Business as Usual

1 Peter 4:12 CSB

Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.

INTRO—

We tend to like “business as usual”…

But what if this included…

“don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you” (1 Peter 4.12; ‘as if something unusual’)

Sooo, business as usual WILL include suffering, trials; therefore, we…

Rejoice! [1 Peter 4.12-13]

When we don’t think suffering is business as usual = *shock*…

Why is suffering shocking to us??

The man born blind (John 9)… “who sinned…that he was born this way?”

[[ALSO, our days of test-taking are not over!]]

…we share in Jesus’ sufferings = identification (4.13; “Instead rejoice”)

ALSO, James 1:2–3 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

[[Great joy rejoicing!! — 1 Peter 1:6 “You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials”]]

Are Unashamed [1 Peter 4.14-16]

When we don’t think suffering is business as usual = *shame*…

Why is suffering shameful to us??

Suffering is for losers…the weak, etc.

…Careful: suffering for being a numbskull is shameful, (4.15) BUT…

“Ridiculed for the name of Christ…suffers as a Christian” (4.14, 16)

“Glorify God that we have that name!” (4.16)

Unashamed — Romans 1:16–17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”

Are Refined [1 Peter 4.17-18]

When we don’t think suffering is business as usual = *arrived*

Once we are saved we might think we don’t need any more work done on our lives.

…we all are being sanctified (disciplined, judged, refined) continuously [or at least should be...so, if not…]

We are being saved with difficulty (Proverbs 11.31, LXX) — “rescued by means of suffering”;

That being true, what’s the outcome for “the ungodly and the sinner—those who disobey the gospel of God?” [Really bad news]

The necessity of the Refiner’s fire (1 Peter 1:7 “so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”)

CONCL—

“So then”

1 Peter 4:19 “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.”

Faith — entrust…to a faithful Creator

Faithfulness — while doing what is good

INVITATION:

Salvation

Rejoicing

Unashamed

Refining

1 Peter 4:19 CSB

So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.