Facing Suffering

—Living as a Christian in the Real World

Andrew Fountain – Dec 3, 2017

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Facing Suffering

To learn from Peter how to respond in the face of suffering
so that we will be better equipped.

This is a huge topic, and I’m not going to try and solve the problem of human suffering today.
I just want to look at how we can respond when we face personal suffering
- There are many possible answers, but I’m going to limit myself to seeing how Peter addresses the problem.

Introduction

We know that when we are saved, we become adopted into the family of our dear father God
- He loves us passionately
- He is good and kind and wants only the best for us
So, if we are children of the king, how come we have problems?
- Why does our great and infinitely powerful and loving heavenly daddy come and solve all our problems for us?
- ?
I have been doing a lot of study in 1 Peter recently
- to start with I thought: “What a depressing book this is”
- Why does it have to have so much about suffering?
- Here are some extracts:

1 Peter 2:19–21

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 4:12,13

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.
But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.

the horrific wave of persecution under the emperor Nero
He was prophetically preparing them (see [4:12–14] above)

This letter is an actual detailed example of a N.T. prophecy being delivered
- There must have been thousands of prophecies, but most of them were only relevant to an immediate need
- But this one the Holy Spirit preserved, and caused it to be added to the books of the N.T. because it was of value to the Christians throughout the ages
Personal example of a prophetic warning of problems ahead (“I see someone trying to put fish-hooks into your heart… I don’t know what that means.”)
- This can totally change our perspective on the suffering and take away much of the pain
But why could Peter not be a bit more upbeat? Paul would have said:
- “put on the armour of God”,
- stand in the power of his might,
- the gates of hell will fall before you
Peter’s message seems to be, “suffering now, glory later”
- At least on the surface that’s what it appears to be (pie in the sky when you die)
Paul spends a lot more time telling us about the blessings we have now!!
I thought “this is a gloomy book...”
Paul often talks about how we are citizens of a new country, we have a new identity card
- Peter says the same thing, but he puts it the other way around:
  - we are exiles!! (1:1; end of 17; 2:11)

1 Peter 1:1,17; 2:11

From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those exiles (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen
And if you call on him as Father, the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your exile here in reverence.
Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

Outline

1 Peter seems to be full of suffering
Whenever Peter talks about suffering, he talks about glory
Tasting Glory today

1 Peter 1:1-13, 2:9

2 Corinthians 4:6-18

1 Peter 1:1-13, 2:9

Johnny Cash, the country singer, was impacted his whole life and eventually brought to salvation by the death of his older brother Jack—he never forgot it.
- He tells the story:

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[Johnny Cash] was confronted with the horrible death of his older brother Jack. Cut severely while cutting fence posts, Jack Cash was rushed to the hospital, but there wasn’t much that could be done. As Cash told the tale in his book “Man in Black,” Jack awoke and asked, “Why is everybody crying over me? Mama, don’t cry over me. Did you see the river?”

“No, I didn’t, son,” Carrie replied.

“Well, I thought I was going toward the fire, but I’m headed in the other direction now, mama. I was going down a river, and there was fire on one side and heaven on the other. I was crying, ‘God, I’m supposed to go to heaven. Don’t you remember? Don’t take me to the fire.’ All of a sudden I turned, and now, mama, can you hear the angels singing?” The family at his bedside listened with stunned attention. “What a beautiful city,” he said. “And the angels singing. Oh, mama, I wish you could hear the angels singing.”

“It was like a burden had been lifted from all of us,” remembered Cash, “and it wasn’t just the eight-day burden of fighting for Jack’s life. Rather, we watched him die in such bliss and glory that it was like we were almost happy because of the way we saw him go. We saw in our mind’s eye what he was seeing-a vision of heaven.”

That vision would be long lingering in his psyche and spirit. “The memory of Jack’s death, his vision of heaven, the effect his life had on the lives of others, and the image of Christ he projected have been more of an inspiration to me, I suppose, than anything else that has ever come to me through any man,” he would say.

from: beliefnet.com

Years later it was this vision that led Johnny Cash to salvation—he know it was real!
In that place:
- Joy that will fill our whole being and light it up like a lamp
- The joy of the bride
One of my best friends growing up is in the last stages of cancer
- Show Jonathan video

What about us?

Maybe you are facing suffering right now
Maybe this week you will have some rough moments
All of us need a taste of glory to take us through
Pray that God will give you some kind of experience of heaven
- that will totally transform you, as it did Peter
- so you will consider the glory to come as even more real than the present world around you!