Suffer for Glory Emmanuel Baptist Church of Nipawin Sermons

Passage: 1 Peter 4:12-19 | Message By: Jordan Dudgeon | Series: Thriving in ExileINTRODUCTION



If you didn’t notice from the Scripture reading, today we’ll be talking about suffering as Christians… Again. 



This is actually going to be Peter's last time in this letter that he addresses suffering in depth. He makes a couple closing comments in chapter 5 on suffering, but this is the last “section” on the issue.



And if it feels like we’ve spent a lot of time on this topic, that’s because Peter has spent a lot of time on this topic. 



Now, Peter’s immediate audience would have been reading this whole letter within 20 minutes, and we’re taking weeks & months to dive into what he’s said, so there is a difference, and this may feel more repetitive for us than it does for his original audience.



But consider this. Yes, the church received this as a letter that they could read in 20 minutes. But they weren’t done with Peter's words as soon as they put the letter down. These Christians would go on to be horribly persecuted, outcasted, and even tortured for their faith in Jesus. 



…



 



And so as they watch the world around them go crazy as exiles; as they’re persecuted; as each week when they gather they notice another brother or sister missing again; as they anticipate their court trials where they will almost certainly be found guilty as criminals for loving Jesus; as they suffer; 



don’t you think they’d store Peter's words up in their hearts like gold? 



Don’t you think they’d be glad that Peter addressed suffering so much? Don’t you think these precious Words on suffering would be on repeat in their heads, just like they’ve been on repeat from this pulpit? 



So I get it. I get it if this feels a bit repetitive. But I hope and pray that the Lord does something to our hearts this morning to make the repetition glorious. 



 



Repetitive? Yes… Just like eating is repetitive to strengthen your body, so too I pray that these truths are repetitive to strengthen your souls.



 



So, there's a lot of material here that isn’t new, but there’s some that is. Here’s how our passage comes at us today.



 



COMMANDS:



Do not be surprised

But rejoice



REASONS:



That you may rejoice when Jesus’ glory is revealed

Because the Spirit of Glory & of God rests upon you



COMMANDS:



Don’t suffer for evil

Suffer as a Christian, giving God glory



REASONS:



Judgment starts with us

The ungodly will perish



THEREFORE:



Trust your creator & keep doing good



 



So, we’re going to walk through the text, see what Peter wants us to do, untangle Peter's arguments for why we ought to do it, and then we’ll take some time to meditate on the truth in application. 



 



If you’ve got your Bible, start with me in verse 12, and notice how Peter addresses believers



 



“12. Beloved…”



Right out of the gate, Peter addresses his brothers and sisters warmly, calling them beloved.



Peter’s being a good shepherd. He’s not just telling them to toughen up and do what he’s about to say. He’s addressing them in a warm, kind, loving tone. And this brings us to our first set of commands.



 



COMMANDS:



 



DON’T BE SURPRISED (v. 12)



“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)