Affliction for Glory (2)
Notes
Transcript
Intro: We are not as distant from persecution as you may be tempted to think. We must resolve that it is better to suffer than to sin.
Polycarp was most likely a student of the Apostle John. He was arrested as an old man and sentenced to be burned at the stake for his devotion to Christ. The Roman proconsul took pity on Polycarp and urged him to recant. All he had to do was say, “Caesar is Lord,” and offer a little bit of incense to Caesar’s statue, and he would live. Polycarp’s stalwart response: “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
A Dose of Reality
A Dose of Reality
Call to attention: “Beloved”
A term of endearment
Probably indicates that Peter is about to get real.
Command to adhere: “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial”… “as though some strange thing has happened to you”
Don’t be surprised by affliction.
Jesus: “They hated me they will hate you.”
Does the average American Christian ever experience persecution?
When we read the stories of Christians of the past or in other lands that were burned at the stake, crucified or fed to wild beasts we are tempted to think that persecution is something far off.
We must understand that persecution of the American church is very real it is just that the enemy has used a different strategy.
It is the soft persecution of low expectations.
It is not a physical persecution it is a spiritual persecution, and which one do you think is more dangerous?
Our flesh and the world is constantly appealing to our spiritual laziness.
You don’t have to read your Bible today. There is always tomorrow
You don’t have to go to church today, there is always next week.
How about telling someone that you will pray for them but never getting around to it.
Please don’t misunderstand spiritual laziness is primarily your problem, but the world will always attempt to hit you where you are weakest.
The lack of physical affliction in western culture has lead to spiritual laziness. It is as if Satan, our flesh and world woke up one day and realized they don’t have to destroy us. We will do that ourselves so long as we can travel the path of our destruction on flowery beds of ease.
The nature of our persecution is that we have been rendered unconscious.
It is important to be prepared for affliction
Test to Pass: “Concerning the fiery trial which is to try you” - test
What does a passing grade look like and what does a failing grade look like?
A failing grade is when you make the affliction all about yourself.
Peter shows us in the following verses what a passing grade looks like. But in short this testing is a refinement process. Which is why the church often thrives in a hostile environment.
There are many Christians who need a dose of reality or a wake up call.
The Results of Affliction
The Results of Affliction
(When you walk with Christ through affliction)
Joy v. 13
Acts 5:41–42 “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
We rejoice in affliction because through it we know more of Christ and His experience.
We rejoice because affliction associates us with Christ
We rejoice in our affliction now because we know we will rejoice in the revealed glory of Christ when He comes. (We all love it when the hero wins.)
Peter is bringing his epistle full circle: 1 Peter 1:6–7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”
Key to the Text: You will never be more joyful than when the glory of God is the source of your joy.
Blessing v. 14
Being insulted is actually a blessing.
Well, its actually more specific than that. It is a blessing when we are insulted for the name of Christ.
Sometimes their insults are really compliments. “You would just believe anything the Bible says wouldn’t you?”
Perhaps you still remember the sting of being called the goodie to shoe or the teachers pet.
Peter tells us exactly what that blessing is, “the spirit of glory rests upon you.”
Key to the Text: You will never be more blessed than when you are living for the glory of God. - This is not a health and wealth gospel because what comes with this is a mature understanding of what blessings from God truly are.
The prosperity gospel says that blessing comes at the end of the trial. While what the Scriptures actually teach is that the trial itself may be the blessing because it brings you closer to Christ.
Example: Emily and I talking the other day about how we feel closer to each other when we are overcoming a challenge.
Confidence v. 16
Peter presents us with an alternative
You can be ashamed of Christ
Or you can glorify God
If you suffer as a Christian (not as an evildoer v. 15)
This is only the third time the word Christian is used in Scripture
It means little Christs or followers of Christ
It was probably derogatory
How do we depart from shame?
1 Peter 2:6–9 “Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” - ie you bring Him glory
You don’t need to be ashamed because
chosen generation
royal priesthood
holy nation
special people
called
in marvelous light
Key to the text: You will never be more confident than when you boldly embrace the name of Christ for His glory.
Because your confidence is not in yourself
In fact your self-confidence may be quite low, but if your confidence in Christ is appropriately high then you will where the badge of Christ with boldness.
A Word of Warning
A Word of Warning
The Judgment of Righteous
Christ’s judgment of the world begins with believers even now.
What kind of judgment is Peter talking about?
God’s chastening and cleansing work in the life of believers.
Through trial and affliction God will refine us.
And even with all of that refinement we are still only redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
The Judgment of Unrighteous
So if we only find redemption in Jesus in spite of all our refinement and not because of it...
What will happen to those who don’t know Christ when it is their time of judgment.
The Great White Throne Judgment
The Peace of a Committed Soul
The Peace of a Committed Soul
Contrast:
Suffering for the will of God v. 16
Suffering for the will of your flesh v. 15
Committed to a Faithful Creator
Entrust your soul to the faithful creator
Psalm 31:5 “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”
This is what the Christian life is… You have entrusted your soul to the care of Christ for all eternity, and aren’t you glad you did!
I have neither the means nor the maturity to do for my soul what Christ has already done.