1 Peter 3:13-22 (April 15)
1 Peter 3:13-22
Suffering (Part I)
(April 15, 2007)
Pakistan-
Five Christians have been charged with blasphemy under Pakistan's blasphemy laws 295-A and 295-C, in Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan. Daniel, an 11-year-old Christian boy, refused to play with his Muslim friends, resulting in them beating him. When Daniel's family confronted the attackers, the Muslims called the police and made a false report saying they had blasphemed the name of the Holy Prophet. Now Daniel's family (Rashid, Salamat, Sahba, Bao, and Sheela) is living under threat of attack by Muslim extremists. The Muslim family told other Muslims at a religious gathering that the Christians had disgraced the Holy Prophet, tore a holy sticker and beat it with a shoe. This has led to tension in the city. Christians in the area fear Muslim extremists will attack the family. There was fear there would be attacks during celebrations leading up to Easter Sunday. If convicted under blasphemy laws 295-A and 295-C, the family faces three years imprisonment, a fine and the death penalty, or life imprisonment and a fine. Pray God protects these believers and provides a way of escape for them.
India-
In the city of Varanasi, Rajendra Chawhan, a pastor and evangelist, has been working to reach non-believers in an area outside Varanasi. He has been holding prayer meetings that have grown to more than a thousand believers and this has angered radical Hindu groups. The pastor has been arrested and beaten several times. Following a recent prayer and healing service, Pastor Chawhan was beaten by Hindu extremists and taken to the police, who arrested him. This was the sixth time he had been arrested. Some Christians went to jail to protest his arrest and were beaten by extremists, while the police turned a blind eye. Pray God encourages, protects and gives wisdom to this pastor, and for his ministry to expand in the midst of these tough times.
What is “suffering”? From 3 experts...
Ref: 1 Peter 3:14 (NIV)- Peter
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
'Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.'”
Ref: 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV)- Paul
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...”
Ref: Matthew 5:10 (NIV)- Jesus
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Suffering” is a confirming signal that you are truly “crucified with Christ”
Ref: Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
How Do I Withstand Suffering?-
Ref: 1 Peter 3:13-15a (AMP)
“Now who is there to hurt you if you are zealous followers of that which is good?
But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness,
[you are] blessed (happy, to be envied).
Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].
But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord.”
Do not fear it (Have courage)
Ref: Isaiah 51:12-13 (NIV)
“I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass,
that you forget the LORD your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?”
Ref: Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Ref: Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?”Ref: John 14:1-2 (NIV) [Jesus speaking to His disciples who He knew would suffer]
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you.”Do not underestimate your Savior (Have faith)
Ref: Matthew 10:28 (NIV)- Jesus
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Ref: Isaiah 8:13 (NIV)
“The LORD Almighty is the One you are to regard as holy,
He is the one you are to fear,
He is the one you are to dread...”
Ref: Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
“The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
What is the Purpose of Suffering?-
Ref: 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit...”
Ref: Augustine“not the suffering, but the cause for which one suffers, makes the martyr”
Salvation [the cause] comes through suffering.
His suffering provides our salvation.
Our suffering confirms/bears testimony to our salvation.
Ref: 1 Peter 3:15b (NIV)
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you
to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
As our suffering acts as confirmation to ourselves of salvation,
it also confirms our salvation to those whom God has placed in our lives.
How?
Because we have hope that they cannot explain or understand, and they recognize it as divine.
We must, therefore, be prepared to provide an “apologia” (an answer, a defense, a plea).
How can we do this? What is being asked of us here?
Ref: 1 Peter 3:15c-16 (NIV)
“But do this [giving an apologia] with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience,
so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ
may be ashamed of their slander.”
Not only our hope, but our gentleness, respect, and clear conscience (in the face of adversity)
bear witness to Christ's power in and over our lives.
Stated simply, our “apologia” in word should be compelling,
but our “apologia” in deed should be incontrovertible.
Conclusion-
Challenge for this week- In what areas of your life are you suffering?
How are you responding to that suffering?
Please consider these questions as you review 1 Peter 4
for Part 2 of this discussion about suffering.
Follow-up from 2 weeks ago (1 Peter 3:1-12)- Have you been praying together?
