Don't Let Suffering Surprise You

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Peter 4:12-19 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. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 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? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Peter is continuing the theme of suffering.

What kind of suffering does Peter have in mind here?

Suffering for our beliefs. (doctrine)

Suffering for how our beliefs cause us to behave. (morality)

Suffering for denying the legitimacy of the world’s methods, motives, goals, perspectives, doctrine, and religion. (worldview)

Suffering for our stance against sin.

Suffering for our confession of an exclusive salvation.

Suffering for our confession of an exclusive Savior.

Here we notice something about trials by the way Peter describes them.

He calls trials fiery…do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you

This language takes us back to 1 Peter 1:6-7 where Peter has already spoken about suffering...

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

So in the mercy of God, the genuineness of a person’s faith is tested by fire

This is a way in which God allows us to know whether we are truly trusting in Christ or not...

Whether our heart is clinging to the world or Christ.

So, similarly, back to 1 Peter 4:12 where Peter states...

do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you

So, Peter is reminding us of the gracious act of God by Him allowing suffering into our life...

And, that gracious act is for us to have the assurance of our belonging to Him...

By our trusting in Christ through and at the finality of the trial.

And, the flip side of that is that if the test proves you are not united to Christ...

Then God is giving you an opportunity to repent and believe upon Christ.

God is gracious in all His ways.

So, there’s a reminder…but there’s also a command...

There are actually six imperatives in this passage.

Six commands from God for us to obey.

Let’s look at the first command...

Peter 4:12 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.

Do Not Be Surprised

Suffering, for the Christian, should not be surprising.

That’s easy to say...

Not as easy to live out.

How does suffering surprise us?

1. When Suffering Is Being Avoided.

Too often in our lives we avoid suffering.

Sometimes we fear physical retaliation.

Sometimes we fear verbal retaliation.

Sometimes we fear relational rejection.

Sometimes we fear the potential emotional stress.

Those are bad reasons to avoid suffering.

Sometimes we aren’t sure in the moment how to respond with truth and love...

And, in our hesitation and desire to do it right we miss the opportunity altogether.

That is not necessarily bad because winning the argument in a bad way can actually lose the person...

And the person is the target…we want them to come to Christ.

But, all too often, we just simply do not want to suffer.

And, so in our avoidance of the big suffering, God allows minor suffering to enter our life...

We find it strange and it surprises us.

Another way we can be surprised by suffering...

2. When Suffering Is Viewed As Strange.

Peter says don’t look at trials as if something strange was happening to you.

So, when we view suffering as strange it will surprise you.

Why do we view suffering as strange?

By underestimating the depravity of the human heart.

Let’s turn to a passage that perfectly demonstrates the underestimating of the depravity of the heart...

2 Kings 8:7-15 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’ ” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels’ loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’ ” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

Here is the picture perfect illustration of underestimating the depravity of the human heart...

Hazael underestimated the depths that our hearts can take us into sin.

He thought he was a faithful servant to the King.

Up to this point, perhaps he was…at least visibly.

He was appalled at the thought of bringing harm to the people of Israel...

He was appalled at the thought of burning cities, killing young men, killing children, and killing pregnant women.

He couldn’t believe that the prophet Elisha would say such things about him.

He was surprised and thought it strange…beyond strange for him to be accused of being capable of such atrocities...

And, then his reply to Elisha is sort of like this...

Not only am I not morally capable of such things...

But, I am no such position of authority to do such a thing.

And, Elisha said to him…God has shown me that you are to be King.

And then, the whole trip home Hazael is thinking about the power that he would have as King.

The temptation to have power and authority started taking over his heart and mind...

And, what did Hazael do…He plotted a plan to make sure that the power and authority of the King would become his.

He killed the King…who was going to recover, mind you.

This is why the Apostle Paul rightly warns us to take heed lest you fall.

We find trials and temptations strange when we underestimate the depravity of our own hearts...

And, the hearts of those who we interact with each and every day.

And, this goes beyond the personal level, as well.

We can be surprised by suffering when don’t understand that the world and the church are at polar opposite ends of worldviews.

When I say that I do not mean that we cannot agree on anything...

But, what I do mean is that we will never have the same motivation for what we do...

Nor, will we have the same goal for what we do.

And, if we are not careful, as Christians, we will start putting our hope in:

The systems of the world.

The governments of the world.

The political parties of the world.

The benefits and comforts of the world because that is all that the above structures can promise.

So, understanding the depravity of the human heart and the incompatible motives and goals between the Church and the World...

This will keep us from being surprised by suffering.

And, this takes us back to thinking rightly...

And, guarding your heart from letting unedifying influences stick in your mind.

It is as Peter calls it…arming yourselves with the mind of Christ.

Question...

What about when we do suffer at the hands of unbelievers?

How can we keep ourselves from a despairing attitude towards unbelievers when we suffer by their actions?

It’s easy to despair about the potential conversion of an unbeliever...

Especially, when they’re persecuting us...

Our natural inclination is to hate our persecutors...

Or at least dislike them.

We can lose hope for their conversion.

How can we keep from losing hope towards those who are persecuting us.

1. By remembering who is ultimately behind the trial.

God is allowing us to be tested for our good.

God has good motives and purposes for His allowing us to be tested.

God is using them as an instrument to refine you...

By resisting temptation, by overcoming sin in your life you are being transformed from one degree of glory to the next...

Meaning you are becoming more like Christ.

You are thinking more like Christ.

You are increasing in your ability to image Christ.

2. By remembering that we would behave the same if it were not for the regenerating work of the HS.

The Scripture is clear that we once walked according to the lust of the flesh and the methods, motives and goals of this world...

If it were not for the grace of God…not the goodness of our heart...

But the grace of God we would be doing the same…we would be tempting Christians to sin against God...

And persecuting Christians if they did not give in because of the condemnation it would heap upon our heads.

But, we’ve been washed. We’ve been cleansed by the blood of JC.

We should have a desire for the same thing to happen to others.

How? By keeping our ultimate desire for them to be for their good.

That ultimate good for them is for them to know the Lord and His salvation.

So, we should never lose sight of that truth.

No matter what they have done to us.

Think about how Christ loves His bride...

And, yet it was His bride’s sins that nailed Him to the Cross.

3. By maintaining a forgiving heart towards those who persecute us.

At best...

If we don’t forgive, we show that we are not thinking about, appreciating, and being grateful for the forgiveness we have in Christ.

At worst...

If we don’t forgive, we show that we have not experienced the forgiveness of God in JC.

And, if that would be the case...

Then use that opportunity to repent of your sins...

And, put your hope and faith completely in the person and finished work of JC.

Closing Prayer