Insults and Complements

There are two types of people in this audience right now… those that see no problems, and those that are wanting to say, “Pastor, THAT’S NOT HOW IT’S SPELLED.”

A grammarian fell into a well one day and had difficulty climbing up the slippery sides.

A little later, a man walked by and heard his cries for help. In the casual language of everyday life, "Can I help you?” he asked.

The grammarian replied, "I would certainly appreciate your help. But by the way, you have committed an error in your speech… the proper question is May I help you?"

"A good point," acknowledged the man. "I had best go off awhile and try to improve my skills." And so he did, leaving the grammarian at the bottom of the well.

Believe it or not, however, the spelling is intentional. A compliment is a statement of affirmation or admiration, while a complement is something that completes. “You look nice today” would be a compliment. “Your shoes complement your outfit” would be an observation of the second term.

When it comes to how we respond to errors of language, we have to be careful on both ends. In a day of auto-correct and abbreviations, many know the pain and shame of an inadvertent miscommunication. (Relative LOL story) We also have to be careful about being perceived as too smug or snooty, developing a reputation as a know-it-all that no one ever wants to be around because you think you’re better than everyone else.

When it comes to living as a Christian, we also have to be doubly careful. There are insults and problems we have to learn to process one way, and there are indignities we should labor diligently to avoid. Let’s read today’s passage together.

1 Peter 4:12–19 (ESV)

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. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 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? And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

First notice that..

The Spirit Supports the Suffering

This observation comes from verse 14:

1 Peter 4:14 (ESV)

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

It is important to note here that while God helps and cares for His children in various situations of distress, this is not a general statement of such Divine attention. Rather, it is the special kind of power promised by Jesus in times of great turmoil, that his followers would encounter on His behalf.

John 14:26–27 (ESV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

You might say, “now wait just a minute. Doesn’t the Spirit indwell me at the point of salvation?” Why yes He does.

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

But note then that Paul also says to those sealed, indwelt believers:

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

We know that Jesus was specially helped by the ministry of the Spirit Himself… see for example the occasions of his baptism and temptation by Satan in Matthew 3-4. The Spirit comes upon Jesus, helps Him through the situation, and ministers to Him following it.

For the believers Peter is addressing here, understand that the are facing extreme difficulty… “fiery trial” is how Peter describes it. It’s the kind of thing we can well imagine our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan experiencing these days. Such things may seem unimaginable to us, but know that even today they are within the realm of possibility. It may invoke dread and unsettledness, but Peter says that it should evoke a different kind of response… rejoice! Why? Well first, because the Spirit is...

Giving You Life

You are in the language of vs 13:

1 Peter 4:13 (ESV)

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

How did Jesus suffer? Even unto death! Did he remain in that state? NO! Our hope, friends, is grounded in the certainty of the Resurrection.

Hallelujah! Praise the One Who set me free

Hallelujah! Death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your Name

Jesus Christ, my Living Hope!

So our hope is beyond the immediate experiences of this life.

Philippians 1:21 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ, as we are reminded in Romans 8. This is because...

Romans 8:11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

The Spirit that gives life and power also is...

Guiding Your Steps

The Spirit directs us. When we talk about this, people often have a sense of mystical, mysterious premonitions. Even among non-pentecostal/charismatic tyoes of people, it’s not unusual for Christians to use language such as “God told me” thus and so. But understand here in this passage that Peter points to something much more basic. In this case, as he warns

1 Peter 4:15 ESV

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

He is bringing to mind what Paul says positively in Galatians 5...

Galatians 5:16 (ESV)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

What does walking in the Spirit look like? Like some kind of mystical internal GPS?

Galatians 5:22–25 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

God is certainly capable of giving supernatural direction and influence. But the means by which His Spirit will direct you in everyday life may seem relatively mundane. He just wants you to live righteously! But as simple as that might seem to just do the right thing, it is a constant struggle. This is why we need the Spirit, who is

Guaranteeing Your Standing

Peter cites

Proverbs 11:31 ESV

If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

However, he is quoting not from the Hebrew, but the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT.

The “righteous” in the OT mind would have been the one who obeyed God’s Law; here it is those who believe and obey the gospel. The same for the identity of the ungodly and sinner. The consequences in Proverbs were in the course of one’s lifetime… here Peter is applying it to Final Judgment.

The idea of a day of judgment and accountability is a theme Peter has been emphasizing already.

1 Peter 1:17 ESV

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

That sense of fear is very consistent with the teaching of Jesus in places like...

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

We are reminded in...

Hebrews 10:31 ESV

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Peter reminds his audience that the suffering they experience now is far preferable to the experience of the unregenerate and unfaithful. We must remember this ourselves, when we struggle with how hard it is to live righteously and...

Rely on The Spirit

Stay

...don’t stray! The insults aren’t pleasant, but don’t be deterred. If you aren’t currently experiencing persecution and opposition, are you living in such a way where you are allowing God to prepare you for such an experience? God is capable of doing many things in moments of high pressure—but understand that His standard way of doing things is not an immediate lifestyle transformation in a single moment. God delights in using a process to prepare His children. Yes, v 15 reminds us there are potential pitfalls and distractions. We have seen the pressures Peter speaks of in society, of people wondering why the lives of faithful believers look so different. But if we are to be filled with the Spirit in times of great duress, we must be making it a priority now to...

Submit

The lesson we should take away is that faithfulness is expected. What will sustain you in times of great duress is not casual Christianity, or even busy Christian activity. What we remember here is our standing, our hope is in Jesus, and that is ministered to us as His Spirit is revealed in us. So in your times of relative ease, or in your trials and anguish on behalf of Christ, remember...

HOPE WILL TRIUMPH

Who knows what kind of world these young ones up here this morning will face? But what WE KNOW is this:

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives

What kind of life is worth living? one “entrusted...to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Notice...

In v 14, Peter emphasizes again the special ministry of the Spirit to those who suffer. He is building on 3:14, where those who will suffer are assured of blessing. The promise of Jesus is that the Spirit will empower in times of intense opposition (see Mark 13:9-13).