“Responding to Suffering” 1 Peter 4:12-13 February 24, 2019 Eph.5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit …
Introduction: “Responding to Difficulties God’s Way.” 2 Tim.3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings— what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the 1 Pet.2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be day he visits us. persecuted…
1 Pet.2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. I. The Proper Response to Suffering, v.12, 13a. 1 Pet.2:19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of A. Expect it. unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 1. Suffering is not to surprise the believer. 1 Pet.2:20 … But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 1 Jn.3:13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates
1 Pet.2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” you. 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he 19 suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who Jn.15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is 20 have been healed.” why the world hates you. … If they persecuted me, they will persecute 21 you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will 1 Pet.3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed… treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who 1 Pet.3:16 … so that those who speak maliciously against your good sent me.” behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Pet.3:17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 2. Suffering is not something strange to the believer.
1 Pet.4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, , because whoever Jn.15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first… suffers in the body is done with sin. 20 … If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
B. View it as valuable: It is to “prove” the believer.
Outline of 1 Pet.4:12-19 1 Pet.1:6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you v.12-13 ~ Our response to suffering. may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that v.14-16 ~ The basis for suffering. the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which v.17-18 ~ The timing of suffering. perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and v.19 ~ Peter’s conclusion. honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
C. Rejoice in it. D. Application. How do I react to suffering, injustice, slander or Matt.5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and mistreatment? falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad …” Jm.1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith Acts 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested be mature and complete, not lacking anything. the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an Rm.5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them 4 20 that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s about this new life.” … 27 The apostles were brought in and made to 28 love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We been given to us. gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! … 33 When they heard this, they were II. The Reason for This Response, v.13. furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named 35 A. Because we share in Christ’s sufferings. Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people… … “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men…
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. Phil.1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only 40 believe in him, but also to suffer for him … find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not Phil.3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his 11 Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. disgrace for the Name. B. Because we will then have great joy at Christ’s return. Acts 16:22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they Matt.5:11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and 12 had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these glad, because great is your reward in heaven …” orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. C. Application:
Jm.1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds … Conclusion: