Facts About Furnaces, 31 January 2016
Facts About Furnaces
Series: What In The World Is Going On? A Study of 1 Peter
1 Peter 4:12-19
Series Overview: God’s grace is present in the midst of suffering.
Big Idea: Suffering sharpens us and prepares us for glory.
Introduction
Earlier this month I spent a week in Chicagoland working on my doctorate. One of our assignments prior to the class was to prepare a brief autobiography that describes our ethnicity and understanding of nationality. Each of us was given a few minutes to share a bit about our family of origin.
I was especially struck by the story of one of my colleagues. Jonathan was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. He is a Canadian citizen. He has never lived outside of Canada. Yet his family is Italian. Many speak Italian, they eat Italian foods, they cheer for Italy in the World Cup and other international competitions. It’s almost as if he has dual citizenship—Canada and Italy. Were they to go head-to-head in the Olympics, who would he want to win?
Most of us have a similar struggle. As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of heaven, yet we live in the United States. We want our identity to come from being children of God, yet we are easily influenced by our culture. If we’re honest, most of us live more like our non-Christian neighbors than our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. This is especially true when it comes to politics…but don’t worry, we’re not going there today!
Instead, I want to talk about suffering (perhaps politics is suffering!). See, it’s un-American to talk about suffering. We like to be happy-happy-happy, safe in our La-Z-Boy chair with the remote control, enjoying a hot cup of coffee (made with clean water!) near full cupboards of food and a car or two parked safely in the driveway or garage. Right? We value comfort, choice, convenience, and safety.
I’m not saying any of those things are necessarily bad, but USAmericans like us often fail to understand suffering. When we encounter it, we are inclined to ask, “What in the World is Going On?” Our study of Peter’s first epistle or short letter to some of the first Christians is written to people who understood suffering. Many of them faced life-threatening circumstances as many do today from ISIS, Boko Haram, and other groups. The theme of this book may well be called hope and grace in the midst of suffering.
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12)
Suffering is normal. It’s part of the human condition. It stems largely from sin, beginning in the Garden of Eden. Paradise has been lost, and though we have the hope of heaven, our present reality is far from perfect.
Yet people are surprised when they suffer.
In my time overseas, my perception is suffering is expected. It seems abnormal to many in the United States. Perhaps it’s the barrage of marketing messages we hear every day about how we deserve this and should demand that, you owe it to yourself to live in luxury and everyone around you is experiencing pleasure and happiness.
Facebook doesn’t help! It’s tempting to compare our worst days with the best days of others. After all, who announces to the word, “Today was an average day” or “watch this video of me getting fired” or “here’s an Instagram photo of me being served divorce papers.”
Peter says don’t be surprised at suffering. The NIV version of the Bible says “fiery ordeal” which is to “test you.” Gold is refined in a fire. God tests us to make us holy…and wholly. He’s not out to harm us, but sometimes the process of growth and maturity does hurt.
The older I get, the more I believe one of the secrets to life is expectations. If you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed. If you have a realistic view of living in a fallen world filled with both joys and sorrows, you’ll be less stressed and upset.
I found the results of a survey sent to recent customers of Thomas Cook Vacations and the Association of British Travel Agents. Listen to these complaints and think about their expectations:
1. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."
4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price."
5. "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."
8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."
11. "The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun."
12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair."
13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."
15. "When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners."
Expectations are amazing!
Peter says don’t be surprised at testing and suffering…
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)
The Bible is filled with counter-cultural statements.
The first shall be last.
If you want to save your life you must lose it.
Rejoice when you suffer.
Crazy, right?
Jesus’ half-brother, James, begins his letter to the early Church:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (James 1:2)
Is he out of his mind? No. He understands the paradox of testing.
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:3
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3-4)
Peter says
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)
We don’t rejoice in the pain but in the results. One poet wrote
God hath not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain
But God hath promised
Strength from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love
Following Jesus means entering into suffering. It means dying…in order to live. Jesus suffered and died for you and me, despite His perfection and righteousness. He chose to enter our world and give up everything out of love for us. He never asks us to do anything He didn’t demonstrate. He said plainly to His disciples
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)
Many USAmericans have this distorted view of God. They believe His job is to ensure our happiness. Thomas Jefferson penned the phrase, “the pursuit of happiness,” not God. It’s not that God wants us miserable, but He is more concerned about our holiness than our happiness.
There are many kinds of suffering. Some is self-inflicted and ever since Adam and Eve, we’ve been quick to blame others for our suffering, even if we were the responsible party.
Some suffering is unavoidable. We can’t control the weather, other drivers on the road, our genetic predisposition toward diseases or the economy.
But some suffering comes because we follow Jesus. If you were told following Jesus will make your life safe, comfortable and problem-free, you’ve been lied to! You will suffer because of following Jesus…but it’s worth it. And there’s a purpose behind it. The book of Romans says
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
Paul put it this way:
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)
To truly know Christ, we must die. We must suffer. He did.
He experienced resurrection. We will, too. We will share in His glory.
Jesus invites us to a banquet table of salvation but it’s not a picnic.
Paul suffered.
Peter suffered.
Jesus suffered.
Suffering shapes us.
Suffering draws us together.
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:14)
You’re a child of God if you endure suffering for Christ. I’m afraid, again, this is so foreign to many of us raised in the good ol’ USA, God bless America, in God we trust. I love this country, but it is historically unique. Many lament the loss of power and control Christians have in this nation, but Jesus never said His mission was to seize power and control. He never promised us the majority. He said
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. (John 15:18-21)
We are blessed when we suffer for Christ.
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. (1 Peter 4:15)
Nothing is more damaging to the glory of God and the movement of Jesus than the sins of his people. God never tests us with sin and evil. If you suffer because of your sins, there’s no reward in that. Notice here murder is mentioned in the same breath as gossip!
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16)
Peter and his audience lived in an honor-shame culture. You can ignore criticism, but shame damages one’s social standing. It can even be fatal.
I remember a fellow student in college who converted from Islam to Christianity. He was preparing for his family to conduct a funeral for him, literally considering him dead to them…simply because of his allegiance to Jesus.
Have you suffered as a Christian, because of your faith? Do your words and actions even show you belong to Jesus? I realize it’s easy to say in this environment, but let’s all commit to standing up for Jesus, the One who hung up for us.
In the midst of speaking about the present sufferings Peter shifts to the future.
For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
Judgment Day is coming, friends. All will stand before the Almighty and give an account for their lives. Are you ready? Christians will be judged! First! (see 2 Corinthians 5:10)
Now Peter quotes Proverbs 11:31
And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18)
There’s only one Way—Jesus. He’s our only hope. The reality is none of us deserves to share in God’s glory, none of us deserves heaven, none of us deserves grace or mercy or forgiveness…but thanks be to God we follow a Messiah who died for us and conquered sin and death.
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19)
This is a fitting way to conclude our time together. The trust of these suffering Christians is shown through good works. Peter tells them to live honorably in the midst of suffering. Goppelt wrote
“This ‘handing over’ of one’s own ‘I’ to the Creator, which liberates a person from fear, takes place, amid the danger of losing one’s life, through prayer and through action arising from hopeful faith.”
In other words, as we suffer for Christ, we are able to identify with Christ’s suffering, we demonstrate our faith to the world, we proclaim there is more than this life, and we bring glory to God.
James said,
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
When—not if—we suffer, let’s suffer for Jesus, not our own stupidity. Let’s encourage one another as we face persecution for our faith. We are not alone. We’ve been blessed with brothers and sisters with whom we will spend eternity. Some are in prison now. Others may not survive the end of this day. Still others are in the midst of torture for proclaiming the name of Jesus. One day it will be worth it all.
Credits
Some ideas from
Be Hopeful (1 Peter): How to Make the Best of Times Out of Your Worst of Times (The BE Series Commentary) by Warren
Thru The Bible audio messages by J. Vernon McGee
1 Peter (The NIV Application Commentary) by Scot McKnight
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
Series: What In The World Is Going On? A Study of 1 Peter
1 Peter 4:12-19
Series Overview: God’s grace is present in the midst of suffering.
Big Idea: Suffering sharpens us and prepares us for glory.
Introduction
Earlier this month I spent a week in Chicagoland working on my doctorate. One of our assignments prior to the class was to prepare a brief autobiography that describes our ethnicity and understanding of nationality. Each of us was given a few minutes to share a bit about our family of origin.
I was especially struck by the story of one of my colleagues. Jonathan was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. He is a Canadian citizen. He has never lived outside of Canada. Yet his family is Italian. Many speak Italian, they eat Italian foods, they cheer for Italy in the World Cup and other international competitions. It’s almost as if he has dual citizenship—Canada and Italy. Were they to go head-to-head in the Olympics, who would he want to win?
Most of us have a similar struggle. As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of heaven, yet we live in the United States. We want our identity to come from being children of God, yet we are easily influenced by our culture. If we’re honest, most of us live more like our non-Christian neighbors than our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. This is especially true when it comes to politics…but don’t worry, we’re not going there today!
Instead, I want to talk about suffering (perhaps politics is suffering!). See, it’s un-American to talk about suffering. We like to be happy-happy-happy, safe in our La-Z-Boy chair with the remote control, enjoying a hot cup of coffee (made with clean water!) near full cupboards of food and a car or two parked safely in the driveway or garage. Right? We value comfort, choice, convenience, and safety.
I’m not saying any of those things are necessarily bad, but USAmericans like us often fail to understand suffering. When we encounter it, we are inclined to ask, “What in the World is Going On?” Our study of Peter’s first epistle or short letter to some of the first Christians is written to people who understood suffering. Many of them faced life-threatening circumstances as many do today from ISIS, Boko Haram, and other groups. The theme of this book may well be called hope and grace in the midst of suffering.
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12)
Suffering is normal. It’s part of the human condition. It stems largely from sin, beginning in the Garden of Eden. Paradise has been lost, and though we have the hope of heaven, our present reality is far from perfect.
Yet people are surprised when they suffer.
In my time overseas, my perception is suffering is expected. It seems abnormal to many in the United States. Perhaps it’s the barrage of marketing messages we hear every day about how we deserve this and should demand that, you owe it to yourself to live in luxury and everyone around you is experiencing pleasure and happiness.
Facebook doesn’t help! It’s tempting to compare our worst days with the best days of others. After all, who announces to the word, “Today was an average day” or “watch this video of me getting fired” or “here’s an Instagram photo of me being served divorce papers.”
Peter says don’t be surprised at suffering. The NIV version of the Bible says “fiery ordeal” which is to “test you.” Gold is refined in a fire. God tests us to make us holy…and wholly. He’s not out to harm us, but sometimes the process of growth and maturity does hurt.
The older I get, the more I believe one of the secrets to life is expectations. If you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed. If you have a realistic view of living in a fallen world filled with both joys and sorrows, you’ll be less stressed and upset.
I found the results of a survey sent to recent customers of Thomas Cook Vacations and the Association of British Travel Agents. Listen to these complaints and think about their expectations:
1. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."
4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price."
5. "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."
8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."
11. "The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun."
12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair."
13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."
15. "When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners."
Expectations are amazing!
Peter says don’t be surprised at testing and suffering…
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)
The Bible is filled with counter-cultural statements.
The first shall be last.
If you want to save your life you must lose it.
Rejoice when you suffer.
Crazy, right?
Jesus’ half-brother, James, begins his letter to the early Church:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (James 1:2)
Is he out of his mind? No. He understands the paradox of testing.
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:3
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3-4)
Peter says
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)
We don’t rejoice in the pain but in the results. One poet wrote
God hath not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain
But God hath promised
Strength from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love
Following Jesus means entering into suffering. It means dying…in order to live. Jesus suffered and died for you and me, despite His perfection and righteousness. He chose to enter our world and give up everything out of love for us. He never asks us to do anything He didn’t demonstrate. He said plainly to His disciples
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)
Many USAmericans have this distorted view of God. They believe His job is to ensure our happiness. Thomas Jefferson penned the phrase, “the pursuit of happiness,” not God. It’s not that God wants us miserable, but He is more concerned about our holiness than our happiness.
There are many kinds of suffering. Some is self-inflicted and ever since Adam and Eve, we’ve been quick to blame others for our suffering, even if we were the responsible party.
Some suffering is unavoidable. We can’t control the weather, other drivers on the road, our genetic predisposition toward diseases or the economy.
But some suffering comes because we follow Jesus. If you were told following Jesus will make your life safe, comfortable and problem-free, you’ve been lied to! You will suffer because of following Jesus…but it’s worth it. And there’s a purpose behind it. The book of Romans says
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
Paul put it this way:
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)
To truly know Christ, we must die. We must suffer. He did.
He experienced resurrection. We will, too. We will share in His glory.
Jesus invites us to a banquet table of salvation but it’s not a picnic.
Paul suffered.
Peter suffered.
Jesus suffered.
Suffering shapes us.
Suffering draws us together.
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:14)
You’re a child of God if you endure suffering for Christ. I’m afraid, again, this is so foreign to many of us raised in the good ol’ USA, God bless America, in God we trust. I love this country, but it is historically unique. Many lament the loss of power and control Christians have in this nation, but Jesus never said His mission was to seize power and control. He never promised us the majority. He said
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. (John 15:18-21)
We are blessed when we suffer for Christ.
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. (1 Peter 4:15)
Nothing is more damaging to the glory of God and the movement of Jesus than the sins of his people. God never tests us with sin and evil. If you suffer because of your sins, there’s no reward in that. Notice here murder is mentioned in the same breath as gossip!
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16)
Peter and his audience lived in an honor-shame culture. You can ignore criticism, but shame damages one’s social standing. It can even be fatal.
I remember a fellow student in college who converted from Islam to Christianity. He was preparing for his family to conduct a funeral for him, literally considering him dead to them…simply because of his allegiance to Jesus.
Have you suffered as a Christian, because of your faith? Do your words and actions even show you belong to Jesus? I realize it’s easy to say in this environment, but let’s all commit to standing up for Jesus, the One who hung up for us.
In the midst of speaking about the present sufferings Peter shifts to the future.
For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
Judgment Day is coming, friends. All will stand before the Almighty and give an account for their lives. Are you ready? Christians will be judged! First! (see 2 Corinthians 5:10)
Now Peter quotes Proverbs 11:31
And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18)
There’s only one Way—Jesus. He’s our only hope. The reality is none of us deserves to share in God’s glory, none of us deserves heaven, none of us deserves grace or mercy or forgiveness…but thanks be to God we follow a Messiah who died for us and conquered sin and death.
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19)
This is a fitting way to conclude our time together. The trust of these suffering Christians is shown through good works. Peter tells them to live honorably in the midst of suffering. Goppelt wrote
“This ‘handing over’ of one’s own ‘I’ to the Creator, which liberates a person from fear, takes place, amid the danger of losing one’s life, through prayer and through action arising from hopeful faith.”
In other words, as we suffer for Christ, we are able to identify with Christ’s suffering, we demonstrate our faith to the world, we proclaim there is more than this life, and we bring glory to God.
James said,
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
When—not if—we suffer, let’s suffer for Jesus, not our own stupidity. Let’s encourage one another as we face persecution for our faith. We are not alone. We’ve been blessed with brothers and sisters with whom we will spend eternity. Some are in prison now. Others may not survive the end of this day. Still others are in the midst of torture for proclaiming the name of Jesus. One day it will be worth it all.
Credits
Some ideas from
Be Hopeful (1 Peter): How to Make the Best of Times Out of Your Worst of Times (The BE Series Commentary) by Warren
Thru The Bible audio messages by J. Vernon McGee
1 Peter (The NIV Application Commentary) by Scot McKnight
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.