“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were
happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12)
"Why is God allowing this to happen to me?"
In this season of life for many people, suffering, hardships, trials and troubles are the norm, rather than the exception. And for some, particularly those outside of the relatively easy life we live here in America, their brutal trials and suffering are unimaginable to us personally.
Man's natural response to difficult trials and suffering are most often to question God: "Why me?"
But the longer I walk along this narrow and difficult path known as the Christian life, I am learning that the right response to suffering as a Christian is not; "Why me?", but rather, "Why not."
I want to share a very timely and powerfully convicting bible study that I read this week. It is not my own material, and I will provide the source of the study at the end of this article.
This teaching is so timely, so important, so encouraging, and so right on, that I am simply compelled to share it with you.
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The Seven Benefits of Suffering
1 Peter 4:1 (a) - “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind.”
“Tough times are coming,” says Peter. “Therefore, arm
yourselves with clear thinking.” He goes on to give us seven benefits of
suffering.…
1 Peter 4:1 (b)–3 - ”For he who has suffered in the flesh
has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the
rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,
but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our
past lifetime in doing the will of the
Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking
parties, and abominable idolatries.”
When you go through tough times, realize, first, that
suffering loosens sin’s grip on us. That is, when you go through suffering, you
no longer give in to the lusts of the flesh; you no longer succumb to sin with
the same ease, the same vulnerability you experienced previously. Why? Perhaps
the following story provides the best answer.…
Known as the life of the party, he played on the local
softball team and would often supply the keg. When his three-year-old daughter
was killed by a drunk driver, he lost his heart for partying. He was no longer
interested in the keggers after the softball games. He found himself despising
the places to which he was once attracted when he saw the reality of what
drunkenness and partying did to his own family.
That’s what suffering does. That’s what trials do. The
ugliness of sin is seen when it begins to touch your own life. That is why
Peter says, “If you’ve suffered in the flesh—either due to your own sin or sin
by the hands of others—you see the result of sin and realize that rather than
being something to wink or chuckle at, sin stinks.”
1 Peter 4:4 - “In regard to these [people], they think it
strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation
[worthless, sinful living], speaking evil of you.”
Not only do you look
at life more soberly, but, secondly, suffering causes others to see you
differently. Tragedy, persecution, and difficulty make you a marked man.
Because of what you’ve gone through, you no longer can spend your life in
trivial pursuits.
1 Peter 4:5 – “They will give an account to Him who is ready
to judge the living and the dead.”
Those who choose to continue in sin will one day stand
before the Lord. Peter is not saying this out of condemnation, but rather out
of compassion, for he realizes they’re in grave danger.
1 Peter 4:6 – “For this reason the Gospel was preached also
to those who are dead [now in Heaven], that they might be judged according to
men in the flesh, but live according to
God in the spirit.”
In addition to loosening sin’s grip on us and causing others
to look at us differently, suffering places us in good company—the company of
the martyred. Some cults use this verse to say, “When a person dies, they’ll
have a second opportunity to accept the gospel.” However, taken in context,
it’s clear Peter is talking about those who suffered to the point of death and
are now living in heaven.
“Blessed are you when men revile, persecute, and say all
manner of evil against you falsely for My name’s sake,” Jesus said. “Rejoice
and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. So did they unto
the prophets who were before you” (see Matthew 5:11, 12).
In other words, when
you’re suffering, being put down, or mocked because of your belief in Christ,
rejoice because you’re in the company of the prophets—of Jeremiah and Isaiah,
Ezekiel and Hosea.
“Yes, all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution,” Paul told Timothy (2 Timothy 3:12).
In other parts of the world, such persecution results in
death. In our present culture, it results in ostracism or rejection. One way or
another, those who live godly lives suffer persecution sooner or later. When it
happens, we’re to rejoice because, according to Peter, we’re in the company of
the martyrs. According to Paul, we’re in the company of the godly. And
according to Jesus, we’re in the company of the prophets—good company, indeed!
1 Peter 4:7 – “But the end of
all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”
Fourth, suffering keeps us focused on eternity. It’s when
you’re going through tough times, difficult days, seasons of suffering,
pressures and persecution that you long for heaven. The good times, the nice
things, and the easier days have a tendency to shift our focus off of eternity.
It’s when the tough times come—when the body hurts, the heart breaks, or the
wallet is empty that we say, “I don’t belong here. I’m longing for heaven.”
1 Peter 4:8–11 – “And above all things have fervent love for
one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be
hospitable to one another without grumbling. As
each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles
[sayings] of God. If anyone ministers [serves], let him do it as with the
ability which God supplies, that in all
things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Fifth, suffering frees us to participate in ministry
(serving). With persecution heightening, no doubt Peter’s readers had already
begun to scatter. Some would leave everything to hide in catacombs. Others
would open their homes to those fleeing persecution.
All would be called to love one another fervently,
especially in those dark days of difficulty. So much of my time is absorbed
with “stuff.” When my material, emotional, or relational “stuff” is taken away,
I find I am free to share with and care for others in ways I never had
previously.
1 Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try [test] you, as though some strange thing
happened to you.”
“Why me?” we ask when fiery trials come upon us. The real
question is, “Why not?” If suffering loosens sin’s grip on us and causes others
to see us differently, if it places us in good company, keeps us focused on
eternity, and frees us to participate in ministry—why wouldn’t we embrace it as
a necessary part of our growth?
1 Peter 4:13, 14 – “But rejoice to
the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with
exceeding joy. 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.”
Sixth, suffering allows us to experience glory. Jesus gave
us a wonderful illustration concerning suffering when He reminded us that after
a woman endures pain and suffering to give birth, she forgets about the agony
when her baby is born because the suffering is transformed into glory. The same
baby who causes pain brings joy.
The heartache, setback, or difficulty that is causing you
pain and agony will be the very thing that will ultimately bring joy. That
which is breaking your heart right now will soon be the delight of your
soul—watch and see!
1 Peter 4:15 – “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a
thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in
other people’s matters [business].”
I find it interesting that Peter places busybodies and
murderers in the same category. (If you break the law, you will suffer the
consequences. You do the crime, and you’ll do the time. Suffering for Jesus’
sake is noble. Suffering because you were acting stupid is just plain stupid).
1 Peter 4:16 (a) – “Yet if any man suffers as a Christian…”
The word “Christian” only appears three times in the Bible:
twice in the Book of Acts (11:26; 26:28) and once here. Meaning “little
Christ,” it was initially a put-down. The early church, however, said, “That’s
okay. We’ll wear with pride what the world intends as derision.” Believers have
claimed it ever since.
1 Peter 4:16 (b) –“Let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God in this matter.”
If we’re suffering, our attitude should be “Thank You, Lord,
that I’m found worthy to suffer. I’m in good company. You’re freeing me from
the sins that used to strangle me. My vision is refocused on eternity.”
1 Peter 4:17 (a) – “For the time has come for judgment to
begin at the house of God…”
Writing this epistle from Rome, Peter is accurately
discerning the situation. As he watches the bizarre behavior of Caesar Nero and
reads the winds of change, he knows that the judgment that has begun will
continue. The judgment he speaks of is not from God, for the judgment we
deserve was poured out on Christ. Rather, it is Satan who wars against the
church.
1 Peter 4:17 (b) – “And if it begins with us first, what
will be the end of those who do not obey
the Gospel of God?”
If you think times are tough now, wait until God moves upon
a Christ-rejecting world during the Tribulation described in Revelation 6–19.
Yes, it’s hard being a Christian—but it’s a whole lot harder being a pagan. The
pagan will endure unbelievable difficulty only to end up in Hell.
Life is hard. That’s just the way it is. It’s hard for
everyone. You’re not being picked on. I’m not being singled out. It’s just
life. Even though it’s hard, and even though we have problems, we have access
to the problem-solver, Jesus Christ. We can cast our burdens upon Him.
1 Peter 4:18 – “And if the righteous one is barely saved,
where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the
kingdom. But with God all things are possible” (see Matthew 19:24–26).
Because
the rich were considered to be especially blessed, the idea is not that the
rich can’t be saved. The idea is that any man getting saved is impossible. It
is only with God that all things are possible. Only God can squeeze sinners
like us through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24).
1 Peter 4:19 – “Therefore let those who suffer according to
the will of God commit their souls to
Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
Finally, suffering reminds us to faithfully commit our soul
unto our Creator. Of all the titles for God, Peter could have employed in this
section dealing with suffering, he says, “When you suffer, commit your soul to
your Creator.”
Why to the Creator?
God is the Creator of everything, including the situation in
which you’re suffering. Nothing can happen that God doesn’t allow. He’s the
Creator of the person to whom you’re married, the person with whom you work,
and the neighbor by whom you live. He’s the Creator of every situation.
After tossing and turning concerning a certain aspect of
ministry, I slipped out of bed, thinking, How am I going to deal with this? As
I stepped outside, I immediately felt the unmistakable, all too familiar
sensation of cold ooze flowing through my toes. Yes, I had stepped squarely on
a giant slug. Although I immediately recoiled, the slug stuck to the bottom of
my foot so firmly that I had to shake it off—causing it to hit the side of my
house. As I watched it slide down the wall, I suddenly realized that, although
God could have made me a slug, He, instead, created me in His own image.
Because He’s my Creator, because He made the situations and the challenges
around me, I must trust Him with them all.
May we be those who slowly but surely learn to embrace suffering.
May we begin to understand that it truly loosens sin’s grip on us personally,
causes others to see us differently, places us in good company, keeps us
focused on eternity, frees us to participate in ministry, allows us to
experience glory, and reminds us to commit our souls unto our Creator
faithfully.
Suffering Into Glory
Suffering and glory are the twin truths woven into the
fabric of Peter’s first epistle. This should not be surprising, since suffering
and glory truly walk hand in hand. Whether or not they realize it, everyone
craves glory. The biblical definition of “glory” is seen in the Hebrew word “Chabod”, which means “weighty” or “substantial.” Glory is a top
sirloin steak as opposed to cotton candy—something one can sink his teeth into
as opposed to something composed simply of sugar and air.
Man was originally clothed with this glory—the weight of the
reality of God. When Adam sinned, the Chabod departed, leaving him empty and exposed
(Genesis 3:7). Yet according to our text, the day is coming when our suffering
will be translated into glory for all eternity.
“But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s
sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you also may be glad with
exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:13)
“But that’s in the sweet by-and-by,” you say. “What about now?”
Look at the next verse.
"If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you;
for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." (1 Peter 4:14)
Peter declares that the presence of suffering brings glory.
I want you to see this because it’s radical—completely contrary to everything
our flesh tells us.
“If I didn’t have to suffer and go through trials, life
would be glorious,” we say.
Not true.
Check out Lifestyles of the Rich and
Famous and see if those people are experiencing glory, substance, or joy. The
world insists that the absence of suffering brings glory. The Word says the
presence of suffering brings glory.
In our fallen, depraved condition, we are unable to
differentiate between what is truly good and bad. What we think is good and
wonderful is often bad and brutal. What we think is suffering and pain is
actually that which brings happiness, joy, and glory.
Suppose I had said to my son when he was young,
“Son, you must keep your room immaculate because each day I’m going to give
you an eight-inch-by-twelve-inch piece of paper to take care of.”
“Oh,” he would probably have said. “Why is Dad giving me
this hard job? Oh, pain, agony and suffering!”—until the day in college he
decides to look more closely at the stack of paper I’ve given him and discovers
that each one represents one hundred shares of preferred IBM stock. He’s now a
billionaire.
Look at John 16, where we see Jesus give an infinitely
better illustration of suffering being transformed into glory.…
“A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour
has come: but as soon as she delivers the child, she remembers her anguish no
more, for joy that a man is born into the world.” (John 16:21)
When someone tells you she’s pregnant, do you say, “Oh no!
That’s going to be awful! You’re going to start gaining weight and stretching
in unbelievable ways. You’ll have to go to the hospital, where you’ll sweat and
strain. Oh, I’m so sorry you’re pregnant”? Of course not! We look at
childbearing as a great privilege and a real joy because we know that the same
baby who brings pain for a short time brings joy for a lifetime.
Peter echoes Jesus in saying that the very thing that causes
discomfort—be it a marriage, job, illness, or finances—is precisely that which
will bring glory and unspeakable joy.
What if we really believed this? If we truly understood what
Jesus taught and what Peter reiterated, we would look at each obstacle and
disappointment as a “preferred stock certificate” that will one day be
transformed into great wealth. Whether it takes nine months or nine years, I
have God’s word that the very thing causing me pain will be that which brings
substance and joy.
Jesus modeled this for us perfectly. You see, He knows what
He’s talking about when it comes to joy.
“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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus endured the Cross because He knew it was the Cross
that would bring joy. In the pain of the Cross, a baby was birthed. To hasten
death, the legs of one being crucified were broken. No longer able to displace
the weight of his body from his wrists and draw air into his lungs, the victim
would die by suffocation. When the soldiers came to Jesus, however, there was
no need to break His legs, for He had already released His spirit. Instead, a
soldier pierced His side. As a result of this seemingly capricious act, blood
and water—the fluids of birth—flowed from His side.
Compare this with the account of Genesis 2.
After causing a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, God opened his
side and removed a rib, with which he formed a bride for Adam.
You see, just as Adam’s bride came from his side, a bride
came from the blood that flowed from the side of the Last Adam—Jesus Christ.
• Who is this bride?
You and me (Ephesians 5:25–27).
For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the Cross.
• What joy?
The joy of birth.
Jesus knew that the pain and suffering He endured on the Cross
would be transformed into joy. Likewise, the struggle you face today—emotional
or financial, spiritual or physical—has the potential to birth something
wonderful in your life.
“Count it all joy when you fall into temptation, into
trials, into suffering,” James wrote (see 1:2).
May we be those who do just
that. May we be those who celebrate even the difficulties that
come our way, knowing they are the materials from which the Lord will fashion
joy. May we realize suffering and glory are two sides of the same coin.
And, may
we invest wisely and spend freely."
(Source: joncourson.com)
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I hope you are as blessed by this study as I was. To God be the glory!
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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