Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Here's the part. When you are suffering, Trust. God. Patiently endure suffering and hardship.
Even, particularly when it's undeserved. That's what Peter is saying. Welcome to The Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. Life has a way of blindsiding us. One moment, everything seems perfect, and then suddenly it's all upside down.
Today, John returns to 1 Peter and deals with a difficult biblical truth. Followers of Christ are called to suffer. But why? And how should we respond? Here's Pastor John Monroe, picking back up in 1 Peter 2, verse 18.
With this lesson, called the sufferer. One of the most common questions of the human race is why. Why did this happen? Why me? Why should I have to suffer when others who don't even believe in God seem to live much easier and more prosperous lives?
This is one of the most difficult questions there is. And who has not asked it? As a pastor, I hear it frequently. Today we're returning to our study of 1 Peter. where suffering is one of the themes.
Peter is writing to Christians in the first century who knew firsthand about suffering. Because of their faith, they have been scattered from their homes. They're living in a hostile society. They knew about suffering in a way few of us know. We will learn today and next time that God calls us to suffer.
What will be your response? A friend of mine married a very committed Christian woman. They were madly in love, idyllically happy. on Valentine's Day, six months exactly. From the date they were married, he was sailing a small boat by himself, who was a seasoned sailor from the Shetland Islands, that's in the north of Scotland.
to the Orkney Islands. A very difficult sea crossing at the best of times. And a tremendous storm came. And my friend Ian. was drowned at sea.
For Edna, his widow, life which had been so wonderful. dramatically changed in the moment they were in their late. Third is first marriage. Predna has Wedo. Life was devastating.
In six months from the from attending their wedding. I was standing in a very bleak Cemetery in the Shetland Islands. At the open grave with a weeping widow. In that tradition, the casket, the coffin is slowly lowered into the grave with the pallbearers of which I was one. And we looked at that casket of Ian.
as the earth was put on it and we stood there. in the rain and wind until the whole grave was filled. Fredna The way of life which had been ecstatically exhilarating, now tasted so bitter. Her life would never be the same. Jennifer remarried.
and profound suffering had Blown into her life. We could multiply, couldn't we, examples of family members, friends, acquaintances committed to the cause of Jesus Christ who have experienced. That life is a veil of tears. Christians who have tasted life, which was so pleasant, so brilliantly exciting, as it were, so sweet.
Now tastes The bitterness. of life. Many of you have tasted that suffering. that veil of tears, that pain. The bitter taste of life.
Question is: How do we, as followers of Jesus Christ, respond to such suffering? in our lives. And there's suffering of another kind. How do you respond? when you're criticised and slandered.
How do you respond when you're treated badly and unfairly? When you feel that the suffering that you're experiencing is unjust, it's uncalled for, it's very unfair.
Well, today in our study of 1 Peter We will seek an answer to some of these questions. We'll think of suffering in the context of unjust suffering. And then I want to say a few comments as we conclude about suffering in general.
So let's open our Bibles.
So first Peter chapter two. And we're going to read from verses 18 through 21. If you're new to Calvary, let me explain. We are going through 1 Peter consecutively. We believe that God speaks to us in His Word.
And we're reading These important verses here in First Peter. Chapter 1, verse 18. Servants Be subject to your master with all respect. not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing.
When, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is there when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure. But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing. In the sight of God. For to this you have been called.
Because Christ also Suffered for you. leaving you an example so that you might follow in his Steps. Speeder is saying were called to suffer patiently. We are to submit, we are to be subject to that authority, even when it is unjustly. Last week, we thought as we looked at verses thirteen through seventeen, We saw that we are to submit.
in the secular society to the powers that there be. Today, Peter is dealing with submission in the workplace and then. From chapter three, the first seven verses, he deals with submission. In the home. He's telling us to be submissive.
He's telling us here particularly to be respectful to our employers. The Christian Employee is not to be a rebel, it's not to be a complainer, a whiner, an agitator, but to be submissive, to be respectful. I ask you, are you respectful to your boss? A work. Be respectful.
students to your teachers You're respectful to your Coach? Respectful to your supervisor. And we know there are two kinds of employers, two kinds of supervisors. Peter says in verse 18: There are the ones which are good and gentle. We like them.
And then there are employers, there are supervisors, there's people above us, as it were, who are unjust. But notice, Peter just gives one exhortation in verse eighteen. Be subject. to your masters with all respect. That's sometimes difficult, isn't it?
Don't take advantage of the employer who's good and gentle. and be submissive, be respectful. Even when you have an unjust, unfair employer, supervisor, or boss. There are. Peter's telling us In that context, masters, there are employers, supervisors, bosses who are perverse, who are unjust, who are harsh.
And severe. But notice what he says. In verse 18, he uses the word servants. This is a Greek word for a household servant, who, in fact, in that context were generally slaves. They work to the home.
They didn't work for a wage. And even they, they are told not to rebel, not to revolt, but rather, verse 18: be subject to your masters with all. Respect. Even when My boss is unjust, unreasonable and harsh. I am to be subject to him or her with all respects.
Some employers, as I say, are unfair, they're demanding, they may be verbally abusive.
However hard you work, however diligent you are, you can never please them. You're still to be subject. To them. In God's grace, I've always had good bosses.
Some of them are very demanding. but they were always fair. But our responsibility Peter is telling us to be submissive and respectful. And that attitude is not dependent on whether you have a good boss or not. You have to be respectful.
To them. God is pleased. when his people respond with hearts of submission. Patience. and un endurance in unjust circumstances.
You don't always agree with your boss. You think you know better than your supervisor, and that may well be true. But notice what? Peter says in verse 19. He says, This is a gracious thing.
He uses the Greek word, kara is great. It's a gracious thing when mindful of God. Are you mindful of God at work? Remember When you go to work tomorrow or later today, when you walk into That store, that bank, that office, that hospital, wherever you are, remember you are a Christian. Act like a Christian.
Not just here on Sunday, but when you go to the place of work, even when it is a difficult place, particularly when it's a difficult place, remember you are a Christian. Yes, sometimes we suffer because we deserve it. But we are patiently to endure suffering.
Well, it's unjust. And that Pleases. Got. That's our goal in life, isn't it? To please God, to bring glory to God.
And such patient submission in difficult circumstances is a demonstration of our trust in God. and our dependence On him. Did you notice verse twenty-one? For to this So there's suffering. To this you have been Cold.
That is called by God. We are chapter 1 verse 15. We are called to holiness, as he who called you is holy. You also be wholly in all your conduct. Chapter 2.
A verse 9. Peter tells us, we are called out of darkness. into his marvelous light. As a Christian, I'm called to live a holy life. I'm called out of darkness into Uh lights.
Chapter three, verse nine, do not repay evil for evil. Reviling for reviling. But on the contrary, bless. For to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. I'm called When someone curses me, when someone does me evil, I'm called by God to bless them.
not to repay evil for evil. Chapter five, verse ten. After you have Suffered a little. While the God of all grace, who has called you To His eternal glory in Christ will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Notice Peter dealing with God's call.
As a Christian, you're called to be holy. You're called out of darkness to light. You're called. To give a blessing to people who are evil. And the wonder of God's grace, our future.
We are called. to the eternal glory in Christ. But back to our passage. 1 Peter 2 verse 21. For to this that is suffering, You have been called.
Is he going to say in chapter 4, verse 12? Don't be surprised. As a Christian When you suffer. You think because you're a follower of Christ, life is always going to be easy? You really think that?
You always think you're going to be with people who are affirming to you, who encourage you, who are gracious to you? No, that is being naive, and there is persecution. There are people who reject us. People who insult us because we're followers of Christ and we are to be. respectful To that.
Now let's look at suffering in a more general way. Because suffering comes not just through harsh and in reasonable employers. Anyone have ours, employer? Anyone have a difficult boss? I found in life that most of us think we're the difficult boss.
I don't, of course, because my boss are the elders and they're always wonderful. But some of you don't have that privilege. I remember Uh when I was a law student one summer I got a job uh as a school teacher. And uh In those ancient days, there was a staff room for the male teachers and a staff room for the female. I had a very high view of teachers as a calling.
I went into that staff room and I was amazed. how they started criticizing the headmaster. Or it was a woman, the principal. And that's common, isn't it? criticizing The boss.
criticizing the supervisor. Don't do that. Be respectful. You know, I always agree, that's true. You may be smarter than your boss.
That may be true. But be humble. Be respectful. That's what God wants. And what a testimony.
to the world.
Now when we think of suffering in a more general way. We have to say this, and I have found this truth. of great comfort. And this kept me going, as it were. that God is sovereign over our suffering.
It is true, God has the power to eliminate our suffering, whatever suffering you have. He is sovereign. And he is all-powerful. He can exchange the bitter for sweet. The psalmist says, Whatever the Lord pleases, he does.
Psalm 135, verse 6. That's our peripheral God. Whatever he pleases, he does. He's sovereign. He's utterly in control of everything.
Not only is he sovereign, he's all-powerful. Nothing is impossible with God. God can change your circumstances in a split second. He can remove your suffering. He's all-powerful.
Never doubt God's ability and power to accomplish anything. He's sovereign. And you can pray that the bitter things of your life Maybe sweet. But often God chooses not to eliminate the suffering. Yes, He's all-powerful, He can do that.
Pray that he does that, whatever your suffering is, but God may choose not to eliminate the suffering. Not all suffering, not all pain in this life are eliminated. Our choir sang a beautiful song. coming from this Passage if you look down. To verse 24, the last verse says, By his wounds you have been.
Hills.
Okay. There some say this means That God is going to heal all of your wounds, all of your pain.
Well, we repudiate that false Version of so-called Christianity, which promotes that Christians who are sick. Christians who lose their jobs, Christians who otherwise suffer, are spiritually weak and ungodly. It's thoroughly unbiblical to say that all suffering which Christians experience can be eliminated if you just believe, if you just have enough faith. If you confess sin. If you bind the devil.
If you speak in tongues, you can experience this wonderful. It's wonderful. Healing. from his wounds. Can I say to you very strongly, don't imbibe Don't drink of the poi of the poisonous waters of the prosperity gospel, which is becoming more and more prominent, which teaches that the more faith you have, the more material comfort you will enjoy.
All sickness is a result of the fall. That is true. But it doesn't mean that every time you are sick Or something bad happens in your life, it's because of a specific sin which you have committed. That is very, very important. Many people have been devastated.
I've met with them, devastated. Because of some suffering and pain in their life, and they've been told: if you have enough faith, If you confess sin, If you bind the devil, you'll get rid of it. Go back in your Bible to John. An important lesson here in the subject, John chapter nine. And the first three verses.
John chapter 9, here's a Incident in the life of the Lord. As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, Who sent this man or his parents that he was born blind? They thought As we're taught by some of the rabbis, That this was a result of sin. Either the man himself had sinned or his parents had sinned.
Who was it? Notice the wonderful response of Jesus, verse 3. It was not that this man sinned. Or his parents. You get that?
But that the works of God might be displayed in him. Do you ever think of you suffering like that? Not because of some specific sin in your life. It's true, we all sin. But the sickness is not because you have sinned.
but is an opportunity for you to display the glory of God. And of course the man. is healed. I remember In the first church I pastored, I went to visit this couple who had started attending. And I had a bit of a cold as I went in, nothing serious I thought.
And the man said, John, I'm going to pray with you. I said, that's fine. And he said, We're going to rebuke the cold. and get rid of it. And you'll be fine.
Well, I'm Scottish, which is means we're very sceptical. By nature? Also, I know my Bible. And I thought, no, you don't rebuke. A cold, but he did.
And next day it was worse.
So uh No, you don't rebuke a heart attack. You don't rebuke cancer or bronchitis. or an ingrown toenail, you don't do that. By his wounds. You have been healed.
That's not what it means. Jesus bore our sickness, it's true, in the sense that he died for the sin that causes sickness. Jesus heals The suffering at the very root. the primary context of Isaiah 53. Which Peter is quoting and referring to is the spiritual and eternal impact of sin, not the physical and immediate.
Problem. There is healing in the atonement. But the full consummation of that healing is yet future. It's not always immediate. God can, of course.
Cure anything you have in a split second, and you pray for that. I know. But think of this. Perfect health. It's promised.
In heaven, not now. One day We who follow Christ are going to see Christ. And all of her illnesses All of your pain. All of your tears are going to end. That's in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21.
It's not going to be marvelous. You got some aches and pains. Life has been hard. There's tears. The so all of that.
Is gone.
Sorrow and sighing will flee away. There'll be neither grief nor crying nor pain to cast a shadow over the eternal day. That's heaven. That's where we're going. And in verse 24, when Peter says, by his wounds you have been healed.
He's using a picture. To show that sin wounds us, we're sick. We need a doctor. We have been wounded by sin. Spiritual, not physical, healing is in view.
Forgiveness of sin, not physical healing. And think of the wonder of this: that our Savior came. Yes, we're wounded. We're spiritually sick. Unless Christ comes into our life, we're going to die and die forever.
We'll experience eternal death, and our Lord Jesus Christ comes, our beautiful Savior. dies for our sins, is buried and rises again, and He, as we trust in Him, one day will totally change us, and all of our sickness, all of our pain, all of our tears will forever be gone. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and the beginning of a challenging but essential message titled Call to Suffer. We'll hear the conclusion tomorrow. But first, let me share an important resource with you.
The reality of suffering raises profound questions about God's purposes in our eternal future. To help address these deeper theological questions, we'd like to send you John's comprehensive guide titled For the Time is Near. This insightful booklet shares lessons from Revelation, offering biblical answers about God's ultimate plan for history, the reality of judgment, and the hope of heaven. When we understand God's eternal perspective, it transforms how we view our present challenges. Request your free copy by visiting the verdict.
org. John's straightforward teaching about suffering resonates because it acknowledges life's harsh realities while pointing us to biblical truth. Through your support of the verdict, you help bring this kind of authentic, scripture-based encouragement to others facing their darkest moments. Your financial partnership enables these messages to reach people worldwide who desperately need to know they're not alone in their pain. Would you consider making a gift today to help sustain this vital ministry?
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And now, here's Pastor John Monroe with closing remarks for today's lesson.
Well, what's your verdict? Reflect on the suffering in your life. How have you handled it? Do you have good examples of those who have suffered and endured whom you can learn from? While we may feel isolated in our suffering, we're not alone.
I'm thinking particularly of unjust suffering. We must learn to suffer with patience. and in all things to trust our great God who is sovereign over everything.
So, here is a way for us to shine as followers of Jesus Christ. In suffering, don't complain. But trust God. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
