(1 Peter 1:6-9) Finding Joy Despite Suffering
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· 122 viewsJoy and suffering rarely find themselves together in the same circumstances. Surprisingly, Peter tells us how Christians should rejoice at suffering in their life. Why should we rejoice? This passage teaches us how God uses suffering to purify our faith. While suffering may not be pleasant, its result is more precious than Gold.
Notes
Transcript
The passage before us this morning challenges us to rejoice in suffering.
Now doesn’t that seem a little weird.
You want me to rejoice … in suffering.
There is the old saying,
“You only have two guarantees in life, death and taxes”.
But I would add a third - We all suffer.
Paul tells us the world is groaning at the suffering of this world.
It is not a matter of if you will suffer, but when.
And sometimes that suffering can be worse than death.
David says in ....
My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
And now, I stand up here and tell you … I want you to rejoice in those moments.
Doesn’t that sound a little weird!
CAVEAT:
In honesty-
I come here this morning, to preach a passage … that I am far from fully applied to my life.
It is a hard verse to live out.
But as difficult as it may seem, Peter teaches us that Christians can find joy in suffering.
You see, Peter is writing to
The Churches of Northern Turkey who are facing the beginnings of persecution.
Opposition to the gospel has begin to arise.
People have began to be discriminated against because in Christ Alone.
They don’t worship the pagan gods, like everyone else.
You can imagine that such suffering discouraged them.
But Peter reminds them .... that they can find joy in suffering.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
From this text,
We ought to live joyfully through suffering
We ought to live joyfully through suffering
and Peter gives us 3 reasons why a Christian ought to have Joy in the midst of suffering.
and Peter gives us 3 reasons why a Christian ought to have Joy in the midst of suffering.
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Let Us Pray
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Peter starts out by saying -
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
“In this you rejoice”
“In this” , Peter is talking about the Gospel.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In the Gospel - Rejoice.
Even as you face … various trials....REJOICE.
But why?
Why is always the great question of suffering.
>>>> It is the question we all ask when we face “various trials” in life.
And Peter gives us three reasons why.
That will be the focus of our message this morning.
EXHORTATION:
These reasons why - are helpful … because finding joy is not about our circumstances getting better as much properly interpreting the purpose - the why of suffering.
The first reason, we ought to rejoice in suffering is that it purifies our faith.
1) Purifies our Faith (1:7)
1) Purifies our Faith (1:7)
God uses trials to remove impurities in our Faith.
God uses trials to remove impurities in our Faith.
ILLUSTRATION:
We live in a brand-name driven culture.
Manufactures spend billions to help you know about their product,
and then billions more authenticating those products.
For example, one brand of essential oil guarantees their oil to be 100% pure and authentic.
And they guarantee that by serializing every bottle … so you can see exactly where they got it from.
You can look up when and where they obtained that essential oil.
They want you to know it is the real thing.
Notice part of the reason we go through trials is to be purified,
that is we are shaped and molded into the real thing.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.
Observe, why we go through trials in this life.
So that we can be tested as genuine.
This word literally means to be tested, but is the idea of being refined.
Historical Background:
Peter uses the refining of Gold to help them understand the purpose of trials.
The process of purifying Gold in the Ancient Greco-Roman world involved the purification of gold by fire in a pot called a crucible.
The crucible is a clay pot in which metal was heated up to high temperature resulting in the burning up or natural separation of impurities.
The end result was a pure metallic base such as Gold, silver, or bronze.
So you are literally purifying the Gold.
Peter’s point,
God uses the trials in our lives to remove the impurities of our faith.
That as trials come, they challenge our thinking and self-reliance, and thus become more like Christ and more dependent on God.
Thus, purifying our faith.
ILLUSTRATION:
You have heard me from this pulpit declare the wickedness of man’s heart.
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
I have cautioned you to be mindful of our heart.
But,
How do I cleanse my heart of sin?
How do I purify my heart of sin?
Each one of us is incapable of changing our hearts.
because our hearts are bent towards evil
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
How do we break through our sin?
Part of the answer is that the God of heaven sovereignly allows various trials and struggles to come into our life.
As these struggles come into our lives they reveal the impurities of our faith,
and thus give us an opportunity to overcome the sinfulness of our heart.
a) Sometimes, the trials that God allows draws out our sin.
This is why often a hurting person is an angry person. Pain and suffering often draws out our selfishness and unbelief.
Selfishness and unbelief that we did not even realize was there.
b) Sometimes, the trials that God allows exposes sin that is already there.
Were deceived, but as affliction sets in, whether the direct consequence of sin, or trials allowed by God, the suffering leads us to recognize and deal with our sin.
In the end, as our life heats up with trials and suffering,
our faith is purified in greater and greater Christlikeness and dependence upon God.
Thus, we become genuine and authentic believers.
To God, a pure believer is as your text says, “more precious than Gold”.
In Summary of Peter’s point,
We ought rejoice in suffering … because we know God is using it to purify us.
To take that wretchedness out of hearts and lives.
Secondly, We ought to rejoice through trials because it
2) Glorifies Christ (1:7)
2) Glorifies Christ (1:7)
The purity of our faith gives God honor, praise, and glory.
The purity of our faith gives God honor, praise, and glory.
Notice a 2nd reason we have the trials.
Part of the reason we go through trials is because ultimately the purity of faith results in the praise of Jesus Christ.
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.
Part of our testing brings praise, honor, and glory to the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Or to say it another way …
>>>God uses trials and the Gospel to bring Christ praise and glory.
But how so?
Consider this -
The Greatness of a king is known by his great works.
a) Sometimes, because of their military strength.
For example, We remember Alexander the Great chiefly because he conquered the known world.
b) Sometimes because of their great collection of knowledge.
We remember the ancient library of Alexandria because of how much knowledge had been acquired.
c) Sometimes because of their great economic achievements.
This is why Egypt is so famous. They are remembered because of their great monuments and precious objects.
But Christ’s claim to praise, glory, and honor is not primarily found
> in military victory, though he is all-powerful.
> is not- in the collection of knowledge, though he is the all-wise counselor.
> is not - in the economic achievement, though he owns the cows on a 1,000 hills, bestows on us eternal riches, and will prosper Israel and the nations like no other king has before.
Unlike human kings, God’s honor, praise, and glory is primarily in his redemption of humanity.
Christ deserves honor, praise, and glory because of what he has done for every person who has Faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
God’s honor, praise, and glory is increased from one glory to another level glory by the purification of his saints.
God’s glory began by our new birth resulting in faith and transformed lives.
However, that is not where God’s glory ends.
We ought to rejoice in trials because
PAUSE PAUSE PAUSE
the purification of faith results in greater glory for God.
ILLUSTRATION/EXHORTATION:
I can’t help but think of the blind man in John 9.
The blind man was born to life of helplessness, having to beg on the streets.
And then one day … Jesus passes by and one of his disciples asked this -
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
> As difficult as trials are … may we not forget that a Godly response to trial always glorifies our Lord.
> It always points people to the hope and greatness of Jesus Christ.
So as weird as it may seem,
We ought to rejoice at suffering -
First - Because it purifies our faith.
Second - Because it glorifies our God.
And thirdly - because we have …
3) Obtained Salvation (1:8-9)
3) Obtained Salvation (1:8-9)
No trial can affect our eternal salvation.
No trial can affect our eternal salvation.
1 Peter 1:4 reminds that possessions in this world do not last, and you can’t take them with you.
No one goes to Heaven or Hell with a U-Haul van.
However, there is one possession that we do take beyond death.
Our Souls.
When Jesus taught on suffering, he said this!
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
In other words, our greatest concern should be over our soul and not that which is temporary.
One of the reasons we should rejoice in the suffering of this life is because our soul has been eternally preserved.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Peter will briefly mention - that true believers
Love Christ.
Believe in Christ.
You might say this is the substance of faith.
We have all the evidence we need to have a reasonable and rational belief … that Jesus Came, Died, and Rose Again.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
We have the evidence … but Peter briefly reminds us that Faith is not about the evidence.
Genuine Faith is about
The Love of Christ
And the Trust in Christ.
I challenge everyone of us -
Do you love Jesus?
And, Do you trust in Christ?
In a very simple summary, that is what determines if you are a Christian.
But, Peter is not specifically describing Faith.
Instead he is making a point about why we should rejoice in suffering.
>>>> Because there is no suffering that is more powerful than the salvation we have in Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Faith that is characterized by love and belief in Christ, is a faith that has received the salvation of their souls.
The believers in 1 Peter are facing trials and struggles.
But Peter is encouraging them to rejoice.
Why?
Because Now amount of suffering in this life can ever effect their souls.
>>>>> Their souls are eternally secure with God.
EXHORTATION
I know that at times suffering in this world can make us feel like all is lost.
Whether it is financial difficulty, sickness, car accident, …
(Pause) (Pause)
SIN
Ultimately, none of these can effect the soul.
We can loose everything in this world, including our lives, and yet never really lose anything.
As Paul said -
Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For the believer, we can rejoice in suffering because our souls are eternally secure with God.
CONCLUSION:
So this morning, … Peter has given us a simple task, but also a very difficult task.
To Live Joyfully through suffering.
Not only does that sound weird,
but many would even say unrealistic or narcissistic.
You want me to be find joy in hurting.
In some ways - YES.
I don’t think Peter is saying that we actually find joy in hurting.
Instead - I think he saying … rejoice because God has a plan and purpose for your suffering.
- Instead of choosing fear and despair at the pain of suffering …
- Instead choose joy because God is working in your life.
You see suffering, is a highly interpretive.
It is amazing what I can endure … when I know there is a purpose and end to my pain and suffering.
It is amazing how one person can be in complete despair.
While someone with worse circumstances … is content.
What is the difference?
I choose joy in God’s work rather than despair over my pain.
Now I know, this is a simple, but difficult task.
You see, when I hurt -
I don’t think about how
God is making me pure and authentic follower of Christ when I am suffering.
Or How I can bring praise to God and point others to Jesus through my suffering.
Or that I might hurt … but it can’t destroy me because I am saved.
I don’t think about those things.
But that is the problem.
Instead, I am thinking about
how bad it hurts
or how much it is going to cost
or when it is going to end.
But what Peter is saying … is that I don’t have to live in despair.
Instead, I can find joy despite suffering because God has plan and purpose to my suffering.
Peter is saying … when you hurt … think about these things.
According to our text -
We can rejoice in suffering because it
1) Purifies our Faith (1:7)
2) Glorifies Christ (1:7)
3) Obtained Salvation (1:8-9)
I challenge us to remember these truths when we face the challenges of life.
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Personal Response:
Trials should not overwhelm us because we understand it’s true purpose and the security of our eternal life. The security of our eternal life should give us joy despite the temporary trials of this life.
No trial should overwhelm the joy we have in the living and future hope we have in Christ.
1) How do you respond to suffering? Does suffering still your joy?
2) How have you experienced God using suffering to purify your faith?
3) How has your suffering praised our Lord?
4) Why should our salvation lead to joy, even in suffering? How does this relate to v. 3-5?