Proper Perspectives on Persecution

Opening Comments

Please meet me in your copy of God’s Word in 1 Peter 4:12-19 as we continue in our “Stand Firm” series examining the books of 1 and 2nd Peter.

While you’re turning, allow me a moment to put what we’re about to read in its proper cultural context.

On July 19, 64AD Nero sat fire to the city of Rome. Rome was a city full or wooden tenement structures and narrow streets. Nero had an obsessive desire to build and remodel the city constantly and because of this, the people instantly suspected Nero of setting the fires. So, in order to deflect the blame, he pointed the finger at christians who were already societal outcast. This was the very beginning of what became 200 years worth of intense persecution all over the Roman empire.

As best we can tell, 1 Peter was written toward the end of 64AD, just at the outset of that persecution.

1 Peter 4:12–19 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Introduction:

Persecution is something that every person experiences on some level. Most of us, in the US, experience what we might call “normative persecution” which includes: criticism, mocking, harassment, ridicule and general opposition. At the time Peter wrote his first epistle, this was mostly the kind of persecution his audience was experiencing. But, the flames were being stoked for more intense persecution that Peter called “fiery trials.”

An intense, state sponsored persecution where people would be arrested, beaten, burned alive at the stake, boiled, fed to lions, branded on their private parts, wrapped in the bloody skins of dead animals and hunted for sport, limbs torn of of the body both by horses and machines, etc. just for being christians.

Peter could see the “fiery trials” on the horizon, so he writes to warn and prepare his readers to orient their lives and hearts to endure intense suffering for Christ.

He does so by giving us 4 Proper Perspectives on Persecution, lets examine these perspectives together from the text.

1. Expect Trials (v.12b)

We should never be surprised that God would allow suffering to come our way.

Mark it down, as long as we are alive in this world, we will face trials and suffering.

John 15:19 NKJV

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Following Christ in a world that is opposed to Him is difficult because they will never understand why it is you live the way that you do.

Notice though, Peter doesn't seem to view these “fiery trials” as a negative thing. He refers to them in a positive light.

“…which is to try you...”- Peter refers to these “fiery trials” as a refining process used by God to purify his church.

God allows persecution to refine us in four ways:

Measures the strength of our faith.

Proves our trust in God and teaches us to depend on Him more and more.

Strengthens our patience and resolve.

To allow us to the opportunity to demonstrate our faith and attract others to Christ.

If we are walking closely with Christ, persecution is an expected by-product of our relationship.

There is a story about John Wesley that I think illustrates this point well: “[He] was riding along a road one day when it dawned on him that three whole days had passed in which he had suffered no persecution. Not a brick or an egg had been thrown at him for three days. “Alarmed, he stopped his horse, and exclaimed, ‘Can it be that I have sinned, and am backslidden?’ “Slipping from his horse, Wesley went down on his knees and began interceding with God to show him where, if any, there had been a fault. “A rough fellow on the other side of the hedge, hearing the prayer, looked across and recognized the preacher. ‘I’ll fix that Methodist preacher,’ he said, picking up a brick and tossing it over at him. It missed its mark, and fell harmlessly beside John. Whereupon Wesley leaped to his feet joyfully exclaiming, ‘Thank God, it’s all right. I still have His presence.’ ”

2. Enjoy Trials (v.13-14)

Thats an oxymoron isn’t it? Is there anyone who can honestly say that they actually enjoy trials and suffering?

How can we enjoy trials:

Know that you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

Acts 5:41 NKJV

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Know that when Christ returns in His glory, we will be rewarded.

Matthew 5:11–12 NKJV

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Know that the Holy Spirit rests on you in a powerful way when we are called to endure trials and suffering.

Know that your suffering is glorifying to God. While your persecutors and blaspheming the name of Christ by their actions, you are exaltin His name by yours.

3. Evaluate Trials. (v.15-18)

When suffering a “fiery trial” it should lead us to self-examination where we are humble and honest before the Lord.

There are four questions we should as ourselves as we are going through a “fiery trial.”:

Why am I suffering? (v.15-16)

If you are suffering because of wrong doing (murder, thievery, law breaking, busybody [meddling in the affairs of others and causing trouble]) then your suffering is not persecution, it’s just. Self inflicted suffering and persecution are two opposite events.

If you are suffering simply for being a believer in Christ, then you are suffering the “fiery trial” of persecution.

Am I honoring Christ or am I ashamed of Christ? (v.16)

No christian should ever be ashamed that Christ is their Lord. We are to stand firm and honor Christ in all that we do.

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Am I evangelizing the lost? (v.17-18)

These verses are not telling us to judge and set in order the church. (There are other places that do that.) Peter is discussing why believers suffer trials.

God’s judgement begins with the purification of His church but will end with His final judgement on the lost.

Peter is turning our attention here in these verses to that time of ultimate judgement upon all those who reject Christ. He is telling us essentially “If God is willing to allow his church to suffer “fiery trials”, how much more severe will his judgement on the ungodly be?”

No matter how bad the persecution may get for christians, there is an eternity in the flames of Hell for all those who reject Christ.

We should allow our “fiery trials” to give us a greater compassion to evangelize the lost.

4. Entrust yourself to God. (v.19)

Peter tells us here that our suffering is the “will of God.” By allowing us to go through the “fiery trial” God is either glorifying the name of Christ through you or purifying you.

Commit- deposit, to entrust into the hands of a trusted friend or banker.

Folks, God can be trusted in your “fiery trials,” He will either bring you through it or take you home to Heaven with Him.

2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV

12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

As we walk through trials and suffering we must continue to do good and trust our Lord to care for us.

Conclusion:

Are you ready for the “fiery trial?”

Do you have the proper perspectives?

We need to allow our persecution to draw us closer to Christ, so we may stand firm in the “fiery trial.”

We do this by:

Expecting trials

Enjoying trials.

Evaluating trials.

Entrusting ourselves to God.