Faithful in the Midst of Suffering
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We have been looking at the idea or concept of living faithfully in a fallen world. The world is a mess, it’s falling apart, and we need to respond. We respond at the ballot box, by peacefully protesting, by taking stands, but most of all, by living true to God’s Word.
With this thought in mind, we have to address what is unfortunately not being addressed in the church, the American Church, today. And that is, faithfulness to God is not necessarily a ticket to peace and prosperity and health and wealth. In fact, faithfulness to God sometimes results in suffering, in trials.
Unfortunately, this is where most of today’s Christians, especially in the West, in America, wind up going off the rails. We think, for whatever reason, that we deserve success, we think we deserve the best, and when that doesn’t happen, we become discouraged, we become disheartened, we think we either aren’t loved by God, or perhaps that God isn’t real.
But nothing could be further from the truth. And my challenge to you is this, will you remain faithful, will you determine today, in the midst of your trial, or even before you face suffering, that you will remain faithful to God, not matter what.
Let’s look at, first
I. The Reality of Trials.v.12
I. The Reality of Trials.v.12
Look at the opening words of this section of Scripture.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Don’t be surprised, don’t be shocked. Don’t act like this should not have happened and sit there in wonder, amazed that you are facing a trial.
I’m afraid that way too many of us are shocked, are surprised, are simply stunned that this could happen to me, that this could come my way.
As of Wednesday, 150,000 have died of the coronavirus. Some were horrible, sinful, awful people. Some were devout, godly, Christians. Coming here is not a protection from Covid. And I will reiterate that if you don’t feel well, please don’t come. And if you do come, and are tested later and are found to be positive, please let us know, so that we can respond accordingly.
But getting back to the message, Christians have died from this disease. Christians have lost their businesses. Churches have closed, smaller, less financially viable churches have shut down and will not reopen. Fiery trials happen.
In fact, the word fiery literally means,
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 24.91 πύρωσις, εως
24.91 πύρωσιςb, εως f: (a figurative extension of meaning of πύρωσιςa ‘to burn,’ 14.63) the experience of painful suffering—‘to suffer pain, to experience severe suffering, painful suffering.’ μὴ ξενίζεσθε τῇ ἐν ὑμῖν πυρώσει ‘do not be surprised at the painful suffering you are experiencing’
This is the reality of trials, so, let’s talk about our reaction to trials.
II. Our Reaction to Trials. v.13-14
II. Our Reaction to Trials. v.13-14
Here we are, I just found out that the sickness is terminal. I’m told that Friday will be my last day. I’ve been arrested for preaching the Bible, what is the reaction to these hardships?
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Now, let’s be honest here, we don’t run around jumping up and down that I’ve only got a week left to live. We don’t get excited that we are about to be homeless because we lost our job and now our home is being foreclosed on.
Rather, the rejoicing is in realizing that we are sharing the same experience, we are suffering in the same manner that our Lord suffered. The christian realizes that Christ suffered more than any other person, and when we suffer in our flesh, we are being shown to be more like Him every day.
Instead of being shocked, Christians should “be very glad,” full of joy, when they encounter the hard times (4:13). This joy does not mean happiness; we are happy when things are going the way we want, but all trials are painful while they are happening (Heb 12:11). Joy, however, is centered on God, who is in control and will work all things for good (Rom 8:28). We never enjoy our afflictions, but we rejoice because God is in charge and because we know what the future holds. Peter
We rejoice because we share in Christ’s suffering, and also because of the glory that will be revealed. Unfortunately, we have said goodbye to many people in the church over the years. And while there is sadness, heartache from losing loved ones, we also know where they are. And that causes us to rejoice even in the midst of sadness, even in the midst of grief and pain.
So we know that trials are a reality, and when they come, we rejoice knowing we are identified with Christ, but we should mention what should not be the reason for our trials.
III. What should not be the Reason for our Trials. v.15-16
III. What should not be the Reason for our Trials. v.15-16
Here I am, suffering, in pain, but let it not be said that I am facing this trial because of this. Look at verse 15.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
You might be facing trials and hardships, you might be facing trials, but you must first ask the question, am I facing this because of sin in my life? This is the point of this verse. WE can go through and look at the vices, and discuss whether or not you have killed someone, or perhaps hold hatred in your heart towards someone.
Some of you might be reading a version that says criminal in the third word. This is debated and it seems that criminal is perhaps not the best term because you could do evil without doing something criminal, or illegal. But not everything we would determine as evil is not necessarily criminal.
But look at this fourth word. meddler. Busybody. Someone is unnecessarily meddling around in someone else’s affairs needlessly.
Regardless, the point is simple. The reason you were fired from your job is not because you are a believer, and your boss hates you. No, you were fired because you show up to work 20 minutes late every day.
This is the point that I am trying to make. If we are persecuted, if we suffer, if we go through hard times, let it not be because we are doing evil, doing the wrong thing, doing what is not honorable in the sight of God.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Go back to that illustration. You’re working a job, you’re lazy, don’t do good work, don’t come to church and talk about how you are being persecuted for your faith and your boss is a sinner and he hates you. That may be true. He may hate you because you are a Christian, but you were probably fired because you were unreliable.
If however, you are the employee of the month, you are first one in, last one out, all the work you produce is great, and yet, your boss is a sinful, wicked person, and he fires you simply because of your faith, don’t be ashamed. Don’t allow yourself to be discouraged, to doubt your salvation or commitment to God. Rather give glory to God.
Again, this is not jumping up and down, proclaiming how awesome it is that you are a martyr. Rather, it is a recognition that no matter what we face, no matter what we go through, God is in control, our lives are in his hands, and he is working all things together for our good.
Acts 5 tells the story of the disciples preaching and raising the ire of the high priest. They arrest the apostles, place them in prison, and have every intention of dealing with them, but in the middle of the night an angel comes and sets them free.
So they go back to the temple, find the disciples there, and arrest them again. However, the disciples are rescued by Gamaliel, a well respected teacher of the law, who tells the council that if this from God, there’s nothing we can do to stop it.
And so, look what happens.
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
They rejoiced, knowing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. That’s the attitude we have, that’s the heart that is truly abandoned to God, no matter the cost. That’s the life that is faithful to Him regardless.
So, we have the reality of trials, the reaction to our trials, the response we should not have, and then the reason for our trials.
IV. What IS the Reason for our Trials. v.17-18
IV. What IS the Reason for our Trials. v.17-18
Look at verse 17.
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
The reason God allows trials in our lives, the reason suffering occurs in our lives, is that God is purifying our lives, drawing us closer to Him, making our lives reflect Him more and more.
This verse echoes what the prophet Malachi speaks about in his book.
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary (i) For God’s Judgment Is Beginning from God’s Own House (4:17–18)
17. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God puts verses 12 to 16 in a broader theological context. ‘What is going on in the world?’ the readers might wonder. ‘Why are God’s people suffering and evildoers going unpunished?’ Peter explains that the ‘fiery ordeal’, or ‘refining fire’, of verse 12 is really a fire of God’s judgment. Yet this word for judgment (krima) does not necessarily mean ‘condemnation’ (which would be katakrima) but is a broader term which can refer to a judgment which results in good and bad evaluations, a judgment which may issue in approval or discipline as well as condemnation. The picture is that God has begun judging within the church, and will later move outward to judge those outside the church. The refining fire of judgment is leaving no one untouched, but Christians are being purified and strengthened by it—sins are being eliminated and trust in God and holiness of life are growing.
This is the point. God uses the trials, uses the suffering, to refine our lives, to cleanse the sin that is in our lives.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The reality, the reaction, what should not be the reason, what is the reason, and then
V. How we should Respond to the Trials in our Lives. v.19
V. How we should Respond to the Trials in our Lives. v.19
We know that trials are coming, so what is our response, how do we handle them.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
While this may at first seem harsh (for it implies that at times it is God’s will that we suffer), upon reflection no better comfort in suffering can be found than this: it is God’s good and perfect will. For therein lies the knowledge that there is a limit to the suffering, both in its intensity and in its duration, a limit set and maintained by the God who is our creator, our saviour, our sustainer, our Father. And therein also lies the knowledge that this suffering is only for our good: it is purifying us, drawing us closer to our Lord, and making us more like him in our lives. In all of it we are not alone, but we can depend on the care of a faithful Creator; we can rejoice in the fellowship of a Saviour who has also suffered (v. 13); we can exult in the constant presence of a Spirit of glory who delights to rest upon us (v. 14
The fact is, no matter what we face, no matter what we go through, we can trust our faithful God. WE can depend on our God. We know He is with us, always and forever.
Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle
Of the storms of this life
I won't turn back; I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?
O no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go - Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming
For the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
Her name was Lina Sandell. Swedish. Born in 1832. She loved her dad, idolized him, in fact. As she grew older, she often ministered alongside him. When she was only twenty-six, her father died. They were traveling together by ship and were standing together on the deck, reveling in the beauty of creation. For some reason, the ship lurched unsteadily, and Lina Sandell’s father fell overboard. No rescue was possible. He drowned before her eyes. The one she loved, cherished, and idolized was gone. That is when Lina Sandell dug deep within for help and found it. That is when she wrote these words:
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here.
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best.
Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest (Baptist Hymnal 1991, 66).