furnace and that process of
applying fire and heat to a metal ore in order to burn off the impurities so that we might be left with pure
metal with solid gold that purifying process and when we think about that being applied to a person's life
that brings a lot of heat that sounds uncomfortable but there's promise the end result is pure gold so peter uses
this picture in this section to say that that suffering that's the heat and we remember of course that suffering comes
from god's wise and loving hands as he purifies and tests his people with the result that
those who pass the test those who have true faith are those who are saved
so let's bear that in mind as we follow the logic of verses 17 and 18
verse 17 says for it is time
for judgment to begin with god's household
remember malachi 3
when the lord came where did he come first the lord would come
to the temple where would the refining the testing process begin it would begin
among among among the levites and the priests and now judgment will begin with god's household
new testament language for the church
god has this work of testing this fire of testing now for the people of god
and notice in our section there is a contrast drawn
between god's household also in verse 18 known as the righteous
and those in verse 17 who do not obey the gospel of god
those who reject the gospel and verse 18 the ungodly and the sinner so two
different people groups types in view and the key point for us to recognize is this
that yes peter says christians suffer and are tested in this life and that is to use the language of verse 18
that's heart simply put the the road of the christian faith which involves suffering for jesus
it will not always be easy it is heart but the final outcome
is that we are saved
yes there is pain but there is great gain
those hard experiences that we go through those
those fires of testing to use the imagery is the worst that christians will ever face
we will never face a worse judgment but rather we look forward when our faith is in jesus to an
eternity of joy and peace and without suffering
that's the perspective we need to have
that yes we suffer now but we will not suffer then
rather we have joy to come
but then the flip side
as peter gives this solemn reminder
to reject jesus
to say no to his forgiveness
his point is that if if christians suffer now how much worse will
judgment be for those who reject the gospel who say no
to jesus that won't just be temporary that will be
eternal eternal loss and not gain
so our perspective on suffering for jesus matters so much
it matters that we recognize it's not punishment
it's purifying
it's not a sign that we've been abandoned and forgotten by god but rather
he is testing us for his good purposes even when we can't necessarily always see that
it's important that we take this long-term view of suffering that we would be ready to suffer now for jesus
because we long for eternal glory
recognizing that to say no to jesus
is to face the prospect of eternal misery
we recognize through the teaching of the bible that jesus has come to destroy evil that jesus has come to destroy
sin all that's wrong with the world all that's wrong in our hearts jesus has come to deal with that
and he will return to deal with that once and for all but even right now there's a refining process going on in the hearts of his people
that jesus is working renewal in us
right now and that process will be complete when he
returns
and so we need to have that perspective
so that we might trust god to do his work in us even when that involves
suffering
our final
troubleshooting question
is this one what's my
response what am i going to do
when suffering comes
how am i going to live
peter urges us to trust god
and do good
it's there in verse 19
so then those who suffer according to god's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator
and continue to do good
peter and his troubleshooting guide has told us suffering for jesus is normal not strange
suffering for jesus marks us out as his so it could be cause of joy and not despair
suffering for jesus is part of god's work in us so we can persevere and not give up
and now he takes us to this final question
when suffering comes
which way are we going to go how are we going to respond
for exploring christianity is this our response we're ready to make when we think about verse 19 and in light of suffering
as we've lived as christians for years when suffering comes are we ready to keep
going in this pattern
one that we would trust god
commit ourselves to god
commit ourselves to his care
recognizing two things that peter draws to mind here one
that we commit ourselves to our faithful god
the one who's faithful to his promises
faithful to his people
faithful and true to his own character
and that he is a faithful
creator
he's in control
he knows us he knows what's best for us
he can be trusted he knows what he's
doing
so we commit ourselves to our faithful creator and
we continue doing good
which in this context means keep on living for jesus
even if that brings us into more suffering
remember that's the thing that brings the suffering is doing good
so we trust god and we continue to love and serve jesus love and serve others well
challenging isn't it
can i entrust my life to god in the bad times and in the good times
can i trust the character of god and especially can i trust the character of god as i see it revealed in jesus
can i entrust my life to god as i remember
the gospel
as i remember all that jesus has done
it's really interesting peter uses the same language
of jesus himself in first peter chapter 2
and let me read again first peter 2 and at verse 21
to this you were called
suffer for doing good
to this you were called because christ suffered for you
leaving you an example
that you should follow in his steps
he committed no sin
and no deceit was found in his mouth
when they hurled their insults at him he did not retaliate
when he suffered he made no threats
instead
he entrusted himself
to him who judges justly
jesus entrusted himself
to his father
and he invites us as his people
to do the same
to trust him
and continue
doing good
so peter's been helping us to troubleshoot our response to suffering
peter's realistic and the bible is realistic
that suffering will come for the people of god
and that's why he spends so much time on the topic
with these young christians
our culture
and most likely our natural temperament
would make us want to avoid suffering
would make it perhaps hard for us to learn lessons
to see that god can do something good as we suffer
and so peter has looked always to keep us close to two big truths
about the fact that our suffering comes from our god
and our god can be trusted
and he's faithful
and he's wise
and he's good
and that jesus suffered for us
jesus came as god's answer to sin and suffering
jesus gives the hope of a world without sin and suffering
jesus gives strength today
to respond well in our suffering
so when we think about suffering for jesus name
is it something that we will expect
be ready for
ready to see god's purpose in it
to have that right perspective on it
and will we commit ourselves
to our faithful creator
to jesus our savior
and continue to do good
let's pray for his help
in that
let's pray
lord god we recognize that
that no suffering in and of itself
is enjoyable
but we thank you that
you are a wise and a good and a faithful
and a trustworthy god
and that if it is your will that we suffer
for the sake of jesus
you have good purposes behind that
so we pray that you would help us
to be ready to commit ourselves to you
our faithful creator
that we would be committed
to living for the glory of the lord jesus
because we recognize all he has suffered
in our place
to bring us salvation
that in light of the gospel
it would seem a small thing
and indeed it would seem like a great act of worship for us
to suffer for the sake of the lord jesus
help us to respond well we pray
prepare our hearts
so that when suffering comes
that we might live for you
we pray in jesus name
amen
now we will hear
as we close
a hymn
i will wait for you
out of the depths i cry to you
in darkest places i will call
incline your ear to me
and hear my cry for mercy lord
were you to count my sinful ways
how could i come before your throne
yet full forgiveness meets my gaze
i stand redeemed by grace alone
i will wait for you
on your word
i will be life
i will wait for you
surely wait for you
till my soul
is satisfied
so put your hope in god alone
take courage in his power to save
completely and forever
one
by christ's emerging
from the grave
i will wait for you
on your word
i will rely
i will wait for you
surely wait for you
till my soul
is satisfied
now he has come
to make a way
and god himself
has paid the price
that all who trust in him today
finds healing
finds healing in his sacrifice
i will wait for you
on your word
i will rely
i will wait for you
surely wait for you
till my soul
is satisfied
i will wait for you
through the storm
and through the night
i will wait for you
surely wait for you
for your love
is my delight
let's stand together
for our closing prayer
which is drawn from
some of moses final words
as he blesses the people of god
deuteronomy 33
verse 12
let the beloved of the lord
rest secure in him
for he shields him
all day long
and the one the lord loves
rests between his shoulders
the eternal god is your refuge
and underneath
are the everlasting arms
amen
who five
Thank you.