FAITH FOR THE FURNACE
I Peter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Every Christian who lives a godly life experiences a certain amount of persecution. Some people resist the truth and oppose the Gospel of Christ on the job, in school, in the neighborhood, and perhaps even in the family. No matter what a believer says or does, these people find fault and criticize. Peter dealt with this kind of "normal persecution" in the last part of his letter.
But in this section, Peter explained about a special kind of persecution--a "fiery trial"-
-that was about to overtake the entire church. It would not be occasional personal persecution from those around them but official persecution from those above them.
Thus far, Christianity had been tolerated by Rome because it was considered a "sect" of Judaism, and the Jews were permitted to worship freely. That attitude would change and the fires of persecution would be ignited, first by Nero and then by the emperors that followed.
Peter gave the believers four instructions to follow in the light of the coming "fiery trial."
1. The Promise Of Suffering (I Peter 4:12
1 Peter 4:12 (KJV 1900)
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Persecution is not alien to the Christian life. Throughout history, the people of God have suffered at the hands of the unbelieving world.
Christians are different from unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18), and this different kind of life produces a different lifestyle. Much of what goes on in the world depends on lies, pride, pleasure, and the desire to "get more." A dedicated Christian builds his life on truth, humility, holiness, and the desire to glorify God.
This conflict is illustrated throughout the Bible.
Cain was religious, yet he hated and killed his brother (Gen. 4:1-8). The world does not persecute "religious people," but it does persecute righteous people. Why Cain killed Abel is explained in 1 John 3:12: "Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous." The Pharisees and Jewish leaders were religious people, yet they crucified Christ and persecuted the early church. "But beware of men," Jesus warned His disciples, "for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues" (Matt. 10:17). Imagine scourging the servants of God in the very house of God!
God declared war on Satan after the Fall of man (Gen. 3:15), and Satan has been attacking God through His people ever since. Christians are
"strangers and pilgrims" in an alien world where Satan is the god and prince (John 14:30; 2 Cor.
4:3-4). Whatever glorifies God will anger the enemy, and he will attack. For believers, persecution is not a strange thing. The absence of Satanic opposition would be strange!
Jesus explained to his disciples that they should expect opposition and persecution from the world (John 15:17-16:4). But He also gave them an encouraging promise: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (16:33). It was through His death on the cross of Calvary, plus His resurrection, that He overcame sin and the world (John 12:23-33; and see
Gal. 6:14).
The “ fire “ image is often applied to testing or persecution even in modern conversation. "He is really going through the fire," is a typical statement to describe someone experiencing personal difficulties. In the Old Testament, fire was a symbol of the holiness of God and the presence of God. The fire on the altar consumed the sacrifice (Heb. 12:28-29).
But Peter saw in the image of fire a refining process rather than a divine judgment (see 1 Peter 1:7; Job
23:10).
It is important to note that not all life’s difficulties are necessarily fiery trials. There are some difficulties that are simply a part of human life and almost everybody experiences them. Unfortunately, we bring some difficulties on ourselves because of disobedience and sin. Peter mentioned these in 2:18-20 and 3:13-17. The fiery trial he mentioned in 4:12 comes because we are faithful to God and stand up for what is right. The lost world attacks us because we bear the name of Christ. Christ told His disciples that people would persecute them, as they had Him, because their persecutors did not know God (John 15:20-21).
The word "happened" is important; it means "to go together." Persecution and trials do not just
"happen," in the sense of being accidents. They are a part of God's plan, and He is in control. They are a part of Romans 8:28 and will work out for good if we let God have His way.
2. The Purpose Of Suffering I Peter 4:13-14
1 Peter 4:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Peter wrote, "Be constantly rejoicing!" He mentioned joy in one form or another four times in these two verses! "Rejoice . . . be glad also with exceeding joy . . . happy are ye!" The world cannot understand how difficult circumstances can produce exceeding joy because the world has never experienced the grace of God (see 2 Cor. 8:1-5).
Peter named several shared privileges encouraging us to rejoice amid the fiery trial.
A. OUR SUFFERING MEANS FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST (4:13).
It is an honor and a privilege to suffer with Christ and be treated by the world the way it treated Him. "The fellowship of His sufferings" is a gift from God (Phil. 1:29; 3:10). Not every believer grows to the point where God can trust him with this kind of experience, so we ought to rejoice when the privilege comes to us. "And they [the apostles departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).
Christ is with us in the furnace of persecution (Isa.
41:10; 43:2). When the three Hebrew children were cast into the fiery furnace, they discovered they were not alone (Dan. 3:23-25). The Lord was with Paul in all of his trials (Acts 23:11; 27:21-25; 2 Tim. 4:9-18), and He promises to be with us "to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20, NASB). In fact, when sinners persecute us, they are really persecuting Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4).
B. OUR SUFFERING MEANS GLORY IN THE FUTURE (4:13).
"Suffering" and "glory" are twin truths woven into Peter’s letter’s fabric. The world believes that the absence of suffering means glory, but a Christian's outlook is different. The trial of our faith today is the assurance of glory when Jesus returns (1 Peter 1:7-8). This was the experience of our Lord (5:1), and it shall also be our experience.
But it is necessary to understand that God will not replace suffering with glory; He will transform suffering into glory. Jesus used the illustration of a woman giving birth (John 16:20-22). The same baby that gave her pain also gave her joy. The pain was transformed into joy by the birth of the baby. The thorn in the flesh that gave Paul difficulty also gave him power and glory (2 Cor. 12:7-10). The cross that gave Jesus shame and pain also brought power and glory.
Mature people know that life includes some "postponed pleasures." We pay a price today to have enjoyment in the future. The piano student may not enjoy practicing scales by the hour, but he looks forward to the pleasure of playing beautiful music one day. The athlete may not enjoy exercising and practicing his skills, but he looks forward to winning the game by doing his best.
Christians have something even better: our very sufferings will one day be transformed into glory, and we will be "glad also with exceeding joy."
(See Rom. 8:17 and 2 Tim. 3:11.)
C. OUR SUFFERING BRINGS TO US THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (I Peter 4:14
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
He is the Spirit of glory and He has a special ministry to those who suffer for the glory of Jesus Christ. This verse can be translated
"for the presence of the glory, even the Spirit, rests on you." The reference is to the Shekinah glory of God that dwelt in the tabernacle and in the temple (Ex. 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10-11). When the people stoned Stephen, he saw Jesus in heaven and experienced God's glory (Acts 6:15; 7:54-60). This is the
"joy unspeakable and full of glory" that Peter wrote about in 1:7-8.
In other words, suffering Christians do not have to wait for heaven to experience His glory.
Through the Holy Spirit, they can have the glory now. This explains how martyrs could sing praises to God while bound during blazing fires. It also explains how persecuted Christians (and there are many in today's world) can go to prison and to death without complaining or resisting their captors.
D. OUR SUFFERING ENABLES US TO GLORIFY HIS NAME (4:14).
We suffer because of His name (John 15:21).
You can tell your unsaved friends that you are Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Methodist, or even an agnos-tic, and there will be no opposition; but tell them you are a Christian--bring Christ's name into the conversation--and things will start to happen. Our authority is in the name of Jesus, and Satan hates that name. Every time we are reproached for the name of Christ, we can bring glory to that name. The world may speak against His name, but we will so speak and live that His name will be honored and God will be pleased.
The word "Christian" is found only three times in the entire New Testament (1 Peter 4:16; Acts 11:26;
26:28). The name was originally given by the enemies of the church as a term of reproach; but in time, it became an honored name. Of course, in today's world, the word "Christian" means to most people the opposite of "pagan." But the word carries the idea of "a Christ one, belonging to Christ." Certainly it is a privilege to bear the name and to suffer for His name's sake (Acts 5:41).
Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna about the middle of the second century. He was arrested for his faith and threatened with death if he did not recant. "Eighty and six years have I served Him," the saintly Bishop replied,
"and He never did me any injury. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
'I have respect for your age," said the Roman officer. "Simply say, 'Away with the atheists! and be set free." By "the atheists" he meant the Christians who would not acknowledge that Caesar was "lord."
The old man pointed to the crowd of Roman pagans surrounding him and cried, "Away with the atheists!" He was burned at the stake and in his martyrdom brought glory to the name of Jesus Christ.
3. The Purging Of Suffering I Peter 4:15-18
1 Peter 4:15–18 (KJV 1900)
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
In the furnace of persecution and suffering, we often have more light by which we can examine our lives and ministries. The fiery trial is a refining process, by which God removes the dross and purifies us.
One day, a fiery judgment will overtake the whole world (2 Peter 3:7-16). Meanwhile, God's judgment begins "at the house of God," the church (1 Peter 2:5). This truth ought to motivate us to be as pure and obedient as possible. (See Ezekiel 9 for an Old Testament illustration of this truth.)
We should ask ourselves several questions as we examine our lives.
A. WHY AM I SUFFERING?
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
We noted before that not all suffering is a "fiery trial" from the Lord.
If a professed Christian breaks the law and gets into trouble, or becomes a meddler into other people's lives, then he ought to suffer! The fact that we are Christians does not guarantee that we escape the normal consequences of our misdeeds. We may not be guilty of murder (though anger can be the same as murder in the heart, Matt. 5:21-26), but what about stealing or meddling? When Abraham, David,
Peter, and other Bible "greats" disobeyed God, they suffered for it; so, who are we that we should es-cape? Let's be sure we are suffering because we are Christians and not because we are criminals.
B. AM I ASHAMED, OR GLORIFYING CHRIST?
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
This statement must have reminded Peter of his own denial of Christ (Luke 22:54-62). Jesus Christ is not ashamed of us (Heb. 2:11
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
though many times He surely could be! The Father is not ashamed to be called our God (11:16). On the cross Jesus Christ despised shame for us (12:2), so surely we can bear reproach for Him and not be ashamed. The warning in Mark 8:38 is worth pondering.
"Not be ashamed" is negative; "glorify God" is positive. It takes both for a balanced witness. 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 (Rom 1:16), when he suffered in Rome (Phil. 1:20-21), and when he faced martyrdom in Rome (2 Tim. 1:12).
C. AM I SEEKING TO WIN THE LOST?
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Note the words that Peter used to describe the lost: "Them that obey not the Gospel . . . . the ungodly and the sinner." The argument of this verse is clear: If God sends a "fiery trial" to His own children, and they are saved "with difficulty," what will happen to lost sinners when God's fiery judgment falls?
When a believer suffers, he experiences glory and knows that there will be greater glory in the future.
But a sinner who causes that suffering is only filling up the measure of God's wrath more and more (Matt. 23:29-33). Instead of being concerned only about ourselves, we need to be concerned about the lost sinners around us. Our present "fiery trial" is nothing compared with the "flaming fire" that shall punish the lost when Jesus returns in judgment (2 Thes. 1:7-10) The idea is expressed in Proverbs 11:31-"If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!" (NIV)
The phrase "scarcely be saved" means "saved with difficulty," but it does not suggest that God is too weak to be able to save us. The reference is probably to Genesis 19:15-26, when God sought to rescue Lot from Sodom before destroyed the city. God was able--but Lot was unwilling! He lingered, argued with the angels, and finally had to be taken by the hand and dragged out of the city!
Lot was "saved as by fire" and everything he lived for went up in smoke (see 1 Cor. 3:9-15).
Times of persecution are times of opportunity for a loving witness to those who persecute us (see Matt.
5:10-12, 43-48). It was not the earthquake that brought that Philippian jailer to Christ, because that frightened him into almost committing suicide! No, Paul’s loving concern for him brought the jailer to faith in Christ. As Christians, we do not seek for vengeance on those who have hurt us. Rather, we pray for them and seek to lead them to Jesus Christ.
4. The Protection of the Creator
1 Peter 4:19 (KJV 1900)
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
When we are suffering in the will of God, we can commit ourselves into the care of God. Everything else that we do as Christians depends on this. The word is a banking term; it means "to deposit for safe keeping" (see 2 Tim. 1:12). 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. I saw a newspaper savings and loan association advertisement reaffirming the firm’s financial stability 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.
This commitment is not a single action but a constant attitude. "Be constantly committing" is the force of the admonition. How do we do this? “Utilizing well-doing." As we return good for evil and do good even though we suffer, we commit ourselves to God so that He can care for us. This commitment involves every area of our lives and every hour.
If we have hope, and believe that Jesus is coming again, we will obey His Word and start laying up treasures and glory in heaven. Unsaved people have a present controlled by their past, but Christians have a present controlled by the future (Phil. 3:12-21). In our very serving, we are committing ourselves to God and making investments for the future.
There is a striking illustration of this truth in Jeremiah 32. The Prophet Jeremiah had been telling the people that one day their situation would change and they would be restored to their land. But at that time, the Babylonian army occupied the land and was about to take Jerusalem. Jeremiah's cousin, Hanamel, gave Jeremiah an option to purchase the family land which enemy soldiers now occupied. The prophet had to "put his money where his mouth is." And he did it! As an act of faith, he purchased the land and became, no doubt, the laughingstock of the people in Jerusalem. But God honored his faith because Jeremiah lived according to the preached Word.
Why did Peter refer to God as "a faithful Creator" rather than "a faithful Judge" or even "a faithful Saviour"? Because God the Creator meets the needs of His people (Matt. 6:24-34). It is the Creator who provides food and clothing to persecuted Christians, and who protects them in times of danger. When the early church was persecuted, they met together for prayer and addressed the Lord as the "God, which has made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is" (Acts 4:24). They prayed to the Creator!
Our heavenly Father is "the Lord of heaven and earth" (Matt. 11:25). With that kind of a Father, we do not need to worry! He is the faithful Creator, and His faithfulness will not fail.
Before God pours out His wrath upon this evil world, a "fiery trial" will come to God's church to unite and purify it, that it might be a strong witness to the lost. There is nothing for us to fear if we are suffering in the will of God. Our faithful Father-Creator will victoriously see us through!