1 Peter 4:12-16 A Prayer for Today WC McCarter
Delivered at the Shattalon Church of Christ
Introduction
We have seen
over the past few decades a move away from Christian values in this country
that we once regarded as a Christian nation. The surveys that have been done in
recent times prove our general feelings valid. There is a rise in the number of
irreligious folks, and atheism is even on the rise. We see things happening
today which are directly opposed to Christian doctrine such as so-called gay
marriage, abortions in mass numbers, government corruption, and more. These are
signs of the times, and I think that Christians need to realize that the
America we have now is not the America of old, and I don’t think we will ever
see that America again. What does this mean for Christians? That is the
question of our day!
I have
thought about this theme for some time now, “A Prayer for Today.” I had several
sermon plans and really had a difficult time settling on one idea. So, what I
decided to do was sit down to meditate on the theme and the Scriptures. I
turned it into a question and asked myself, “What is my one prayer for the
church in America today?” Here is my answer and the one main point of my
sermon:
“My prayer
for today is that Christians will
stop complaining
and begin to prepare for persecution.”
After all,
the apostle commands in Phil 2:14-16, “Do all things without complaining and
disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without
fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as
lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” Wow! Now that is a lofty
task, isn’t it? Did you notice how not
complaining and disputing is how we shine as lights in this world? The first
part of my prayer is that we would stop complaining and moaning about the
simplest of things.
The second
part of my prayer is that we would prepare for persecution. Did you know that
the New Testament is all about persecution? Have you missed that part? The 27
books of the NT are filled with statements and section concerning the
persecution of the church. Listen to some of these Scriptures. I am going to be
flipping to them if you would like to flip as well, or maybe you would like to
write the references down while listening. John 15:18-20. 1 John 3:13. Matt 5:10-12,
43-44. 2 Tim 3:1, 12. I do not mean to be a negative nelly or a doomsday
prophet, but I think that the church in America is so out of tune with the NT
because we have lived in relative harmony with the culture for so long, that
when persecution comes (I think it will), we will be caught off guard, the
church will be devastated, many will buckle under the pressure, and several
will be lost.
If you
prepare for persecution and it does not come, what have you lost? Absolutely
nothing.
Background:
Peter was writing to Christians (mainly Jewish) who were scattered through Asia
Minor, which is modern day Turkey. These folks would have been driven out of
cities like Jerusalem because of fierce persecution that came from orthodox
Jews, and they would have been strangers in these other towns. What do people
think of strangers? They are usually suspicious of them. These early Christians
would have quickly been labeled as strangers, outsiders, and targets for attack
because they did not worship the Roman gods and practice the pagan religions.
Unbelievers viewed Christians as rebels who belonged to a secret society
because they met early on Sunday mornings, often before daybreak (worship).
Some even thought they were cannibals because they “ate flesh and drank blood”
(Lord’s Supper).
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Anticipate Suffering (12)
Christians
are told to not consider persecution strange/surprising as though something
strange/surprising is happening to them. This is Peter’s emphasis in this
section, that we are to anticipate suffering. We should expect, be looking,
anticipate, and be ready for it.
Those who
are anticipating suffering will not be caught off guard, and they will not
stumble. Those who are anticipating suffering will prepare themselves and those
around them for it. Those who are anticipating suffering will have a completely
different view of the world. I think we need a war time mentality, not that we
are warring against flesh and blood, but against the wiles of the devil. He is
the one who fuels suffering and persecution. We must constantly be listening
for the roar of that lion to come near, because he will come, and when he does
we may not be caught off guard, but ready to defend ourselves.
Peter calls
the persecution to come a fiery trial. Fire is hot, and it is dangerous. Yet,
fire is usually seen in the Bible as an agent of purification. Persecution
works to refine believers like a fine metal. When you put a metal through the
fire the impurities are burned away. When Christians go through suffering the
sin, weaknesses, and impurities are done away with. This is a positive thing,
but it is a painful thing. If someone is caught off guard by this fire, they
may be consumed by it. Peter, the Apostles, and I do not want you to be caught off
guard when the fire burns hot and bright. Peter started his letter with this
very same theme. Look at 1 Pet 1:6-9.
Rejoice in Suffering (13-14)
Because of
this positive outlook on fiery trials as purifying, Peter is able to tell the
believers to rejoice in their sufferings. Through suffering in this world we
are able to commune with our suffering Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered
great persecution, but on the other side of it was glory. He has gone before us
as our Pioneer. We must follow Him through suffering to glory. There is
fullness of joy in His presence, and we will soon experience it. There is
future blessing for those who have suffered. Just as we have been baptized in
the likeness of Christ’s death and resurrection, we also partake in His
sufferings and will partake in His glory.
This joy is
not only in a glorious future, but it is also to be experienced now. Peter,
alluding to Christ’s teaching, says, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ,
blessed are you.” What does it mean
to be blessed? What is blessed/happy/glad about enduring insults? When you are
reproached for the name of Christ, that means that God’s favor and blessing are
on you. You are His and He is yours, and there is nothing that can separate you
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. We are already beginning to be
glorified as the Spirit rests on us, and we will experience that glorification
in full when Christ returns.
Shameless Suffering (15-16)
Suffering as
a Christian is blessed, but suffering as an evil doer is shameful. People
suffer for all kinds of reasons. They are put to shame for a variety of things.
A murderer is reproached by all. A thief is always shunned. Christians must not
suffer because they are morally corrupt, but because of the name of Christ.
There is a huge difference. Let me also say that Christians who bring hatred,
reproach, and persecution upon themselves by picketing this and that and
hurling insults at the world are not blessed by God. What does verse 14 say? “If
you are reproached for the name of Christ.”
What does verse 16 say? “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian.” We should not pursue hatred or ridicule, yet so
many Christians do. We must leave complaining, arguing, moral corruptness,
evil, and nosiness behind.
Instead, we
should be preparing for real persecution, that is, persecution for the name of
Christ. The term “Christian” is a very rare term in the New Testament. It is
only used three times, if I have counted correctly. Two of those three times
are within the context of mockery and suffering. King Agrippa said
sarcastically to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And
here, Peter talks about how we suffer as those who bear the name of Christ.
There is no shame in suffering as a Christian. We glorify God when we do, but
only if we survive it and do so with great joy.
Conclusion and Christian Application
Consider
this calm before the storm to be the mercy of God in which His people can learn
as much as possible and prepare. Of course, all along we should be praying for
mass conversions that in an instance God may turn this large ship we call
America back in the right direction.
Just after
Peter wrote this, great persecution broke out against Christians starting in
the emperor’s palace, in the city of Rome, and continuing throughout the
Empire. Nero lit the capital city on fire in A.D. 64 in order to claim more
property for himself and build an even larger palace. There was such an outrage
because most citizens knew it was him that Nero diverted blame onto the
Christians. They suffered greatly, and it was under this wave of persecution
that the Apostle Paul was beheaded and the Apostle Peter was crucified upside
down, both in Rome. *Peter wrote this to Christians who were being to suffer
just before one of the greatest waves of persecution came. Do you see God’s
sovereignty in this history? He wants you to be prepared too!
(1) Speak out against the health,
wealthy, and prosperity preachers who export from America a gospel which says,
“Commit to Christ and He will give you great riches and your life will be
wonderful.” This is no gospel at all. It is lies from the pit of Hell. It is
not true. The Bible never teaches it.
(2) Hatred from the world is NOT fair,
and NO Christian deserves persecution simply because they are a follower of
Christ, but we should expect persecution/hatred/suffering and prepare for it.
(3) If you are a young Christian, find
some mature Christians to learn from. Some can teach you about prayer, some
Bible study, others how to deal with struggles like cancer, some evangelism,
and other things. If you are an older, more mature Christian, please look for
younger Christians to mentor. We have got to prepare one another and seek
preparation. We have to get through this life together.
(4) “You are the light of the world” is
in the context of persecution. I once heard a guy talking about evangelism say,
“Christ doesn’t want us to be sanctuary lights, He needs us to be street
lights.”