◆“Christians and Trials 1″ (Peter 4:12–16) October 20, 2024

When trials come your way, what thoughts rise in your heart?

“Why me?”
“Did I do something wrong and now I’m being punished?”
Maybe you feel angry. Everyone responds differently.

Today’s Scripture says, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
Indeed, trials come unexpectedly and in unexpected ways—like sparks flying at you out of nowhere.
Of course we’re surprised. But the Word says, “Do not be surprised.”

If we are unprepared—if we haven’t heard the meaning behind these trials—we will naturally be caught off guard.
That’s why this Scripture seems to say: “Let’s learn and prepare now for trials.”

We’ll look at three points today.

First, trials are not unexpected.
Rather, they are to be expected.
Of course, as it says in verse 15, trials that come from actions like murder, theft, evil deeds, or (and we’ll look at this more closely next time) meddling in others’ affairs—those are consequences of our own behavior.
But the kind of trial spoken of here is different. It’s a trial that comes because we are Christians.

In fact, if such trials never come, we might question whether we are truly living as followers of Christ.

Why is that?

Because the world has its own standards—a system that dominates our lives.
And that system says, “The strong win. The rich succeed.”
To become strong or wealthy, it’s considered acceptable—at least to some extent—to sacrifice others.

Take the example of a workplace.
Not everyone can rise equally.
Then comes the thought: “That person deserved to fall behind. It’s their own fault.”
This is the problem.

In Genesis 4, we read about Lamech, a man with two wives—the first in Scripture to do so.
His philosophy of life may help explain why.

He said:
“Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

In other words, “If someone hurts me, I’ll destroy them. I’ll win. That’s how I gained my glory.”
It’s a raw, brutal philosophy.

But don’t we hear this same message in more subtle forms?
This mindset has shaped civilizations, driven progress, and still rules the world.

Christians live in complete opposition to this way of thinking.
Not “for me,” but for the Lord.
Not “only me,” but together.

And when these worldviews clash, trials come.

They come from outside—and from within.

External trials are easy to recognize.
Last month, a believer testified that after retirement, he took a job where he had to lay off employees.
Others have shared similar stories. It was painful. A trial indeed.

In the brutal logic of corporate survival, employees are cut.
The company, once meant to serve people, now demands people serve it.
This is the harsh reality of the world’s system.

Yet these Christians told me, “In the end, I laid myself off.”
I saw the conscience of Christ in them—deep pain, but also deep faith.

What about internal trials?
They come as temptations to compromise.

Even Jesus was tempted by Satan:

“You want to save the world? Fine—turn stones into bread. Give people what they want.”
“Jump from a high place and walk away unharmed. They’ll worship you.”

Satan tried to steer Jesus away from the cross—from His greatest suffering—for the sake of comfort.

He tempts us the same way:
“Christianity’s fine, but the world’s not that easy. Just go to church on Sunday. That’s enough.”
“Don’t say you’re a Christian. Don’t worry about others’ salvation. That just makes you weird.”

Is this kind of trial minor?
No—it’s a fiery trial, too.

Yet walking with Christ through it, the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (v.14).

This reminds us of several Old Testament moments. Let me mention two.

First, Exodus 40:34:
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

Second, 1 Kings 8:10–11:
“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord.
And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled His temple.”

The glory of the Lord filled the place—God’s presence overflowed.
This is the Shekinah glory—the presence of God dwelling among His people.

That is His promise to you.

And in verse 13:
“Rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

As Romans 8:18 says:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

So let us live today, this very moment, with strength.
We do not walk alone.
The church walks with us.

And the Shekinah glory—God’s Spirit—rests upon you.

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Sermon script modified based on proofreading and translation with ChatGPT.