SUFFERING FOR CHRIST
1 PETER 4:12-19
INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATION One of my children asked why we don’t practice fasting or flagellation during the observant of Lent. Flagellation is the practice of a person to whip himself or herself as a public penance. iblically speaking, the best expression of repentance is a changed lifestyle as a result of faith and obedience to Christ’s Lordship.
On the other hand, some believers think that since they have expressed their faith and obedience to Christ, they should not suffer anymore. Christ already suffered for us therefore we should just reap the blessing of his sacrifices on the cross.
Our meditation this morning reminds us that suffering is very much a part of our relationship with Christ. Understanding the reasons and the process of dealing with them should help us go through with it with ease.
Please open your bibles to 1 Peter 4:12-19 and let us find out why we need to suffer for Christ and what we can do to cope with them.
EXPOSITION
Our passage says that early believers were surprised at the painful trial they suffered and thought that it was as though something strange were happening to them.
What kind of sufferings were Peter’s readers experiencing?
1. Suffering for doing what is good because one is conscious of God. (1 Peter 2:19)
It is obvious that people do not appreciate your good deeds because you are conscious of God. They think that you simply want to impress others and make them look bad. Others thought that you are self-righteous and critical of their behaviors.
2. Suffering for being a Christian. (1 Peter 4:16)
Not everyone recognize the identity and intention of Christ when He died on the cross. A lot of people insulted him and Jesus said that if this happened to him then we must prepare ourselves for the same destiny.
Peter said “don’t be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you.”
Why would Peter’s readers not be surprised at the painful trial they were suffering?
1. Sufferings prove the genuineness of our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Suffering is not to be regarded as something foreign to Christian experience but rather as a refining test. As gold is extracted and refined by fire so is our faith being refined by trials and sufferings.
The genuineness and strength of faith can be proven by subjecting it to trials and sufferings. God wanted us to have faith that will pass every type of testing. We must have faith that outlived the sufferings and trials of life.
ILLUSTRATION Christians are like tea; their real strength is not drawn out until they get into hot water. —Daily Bread
2. Sufferings are part of God’s calling. (1 Peter 2:21-23)
Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" (John 15:18). Let us realize that suffering is part of the package that Christianity offers. Sufferings are instrument of Satan to discourage us but they are God’s instrument to develop Christ likeness in us.
ILLUSTRATION A LITTLE PIECE OF WOOD once complained bitterly because its owner kept whittling away at it, cutting it, and filling it with holes, but the one who was cutting it so relentlessly paid no attention to its complaining. He was making a flute out of that piece of ebony, and he was too wise to desist from doing so, even though the wood complained bitterly.
He seemed to say, “Little piece of wood, without these holes, and all this cutting, you would be a black stick forever—just a useless piece of ebony. What I am doing now may make you think that I am destroying you, but, instead, I will change you into a flute, and your sweet music will charm the souls of men and comfort many a sorrowing heart. My cutting you is the making of you, for only thus can you be a blessing in the world.”—M. R. Dehaan, Broken Things
3. Sufferings allow us to participate in the sufferings of Christ. (1 Peter 4:13)
Christian should rejoice because he is participating in Christ’s sufferings. There is no glory without sacrifices. (2 Corinthians 1:5) Christian rejoicing rests on the fact that as Christians share in Christ’s suffering, so they will share in his glory with great joy.
ILLUSTRATION In his book Knowing God, J. I. Packer writes: “It is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy the greatest, when the cross is heaviest.”
4. Sufferings reveal the presence of the Spirit of glory and of God. (1 Peter 4:14)
Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven…" (Matthew 5:11-12).
In Matthew the cause for happiness is the reward in heaven. In 1 Peter it is the possession of the messianic Spirit: "For the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." (Isaiah 11:2) The Spirit of the Father and of the Son now rest on and in every believer.
What can we do in the midst of sufferings and trials?
1. We should praise God that we bear the name of Christ. (1 Peter 4:16)
To suffer as a "Christian" is no shame but a privilege. The phrase "Do not be ashamed"--i.e., to suffer as a Christian. must have reminded Peter of his own denial of Christ Jesus Christ is not ashamed of us (Hebrews 2:11)—though many times He surely could be! The Father is not ashamed to be called our God (Hebrews 11:16).
That is why, Jesus warned his disciples not to be ashamed of him and his message. (Mark 8:38) If we seek to glorify God, then we will not be ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ. It was this determination not to be ashamed that encouraged Paul when he went to Rome, when he suffered in Rome, and when he faced martyrdom in Rome.
2. We should commit ourselves to our faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)
Christians who are suffering according to the divine will are to "commit themselves" to God who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23) The combination of "faithful" and "Creator" reminds the believer of God’s love and power in the midst of trials so that they will not doubt his interest or ability.
The word “commit” is a banking term; it means “to deposit for safekeeping.” Of course, when you deposit your life in God’s bank, you always receive eternal dividends on your investment. This picture reminds us that we are valuable to God. He made us, redeemed us, lives in us, guards, and protects us.
ILLUSTRATION I saw a savings and loan association advertisement in the newspaper, reaffirming the financial stability of the firm and the backing of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In days of financial unsteadiness, such assurances are necessary to depositors.
But when you “deposit” your life with God, you have nothing to fear; for He is able to keep you.
3. We should continue to do what is good. (1 Peter 4:19)
When a person suffers especially unjustly, it is so easy to commit inappropriate behavior to compensate his sufferings. Our example should be our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:23) He did not retaliate nor make no threats but simply entrust himself to God the Father.
The continuation in good works or action is a concrete sign of the faith that is the essence of being a Christian Make it an opportunity to testify or be a witness for Christ. (1 Peter 3:14-17) This commitment involves every area of our lives and every hour of our lives.
CONCLUSION
Whether you a follower of Christ or not, you would suffer and have trials in life. For the followers of Christ, it is a calling. However, let us not suffer because of ungodliness but for the name of Christ. Always remember that our sufferings and trials are just temporary. Soon all of these will be over and be replaced by God’s glory.
