1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,560 I invite you to take your Bibles and turn with me to First Peter. 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:08,360 First Peter chapter 1, taking a short break from our series in 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:10,480 Isaiah. Lord willing, we will be back in 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,960 Isaiah next Sunday. Today we're looking at First 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,720 Peter chapter 1. We're going to focus in on 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,120 verses 6 through 9, but to give us a little bit more of the 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,840 context of what Peter is saying here, I'm going to begin reading 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,120 in verse three of First Peter chapter 1. 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,840 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,080 According to His great mercy. He has caused us to be born 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,280 again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:51,400 from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:56,280 and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are 14 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,360 being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed 15 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,720 in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now 16 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,760 for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved 17 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,960 by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your 18 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:16,440 faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is 19 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:21,560 tested by fire, may be found to result in the praise and glory 20 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,080 and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 21 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,200 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. 22 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,040 Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice 23 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:37,120 with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining 24 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,920 the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 25 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:55,030 Let's pray together. Father, as we pray so often, we 26 00:01:55,030 --> 00:01:58,350 ask for You to be at work in these moments as we read Your 27 00:01:58,350 --> 00:02:02,640 Word, as we meditate upon it through the Holy Spirit, open 28 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,760 our eyes, open our hearts to receive it and to understand it. 29 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,759 And we would ask boldly, Father, that You would actually change 30 00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:14,560 us because of what Your Word says. 31 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,240 Do this. We ask because we ask it in 32 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:25,840 Jesus name, Amen. A number of years ago, someone 33 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,680 mentioned to me and shared with me about a documentary they had 34 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,200 watched about D-Day in World War Two. 35 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,640 I've looked for the documentary, I haven't been able to find it 36 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:40,080 anywhere, but as this person described it, it was an 37 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,320 interview of a number of soldiers that were involved in 38 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:48,280 the D-Day events, looking at all of their different perspectives 39 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,440 around the same events that were taking place. 40 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,200 Many different perspectives, many different angles of 41 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,320 thinking and seeing. At one point in the documentary, 42 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,320 two men are interviewed back-to-back with different 43 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,720 perspectives about the exact same events. 44 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,000 The first man was involved as a foot soldier who arrived by 45 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,960 boat, pushing back the the German army and coming on to the 46 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,600 beach and looking around and and seeing men being killed left and 47 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,960 right by the German gunfire. Horrific carnage and death. 48 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,480 And he said to himself that he remembered that he thought 49 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,720 there's no way we're going to win this beach. 50 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,920 The man right after that he was interviewed was an American 51 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:35,760 pilot who was flying a bomber over the same beach at the same 52 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,600 time, watching the events from a vantage point in the sky. 53 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,440 He said he watched the events unfolding on the beach and he 54 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,480 saw line after line after line of the American troops coming 55 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,240 and coming and coming. And he said he realized there 56 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,080 was no way they weren't going to take that beach. 57 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,880 Both men saw the exact same events, but with completely 58 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,440 different perspectives. One on the ground with the 59 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,920 events happening all around him. In the midst of battle, he could 60 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,440 only see what was right in front of him. 61 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,000 That's the whole picture of truth that he had at that 62 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,800 moment. The other man in the plane, 63 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,920 thousands of feet above, could see the battle. 64 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:21,040 In the big picture, he could see what the man on the beach 65 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,840 couldn't see. He could see more of the whole 66 00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:27,560 story and so he had a different and more accurate perspective. 67 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,320 When we go through difficult things, when when we go through 68 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:36,440 suffering, when we go through trials and afflictions, it helps 69 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,880 immensely for us to have the right perspective, an 70 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,640 understanding of the big picture. 71 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:46,160 If if we're only in the moment and only able to see what is 72 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,240 right in front of us, then it easy. 73 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,560 It is easy for us to become discouraged and distressed, 74 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:57,120 doubtful and even devastated. But if we're able to see the 75 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,840 bigger picture from a higher vantage point, we realize the 76 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,840 difficulty that we experience is not the final story. 77 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,760 That's what Peter is doing here. In these first verses of his 78 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,800 letter. He's writing to people who are 79 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:17,120 experiencing an extreme suffering, grief, being 80 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,320 persecuted, and wondering if they would survive. 81 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,800 Some of you may know that verses 3 through 12 is just one long 82 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,440 sentence in the Greek. Peter's attempting to give them 83 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:35,360 the right perspective, the big picture, to help them to see 84 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:40,840 what actually is happening. In verses 3 through 5 that we 85 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:45,400 read, he goes at length to tell them about the accomplished and 86 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,920 the secured glorious inheritance they have because of their faith 87 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,520 in the Lord Jesus Christ. And then at the beginning of 88 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,600 verse 6, he tells them that they are to rejoice in this great 89 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:01,040 truth about the inheritance that is theirs, even though they may 90 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:08,360 face suffering, even though he says you are grieved by various 91 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,520 trials, you are, you are pained, you are saddened, you are, you 92 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:17,120 are suffering unjustly, even through temptation. 93 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,280 There's a sense in which we should still rejoice. 94 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:28,080 How could Peter say this? How are we supposed to be joyful 95 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:32,520 and rejoice in the midst of affliction and trials and 96 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,120 suffering? Peter says it again in chapter 2 97 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,840 and verse 19. He talks about enduring sorrow 98 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:42,960 and suffering unjustly as a gracious thing. 99 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,800 Paul said similar things in Colossians chapter 1. 100 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,920 Paul said he rejoices in sufferings for the sake of the 101 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,720 Colossians. Romans chapter 5. 102 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,480 He says we rejoice in hope of glory of God and we rejoice in 103 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:01,160 our sufferings. Second Timothy 1. 104 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,960 Paul says that we should aspire to share in suffering for the 105 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,520 sake of the gospel. Second Timothy chapter 2. 106 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,240 He says we should share in suffering as a good soldier of 107 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,000 Jesus. James said something similar as 108 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,480 well in James chapter one. We should count it all joy when 109 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:27,800 we have trials of various kinds. Solomon in his wisdom sorrow is 110 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,360 better than laughter because a sad face is good for the heart. 111 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,280 What about Jesus? Matthew chapter 5. 112 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:45,120 We are blessed when persecuted for Jesus sake we should rejoice 113 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:52,440 and be glad. How possibly can we endure 114 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,800 suffering, let alone welcome it and rejoice in it? 115 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,920 Buddhists, Eastern religions say suffering is an illusion. 116 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,400 Western people secularist saying suffering is a curse and it 117 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,960 should be avoided at all costs. Christianity has a different 118 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:19,280 perspective. We have to get the right 119 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:23,080 perspective on affliction and suffering in trials, the 120 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:27,240 biblical perspective. So what is that perspective? 121 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,280 What do we need to know and what do we need to do? 122 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,919 Let's look at those two things. What do we need to know and what 123 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:39,000 do we need to do? As we look at these verses now, 124 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,840 before we dive in and and look at what Peter is saying, in 125 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,200 order to get the full impact of what he's saying, we need to 126 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,000 remind ourselves who he's writing to. 127 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,400 These people are suffering significantly and they're not 128 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,920 suffering because they're only able to buy a $10,000 car as 129 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,240 opposed to a $25,000 car. They're not suffering because 130 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,600 they got a flat tire on the Interstate. 131 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,000 They're not suffering because they've got three tests in one 132 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,400 week at school. They're not suffering because 133 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:14,240 they got a new health diagnosis. Now, I'm not diminishing our 134 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,400 suffering, our afflictions, our trials. 135 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,720 Those are real things. We have significant trials and 136 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,560 afflictions and suffering as well. 137 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,400 But we have to remember that the people that Peter was writing 138 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,320 to, they are suffering and being persecuted because of their 139 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,440 faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are suffering because they 140 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,280 trust and love Jesus. They are facing persecution for 141 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,000 their faith. They are facing exile and they 142 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:47,710 are facing death. That's who he's writing to. 143 00:09:49,350 --> 00:09:53,280 And what does he say that they need to know several things. 144 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:55,920 The first is this suffering is temporary. 145 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:03,560 Verse 6, he says, though now for a little while you'll be grieved 146 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:07,520 by trials and suffering for a little while, it's temporary. 147 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,640 Now it's not necessarily meaning that the suffering will only 148 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,760 last for a short period of time. It does mean that it's 149 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,840 temporary. Several times in these verses, 150 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,440 Peter references eternity and eternal life. 151 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,880 He he did it earlier in the first verses. 152 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,280 He did it in verses 4-5 and nine as well. 153 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,040 And what he's telling us is compared to eternity, compared 154 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,600 to eternal life, our suffering in this life is temporary. 155 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,760 Paul said that as well in Romans chapter 8. 156 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,960 He said, I consider that the sufferings of this present time 157 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,720 are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to 158 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,040 us. He said something similar in 159 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,120 Second Corinthians chapter 4. He said, for this light 160 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,200 momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal 161 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,640 weight of glory beyond all comparison. 162 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,440 We are to view our sufferings and our afflictions and our 163 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,640 trials in the light of eternity. They are temporary, they are 164 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:11,080 momentary, and they help us to endure and persevere through 165 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:14,760 them. Paul says nothing that we endure 166 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:19,640 now all of these things that are temporary, nothing can compare 167 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,760 to what's coming for us. Our suffering is temporary. 168 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,520 But he also says our suffering is necessary. 169 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:33,240 See that in verse 6 again, he says if necessary, it's the 170 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,920 little Greek word day and and it literally means it is necessary. 171 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,200 Now, the way that our English translation reads, it sounds 172 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,240 like Peter is saying maybe it'll be necessary, maybe it won't be 173 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:46,960 necessary. But that's actually not the 174 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:52,360 sense of the Greek construct. The sense here is more of a as 175 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:58,000 it is necessary, more of a factual reality. 176 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,440 Now that Peter doesn't elaborate here. 177 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,520 He doesn't go into why we suffer or who it is that that is in 178 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,440 charge. But he doesn't need to elaborate 179 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,280 in this specific verse if we just look at what he's already 180 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,960 said in the letter. Verse 2, he speaks about the 181 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,160 work of the Trinity. Verse three, he says God causes 182 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,640 new life and living hope. Verse 4, God is the one who 183 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:24,840 keeps our inheritance in heaven for us. 184 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,240 Verse 5, God guards and prepares us for our inheritance and 185 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,680 salvation. So who it is that he's talking 186 00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:36,720 about that's at work in verse 6, it is God. 187 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,240 God is the one who is in control of all things, and he's even in 188 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,040 control of our trials and our suffering. 189 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,160 Now we have to be careful. God is not the author of sin. 190 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:54,680 God is not the author of evil, but in his sovereign and good 191 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:58,520 Providence He does ordain and oversee the trials and 192 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,640 afflictions and suffering in our life. 193 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,120 We see this truth in other places in Peter as well. 194 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:11,080 First Peter chapter 4 verse 19. He says therefore let those who 195 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:15,640 suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a 196 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:17,560 faithful Creator while doing good. 197 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:23,280 First Peter 2 verses 20 and 21. But if when you do good and 198 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,920 suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight 199 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,640 of God. For to this you have been 200 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:34,880 called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an 201 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,640 example so that you might follow in his steps. 202 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,440 We see at other places in the Bible as well. 203 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,800 Job chapter 1. Satan has to go to God to get 204 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:50,640 permission to deal with Job. Genesis chapter 50 Joseph going 205 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,080 through incredible suffering from his brothers, tells his 206 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,680 brothers you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. 207 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:03,920 Jesus himself in John Chapter 9, addressing the man that was born 208 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:08,600 blind, his disciples asked who sinned, this man or his parents? 209 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,160 And Jesus answers, it was not that this man sinned or his 210 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:16,800 parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 211 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,040 Now some might argue that this makes God sound harsh. 212 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:28,320 It makes God sound mean. How can we embrace a God who is 213 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,760 in control of afflictions and trials and sufferings in our 214 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,320 life? But don't we want a God who is 215 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,800 sovereign even over our suffering and trials? 216 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:43,080 Isn't that a comfort to us? Our trials, our afflictions, our 217 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,320 suffering? It is not arbitrary. 218 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,280 It is not because of fate, it is not a result of some impersonal 219 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,280 force or chance. It is God Almighty, the 220 00:14:53,280 --> 00:15:00,240 sovereign who is in control. RC Sproul said this. 221 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,360 When we say God is not involved in any way in our suffering and 222 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,480 affliction, we of all people are most to be pitied. 223 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,600 The comfort that we received from the Word of God is that God 224 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,760 is involved with our suffering even to the extent He ordains 225 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,440 them. But the purpose of that 226 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,800 ordination is always good and righteous. 227 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:29,320 Enduring suffering with even a measure of joy comes not just 228 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,520 from knowing that God is in control, but it is as we know 229 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,880 that He is in control and that He has a good and righteous 230 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,960 purpose for it, which is the next thing. 231 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,280 Peter tells us that our suffering has a purpose. 232 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,640 You can see it in verses 7 and 9. 233 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,920 He says so that the tested genuineness of our faith, more 234 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,760 precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by 235 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,960 fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at 236 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,000 the revelation of Jesus Christ, obtaining the outcome of your 237 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,040 faith, the salvation of your souls. 238 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:09,760 The Lord uses trials and suffering and afflictions and 239 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:14,720 difficulties to test and to refine and to shape our faith, 240 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:21,440 to burn away our impurities, to help our faith to be even more 241 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,880 genuine, more precious than purified gold that results in 242 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,880 the praise and the honor and the glory for God and results in US 243 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:35,360 obtaining the salvation of our souls, our suffering as a 244 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:40,880 purpose. David Brooks gave a lecture at a 245 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,600 place called The Gathering in October of 2014. 246 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,040 Brooks is an American political and cultural commentator, a 247 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,480 journalist for a number of publications and organizations. 248 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,800 And the speech that he gave and that on that occasion was how to 249 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,520 be religious in the public square and more specifically 250 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,720 about what the culture needs to hear from Christians. 251 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,880 He spoke about the need for Christians to demonstrate love. 252 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,960 But then he also talked about how Christians need to view and 253 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:13,960 deal with suffering. He said this when people think 254 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,839 about their future, they're often thinking about happiness. 255 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:19,599 What can I do that will make me happy? 256 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:23,560 But when you look in the past and think about things that 257 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,520 formed you, it's really the happy moments. 258 00:17:26,839 --> 00:17:28,840 It's more often the moments of suffering. 259 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,680 So we shoot for happiness, but were formed by suffering. 260 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,080 Now, it should be said that there's nothing intrinsically 261 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,280 noble about suffering. If it's not connected to any 262 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:45,120 larger transcendent purpose, it's just dehumanizes people and 263 00:17:45,120 --> 00:17:48,040 shrinks them. But if it's connected to some 264 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,760 greater design, people are clearly ennobled by it. 265 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,520 Brooks is right here. He's saying what Peter said. 266 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,200 He's saying what we read in other places in the scriptures, 267 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,160 in James chapter 1. Count it all joy, my brothers, 268 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,400 when you meet trials of various kinds. 269 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,560 For you know that the testing of your faith produces 270 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,000 steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full 271 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,560 effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in 272 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,880 nothing. Romans chapter 5, Paul says not 273 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,560 only that, but we rejoice in our suffering sufferings, knowing 274 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:26,200 that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces 275 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,840 character, and character produces hope, and hope does not 276 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,120 put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our 277 00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:39,360 hearts. Referenced earlier Second 278 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:42,720 Corinthians chapter 4. Our afflictions are suffering 279 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,280 prepares us for an eternal weight of glory beyond 280 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,040 comparison, right? This is the biblical 281 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,240 perspective. This is the right perspective. 282 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:55,200 Our suffering, our afflictions, our trials, they have a purpose. 283 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:58,120 God is in control. He is at work through our 284 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:01,360 suffering and affliction, preparing us for an eternal 285 00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:05,120 weight of glory, strengthening our faith and making our faith 286 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:09,120 even more genuine and pure, creating in a steadfastness and 287 00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:13,280 maturity and endurance and character and hope as He refines 288 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,880 us. When we face suffering and 289 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,560 afflictions and trials, it is evidence that God is at work in 290 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:26,600 our lives. These are all important things 291 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,040 to know, to have the right perspective, the biblical 292 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,440 perspective about our suffering. Suffering is temporary, 293 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,640 suffering is necessary. It's Our Calling, suffering as a 294 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,760 purpose. But the most important thing for 295 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:45,640 us to know is that our suffering is modelled for us. 296 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:54,080 God Himself understands suffering in ways far beyond 297 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,280 what we know. First Peter chapter 2, verse 21. 298 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,000 For to this you have been called, because Christ also 299 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,200 suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow 300 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,160 in his steps. Hebrews chapter 12 verse two 301 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:13,400 look to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for 302 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:18,080 the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the 303 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,360 shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 304 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,480 The right perspective on our suffering is to know not only 305 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,000 that God is in control and He uses our trials and affected 306 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,640 afflictions for His purposes and good purposes, but that He has 307 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:38,560 experienced it Himself. Jesus suffered for us. 308 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:42,640 Jesus endured suffering for the sake of the joy that was set 309 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:44,960 before him. And what is that joy? 310 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:50,440 It is the joy of redeeming his people, you and me. 311 00:20:54,080 --> 00:21:00,360 The God of the Bible is the only God who actually suffers in the 312 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:02,360 person of Jesus. He went through trials and 313 00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:04,840 temptations. He received wounds and 314 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,160 afflictions far greater than anything that we will or could 315 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,720 ever experience. And the Father poured out the 316 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,640 wrath and the judgment of God on the Son, and Jesus the Son 317 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,560 endured it in order to secure our our salvation. 318 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,000 So when we go through afflictions, when we go through 319 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,640 trials and suffering, we can truly trust that God loves us 320 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:31,120 and hasn't forsaken us. He is at work in those things 321 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,560 for our good, and He will give us strength to endure them. 322 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,400 Elizabeth Elliott in her book A Path Through Suffering, 323 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:46,600 concludes the book this way. We bow in gratitude for Jesus's 324 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:50,480 willingness to take the cup the Father gave him, a cup so 325 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,000 immensely more bitter than the 1 He gives us ever. 326 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,800 Shall we refuse the cup he gives us, or shall we grasp it with 327 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,280 both hands, as it were, realizing it holds just what is 328 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,840 most needful for our spiritual wholeness. 329 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,160 Ours has been sweetened at the lip of sweet Jesus. 330 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:14,680 We drink it by trustful acceptance, and God transforms 331 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,280 it for His glory. Thus, our very suffering may 332 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,320 become the substance of sacrifice, a love offering to 333 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:28,680 God and a sacrifice of praise. When we understand this 334 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,400 perspective, that the biblical perspective of God's suffering 335 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,960 for us, it moves us beyond just what we need to know to be doing 336 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:41,480 what we're supposed to be doing. So what do we need to do? 337 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:48,800 Now, this may sound simplistic. That would challenge us not to 338 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:54,680 dismiss it. We need to love and trust Jesus. 339 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,800 We need to be patient, and we need to suffer together. 340 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,520 First of all, we need to love and trust Jesus. 341 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,520 That's what Peter says right here in the middle of all of 342 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:13,360 these words about our suffering, our afflictions, what God is 343 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:16,360 doing right in verse 8. Though you have not seen Him, 344 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:19,280 you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, 345 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,760 you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible 346 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:29,760 and filled with glory. Peter's point to his readers is 347 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,440 you haven't seen Jesus and you don't see Him now, but you love 348 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,920 Him and you trust him. Because you've experienced 349 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:42,160 Jesus's love for you, that he considers you his joy, you know 350 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:46,640 that you can trust Him, that no matter what suffering you are 351 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:48,880 called to go through, even if you are called to make the 352 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:53,200 ultimate sacrifice and give your life, you can go through those 353 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,520 trials and troubles and suffering and affliction without 354 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:01,320 doubting God's care and love for you, without giving in to 355 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,440 despair, without utterly being devastated. 356 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,240 You can even have a measure of joy. 357 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,160 Not a worldly joy, not not a joy that is giddy and sentimental 358 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:18,200 and shallow and fake, but a deep, soul satisfying, 359 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:24,920 inexpressible, enduring joy. A joy that transcends the 360 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,240 circumstances of life, transcends even the suffering 361 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:29,640 that we are called to go through. 362 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,160 Why? Because even though you haven't 363 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:40,240 seen Jesus and you don't see him, now you love Him and trust 364 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:45,560 Him because you know what He has gone through, what He has 365 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,120 endured for you, what He has suffered for you. 366 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:54,680 It shows you how much He loves and cares you, how much He is 367 00:24:54,680 --> 00:25:00,360 worthy of your love and trust. Secondly, we need to be patient. 368 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,000 That was referenced earlier in our confession of faith. 369 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,120 It's also what James chapter 5 says. 370 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,240 Be patient. Therefore, brothers, until the 371 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,920 coming of the Lord, be patient as an example of suffering and 372 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,280 patience. Brothers, take the prophets who 373 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,120 spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those 374 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:23,800 blessed who remain steadfast. You have heard of the 375 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,800 steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the 376 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,640 Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 377 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:32,920 If anyone among you is suffering, let him pray. 378 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,520 In the midst of suffering and trials, trials we are called, 379 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,560 called to be patient and not be anxious. 380 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,840 If we know that God is at work in the midst of our suffering, 381 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,000 we can be patient for His work to be worked out in our lives. 382 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:53,360 If we know that the Lord loves us to such an extent that Jesus 383 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:56,760 would go to the cross and die for us, we can trust that His 384 00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:03,240 work in our lives is good. As we meditate on that truth, as 385 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,560 we remind ourselves of that truth, it helps us to be patient 386 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,200 in the midst of our afflictions. And James said we should also 387 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,640 pray to talk with the Lord about how we're feeling, what we're 388 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:20,240 experiencing, to ask Him for relief from our suffering and 389 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:24,920 trials, and to ask for peace and patience and perseverance if the 390 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:29,400 relief is not His will. Think of it this way. 391 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,360 If our closest friend was the source of our suffering and 392 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:34,800 troubles and trials, we would talk to them about it. 393 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,160 It's no different with the Lord. We can talk with the Lord about 394 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:44,760 it, share how we're feeling, share what we're going through, 395 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:52,000 praying for His mercy. Thirdly and lastly, we should 396 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:56,240 suffer together. Hebrews chapter 10 verses 24 and 397 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,840 25 says, and let us consider how to stir up one another to love 398 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,200 and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit 399 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,640 of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you 400 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,800 see the day drawing near. Now certainly this is a verse 401 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,720 that is an encouragement to not stop meeting together for 402 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:17,480 corporate worship, but I think it's also an application for 403 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,680 meeting together with other believers for fellowship and 404 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,920 encouragement. Because we are united to Jesus, 405 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,040 we are therefore united to one another. 406 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:29,680 We are in fellowship with one another. 407 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:34,600 We are called to help one another, to pray for one 408 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:38,440 another, to to encourage patients in the midst of 409 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:42,840 suffering and trials and affliction, to spur one another 410 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:44,880 on toward faith and trust and love. 411 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,520 Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. 412 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,000 The Lord created us to be in fellowship with fellow believers 413 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,800 in Christ. And fellowship can be a means of 414 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,520 grace, a means by which the Lord works His grace and strength 415 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,840 into our lives. If we isolate ourselves from the 416 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,920 fellowship that is ours, we cut ourselves off from one of the 417 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:09,640 helps that the Lord's given us in the midst of our suffering 418 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:16,600 and affliction and trials. Love and trust Jesus. 419 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:24,800 Be patient, suffer together. Let's pray together.