1 Peter 4 - CHRISTIAN SUFFERING

All Christians suffer. Either you have, you are, or you will — “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER?

— As we meditate 1 Peter 4 today, Let us find the reasons why and how should we respond to sufferings.

1. Abandonment of flesh  (v,1-2)

- It is a strong resistance of the flesh to the abandonment of its sinful nature. 

- It hurts the flesh when we crucify and deny it and carry the heavy cross of Christ

- Suffering creeps in when we finally start aligning to the will of God by doing the uncomfortable works of Jesus which are unfamiliar to our flesh. 

Suffering intensifies when we choose: 

- prayer and devotion over sleep

- equipping over resting

- Worship service over hobbies 

- Sharing the gospel over laziness

- Reading the word over scrolling social media

- Fellowshipping over isolating in comfort zone

- Soaking in God’s presence over busyness 

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”1 Peter 4:1-2

2. Test of Faith (v.12)

- God wants to know how much we could be faithful to Him and trust Him

Suffering intensifies when:

- We are in the waiting season

- God seems silent

- Prayers seem not heard

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

3. Separation unto Christ (v. 17)

- This Pre-judgment of God begins with true followers of Christ to prepare them for greater work and to salvation. 

Suffering intensifies when: 

- pruned and refined as gold by a fiery fire

- set-apart from the world, feeling different or apart from others

- God removes unnecessary things and relationships from our lives

- being consecrated to be holy for the coming of the Lord

“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

1 Peter 4:17 ESV

As CHRISTIANS, HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO SUFFERINGS?

1. SURRENDER (v.19)

- The simplest but the hardest thing to do is to entrust our souls to the faithful creator 

- We are used to controlling our lives and working things out on our own so doing nothing, letting go, and trusting the process of God becomes really hard. 

- But God wants us to just surrender our whole being to Him. He knows, sees, hears everything and He is moving.

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

1 Peter 4:19 ESV

2. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK (v. 19)

- Never let suffering stop us from the work that Christ has started in us

- We have invested so much already in Christ only to stop obeying God in the midst of our current sufferings. 

- With our obedience, we are showing our complete trust to the faithful one. 

- Show up and serve even when we suffer. 

“So then, those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise.”

1 Peter 4:19 GNT

3. REJOICE and BE GLAD (v. 13)

- Rejoicing is never easy when in the midst of pain

- Let thanksgiving never depart from our mouth

Reasons to rejoice and be glad:

- We share in the suffering of Christ 

- Our suffering is with greater purpose not like the world who suffers because of consequences. 

- Jesus is saying “I’ve been there, done that! I have overcome the world and have given you victory”. and so we also share in the victory and in His glory

- We will appreciate more the intensity of God’s glory because we know how it feels like to suffer

“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 4:13 ESV

‘’Christians still suffer as we wait for Jesus to return, but none of our suffering is random or without purpose. God says a lot about suffering in Scripture so that you know where to look when the pain comes to you.’’ - Joseph Scheumann

1 Peter 1 - CALLED TO BE HOLY

- The word "holy" appears in the Bible over 600 times.

- Holiness is not moral purity but it is the idea of “apartness.” 

- The Hebrew word for "holy" literally means "separate" or "set apart".

God is separate, different from His creation.  His love is holy, His justice is holy.

Instead of building a wall, God calls us to come to Him and share His apartness. He says to us, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

3 STEPS TO HOLINESS

Step 1. Recognize that you can’t make yourself holy

Romans 3:23 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.

1 John 1:8

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Step 2. Obey the words of God

1 Peter 1:14 , 22-23

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

Step 3. Let holiness possess you

Ephesians 4:24

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Hebrews 12:10

10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

Hebrews 4:16

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- The call to be holy is a 24/7 call.
- It is a call in which a true Christian aspires to do all the days God gives us.
- It is not a one-time event.

Let us pray, 

Heavenly Father, we recognize that You are Holy and set apart from your creation. We praise you and thank you for not building a wall from us rather calling us to be part of your apartness. You have called us to be like You. Now that we know that we can be made holy as your word said, let us be humble enough to recognize our sinful nature, obey your words, and let your Holiness consume us as we come boldly to you. You are our consuming fire that when we draw closer to you, light will be shared amongst us and we will be refined as gold. Let your words in 1 Peter 1:15-16 come to pass in our lives. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, AMEN!