Persevere in Exile

Persevere in Exile

1 Peter 1:5-7 (primary is 6-7 – vs. 5 is for context)

Similarities to Revelation

Is it just because for almost a year we have been digging deep in Revelation

Revelation – South modern day Turkey, Peter North modern day Turkey

Why Turkey

Christianity grew following the roads and rivers of the Roman Empire

Paul (Biggest influence of early church growth) was from Tarsus – South east corner of Turkey

Possibly more familiar with this area

Crossroads between Asia and Europe – Paul hoped to go to Spain

Majority of Paul’s letter were written to cities in Asia Minor / Modern day Turkey

2nd Century the Church would expand into Northern Africa and other areas

You Rejoice in This

Salvation in Christ

We have a great inheritance

Held for us safely in heaven – will not diminish nor perish

We are being guarded by God’s power

Living as Exiles in a land not our home

1 Peter 1:1

Deeper meaning of exiles – spiritual exiles

Revelation 2:12-13

Exile / Wilderness in Bible

Could be punishment or just the journey of the believer

Adam and Eve cast out of the Garden

Abraham called to leave his home

Word Hebrew is thought to mean “To cross over” often carry the connation of wanderer

Jacob – both a call of God and because of his sin

Israelites sent to Egypt during days of Joseph due to famine

Slavery

Then left Egypt under Moses to go into Wilderness

John the Baptist

Jesus 40 days of fasting in the Wilderness

Now we are Exiles as believers waiting for our promised land of a new heaven and a new earth. 1 Peter 2:11-12 – we are strangers & exiles

Abstain from sinful desires – a war we wage

Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles – the unbelievers.

We put away our sinful desire so we can live honorably among those who don’t believe.

As exiles we are traveling to be with God –

As exiles we proclaim Christ

Our words are useless if they are not backed up by our actions – backed up by how we live our lives.

Day he visits (read 2:12 again) God’s day of judgment

Live as exiles from this world but do good to those who are trapped by this world.

We don’t treat others as someone to defeat or overcome – we war not against flesh and blood.

Always remember just like you, Christ died for them.

Christ died for the Iranians.

As exiles we suffer – read 1 Peter 6-7 again

Why does God allow suffering – to be honest we really don’t know

Most of our suffering is due to the poor choices we make or the consequences of the choices of others.

There is a mystery to it, and we can guess and speculate but what does the text say?

First remember we are being guarded. No matter what suffering we face in this life nothing, I mean absolutely, positively nothing can take us out of God’s hand – full stop, end of story.

Now for a short time – our life in this world is but a blip on the time line of this world and not even a blip of eternity.

Peter is pretty clear – we suffer so that….

Proven character of our faith

A proven character that is more valuable than gold

Becoming Christ like is more valuable than anything else in this world

Like gold which is perishable is refined by fire

Not really exciting huh – Hey, let’s go suffer

Notice how Peter spent vs 4 telling us our living hope is – Imperishable, undefiled and unfading

See our character of faith is not valuable LIKE gold – it is MORE valuable than gold.

Our only relationship to gold is we are refined by fire

Revelation 2:8-10

Romans 5:1-5

Justified – saved by faith not our works

Trials bring about our full transformation – sanctification

We stand in faith not in how good or happy our life is

The early church and many even today have to stand in faith under great persecution.

James 1:2-4 – Great joy

Full effect lacking nothing

Peter, Paul and James all said the same thing. It must be important.

Why does our faith need to be proven?

So we might live honorably among the unbelievers

It is in darkness that our light shines brightest.

I stand in faith, again not in my blessings

Revelation 2:1-3 – first love – Is it possible they began to live a life more about doing than in a love for Christ. – Not an either or – but a both

We are driven by a passion for Christ that we live out good works even under trials and persecution.

Even in suffering we rejoice:

Hope should lead to joy. The “rejoice” is not a continual feeling of hilarity nor a denial of the reality of pain and suffering, but an anticipatory joy experienced even now, despite the outward circumstances, because the believers know that their sufferings are only “for a little while” and their inheritance is sure and eternal. This joy is based on the knowledge that Christ has come - P.H. Davids

What is tragic is those who suffer without Christ

Let’s be clear – Don’t think of suffering as coming from God – we live in a fallen world, exiled among a world of fallen people.

Those who suffer without a living hope

“This world is not our home; it’s, however, the arena for our only opportunity in eternity to witness to nonbelievers and to demonstrate our love for God in the face of adversity” – Craig S. Keener

Jeremiah 29:4-7

Revelation of Jesus Christ – judgement

From 1 Peter 1:4 we have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading

As we stand before Christ we stand in praise, glory and honor. [And this is through Jesus Christ – Amen!!]