1 Peter Chapter 4 Pt. 5 Christians Who Suffer For Their Faith In Christ

All of the apostles of Jesus Christ spoke about Christian suffering. Peter is no exception and we will benefit from his Spirit guided teaching.

Christian, do not be surprised when trials come our way. 

1 Peter 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13)  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

As we learn to walk with our Lord, His Spirit is constantly working to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. He is trying to make us more like Jesus.

Sometimes, God will permit trials or troubles to come to us, so that we turn away from that which displeases Him. 

God can use family issues, financial hardship, persecution or vocational challenges, to help us refocus on the eternal things that matter.

When we turn to God after going through trials or troubles, we will find ourselves drawn closer to Him than we were before. We will discover that He has made us more like Jesus.

Peter already alerted us that our faith will be tried by God's refining fire. The trial of our faith is precious in God's sight and it will bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ (See 1 Peter 1:7).

Paul tells us that our works or service that we render for God, will be "tried" by His fires (See 1 Corinthians 3:9-16).

Trials are used by God to purge out impurities from us. 

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

Other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God and man, no other man ever endured as much suffering as the Old Testament patriarch, Job. 

This man was beloved by God, but lost his wealth, lost his health and lost his entire family, because Satan attacked him. 

Yet, the book of Job makes it clear that God permitted this trial for His glory, for Job's good and to vindicate Job's righteousness before his accusing friends.  

Job's own testimony is that God knows what He is doing in us, and what is best for us. 

The word "tried" is a metallurgical term that refers to a blast furnace that heats metal to a liquid form. 

This is necessary so that impurities can be skimmed off. The final result is pure metal, of gold, silver, iron, etc. 

Therefore, Peter tells us not to think that some strange, calamitous circumstances have overwhelmed us.

We are going to go through fiery trials in this life, and God has good purposes for us, as we endure them. 

A Christian should not be confounded or astonished when he or she is experiencing a trial or testing of our faith. 

God uses this for our good, to make us dependent upon God, instead of being so self dependent. 

A Christian who goes through a trial is not experiencing an anomaly. Rather, all Christians should anticipate enduring trials at some point. 

We know our own hearts and how easily we can slip into a self centered, self absorbed life. God will work to purge this out of us.

Thus, when we endure God's refining fires, we should rejoice, for such suffering is proof that we are a child of the King. 

We should be glad because God is working to remove something from us that is not Christ like. We will express great joy and give glory to our Father, when His purging, pruning, purifying work in us is complete.

A Christian can be joyful when facing trials and troubles.  

James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

The apostle James also wrote about our suffering. He urges us to count it all joy when temptations and trials come our way. Such trials will produce patience in us, and will strengthen our faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

Paul reminds us that we will not be subjected to any temptation that is not part of our common human experience. 

The difference for a Christian, is that God is faithful, and He will provide a way out of the temptation, so that we can successfully endure it. 

Remember, Jesus is our example, our model, and the Divine pattern is suffering first, before glory.

The apostles warned us about suffering and affliction in this life.

1 Thessalonians 3:2-3  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3)  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 

Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica to encourage them not to be discouraged when they suffered affliction for their faith in Christ. 

Christians are appointed to face some level of suffering and affliction and persecution, in this life, just as Jesus did.

In fact, Paul was very blunt when writing to young Pastor Timothy. He told him that all Christians who seek to live a life that honors God, shall suffer persecution (See 2 Timothy 3:12).

Jesus said we are blessed if we suffer for His name's sake. 

Matthew 5:11-12  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Jesus teaches us that we are blessed when people turn on us because of our faith in Him. We are blessed when they spread lies about us, or persecute us. 

We can rejoice, because our Father takes note of everything that we suffer, for the sake of the gospel. He will abundantly reward us when this life on earth is over. 

Act 5:40-42  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41)  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 

The apostles lived out these truths. In Acts 5, Peter and John were forbidden from preaching the gospel, but they refused to submit. Therefore, the Jewish religious leaders had them beaten, and then released the apostles.

They did not respond with anger and hatred toward their antagonists. Rather, they rejoiced that they were found worthy to suffer for Jesus' name. 

Suffering must come first, followed by the blessing of His glory. 

Romans 8:16-17  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17)  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Isaiah 25:9  And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.   

Isaiah 51:11  Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 

Let us embrace whatever suffering, affliction, or trial that the Lord has for us.

Let us endure them with patience, knowing that much good will be done in our hearts. 

Let us lean upon the everlasting arms of Jehovah when we suffer.

Let us exalt the name of Jesus Christ at all times.

Bob