1 Peter 4:12-19 Suffering for His Glory

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
0 ratings
· 5 views
Notes
Transcript
Handout

Suffering for His Glory

Introduction:

Welcome back to youth group. We are going to get back into our study of 1 Peter chapter 4. In this passage, Peter addresses the trials and suffering that Christians face, reminding them that such hardships are expected and can glorify God. He encourages believers to rejoice in their sufferings as they participate in the sufferings of Christ and emphasizes the importance of faithfulness amid trials. Now, hopefully you remember the context of this passage as Peter wrote it. Christians were suffering at the hands of Nero. The ancient historian Tacitus said that Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome. Here’s an interesting fact about Tacitus: he was not a Christian. He called Christianity “mischievous superstition”, yet he he validated that Jesus Christ was real, that Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate, and was crucified at the hands of Jews and Romans. And many ancient unbelieving historians attest to the brutal persecution of Christians in the first century. Why is this testimony of unbelievers important? They have no reason to support Christianity, yet their historical accounts support what we believe in scripture: that Christ was killed at the hands of men, and that Christians later were persecuted because of this connection with Christ. Jesus said this kind of persecution would come to us. Matthew 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Bible Passage: 1 Peter 4:12-19

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that 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 the family of God; 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.

Can you think of a time when you faced a trial or difficulty because of your beliefs? How did you respond?

1. The Inevitability of Suffering

1 Peter 4:12

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

The first thing we learn in this passage is that suffering is inevitable, meaning you can’t hide from it. Suffering, persecution, difficulty, emotional and spiritual distress comes to all who follow Christ. Now, it’s clear that we in America don’t face the same persecution as those in ancient Rome, and we don’t even face the same persecution as many countries around the world. A little while ago, I gave you a number of Christians who died in Nigeria last year. Do you remember that number? Care to take a guess? 7,000 in 2025. That’s the same amount of American soldiers who have been killed in the war on terror which started 25 years ago. Obviously, we are not facing that kind of persecution, and we should praise the Lord, but I will ask you this question again: Is comfort in your life more important than Christ-like living? Many of us, myself included, often don’t face persecution because we don’t speak up when we should. So, if we are living with eternity in mind, like we learned in the first part of 1 Peter 4, then we should not be surprised when painful trials come upon us.
Painful trial- the fiery trial — seems ironic that Peter used the word “fiery” around the time of the burning of Rome which started a two-hundred-year period of Christian persecution.
to test you- NIV 84 mistranslated this one. It should be “don’t be surprised at the painful trial that has come upon you to test you”. Your trials refine you, and they test you. What does it mean to refine? Melting gold, refines it, burns out impurities. And your trials test you. They make it abundantly clear if you are the real deal, or if you are a counterfeit. Maybe you haven’t had to suffer many trials, but when they do come, what will be your response? Will you look to God? or will you run away from Him? This is exactly why Jesus told us about the seed that fell on the rocky soil when He told us the parable of the sower and the seeds. The seed sprang up, but because of the shallow rocky, soil, it’s roots didn’t go deep and when the sun, or persecution came out, it burned up and died. So, trials are a test. When they come into your life, will you stand? or flee?
some strange thing happening —”Happening” means “to fall by chance”; Don’t think that your suffering or persecution is an accident. God allows it and designs it for the believer’s testing, purging and cleansing.
Trials are inevitable.

2. The Joy of Suffering

1 Peter 4:13-14

But rejoice that 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.

First, we saw the inevitability of suffering, now we see the joy of suffering. Why should we rejoice in suffering? Difficulty and trials and persecution refine us, they test our faith, they create perseverance, like James 1 says, and they create not only perseverance, but they create character, and character, hope, like Romans 5 says. But Peter shows us something more that Christian suffering produces. It produces fellowship with Christ.
Participate in the sufferings of Christ- Peter encourages believers to see trials as a participation in Christ's suffering.
What does it mean to participate in the sufferings of Christ?
Suffering is a shared experience with Jesus. This might seem strange, but it’s really not. If someone that you truly, selflessly love is suffering for you, wouldn’t you want to step forward and suffer with that person? It’s the same with Christ, because He gave Himself up for us, we consider it a privilege and a joy to suffer for Him. Jesus said this kind of shared suffering would come. John 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. Paul spoke much of the privilege of suffering with Jesus. Romans 8:17 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. Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
If you are suffering for the name of Christ, then what will be the greatest joy you could experience? Christ coming back! You will be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
You are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you- the ultimate blessing comes after this life. The more suffering we endure for Christ, the greater the blessing in eternity will be for us.

3. The Reason for Suffering

1 Peter 4:15-18

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 the family of God; 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?”

Next, we must consider the reason for our suffering. Why are we suffering? Obviously, if you kill someone, or if you steal things, or if you end up in jail for committing some crime, you deserve it, and you shouldn’t complain about it, and you certainly shouldn’t expect the Holy Spirit to rescue you, or comfort you, or definitely not reward you right? That’s not the kind of suffering that we should rejoice in. However, Peter added the word meddler, or busybody. And I think that word helps us with the context that Peter was talking about. I think he was referring to a revolutionary. Someone who gets up in arms and tries to fight the system. We have to be careful about being political activists, being the kind of people who storm the capital. Peter told us in chapter 2 to submit to our authorities, because they have the power to punish wrongdoers. Paul told us in Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Ok, so maybe you haven’t murdered anyone, but what is the reason for your suffering?
Why is it important to examine the reasons behind our suffering?
It is so important for us to evaluate our lives, examine our hearts, and consider whether our suffering is a test of our faith, or a rebuke for sin. Every time we face a difficulty, we should have the same attitude as the Psalmist in Psalm 139 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. The Lord is a good Father and He disciplines His children. Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
If you do suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name- believers were first called Christians in Acts 11:26 The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. And the ironic thing is, this name was most likely given to them be unbelievers as an insult. It means “little Christ” and outsiders probably implied slaves of Christ as derogatory. However, that is a name that all true believers are not ashamed of. Your bear that name, and you must praise God that you bear that name. Are you ashamed? We’ve all had moments that we knew we should have spoke up, but didn’t. However, are there moments where you said, “I’m not a Christian”? or are there times when you thought, “I hope they don’t ask me if I’m a Christian.”? or maybe you refuse to stand outside when it’s See You At The Pole, because you don’t want people to see you. Don’t be ashamed. Christians aren’t ashamed.
17-18 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Christians will be judged at the Bema seat. God will judge our works, and it will be a strict judgment. Praise God we won’t be judged for our sins, but the judgment will start with us, and the rhetorical question is, if we, who have been saved by the blood of Christ, receive a perfect judgment where nothing is left uncovered, what is going to happen to unbelievers? They will be judged for their sins, and not one will be left uncovered. Then Peter quotes Proverbs 11:31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! The idea is that if Christians are refined by fire, if we suffer and are persecuted on this earth, how much worse will unbelievers punishment be after this life?
So, this brings us back the the question, why are you suffering? Is it because you bear the name of Christ? or is it because you’ve chosen the path of sin?

3. The Focus of our Suffering

1 Peter 4:19

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

commit- entrust, which is a banking term implying depositing something for safekeeping. We entrust our souls to God for safekeeping, and He is our faithful Creator. He will protect us forever, so keep doing good.
In what ways can we actively do good even when we are suffering?
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.
Copyright 2026 LogosFeatures|Pricing|Privacy|Terms of Use|Support