Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Peter 4:12-19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2001

Diocletian’s Hasty Medal

 

Many Roman Emperors tried to destroy Christianity.

One of them, Diocletian, was particularly violent in his hatred of the Bible and Christianity.

He killed so many Christians, with such outrageous cruelties, and destroyed so many Bibles, that many Christians /went underground/ and hid themselves from his wrath.

When it seemed to Diocletian that he had made an end of them, he had a medal coined with this motto on it: /The Christian religion is destroyed, and the worship of the Roman gods is restored./

Last Sunday we saw how Peter challenged believers to use their time wisely.

Peter required two things; */To Stop Sinning/*, and */To Start Serving/*.

In this passage, Peter tells us The Truth About Trials.

Suffering in the Christian life is a theme that runs through out Peter's letter.

Satan uses trials to paralyze Christians through fear.

But the truth frees us.

Satan doesn't control the fiery trials we go through, God does.

He uses them for our good and His glory.

Peter shares 4 things about trials that can help us to stand firm./ 1.

Consider Their Certainty, 2. Consider God's Glory, 3. Consider God's Judgment, 4. Consider God's Faithfulness/

 

/Firstly/     Consider Trials Certain  - / Be Ready/

/ /

*1 Peter 4:12 */Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;/

 

/Firstly,/ Peter */commands/* believers not to think that it strange when they go through trials.

In fact Peter tells them to expect trials.

/Why?/

Because Satan doesn't like it when people live in obedience to God's will.

So, he brings suffering and hardship their way to try and make them quit.

Often new Christians become discouraged when they are persecuted for their faith.

Paul had to encourage the Thessalonians about this same issue.

When God's people live holy lives for Him they should expect opposition.

Paul said this to Timothy in* 2 Timothy 3:12:* /Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

/

/ /

Jesus explained to His disciples that they should expect opposition and persecution from the world.

But He also gave them an encouraging promise in *John 16:33:*/ In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world/.

It was through His death on the cross of Calvary, plus His resurrection, that He overcame sin and the world.

Christians should expect persecution, but we needn't fear it because Jesus has gained the victory for us.

He will deliver us from the trial when we have grown through it.

Paul said this in *2 Timothy 4:18:* /And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom./

Christians Pressed In Grow Deeper

 

An elderly Christian man in Communist controlled Budapest commented on the affects of persecution and discrimination on the lives of Christians.

It is like the deep, fast flowing Danube River.

The banks were artificially narrowed throughout the city of Budapest.

As a result the river's fast flowing waters dug deeper and deeper into the river bottom.

Believers under restrictions and persecution have limited freedom and few political options, but their narrow lives have found great depth by going deeper in Christ.

Application

/ /

/How should we respond to trials?/

We must expect them.

They are an important part of the Christian life.

But we must not fear them because God uses trials for our good.

Jesus overcame the world and will give us victory in due time.

/Are you ready for trials?/

/Secondly/  Consider God's Glory  /- Rejoice/

/ /

Secondly, Peter */commands/* believers */to rejoice/* in their sufferings.

James gives the same command in *James 1:2-4:*/ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing./

Trials strengthen our faith not weaken it.

Peter then gives three good reasons why we should rejoice in trials and afflictions.

/a.

Look Back At Christ's Suffering./

*1 Peter 4:13a*/ but *rejoice* to the extent that you *partake* of Christ’s sufferings, /

/ /

*/Firstly,/* we can /rejoice/ in suffering because we share */fellowship/* with Jesus Christ.

The word */partake/* koinwnew is/ /the word/ /from which/ /we get */fellowship/*.

Jesus willingly suffered and died for us.

Therefore shouldn't we gladly suffer for Him.

The Lord */was joyful/* when He suffered because He looked ahead to what His sufferings would accomplish for us.

*Hebrews 12:1-2 */Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the* joy* that was set before Him *endured the cross*, *despising the shame*, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

/

/ /

Christ gives us the privilege of */sharing/* His sufferings.

Jesus doesn't leave us alone in the fiery furnace.

We can enjoy sweet fellowship with Him in the midst of suffering.

He is present with us just like He was with the three Hebrew young men in Babylon.

Paul told the Philippians that suffering for Christ was a privilege.

*Philippians 1:29* /For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, /

/ /

/b.

Look Ahead To Christ's Glory./

/ /

*1 Peter 4:13b*/ that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy./

/ /

The*/ second/* reason we can/ rejoice/ is */glory./*

/Suffering /and/ glory/ are twin truths that are woven into the fabric of Peter's letter.

If we share Christ's sufferings we will also share His glory.

Although trials are difficult now they are really working for us.

*2 Corinthians 4:17 says:* /For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

/Therefore as believers go through trials they can look ahead to  the reward that God will give them.

But it is necessary to understand that God is not going to /replace* suffering with glory*/; rather He will /transform/ suffering into glory.

Jesus used the illustration of a woman giving birth.

The same baby that gave her pain also gave her joy.

The pain was /transformed/ into joy by the birth of the baby.

Mature people know that life includes some /postponed pleasures./

We pay a price /today/ in order to have enjoyments in the /future./

The piano student may not enjoy practicing scales by the hour, but he looks forward to the pleasure of playing beautiful music one day.

Christians have something even better: our very sufferings will one day be transformed into glory./

*If Jesus Himself suffered first and then entered into His glory, shouldn't we be willing to do the same?*/

*/ /*

/c.

Look Above For God' s Blessing/

 

*1 Peter 4:14* /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./

The */third/* reason we can /rejoice in suffering /is because they carry God's blessings to us.

The saints who have known God's richest blessings are those who have suffered the most.

The Apostle Paul suffered greatly for the Lord.

But look at how he grew in his relationship to Christ through them.

Paul came to know the Lord in a way that he never could have without the trials.

This what he wrote in *Philippians 3:10:* /that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

/The /Spirit of God and glory rests upon those who suffer for Christ./

God's Spirit blesses suffering saints.

*Matthew 5:10-12* */Blessed/*/ are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

*Blessed* are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.