Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Peter 4:1-11

There is a story that I want to share to start off this morning.

Now I did not come up with story this is something that I had read somewhere at some point, but it is about a man who found a cocoon of the emperor moth and took it home so that he could watch it emerge.

One day a small opening appeared, and for several hours the moth struggled but couldn’t seem to force it’s body past a certain point.

After watching this take place the man decided that something must be wrong, so he took scissors and snipped the remaining bit of cocoon.

The moth emerged easily, it’s body large and swollen, the wings small and shriveled.

The man looked and thought to himself, surely in a few hours the wings will spread out in their natural beauty, however, they did not.

You see instead of developing into a creature free to fly, the moth spent its life dragging around a swollen body and shriveled wings.

What this man did not realize at the time was that the constricting cocoon and the struggle necessary to pass through the tiny opening are God’s way of forcing fluid from the body into the wings.

The “merciful” snip was, in reality, a crueality.

Rather than helping the moth and alieviating the struggle, he rather caused it more pain to last a lifetime.

You see the struggles that we face are sometimes exactly what we need.

You see I told that story, because it relates to each and every one of us.

When we think of struggles we really are thinking of suffering.

Which although many within mainstream Christendom would like to ignore, breeze over, and speak against rather than about is something that every indivudal regardless of age, gender, or creed will and does deal with on an every day basis.

These sufferings, cause individuals like ourselves to question why God would allow us to deal with and endure such a trial, it comes most typically within a moment’s notice and when least expected.

It also comes in various forms ranging from; financial, relationial with spouses, family, and friends, phsyical, emotional, and the list could certainly go on.

Which leaves us with the question of what does it mean to suffer?

Well, quite simply put it means to endure pain or loss.

It also means to feel what is painful or distressing, either to the body or mind.

Nobody likes to suffer, and more times than not to many it seems as though suffering happens to good people and the most popular question when a friend, loved one, or even when you yourself are dealing with it is that why question.

Why God?

Why me?

Why them?

Why now?

There are many preachers and teachers who like to speak about a more prosperity, feel-good, style of scripture that leads an indivudal to believe that God would never allow an indivudal to go through trials and tribulations, that Christ will heal you everytime you pray exactly how you want Him to, that money will never be an issue, I am sure you all can think of at least one individual that you have heard preach or teach something like that and could even add to that list if we went around the room.

In fact, a lot of people regarldess of denominational or faith group backgrounds will quote and recite Rom.

8:28 when facing trails and struggles which states that “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”

They use this to somehow show that if you love God and have enough faith no sickness will affect you, no financial issues will face you, and again the list goes on.

In fact, shortly after originally writing this sermon, I was diagnosed with Diabetes.

There was that moment of why God, Why me, and why now, there was uncertainty I knew that God will provide and He has and I believe will continue to do so, but there was still a moment of inner though if you would of struggle.

I remember talking with a member of my family about this, who I know meant well, but the first thing that came out of thier mouth was well you just need to start speaking life over yourself.

Suggesting, that the reason I was dealing with this and not healed is because I wasn’t speaking life, having enough faith or praying the right way.

Now let me say this, I do believe in healing, I do believe in finanical blessing and God taking care of those in whom He loves and who love Him, but I also, want to be true to scripture, and scripture and our lives often leave us with the question of is it Gods will for those who are saved to suffer or not?

If it is Gods will for those who are saved to suffer does it mean that everytime I pray for healing it may not happen how I want it to?

or how I expect it to?

Does it mean that I may face times of finanical hardship, relational hardships, physical and mental hardships, you name it?

Well the answer is unfortunately yes, one thing we can be certain of is that scripture guarantess the fact that we will suffer.

You see, when a person comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by repentance of faith this does not mean that suffering stops, what it means is your suffering has just begun.

I get it that is not a tag-line of a sermon that you take and post all over social media, but the fact still remains and as we progress through this scripture that point will become all the more clear, the real question is not will I suffer, but how will I act in the midst of the suffering.

So if you would and if you have your Bibles with you would you turn to 1 Peter and we will be reading Chapter 4:1-11 this will also be on the screen as well.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin—2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.

3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.

4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you. 5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins., 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.

To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.

Amen.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Pe 4:1–11.

Let’s pray real quick and then we will jump into this.

It’s fitting to find that the writer of our text this morning whom is speaking of suffering is none other the Peter, who he himself, had to deal with suffering through his entire ministry.

In the gospels Peter had to deal with suffering of failure.

In the last chapter of John we find Peter going to a lifestyle that he knew before he followed Jesus.

He suffered failure and ridicule when he denied Jesus the night of His arrest.

He suffered persuection while preaching in Jerusalem.

He suffered trials and temptations while on missionary journeys scattered abroad the new world.

Again, this is very fitting because it fulfills the scripture.

Jesus eating with His disciples during the Lord’s Supper in Luke 22:31-32 said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Here in that text that we just read Peter is doing exactly that, strengthening the brethren who are scattered abroad Asia.

How is he strengthening, well what Peter was encouraging them to do as well as all of us is to rejoice in the midst of our suffering by responding to something other than our immediate circumstances.

Though the situation before us is bleak, there is a bigger picture behind what we see and feel.

In Chapter 1, Peter tells us that while you are suffering, God gives you the strenght and mercy to rely on a living hope that gives you the ability to look towards and inheritance that never fades or perishes.

In other words Peter begins by strengthening the brethern by saying hang in there.

It’s necessary that we suffer for Christ sake.

And while you suffer think on the inheritance that is laid in store for you in heaven.

I have probably said this before even here, but if not you will probably here it often because it is essential when diving into scripture.

The first thing that one must do is understand the background of the book, the purpose, the author, the audience, that way you can accurately interpret and then apply it.

What you find in 1 Peter is the theme of suffering for the sake of Christ and this is not an isolated theme but the main theme throughout the entirity of this book.

Peter makes it very clear that everyone will suffer.

Whether you’re lost, dying, and going to hell, or whether you’re a Saved, Sealed, and Delivered believer on their way to Heaven, regarldess of who you’re or who you serve you will face suffering in this life.

So let’s look closer at Chapter 4 as this chapter gives us some guidelines to follow in reagrds to making our lives count even as we suffer when life deals us those lemons.

To make our lives count through suffering Peter says to:

Have the same mind of Christ.

Vs 1

A. Christ suffered here on this earth from the time that He was born to the time that He was nailed to the cross to pay off our sin debt.

B. There is a beautiful picture there in verse one.

God sent us His only begotten Son to take the form of a man so #1 whoever would believe in Him should not persih but have everlasting life.

C. and #2 so that we can have the greatest example to follow.

You see Jesus knows what we are going through, there is nothing that we face here on this earth that He did not face and conquer on our behalf.

He will and does comfort us because He knows our pain.

The benefit of all of this is that Jesus can help us to remain strong, even in the face of our suffering.

D. Peter says therefore since Christ has suffered and since you will suffer at sometime in your life, equip yourself with the same mind that Jesus Christ had.

What was that mind of Christ?

E. It was ministering to the Lost.

God used His Son to leave the throne of Heaven so that He might suffer, and through His suffering, lead many to the saving knowledge of salvation.

Let me ask you in here does anyone know how cranberries are harvested?

When the fruit is ripe, the cranberry bog is flooded with water.

As the water covers the bush, the ruby red berries separate from the bush and float to the surface where they are gathered and distributed to cranberry lovers around the country.

In light of cranberries God uses flood waters of trouble and trials to seep over our souls, and whats the result?

Fruit “meet for the Master’s users” released to bless and meet the needs of the hungry world around you.

Let’s take this even deeper: It was through Christ suffering that lead a thief on a cross to accept salvation through repentance in faith.

It was through suffering that made Pontius Pilot wonder.

Suffering, has been a useful means of reaching a lost and dying world.

But you say even the lost suffers, yes this is true, but it’s through your actions and how you handle the trial that leads someone to Christ.

It is through your living testimony and example that separates you from the rest of the world.

So let me ask you, when was the last time you witnessed to someone through your suffering?

Do you suffer with the attitude of Christ or do you suffer wanting nothing more than a pity party?