Trials and Hardship – Part of God’s Grace for you – 1 Peter 5:12

26 August 2024 – CBM

Songs:

• Strong by Anne Wilson
• Morning by Morning by Pat Barrett
• Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman
• Thank You for the Blood Applied by Charity Gayle

Personal Testimony:

Introduce myself

• 21 years in PNG
• assisting, enabling, supporting and equipping missionaries for planting churches among some of the least reached people in the world.
• people who still live in the jungle, grass roof, dirt floors, no electricity, no running water, and no verse of the Bible in their language. Completely isolated and unreached by the gospel

Share my story of the last 9 months

• just before Christmas, heard mom’s cancer returned and things sounded bad
• packed up and left the field in 2 weeks at significant financial sacrifice
• Mom’s battle with cancer
• April 5th.. went to be with Jesus
• April 15th I shared her journal entries at the memorial service

(Jan 19) I know my cancer is terminal. I will die from it. How do I feel about it? I’m not afraid to die. I know I have a direct flight, a one way ticket. I know my destination is heaven.  I know who I’ll meet when I arrive. My savior and friend Jesus. Do I know when? No, but I’m ready for the trip.

“One minute after you die, you will either be elated or terrified, and it will be too late to re-route your travel plans!” — Erwin Lutzer

Don’t leave today without settling your travel plans!

• April 18th admitted dad to the hospital… they found cancer…
• life on hold… cancelled all travel… wrote to PNG letting them know that our return is now uncertain??

I felt like Paul… 2 Cor 11:22-23 I have been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea….

2 Cor 11:28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

Along with these challenges, I also the intern weight of a number of other things

• Brother / Dad relationship
• struggles among my own children
• struggles with my son
• Brother struggling with loss – mom, friend, dog
• our support needs
• future ministry?

• Son getting married
• Daughter and family leaving for mission field
• other son trying to raise support.. deadline coming up soon

• Problems at our church… friends struggling / some leaving… church struggling to survive which could affect their ability to continue to support us

Praise God, dad’s cancer seems to be under control. We have peace about returning to PNG on Sunday. But, we feel we should only go for 6 months at this point.

Through all this, I have felt a little like what Eliphaz accused Job of- Job 4:3-5 “In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak. Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees. But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you.

I don’t want that to be the case. I am so glad pastor John invited me to share, and I am praying my story can encourage you. I have no doubt God is at work through and in all of this!

It’s easy for us to ask, “God, why me?” It’s easy to feel like life isn’t fair! I don’t deserve this. All I want is to go through a day without hardship or conflict… My struggles and trials may not be the same as yours, but I am here today to tell you that our God is the same! And God wants to use the events in your life the same way He wants to use the events in my life!

What you experience is part of God’s grace for you

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 5. I am going to be jumping around 1 Peter a little. But this verse is the key verse of what I want to share from what God has been teaching me.

(1 Peter 5:12) “I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

What is God’s grace? A good child’s Sunday School definition is “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.” That is a very good definition for God’s grace in salvation. God got all our sins, and we got all Jesus’ righteousness (2 Cor 5:21) But, what does this mean for our daily life?

To answer that we need to back up to verse 10.

(1 Peter 5:10) In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

God desires for you to share in His glory. He wants your life to reflect what He is like. God’s grace is his work in restoring, supporting, strengthening you and building a firm foundation for your faith! This is a work that only God can do, and he uses trials and suffering to do it. Making us more and more like Jesus. And by the way, he also said it’s only for a little while.

This is the good that Paul talks about in Romans 8:28-29 . “For God works ALL THINGS for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son”

But, when we face hardship and difficulty, and life just stinks, do we still believe it? Do you really believe that EVERYTHING we experience is truly part of God’s grace for you? God’s equipping, strengthening, building to make you more like Him. Both the good, AND the bad!

These past 9 months have been some of the most difficult and intense times I have ever experienced! And while I have not doubted these words, I have had many times of feeling overwhelmed and struggling to keep my emotions under control and just “holding it together.” So, why does God do stuff like this? Why does He let this happen? How can this be part of God’s grace for me?

If you are asking God these questions also, then what I have to say today is for you! May you find encouragement and hope in these words.

God Feels Your Pain

I am always amazed that when God has something He wants to speak with me about, it’s almost as if he will use all means possible to get my attention. Everything I read, every message I hear, every book I read, all seem to point to the same topic. So, in God’s divine working in my life, as I have been processing all of this, my Bible reading plan had me read through 1 Peter, and Job . Right out of the gate, what do we find in the first 2 chapters of the book of Job?

Job 1:8-12 Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence.

Job 2:3 Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you URGED ME to harm him without cause.”

So, who did the actions against Job? (Job 1:12) It says, “YOU may test him,” the Lord said to Satan.” So, the harm that was done to Job’s family, and all his possessions, was done by the hand of Satan! But, what did God say in chapter 2? (Job 2:3) “He has maintained his integrity, even though YOU URGED ME to harm him without cause.” God took full credit for what happened to Job, even though it was Satan who actually did the harming!

What do we learn from this?

• God feels your pain! No matter whether it is coming from the hand of God directly, or God is allowing it, He feels the pain it causes, and takes ownership as if He did it by His own hand!
• Prov 15:3 The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.” No matter how abandoned we feel, the Lord is watching, and he does feel your pain. Whether God plans the pain or just allow it, He feels our pain. Satan did the pain inflicting, but God says, “you urged ME to harm him without cause.”
• Another lesson here is that, God was so confident that Job’s faith would not fail, that He considered him worthy of this trial. (Have you considered my servant Job…. He is blameless, a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil) When trials touch our lives, it is because God sees us as worthy of the trial. Have you ever looked at it that way?

How did Job respond in these things?

• “The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21)
• In chapter 2, after his wife told him to “Curse God and die,” he told his wife, “Can we expect good from him and not evil?” Job 2:10)

In 1 Peter 5:12 with Peter’s conclusion of his book, we learned that“what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you.” It’s part of God equipping you, building your character, making you stronger.

Now from Job, we see that God feels your pain…

Now let’s go dig a little deeper into 1 Peter and see what else Peter has to tell us regarding suffering, to help us to understand why this is all part of God’s grace for us.

Suffering refines / strengthens our faith

Turn with me to 1 Peter 1.

1 Peter 1:6-7 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

As Job tried to process what was happening to him, and why God would do such a thing, Job understood this principle also.

Job 23:10-14 “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.

God has our best interest in mind. That’s what Rom 8:28 teaches, doesn’t it. So, which is better, an easy life that runs away from God, or difficult one that tests our faith, and makes our faith stronger and more genuine?

Do you remember the story of Joseph? What happened to Joseph? (the coat his father gave him, his dreams, his brothers’ jealousy… what did they do to him? threw him in a pit, tore his coat, lied to his dad, then sold him into slavery!

In Psalm 105:16-22 we get a little glimpse of what God was doing and God’s perspective on that situation.

Ps 105:16-19 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.

Notice how God takes the credit once again for the hard things that happened. Joseph’s brothers did the evil, they sold him as a slave. Potipher’s wife got him put in prison. The baker forgot about him… and yet God said, “He sent someone ahead to Egypt…”

In all of this, how did Joseph respond? Genesis 50:19-21 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

There’s an interesting verse that talks about Jesus suffering in Hebrews 5:8-9.

Hebrews 5:8-9 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

God saw fit, that even Jesus, in his humanity, learned to obey His father, from the things he suffered so that he could become the source of salvation for everyone!

Suffering is a privilege

Jesus saw his suffering as a privilege.

Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Remember Paul said about Jesus in Philippians 2:5-8?

Phil 2:5-8 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Why did Jesus do all that? For the joy awaiting him! Jesus lived for the greater reward. If you are still in 1 Peter, let’s read 1 Peter 2:24-25. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

What was the joy set before him? He carried our sin, so that WE can be dead to sin and live for what is right! He was wounded for you. He was beaten and died for you! That was the joy set before Him!

Let’s go up a few verses.

1 Peter 2:19-21 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

God calls us to follow in His steps. Learn to see our trials from God’s perspective. James said it this way:

James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Jesus learned obedience through suffering. He lived for the greater reward of bringing salvation to you and everyone who believes. He calls us to follow in His steps!

Jesus is our example

As we move on in 1 Peter, chapter 3, Peter brings some really challenging words. The first phrase of chapter 3 says, 1 Peter 3:1 In the same way… then he follows those up with “even if…”

How did Christ respond to suffering?

1 Peter 2:22-23 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

In the same way, just as Christ suffered for you, and left his case in the hands of God, so we should follow in his steps! Peter gets really practical here. He lays out a bunch of circumstances in which we can and will find ourselves in, and reminds us, “In the same way… trust your case to the hands of God, even if it’s not the way you want things.”

Real quickly, here’s what Peter says:

• Wives: 1 Peter 3:1 accept the authority of your husbands, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over
• Neighbors: 1 Peter 2:12 live properly among your unbelieving neighbors, even if they accuse you of doing wrong
• Slaves: 1 Peter 2:19 submit to your masters with respect… not only if they are kind and reasonable, but EVEN IF they are cruel. God is pleased when, conscious of his will (to use everything for our good) you patiently endure unjust treatment.
• Young people: 1 Peter 5:5 “In the same way, you young people must accept the authority of the elders (leaving your case in God’s hands)
• Everyone: 1 Peter 3:9 Don’t retaliate with insults even when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing
• Be eager to do good 1 Peter 3:14 even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you..
• Do good to all 1 Peter 3:21 even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.

As I read these various scenarios Peter lays out, it really leaves no excuse for getting upset when life doesn’t go the way we want. Even If… in the same way, trust your life in God’s hands! Was life fair for Jesus? Did he get a fair trial? Was he treated justly? Even if… in the same way… follow in His steps! I know these are hard words! They are not mine, this is what God said!

Peter ends this chapter by saying, 1 Peter 3:14-17 Don’t worry about their threats, instead worship Christ as your life. In the midst of your trial and suffering, learn to see Christ as your life. Then, if someone asks about your hope, be ready to explain it. But do it in a gentle respectful way. Even If they speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ Don’t forget, it’s better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants

Jesus is truly our example. May we learn to walk in his steps! 1 Peter 2:22-23 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

In the same way… 1 Peter 3:18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Suffering takes our eyes off our desires and onto God’s will

My final point is that suffering and hardship serves to take our eyes off our own desires and makes us seek after God! 1 Peter 4:1-3 Peter instructed his listeners that when we arm ourselves with the same attitude of Christ, being ready and willing to suffer for Jesus’ sake, leaving our case in God’s hands, it will produce a heart that seeks after God and not earthly things. When you live with that attitude, you will no longer spend your life pursuing your own desires, but you will be anxious to leave your sinful ways and pursue God’s desires!

When God gets a hold of our lives because we have thrown ourselves on him in our suffering, Peter says in 1 Peter 4:4 the results will be that your former friends will be surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do.

This is similar to Paul’s own testimony in Philippians.

Phil 1:20-21 I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Phil 3:7-10 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”

For Paul, suffering was an opportunity to know Christ more deeply. For Paul, living became all about Jesus! And that’s what God wants for you too.

Summary

• 1 Peter 5:12 “what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. What you are experiencing is God’s work in restoring, supporting, strengthening you and building a firm foundation for your faith
• from Joseph and Job, God feels your pain. He takes responsibility for your pain even if it wasn’t by his hand… and He is with you in it.
• 1 Peter 1:6-7 God uses suffering and hardship to build and refine our faith
• 1 Peter 2:21-24 and Hebrews 12:2, from Jesus example, suffering is a privilege.. for the joy set before him
• 1 Peter 3, Even if.. in all things and at all times, follow Jesus example, leaving our case in the hands of God so that our life will become an attractive picture of God!
• 1 Peter 4:1-3 suffering and hardship serves to take our eyes off our own desires and makes us seek after God in order that he becomes what we are living for

I am not accustomed to being weak. I am not used to be needy. God has humbled me and shown me that I can’t do this on my own. That’s why the song Strong is so meaningful to me. I have prayed many times, “Lord you know I can’t do this on my own!” And then He reminds me, “I’m strong when I got nothing, I’m strong even when I’m weak, ‘Cause the strong arms of my Savior are holding on to me.”

In 2 Cor 12:8-10 Paul the apostle found himself facing a difficulty that he couldn’t handle either. Here is what he learned from it: Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In Ephesians 6:10 as Paul begins his explanation of the Christian’s spiritual armor, he says, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” It’s only when we are strong in HIS MIGHTY POWER that we are going to be able to stand our ground in these battles!

Ps 25:10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness

Ps 111:2-4 How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our LORD!

Ps 111:7 All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy.

1 Peter 5:12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.