Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Many of you have tasted suffering. Question is, how do we respond to such suffering in our lives? How do you respond when you're treated badly and unfairly? When you feel that the suffering that you're experienced is uncalled for, it's very unfair.
Well today, in our study of 1 Peter, we will seek an answer to some of these questions. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last time, we returned to our study of 1 Peter, dealing with the difficult reality that Christians are called to suffer. Today, we'll remember the hope that sustains us through life's darkest seasons, the unshakable truth that God is sovereign over our suffering and works all things together for our good. Here's Pastor Jean Monroe.
Called to suffer. Suffering is not a popular topic. but we've been learning from the Apostle Peter that Christians are not only to suffer whether to suffer patiently We can understand when we suffer as a result of our own foolish or sinful choices. but it's much more difficult to submit when we're treated unfairly. Peter is explaining that submission is a lifestyle for the Christian.
we are to be submissive to those over us in government. and in the workplace, even when we're treated badly. we are to respond in a way which honours God. Today we're looking at suffering in a more general way. and understanding that we have a sovereign God.
And we are to trust Him in all of the circumstances of life, particularly when we're suffering. For speeder. Chapter one, verse eighteen 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. Peter 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.
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? 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. God is sovereign over our suffering. It is true, God has the power to eliminate our suffering, whatever suffering you have. 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. If you look down in there. To verse twenty-four, the last verse says, by his wounds. You have been Hills.
There some say this means That God is going to heal all of your wounds, all of your pain. No.
Well, we repudiate that false version of so-called Christianity. 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. Yeah. 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.
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 sen 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. Meantime. All suffering is not eliminated. during this life. Paul had a thorn in the flesh.
We don't know what it was.
Something it was eyesight. Timothy had his stomach problems. Paul leaves Trophimus sick In my leaders. You read about it at the end of Second Timothy? And many of you.
experience suffering. right now. Here's the point. When you are suffering Trust. God.
I wouldn't need to do that. You see, God is sovereign. And he is working out his eternal purposes in your life and mine. Our perspective is so limited, isn't it? Do you think God is panicking over your suffering?
For God, there's no surprises. There's no insuperable obstacles. Things are not out of control. God is in control. Listen again.
To the well-known verse of Romans 8. Hear it afresh. We know. Paul has said, There are things in life we don't know. We don't know why suffering comes.
People ask me why did this happen and why Would God allow this and I say I don't know. I don't know. But this I do know. We know That for those who love God. All things.
Work together. For good. For those who are called, there's her word again, called according to his purpose. As the people of God, we are called. And we know this.
That we love God. And that all things work together for good because God is at work in our lives. Isn't that wonderful to know? God has purposes. that we know nothing about.
Sometimes we look back and we see how God worked. And an amazing situation. And God has led us, and God has guided us, and God has prevented us from doing something crazy, and that He has been with us, and often we see that as we look back. But right now At this very moment, understand this. My suffering brother or sister.
that Gods Is at work. And God has purposes in your life and mine that we know nothing about. We look Maybe a day or two ahead, a few months ahead, at the most a few years ahead, and we plan and we scheme. And we worry about it. No need to do that.
God has it all worked out. The eternal God. He chose. The day of your birth? Did you have any choice in that?
Absolutely not. He chose the day of your birth, and he's already chosen the day of your death. He knows exactly when you're going to die. Apart from the return of the Lord. He knows that there's a day on God's calendar when you and I are going to die.
It's all worked out, He's sovereign. What are you to do? You're to trust them. Do you believe him? Do you believe his love for you?
Do you believe his care for you? Do you believe that he even is taking that which is unjust, taking that which is evil, and working it together for your good? There's a woman in the Old Testament. Her name is Naomi. She knew about suffering.
Her name, Naomi, means pleasant and sweet. But she came to know the bitterness of life. and deep suffering. Her husband, they're living in Israel, her husband, because of a famine, decides to go to Moab, present-day Jordan, across the Jordan River. And they're in Moab.
It's a pagan country. And she's married. God. gives them two sons. And there in Moab in a foreign country, this woman experiences deep, deep bitterness Her husband dies.
Her two sons die. What could be more devastating to a woman? Think of it, sisters. If your husband died, and your two sons die. But from the life of Naomi, from that bitterness, if you know the story of Ruth, comes something very sweet.
Out of her suffering, her daughter-in-law, Ruth, comes a saving faith in the Lord. Remember Ruth says the omega? My God. Your God is my God. And they make their way back.
Back to Israel. back to Bethlehem. Neomi's hometown. And there a wonderful thing happens. This Woman Ruth, formerly a pagan, now converted, now trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, is married there, and in God's sovereign purposes, Ruth.
This former pagan Is the great Grandmother. of Israel's greatest king. David. From suffering and bitterness comes marvelous. Blessing.
God is behind it all. Working it out through the suffering, through the tragedy, through the bitterness. that Ruth has the unimaginable privilege. As a former pagan, of being the great-grandmother. The king.
David. Does that surprise you? First the suffering. Then the glory we're learning. First the cross.
Good Friday. Then the crow. Easter Sunday. First tonight. Then the day.
The eternal day. You find yourself in the night. What are you to do? Trust. The Lord In every circumstance of life.
It's remarkable. If you read Hebrews 11, These men and women of faith, of great faith, that are listed there, and yet when you look at their lives, every single one of them. experience suffering. But I looked up. And they lived.
By faith. shall live by faith. A message to the unbeliever. If you're going to be saved, you must have faith. Without faith, it's impossible to please God.
The just shall live by faith. But it's also a truth for the believer. You are just if you're saved, you're justified. You're a child of God. God is in control.
He's your heavenly father.
Now you are to live by faith. Look to God, a God who loves you, a God who cares for you. Suffering today? experiencing that life is a veil of tears. Tasting of the bitterness of life.
I say to you, brother, sister, don't despair. Don't give up hope. Don't go down that dark hole. Trust the Lord. Trust them.
A God who turns emptiness into fullness. Sadness into joy, death into life. And in incredible ways, His sovereign purposes are being worked out in your life.
Sometimes you see it, often you don't. But trust them. He's your father. He loves you. Why are you doubting?
Why are you afraid? Why are you worrying about everything? Trust your Heavenly Father. Trust him with all your heart because he knows best. And I find this truth.
Of the sovereign purposes of God, I can rest. in that. That is solid ground. That's not shifting sand. That my God who saved me In his grace is with me, and therefore I am to trust him.
Yes, in the darkness, yes, in the tears. 'Cause he knows best. William Cowper was born in 1731 in England and died in 1800. He's a contemporary of John Wesley and George Whitfield, the leaders of the great evangelical revival in the UK. And Whitfield and Wesley also came.
to the United States. I think there's a statue of John Wesley in Savannah. Cooper was a friend of John Newton. John Newton, the rider of Amazing Grace. And he was, in fact, William Cowper's.
Friend, pastor. Councillor Because William Cowper suffered from deep, deep Depression. It's overcome by depression. Christian?
Some of you can relate to that. The dark clouds come. and you're depressed. And Newton was there to encourage him. and help them.
And out of his depression, William Cowper wrote some amazing hymns. And Here is one. Think of this: a man who knew suffering. God moves in a mysterious way. His wonders to perform.
He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. You faithful saints, fresh courage take. The clouds you so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. I love that. Got the big dark cloud.
It's going to break with blessings on you. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him. For His grace. behind a frowning Providence He hides a smiling face. Date.
in unfathomable minds of never failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will. His purposes will ripen fast. unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste. But sweet.
will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan his work in vain. God is his own interpreter. and he will make it plain.
Well done, William Copper. God moves. in a mysterious way. You look up. and the clouds are dark.
You look down and your circumstances are hard. Ah, but God is there. He sees you. He's with you. He will bless you.
Therefore, trust them with all of your heart. Suffering today. At work, don't retaliate. Don't lash out. Don't be bitter.
Learn to trust God in a difficult circumstance of life. Learn to show respect to that difficult boss, that difficult organization. that you think is treating you so badly. Patiently endure suffering and hardship. Even particularly when it's undeserved.
That's what Peter is saying. Horatius Bonner writes afflictions Act like a wind upon the tree. making it take deeper root.
Some trees, when the wind comes, fall. A stiff They don't bend. They're hard. Other trees when the winds blow. put down the roots deeper and deeper.
Are you that kind of Christian? You pulled over by little difficult circumstances. And you complain. And you gossip and there's bitterness. Or are you the kind of man, the kind of woman, the kind of young person.
that when affliction comes You lean down on Christ, the solid rock. And you realize that you have a father who loves you and cares for you. And in the storm, which you do not understand, you're putting down these spiritual roots. You serve God in the sunshine. Serve them.
in the shadows. You believed God in the light of day. Trust them. At the darkness of midnight. Sister, you sang the praises of God when things were going well.
Sing the praises of God. Through your tears. Echo the words of a suffering man Job who said, The Lord gives. And the Lord takes. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
That's the voice of a man who knows God. That's a man who understands the sovereignty of God. Think of the suffering of Job. Think of all the injustice. And he says, Yes, the Lord gives, but the Lord also takes away.
I don't understand that, but I bless the name of the Lord. And as we will learn on Good Friday. We follow in the steps. of a suffering saviour. We follow in the steps of the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
Therefore, With complete assurance in the love of God, in His compassion, in His care, and in His sovereign purposes in every circumstance of life. We will seek to trust them. With all of her heart. Will you do that, brother? You do that sister.
And as I say, some of you don't know the Saviour. You think, how can we trust Christ? I don't know him. He comes to seek. and to save the lost.
Today, if you don't know Christ, call upon him. Is there Loves you. dies for you and invites you to come. and find rest. Isn't that wonderful?
Eternal rest for your souls so that we can sing. Truly, it is well. It is well with my soul. Will you pray with me? Our Father and our God.
We bow before you, you are sovereign, we are not. You made us, and sometimes we stumble, and sometimes we stray, and often we complain. Forgive us, Father. Help us And as a result of being here today, and opening your word, our faith will be strengthened. And we'll leave here, Father, whatever our circumstances, looking to you.
The Supreme God, the Great God. that you are God alone. And thank you for your grace that in Jesus Christ. You display your grace. and your love and compassion.
And you've told us that we are to love you. With all of her heart, with all of her soul, with all of her mind, with all of her strength. And we seek to do that in your grace. Today. And whatever the circumstances we know.
that your grace is sufficient. And in our weakness, You put grace upon grace in our lives. We thank you. and bless your great name. Yeah.
The name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and his powerful conclusion to Called to Suffer. What a profound reminder that while things won't be perfect until we reach heaven, Christ has already provided for our deepest need. To help you gain an internal perspective on suffering and God's ultimate purposes, we're offering John's enlightening booklet for the Time is Near as a companion resource.
This resource explores lessons from Revelation, revealing God's plan for the future and the hope that awaits every believer. When we understand that our present sufferings are temporary, but future glory is eternal, that changes everything. The booklet addresses questions about judgment, evil, and heaven, topics that become especially meaningful during seasons of trial. Download or request your free copy today at the end of the day. of verdict.org Your partnership with the verdict helps bring this message of hope to countless others walking through valleys of suffering.
When you support this ministry financially, you're investing in a work that reaches people in their darkest hours with the light of God's truth. Whether someone is facing illness, injustice, or inexplicable loss, these biblical teachings offer the comfort and strength that only Scripture can provide. To make your tax-deductible gift today, visit theverdict.org. If you've been encouraged by these Bible-based studies, be sure to share them with others. One easy way is through the Verdict Podcast, where you can access these teachings anytime and anywhere.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? If you are suffering, I'm sure you have prayed for that suffering to end. But isn't it helpful to know that when we suffer, it's not because God is punishing us or wanting to harm us. Rather, He's working out His purposes in our life. God moves in mysterious ways.
sometimes we don't see his smile. But in these circumstances we are to trust His grace and His goodness.
So look up to Christ, the man of sorrows. He loves you. and His purposes are being worked out in your life. 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.
