Intro: (Start w/ Blank)
DID YOU KNOW Persecution statistics:
* More than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith since the crucifixion of Jesus.
* It’s been estimated that more Christians have been martyred in the 20th Century than in all the prior 1,900 years combined.
* There have been more than 26 million documented cases of martyrdom in this century alone.
* More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day, 60% of these are children.
* 150,000 to 165,000 are martyred each year.
Christians today are the most persecuted group in the world. Persecution is on the rise because of Communism, the expansion of Islamic and Hindu extremism, and because of the anti-Christ spirit that is prevalent throughout the world.
Of the world’s over six billion people: 151 million claim to be atheists, 2 billion are Christians, 1.2 billion are Muslims, 786 million are Hindus and 362 million are Buddhists.
Literally hundreds of thousands of people today are being killed, brutalized, sold as slaves, imprisoned, tortured, threatened, discriminated against and arrested solely because they are Christians.
Discussion:
There are Christians, people who follow Jesus Christ as Lord who are suffering simply for the faith they won’t give up. If God’s call is for us to pick up our cross and carry it, how do we do that? If Jesus says count the cost before you follow me – how do we do that? If Job was considered faithful – not just during the wonderful times in his life, but in the struggle, it was in the sack cloth and ashes that Job found his faithfulness – how do we do that? (Advance) “When we see the bigger picture – our suffering isn’t so bad”
Turn with me this morning to (Advance) 1st Peter 4:12-19 (read)
I believe that Peter answers those questions. How do we do what James says – “Count it all joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds.” What should our attitude be towards suffering? (Advance) “When we see the bigger picture – our suffering isn’t so bad”
Peter will give us two reactions to our suffering. As Christians we will have these two reactions, we will be: (Advance)
I. Unsurprised & Rejoicing (12-13)
Jesus understood that the way of the cross meant suffering. Do you believe it means any different for us? The way of the cross is no different for us. (Advance)
a. Peter says: (Advance)
i. Don’t be surprised
It’s not a shocker that we should suffer. It’s not something that we should be surprised at, or confused about. If you are Christian, you will suffer for the name of Christ. You look back to our Fathers in the faith. Abraham – the story you have heard before, he leads his son to the mountain to offer a sacrifice – only they didn’t have a lamb. Job – he wasn’t just faithful to God when everything was going fine, when all his children were healthy, and the cattle looked good – he was faithful, when his friend’s advise was to curse God and Die. (Advance)
1. It’s not strange
Life is going to present to you the opportunity, to suffer. Everyone goes through it. This suffering is no respecter of person, social status, color. (Advance)
2. It’s for a purpose
a. Test to see if we are real
i. To see if we are long term
ii. To see if we are willing to keep going when it gets tough
iii. Not a matter of if the going will get tough, it’s when it does – are we willing to stick to our convictions and allow God to make us strong.
Not only are we to be unsurprised – we are to rejoice in our suffering because: (Advance)
3. It’s a privilege
a. I am a witness for Christ
If Jesus Christ went to the cross, to suffer and die, to pay a debt of sin that he didn’t owe. Then I can give him the only thing that’s really worthy of him – my heart.
b. To trust in Jesus
Have you ever had one of those weeks? You are at a funeral and you receive a message that someone else you are close to has past away. You realize something is wrong with your marriage – and then you get news that makes it even worse. Have you ever had one of those weeks? Let me tell you – the song – “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” isn’t the first thing that crosses my mind. Are you catching what I am saying?
However, church, it’s when we see the bigger picture that we come to understand God is in control. This life I live, the life that he has given you – is about Him. He desires that we give absolutely everything to him, from top to bottom Moses said it like this: (Advance)
Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Just like Job and Abraham for our lives – it’s not in the good times we show our faithfulness to God – it’s not when we have money in our pockets, food on the table and all 2.5 kids are on the honor roll at school. That’s not when you show your faithfulness. You show your faithfulness in the dark times – times when you can’t see straight because you have cried over the loss of something or someone. Times when you have to pick yourself back up – because anything less would mean more of the same. So you pick yourself back up, you gather your energy and you work at your Christianity. – that’s faithfulness. When the devil asks – where’s your god now – and through tears you cry out “right here, where he’s always been” that’s faithfulness. We need more faithfulness! Are you faithful to Christ this morning? Maybe you are in the depth of despair – seek a solid Christian to talk with, to share your concerns, to voice your opinion. So many times we cut God off, because we cut his people off. Don’t cut the precious resource of other believers off.
Peter in the next two verses gives us the Benefits for suffering, and the reasons we should suffer – but instead of putting a spot light on suffering – let’s put the light on faithfulness. Peter says that when we have the chance to be faithful we will be: (Advance)
II. Blessed & Innocent (14-15) (Advance)
a. If you are insulted
i. Because of the name of Christ
ii. Because you wear the name of Jesus
1. and people know it (Advance)
b. You are blessed.
i. So if God gives me the chance to be faithful to him
1. I am blessed
ii. If I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
1. He will also lead me to the still waters.
2. He will give me rest
3. He will restore my soul
Peter flat out says – If you are insulted because of the name of Christ you are blessed. It’s right here in the first part of verse 14. Hey, we’re in church – it’s easy to agree with the Bible in church. Nod your head if you agree. Ok – good. Since we are playing question and answer time – would also agree that your chances of being insulted because of the name of Christ – while you are in this sanctuary, are very small. Nod your head if you agree. Ok – Good. Just honestly – would you also agree that while you are going through the suffering, while you are being insulted, that while you might get turned down for a promotion because of your faith, or while your friends laugh at your Christianity – would you agree that it doesn’t feel like a blessing? What world is Peter living in?
Let me suggest something – the sack cloth and ashes, the question from Issac to Abraham about the sacrifice, Jesus suffering a beating, only to later endure the cross – those didn’t seem like blessings.
Let me read something. (Advance)
Job 42:12, 16-17
12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so he died, old and full of years.
Moses speaks about the blessing of Abraham – after he was tested – (Advance)
Genesis 22:17-18
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Jesus went through pain and anguish but listen to this: (Advance)
Matthew 28:5-6
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Do you grasp what I am saying – although it doesn’t seem like a blessing – it is! God is in charge of the test, but he’s also in charge of the blessing afterwards. When we are in the depth of suffering peter says it shouldn’t be because we are guilty of something.
c. We should be innocent
Don’t confuse the two. Suffering because you did something wrong is punishment. The only thing that comes from punishment – if you are smart is a good lesson. We were on our way back from Kennett on Friday. A car flashed its lights to tell me a cop was up ahead. I checked my speed limit – and kept going. Got to the turn where you go north, and there was a sign that said – STOP – “Be prepared with your driver’s license and your insurance card”. We had been through one of those before in OKC. Car after car was told to pull over on the side of the road. It soon became our turn – I showed my License and Insurance and we were let go. I looked up the fine for no insurance – at least a $50 fine, at the most a $250 dollar fine. But if you have no insurance it’s against the law. Assume for just a moment that we didn’t have insurance – and they say – “Sign here” $250 in 2 weeks. That’s punishment, because I am guilty of something.
i. Shouldn’t be guilty of murder
ii. Shouldn’t be guilty of being a thief
iii. Or any other crime
Peter even says as a meddler – What’s a meddler? It’s a busy body – someone who is always in the business of others. Actually the only time it’s ever in the Bible is here. The word means a spy, or informer, carries the idea of someone who conceals stolen property, someone who meddles in things that do not concern him.
This doesn’t mean that we won’t be accused of crimes – but the result of those accusations will be innocents, not just by a shadow of a doubt but clearly innocent.
Peter gives the last two characteristics – we should be: (Advance)
III. Obedient & Faithful (16-19)
Paul says in Romans 6:16 that our obedience leads to righteousness. (Advance)
a. What do I mean by obedience?
Let me clear up any confusion – when I say obedience I mean (Advance)
i. Directed to the word (The Bible)
You read God’s word, and you do what it says. Then you go deeper in your Christianity, and read more – and you continue to do what it says. (Advance)
ii. Directed towards God
When the Holy Spirit tells you to do something – when doors are opened – when God leads you some place or directs you to do something – You do it. Maybe he is sending you, or directing you in a place that is not the easiest path to follow – be obedient. I have had experience with this in my own life – I quit the highest paying job I have ever had to go back to school, and live on one income, and raise my nephew for a year. God directed, and we followed, we followed and he blessed. I am just one person, I have heard stories in this church of people following the leading of God, or the encouragement of his people, and great things were done. Our obedience should be directed towards God. (Advance)
iii. Directed towards His leaders
Obviously you can turn on the news and understand everyone who wears a cloth and claims to be a man of God – is not what they claim to be. So if this is true – is God calling you to be obedient to those people? No. Hear me and hear me clearly – as a church we have to be obedient to those he trusts as shepherds. I would love to tell you that the 3 men who serve as elders and myself are all sinless, and guilty of nothing. We fall short, we make mistakes. But the difference is we are to be obedient as well.
Have you ever been stuck in traffic in a big city – rush hour? It’s complicated, it takes patience, but do you know what would make that worse? If ½ the traffic were going the opposite direction! If we are all moving in the same direction – the overflow of your being obedient to God, is obedience to the leaders, and to his word. It’s the natural response to obedience to God.
Peter ends and says – those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and to do good. He desires that we remain faithful, because he is faithful.
iv. Even in the trials
1. He is faithful
The Bible’s big picture of God is faithfulness. How could he be faithful without love? In good times or in bad, in times of plenty or in time of need, when we can see his handy work and in those times when we can’t. One thing remains the same – He is faithful to us till the very end. As long as we are here in this body of flesh – he is faithful. The psalmist says it best: (Advance)
Psalm 86:15 – But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Advance Blank)
Conclusion:
I asked you earlier if you had ever been so lost that you didn’t know where God was. We’ve discussed faithfulness and suffering, and the purpose of those trials that we will go through. And it’s easy to agree when we are here, harder to apply to life. 7 years ago Amanda and I were serving part time in a church, in Duneweg, Mo. It was my first youth ministry. There was nothing wrong with the church at all. I felt like some doors were shutting for us, as a young married couple in that area. To tell you the truth I was confused about what God wanted us to do. We left that ministry. Actually we left Missouri, for the promise of a good job. My grandpa was one of the first employees at Shawnee Milling Company – You can buy their bread mix at country mart. I was promised a good job there. Everything seemed to be working out. We were close to my mom, I was going to start a good job. Everything was fine – that was September. November – a whole 2 months later – I get the notice – the week before Thanksgiving – “the company is cutting back, we’ll call you after the holidays”. First time in my life I had ever been laid off. We hadn’t even gotten the phone connected yet, and I was already out of work. Time to look for another job – Found it. Working in a metal factory with people who all had been recently released from prison – or hadn’t been convicted yet. So in a three month period I go from – hugs and all the love I could handle at this church, to the overnight shift in a place where they mocked me for my lack of language, they scoffed at the idea I was actually in love with only my wife.
Those were hard times. And in the midst of that I questioned my faith, I questioned my desire to keep in the faith. I questioned God’s love for me. But, listen church, the question I couldn’t answer – “what did I do to deserve this”? I would ask – “Why did you lead me to a road of despair?” Why did you take the one thing in life I enjoyed, to place in a pit?
It made no sense, at that time. But it does now. I am more in love with God now because of that 2 year section of my life. When God leads you he will care and provide for you. He wants nothing more than to love you and have you love him. Even in the pit. Even in those questions – He knows the reasons. It just takes you trusting him. Can you trust God this morning? Maybe you are in that pit right now, maybe life isn’t what you wish it would be, maybe you are in the midst of that suffering right now – God loves you. Can you remain faithful to him?
Come this morning as we stand and sing.
