Get Up and Grow: Suffering

Thanks, Ken. We're doing things slightly differently because Steve is sick this morning,

so I'm stepping in and I'm going to step out to go to the Mandarin to preach. So it's a

very interesting day for our church, I think. We've been looking at the sermon series, Get

Up and Grow, and particularly from the letter that Peter wrote to the churches in Asia. And

today's topic is growing in suffering, I think, which predicates a relationship between growth,

Christian growth, spiritual growth, and suffering. I wonder whether you've thought about what

that relationship might be. Is it growing by suffering? That is, you grow as a Christian

if you suffer. Or is it growing in suffering? Suffering is to context the sphere in which

growth is to take place. So slightly different, maybe is that. Or growing despite of suffering?

Could be that. Well, Peter certainly was concerned about growing. That's why he wrote this letter.

And the context in which he was writing was suffering. But not any suffering, not suffering

in general, not suffering because of sickness, ill health, economic downturn, because you've got a

grating personality, not because of that you're a thief, murderer, or someone who can't keep his or her

nose out of other people's business. Not suffering because of blown tires, a leaking roof, difficult

children, tsunamis, flooding, nuclear disasters, none of that. The context in which Peter was writing is

suffering as suffering as Christians, for being Christians, and always Christian suffering. Very specific

context. Christian growth and Christian suffering. For you and I need to know that there is a great cost.

There's a great cost in being followers of the one who suffers, who has suffered.

And as a corollary, there is a great cost in growing as a follower of the suffered one.

Growing and suffering. I just want to point out five things. Two things is to do with our thinking,

and three things to follow is to do with our conduct. Come with me back to 1 Peter chapter 4,

1 Peter 4:1

verse 1, to see what Peter has to say about growing and suffering. So 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 1.

1 Peter 4:1

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude,

because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. So the first thing that Peter wants us to

know is that in our facing of suffering is that we should have the same mindset, the same attitude as Jesus.

And it has to do with the changing of our minds, particularly about two things, which I will

draw out for you. The first thing, the first mindset that we are to adopt is that death ends sin.

Death ends sin. At this point, I have to say I'm not a big fan of the NIV at this point, for there are two

translations which doesn't really quite bring out what I think Peter's trying to say. Firstly, the word

suffer. Suffer could mean suffering, going through stuff. But in the context, when he talks about Jesus,

is talking about the suffering of death. And you can see that back in chapter 3,

verse 18. If you can flip to it, chapter 3, verse 18, which I can't do on my iPad. Anyway,

it is great stuff. Suffer, you know.

He talks about how Jesus died once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous. And the word that

he used is actually suffer. Jesus suffer once for all. And in the context, he's actually talking about

death. It's the suffering of death. But more importantly, NIV translates to a word, a phrase,

that there is suffering in the body. He died in the body, which is an unfortunate translation,

because it makes it sound like the contrast is between a physical suffering and a spiritual

sort of whatever it is. So suffering in the body, raised by the spirit. That's how 3.18 is translated.

And here, he says, Jesus suffered in the body. So in the same way, I'd have the same attitude.

See, I don't think that's the right contrast. The contrast isn't between

the physical and the non-physical, you know, body and spirit. But rather, the contrast,

the real contrast is between flesh. That's the word that is used, the word sucks,

which is otherwise translated as flesh or sinful nature in Romans. The contrast is between flesh

and spirit. The contrast is between two worlds. The world of flesh,

this world, this age, which is a very physical world, but at the same time, a very non-physical

world, this world, and the world of the spirit, which is also a very physical world. But that

talks about the world that is to come, the age that is to come. For 3.18 talks about the resurrection

of Jesus. It's not a non-physical resurrection, but rather, it is a resurrection that's brought

about by the spirit. The hand of the work of the spirit is in it. Jesus rose in the spirit,

for that is the age to come. That is the world that is to come. There are two worlds. It is in these two

worlds that we exist. What Peter is saying in chapter 4, verse 1 to 3, is that when you become a

Christian, you are dead to this world, which is kind of like a funny idea because you and I are still

walking around in this world. What he's saying is that because you are united with Jesus, you are dead

to the world of flesh. And if you're dead to the world of flesh, you are dead to sin. How can you sin

if you're dead? You know, temptation, if you're dead, you are, on the other hand, alive to God.

You are alive to the world that is to come. For the spirit has come upon you, has made you alive.

You belong to the next world even now. And this is the attitude that you are to have,

that you are dead to the world of flesh and alive to the world of the spirit. That is why you suffer.

For, in verse 2, have a look at that, there is a conundrum, a problem. As a result, he, that is anyone,

does not live the rest of his earthly life, his life in the flesh, for evil human desires,

for passions of the flesh, but rather for the will of God. You see, there's a problem for Christians.

We are dead to the world of flesh, but we are still living in the world of flesh.

This is where the conflict, the dilemma, the war, the struggle comes. This world keeps pulling us,

making us want to settle, become citizens of this world. And Peter says, resist it. You no longer

belong to this world because you died in the flesh. So, so stop living like as if you belong to this world.

Have this attitude, have this mindset. The time has passed for you to be living for this world,

to have his value. Put all the things of this world, his values, his priorities, his ambitions,

all behind you. Be done with it. You don't live like people of this world, verse 13. That's why

they find it strange. For in the rest of your time here, in the flesh, you are to live for the spirit

world to do God's will. That is what he's saying. This is the mindset. So, it's a little bit like

migration. Anyone comes from overseas here? Yeah, I did. Josh did. And a couple of other people.

If you migrated, he's kind of saying, don't keep trying to go back. It's not like other sort of

migration. So, imagine if you come from a crazy place like North America or Europe or France or something

like that, you've learned to drive on the wrong side of the road. So, when you come to Sydney, Australia,

put that behind you. Don't drive on the wrong side of the road. Don't drink Canadian beer.

Don't watch hockey. Just change to cricket or something. You know, the tension is, you know,

when you get into that car, you keep wanting to go to the wrong side of the road. And Peter says,

no, come to the right side. Don't do that anymore. Put that behind you. You've moved to a new place.

Live like people of that place. You see, this is the Christian difference. Not that we've got a new

set of rules. Christian ethics is applying applicable to everyone. That's not what makes us different.

It's not because we try harder. We live differently because we are dead. This is why we live differently.

We are dead. And we are born again. We've been made alive again. That's what Peter says in chapter one.

We are new people. We are born again. We've been created, recreated into new people. We have new lives.

This is why the world doesn't understand you. So, this is the first mindset that we need to adopt,

that we are dead to this world and alive to the age that is to come. The second mindset is in chapter

four, verse five. Well, let's start reading from verse four.

They think it's strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation,

and they can hit abuse on you. But they will have to give an account to him who's ready to judge the

living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,

so that they might not judge according to man in regard to the flesh, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Note, this is the changing attitude. Verse seven. The end of all things is near.

The end of all things is near. This is what we need to do to live differently.

We are to realize, to think, to put ourselves in the position of people who know that the end is,

you know, when the end is near, it really focuses your attention.

So, assuming that you're one of the poor people who lived in Japan in the last two weeks,

imagine you're living right on the path of the tsunami,

and you are told that you've got ten minutes before the tsunami comes and takes you and your family away.

What would you do

knowing that?

Would you go to your bookshelf and say,

this is the time for me to read James Joyce.

I've never managed to finish Ulysses, and I'm going to do it now.

Or, gee, you know, I've always wanted to work on my golf swing.

So, I'm going to...

Or, there's something I left at the office I need to do, so I'm going to call them up to fix this up.

Or, you know, this tsunami thing is going to ruin the garden,

so I'm going to start arranging for a landscape.

No!

You've got ten minutes before the tsunami comes and takes you away.

What are you going to do?

You run.

You will run for your life,

and you will take your family with you to safety.

When you know that the end is near,

your mind focuses on things that are important.

The people of this age, of this world,

are ignorant.

They are ignorant of the end.

They are ignorant of the nearness of the end.

That is why they are wasting

the remaining time that they have

on their petty ambition

and on their hobbies.

Imagine when the flood of judgment comes

and they're found to have the best shell collection in the world.

They'll be washed away

when the judgment of God comes.

People of the next world,

people of the spirit,

are to have a different mindset.

We know that the end is nigh.

That is why we live differently.

We know that we are dead

to the world of flesh,

alive to the world of the spirit.

We know that the end is coming

very, very soon.

I won't go through verses 12 to 19.

We don't have time.

But essentially,

it's saying that,

in saying that God begins his judgment

with the household,

his own household,

it means that

what we experience in suffering

is what the world will experience,

but how much more?

See, this is saying

when Christians suffer,

it's not a sign that we are weak

or that our God is weak

and he cannot protect us from suffering.

This is saying that God is strong

and he will bring about his judgment,

the end,

the accounting,

and we can tell that

because we as Christians suffer first.

Purification comes with us

and because we experience purification,

the world will experience it

in a much greater way.

The end will come

and our suffering and purification

guarantees it.

Well, what are we to do

if we are dead to this world

and that the end will come?

Are we to lock ourselves away

in a monastery?

Are we to vote the Christian Democrats

so that they can go into government

so that, you know,

maybe not in New South Wales

because it's too sinful,

we can go and take over Tasmania?

You know,

we'll create a little Christendom

in Tasmania,

bringing our own laws

so that we can live there.

Is that what it means

that the end is near?

What does Peter say?

Well, there are three things.

Come back to chapter 4, verse 7.

He says,

The end of all things is near.

Therefore,

be clear-minded and self-control

so that you can vote.

No.

What does it say?

Sober-minded,

so that you have the right sort of thinking,

focus,

so that you can

pray.

That's what it means

for people who are dead

to this world

and who knows that the end

is near.

We are people who pray.

We're prayerful people.

Verse 19 says

a similar sort of thing.

We are to commit ourselves

into the hands

of our Creator.

He is faithful.

He will bring about

righteousness

and justice

and our vindication.

That's what He will do.

That's what the Lord's prayer

is about.

Remember the first two lines.

Our Father in Heaven

is all about

the bringing of

the nearness

of the end,

isn't it?

And the same in Luke 18.

You know,

the parable of the widow

and the unjust judge.

You know,

it's persisting in prayer.

And Jesus ends that parable

with saying,

however,

when the Son of Man comes,

will He find

faith on earth?

What does He expect to see

of His people

when He returns?

Faithfulness.

Faith.

Trust in the one

who can save.

Prayerfulness.

We need to be

clean-minded and sober

so that we can focus

our mind

on praying.

That is what we do.

But what else

do we do?

Are we to evangelize?

Is that what we do?

Is that what Peter says?

Verse 8.

Have a look at it.

What do we do?

We love.

I don't know

whether you expect this.

This is what we do

because the end is near.

Because we don't belong

to the world flesh.

We love each other deeply

because love covers

a multitude of sin.

What does it mean to love?

He goes on to expand

on this.

We are not to,

you know,

we don't love

like the world.

The people of this age,

they love as well too.

But what do they love?

They love themselves.

That's what 2 Timothy says.

People will become lovers

on this earth.

The people of this age,

of the flesh,

they take and they take

and they take.

They come to church

and they take and they take

and they take.

But Christians,

people who live

belonging to the next world,

they are people,

we are people who give.

That's what love is.

We give and we give

and we give until we can't give

and then we give some more.

This is why we love

one another deeply.

This is what it means

to be living

in the light of the end,

in the world of the spirit.

Love means,

verse 8,

forgiveness.

Love covers a multitude of sin.

That's a quote from

Proverbs 10,

10-12.

Hatred stirs up dissension,

but love covers over all wrongs.

That's what love does.

It forgives.

It overlooks.

It does not keep an account.

The reality is,

in this world of sin,

of flesh,

there will be great suffering

and injustice.

Love forgives the hurt

caused by sin and suffering.

But love also does another thing.

Verse 9,

what does love do?

Have a look.

You tell me.

Hospitality.

Ungrumbling,

joyful,

grateful hospitality.

Hospitality.

Hospitality,

the Greek word for hospitality

is philosanos,

philosanos.

Zanos,

as in xenophobic,

is a fear of strangers.

Philo,

as in Philadelphia,

is love of strangers.

That's what hospitality is.

It's not entertainment.

It's loving people

who are not one of us.

You can see why

it doesn't have to be done

just at home.

You know,

it's not just entertainment.

Hospitality is when you invite people

out for a cup of coffee,

maybe,

or accept their invitation

to have a cup of coffee.

Hospitality can happen

even on Sunday mornings.

How?

By us being,

Deb,

welcoming.

That's what welcoming

is about, isn't it?

It's about hospitality.

We love people

who are not one of us.

Churches that are not welcoming

has no love for the strangers.

They live in a world of flesh.

They don't know

that the end is near.

We are different.

We have a different mindset.

We love strangers.

We, you know,

hospitality can,

doesn't have to be,

you know,

it can be exercised

right here this morning

as we stay

and talk to people.

And, I mean,

we can be hospitable

at a social convention.

It's easy to do that.

But Peter says,

do it without grumbling.

Don't complain.

But do it with joy

and thankfulness.

So,

forgiving,

loving,

hospitable,

what else?

Verses 10 to 11a.

How else

is love

express,

expresses itself

in the last days?

In,

that's right,

in a working bee.

Oh,

shameless plug there.

In teaching scripture.

In tidying up

after everybody else leaves.

Isn't that what

love expresses?

So, you know,

each of us

are actually gifted

by God in some way.

Our resources,

experience,

abilities.

The people of this age

who don't know that end,

they use this stuff

for themselves

to make their lives easier,

to get recognition,

to feel good.

But the people

of the world to come,

the world of the spirit,

we use what we have

for the service

of other people.

And it can be done

whether in words

or in deeds.

If we are to use it

in words,

we are to speak

as if we're speaking

the very words of God,

which could mean

in what we say,

that is not just our opinion,

but the words of God,

or in the manner

in which we say our words.

For when God speaks,

how does he speak?

He speaks truthfully.

He does not slander.

He does not grumble.

He doesn't complain.

He doesn't lie.

He doesn't gossip.

When he speaks,

his words can be trusted.

He's dependable.

He has pure words.

He has loving words.

That is how our words

are to be

as we serve one another,

but also in deeds.

If we serve,

Peter says,

we are to serve

with the strength of God.

In other words,

whatever God

has asked you to do,

he will pay the bills.

He will not assign you,

he will not call you

to do something

that he's not prepared

to equip you for.

If you think

that your body is spent,

you're too weak,

you're too young,

you're too old,

you're too stupid,

whatever it is,

do you really trust

that God will pick up

the tap for you

when you serve?

And the intention

of all this,

verses 11b,

verse 11b,

there's evangelism,

isn't it?

It's so that,

you know,

when people see

how forgiving I am,

is it so that people

will say,

gee,

isn't Brian such

a wonderful human being?

No.

When we have this

sort of mindset,

when we love one another,

when we minister

to one another,

when we welcome

one another,

it is so that

people can say,

you know,

I know St. Paul's,

I know these people,

but you know what?

Jesus has made a big difference

to this church,

in these people's lives,

so that Jesus

might be glorified.

See,

as we wait

for the nearest

of the end,

this is what we are to do,

in words and in deeds.

Christian growth,

Christian suffering.

If you're a Christian,

if you're living

as a Christian,

you will suffer.

There is no question

of that.

In other parts

of the world,

the suffering comes

in the form of violence

and deprivation.

I think in our context

is less of that,

but rather,

our trial,

our testing,

comes in the form

of seduction.

That is our temptation.

That is our trial

in the West,

in Sydney,

in Chesford.

Our trial,

our testing,

comes in the form

of abundance,

not the lack of.

This will come to us.

How will we grow

in this suffering?

In the face of abundance

and seduction,

we are not to live

as this world,

the world of flesh.

We are to count ourselves

as dead to the world,

but alive to God

in Christ,

made alive by his spirit.

We are people

who are deeply aware

that the tsunami

is coming in 10 minutes.

So we give up

our petty ambitions

for us and our children

and we do things

that are important.

What are the things

that are important?

We pray,

we love,

and we serve one another.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

So we are

God's every single

May could

exhale without

つtezings.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.