"Be Prepared For Suffering"
1 Peter 4:12-19

by Joseph M. Willmouth
(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on July 8, 2001. all Scripture references used  in this sermon are based upon the NASB^®, unless otherwise stated)

Note: Although this sermon is has a lot of Greek mixed in it, I do not go through every word during my sermon.  These Greek references are only that, references for me to use if it strengthens the message.  Plus it is helpful if someone has questions about what I said after the sermon.

Introduction: We have heard a lot lately about the Boy Scouts being under attack for standing firm upon the principles on which they were founded. Part of their pledge that they take is to be morally straight. Because of this they find themselves in a heated battle with the culture in which we live who believe that there are not absolute morals. Isn't it strange that the Boy Scouts are being persecuted for their beliefs, but Christians in America are not? It kind of shows you who is having a bigger impact upon the ways of the world. The Boy Scouts also have a motto that says "Be Prepared." They are to be prepared to face all kinds of circumstances while camping or in their life. Peter likewise is addressing this group of Christians about being prepared for suffering that was coming their way. Many of those that Peter was writing had already faced various levels of persecutions, possibly the outer rumblings of Nero, but they would all soon be in the middle of it all. In A.D. 64 a great fire ruined Rome, of the 14 sections that Rome was divided into only 4 were still standing. Nero had lavishly rebuilt the city, but rumor held that he had started the fire himself to make room for his new palace, and that he had recited poetry while watching the blaze. To avert this suspicion Nero blamed the Christians for the fire, thus initiating the first major Roman persecution of Christians. The Roman Historian, Cornelius Tacitus, who lived during this time wrote that Nero had a multitude of Christians put to death. According to Tacitus, "he punished them with exquisite tortures. First those were seized who confessed [that they were Christians] ; then on their information a great multitude were convicted, not so much of burning the city, as of hating the human race. And in their deaths they were made the subjects of sport, being covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or affixed to crosses, or set on fire and made to serve as nocturnal lights when day had departed. Nero offered his own gardens for that spectacle..." (History of the Christian Church, Sheldon, vol 1.). Tradition holds that it was under Nero that Peter was martyred. So Peter had been preparing his readers to be prepared to face the coming persecution. Likewise, while we may not being facing any persecution here in America today, it doesn't exempt us from being prepared. Our Lord Jesus warned us of this in John 15:20, ". . .A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. . ."

I. Be Mentally Prepared For It (v.12).
1. Christians are not exempt from suffering (v.12a, c).

A. It is not unusual (v.12a).

1) "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,"

A) "beloved," ("apapetos" {ag-ap-ay-tos'}); beloved, dear, very much loved, dearly beloved, well beloved.

B) "surprised," ("xenizo" {xen-id'-zo: imper, pres}); to be struck with, be amazed, wonder, think strange.

- Vincent: "i.e., alien from you and your condition as Christians."

C) "fiery ordeal," ("purosis" {poo'-ro-sis}); burning, fiery trial, calamities or trials that test the character, painful suffering, used here of suffering sent by God for the spiritual refinement of believers.

- Robertson: "by the among you burning," It occurs in Prov. 27:21 for the smelting of gold and silver and so in Psa. 56:10.

2) Suffering is not to be regarded as something foreign to Christian experience but rather as a refining test (Expositors).

B. It is not strange (v.12c).

1) "as though some strange thing were happening to you;"

A) "strange thing," ("xenos" {xen'-os}); strange, alien, unheard of, surprising.

B) "happening to you," ("sumbaino" {soom-bah'-ee-no}); of circumstances coming together to form an event, come about, happen.

- Vincent: The present participle: were happening.

2) Trials are a normal part of Christian life.

A. "which comes upon you for your testing,"

1) "comes upon you," ("ginomai" {ghin'-om-ahee: pres}); come to pass, be made, be done, happen, to arise.

- Vincent: The present participle: the trial as actually in progress.

2) "testing," ("peirasmos" {pi-ras-mos'}); as God's examination of man, a test or trial.

- Used in 1:6 as "trials" in a positive sense, that is, expecting a positive outcome

B. Trials come upon us to help us grow stronger in our faith and give more glory to God because of the witness and testimony that trials can have on those who see us going through them.

II. Rejoice And Be Blessed In It (vv.13-14).
1. Rejoice in the privilege of suffering for the Lord (v.13).

A. "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation."

1) "to the degree that," ("katho" {kath-o'}); according to, inasmuch as, to the degree that, in so far as.

2) "share," ("koinoneo" {koy-no-neh'-o: indic}); denoting common participation, share, have in common, take part with, to join one's self to an associate.

3) "sufferings," ("pathema" {path'-ay-mah}); sufferings, misfortunes, afflictions.

4) "keep on rejoicing," ("chairo" {khah'-ee-ro}); be glad, be delighted, with joy.

- Imperative Mood with Present Tense: a command to do it now and keep on doing it.

5) "revelation," ("apokalupsis" {ap-ok-al'-oop-sis}); a laying bear, a disclosing, revelation, uncovering, revealing, used here of Christ's appearing at His 2nd coming.

- See 1:6-8 for this same idea associated with the second coming of Christ as here.

6) "glory," ("doxa" {dox'-ah}); as a manifestation of God's excellent power, glory, majesty, splendor.

7) "rejoice," ("chairo" {khah'-ee-ro: aor}); rejoice, be glad, be delighted, be happy.

8) "exultation," ("agalliao" {ag-al-lee-ah'-o}); of feeling and expressing supreme joy, be glad, rejoice exceedingly, be very happy.

- Vincent: Lit., "ye may rejoice exulting." (1:6.)

B. Christians can rejoice because they are participating in Christ's sufferings, and the prospect of Christ's full manifestation in all his glory should fill us with joy and comfort.

1) Acts 5:40-41, ". . . and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name."

2) Acts 16:22-25, "And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;"

2. Those who are reviled for the Lord's sake are blessed (v.14).

A. "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."

1) "reviled," ("oneidizo" {on-i-did'-zo}); used here as unjustifiably bringing reproach upon someone, revile, disparage, insult.

- Indicative Mood: implying the certainty and reality of being blessed if you are reviled for Christ's name.

2) "name of," ("onoma" {on'-om-ah}); name, of a representative or an associate of.

- Robertson: "In the matter of the name of Christ." (Mt 5:11.; 19:29; Ac 5:41; 9:16; 21:13)

3) "blessed," ("makarios" {mak-ar'-ee-os}); blessed, happy, joy, fortunate, better off.

4) "Spirit," ("pneuma" {pnyoo'-mah}); used here of the Holy Spirit of God.

A) Robertson: The reference is to the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Glory and of God.

B) Vincent: Lit., "the spirit of glory and that of God." The repetition of the article identifies the spirit of God with the spirit of glory: the spirit of glory, and therefore the spirit of God: who is none other than the spirit of God himself.

5) "glory," ("doxa" {dox'-ah}); as a manifestation of God's excellent power, glory, majesty, splendor.

6) "rests," ("anapauo" {an-ap-ow'-o: indic, pres}); cause to rest, refresh, remain on, continue to be with (used here of the Holy Spirit's resting place).

A) Vincent: the active voice, "to give rest or refreshment."

B) Robertson: Quotation from Isa 11:2. "to give rest, refresh" (Mt 11:28). "He rests upon the Christian as the Shekinah rested upon the tabernacle" (Bigg). Cf. 1:8; Mt 3:16.

7) "upon," ("epi" {ep-ee'}); on, over, in, upon.

B. Here we have a fulfillment of the Lord's own promises to his disciples in Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

III. Suffer For The Right Reasons (vv.15-16).
1. There is no virtue in suffering for the wrong reasons (v.15).

A. "By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;"

1) "no means," ("me" {may}); no, don't, never, in no way, expresses and absolute denial.

2) "suffer," ("pascho" {pas'-kho}); to experience or undergo suffering.

- Imperative Mood with Present Tense: a command to not undergo suffering for the wrong reasons.

3) "murderer," ("phoneus" {fon-yooce'}); murderer, slayer, killer.

4) "thief," ("kleptes" {klep'-tace}); thief, an embezzler, pilferer, can also be used of those teachers who abuse their position for their own gain.

5) "evildoer," ("kakopoios" {kak-op-oy-os'}); evildoer, mischievous, doing evil, a wrongdoer, criminal.

6) "troublesome meddler," ("allotriepiskopos" {al-lot-ree-ep-is'-kop-os}); one who interferes in the affairs of others that does not concern him, meddler, busybody, can also be used here as someone having their eyes upon someone else's possessions or of someone who is spying (an informer).

- Vincent: Lit., the overseer of another's matters. One who usurps authority in matters not within his province. Rev., meddler. Compare Luke 12:13, 14; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. It may refer to the officious interference of Christians in the affairs of  their Gentile neighbors, through excess of zeal to conform them to the Christian standard.

B. Not all who suffer are sharing in Christ's sufferings, sometimes suffering is the punishment or consequence of sin (Expositors).

1) If Christians suffer, it should be because of their union with Jesus, not with evil.

2) The sins mentioned here characterize a pagan, not a Christian, lifestyle.

3) Yet it is possible for Christians to fall in times of weakness.

2. There is no shame in suffering for being identified with Christ (v.16).

A. "but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God."

1) "as," ("hos" {hoce}); as, like, in such a way as.

2) "Christian," ("christianos" {khris-tee-an-os'}); Christian, a follower of Christ.

- Vincent: Only three times in the New Testament, and never as a name used by Christians themselves, but as a nickname or a term of reproach (Acts 11:26). Hence Peter's idea is, if any man suffer from the contumely of those who contemptuously style him Christian.

3) "not," ("me" {may}); no, don't, never, in no way, expresses and absolute denial of the idea.

4) "feel ashamed," ("aischuno" {ahee-skhoo'-no}); to feel ashamed or embarrassed, to feel disgrace.

- Imperative Mood with Present Tense: a command to not feel ashamed.

5) "name," ("onoma" {on'-om-ah}); name, cause, authority.

6) "glorify," ("doxazo" {dox-ad'-zo: imper, pres}); as giving or sharing a high status, glorify, as putting into a position of power and great honor.

B. To suffer for being a "Christian" should be a source of praise to God for it identifies the bearer with the blessings of salvation (BKC).

IV. Remember That God's Judgment Begins At Home (vv.17-18).
1. God allows persecution as a disciplinary judgment to purify the lives of Christians (v.17a).

A. "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;"

1) "time," ("kairos" {kahee-ros'}); time, due measure, a fixed and definite time, the right time.

2) "judgement," ("krima" {kree'-mah}); judgment, the sentence of a judge, the decision (whether severe or mild) which one passes on the faults of others.

- Robertson: The persecution on hand (1:7) was a foretaste of more to come. By "house of  God" he can mean the same as the "spiritual house" of 2:5 or a local church. Biggs even takes it to refer to the family.

3) "begin," ("archo" {ar'-kho: inf, aor, mid}); to rule, to begin, be first.

4) "house," ("oikos" {oy'-kos}); house, family, used here of the community of believers as a spiritual house of God.

B. Peter reminds his readers that God also allows persecution to happen to them for disciplinary reasons, or as we would say, "to get your attention."

1) Hebrews 12:6, "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives." (by the way this is also a sign that you belong to Christ).

2) 1 Corinthians 11:32, "But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world."

2. A greater judgment awaits unbelievers (vv.17b-18).

A. "and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (v.17b)

1) "first," ("protos" {pro'-tos}); foremost (in time, place, order or importance), before, beginning, first (of all).

2) "outcome," ("telos" {tel'-os}); end (result), outcome, fulfillment.

- Robertson: "Final fate."

3) "do not obey," ("apeitheo" {ap-i-theh'-o: pres}); disobey, be disobedient, of those who refuse to believe (i.e., an unbeliever).

- Robertson: "Of those disobeying the gospel of God." See the same idea in Ro 2:8. See Mr 1:14 for believing in the gospel.

4) "gospel," ("euaggelion" {yoo-any-ghel'-ee-on}); the good news, of God's message of salvation.

B. "And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?" (v.18).

1) "with difficulty," ("molis" {mol'-is}); with difficulty, not easily.

2) "righteous," ("dikaios" {dik'-ah-yos}); righteous, upright, just, those who are rightly related to God.

3) "saved," ("sozo" {sode'-zo}); saved, delivered, rescued, bring out safely.

- Indicative Mood & Present Tense: thus indicating the certainty and reality of their present salvation.

4) "will become," ("phaino" {fah'-ee-no}); to bring forth into the light; what will happen to or what will become of?

- Indicative Mood & Future Tense: thus indicating the certainty and reality of their future judgment.

5) "godless man," ("asebes" {as-eb-ace'}); ungodly or wicked person, destitute of reverential awe towards God, godless.

6) "sinner," ("hamartolos" {ham-ar-to-los'}); sinful, guilty, shown to be wrong, a sinner, not free from sin.

V. How To React When Faced With It (v.19).
1. Entrust your soul to our faithful Creator (v.19a).

A. "Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator..."

1) "therefore," ("hoste" {hoce'-teh}); insomuch that, so then.

2) "suffer," ("pascho" {pas'-kho: pres}); to experience or undergo suffering.

3) "according to," ("kata" {kat-ah'}); according to, after, in, by, as.

4) "will," ("thelema" {thel'-ay-mah}); as the result of what one has decided, will, purpose, what is willed, desire, what one has determined shall be done.

5) "entrust," ("paratithemi" {par-at-ith'-ay-mee}); to entrust, commit to one's charge.

A) Robertson: a banking figure, "to deposit," as in 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:2, the word used by Jesus as he died; Luke 23:46, "And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.'And having said this, He breathed His last."

B) Vincent: "Give in charge as a deposit."

C) Imperative Mood with Present Tense: a command to entrust yourself now and keep on entrusting yourself.

6) "souls" ("psuche" {psoo-khay'}); soul, the breath of life, as the non material inner life of human beings for which the body serves as a dwelling place.

7) "faithful," ("pistos" {pis-tos'}); trustworthy, faithful, dependable, reliable.

8) "Creator," ("ktistes" {ktis-tace'}); Creator (used only of God in the NT).

B. Peter encouraged suffering saints to endure through the exercise of Christ like faith (BKC).

- Just as Christ trusted Himself to His Father who judges justly (2:23), so should believers entrust (an accounting term, "to deposit or entrust") themselves (psychas, lit., "their souls") to their faithful Creator.

A. "...in doing what is right."

1) "doing what is right," ("agathopoiia" {ag-ath-op-oy-ee'-ah}); well doing, a course of right action, virtue, as morally good action, doing what is right, living in the right way which includes going good (1Pe 2:15,20).

2) Vincent: The surrender to God is to be coupled with the active practice of good.

B. When we find ourselves in the midst of suffering it is not the time to give up, but a time to keep going.

Truths To Ponder
1. This passage teaches us that there is no such thing as "just believe in Jesus and all your problems will go away" theology.

A. Often when a person accepts Christ, it is the beginning of more problems because it pits them again the world.

B. But we must remember that our blessings and rewards are not what this world can offer us, but awaits us in eternity.

A. Is it a result of sinful behavior in our lives?

B. Is God using the circumstances around us to help mature us (What am I to learn from this experience?).

C. Or is God allowing us to suffer so that we can bring glory to His name by being a faithful witness of the true and living God?

4. Finally, who are you entrusting your soul to?