Glory In Suffering

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph)

1 Peter 5: 6-11: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Apostle Peter writes to a church going through persecution – troubled times for the new believers. The first book of Peter contains two key words: ‘suffering’ – that occurs 16 times; and ‘glory’ – occurring 16 times again. Peter addresses the people in difficulties, with this key message: In suffering, is glory.

This is rather strange to human understanding, because we associate sufferings with pain, sorrow and tears. The people Peter addressed were under persecution, from the Roman Emperor Nero, for taking up the name of Jesus Christ. And this is Peter’s comforting letter to them that says: Whenever we suffer for His name or for His work or because of obedience to His word, there is an inevitable reward – eternal glory. Peter encourages them to see beyond the shadow of suffering to the cloud of glory; to see beyond the dark tunnel to the radiant light that is shining; to see beyond the temporal to something eternal. So we can rejoice in suffering, as we walk according to God’s will.

There is another underlying theme in these writings; and that is submission. Submit to God (v6), submit to elders (v5) and submit to one another (v5). In submission is our protection. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time… Exaltation will come at the proper time – till then submit. Suffering is the same experienced by your brothers and sisters in this world (v9). There is a little time of suffering for everyone and after you have suffered a while, God is going to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. Weeping may endure for a night, but there is a shout of joy in the morning.

Do you know that the first sin in this universe is rebellion? We read in Isaiah 14 and in Ezekiel 28, how the son of the morning became the prince of darkness; how the angel Lucifer became the scheming Satan and was cast down when he rebelled against God Almighty. And as the Serpent in the garden of Eden, he sows the same seed of rebellion in the hearts of Eve and Adam; to disobey the command of God. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to walk as children of obedience (1 Peter 1:14). ‘For obedience is better than sacrifice and disobedience {rebellion} is as the sin of witchcraft’.

Peter goes on to tell us not to be surprised if fiery trials come our way, but rather to rejoice (1 Peter 4:12, 13). 'GOD IS IN CONTROL' – Fix your mind on this thought; no matter how hard it seems at times to acknowledge this. Sometimes we do ‘want’ something so bad, that we are willing to go after it; or we want something to happen just the way we imagined and it does not go that way – we pray for it and seek after God, but know that sometimes God says ‘No’. It is at these times we have to know that God is still in control and nothing is as bad as it seems. For we are privileged to have a God who has the benefit of time in His hands; and we just can’t fathom future on our own.

Hebrews 12:9 says that God deals with us as His children. As parents we do not give in to all the demands of our children – and we quickly point out that we know better what to give and how to give and when to give. Why can’t we realize God expects the same understanding from each one of us; that He knows and He knows better? As we grow in maturity, we learn to see that all together is working for our good, because we love Him; and then we too learn to ask according to His will, and with the right motives, through His the Spirit’s help. To God be the glory!

I know of students confronted with choices of educational streams, courses and colleges – and they have their mind set on a particular stream and college. And those completing education are looking for a particular career. It is at these moments, we can come before Him, especially and specifically to submit and humble ourselves. We simply do not know what is good for our future, for we can never fully understand. And before looking at other counselors, you can have a word with the best Counselor in the whole universe – God of heaven and earth.

Submit to worldly authority – for it is ordained by God’s mighty hand moving across the nations. 1 Peter 2:13, 14 says: Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. And in verse 17: Honor all people, Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Remember, Peter is writing to people subject to the authority of Nero-their persecutor. We learn a hard lesson here: Honor our leaders and their commands. We therefore follow the laws of the land – the only exception being when it is contrary to God’s own laws.

1 Peter 2:18 counsels the employees to be subject to the employers; not only to those who are ‘good and gentle’ but also to the boss who is, to your eyes, the very incarnation of terror. The Bible asks us to submit to our bosses as long as we work in that place. Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives (1 Peter 3:1). One reason the wife may give is that she feels herself to be more ‘spiritual’ and therefore need not submit to her husband. But here the Bible clearly tells that this reasoning is not of God or His will.

In all these, one must recognize God’s mighty hand working behind the scenes. In our submission to worldly authority, leaders and elders, masters and husbands, we acknowledge God’s mighty hand and therefore indirectly we submit to Him.

The same is applicable to children. Children, be obedient and submit to your parents. We have the example of Jesus Himself in Luke 2:51, 52. Then He {Jesus} went down with them {His parents} and came to Nazereth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. Think about the perfect One- subject to imperfect parents; the sinless One subject to sinful parents. One day one of His disciples came to Jesus, asking for payment of taxes. Jesus showed him the way – fish, find a coin and pay your taxes and Mine. Jesus was subject to worldly authority when He was here.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). Increase and exaltation is by submission and humility. If we submit, He will exalt us in proper time. God cares for you and for me. There is the devil out there, who is roaring like a lion to devour those who rebel. But if we submit to God, we can stand him; resist the devil. Be alert – be on your guard not to let rebellion rule in your heart. Look up and see God’s mighty hand and to submit to Him.

Some do say, ‘I submit only to God and not to any human authority’ – this is a fallacy. We are in the brotherhood because we submit to Him and we are sufferers, for a little while, because we submit to His mighty hand.

He will bless us; He will exalt us in due time. You see God is seeking to work in us to build us, to perfect us, to establish us, strengthen us and to settle us.

Are you willing to be children of obedience? God Bless you as you submit to Him, His word and His mighty hand. Amen.