A PILGRIM'S EXPECTATION

Introduction

-[1 Peter 4]

-When I was a kid, Ripley’s Believe It or Not had a TV show that put on display all sorts of strange and bizarre oddities. Ripley’s has been a long-standing franchise of books and aquariums and museums and the like, and is still going strong in showing the world strange things. From a two-headed parrot to a horse that paints to a full-sized knitted Ferrari—there are a lot of strange things in this world.

-Do you know what else is strange? We are—and I am referring to is the American church. We are strange in that we have had relative peace and prosperity for roughly 2-1/2 centuries. We haven’t suffered greatly for the faith nor have we really faced any significant persecution. Yes, the church in some ways is always opposed by the world, but we have never suffered as most of our brothers and sisters have suffered in the past or like our brothers and sisters are suffering now in the rest of the world.

-And the reason that I say that we are strange is because in the passage we are looking at today Peter says that suffering for the faith is not a strange thing—in fact it should be expected. If we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, it puts us at odds with the belief and spirit of the world. We no longer follow the world system or the spiritual powers behind it. We are now in enemy territory and the enemy is mad we belong to Christ and not him. And the enemy doesn’t want us messing up what he’s got going on in this world. So, the enemy does what he can to cause us to suffer through persecution.

-While we think suffering and persecution to be strange and foreign, Peter says that it’s not strange and should be expected. If we’re not being persecuted for our faith in Christ, we’re the strange ones, and it may be an indication we’re not doing this Christianity thing right. So, what we find in the passage is that Peter exhorts Christian Pilgrims to expect suffering and persecution to be normal in this life while we are still on this world.

1 Peter 4:12–19 NET 2nd ed.

12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. 16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.

-[pray]

-The book of 1 Peter has been Peter’s reminder to churches that we do not belong to this world the way it is. We have been made new for a different life and a different world. We are pilgrims passing through until we get to our destination. But while we’re passing through we serve the Lord gladly, but we meet the opposition of those who still belong to the world…to the enemy. We might suffer for a time, but the suffering is temporary. So, there is an expectation of suffering and persecution. Peter says in v. 12 don’t be astonished likes it’s a strange thing. Instead, expect it. So we ask, how can we remain steadfast in following Christ with this expectation of suffering hanging over our heads? Well, Peter gives us some lessons to consider that will help form our beliefs about this expected suffering. First, we notice that he touches upon:

1) Our attitude toward suffering

-Peter says in v. 13 to rejoice that we suffer just like our Lord suffered. Not that the suffering or persecution itself is joyful, but because we have been treated just like the Savior whom we say that we desire to be most like. Often, we say we want to be Christ-like, maybe meaning His love or His holiness, but suffering like Him is also part of it. And we face it with joy because it truly connects us with Christ.

-This is the consistent theme of Scripture. James told us:

James 1:2 NET 2nd ed.

2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,

-After their persecution by the Sanhedrin, it says of the apostles:

Acts 5:41 NET 2nd ed.

41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

-Paul gives us some insight when he writes:

Romans 5:3 NET 2nd ed.

3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

-We rejoice because our suffering for the faith identifies us with our Savior and builds our faith. We actually are never more like our Savior than when we suffer for truth and the gospel. Paul said:

Philippians 1:29 NET 2nd ed.

29 For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,

-And so, we find it a time to rejoice when we suffer for His sake, because we come to know Him more. That’s why Paul could say:

Philippians 3:10 NET 2nd ed.

10 My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death,

-Our world has perverted the Christian message into saying that if you really know Christ, you will be healthy and prosperous. But the Bible says if you really know Christ, it will come through suffering and hardship and persecution. But the point is that we get to know Him and be more like Him, and that is the reason to rejoice. We also rejoice in our sufferings because of Peter’s second lesson, where He talks about:

2) Our blessings in suffering

-Peter’s perspective is that since this world is not our home we don’t set our minds on things below, but look at things from the perspective of eternity. Yes, in the here and now you suffer for the faith, but consider the spiritual blessings you have both now and in the future. Remember what Paul said:

Romans 8:18 NET 2nd ed.

18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us.

-And so, with that same mindset, Peter tells us in v. 13

1 Peter 4:13 NET 2nd ed.

13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.

-If we share in Christ’s sufferings, it is a reminder to us that we will share in His glory as well. When the glory of Christ is revealed at our death or at His return, it is revealed that we share in it with him, and that is a reason to rejoice and be glad. Christ was victorious over sin and suffering and death, and we are blessed to be able to share in that victory. As Paul said:

Romans 8:17 NET 2nd ed.

17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.

-If you suffer with Him, you share in His glory. But there is another blessing that is ours when persecuted and suffering, and that is it is a demonstrable proof that we have the Holy Spirit and we belong to God. Look at v. 14 again:

1 Peter 4:14 NET 2nd ed.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.

-If you are truly persecuted for the faith, not because of anything you have done, it is proof you belong to God and that the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you. It is another means of assurance that you are what you claim to be (if you have trusted in Christ).

-Over the years for various legal and financial transactions I have had to provide my birth certificate in order to prove that I am who I say that I am. I am from where I say that I am from. It is a proof of identity. I have other proofs of identity, but my birth certificate is one of them.

-There are many proofs of your identity in Christ, but your being able to stand up to the suffering of persecution is a proof that you have the Holy Spirit which is proof that you belong to God. Or, as Paul said in a verse I read earlier, it shows that you are an heir to the eternal inheritance that He has for His people.

-And so, suffering persecution actually is a reminder of blessings that belong to us. But Peter has to make a very important point, so he talks about:

3) Our motivation for suffering

-We have to consider why it is that we are suffering persecution. And so Peter gives us this warning in v. 15:

1 Peter 4:15 NET 2nd ed.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.

-He has given a warning like this before in this epistle, but he is telling us to be careful what motivates the suffering? Are you being persecuted for the faith or because of something you’ve done? Are you being persecuted because of your love for Jesus, or are you being suffering because you are rude and crude and annoying?

-In v. 15 he warns the church: don’t suffer because of your sin or for your poor choices. He lists murder, stealing, criminal activity, and being a troublemaker/busybody—suffering because people are sick and tired of you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. That list sounds like strange extremes—everything from murder to being a busybody. He’s using these extremes to tell you that if you are suffering because of something you did that wasn’t biblical or because of your bad attitude or because of poor life choices, then it’s your own fault. Don’t try to say that you’re being persecuted for Christ when Christ had nothing to do with it.

-How many times have we seen Christians who blame consequences on persecution? Maybe you’re running late for church, but by golly you’re going to get here. So, you are cruising 90 to nothing down Wall Triana and you get pulled over by a cop and get a speeding ticket. You might think you’re suffering because you were trying to get to church and the devil wanted to slow you down. No, you’re not suffering for Christ, you’re suffering because you’ve got a lead foot. Jesus had nothing to do with it.

-Not all suffering in supposed persecution really is for Christ. Remember how v. 14 started: IF YOU ARE INSULTED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST—that’s persecution. And look again at v. 16:

1 Peter 4:16 NET 2nd ed.

16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.

-We are so used to the word CHRISTIAN that we don’t even think about this. But when Peter wrote this epistle, the word CHRISTIAN was a derogatory term that culture had put upon them. If you suffer as a CHRISTIAN means that people are hostile toward you and lie about you and say all manner of evil about you (as Jesus would describe it in the Sermon on the Mount). There are no modern equivalent names that are used, but just consider what the enemies of Christ say about us: you are nothing but an intolerant, bible-thumping, fundie, hateful, holy-roller bigot. That would be about the equivalent of the word CHRISTIAN in the day of Peter.

-If you suffer for the name of Christ and because you stand on the Word of God, Peter says DON’T BE ASHAMED. Instead, glorify God that He has given you the privilege to bear the name of Christ. History might be repeating itself. The word CHRISTIAN might be used in a derogatory way again. So, if they insult us because of whose name we carry, then so be it. I’m not going to be ashamed of that name. If someone says to me, YOU’RE SUCH A CHRISTIAN, I’ll say, THANK YOU. THAT’S THE GREATEST THING YOU COULD EVER SAY ABOUT ME. Is the motivation behind your suffering of persecution because of your own bad choices or because of your connection to Christ? But there’s another lesson Peter gives that might be hard to swallow when he talks about:

4) Our refinement in suffering

-God chooses to use the suffering of persecution in our lives. Consider what Peter says in v. 19—he talks about the fact that people may suffer according to the will of God. This is a hard pill to swallow, but God might will it that you suffer for the name of Christ. Why would He do that? He allows it so that you will be refined. Just like they refine precious metal to get out the impurities, God refines you and me to get out the impurities.

-Sometimes it is a means of discipline because of things in our life that we refuse to get rid of, so God kind of has to force it out of us. Consider the first part of v. 17 where Peter says FOR IT IS TIME FOR JUDGMENT TO BEGIN, STARTING WITH THE HOUSE OF GOD. Did you know that God judges His own people? He did it to the nation of Israel. He used the Assyrians and the Babylonians and many others to judge His people. Do we think that we are beyond the judgment of God? Now, the judgment of God for His people is different than His judgment against those who aren’t His people. The judgment of God for His children is for the purpose of discipline and refinement. The judgment of God against those who are not His people is His righteous, holy wrath against sin.

-Think about what Peter says in v. 17. If God will deal with His own people, WHAT WILL BE THE FATE OF THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE GOSPEL OF GOD? If God deals with sin in His children through the judgment of discipline, He isn’t going to hold back judgment against those who refuse to believe in Jesus. He quotes Proverbs 11:31 in v. 18 of our passage to make his point: if God won’t spare His children from temporal disciplinary judgments, when the final judgment comes how bad will it be for those who aren’t forgiven in Christ?

-God hates sin, even in His own people, and He will allow the suffering to refine. As one author described this work of God:

When things are going well for the believer, he tends to feel more and more secure in himself and tends to partake of the world more and more. Perhaps he partakes of only little tidbits of the pleasure and possessions of the world, but nevertheless, he is still partaking of some worldliness. The result is that the believer does not concentrate and focus upon Christ like he should. When things are going well, he does not pray and worship nor fellowship and commune with God like he should. He becomes somewhat contaminated and polluted with a sense of self-sufficiency and worldliness. When this happens, God has to do something to awaken the believer. One thing that He often does is use persecution to arouse the believer. God can use persecution as a means of judgment, as a means to stir the believer…to draw closer to God.

-God uses the suffering of persecution as a cleansing work. And we mentioned earlier that this is a source of joy. Some people might think that suffering through persecution is an indication that God has no interest in us. On the contrary, it actually shows He has an intense interest in us—He is interested in our holiness and our righteousness. He wants to present to His Son a pure bride. But very quickly, there is one last lesson:

5) Our refuge in suffering

-Look at v. 19 again:

1 Peter 4:19 NET 2nd ed.

19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.

-On this Fathers Day we are reminded that our heavenly Father desires to be our source of strength during our times of hardship. Peter says to entrust our souls to the faithful Creator—run to Him for refuge and trust Him even when things don’t seem to be making much sense. And when God doesn’t do what we think he should do, we will turn to worldly or fleshly alternatives instead. Us humans talk a big game, but we don’r really trust God most of the time.

-It makes me think of a story James Montgomery Boice told about a man who was climbing up a steep mountain on his way to the summit when he began to slip. Unable to stop himself, he slid back down the treacherous incline toward a cliff that plunged a thousand feet to the canyon floor. He was sure he would be killed. But just as he was about to go over the edge he threw his hands out and managed to catch a small branch. There he hung. He had saved himself. But he could not get back onto the incline, and he knew it was just a matter of time until his grip loosened and he fell. He was not a very religious man. But this was obviously the time to become one, if ever. So he looked up to heaven and called out, “Is there anyone up there who can help me?”

He did not expect an answer. So he was greatly surprised when the deep voice of God came back, saying, “Yes, I am here, and I can help you. But first you are going to have to let go of that branch.”

After a long pause, the man looked up and called out again, “Is there anybody else up there who can help me?”

-God offers to be the one with whom we entrust our souls, and when God’s ways don’t match ours we look for an alternative. But only God can be our refuge in suffering. We entrust ourselves to Him, and it says in v. 19 we do good. As Christ called us to do, we do good to everyone: our enemies…our brothers and sisters in Christ. Everybody.

Conclusion

-I’ll close with this thought. I have never watched the show Stranger Things, many of you have and it is probably the most popular show out there right now. It’s a show about the paranormal and the supernatural and alternate dimensions and scientific experiments gone awry. And in it there are a lot of strange things.

-All those strange things are fictional. And another strange thing that is fictional is the idea that you can follow Christ and not suffer persecution. That is a strange thing indeed. So, if we are going to faithfully follow Christ and conform ourselves to Him, we should expect it.

-Christian, come and pray for yourself, your family, and your church for the days ahead when we will no longer be strange, but will experience that which is the norm for believers.

-But for those who have never trusted that Jesus died for them and rose again for them, I want you to consider Peter’s words that if judgment comes to the house of God, what is going to be your fate if you are disobedient to the gospel of God? The gospel of God is repent and believe in Jesus...