sermon: Suffering With Christ?

(Preached June 1, 2014 at  Brook Hill United Methodist Church, Frederick, MD)

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 (The Message) 

     Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

     If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others…

     So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

     Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

The theme of suffering runs through this first letter of Peter. The Greek words meaning “suffer” and “suffering” are used at least 15 times in this epistle.

We don’t need to look far to see suffering in this world. We’ve had a window into the life of the Sanders family during Dale’s long illness. It was beautiful this week to see him graduate (via Skype) from Tuscarora High School with high honors. His sister Claudia accepted his diploma for him, and Dale as able to see it live.

This week we also celebrated the home-going of our friend John Ferguson.

And Jenn Kendro sent me a link to a blog-post by Mindy Sauer. Mindy’s 5-year-old son Ben left this earth 50 days ago after a long illness. In her blog Mindy wrote: “…heaven makes all the difference… Because we serve a Living God who loves us even more than we can imagine, we can have confidence in His ability to care for our loved ones after they take their last breath. Because of heaven, I know that I will be reunited with my Benjamin again someday…” It’s a powerful story of faith and hope in spite of loss.

About 90 days ago, 276 girls were kidnapped from a secondary school in Borno State, Nigeria. The kidnappers were Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist organization based in northeast Nigeria. These girls (from Christian families) are being forced into Islam and into marriage with members of Boko Haram, with a reputed "bride price" of $12.50 each. This horrible event is a kind of persecution of Christian families.

And the main thrust of Peter’s letter seems to be encouragement for Christians who were going through persecution because they were followers of Jesus. These Nigerian girls and their families are suffering.

About a year ago, 27-year-old Matthew Warren committed suicide after years of mental illness. He was the son of Rick and Kay Warren, and (as many of you know) Rick Warren is pastor of Saddleback Church, one of America’s largest. He is the author of The Purpose-Driven Life.

After a 16-week sabbatical, Rick and Kay Warren returned to the pulpit with a sermon series called “How to Get Through What You’re Going Through.”  I highly recommend this sermon series, which you can watch online at the Saddleback Church website.One family (out of millions) struggling with grief. Suffering, but prevailing.

To get the flavor of what Peter says about suffering, let’s read these three verses together:

“…you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith… may be proved genuine.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

 “…do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ…”

(1 Peter 4:12-13)

“Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9)

The time will come in your life (if it hasn’t already) when you will suffer. The question is: Will your suffering be wasted on you, or will you learn something from it?

One of the things that Rick and Kay Warren learned in the aftermath of their son’s suicide was: “Life doesn’t make sense, but we can have peace because we know God is with us and loves us.”

I’m no expert on suffering, and I hope not to become one, but I’d like to quickly share with you four principles that will help us put suffering into context.

Principle 1: Suffering is a spiritual refining process. (4:13 – The Message)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 – The Message)

As we think about this process of spiritual refining, Colleen Street shares with us this quote: "Never be ashamed of the scars that life has left you. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed. You endured the pain and GOD has healed you!”

And Shirley Pritchard says: “Going through a test means you will have a testimony.”

When you have gone through a devastating experience, you have tremendous authority to encourage others who are going through similar suffering.

Principle 2: When Christians suffer, we participate in the sufferings of Christ.

“we are in the very thick of what Christ experienced.” (4:13 – The Message)

Jesus suffered before us, and we should not be surprised that, in following Him, there will be trials and tests and suffering.

Principle 3: In your suffering, come to God again and again, throwing your worries on Him.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (5:7 – NIV)

In this context Dottie Winter encourages us to remind ourselves of the 23rd Psalm – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…”

Principle 4: Glory is just around the corner. (4:13 – The Message)

The day is coming when God will set everything right. The Bible says that the heavens and earth will be consumed with fire, and God will usher in a new heaven and earth, where we will live without aches and pains, and we will be beautiful and immortal.

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Last Wednesday night (after Restaurant Night at Lakeside Pizzeria) I was physically exhausted.

By 7:30 I was in bed with my eyes closed, when I heard a loud, firm knock on the front door. Then again. And again. I pulled my pants on and went down to open the door.

It was my friend Chuck, who with his wife Carlene had attended Faithpoint United Methodist Church when I worked there.

About a year ago, Carlene was in labor, ready to give birth to their second child, when something went horribly wrong, and Carlene died in childbirth at the age of 32.

Chuck was left with two small children and a boatload of grief. He is still dealing with grief at a profound level.

Connie and I sat and talked with him, and I was struck by one of the things he said: “I would never have wished for this to happen, but my faith in Jesus Christ is so much stronger, going through what I’ve gone through.”

Some of my agnostic and atheist friends would roll their eyes at this statement, but many Christians will nod their heads and say a loud “Amen.”

Thank You, Lord, that you are with us in our suffering. Thank You for Your promise never to leave us or forsake us, but that You are an ever-present help in trouble. Strengthen us as we go through sufferings, and grant that our faith will be strengthened as we go through the trials of life.