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Mar 17, 2013

Bad Moon Rising (Part 16)

Passage: 1 Peter 3:13-17

Preacher: Tim Badal

Series:Strangers in a Strange Land

Detail:

 

Let’s take God’s Word in our hands and continue our series entitled “Strangers in a Strange Land.”  We are midway through the third chapter of this five-chapter book written by Peter, a Galilean fisherman.  Though Peter had difficulties at first being a follower or Christ, he proved to be a steadfast and devout follower of the way of Christianity and Christ.  He became a chief leader within the early church.

As we’ve been studying these three chapters, we’ve seen two major themes. 

  • In chapter one we studied our great salvation.  We’ve been born into a living hope and brought into an inheritance that will not fade, spoil or perish (1:3-4).  This salvation has enabled us to have the great privilege of the Person of the Holy Spirit residing within each of us if we call ourselves a child of God (1:12). 
  • Then in chapter two, Peter moves on to the subject of submitting.  Peter tells us about our need to submit (2:13-35, 3:1-6).  Peter does this because he has told us we have a place and kingdom not of this world, so he follows that with a reminder that our relationships and engagements with this world should not be put by the wayside (3:8-9).  Some of us get so heavenly minded that we forget we’re called to an earthly good.  Peter reminds us that even though we have a home in glory and an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, we are still called to be good citizens, employees and spouses.  We are called to be a good people.

That leads us then to the third theme Peter wants to address, which is the issue of suffering—no matter how good we are.  We’re going to be addressing this over the next couple of weeks.  Next time we’ll see that Jesus Himself suffered greatly.  What Christ did on the cross for you and me is a great reminder for us as we move into the Easter season.  Let’s look at this issue of suffering today under the heading “Bad Moon Rising.”

Let’s read God’s Word and then ask God’s blessing on our study.  First Peter 3:13-17 says:

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Let’s pray.

Father God, I want to look at this text from a pastoral point of view.  You know my heart and desire is to teach these people whom I call my friends and family.  I want to be reminded—and remind other people—that suffering is coming.  I want to share from my heart to the hearts of these people.  To do that, it will not take eloquence of speech or the strength of my words but rather the moving of Your Spirit.  I pray that we would calm our hearts now, be ready to receive Your Word, and that we would be ready to hear what Your Word has to say because You tell us to be ready both in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2).  We need to be ready at all times and in all ways to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).  So I pray that I would be able to teach this truth well and that we would go out even more prepared to do what we’re called by Scripture to do.  Let Your Spirit descend upon and fill us.  Let us be filled with Your truth now.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

As I meditated on this passage, a classic song came to mind.  Many of you might know the song “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.  It was written in 1969.  John Fogerty wrote the lyrics and was asked by a magazine why this theme of the “Bad Moon Rising” became a song.  Fogerty said the impetus of this song was what he called “the apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us.”  He went on to say this song would speak of the trials, tribulations, suffering and pain that each of us face at different times in different ways.  This was not a Christian song in the least; it was just a secular song.  And yet, this is what he wrote for the first two verses of that song:

I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

                  (“Bad Moon Rising” by John Fogerty)

When John Fogerty looked to the days that were coming, he knew those days would be filled with trouble.  I don’t think John Fogerty knew he was getting his inspiration from 1 Peter.  You see, 1 Peter is telling us today and in our upcoming texts that there is a bad moon rising.  There is trouble coming along the way.  Suffering is going to be part of the life of the people of God.  For Peter’s original audience, suffering had started.  People were beginning to feel the pain of suffering and persecution in their lives but it hadn’t gotten to its fullest extent.  Peter announces, “Get ready because bad days are coming.  Trouble is on its way.”

It doesn’t take us long from reading the newspaper and seeing TV news to know that bad days are coming for the Christian.  We have enjoyed great freedom, prosperity and opportunities, but we need to recognize that suffering for the believer is coming.  As we look at it from a cultural standpoint, we also need to recognize that suffering is a part of our everyday lives.  We need to understand what Peter is saying because in this world there will be suffering and Peter begins to unveil what we can do in our times of suffering.  You see, suffering is something the church must be prepared for.  We have to be ready for it.

One of the chief goals I have as a pastor is to prepare people for the times when they will suffer the most.  I strive to teach people to embrace suffering for the sake of God and His glory so that in our times of suffering, we may live out what Peter says in 1 Peter 4:19.  When the bad times come, the bad news hits us and the difficulties come our way, we need to live out this verse: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”  I pray that when your heart is breaking at its greatest point, you would turn to God and give Him glory and entrust your life by faith because no matter how dark your days may be, God still reigns supreme and truly does work all things out for the good (Romans 8:28).  It is in those moments that I, as your pastor, want us to be ready.

As we live out this ministry of preparing our people for suffering, let’s examine Peter’s passage before us under three headings.  We are going to look at how:

  • Our suffering is inevitable
  • Our situation can be intimidating
  • God’s strategy is impacting

That’s what we want to look at today.  My desire is for us to understand there will be trouble coming along the way.  It may come tomorrow or it may come on some random Tuesday a year or two from now.  We need to be ready for suffering.  When we pattern ourselves behind God’s Word and recognize the place God has amidst our suffering, then we will find joy amidst that suffering.  We will recognize that God is giving us an opportunity to share with the world around us the reason for the hope we have in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).  That is my goal today.  My prayer is that by the Holy Spirit we will be able to see this through. 

1. Our Suffering Is Inevitable

Notice first that our suffering is inevitable.  We’re not going to address everything in our passage today but we’ll come back to it later because it kicks off this whole subject of suffering.  We’ll get to all of it at some point in the upcoming weeks.  In the passage Peter shares six words that should disturb us.  He uses words like harm, suffer, fear, trouble, slander and revile.  These aren’t words that make you smile.  These are words that grip us.  These words cause us to say, “But I don’t want that, Peter.  Why does it have to be that way?”  These words remind us we are going to live in a world that isn’t going to be very nice to us as human beings.  It will be even more difficult for us if we call God our Father in Heaven.

This is seen in many places throughout Scripture.  This truth is seen not only in 1 Peter, but in many passages throughout Scripture.  The issue that suffering is inevitable is seen  throughout Scripture.  In the Old Testament, Job 5:7 says, “but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”  When you start a fire, the sparks go up.  That happens all the time.  You never see sparks going sideways or down.  They’re always going up in a fire.  We need to recognize just as that is a truism with a fire, so is the idea that a man is born to trouble.  In John 16:33, Jesus is spending time with His disciples and giving His last words of comfort, care and instruction in the Upper Room.  Jesus looks to His disciples and says, “In the world you will have tribulation.”  He was telling them—and he tells us today—“There are going to be issues and struggles.  You’re going to cry and mourn.  You’re going to have times of great darkness in your life.  In this world you’re going to have trouble.”

Some of you are currently recognizing this.  Some of you have not had an easy week.  Maybe this last month or year hasn’t been easy.  Jesus was telling the truth: in this world, you and I will have trouble.  Suffering is inevitable.  James 1:2 tells us that as Christians, we are to count our trials as joy.  We are to count them all joy.  Notice though James says we are to do that when we experience trials of many kinds.  So James isn’t saying suffering comes in the same package and in the same ways, as if we can get used to one type of suffering.  Our trials are going to come in various ways.  So right when you think you’ve overtaken one suffering or sorrow in your life, another one comes and it is completely different.  It comes in a way you are totally unprepared for, but James says we need to “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet trials of various kinds.”

Peter tells us we should not be surprised because of the inevitability of this suffering.  Look at 1 Peter 4:12, “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.”  When you get that random medical report with bad news, when divorce papers come your way, when the money runs out or when you learn a loved one has died, in those moments as a Christian you don’t need to wring your hands and say, “Wait a minute!  I was watching the TV and the preacher said that if I follow God and do what He says and give my money to the TV preacher then my life is going to be all great.”  Let me tell you something—that’s garbage!  The Bible tells us we will have trouble in this world; we are going to suffer.  So when you suffer and bad things come to you, don’t sit there and ask, “Why God?  Why is this happening?  This seems out of place.”  No, suffering is going to be commonplace in the life of the believer so Peter says, “Don’t be surprised by it.  It’s going to come.”

So we as a church need to be ready for it.  The truth of what Jesus said in John 16:33 is seen even in Jesus’ own life.  Jesus endured trials and temptation here on earth.  Because of that, I am glad the Bible speaks clearly about suffering.  I’m so glad the Bible doesn’t deal with this issue superficially.  It doesn’t give us some pleasant platitudes or fortune-cookie kind of answer, “Well, when suffering comes, good luck.”

One of the larger books of the Bible—the Book of Job—addresses this issue of suffering squarely.  The books of Jeremiah and Habakkuk tell us how we are to deal with suffering and do so in an honest way.  Habakkuk asks the question, “Why?  Why is suffering happening?  Why do bad things happen to seemingly good people?”  A third of the Psalms—the prayers of the Old Testament—are cries of doubt, disappointment, persecution and pain.  Yet when the New Testament rolls around, suffering is no longer just a place where we find questions like, “Does God care?  Where was God when this happened?  Has God forgotten to be merciful to His people?”  In the New Testament, we see the issue of suffering dealt with in a spirit of joy, confidence and hope.  As Christians, you and I can have joy, confidence and hope in a world of suffering because we’re not overwhelmed by it.  The reason we’re not overwhelmed by it is Jesus Christ.  The New Testament flips the situation from asking these questions to standing secure only because of Him.  Jesus Christ came and lived a life that brought pain and suffering to the Second Person of the Trinity so that He could give His life for us so that you and I may have hope. 

This is seen in the promise that Jesus gives.  As a result of that hope, when suffering comes—even though it is inevitable as Peter lays out before us today—we can recognize that Jesus has shared some promises with us.  Jesus gives us a promise in John 16:33.  He says, “In this world, you’re going to have suffering and trouble.”  I’m so thankful Jesus doesn’t say to His disciples, “Okay guys.  In this world, you’re going to have trouble—so good luck.”  I’m glad He doesn’t say, “, Hey, guys.  It sure is rough out there, isn’t it?  I wish I had a word for you but I have to be honest with you, I’m dealing with some issues right now that I’m not sure how to handle Myself.”  No, Jesus doesn’t say that.

Not only that, but Jesus doesn’t stop after saying, “In this world you’re going to have trouble.”  He goes on in John 16:33 to say, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Aren’t you glad Jesus doesn’t say, “Hey, just look on the bright side”?  Jesus doesn’t just start reciting the song from Annie.  He doesn’t say, “Hey, in this world you’re going to have trouble but take heart:

The sun’ll come out

Tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar

That tomorrow

There’ll be sun!”

         (“The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” from the musical Annie)

Jesus doesn’t tell us to look on the bright side.  He doesn’t say, “There’ll be sun!”  You see, we get the idea that Jesus says, “Everything will be fine.”  No, Jesus says, “In this world you’re going to have trouble.  Suffering is inevitable but take heart; be of good courage.”  Why can we take heart?  I’m so thankful He answers that.  He says, “I have overcome the world.”  Village Bible Church, Jesus is telling us we’re going to suffer but we can be of good courage and be filled with joy.  It’s not because Jesus says, “Don’t worry; be happy!”  He says, “You can have joy, hope and confidence because I reign supreme over suffering.”

So whatever you’re dealing with right now—whatever brings you fear, doubt and concern, whatever trouble is on the horizon for us as believers whether as a body or as individuals—you need to recognize that Jesus reigns supreme over all suffering, trials, temptations and tribulations.  If you don’t get that, you’re in trouble.  The world will beat you up and you’re not going to know why.  But when you get your attention focused and realize that even though suffering is inevitable, God reigns over it, then Peter has a word for you today.

Notice Peter tells us that this suffering inevitably comes.  As a pastor, I want to take a moment and walk through some of the reasons why suffering happens because some of you are going to ask the question, “Why?  Why does suffering take place?”

Suffering comes as a result of sin.  This is clearly seen in the latter part of King David’s life.  While the first part was “a man after God’s own heart,” David really went through a hard time later on, all because of one stroll one evening on his palace roof.  One moment—one look too long, one second look at a woman bathing—began to unveil a whole group of sinful decisions David made (2 Samuel 11:2).  As a result, his family was out of order (2 Samuel 12:10-12).  There was murder; there were sexual issues and struggles within his marriages.  He had a son chasing after him wanting to kill him.  Why did all these things happen?  Because David chose to lust after Bathsheba. 

Some of us are dealing with some real struggles and suffering right now.  You may be asking why and I’m going to tell you to look back over your life.  Is there sin in your life that has caused the unveiling of all these consequences?  Sin can bring forth suffering.  But we need to be really careful when there is a natural disaster and some preachers say people died because of sin.  In some ways, they may be right.  Yes, sin is the basis of all death.  But we need to be careful about pinpointing that disaster and all those deaths on sin.  Let’s not be so quick to make that announcement.

Suffering can happen to bring about sanctification.  God uses trials, tribulations and persecution in our lives to remove things like pride and self-reliance from His children.  He allows such things so our hearts will be growing for Him and His priorities.  Where do we see this in Scripture?  The Bible is clear in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.  In this passage, Paul was honoring and serving God by sharing the good news of the gospel with all who would listen.  Yet he says in these verses that amidst his obedience, “God allowed a messenger of Satan to harass me.”  We don’t know what the messenger was.  Some say it was his blindness and others say it was some kind of demonic force.  Whatever it was, God allowed Paul to suffer so that he could say in that moment of suffering that God’s grace was sufficient and that God’s power was made perfect in his weakness.  The same is true for us when we are in our times of weakness.  So God says to Paul, “I want to teach you some things and grow you.  The only way I can do that is to allow you to suffer.”  Some of us need to understand that God’s grace is sufficient in our weakness.  We need to understand and grow from that but He has to bring us low so that one day He can lift us up.

Suffering comes because we live in an evil society.  Each one of us has no doubt felt the pain that comes with social ostracism—sometimes even a rebuke—from the unbelieving world.  I’ve lost friends because of my stand for Christ.  I’ve not been invited to events and gatherings in my neighborhood because people know I’m a follower of Christ.  It hurts.  You know me—I don’t want to be popular.  That’s not my thing; I’ve matured beyond that.  But I do want to be invited to those things.  I see them hanging out down the street and I want to be there.  That’s suffering for Christ.  It’s not that I’m not invited because they don’t think I’m nice or funny or because they think Amanda is a pain to have around.  Those aren’t the issues.  The issue is they know who we are.  We’ve been open with them and so they say, “The Badals probably aren’t into this thing so we won’t invite them.”  I get it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.  This is suffering.  It may not be heavy suffering, but it’s suffering nonetheless.  We need to recognize that just being part of a society which likes to pursue things—conversation and other things—contrary to God and His Word means at times we’re going to be the odd man.  We’re going to be on the outside.

Suffering comes because of spiritual warfare.  The life of Job is a great example of this.  Something was taking place in the heavenly realms and found its impact in the earthly realm.  The devil came to the throne of God and they had a conversation where Job’s name came up (Job 1:6-12).  The devil took the opportunity—by God’s permission—to wreak havoc in Job’s life and that’s exactly what happened.  Job suffered as a direct result of what God wanted to prove to the devil, which is that even amidst suffering, the people of God will rejoice and praise the name of our Father in Heaven.  Maybe you’re suffering today because of something that is outside of this world.  Maybe the devil sought to wreak havoc in your life and God has given him permission to do so.  Suffering can happen because of spiritual warfare.

Suffering comes because of “the secret reasons.”  There are other issues but we have a limited amount of time so I call these “the secret reasons.”  It’s hard to know sometimes why we suffer.  Sometimes things happen that just don’t make any sense.  Yesterday afternoon, my family went to a funeral for the 15-month-old little brother of one of Luke’s preschool friends.  He died suddenly.  He was a healthy little boy but got sick with flu-like symptoms and in the matter of a day was dead.  When you walk by a little casket with a beautiful little 15-month-old boy, it makes you ask, “Why?”  If you go to a pastor and ask, “What in the world happened?  Tell me why something like this happens?” and he is able to give you all the answers in the world, then he went to seminary too long because there is not an answer for that.  We don’t know.  So what a good pastor does when that kind of stuff happens is hug people, love them and remind them, “I don’t get it either, but God does all things well.  He has a plan.  It doesn’t make sense right now and there might be a myriad of reasons why, but we will never know until we get to glory.  What we do know is that God is working all things out for the good” (Romans 8:28).  We will love you and remind you of the promises of God.  While there may be mourning in the evening, there will be laughter in the morning (Psalm 30:5).  So take heart; Jesus has overcome the world.

God is supreme, brothers and sisters.  God is sovereign over all suffering and persecution.  So Peter says in 1 Peter 3:13, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”  Why would you suffer if you do what is right?  There is a two-prong focus in this statement.  Peter is saying a truism—a proverb.  He is saying that generally speaking, if you serve those around you well, honor God and serve Him well as a citizen, employee, spouse, neighbor and friend, then there’s a good chance no harm will come to you.  As you serve God well by doing good in the world around you—no matter how evil it is—one of God’s common graces is that it is highly unlikely for someone to come and take a pound of flesh out of you.  We don’t hear very often that people are wronged.  It’s usually out of the ordinary for someone who is doing good to have suffering come because of it.  So we need to understand that one way we can protect ourselves from undue suffering in our lives is to be zealous for what is good.  Serve people well.

The flip side of that truism is that if you’re a pain in the rear, then you are going to invite upon yourself some real suffering in this world.  So Peter says, “If you don’t want that extra suffering or undue stress?  Then live according to God’s Word and live well amongst the people around you as strangers in a strange land” (2 Peter 2:11-12).

Peter doesn’t promise that doing good will cause us to escape suffering though.  He says in verse 14, “even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake…”  In other words, he is saying, “Just because it’s a proverb or truism that if you do right and treat people well they’ll treat you in kind, that doesn’t mean there won’t be times when you suffer for doing good.”  Notice what he says in verse 13, “Who is going to harm you?”

Now I have to mention Stephen from Acts 7.  Talk about a man who was a zealot for doing good!  He dedicated his life as a deacon to the service of the body of Christ.  He was serving people.  One of his early jobs was to be a servant to the Hellenistic widows by serving food and ensuring they were cared for (Acts 6:1-7).  This was an upstanding man.  He was preaching Christ to his neighbors and the other people in his sphere of living.  What did they do in response?  They started stoning him.  What did he do in that moment?  He didn’t yell or scream at them.  He looked to the heavens and said, “Father forgive them” (Acts 7:60).  You can’t get any better than this.  But what did he get for his good deeds?  He got a death sentence.

So if we were to take Peter’s words and apply them to Stephen, Peter would have said something like, “Hey Stephen, who is going to harm you?”  Wait a minute!  The man was losing his life.  Peter is reminding us in this passage that no matter the hardship or struggles which come our way, the worst thing the world can do is kill you.  Let that sink for a moment.  Let’s bring some theology into this question of “Who is going to harm you?”  In other words, what can man do to us in the long run?  That is the question Scripture asks us.  The answer is, “They can kill you.”  That’s the bottom line because once they kill you, it’s not as if they can do anything else.  They might kill us for preaching the gospel and then try to mock us.  Well, who cares?  We’re dead. 

So let’s bring a theology to this.  Peter says, “Stephen, the worst thing that can happen is  you can be stoned to death.”  And then Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:8 remind him, “Stephen, when you’re absent from the body, you’re present with the Lord.”  This sounds like a win-win situation to me.  Does it to you?  But we don’t look at it that way and as a result, we start living in fear.

2. Our Situation Can Be Intimidating

Notice what Peter says about our situation.  He says in verse 14, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.”  In verse 14, Peter says, “I don’t want you to fear.”  Why would he say that?  He knows what it is like to be in an intimidating situation.  Peter remembers when the men came to the garden on the day of Jesus’ arrest and took hold of Christ (Matthew 26:47-56).  He remembers the fear he had when the Romans came.  Peter even had enough gumption to pick up his sword and start swinging it.  But after that when things really got hairy for them, Peter and the other disciples ran for their lives.  So he recognizes what we as the people of God need to understand—in our world there will be trouble and trouble is a scary thing.  So Peter says, “Hey, I don’t want you to do the same thing.” 

When Peter says, “Have no fear…” the word fear (phobeō) literally means phobia.  He is saying, “Have no phobos of them, nor be troubled.”  The text is literally saying, “Do not fear the fear of them.”  Don’t be troubled by what man can do to you.  Again, the worst they can do is kill you.  If they kill you, then you’re with the Lord—praise the Lord.

I had an opportunity a week and a half ago to speak at our local high school for an awards banquet.  Anytime you go into an opportunity like that, in some ways you go into a hostile crowd.  It’s a public school.  You know what they say, “You can’t say anything about Jesus.”  Well, they invited the wrong person.  But the devil was really beating me up beforehand.  It was a tough first part of the week with a lot of things going on.  In my former high school—the public school in my town—I was given the opportunity to proclaim the gospel from the podium.  I don’t know if they knew exactly what that invitation meant, but that was how I interpreted it.  The Lord gave me a message that I was confident would be a blessing to those who were listening.  But when I was eating the meal at the banquet, someone whispered to me, “Hey, that teacher over there is not a fan of Christianity.  In fact, she fights it whenever she can.”  I have to be honest with you—fear gripped my heart.  I began thinking about the “what ifs.”  I thought, “Should I change my statement here?  Should I rephrase this?  Is there a more generic way of stating that?”  The devil started wreaking havoc in my life.

Then God said as I was sitting there, “What is your problem, Badal?  You are the biggest wimp I know.  My goodness, you’re six feet and four inches tall [I won’t say how much I weigh].  You’re bald and have a goatee.  What more do you need in a body stature?  You’re fearful?  Are you kidding Me?”  In the quietness of that moment, He said, “What are they going to do to you?  Are they going to throw things at you?  You can take it.  Are they going to mock you?  Are they going to get up and be angry?  [That happens a lot at church.]  What are they going to do?  You’re here for a reason.  I didn’t bring you here just to talk about the weather.  I brought you here to talk about the change Christ has made in your life.  You’re going to do it.”

What happens in the American church today?  We are fearful about proclaiming the reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15).  Why?  We live in a country that gives great freedoms.  Do you know people who are incarcerated because of the gospel?  If so, it’s a pretty small number.  Those people usually make the front-page news.  Are people being pulled out of their homes and being beaten for the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Do you know of a Christian right now here in America who has been put to death for the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Again, we have many people in this room and it may be happening, but it’s happening in such a small way.  Yet we are struck with fear about proclaiming the gospel.

Now I know there are some of you who find yourselves in difficult circumstances with regards to proclaiming the gospel in your workplace.  I work for myself in catering and I work for you in church.  I don’t have to worry about persecution in either place.  But let me also tell you, I have shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with more customers than I can count.  I have a fear that they will say, “Hey, get that garbage out of here.  I’m not going to use your services.”  I recognize what it means to live in a hostile world.  Yet you know what we as Christians do?  We hesitate to proclaim the reason for the hope we have.  Why?  They’re not even going to kill us.  We just might not sit at the popular kids’ table at lunch tomorrow.  Get over it.  God has given us a message and an opportunity so we need to share it.  When suffering comes—when you get some flak from your boss, teachers or friends—give it to God.  You say, “God, You’re supreme.  You’re going to have to figure this out.  I stayed true to what You said.  I gave the reason for the hope I have.  I did so with gentleness and respect.  You’re going to have to take care of the rest.”  I will tell you, when we become a church that does that, watch out!

That’s what the church of Acts was all about and that’s when they saw miracles.  They were put in prison but were also released from prison (Acts 16:25-40).  In the Old Testament, Daniel was put in the lions’ den to be devoured but the lions stayed silent and didn’t eat him (Daniel 6:21-22).  We don’t give God the opportunity to do miracles in our lives because we’re not taking steps of faith.  We’re like the kid at the zoo who hears the roar of the lion and goes running with no idea that the lion is behind chained fences and protective glass.  The devil is out there roaring and making noise and we’re struck with fear.  God says, “Don’t you know?  The devil is in my cage.  I’m the One in charge.  So do what I’ve called you to do.”

Where does this fear and intimidation come from?  Again, I want to be practical with this.  I want you to walk away with some real understanding today.  FEAR comes from:

  • Focusing on our circumstances instead of Christ.
  • Embracing comfort over character.
  • Allowing for chaos instead of pursuing calm.
  • Relying on self instead of the Spirit.

FEAR comes from FOCUSING on our circumstances instead of Christ.  Remember the time when the disciples were out in the boat (Matthew 14:22-33).  Jesus told them, “Go and I’ll meet you on the other side.”  Then midway through the night, He came out to them, walking on the water.  Peter said, “Man, I want to be part of that.  That looks really cool, Jesus!  That’s water skiing without skis or a boat.”  So Peter said, “Jesus, just tell me I can come out and I’ll come out with you.”  Jesus did so Peter went out and was walking on the water with Jesus.  What a glorious time that must have been for Peter!  Every time he took a step it was just another assurance that God was greater than the waves and wind.  But notice in Matthew 14:30 that Peter’s attention left Jesus and went to the circumstances around him.  It says that he was filled with fear.  He was greatly frightened because he began to look at the waves and wind around him.

Some of you are struck with fear because you’re looking at the waves and wind—the circumstances around you— in your suffering and trials instead of putting your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of your faith.  What happened when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves?  He became afraid and then he failed.  Some of us are looking at our circumstances instead of looking at Christ.  Notice in Matthew 14 that the wind and waves didn’t change; Peter’s perspective changed.  Some of you are so focused on your circumstances that you are sinking.  Here’s the great word for you if you find yourself sinking and suffering today—Jesus is the One Who pulls us out.

FEAR comes from EMBRACING comfort over character.  Another thing that paralyzes our faith is fear over the loss of things.  We worry about what we’re going to lose.  The disciples ran because they didn’t want to lose their comfort or their place in society.  They didn’t want to lose their lives.  So they went running away from a growth opportunity to stand with Christ and show their allegiance to Him.  They ran because it was more comfortable to be not known as a follower of Jesus.  Peter was following Jesus from a distance with people asking him, “Aren’t you Peter?  Aren’t you a follower of that Jesus?”  He said, “No, you’ve got it all wrong!”  Why did Peter do that?  He wanted to be comfortable.  Why is it that we don’t say anything when Jesus’ name comes up?  When someone uses God’s name in vain, why don’t we stop it and say, “Hey, don’t do that.  That’s my Savior.”  We don’t say that because we want to be comfortable.

Instead of pursuing comfort, Christ and Peter remind us that it’s all about character.  Maybe God wants to use some suffering to help us grow.  Many of us are not mature in Christ because when God brings trials and troubles into our lives, we go into preservation mode.  We start worrying about our stuff.  “What about my money, house, family, standing in the company, popularity in the school and friends in the neighborhood?  I need to be sure I keep these things so let’s deal with that first.  Let’s grab those up and then let’s try to figure out a way to proclaim Christ.”  We want to make sure we have all our ducks in a row and everything that’s important to us is safe.  So we come out like this Chicken Soup for the Soul garbage.  I hope that doesn’t offend you—I’ve never read it, but it sounds like it’s chicken soup.  Just fluff and random thoughts that aren’t achieving anything.  We need to be careful of that.

I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I’ve had worrying about the comfortable things in my life.  “What happens if the church, my business or my family goes through this or that?”  I never ask the question, “Lord, are You doing something in these suffering moments?  Are You allowing these trials so I will grow in perseverance, character and hope?”   You see, we’re in preservation mode instead of what I call elevation mode. 

When suffering comes, we should look at the life of Joseph in Genesis.  He had one trial and one persecution after another.  His brothers almost put him to death, then put him in a pit and sold him to a group of traders (37:18-28).  Then he went and was elevated in Potiphar’s house (39:1-6).  Just when things were going well, Potiphar’s wife accused him of raping her and he was thrown into prison (39:11-20).  He started interpreting dreams and people said, “We’ll remember you,” and year after year he was left in prison (40:1-23).

Notice how God used suffering in Joseph’s life for the same reason He uses suffering in ours.  Why did Joseph have to suffer at the hands of his brothers?  Because God said, “I have a place for you in Egypt and if your brothers don’t cause this hard suffering in your life, you’ll never get handed off to some Ishmaelite traders to be in Egypt.”  Then He said, “Now I need to position you and get you closer to Pharaoh so I need to kick you out of Potiphar’s house.  You’re going to do some suffering now because I need to get you into the prison because that is the way I’m going to get you into Pharaoh’s household.”  Joseph’s suffering took him from one step to the next.  Have you realized brothers and sisters that God might be using suffering in your life today because He has something greater in store for you?  Have you thought, “Maybe God is going to take me somewhere through this suffering that’s going to allow for something greater?”

FEAR comes from ALLOWING chaos instead of pursuing calm.  What led the disciples and Peter to run?  They had failed at an earlier command.  Do you want to suffer without reason?  Then just take on suffering when it comes with no thought in mind.  Let the chaos ensue.  Some of you right now are living life, all is good, everything is fine and when that message of trouble or suffering comes, you’re unprepared for it.  Peter and the disciples were unprepared even though Jesus had warned them.  Earlier that night He had said, “In this world you’re going to have trouble” (John 16:33).  When they got to the garden, He said, “I want you to watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41).  Jesus knew the bad moon was rising.  He knew trouble was on the way.  Jesus said to His disciples and to us today, “You’d better watch and pray.”  If they had been watching and praying, their response would have been very different.  They would have brought God great glory.  Instead, they brought themselves shame.

Peter is announcing to us that God uses suffering in the days to come.  One of my favorite movies is Apollo 13.  Chaos is reigning in the NASA room when the line we all know so well was spoken, “Houston we have a problem.”  One NASA director says, “This could be the worst disaster NASA's ever faced.”  Another man replied, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”  Do you look at suffering for righteousness’ sake as Peter says in verse 14, as an opportunity for Jesus to shine brighter and purer?  Do you look at suffering as an opportunity for Jesus to show Himself utterly faithful?  Or do you see suffering as a time of calamity and chaos?  In John 16:33, Jesus tells us, “You’re going to have trouble, but take heart.  Be of good courage.  I am the Victory.  I am the King so there is nothing to fear.”

FEAR comes from RELYING on self instead of the Spirit.  The final thing fear produces is a reliance on self instead of the Spirit.  In our passage, Peter has gone through his most shameful times and now he is going to share his experience with us in this passage to come.  He is telling us as followers of Jesus Christ, we have a choice.  We can either run away in fear or rely on the Spirit.  That’s what Peter does—he relies on the Spirit for the days ahead.

When Peter wrote this passage, he was relying on the Spirit.  We see that because of a situation in Acts 12:1-5.  James—the brother of John and a friend of Peter—was killed at the hands of Herod.  At the time of this passage, Herod’s men were out looking for Peter.  He was being hunted down—that’s persecution!  They hunted him down, grabbed him and threw him into prison.  Does the Bible say Peter just sat there wringing his hands, asking, “Why God?  Why would you allow this?”  No, the Bible says he prayed.  We’re told that the church prayed, too.  In Acts 12:6-17, in the middle of the night with guards right next to him, Peter was poked in his side by an angel.  In that moment when things seemed hopeless, God made the impossible possible.  The angel opened the door, took away Peter’s chains and led him out to a house where the people were praying at that very moment for Peter’s release.  God was glorified, the people of God were encouraged and strengthened and Peter recognized it was, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).  We just need to let go of self and let Jesus do the work.

This is what Martin Luther meant when he penned the words of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”  You’ve sung them, but listen to what they say:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His [the devil’s] craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

         (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Martin Luther)

Amen!  When we take God at His Word and live in light of that, Peter’s words about suffering will change our perspective. 

3.  God’s Strategy Is Impacting

There is one final thing for today, but we will address these truths again in the weeks to come.  To what are we called?  It is tempting for us to say, “Okay, suffering is going to come.  We’re going to suffer for what is good.  We’re not to have fear.  So that means we endure hardship like a good soldier and just wait for glory.”  No, that’s not what Peter says.  Peter reminds us that in the darkest of times, Christ is going to shine brightest in you (Philippians 2:14-18).  Amidst your suffering, you’re going to have an opportunity to reach the world like you never have before.

I don’t just take Peter’s word for this but I take it from an example of people just like you.  When I was 14-years-old, my parents were just regular church-going people like yourself—working hard, going to church and serving the Lord.  Then they lost their oldest son.  I don’t think I’ve ever shared this part of the story.  My mom was at home when the police came to tell her that Chris had died.  She then called my dad at work.  My family lives in Hinckley and five miles down the road is Waterman where my dad was.  My mom said, “Bill, you have to come home.  Chris isn’t where we thought he was.  He’s been in a car accident.  He’s dead.”  My dad said, “Okay, I’m coming home.”  As he finished up whatever business was at the store and got in the car, the shock of all that was weighing down on him.  He reminds us of this truth often.  He says, “When I was driving home, I couldn’t even see what was before me.  My tears were overwhelming.”  He was asking, “God, how could you do this?  This is my son.  This is the boy I’ve raised from a little boy.  This is my first boy.  God, why?”  Tears overwhelmed him.  Midway between Waterman and Hinckley—somewhere in that five-mile span—God said, “Bill, pull the car over.  Pull it together, Bill.  You’re my son.  I told you in this world you’re going to have trouble.”  My dad said in that moment, God reinforced this truth.  God said, “Bill, in your darkest hour, I shine brightest.  So get the hope that is there.  Rely on Me.  Trust Me.”  My dad said from that moment, the suffering still hurt but then he saw the purpose for Chris’ death.

We went to the hospital to identify Chris’ body and then came back home.  I remember being in my bedroom around 11:00 a.m.  We heard that the senior and junior classes of our high school—about 150 students—were down the street sobbing and suffering with one another together.  They had lost their friend and classmate.  These students heard that our family had made it back home, had left their houses and had come to our front yard.  It was a beautiful September morning.  My father wasn’t a pastor; he was an immigrant with an 8th grade education who had just lost his son.  I marvel at how this man could do what he did next.  There were 150 students in front of our house and my dad said from our porch, “The Badal family does not grieve as the world does who has no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  Let me tell you about the hope we have in Jesus.”  He shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness with all of my brother’s classmates—and all of mine.  Kids came to know Christ that day.  In our darkest hour, Christ shines brightest.

“But…”  Notice what Peter says.  He uses this word “but” in our passage.  He says, “But—do you want that?  Do you want to be impactful in your time of suffering?  Then you have to set Christ up and honor Him as Lord.”  We’ll get into this later, but let me just give you these points.  If you want to suffer rightly, it’s going to involve three things:

This strategy involves a Spirit-filled dedication.  When you are suffering, you have to say, “This is bad but Christ is greater.  This hurts but Christ is more glorious.  When I am low, Christ is raised up.  In my moments of suffering, it is Christ Who is most glorious.  It is Christ Who receives more praise and honor.”  The singular worst day of the Badal family’s history has been the greatest tool of growth in our lives.  I’m here today because of September 17, 1990.  God says, “Do you want to know what it means to suffer on purpose?  Then raise Christ up high because when you do, you’re going to change lives.”

This strategy involves a Scripture-based affirmation.  So you’re in hardship.  How does this spell out?  When you suffer, people are going to watch how you’re suffering.  Are you pointing your finger at God and shaking your fist at Him or are you humbly receiving the suffering as an opportunity to shine brightly?  If the latter, then the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 that people are going to come and ask you the question, “How in the world can you have hope?”  Then you start talking.  This all leads to what I call a Scripture-based affirmation.  You give them the reason.  “Here’s the reason I have hope.  His name is Jesus.  The reason I can endure hardship is because My Savior endured hardship for me.  Because of that, now I have fellowship with God (1 John 1:3), I have peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and I know that God works all things out for the good and that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8).”  Don’t you think the world is going to take notice of that?  Don’t you think the world’s going to say, “That’s a lot different than what I hear from Oprah.  Tell me a little bit more”?  This is where we become salt and light in a world of darkness (Matthew 5:13-16).  When they see us endure hardship and struggles, we take the Word to them and say, “Let me tell you about Jesus.  Let me give you the reason for the hope I have.”

This strategy involves a sanctified application.  Telling them the reason for our hope will then lead to what I call the sanctified application.  Whether in times of plenty or in want, the thrust of what Peter is saying is not, “Go and find an evangelism tool that gives you a step-by-step process.”  He is saying, “In this world, you are going to have trouble.  When you find trouble and hurt, put those times in your filing cabinet.”  Be reminded of your times of trouble and raise Christ high.  Say, “Christ, in this time of greatest sorrow I’m going to lift You high and make You the most glorious in my life.”  Then when people ask how you’re doing it, you take out those files and say, “This is what I do.”

Why do I use stories of my life?  I do so because I take the suffering and trials of my life and say, “Let me tell you how glorious Jesus is.”  The stories impact you—why?  Because we are all going through struggles.  We need encouragement from one another that Jesus is truly overcoming the world and has done so through the cross.  So we share with each other.  What does that lead us to do, whether in suffering or in want?  Notice what Peter says back in verse 13, “[be] zealous for what is good.”  Are you having a good week?  Praise God—do good.  Are things going well in your marriage?  Praise God—do good.  Is your family in order?  Praise God—keep doing good.  Obey and serve God and serve your fellow man.

On the flip side, what happens when the marriage falls apart or the kids run away?  What happens when the mortgage payment goes unpaid?  What happens when you find out you have cancer?  What happens when you lose a loved one?  What happens when you experience an immense amount of pain?  Peter tells us you do good and raise Jesus high.  It is when we suffer in that way that the Bible says, “Get ready because you’re going to have an opportunity to give a reason for the hope you have.”  Do it with gentleness and respect.  When you do that and suffer well, God is glorified (1 Peter 3:15-16).

I want to be part of a church that glorifies God.  Don’t you?  I want to be part of a set of believers who recognize that suffering is coming and we’re ready for it because we’re ready to use the opportunity to share Christ with a lost world.  I pray that you are ready for that as well. 

Let’s pray.

Father God, I’ve shared my heart today.  I pray my heart hasn’t gotten in the way of Your Word.  There’s a lot more we’ll see from this text in the days to come.  We didn’t deal with focusing on different words and different phrases as much today as we usually do.  I pray though that this opportunity to speak about the issue of suffering and our preparedness for that suffering has strengthened our understanding that in this world we’re going to have trouble, but we can take heart that You have overcome the world.  I pray that would prepare our hearts for this week.  We don’t know what a day might bring, so we need to be prepared.  It’s been a while since we’ve lost a loved one and had to suffer through that loss.  It’s been a long time since I remember hearing of someone losing their job because they stood up for their faith, but those times are coming.  It’s been a while since we’ve heard of someone walking away from the faith and bringing great harm to the world around his or her loved ones.  It doesn’t happen very often but it’s going to in greater numbers in the days to come.

Lord, I pray that we as a church are ready.  I pray we would not seek comfort but rather character.  I pray we would pursue Your Word instead of the wonders of this world.  I pray we would be ready in the darkest hour to speak loudest and proclaim with greater authority the hope that we have.  I pray we’re ready for suffering.  Equip us for it.  Make us watchful and prayerful because the hour of our testing is drawing near (Matthew 26:41).  Lord, I pray that in that hour we might be bold and effective.  I pray we will recognize that while the suffering may hurt for a season, the greater result of our faith—which is worth more than gold and precious stones (1 Peter 1:7)—may be seen as genuine and valuable in Your sight.  So Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit.  Direct us.  Lead us out into this world of suffering ready to do what is good so that You might be brought glory.  We love You, Jesus.  We thank You for overcoming the world on our behalf.  Now let us live in light of that we pray.  Amen.