ARTICLE TOO GOOD TO REFLECT AND I WANTED TO SHARE IT. FROM CARMEN CAMINOS – TEACHINGS.
PETER’S WARNINGS
1 Peter 4:12-19
She was only 17 years old. The man before her, pointing her gun at her face, asked, “Do you believe in God?” She paused. This was a question of life or death. “Yes,” she said. “I believe in God.”
“Why?” asked his executioner. But he never gave her a chance to reply. Seconds later, the teenager lay dead on the ground.
This scene could have happened in a Roman coliseum. It could have happened during the MIDDLE AGES. Or it could have happened in any number of countries around the world. Today, people are being jailed, tortured, and killed because they don’t want to deny the name of Jesus.
However, this story did not happen in ancient times, neither in Vietnam, nor Pakistan, nor Romania. It happened right here in the United States in 1999 at a college in Colorado.
Oddly enough, there have been more Christian martyrs in our modern era than in the first century. According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, in the year 2000, there have been almost 200,000 Christian martyrs around the world. In fact, in the 20th century alone, there have been more Christians martyred than in the previous 1,900 years combined.
LET’S BEGIN IN PRAYER
Father, Your Word is rich in wisdom and power. Your Word is the Truth, It teaches us to trust You despite the evil we see in this world. It teaches us that You are in control of everything, and that You love us and are with us through thick and thin.
Lord, give us a heart of love and compassion for the persecuted church. Help us to be faithful and to pray for her. And to stand firm for Christ.
Not to falter in the face of persecution. Your grace is sufficient for every trial we face. Help us to be Your light in this dark world. In the name of Jesus, amen.
When first-century people first read Peter’s letter, they were familiar with suffering and persecution for their loyalty to Jesus Christ. But Pedro warns them that something new was going to happen: “a litmus test” of official persecution was about to begin. Peter wanted to show them how they could succeed, and give glory to God.
Definitely, we too are going to suffer for our faith. But God gives us his grace, if we ask for it! Suffering in the will of God leads to the glory of God.
THE TITLE OF THIS MESSAGE IS “WARNINGS FROM PETER,” and this passage is divided into two points: (I) The Certainty of Suffering, and (II) The Certainty of Judgment.
SO LET’S BEGIN WITH POINT NO. 1…
I. The Certainty of Suffering (1 Peter 4:12-16)
12 Beloved brothers, do not be surprised at the trial by fire to which you are subjected, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 On the contrary, rejoice that you are partakers of the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice greatly when the glory of Christ be revealed.
14 Blessed are you when you are insulted for the name of Christ! Upon you rests the glorious Spirit of God!
Every Christian, who lives a godly life, WILL EXPERIENCE some degree of persecution; be it at work, at school, in the neighborhood, and perhaps even in the family. There are people who resist the truth, and oppose the gospel of Christ.
But in this passage, Peter tells them about a different kind of persecution – “a trial by fire” that was about to overtake the entire church.
Until that time, Rome had tolerated Christianity, because it was considered “a sect” of Judaism, and Jews were allowed to worship freely. That attitude would change and the fires of persecution would be lit, first by Nero, and then by the emperors who followed him.
Persecution has not been alien to the Christian life. Throughout history, God’s people have suffered at the hands of a non-Christian world. Christians are different from non-Christians, and this different kind of life produces a different lifestyle.
Much of what happens in this world depends on lies, pride, pleasure, and the desire for more. A godly Christian builds her life on truth, humility, holiness, and a desire to glorify God.
We see this conflict throughout the Bible. Cain was a religious man, however, he hated his brother, and ended up killing him. The world does not persecute religious people, but it does persecute righteous people.
1 John 3:12 explains to us the reason why Cain killed Abel. He says thus “Not like Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s deeds were righteous.” The Pharisees and the Jewish leaders were religious people, but still they crucified Christ and persecuted the church.
In Matthew 10:17 Jesus warns His disciples, “Beware of the people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in the synagogues.” Jesus was telling them that there would be opposition and persecution from the world.
We also know from church history that during the middle ages, the church inquisition killed and tortured Christians. They called them heretics! But what was his sin? They read the Word of God in their own language, and obeyed what it said.
How could the church have strayed so far from the truth of Scripture? Because they were not reading the Word of God. And consequently, they became religious people – complying with the formalities and rituals – but without having any connection with God.
But Jesus gave His disciples a very encouraging promise in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation; but trust, I have overcome the world.” It was through his death on Calvary’s cross, and his resurrection, that Jesus overcame sin and the world.
It is important to note that not all of life’s difficulties are necessarily “litmus tests.” There are some difficulties that are simply part of human life, and almost everyone experiences them. Unfortunately, there are some difficulties, which WE CREATE OURSELVES, by our disobedience and sin.
Persecution and trials do not come from nowhere. They are not accidents! They are part of God’s plan, and He is in control of everything.
I am going to tell you a “true story” that happened in Asia around 1970. A group of communist soldiers discovered that an “illegal” Bible study was taking place in one of the houses in the village.
Suddenly, while the pastor was reading the Bible, a group of men, armed with guns, entered the house, terrorizing the believers who had gathered to worship God. The communists shouted insults and threatened to kill the Christians.
The lead officer pointed his pistol at the pastor’s head and demanded, “Give me your Bible.” Reluctantly, the pastor gave him his Bible, which was his most prized possession. Taunting him, the officer threw the Bible on the ground…at the pastor’s feet.
He looked at the small congregation, and told them, “We’ll let you go, but first, you’ll have to spit on this book of lies. We will kill whoever refuses to do so.” The believers had no choice but to obey the officer’s order.
The soldier, pointing his pistol at one of the men, said, “You go first!” Slowly the man got up and knelt before the Bible. Reluctantly, he spat it out, praying quietly, “Father, please forgive me.” He stood up and headed for the door. The soldier stepped back and let him out.
“Now you,” the officer said, beckoning a woman closer. With tears in her eyes, she could just do what the soldier demanded. She spat a little, but it was enough. They also let her go.
At that, silently, a girl walked forward. Overwhelmed by her love for her Lord, she knelt down, picked up the Bible and wiped the spit with her dress. “My God,” she prayed, “what have they done to Your Word? Forgive them.” That was her last sentence. The officer aimed at her head, and pulled the trigger.
Many of those who are persecuted today can escape death if they deny their faith. But the question is not whether they are persecuting us, but whether we are willing to give our lives for our faith in Jesus Christ.
13 On the contrary, rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice greatly when the glory of Christ is revealed.
Peter mentions “Rejoice” twice in this verse. The world cannot understand how difficult circumstances can produce joy, because the world has never experienced God’s grace.
“Rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ” It is an honor and a privilege to suffer with Christ, and to be treated by the world the same way Jesus was treated. “Participate in his sufferings” is a gift from God.
That is why Acts 5:41 says, “The apostles left the council happy that they were worthy to suffer for the Name’s sake.”
In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar had built a golden image of himself, and commanded men to kneel and worship it. Whoever refused to do so would be thrown into the fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, as faithful Jews, refused to worship the idol and were reported to the king. While being questioned, these young men declared to the king in Daniel 3:16-18, “We don’t have to answer to his Majesty about this.
Your Majesty is going to see that our God, whom we serve, can deliver us from that fiery furnace of fire, and can also deliver us from the power of His Majesty. But even if she does not, let her Majesty know that we will not serve her gods, nor will we worship the statue that she has erected.”
LIVE OR DIE, they were not going to deny their faith. When the three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fiery furnace, they discovered that they were not alone. Jesus was right there with them.
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The Lord was with Paul in all his trials. And Jesus promises to be with us until the end of the world. In fact, when sinners persecute us, they are really persecuting Jesus.
Verse 13 also says, “When the glory of Christ is revealed.”
The biblical definition of “the glory” is found in the Hebrew word “kabod” which means “something of importance,” “of substance.” Glory is the importance and resplendent majesty that accompanies the presence of God.
Originally, man was clothed with this glory – with the substance of the reality of God. When Adam sinned, the “kabod” left, leaving him…