Thrive Through Shame

[Recap]

4 Priorities:

Readiness for Prayer (self-discipline)

Prayer is NOT time wasted.

Billy Graham was asked what he would do differently if he could do life over. Less meetings and more prayer.

Above all - Love.

Love at full-stretch!

We take people’s sins against us waaaay too personally

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:5, “love keeps no record of wrongs.” It does not treasure up the memory of wrongs committed or offenses but releases them and does not hold them against the person.

Life is too short to carry bitterness and unforgiveness.

Showing hospitality

In other words, showing hospitality is almost always inconvenient and costly… Peter says to do it without grumbling.

Hebrews 13:2 “2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Service

God’s gracious gifts are to be exercised in serving.

Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Suffering for Being a Christian

Living this way (above) will bring about adversity.

1 Peter 4:12–19 (NIV)

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 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. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

We saw already in 1 Peter 2:20–21“20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

1 Peter 2:23 “23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Trusting God in suffering looks like something: Doing Good.

First, let us break down a few of these verses before we get to their contemporary relevance for us.

Verse 12:

Here is the contrast: Because believers are aliens and strangers within the world, they should not count it as “alien” or “strange” when they face testing in this world.

Fiery ordeal (burning) if the date allows, could relate to Nero’s burning of Christians as torches. (see Tacitus)

The outcome of such testing, for those who persevere and trust God through it, is honor for Jesus, and full vindication at God’s judgment.

Verse 13:

Upside down thinking: rather than being surprised or depressed by the sufferings experienced for their faith in Christ, he tells them to rejoice because it means participation in both the sufferings and glory of Christ

Romans 8:17 “17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

For those who have suffered with Jesus, there is a special bond with their Lord.

As a missionary I was told not to be condemning towards those in the West who were apathetic about the things of God compared to those in Pakistan (for example who were so joyous and full of glory).

Hebrews 13:3 “3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

Angela and I personally give to VOM every month and receive the stories of people around the world who are persecuted… there is such joy and faith and perseverance.

We have much to learn from Christians in these parts of the world and should look to them to learn exactly what 1 Peter here means to us.

Here is what we can learn:

Unjust suffering invites God’s presence and favor. His very glory rests on you.

Which means then, you carry the prophetic ministry of proclaiming Christ to the world.

Being able to rejoice now in the midst of suffering prepares one for being “overjoyed” when his glory is revealed.

Verse 14-16:

Let not your suffering be due to evil works and don’t let the enemy shame you… Because:

Verse 17:

Some see the judgement here in terms of expected end-time suffering before the Lord’s coming. These are sometimes described as “birth pangs” in Hebrew literature.

This could very well be referring to an end-time period of suffering and apostasy (giving up faith, walking away from the Lord), a type of purging that foreshadows the Day of the Lord.

This judgement has similar connections to that of the OT, however the theology differs in this regard:

The theology is actually quite different, for in Ezekiel rebellious sinners are being destroyed, but in Peter the judgment does not involve the destruction of the godly but their refinement and purification. The background of Malachi 3 is closer conceptually to Peter’s message in this respect, for the Lord will come to his temple and refine and purify his people, and then the offerings of his people will be acceptable.

John Chrysostom says: “The righteous suffer so that they may be crowned with glory, but sinners suffer in order to bring judgment on their sins.” John Chrysostom is considered the best preacher in the early church,given the name “golden mouth”, for his eloquent tongue. He preached successfully in Antioch until he was kidnapped and forced into the position of archbishop in Constantinople. His listeners disliked the way he preached against public sins, so he was sent into exile, where he died.

Verse 18:

If God’s own people suffer now, how much more can we expect God to punish the wicked?

Contemporary relevance for us?

Not necessarily the specifics of the suffering but the intent: Shame.

“Insulted” (verse 14)

An insult was much more than just a critical statement. It’s about being shamed and shame in that culture as in our own can damage our personal or family social standing. Which is why Peter in verse 16 says not to be ashamed.

The enemy’s tactic to get us to fall back from Christ due to the cost, due to the shame that comes with it.

It involves a loss of status

“Peer pressure”

Pressure to conform

Cancel culture

Shamed everywhere to remain quiet

Praying quietly in public

Not sharing our faith with others

Not standing up for God’s righteousness because you know you will be called bigoted and narrow minded, etc.

If Jesus suffered for me, I am honored to suffer for him.

Hebrews 12:2–3“ 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Acts 5:41–42 “41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”

Hebrews 13:12–14“12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”

Let us not be pessimistic nor masochistic but in truth understanding:

Romans 8:18 “18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

How do we deal with shame

Take our eyes off of ourselves, endure the shame by turning their eyes on the glory of God as they face injustice. This will lead to celebration and joy.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18“16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We must learn to put aside what others think of us and care only about what God thinks.

Galatians 1:10 “10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

John 5:44 “44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”

When anxiety jumps up, sadness tries to grab control, we can depend on God’s Spirit who rests on us, pray, and expect His power in our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We remember that there is an end coming soon, and we live in light of that great judgment. The world will hate us, call us names, shame us, we may lose things, even our life, but in the end God is the great Judge and will vindicate us.

2 Thessalonians 1:5–8 “5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

Continue to trust in God by doing good works.

1 Peter 4:19 “19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”