Tested and Tried (1 Peter 4:12-19)
- so how did you do last week?
- when I left you last Sunday, I challenged you to commit
to God in one of four areas
- I asked you to commit, for one week, to pray, love,
be hospitable, or begin discovering and using your gifts
- many of you raised your hands, and I’m curious
– how did you do?
- so I’m going to ask you a favor
- if you followed through on your commitment, and something
good came out of it, I’d like you to write down a short note and
give it to me describing what happened
- and next Sunday morning I want to share some of the
results without identifying any names or identities
- in fact, if anything – even one thing – from
our study of 1 Peter has made a difference in your life, I’d like
you to share it with me by giving it to me this week, getting it into
the church office to my attention before Thursday
- and next Sunday, as we wrap up our study of 1 Peter,
we’ll begin by celebrating what God has done through his Word
- let’s pray before we open God’s Word this
morning
-
- just a few months ago, a young man by the name of Hasan
became a Christian after an evangelist passing out gospel booklets in
a nearby city told him about Jesus Christ
- in this North African country, Hasan knew the risks,
but he returned home and told his family of his decision to become a
Christian
- his father, an emir, ordered him to renounce his faith
before a council of village elders, but Hasan refused
- and the father, in keeping with Islamic law for apostasy,
had his 15-year-old son publicly beheaded
-
- a Punjab district court sentenced Pakistani Christian
Ayoob Masih to death on April 27, declaring him guilty of blasphemy
against the prophet Mohammed
- Ayoob, age 31, was convicted and sentenced to hang
under section 295-c of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries a mandatory
death penalty.
- in addition to the death sentence, Ayoob was ordered
to pay the state a fine of 100,000 rupees ($2,500).
- all over the world, in countries such as Algeria, China,
Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, and Sri Lanka, it is estimated that
two hundred million Christians live in danger of imprisonment, persecution,
and even death because of their Christian beliefs
- last year, 160,000 Christians were martyred
- in more than 60 countries around the world, Christians
are being tortured, murdered, and even crucified because of their faith
-
- I don’t know of any recent martyrs in Canada
- however, a Christian liberal arts university in British
Columbia recently applied to the B.C. College of Teachers to offer the
fifth year of teacher training necessary to be a certified teacher in
that province
- their request was approved, and subsequently overturned
because it was felt that "Trinity Western’s Community Standards
discriminate against homosexuals and that Trinity Western education
graduates may therefore be biased against homosexuals"
- the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that this
argument is "inherently flawed" and that there is good evidence
that graduates are not biased against homosexuals
- the case, however, has been appealed, and a decision
is not expected until October
- the problem? that the Christian university welcomes
all students, but asks that while they attend, they live according to
Christian behavior, and abstain from premarital sex, adultery and homosexual
behavior while attending Trinity Western
-
- why should believers, who generally live quiet and
peaceable lives, be targeted in ways that make life very difficult for
them, even resulting in many parts of this world in physical torture
or death?
- I am not a prophet, or a son of a prophet, but I think
we can safely predict that even in Canada, it will become more costly
to be a believer in Jesus Christ in the years to come
-
- Peter gives four instructions in this morning’s
passage, 1 Peter 4:12-19, the first one of which is especially important
for us in Canada to hear
- if you’ve been here on previous weeks, you know
that Peter is writing to a group of churches in the area now known as
Turkey
- the theme of Peter’s writing is really how to
live as a Christian in a hostile world
- it’s possible that as Peter writes this section,
he is addressing a group for whom persecution has already become a reality
- in any case, for all of Peter’s recipients, persecution,
and even death, was going to become a reality in their lives very soon
- as Peter focuses on this more intense form of suffering,
he instructs us on how to react
- AND THE FIRST THING HE SAYS IS: EXPECT SUFFERING
- (1 Peter 4:12) Dear friends, do not be surprised at
the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were
happening to you.
- it’s interesting that when something bad happens,
our first response is to be surprised – "I can’t believe
this is happening!"
- we’ve bought into the idea that we should always
be happy, comfortable, and successful
- but this isn’t so!
- the Word of God brings us crashing down into reality,
and tells us, "There’s nothing strange about fiery trials.
In fact, expect them"
-
- Charles Swindoll says, "If…we view life as
a schoolroom and God as the instructor, it should come as no surprise
when we encounter pop quizzes and periodic examinations….Maturity
in the Christian life….is measured by our ability to withstand
the tests that come our way without having them shake our foundation
or throw us into an emotional tailspin"
-
- a lot of Christians have an ejection-seat mentality
- as soon as they get into difficulty, they want to pull
the ejection cord and zip off into glory, hoping to get away from it
all
- the Bible is clear that if you are a believer, you
are to expect suffering for Christ’s sake as part of your life
- (Philippians 1:29) For it has been granted to you on
behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for
him.
- throughout history and to this present day, Christians
have suffered at the hands of the unbelieving world
- a dedicated Christian who builds his or her patterned
after the life of Jesus will likely suffer the fate of Jesus
- Jesus said:
- (John 15:20) Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No
servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will
persecute you also.
-
- it’s important to realize here that we aren’t
talking about normal human trials that are just part of life
- we’re not talking about lost keys and flat tires
and sore backs
- we’re talking about suffering as a result of our
commitment to live like Jesus Christ
- and Peter says, expect it! it will come!
-
- part of our problem, I believe, is that we’ve
grown accustomed to a Christianity that costs us nothing
- when Hasan became a believer, he understood the risks
when he returned home and told his family of his new faith
- we need to understand and communicate that Christians
should not be surprised if they suffer shame and loss of status because
of their faith
- whether we think of believers in mainland China, some
Muslim countries, or in Canada, persecution is a theme woven tightly
in the fabric of the Christian story
- when it does occur, we shouldn’t be surprised
-
- instruction one: expect suffering
- INSTRUCTION NUMBER TWO: REJOICE IN SUFFERING
- (1 Peter 4:13) But rejoice that you participate in
the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory
is revealed.
- (1 Peter 4:14) If you are insulted because of the name
of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
on you.
- instead of being thrown off balance for our trials,
Christians should rejoice to the extent that they realize that they
are sharing Christ’s sufferings
- Paul taught the shocking teaching in Colossians 1:24
that his own sufferings somehow completed the sufferings of Jesus –
not that we need to add anything to Christ’s sufferings, but that
we are called to stand, sometimes painfully, against the world
- and here Peter shares a similar thought
- rejoice when you’re suffering, because when you
suffer, you are being joined with Christ
- losing status and being persecuted puts you right into
the company of Jesus
- Jesus went before us, suffering like us, and has left
us an example to follow
- what’s more, when we suffer, we’re told that
Jesus is interceding for us as a sympathetic high priest who knows exactly
how it feels
- so Peter says, "Rejoice! You’re in the thick
of what he experienced"
- you’re living and suffering just as Jesus did
-
- in fact, Peter mentions two benefits of participating
in the suffering of Christ
- he says in verse 13 that if we suffer, we’ll be
able to look forward even more to the revelation of Christ's glory
- (1 Peter 4:13) But rejoice that you participate in
the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory
is revealed.
- one day, when Jesus comes back, what seems presently
unjust and difficult to face will be turned into a celebration of joy
- Christ’s glory will be revealed, God will vindicate
his people, and we will be ushered into pure joy, peace, and love
- as the old spiritual says, "There’s a better
day a’coming; fare thee well, fare thee well"
- as somebody else has said, "God will have the
last word; we dare to wait for that"
- what would cause a young person to be beheaded by his
father if he didn’t believe that Christ’s glory would one
day be revealed, and that what lay ahead is much more valuable than
what presently exists?
-
- another benefit is that we experience the extra help
of the Spirit when we suffer
- (1 Peter 4:14) If you are insulted because of the name
of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
on you.
- Peter gives us an example of suffering: being insulted
for the name of Christ
- this is hardly a severe example compared to physical
injury, but it’s a potent tool in the hands of Satan
- when these words were written, the concept of honor
and shame were much more important
- but even today, when we receive criticisms and insults
and lose status for our faith, that’s enough to intimidate most
of us
-
- when anxieties and cares jump up to terrify us as we’re
suffering, when we are being insulted for our faith, we are guaranteed
the ministry of the Spirit, who enables us to keep doing good and to
keep bringing glory to God
- when we suffer for Christ’s sake, we will enjoy
the unusual fullness and presence of the Holy Spirit to bless, strengthen,
and to give a foretaste of heavenly glory
- if you read the story of Stephen’s martyrdom in
Acts 7, that’s exactly what happened to him
-
- remember that you are never closer, never more a recipient
of his strength, than when trials come upon you
- the highest privilege in the world is to suffer for
the sake of Christ
- so when we suffer shame for Jesus, we need to realize
that we’re sharing in the suffering of Christ, that God is preparing
a better day for us, and that the Spirit is giving us extra doses of
his strengthening ministry at that time
- this helps us to endure your suffering with joy
-
- Peter’s first instruction was to expect suffering;
his second instruction was to rejoice in suffering
- INSTRUCTION THREE: EXAMINE YOUR LIFE
- Peter says, "First, ask yourself why you’re
suffering"
- (1 Peter 4:15) If you suffer, it should not be as a
murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
- (1 Peter 4:16) However, if you suffer as a Christian,
do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
- not all suffering is the result of good Christian conduct
- some Christians are superb at doing dumb things and
then spiritualizing them to get glory out of them
- it’s obvious, the text states, that if you engage
in illegal activities, there will be legal consequences
- the last word in verse 15 is interesting: it’s
translated meddler or busybody
- it’s an uncommon word, meaning someone who gets
involved in the affairs of another
- this brings to mind the law that says "He who
sticketh his nose in somebody’s business findeth a fist at the
end of it"
-
- if we suffer as a result of our own sinful behavior,
then we’re not suffering for the glory of God, but simply as a
result of our own wrongful actions
- when people know we’re believers, we’ll literally
be under the spotlight, and we must not take any action that will discredit
God
- Billy Graham said once, "I would rather be struck
down dead than to discredit God"
-
- Peter reminds us that Christians aren’t exempt
from suffering – and many times the suffering is necessary
- (1 Peter 4:17) For it is time for judgment to begin
with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome
be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
- (1 Peter 4:18) And, "If it is hard for the righteous
to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
- the word for judgment here doesn’t mean
condemnation, but rather an evaluation
- God is sending the refining fire of judgment to judge
us within the church, and it’s going to move outward later to those
outside the church
- we aren’t exempt from suffering, and our sufferings
are part of God’s evaluation of us
- it will leave no one untouched
- but God guarantees that we will be judged
-
- Stuart Briscoe points out that "if the family
of God doesn’t do its job, God will not tolerate it, and church
history proves this is true"
- if you go to the birthplace of Christianity in the
Middle East, you’ll find plenty of beautiful ruins, but few churches
- the center of the church then moved to North Africa;
go there today and you’ll find few churches, but many Muslims
- Western Europe became the focal point: go to Western
Europe and you’ll see "beautiful, gorgeous cathedrals full
of emptiness and tourists"
- from Europe the momentum moved to North America, and
there are those who believe that already the momentum has moved from
North America
- "Why? Because Christ has shown that if his own
people will not accept responsibility and face up to accountability,
if they think they are exempt from all difficulty, they are not living
in reality. We are not sacrosanct, and the harsh reality is that judgment
may come sooner than we think"
- we need to be purged and refined, so examine yourself
-
- INSTRUCTION NUMBER FOUR: COMMIT YOURSELF
- when suffering for Christ, commit yourself
- (1 Peter 4:19) So then, those who suffer according
to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and
continue to do good.
- the word commit could better be entrust
- it’s a banking term that means to deposit something
valuable for safekeeping
- when it comes to trials, we can deposit ourselves into
God’s safekeeping, knowing that we’re completely safe with
him
-
- I don’t know what kept Hasan, a baby Christian,
so committed that he was willing to be killed by his father for his
faith
- I don’t know why Ayoob Masih refused to renounce
his faith, choosing instead to be hung
- or maybe I do
- maybe it was because they had entrusted themselves
to their faithful Creator and continued to do good
- with two hundred million Christians around the world
living in danger of imprisonment, persecution, and even death because
of their Christian beliefs, what’s wrong with us?
- why don’t we expect suffering?
- why are we surprised when it comes?
- and why are we ashamed to stand up for Jesus Christ,
even if it means that we’ll be insulted or shamed?
- we do a great disservice to Hasan, Ayoob, and the 160,000
believers who were martyred last year alone
-
- let’s pray
- Father, we pray for believers who this morning are
imprisoned and persecuted because of their faith
- there are literally millions this morning who are suffering
as a result of their faith
- we pray those who are this morning on death row, whose
only crime is that they follow Christ
- I pray that you would give them great boldness and
courage in their convictions, that regardless of the results that they
would continue to entrust themselves to you
- (Hebrews 13:3) Remember those in prison as if you were
their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves
were suffering.
- Father:
- thank you for the religious freedom you have given
us in this country
- help us not to take for granted
- and where perhaps the worst thing we will face is a
loss of status or a few insults for following you, give us the boldness
to do what needs to be done to remain faithful
- we’re convicted when we remember that judgment
begins with us, and if we don’t make the grade, you just might
refine us some more
- Lord, make us worthy to be counted among Hasan and
Ayoob, who trusted you to the point of death, I pray.
- Amen.
