Blessing for Suffering
Stephen Whitney
1 Peter 5:10-11
Throughout history Christians have suffered for their faith because Satan, the prince of this world, uses his position and power to attack them. Few men of this century have better understood the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He never wavered in his Christian opposition to the Nazi regime and their abuse of those who opposed them, especially Jews and Christians.
His opposition caused him to be arrested, threaten with torture and finally his own death. He was executed by the direct order of Heinrich Himmler in April 1945, in the Flossenburg concentration camp, only a few days before it was liberated.
It was the fulfillmenet of what he had always believed and taught: ''Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master. Following Christ means suffering because we have to suffer. Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer.''
Application We will probably not suffer by dying for our faith here in America, but we will probably suffer in some way because we live in a sinful world so we suffer because of the consequences of sin. John 16:33 Jesus said, ''In this world you will have tribulation.''
1. Physical - cancer, disease, sickness, and death.
2. Personal - bad habit, emotional problem or false guilt.
3. Spiritual - criticized, made fun of, put down or rejected.
Text The ESV and NAS put the phrase suffering a little while first which emphasizes the reason for the benediction while the KJB and NIV put the phrase grace of God first which emphasizes the help which God gives us when we are suffering. SUFFERING FOR CHRIST Suffer - Gk. to experience difficulties or trials in life Peter has used the word 10x (2:19,20,21,23; 3:14,17,18; 4:1,15,19)
Peter wrote his letter in 65 AD about 30 years after Jesus had died. Over the years many peo ...
Stephen Whitney
1 Peter 5:10-11
Throughout history Christians have suffered for their faith because Satan, the prince of this world, uses his position and power to attack them. Few men of this century have better understood the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He never wavered in his Christian opposition to the Nazi regime and their abuse of those who opposed them, especially Jews and Christians.
His opposition caused him to be arrested, threaten with torture and finally his own death. He was executed by the direct order of Heinrich Himmler in April 1945, in the Flossenburg concentration camp, only a few days before it was liberated.
It was the fulfillmenet of what he had always believed and taught: ''Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master. Following Christ means suffering because we have to suffer. Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer.''
Application We will probably not suffer by dying for our faith here in America, but we will probably suffer in some way because we live in a sinful world so we suffer because of the consequences of sin. John 16:33 Jesus said, ''In this world you will have tribulation.''
1. Physical - cancer, disease, sickness, and death.
2. Personal - bad habit, emotional problem or false guilt.
3. Spiritual - criticized, made fun of, put down or rejected.
Text The ESV and NAS put the phrase suffering a little while first which emphasizes the reason for the benediction while the KJB and NIV put the phrase grace of God first which emphasizes the help which God gives us when we are suffering. SUFFERING FOR CHRIST Suffer - Gk. to experience difficulties or trials in life Peter has used the word 10x (2:19,20,21,23; 3:14,17,18; 4:1,15,19)
Peter wrote his letter in 65 AD about 30 years after Jesus had died. Over the years many peo ...
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