Joyful In Suffering
1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 10 viewsSuffering is normal…but, in the hands of God, it is a tool for shaping Christians for His glory, and ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ as the sufficient Savior.
Notes
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6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Of all the things that we know are included in the “PACKAGE” we receive when we repent and believe the Gospel…sometimes we act as though suffering were hidden in the fine print of a contract as a highly unlikely possiblity.
ILLUSTRATION: My cancer treatment sign off at Duke
Q: What happens when the HERE & NOW intersects with the There & Then for the Christian?
Q: What could happen to our
LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW
LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW
WE CAN REJOICE IN WHAT IS AWAITING / “THERE & THEN”
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
The “this” is our INHERITANCE & our SALVATION!
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity.
Charles Spurgeon
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
We are seated in Heavenly places
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
We have been raised with Christ - our minds should be raised, too.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
We who live in this nervous age would be wise to meditate on our lives and our days long and often before the face of God and on the edge of eternity. For we are made for eternity as certainly as we are made for time, and as responsible moral beings we must deal with both.6
A. W. Tozer
KNOW THAT SUFFERING IS NORMAL
KNOW THAT SUFFERING IS NORMAL
WE CAN KNOW THAT
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Suffering will come.
We live in a fallen world.
How do we respond to suffering?
If our FIRST RESPONSE is surprise…we DO have RIGHTS after all!…but surprise? That should be a red flag on our “unbiblical understanding”
what about ANGER - so we’re ready to fight back
what about HOPELESSNESS
BELOVED - THIS IS NOT THE WAY OF THE CHRISTIAN. It may have become normalized in recent generations because of how prosperity theology has crept into so many aspects of our thinking, we believe that somehow we get a pass at the brokenness of this world.
Jesus was speaking to His disciples about what was coming. His speech would be plainer - easier to grasp now that He had weeded out the masses.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Imagine a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
This process is painfully slow and taxing for the butterfly, yet essential for its transformation.
In our lives, suffering often feels like that cocoon; it is constricting and painful but ultimately leads to growth and freedom.
The caterpillar MUST endure its cocoon struggle to be what it’s designed to be…AND WE MUST EMBRACE OUR SUFFERING as a necessary part of our journey.
1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
“The sufferings of this present time” This passage anchors us in the reality of suffering, echoing the truth that it’s a normal part of our earthly existence.
As believers, we can find hope through our trials, knowing they are not in vain but shape us for eternal glory. LOOK BACK AT THE TEXT…
SUFFERING IS NORMAL
SUFFERING SHAPES US - Look at verse 7
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
SUFFERING / TRIALS
Tests us to see how genuine our faith in Jesus is!
Thou our trials are many and though they are heavy, they are all under God’s control. And they are for a season - there is a beginning middle and end.
Some of you may be struggling with that.
You’re wondering when this particular one will be over.
You thought your story was the 1 THING…but there have been so many things…it’s hard to figure out where the CHAPTERS GO.
But those trials are like a goldsmith, who puts gold in a furnace.
When he does that, he is purifying the gold.
They say that the goldsmith knows the gold is pure when he can see his face in it.
Don’t let that heaviness and heartache that you are experiencing HERE AND NOW discourage you or distract you from what matters most.
The Lord is just simply working on you. For your good and his glory.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
SUFFERING IS NORMAL
SUFFERING SHAPES US
SUFFERING BRINGS A SONG…
look at verse 7 again
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
LIVE TO PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD (1 Peter 1:7-9)
LIVE TO PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD (1 Peter 1:7-9)
We used to sing a song…He is working for our good…
He is working for our good, He is working for our good
These trials have come to make us strong
though we don’t see how they could
When you may not understand, you can place it in God’s hand
For we know He’s working all things together for our good
Notice the text:
the test results in
PRAISE to God
GLORY to God
HONOR to God
JESUS CHRIST being revealed!
THOUGH WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE TRIAL
OUR LOVE FOR JESUS IS DEEPENED
OUR BELIEF IN JESUS IS STRENGTHENED
OUR JOY IS MAGNIFIED BECAUSE IT IS FOCUSED ON HIM
THE SAVIOR OF OUR SOULS
There is NO OTHER PATH to salvation.
The quick fixes that dull the pain are NOT worth the longterm damage to our lives and those we love!
AS WE ENDEAVOR TO LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW…
KNOWING THAT, WHILE SUFFERING IS NORMAL, IT IS ALSO WORKING IN US & FOR US
AS WE LIVE TO THE PRAISE AND GLORY OF GOD!
WE MUST CONTINUE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO OURSELVES…TO BE REMINDED…TO KNOW THAT WE KNOW…
KNOW HOW PRECIOUS SALVATION IS
KNOW HOW PRECIOUS SALVATION IS
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
The prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come searched intently and with great care,
They pointed believers to the fact that their trials were a part of God's grand narrative.
They pointed to the salvation they were awaiting was a part of God’s grand narrative.
The angels in Heaven see so much, understand so much, experience so much…
but they cannot fully grasp being rescued!
they know God’s glory, but not His grace poured out on sinners like you and me.
they know God is all powerful, but they “long to look in” on His divine purposes through suffering.
If the prophets knew that their suffering was working something BEFORE CHRIST HAD COME…
HOW MUCH MORE…SHOULD WE KNOW THAT OUR SUFFERING IS KNOWN, NOTED, AND ORDAINED BY GOD HIMSELF - ULTIMATELY TO SERVE HIS PLAN!
NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE!
If you would have gotten your way, you would have NEVER died to self for the sake of coming alive to Christ.
IF YOU had planned it all, you wouldn’t have crucified the Heaven’s perfect lamb.
NOT OUR WILL BUT HIS…NOT OUR GLORY BUT HIS…NOT OUR PLAN BUT HIS…NOT OUR NAME, BUT HIS!
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We can be joyful now…in suffering now
Joy NOW
Salvation NOW & THEN
Grace NOW!
Glory THEN!
Praise & Honor Christ NOW & THEN / HERE & THERE!
Love NOW!
Joy NOW…even though we’re “here for a season”.
The Bible reminds us that life is like a BREATH, A CLOUD THAT VANISHES, SWIFTER THAN A WEAVER’S SHUTTLE, like a MIST THAT APPEARS AND VANISHES…
Live with eternity in view
Know that suffering is here with us…and FOR us
Live to praise and glorify God
Know how precious your Salvation is (that great cloud of witnesses is marveling at so great a salvation)
Q: Where is your joy?
Where are you tempted to place it other than in the gospel? (Not “are you” but “where are you…)
What impact does it have on your life when you seek joy in something more than you seek it in your salvation?
Q: What have trials (past or present) shown you about your faith? How might that change the way you think about those times of hardship?
I’m not trying to diminish the grief - but remind you that OUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT IN OUR OVERCOMING SOMETHING HERE…BUT THAT CHRIST HAS CONQUERED US!
(Hurting now)? “We can smile as we cry.” How do you need this to comfort you right now—or is there someone else you can help to smile in their tears?
Let’s pray.
