If This Life Brings Suffering

Part of Sermons 2020 - Non-series Messages

May 31, 2020

IF THIS LIFE BRINGS SUFFERING

1 Peter 3:13-17

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

How should we respond to sufferin whether it be as direct result of doing right (like Peter says here in our text) or as life brings suffering in general?

1. Realize The Blessing Of Suffering (v. 14a)

How can we consider ourselves blessed by suffering?

1) Change (cf. James 1:2-4; Job 23:10)
- God uses suffering as a part of His plan to strengthen us and make us more like
  
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- He works something into us that we could never accomplish on our
  
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2) Reward (cf. Mat. 5:10-12; James 1:12)
- When we endure suffering for righteousness’ sake, we can look forward to future reward.

2. Refuse To Worry And Panic (v. 14b)

Don’t

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the suffering. That puts the focus in the wrong place.
If we are going to be willing to suffer for the sake of Jesus, if we’re going to rejoice in the midst of suffering, then we must see suffering as an opportunity to receive spiritual blessing, not as an excuse to compromise our faith.

3. Acknowledge Christ As Lord (v. 15a)

The phrase “consecrate (sanctify) the Lord God (Christ) in your hearts” means to

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Jesus in your heart as holy.
How do we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts? We surrender our lives to Him and live to please Him.
To sanctify Jesus in our hearts is an internal action that will have external realities.
Sanctifying Jesus as Lord not only affirms our trust in Him, but it will produce courage and boldness in us to give an answer for the hope that is in us.

4. Be Ready To Give A Defense (v. 15b)

When life brings suffering unfairly, let’s be ready to give a defense of our faith.
In order to make a proper defense, we must have a systematic theology that includes a theology of

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There are too many Christians who have no theology of what it means to suffer.
Jesus

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leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps.

5. Keep A Pure Conscience (vv. 16-17)

When this life brings suffering and unfair treatment, keep a pure conscience (good).
A good conscience is one that accuses us when we do

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and approves us when we do

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How does a good conscience help you live life in the midst of suffering?
1) It encourages us because we know we’re right with God.
2) It emboldens us to witness.
3) It eases our fears of what others may say against us, do to us, or think of us.