Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. suffering Peter says it's a fiery trial, it's a painful trial. These fiery trials develop Christian character. Isn't this what Peter is saying? He says, the suffering comes upon you to test you.
The refiner's fire reveals the genuineness of our faith. Welcome to The Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. Gold is placed in a furnace, not to destroy it, but to refine it. In the same way, God sometimes places his people in trials, not to harm us, but to purify our faith and develop godly character. Today, we're continuing our study of 1 Peter chapter 4 and learning six powerful truths about suffering for Christ.
Here's Pastor John Monroe with part two of the fiery trial. Peter tells us that we should not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. Authentic followers of Jesus Christ are on a collision course with the world. Suffering will come. And so, Peter is asking us to focus on what our suffering for Christ is developing in our lives.
By using the analogy of a fiery trial, he's explaining. That while suffering is not comfortable, it is developing our character. Spurgeon said, suffering is meant not only to burn out the dross, but to burn in the promises. And in the midst of suffering, you may experience the presence of God in your life. in a new and powerful way, as others have.
So let's Let us continue to think of this very practical subject of the fiery trial. Here's the first. lesson for us from this passage, in fact from verse 12. Suffering for Christ develops our Christian character. Character.
Check out your Bible, open it to 1 Peter chapter 4. We've read the scripture, but here in verse 12, Peter says, Beloved, Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. as though something strange were happening to you. Suffering for Christ develops a Christian character. Secondly, Suffering for Christ.
identifies us with Christ in His sufferings. Verse 13, but rejoice. Rejoice in trials. Rejoice in the fiery trial? Yes, rejoice.
Insofar as as you share Christ's sufferings. that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. We share The sufferings of Christ. Third, as we see in verses fourteen and fifteen, suffering for Christ. It's a blessing.
When you're suffering God is blessing you. Verse 14. If you're insulted for the name of Christ, you're blessed. God is blessing you. Because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief. or an evildoer or as a Medler. When we're suffering for the name of Christ, We're blessed. Number four. Verse 16.
Suffering for Christ glorifies Good. When we suffer as a Christian, God is being glorified. Here are these First century Christians gathered in Persecuted because they're Christians, and they're given this name, Christian, originally probably a nickname, as we read in Acts chapter 11, but a wonderful name.
Someone asks you What do you believe? Who are you? To me the best answer is I'm a Christian. First and foremost, we are Christians. Our allegiance is to Christ.
Our lives are surrendered to Christ. We are Christ-centered in our lives. We are Christ-centered in the church. Christians, isn't that a wonderful term? We see that.
When people are baptized, they're stating their allegiance to Christ, that they have received Christ as their Savior, that He's our only hope, He's the only way of salvation. We are. Christians. You're suffering as a Christian. Don't be ashamed.
It's easy, isn't it? in company with unbelievers. To be a bit sh ashamed, to be a bit hesitant. to take a stand for Christ. But he says, if you suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.
You've taken a stand for Christ. Don't be ashamed of that. Be ashamed if you don't. Never be ashamed of taking the name of Christian. Never be ashamed of the gospel, as Paul says, for it's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
This is the greatest message in the universe. We're followers of Christ. We're entrusted with a glorious message of the gospel. Why would you be ashamed of that? And if you suffer because of that, You're glorifying.
Got it. It's a wonderful Do you ever experience that? We often feel inadequate, don't we, as we witness for Christ? But we can glorify God. that were truly followers of Christ, were sharing in his sufferings.
And you recall as Luke recounts Uh the journeys of Paul. And as they're persecuted, that the apostles What did they do when they were persecuted? They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer in the name of Christ. We sometimes suffer because of our own foolishness. Because we sometimes break the law.
Because we're poor employees. Because we betray our friends, because we disobey our parents, we often suffer for these reasons. How wonderful! to suffer. For being a Christian.
Don't be ashamed of being a Christian. When you suffer For that, you are glorifying God. persecution, ridicule. Isolation. Aren't these things increasing?
in our world. After all, who in the United States Is the biggest enemy of the secularists and the humanists. We who believe the scriptures. We who believe that this is absolute Truth. We who believe that this is the inspired word of God.
And there can be no compromise on this. and that the way we live and the way that we deal things doesn't depend on Congress, doesn't depend on a decision from the Supreme Court, doesn't depend on an edict from a President or anyone else. Our stand and our only stand is on the word of God. And that's why we are finding ourselves more and more on collision course with the world.
Some of you may have heard, just to give one example. of this mother In Oregon. She opened her heart. She wanted to open her home. For a child in need, and the state of Oregon refused.
Unless She was willing to promote the state's harmful gender ideology. How sad. That we who believe, as we do, clearly taught by Scripture. That God made us male and female, a fact which has been undisputed really in the history of the world, but now we're told no. There's this blurring of gender.
And here's a dear woman who wants to open her home to a child at need, and because she doesn't accept and because she's not willing to promote a certain unbiblical ideology regarding gender, the state says no. Suffering. for Christ. Let's not give way. Suffering for Christ.
Glorifies God. Here's the fifth one. Suffering for the Christian is temporal. Suffering for the ungodly is eternal. Suffering for the Christian is temporal.
It's ephemeral. Just for a short time. Suffering for the ungodly is eternal. It will never ever Yeah. Verse 17.
For it is time For judgment to begin that the household of God. And if it begins with us, What will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Do we suffer now? Yes, we do.
Life is sometimes hard. Psalm 73, Psalmist wonders why the wicked are prospering. We wonder that, don't we? How is it that unscrupulous people? How is it that people who defy God seem to be getting on so well in life?
And that unscrupulous person at your work, that person gets promoted. They're the top salesperson. This student who's ungodly seems to be the most popular. What's gone wrong in their world?
Well, remember this. We suffer No. for a short time. The ungodly will suffer. For eternity.
God begins, this is a series for us, you're Christians. God begins His judgment with His own people. and moves forward. Do you read the book of Malachi, Malachi chapter 3, you say? See that.
God is concerned. God expects a certain standard from His people, those who are blessed. Those who God has blessed over and over again, God expects us to behave ourselves in a certain way. In the household of God. That is true.
It's true that we suffer now But think of the judgment coming on those Peter says, who do not obey the gospel of God. If we who follow Christ with difficulty survive on earth now. How will it be for the ungodly when they stand before God and experience the judgment of God on their ungodliness and unholiness? If God's children suffer now, is the argument, how much more severe will God's judgment be on those who are not his children? What do you think?
suffering now far better to Endure the present suffering for Christ.
Now, than to experience The eternal judgment. of God. You say, John, I don't like this talk about judgment. No, neither do I. Whatever.
Source of truth is not in Calvary Church, it's not what I think. Or what you feel, or what you think is appropriate, is in the Word of God. And we're reading it: the judgment is coming. How important it is that all of us then We're saved by the grace of God. that we are sheltered in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, judgment is coming. But Paul writes, there is no Therefore No condemnation. No judgment for those who are in Christ Jesus. Earlier on in our study of 1 Peter, we saw how Peter uses the analogy of the ark. A place of safety.
They're told to get into the ark. And those who were in the ark, a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, are safe. Those who are outside of the ark experience the judgment of God.
So it is now, if we are in Christ. If we're in Christ Jesus, If you have received Christ as your Savior, If your sins are being forgiven, you are secure. If you're not, if your trust is in yourself, Your trust is in your church. Your trust is in your Christian heritage and your good deeds, or whatever it is. If your trust is in anyone or anything other than Christ alone and His grace alone, you will experience the judgment of God.
That's why Peter says The judgment is coming on those who do not obey. The gospel. You say, well, what's the gospel? The gospel is good news. When Jesus began his public ministry in Mark chapter 1, as he preached the gospel, he said, Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.
We are sinful people. We've broken the law of God. We're under His condemnation. We're under His judgment. What are we to do?
We are to repent. We're to acknowledge our sin. And we're to look to Christ and to Christ alone, who, as Peter has magnificently said, that He suffered for sins once. The just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. There's the only way to God is through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He's come. And he suffered. Yes, he suffered. The only innocent one. The righteous one.
The Holy One of God. He suffered. for we who are unrighteous. We were sinful. For what purpose?
That he might bring us to God. And so if you're sheltered in Christ, You're saved. eternally saved. I'm speaking to someone today, and you have not yet obeyed the gospel. You're here.
Perhaps you've been dragged here. Perhaps you're coming out of a favour to a friend. Perhaps you come here out of routine because you like the people here, you like the singing, you like the atmosphere, but you're not yet trusting in Christ. Can I urge you? to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
and you'll be saved. Here's the sixth one. Suffering for Christ. drives the Christian to God. I love this.
What is suffering there? Suffering for Christ drives the Christian To God. Verse 19. Therefore Let those who suffer. It's the first time he uses this word.
In the verses we're reading. Let those who suffer according to God's will. Entrust their souls to A faithful Creator while doing Good. Suffering for Christ. drives the Christian To God.
What do you to do when you're suffering? Trust God. Doing God's will does not mean that you will escape suffering. Peter says this expressly. Those who suffer according to God's will.
Yes, it's the will of God. He tests us. He puts us in these difficult circumstances. Often we don't understand. How are we to complain?
I'll tell you how we often complain. Uh oh. How often we deal with that, how we respond to suffering, we complain. We're sometimes bitter, bitter against God. We're sometimes consumed.
with self-pity. Yeah, there's much that we don't understand. About sufferings and trials and evil. But this we do know, as Peter is reminding us. That we have a faithful Creator.
Who can be trusted? Peter uses an interesting expression here. He says, Those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator. This word of trust, it's like a banking term. You entrust, you commit.
You're Deposits your resources, your money for safekeeping. You hand over what you have to someone else. You're entrusting them. with your savings. You're entrusting someone with your medical Health.
You're entrusting your attorney. in a difficult situation. That's the picture, isn't it? Here we are, we've got these difficulties. These trials The suffering, what am I to do?
I'm to hand them over. Two. Notice Peter's description of God. He's our faithful creator. He's the one who in the beginning created the heavens.
and the earth. I'm to commit it to Him. He's faithful. He's the Creator. I'm to take all of my disappointments, all of my suffering.
All of the things I don't understand. And rather than being bitter about them, and rather than fighting God, Because of them, I'm to entrust them, I'm to hand them over to God. He is faithful, he's Promised, we were singing about it, that he will safely bring us through all of your suffering, all of your trials. Yes. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you're with me in the worst suffering of all.
As we go through the valley of the shadow of death, it is a valley. We're going to go through the valley and dwell in the house of the Lord forevermore. Therefore, I'm to trust. God, in the middle of the storm, in the middle of the suffering, in the middle of the persecution. In the middle of that disappointment, I'm to keep trusting God.
Fear focuses on the circumstances. Fear is always looking down. Fear is so pessimistic. Faith looks up to this great God. Who's faithful, think of the way he has been faithful to you over the years.
And he is the creator, not only our creator, but our redeemer. Trust him. Trust God. Trust him one day at a time. Trust him now.
Trust him for all of your future. Entrust your very soul to him. And says Peter. while doing good. You know, I found Loving God's people go through sufferings and disappointments and trials.
There's a tendency for us to retreat, isn't there?
Someone says, Well I can no longer serve God because of this difficulty. I've known people because of difficulties. They've been spiritually paralyzed. They leave the church. They stopped reading their Bible.
And you speak to them, they say, Well This is so difficult. This is so painful. I just can't go on. Peter is saying no. He's writing to first century Christians who knew persecution in a way that none of us sitting here in comfort know.
He's saying to us, No, I want you to entrust your soul to the faithful Creator, and I want you to continue to do good. Not to sit at home. Not to give up. Not allow the enemy to paralyze us. No.
God Has placed us here for a purpose, to live for his glory. And in the middle of the trials and the fiery trial, I'm to entrust my very soul to him, and at the same time, I'm to continue to do good. Will you do that? Don't opt out the Christian life. Don't sit at home.
Don't retreat into a black hole. Yes, your suffering is very real. But you have a faithful creator who's working his purposes in your life. Be strong, endure. Suffering produces endurance.
Endurance produces character. And character produces what? Hope. Hank. Of all the people on the face of the earth, we are people of hope.
There is always hope for the Christian. Whatever your difficulty. Whatever you are facing, We are people of hope. We have this living hope, Peter said, which comes through the resurrection of our Lord. Jesus Christ.
So don't be surprised. when suffering comes. Opportunity for spiritual growth. An opportunity for joy, yes. An opportunity in a special way to receive the blessing of God.
And in times of suffering, remember that God is good. even when life is hard. And that God is wise because his ways are perfect. And that God is love. The cross declares that.
that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting life. We are people who have everlasting life. We are people who are eternally loved by our great God. We go forward strong.
And we believe that God is faithful. He's at work in your life. And he's confirming you. in a supernatural way. to be more.
and more like Jesus. Therefore, Trust them with all of your heart. Therefore, commit your soul. to him. What's Peter saying?
In the middle. of suffering. Rejoice. And trust in your faithful God, who will hold you fast until that great day, that magnificent day, that day which will never end. When the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed.
Stand strong. Commit your very soul. To the creator. Will you do that? You're listening to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe.
and the conclusion of a message titled The Fiery Trial. Today's lesson reminded us that suffering isn't meaningless, it has divine purpose. We're not just enduring hardship, we're sharing in Christ's suffering and being refined by God's loving hand. And to help us continue to develop this biblical big picture, John has written a valuable resource called For the Time is Near. This booklet provides a clear biblical introduction to the book of Revelation, helping you understand God's prophetic time line, the centrality of Jesus Christ, His Second Coming, and the Establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Instead of getting caught up in speculation about the future, John focusses on what Scripture actually teaches about the end times and how we should respond as we live our lives to day. Request your free copy at theverdict.org. This ministry exists because faithful supporters understand that God's Word provides hope and direction during difficult times. Your generous contributions help us continue broadcasting these messages to people who need to hear biblical truth about suffering, perseverance, and God's faithfulness. In a culture that often promises easy answers, we're committed to sharing the truth of God's Word, even when it's convicting and challenging.
Your support helps us reach new audiences with the solid foundation of God's Word. Give securely today at the verdict.org. And don't forget to explore the Verdict podcast, where you can find these daily teachings in John's weekly Avizandam segments, addressing current issues through a biblical lens. It's another way to stay connected and grow spiritually throughout your week.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with closing remarks.
Well What's your verdict? Through and in the suffering of your life, can you discern how the Lord is refining you? Suffering makes us more dependent on the Lord. It humbles us. and makes us more sympathetic to others in their suffering.
And suffering in this life points us to our glorious future, a future when we'll be forever with the Lord.
So don't think it's strange when you're suffering now. suffering is an expected part of life. And the Lord is at work in your life. making you more and more like our Lord Jesus. 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.
