“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.“- {1 Peter 4;12-19.}

 

“Do not Be Surprised” – {v 12}.

There can be a tendency to be surprised when suffering comes our way for allegiance to the LORD Jesus. Peter calls it a “fiery ordeal among you.” To be surprised “as though some strange thing was happening you.” Don’t be surprised. EXPECT IT! It is part of the Christian life! For some that statement is a SURPRISE!

“Fiery Ordeal.”– { purosis from puroo = to burn or púr = fire). It literally means” ignition, smelting (used of a large disastrous fire.), burning. It pictures the act or condition of being on fire and figuratively as used here by Peter refers to fiery trial, calamity, suffering.

I love what Warren Wiersbe says, “God has never promised that we would miss the storm, But He has promised that we would make the harbor…”- (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)    In the furnace of affliction God controls the thermostat nd never takes His eye off us.

“TESTING.” – (peirasmos from peirazo }. It is to prove in a good or bad sense. It is speaking of putting to the test and then speaks of the pressures that come in order to discover a perons’ nature or the  quality of something. It is a neutral word used 20 times in the NASB in the New testament and translated depending on the context,”temptations- 12; testing 2; trial 3; trials 4.”  The word “peirasmos” is a neutral word and our response in the trial determines whether it becomes God honoring or evil.

“Strange.”-{xenos}  meaning, not being previously known, therefore, unheard of and unfamiliar, foreign, alien, surprising or strange.

He tells them “why”‘ this is happening so they are not uninformed or ignorant but knowledgeable, as he reveals the reason this was happening was “for your testing.”

“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ…” Here is what Peter tells them to do…

“Keep On Rejoicing.”– {v 13} “Chairo”- It means “rejoice, be glad, be delighted.” It is a command, “present tense,” to presently and continually keep on delighting, be glad. it is in the “active voice,” which means to make a personal choice to rejoice, in the midst of persecution for the LORD. Anything that comes against you for doing right or for the sake of Christ, keep rejoicing, don’t be shocked, surprised, it is to be expected. But it is impossible in and of ourselves, but thank God, He has given us the Holy Spirit and as we submit to the Holy Spirit and are filled, controlled by Him and in submission to His Word we will be able to live such lives -{ Read Eph 5:18, Phil 2:13, Col 3:16; James 1:22}. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit and a gift to us “In Christ.”-{Gal 5:22}.

WHY  WE SHOULD “KEEP ON REJOICING.” 

1.Keep On Rejoicing, Don’t Be Surprised Because God Has A Purpose.

” do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, “-{v13}. God has His purpose in it for our “Testing.”

2. Keep On Rejoicing Because We Share In The Sufferings Of Christ.

“but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing,“- {v 13b}

3. Keep On Rejoicing Because Present Joy Leads To future Joy!

“keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”-{v13b}

4.Keep On Rejoicing Because The Spirit Of God Rests On You.

“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”-{v14}

5.Keep On Rejoicing Because The Motivation For Suffering Is For The Glory Of God.

“if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this Name. “-{v 16}

6.Keep On Rejoicing Because  God is Faithful and Keep Doing Right.

” Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”– {v19}.”The will of God” includes suffering… and we are to entrust, deposit ourselves to our Faithful Creator who made us and keep doing right in the midst of suffering.

The believers are Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.suffering and Peter says to keep on rejoicing at a future hope at the appearing of the LORD Jesus!

 We can continually rejoice, be glad, be delighted, because of what we know in our sufferings.

Do Not Be Surprised.

Expect It.

Keep Doing Good.

Keep On Rejoicing…

You Have Reasons To!