Peter Message 17
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
Why Do Christians Suffer?
Why Do Christians Suffer?
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.
Intro:
I heard this from a pastor. “God only had one son without sin, none without sorrow”
Jesus the son of God. The sinless son, suffered.
When we become a Christian (Elab) we are not exempt from suffering. No matter who you are there will come a time when you face pain, troubles and trials.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Tribulation: Trouble, affliction that causes pressure.
1. What Peter saying to encourage these persecuted Christians apply’s to us today. We are not exempt from suffering, from troubles, affliction.
a. Christians get laid off from jobs, Christians get cancer, cars break down, fiat tires, get covid 19. Loved ones die.
c. Bad things, bad situations happen to faithful followers of Jesus. Today we are going to look at some ways to help us through times of suffering.
I. Expect it. VS 12
I. Expect it. VS 12
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
1.Have you every heard. “God must not love me because of what I am going through”
Peter states here. “Beloved”
Divinely loved ones [divinely loved by God]
a. No matter what happens, God loves you. No matter how bad things get, God loves you. No matter people may say about God’s not loving you, God loves you.
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so” Peter loved them and so does God. This a great reminded that God loves you. That is something that cannot be taken away from you.
b. We’ve all heard of “My pillow” Mike Lindell. Restful night pillow. Best night rest. (the claim is, you can rest of my pillow) You rest on Gods love. Life time of rest on Gods love.
“Do not think it strange”
Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong? I go to church, I’m reading through the bible in year. I pray through out the day. Why is this happening to me?
a. Peter says: Do not think it strange.
b.The words “do not think it is strange,” are literally “stop thinking it foreign” to you. These Christians were thinking that the suffering which they were enduring was a thing foreign or alien to their Christian lives, as if Christianity provided an immunity from suffering.
c. Peter is telling them its natural and expected thing that such suffering for righteousness’ sake from world that hates you.
d. Peter is saying, it normal for Christians to suffer. Don’t think it is strange. (Don’t be surprised)
“its a fiery trial which is to try you” Its a test, God tests us, he allows things to happen to make us stronger.
“as though some strange thing happened to you”
Things don’t just happen. God allows things to happen. We just have to look for the reason.
a. You are to rejoice.
II. Rejoice in it. VS 13-14
II. Rejoice in it. VS 13-14
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.
We are to rejoice in suffering. Not rejoice because of suffering. (I’m rejoicing because I have caner. My loved one died. My tire is flat and I’m going to be late for work.
a. But we can rejoice while suffering in Christ. Because Jesus suffered and we suffer as partakers of Jesus suffering.
Partake, KJV partakers: to share in common with:
“but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering”
a. We are partakers of Christ suffering. We cannot suffer for sins like Jesus did, we can suffer for being His follower.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
H.W Read John 15:18-25
b. When we suffer for Jesus it brings us to a closer relationship with Him.
c. The way to know about something is to experience it. Even though we will never suffer as Jesus did, we can still know of His suffering.
d.Our suffering brings us to a closer relationship with Him.
Paul wrote about this. READ AND SLOW AND STOP
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Phil 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
e. Our suffering brings us closer to Jesus and we should rejoice.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Look at the last part of the vs 13
“that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy”.
Heaven one day, then we will understand our suffering, and His glory will be revealed. Then we will have “exceeding joy”
VS 14
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.
If you are reproached: Insulted, ridiculed.
Amplified Bible Chapter 4
If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ
“blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon you”
a. When you suffering the Spirit of “God rests upon you”
is resting with refreshing power upon you.
b. He helps us to endure whatever we may go through.
c. When Stephen was stoned to death, look at what happened to him.
15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
What Peter said about the glory of God, is what happened to Stephen.
Jesus loves me—this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong,—
They are weak, but he is strong.
“On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
a. That is the most important part, our suffering glorifies God.
Examine yourselves because of it. VS 15
Examine yourselves because of it. VS 15
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
Amp: Busy body: as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others
Murder-busy body. (putting your nose in other people business)
Christians should not suffer because of (go over vs 15)
a. If you are suffering, if it because of sin in your life? (somethings God has to get our attintion)
a. If the believer is to suffer, it should be in relation to their commitment to the faith, seeking to honor Christ rather than indulging the desires of the flesh.
a. When suffering comes, we should be able to take comfort in knowing it is for our faith in the Lord instead of rebellion against His plan and will for our lives.
God should get the glory through it. VS 16-19
God should get the glory through it. VS 16-19
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed”
1. Unlike those whose behavior brought about suffering, Peter declared the Christian has no reason to be ashamed for their suffering for the faith.
a.This is one of only three times the word Christian is found within the New Testament. In that day, it was a name that often brought reproach and disdain.
b.Those among the world used it as a slang term to identify those who believed Jesus was the Christ. Peter wanted the believers to embrace their faith, while standing boldly for the Lord, being willing to identify with His suffering.
c.Many today are ridiculed for their faith. Tim Tebow, Drew Brees,
d.There is no shame in identifying with Christ our Lord. We all have been in situations when we were uncomfortable, feeling as if we were the only believer within the group.
e. While those encounters are uncomfortable, they do not provide justification for us to hide our faith. As believers in Christ, we should never be ashamed to identify with our Lord.
“but let him glorify God in this matter.”
1. When faced with opposition or ridicule for their faith, Peter encouraged them to use that as an opportunity to bear witness of the grace of our Lord rather than allowing fear to silence their voice.
a. Faithfulness to the Lord, especially in difficult situations, would provide a tremendous witness for your faith and Christ. D
b. Difficult moments should be viewed as opportunities rather than inconveniences.
a. Light shines brightest in the darkest places. These situations are never easy, but we must continually seek opportunities to let our light shine for the Lord. Being a faithful witness when we are forced to stand alone often bears great influence.
b. People that we interact may never admit it publicly, but believe they will notice our commitment and it will make an impact in their lives. We must commit to being a consistent witness, regardless of the situation or company we are among
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?”
The Judgment here is still dealing with the suffering Peter has been talking about.
a. But the judgement for those “who did not obey the gospel of God”
VS 18
If God judges believers, what will it be like for those who do not believe? This why our witness to the lost while we are suffering is so important.
Paul Salas. (Elab) Acts 16:25 Because of their witness the jailer, and all in his house were saved. I’m sure many other because he and his family were saved.
a. So instead of moaning and complying, be a witness. People will take notice. People are watching.
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.
Therefore, also let those who are suffering according to the will of God be constantly committing the safekeeping of their souls by a continuance in the doing of good to a faithful Creator.
You can be in God’s will and still suffer.
a. You can be dirt poor and be in God’s will. You can get caner and be in God’s will. You can get covid and be in God’s will. He never promised had we would not suffer.
John Phillips
We have to fall back on this truth—God is too loving to be unkind, too wise to make any mistakes, and too powerful to be thwarted in His sublime purpose. Many aspects of suffering baffle us. They make no sense to us at all. But that is because we now get only one side of the story. One day we shall get to know it all and great and eternal will be our praise! We must trust God.
