Scripture:
I Peter 4:12-16 NKJV
[12] Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; [13] but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. [14] If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. [16] Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
Observation:
Over the last several months, a lot has not only happened around me but in my life as well. One way it can easily be is that the enemy is actively pursuing and lurking to see whom he may destroy. The attacks have been relentless, not only in my life but the lives of many others around me. As we know the bible says, “He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I bring that up not to give him some kind of credit or resignation for his attempts, but to make us all aware that it’s not going to stop. His desire is to dethrone and discredit everything that GOD has and is doing, and honestly, it’s just not going to happen. I was thinking yesterday, after a relentless battle with him the night before, “What is going on?” Like it was some kind of surprise, and then this scripture came to mind, and it all became clear, all the others that are going through the same thing. You see Peter always had the desire to be a spiritual warrior. I mean, think about his reaction when Christ told him he was going to have to die so that others would be able to have a way to the Father. In a sense, he said Not over my dead body, that’s when he was rebuked by the savior of the world, called Satan himself, and told to get away or behind HIM. The next time he tried to step up and fight a battle that only Jesus could fight, he cut the ear off of a man who was one whom Jesus would give his life for. He wanted to be a spiritual warrior. He just didn’t know how, until he was shown by Jesus. That day in the garden and several days after, something happened to Peter, his life had been changed slowly by what the LORD was teaching him, and it all came together in these words he wrote to us in 1 Peter. You see he became aware of what it looks like to be a spiritual warrior. It doesn’t take physical weapons. The battle can not be fought like that. So when he said in verse 12 not to be surprised by these fiery trials, what he is saying is, This is common, get used to it. Everyone who desires to live a life of righteousness through Christ Jesus is going to face this kind of stuff. The transformation that had taken place in Peter’s life seemed to fully take effect that day in the upper room. He became the pillar of the church. Standing up and boldly proclaiming the gospel to a multitude of people in the face of possible persecution. He knew that the trials were part of the spiritual battle, which didn’t change; what did change was how he approached those trials. Headlong and without a sword. The suffering for Christ was part of it. That’s what he learned the day he saw his best friend beaten beyond recognition, but was not allowed to lift a finger to help. It all started to unfold for him. If you want you be a spiritual warrior. You can not fight a physical battle. You have to surrender to the cause. Facing fiery trials as if they did not take you by surprise. Every warrior faces them. Instead of trying to fight them rejoice in the fact that the LORD finds you worthy to fight that kind of battle. Suffering is not easy. What Peter is saying is remember who you are suffering for and suit up for the battle. Don’t let it take you by surprise. Peter took this to the extreme. If you think about how his life ended you will see that. He was crucified on a cross, much like the LORD, but with one minor difference. He did not find himself worthy of dying in the same manner in which his savior did so he requested to be nailed upside down. For those of us who don’t know the logistics of crucifixion, and honestly, most of us don’t, all we know is what we have studied, and that we learned only from books. The beating that takes place prior to is important. It weakens the body so that breathing becomes very difficult even without the nails and pressure that’s placed on them. They are placed in strategic spots like the feet and wrists to be very painful as the individual places pressure on them to push themselves up to expand the lungs enough to draw their dying breaths. Pushing with the feet and pulling with the hands only ripped the wounds open even more. The suffering is, I’m sure, very intense. Peter’s request to be crucified upside-down created even more suffering. Instead of pulling with the wrist he would have had to push on a part of the body not designed to take the pressure and pull in the same manner. With a part of the body not designed to do so. My point is this, he was willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. In fact, he counted it joy. He willingly did it. Just like his savior. It didn’t surprise him.
Application:
No one really wants to suffer anymore. I mean, really, if you think about it, the moment anything gets slightly uncomfortable for us, we start to cry about it. But as I read the bible, we should be counting that suffering as joy, and should not be surprised by it. The bible says “ALL” who desire to live a life of righteousness through Christ “WILL” face persecution. So, honestly, the fiery trial shouldn’t catch you by surprise. You should be waiting for it. Prepared for the battle. Knowing GOD’S living word is the key that’s why it’s the very first piece of armor mentioned. You have to know the truth. Because the enemy is coming and he is bringing a barrage of lies. As I have watched several fall over the last few months. I have found it important to double my efforts. Because as we approach the return of Christ. His efforts are not going to get less. In fact, they will get more and more intense. We have to be willing to face whatever is thrown our way and do it in a manner worthy of the calling that has been placed on us. Yes, I’m telling you suffering is part of it. Life being peachy, is honestly not what is taught in the bible. Do you know that every one of the disciples suffered a horrible death, and they did it for the sake of the gospel, willingly? It shouldn’t surprise us to face things. It’s part of war. Our faith is completed by the trials we face. It’s how we learn to trust that GOD is who HE says HE is, and will do what HE says. If we tuck tail and run we never learn that. We never grow, we never become strong enough to suffer for the one who suffered it all. Life with GOD is not about comfort, and if you think it is you are deceived. On the front lines of the battle, you are going to face stuff that those who are fighting from their armchair in the church will not face. It shouldn’t catch you off guard, and it by no means should surprise you. When the attacks come, and they will. Don’t forget that there are others who are in it with you. Reach out to the community that GOD has placed around you and lock shields with them. The battle is won not with the comfort of this life. But the comfort of the savior. What happens here only matters from the perspective of eternity. We have to remain heavenly-minded, or we will be of no earthly good. Looking past this life and its suffering to the life that is to come.
Prayer:
Father, the way you reach us is so incredible. Your word just comes to life. This morning our prayer is that we would not see the trials we face as punishment from you, but that we would see them as you having trust in us to face down the enemy with the kind of spiritual weapons you have provided. Knowing your truth is what contradicts his lies. Help us to see your teachings in everything we face. You are an amazing GOD and we know your ways are not our ways, and we don’t want to be lulled to sleep by the enemy in a comfortable life. We are your front-line warriors. We are the second line of defense, falling only behind your son. Who we know is coming back soon. We want to be found doing exactly what you have built us for. Its in the mighty name of jesus we pray amen.