Freshbrook Church Podcast | 28Jun26 | Living Hope | John Cullis

Good morning everybody.

So as uh Dave just said, we're reading from 1 Peter 4, and I'm beginning at verse 12.

And the headline there is Suffering for Being a Christian.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on to you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal or even as a meddler.

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed.

Praise God that you bear that name.

For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household.

And if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Last I heard she was having a major surgery, so great to see you again, Chris.

God bless.

And for the um announcement about the orchestra, I went to hear them six weeks ago, and six weeks ago, was it?

Or Bravey?

Those two, Mike was on his trumpet, Liza's on a violent on it.

It's great, they're a really good orchestra.

So if you like good music, I'd encourage you to come next Saturday.

Anyway, I'm John, one of the elders here.

I'm preaching to you on the passage we just read.

Now I.

Peter was one of only two people who ever walked on water to my recollection.

Definitely in scripture.

I don't know if anyone.

Does anyone else know of any other occasion when anyone actually walked on water?

So that is quite something.

And I was thinking about that day.

But he went home after that event.

So we had this great day.

We had these thousands and thousands of people gathered, and they were really hungry.

And Jesus said, Feed them to us disciples, and we said, Where's the food going to come from?

And Jesus said, What have you got?

And there was an Andrew came up, one of my fellow disciples, and he said, Well, there's a guy here, that lad here, he's got five loaves and two fishes, but there's five thousand men and plus women and children.

How's that gonna work?

So Jesus said, Let them sit down in company.

So he sat them down, and that we broke that bread and those fish and fed five thousand men and women and children, with those few bits of bread and fish.

And then Jesus told us, sent the crowd away, and told us to go to the other side on our boat.

We're good at the boat bit.

We've been fishermen for a long time, so we got in the boats and we were on our way to the other side, and it's a really stormy night, so we're rowing and trying to keep the sail up and not to get it in tatters.

And then getting near morning, the light's just starting to come over the horizon, and we see what looks like a ghost coming towards us on the water from the way we just come, and we're absolutely terrified.

It's never happened to any of us before, as it's never happened to any of you I presume either.

We were absolutely terrified, and then a voice says, It is I.

Don't be afraid.

And what?

So I said, Lord, if it's you, bid me come to walk to you on the water, and Jesus said, Come.

So I got out of the boat, me, and I walked on the water towards Jesus.

And as long as I kept my eyes on him, I was on the top of the water walking.

But then I took my eyes off him and saw these waves, huge waves, and I started to sink.

And Jesus took me by the hand.

We went into the boat.

I bet your day wasn't anything like that, but that was my day.

What an amazing guy.

And he was the first, he was, whenever there was anything to say, he was the first up to say it.

Um ended up being a spokesperson for the early church sometimes when they somebody needed to say something.

He was a great preacher as well.

What a guy Peter is.

And now we're talking, looking at his letter, his first letter to the churches scattered around probably what we think of as Turkey in the area around Turkey.

And last week, Graham, who as we know isn't here today, he's preaching somewhere else, was preaching about from the previous passage about suffering for God's glory.

Sorry, about serving for God's glory, and finish with a strong encouragement to us to think differently, to live differently and to serve differently.

So from last week, if you don't remember, think differently, live differently, and serve differently.

That's what you encouraged us to do.

The section this week, which was read to us earlier, about suffering for God's glory, or suffering just for being a Christian.

Jesus warned his disciples in the Last Supper, which you probably remember in John chapter 5, verse 20, you remember what I told you.

John 5:20

A servant is not greater than his master.

If they persecuted me, which they did, they will persecute you also.

In fact, from the even from the Beatitudes which we've um shared and preached about a while ago, Matthew 5, verse 10 to 12, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10–12

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, because in this manner they also persecuted the prophets who were before you.

So if you're worried about your bank account in heaven, don't be so worried about your bank account on earth, but if you're worried about your bank account in heaven and bad things happen to you and you're persecuted, that is good.

Tid-dink in heaven.

Remember that.

With this background, let's look at this passage we have before us today.

Dear friends or beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

So that beloved gives us another section in this letter that Paul's right that Peter's writing.

Starts a new section.

Don't be surprised.

It's not strange.

Christians then, followers of Christ then, followers of Christ throughout the ages, and followers of Christ now suffer.

Just because they follow Jesus.

Why rejoice?

But rejoice in as much as you are partakers of the suffering of Christ.

Why rejoice?

Because we participate in Christ's suffering.

The apostles in the early church were arrested for preaching about Jesus.

They were put in prison.

That night, an angel came and rescued them, got them out, and told them to go back and preach.

So they went back and preached.

They were that standing up in the courts and in Jerusalem preaching.

When they went to bring them before the council the next day, they went into the prison.

Nothing was different, apart from there was no apostles there.

They'd be all been rescued.

So they arrested them again, brought them before the council, second attempt.

And then, what on earth do we do with these people?

So they had a big discussion, and Gamaliel spoke, and they beat them, had let them go, and commanded them.

And when they had called the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

And daily in the temples and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus.

The second thing we need to do is to be joyful, because when Jesus returns, you'll definitely be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

So rejoice now, be joyful.

Now Peter talks following the talks about in verse 14.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Now Peter talks about what we might consider small suffering.

Many of us might have suffered insults and abuse at work.

Just because behold the name of Jesus.

Our pastor David led this service.

He talked in the past about the insults and harassment he got in the forces just because he was a Christian.

I'm sure that many others here can testify of similar things.

Just because they're Christians and they follow Jesus Christ.

Some people in this country have been arrested recently just because they're Christians and they do what God tells them to do, just by preaching in the open, just by silently praying new an abortion clinic, you're going to be arrested.

And they might not be able to catch you with anything and actually put you in prison for anything, but just because you're there, they'll arrest you.

So it's not always easy just in this country to be a Christian either.

From Open Doors a Christian organization who advocate for persecuted Christians around the world, they produce each year a world watch list which tells you about the persecution trends.

They say that 338 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith.

That's one in seven Christians worldwide.

One in five in Africa, two in five in Asia.

So nearly 5,000 Christians are killed for their faith each year now.

Nearly 5,000 are detained, and 3,500 of those in Nigeria.

So it's huge numbers of people, Christians, followers of Jesus, like us, who go to churches, who fellowship, are killed.

That's the ones they know about.

There'll be many others they don't know about.

But the scriptures we're looking at this morning say when this happens, you are blessed for the spirit of glory and the spirit of God rests on you.

What does this mean?

What does this look like?

In the early church, they let a deacon loose whose name was Stephen.

So if we've got any deacons called Stephen, we need to watch out.

Full of faith and power, and great wonders and miracles and wisdom were the marks of his ministry.

He became so unpopular about with other people because they couldn't out-argue him, they dragged him before the council.

False charges were laid against him, like against Jesus, and it could have been the same council that Jesus was led before as well.

And it said that all that sat in the council looked steadfastly at him and saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

What did they see?

Maybe they saw a shining face like that of Moses when he went before God.

They couldn't even have a veil over his face so people could look at him.

Holding the radiance and glory of God.

So in chapter 7 of Acts, it talks about Stephen answering his critics.

He talks, it starts in Abraham and he goes through and through and through to Moses, then David.

And then it says in verse 52 of chapter 7 of Acts, was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?

This is talking to the leaders of Israel, the religious leaders of Israel.

Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?

They even killed those who predicted the coming of the righteous one.

And now you have betrayed and murdered him.

Those 72 people betrayed and murdered him.

You can imagine they'd have been very excited about hearing that.

You who have received the law that was given to you through angels but have not obeyed it.

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

Then in verse 55, but he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

They shouldn't have been surprised.

Because in Daniel chapter 7 it says, I saw in my night in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and king to the ancient of days.

Daniel 7 · chapter mention

And they brought him before him.

And there was given to him dominion.

Dominion and glory and a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom which shall not be destroyed.

Those 72 people would have all known that scripture.

They all knew the Son of Man was going to be taken before the Almighty God.

So when he saw it, they say, Well, why are you seeing it and not I seeing it?

But they shouldn't have been surprised by what he saw.

No wonder his face was like the face of an angel.

The Son of Man Jesus was standing at the right hand of God in honor of his servant Stephen, who was being persecuted because he proclaimed Christ as the Son of God.

Just like it says in Daniel.

Wow, what a guy.

So watch out for Stephen's.

Even in Psalms it says, rulers persecute me without cause.

Then it goes on to say, it doesn't talk about that, it goes on to say, I tremble at your word.

So the emphasis is on God, not on what's happening around you.

In fact, Jesus says in Luke chapter 6, Woe when men speak well of you.

Luke 6 · chapter mention

So if you're Christian in the world and people think, wow, that's a great guy, maybe you're not telling enough people about Jesus.

They'll soon change their tact.

If you're thinking things are pretty nice, well, tell them about Jesus.

Tell them about tell them about Jesus crucified, and he's coming back again to judge the world.

Going back to verse 14.

Speaking evil of Christ.

But you are getting the glory.

Paul changes the subject in verse 15.

Don't suffer for doing wrong things.

Murder, thefts, other types of criminal behavior.

And even as a meddler, I found the literal translation of this, and it says, an inspector into other men's matters.

Doesn't that sound good?

An inspector into other men's matters.

I couldn't forget that, and I couldn't not tell you.

That's really good.

Even that were the other things.

Remember, these people weren't just anybody's, they weren't good guys, they were just normal people who'd been saved by the grace of God.

Saved from whatever situation they'd been in, mostly probably poor people, many of them may have been slaves, thieves, murderers.

Maybe some of them would have been those things.

So Peter's saying this the people he knew would have been like that.

It wasn't a surprise to them to hear these things.

Now they follow God, who says no to such things.

Don't do it anymore.

Don't suffer because of these things.

If you suffer because of those things, it's your jolly fault.

And you don't give glory to you, you don't get any glory for it, and God, Jesus definitely does not get any glory for those things.

But do remember that you might have false charges laid against you, or they they have to have false charges laid against them for things they'd never done, just to get them in trouble, just because they were believers, and that can happen to them, and it could happen to us.

So just remember that.

It says in verse 16 if you suffer as a follower of Christ, you do two things.

Don't be ashamed and give glory in that name, or suffer in such a way to bring honor and not disrepute to Jesus or God.

Suffer in such a way as to not bring disrepute to God.

And the text from a few weeks ago, we've been going through 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 14 and 15.

1 Peter 3:14

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.

Let me read that again.

But even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed.

Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is within you, that is in you.

But do this with gentleness and respect.

So to add to the don't be ashamed and give glory to God in your suffering, we add the following.

In your hearts honour Christ, the Lord is holy, and be ready to gently give an answer for the hope that is in you.

Verse 17 moves on to judgment.

Judgment for the Christians.

What does this mean?

Eternal life is secured for those who've been who are Christians.

There are rewards for God's followers who have who have, for example, given up or suffered wrong for his kingdom.

Great is your reward in heaven, from the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus also says to his disciples in other places, if you've given up father, mother, other things for my name, you'll get your rewards in heaven.

So there's rewards.

For those who are not Christians, though, who do not obey the good news or gospel of God, the ungodly and sinners, what is their judgment of God?

It's terrifying.

It's the same as for the deafening and his angels, the lake of fire.

So if you don't know God, you have two options, two roads to walk on.

A road of suffering, which may be suffering, which may not be, or the road which could be okay, but in the end leads to destruction.

So you're your choice.

Time for trials has come, he says, Peter says.

For believers, those trials are light in comparison with the judgment for those who are wicked.

And then Peter wraps up this section about suffering in one verse, verse 19.

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.

So for those who suffer according to God's will, commit themselves, their souls, the innermost parts of them, to their faithful Creator.

It is more important for you that your soul is right before God and your body is healthy.

Did you know that?

One day you're going to die anyway, and your body's going to stop working.

But what happens to you?

It depends on what's in your soul, what you've done in your soul in this life.

1 Timothy 4.8 says, for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both now, for this present life, and the life to come.

And the third thing, sorry, the second thing, continue to do good.

So for those who suffer according to God's will, commit themselves to God and continue to do good, even to those who persecute you.

So to sum up, then don't be surprised if you or others suffer because they are Christians.

Just because you're Christians, it's power for the course.

It's normal Christian life.

Be like those in the early church.

They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus.

They said, Hallelujah, I've suffered.

They'd just been beaten, hallelujah.

Um, Paul and Silas in the stocks.

Was it Paul and Silas in the stocks?

They were beaten and they were rejoicing.

So much that the whole prison shook.

Commit yourselves to Jesus and continue to do good, even to those who mistreat you.

And I'll add a fourth one.

Pray for and support persecuted Christians here and around the world.

As we heard earlier, we're going to have a chance to pray for them soon.

In the week of prayer, haven't we, Liz?

Remember that.

Let's pray.

Father, this is a tough subject for us as Christians in a country where we're not generally persecuted.

Some of us may have been.

Father, help us to stand.

Help us to be have the courage to proclaim Jesus crucified and Jesus coming back again.

Help us to stand when people insult us and say all manner of bad things against us just because we follow you.

Help us to keep following you so we get persecuted for doing right and not wrong.

Help us to be faithful followers.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.