Expected Trials

SERMON OUTLINE

Expect the SUFF (v. 12)

1. Situational Reality
2. Situational Awareness
3. Situational Preparedness

Embrace the SUFF (vv. 13-18)

1. What NOT to Embrace
   • The Fire
   • The Flight
   • The Fight
   • The Flesh
2. What to Embrace
   • The Joy
   • The Blessing
   • The Glory

Entrust the SUFF (v. 19)

1. Follow Jesus’s example

We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. They’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us, we’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” – Chesty Puller, Lt. General USMC

Application: Be C.A.L.M.

• Circle Up – stand firm in biblical community
• Armor Up – put on the full armor of God
• Look Up – beseech God in prayer and petition
• Move Forward – faithfully in thought and action

SERMON MANUSCRIPT

Opening Illustration

On the morning of December 7, 1941, the United States military was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor and was caught almost completely off guard.

For months, tensions between Japan and the United States had been rising, but most American leaders did not believe Japan would launch a direct strike against Hawaii. So that Sunday morning, the atmosphere on the base was relaxed and routine. Many servicemen were asleep, eating breakfast, or preparing for church. Ships sat lined up in the harbor. Aircraft were parked closely together. Ammunition was locked away, anti-aircraft defenses were undermanned, and when enemy planes were first spotted by radar, they were mistaken for American aircraft.

At 7:48 AM, the attack began.

Within two hours:

• Over 2,400 Americans were killed
• Nearly 1,200 were wounded
• 18 ships were sunk or heavily damaged
• 188 aircraft were destroyed

The tragedy of Pearl Harbor was not merely the destruction of the attack—it was the shock of surprise. The military was unprepared because it did not expect the attack there and then. That lack of expectation produced vulnerability, confusion, and ineffective response.

But six months later, on June 4, 1942, the United States faced another major Japanese attack at Battle of Midway.

This time, everything was different.

American intelligence had partially broken Japanese communication codes and discovered that Midway was the target. The enemy was still powerful, the battle would still be costly, and the stakes were enormous—but this time America was prepared.

Ships were positioned.
Planes were ready.
Pilots were briefed.

The battle was fierce, but preparedness changed everything. American forces destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers, hundreds of aircraft, and many of Japan’s experienced pilots died. Midway became one of the greatest naval victories in American history and shifted the momentum of the Pacific War.

The difference between Pearl Harbor and Midway was expectation.

At Pearl Harbor, America was surprised and unprepared.
At Midway, America expected the attack and was prepared to respond.

This is exactly Peter’s point in 1 Peter 4:12

“Do not be surprised at the fiery trial…”

As followers of Christ, we are strangers and exiles in this world. Our faith, values, convictions, and lives stand in direct opposition to the world around us. Peter says suffering and trials should not shock believers because spiritual hostility is inevitable.

Peter knows that when believers expect trials, they are spiritually prepared to endure faithfully rather than collapse unexpectedly.

Need

As Christians, we must understand that we are engaged in a spiritual battle and called to a mission. We were not called to Cruise-ship Christianity—served, pampered, and entertained as we sail toward heaven. Brothers and sisters, hear me on this: we were called to Battleship Christianity—trained, equipped, and sent to serve Christ, make disciples and plant churches, advancing the Kingdom of God one soul at a time until the mission is complete.

As strangers and exiles in a foreign and hostile world, we must be battle ready for trials, attacks, and suffering. But the way Christians prepare for battle is very different from the world.

In the military, we had an ethos that helped us endure hardship:

“Embrace the suck.”

But as Christians, our holy ethos is not “Embrace the suck.”
It is:

“Embrace the SUFF” — suffering.

Not because we enjoy suffering,
but because we know that suffering is a gift and a blessing from God.

So let’s learn together how to “Embrace the SUFF” for Christ.

Please open your Bibles to 1 Peter 4:12–19 and stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit^e of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. ¹⁶ But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁸ And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

¹⁹ So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

Preview

Peter provides us three aspects of our “Embrace the SUFF” ethos:

1. Expect the SUFF
2. Embrace the SUFF
3. Entrust the SUFF

Sermon

• Expect the SUFF (v. 12)

Peter begins with, “Don’t be surprised when fiery ordeals come upon you.” In other words, “Expect the SUFF”, by understanding the situational reality, being situationally aware and situationally prepared.

• Situational Reality
  • Trials are normal.
  • Military members expect deployments and combat. First responders expect emergencies. New parents expect sleepless nights and students expect homework and pop quizzes.
  • Jesus told his disciples that suffering, persecution and trials would happen to them in Matthew 5 and John 15.
  • Apostle Paul told the churches and disciples the expect the same in Philippians 1 and 2 Timothy 3.
  • Peter is echoing what he learned from Jesus and from his own experiences. Peter is telling believers that the enemy’s attacks should not shock them, trials are not strange and suffering is normal for the Christian life so understand the situational reality.

• Situational Awareness
  • The Bible tells us that in this world we will have troubles but there is a difference between worldly troubles and fiery trials. Being situationally aware means we know the difference between troubles and trials.
  • Troubles vs trials
    • Being laid off as part of a company downsize – trouble. Verses being fired for standing firm in your Christian beliefs at the workplace – trial.
    • Being assigned a tough teacher at school that makes class difficult – trouble. Getting lower grades and bullied by your teacher for sharing your faith through speech, assignments and clothing – trial.
    • Having conflicts in marriage – trouble. Your spouse ridiculing and oppressing you for your faith – trial.
  • Situational awareness allows you to distinguish between troubles and trials and respond with the appropriate rules of engagement.

• Situational Preparedness
  • Expectation of trials should lead to preparedness for trials.
  • Proverbs 21:31 states, “The horse if prepared for the day of battle but victory belongs to the LORD.” Expected battles require faithful preparation.
  • General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the Allied Forces in the 1^st Gulf War famously quoted this as troops were preparing for battle, “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”
  • For Christians, this means the more you sweat in practicing your spiritual disciplines the less your faith bleeds in times of trials.

• Embrace the SUFF (vv. 13-18)

• What not to Embrace
  • The Fire: We are not called to embrace the pain, the loss, or suffering of the fiery trial.
  • The Flight: We are not called to embrace a flight response where we hide our faith and hope the trial passes us by. We are called to stand firm and content for the faith.
  • The Fight: Nor are we called to embrace a fight response and attack Satan or our enemies. We are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
  • The Flesh: Finally, we are not called to embrace our flesh and power through a trial in our own strength. This creates a bitter soul, hardened heart, and isolation from our relationships and community. Rather we are called to walk in the Spirit.
• What to Embrace
  • The Joy (v. 13) We embrace the joy of sharing in Jesus’ suffering, not the suffering itself, but being worthy of suffering; like the apostles in Acts 5. They were flogged for preaching the gospel and they rejoiced at being counted worthy of the flogging! Why? Because there is a very special bond, a battle cred, that is created when people suffer together. Soldiers, 1^st responders, and especially parents of teenagers understand this unique bond. Like our baptism, which identifies and bonds us to Jesus death, burial and resurrection, our suffering identifies and bonds us in Jesus’ inner circle of those worthy to suffer for His name.

• The Blessing (v.14) Trials are a blessing that tests and perfects our faith through refinement. (1 Peter 1:6-7) Our faith, like gold, is refined by fiery trials which remove impurities and increases the value (genuineness/sincerity) of our faith. Trials are a blessing that tests and perfect our faith through unification and affirmation. (Philippians 1:27-29) Trials force us to lock arms with our fellow Christians and unite together as we contend for the faith. As such, this response authenticates and affirms our salvation, that we truly are Christ’s disciples. Trials are a blessing that tests and perfect our faith through maturation. (James 1:2-4) Trials are God’s 5k’s,10k’s, ½ and full marathons that build spiritual stamina and resiliency that matures our faith. Trials are a blessing that tests and perfects our faith through judgement. (1 Peter 4:17) Yes, you heard me, judgement… but fear not! Judgement for Christians is different. Judgement in the form of Fatherly discipline and purification, not punishment and condemnation, but to provoke believers to make a clean break from all sin. The blessing here in verse 14 is a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit resting upon a believer in some visible way. The term “resting upon” comes from the Book of Exodus when God’s glory was manifested in the form of a cloud over Mt. Sinai, on the tabernacle, over the ark of the covenant and the filling of the temple. In the New Testament, we see God’s Spirit rest upon Jesus at His baptism like a dove, upon the disciples at Pentecost, like tongues of fire, and upon Stephen before being martyred with a face shining like an angel. Likewise, there is special blessing of God’s Spirit that manifests and rests upon a believer through difficult trials that demonstrate God’s favor.
• The Glory (vv. 13, 14, 16) We embrace the future glory of Jesus yet to be revealed. Peter, James and John got a sneak peek at this glory on the Mt. of Transfiguration. We embrace the future of sharing in Jesus’ glory at His revelation. Creation awaits not only the full revelation of Christ Jesus but also the children of God! We embrace the opportunity to bring Jesus glory now by holding fast to our confession that Jesus is Lord during even the most extreme suffering.

• Entrust the SUFF (v. 19)

• Follow Jesus’s example: In one of his final commands, Peter directs believers to “Entrust the SUFF” to their faithful Creator as modeled by Jesus. In Chapter 2 Peter reminded believers that Jesus entrusted His soul to God and that we should do the same in our suffering. The term entrust means to put something or someone, usually of immense worth, into the care or protection of another. For example, we entrust airlines with our lives when we fly. We entrust a hospital or midwife with the safe delivery of a baby, and we entrust schools (public, private, or home) with the education of our children. How much more should we entrust our suffering souls to Jesus, so we can be calm to walk faithfully through the fiery trials. Speaking of being calm in the midst of battle, I love this quote by Chesty Puller Lt. General, USMC during a battle in North Korea surrounded by enemy soldiers.

We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. They’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us, we’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” – Chesty Puller

Being calm is the pathway for expecting, embracing and entrusting the SUFF that comes from following Christ and being Strangers & Exiles in a foreign land.

4) Application: Being C.A.L.M

Like the Apostle Peter, the Apostle Paul is no stranger to suffering, persecution and trails; and provided detailed instructions for how to be calm in his letters to the churches.

• Circle Up – stand firm in biblical community. Nowhere in Scripture are believers encouraged to stand firm in their faith through trials in isolation. On the contrary, believers are encouraged to stand firm in community for protection, support and encouragement. In Philippians 1, Paul exhorts the believers to stand firm in one spirit, once accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel. So, if you’re not already in small group, get into one, whether it’s a Life Group or Men’s, Women’s, Young Adults, or care group. Don’t wait for the trial, find your battle buddies now and join a group.
• Armor Up – put on the full armor of God. In Ephesians 6, Paul commands believers to armor up in the full Armor of God because we are fighting a spiritual battle. No soldier or first responder goes into the battle without their armor. Armor is essential for protection and accomplishing the mission. Spiritual armor is essential to protect your mind, heart, soul, and faith against the attacks of spiritual warfare. Also, its worthy to note, soldiers and first responders use a buddy system to assist with putting on and checking their armor for proper coverage and operation. Here me on this…waiting for the trial to come upon you is not the time to figure out what the Armor of God is, how to put it on, and more importantly how to use it faithfully. Circle up and practice now.
• Look Up – beseech God in prayer and petition. When our focus is horizontal, trials and suffering create great anxiety and fear, but God calls us to look up, vertically, and replace fear with faith through prayer. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul instructs the persecuted believers to beseech God in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Prayer is the comms channel; the petition is the actual request. It’s through prayer that we ask God for what we need as we expect, embrace and even entrust the SUFF. However, the key is thanksgiving. We often pray thinking our problems are great and our God is small. Thanksgiving reminds us of all the past, present and future blessings that God has been faithful in and reorients our focus and reality that our God is infinite and our suffering is temporary and finite. When we look up to God in prayer, giving thanks and petition for our needs, God calms our fear and strengthens our faith by giving us His peace that transcends understanding.
• Move Forward – faithfully in thought and action. This is the part that most of us, myself included miss. We look up in prayer and receive God’s peace but miss the bigger blessing. After we look up in prayer and empty all the fear and anxiety from our heart and minds, we are called to move forward faithfully in right thinking and obedient action. Continuing with Philippians 4:8-8, Paul tells us to think about whatever is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy. We are called to fill our minds with God’s truth, primarily found in His Word and then put that truth into obedient practice. When we do, not only do we have God’s peace but then we’ll have the God of Peace, His actual presence, with us through the trial. So let us not only be hearers of the Word but let us be doers of the Word and walk with God, in both daily life and through trials.

In summary, as Christians, we are called to live holy lives as Strangers & Exiles on mission for Christ. As Battleship Christians, we need Be CALM and Expect the SUFF, Be CALM and Embrace the SUFF, and Be CALM and Entrust the SUFF.

In closing I’ll leave you with one last military quote, spoken by former US Navy SEAL Marcus Lattrell, whom the movie “Lone Survivor” was based on…when you are in the heat of a fiery trial remember…” You are NEVER out of the FIGHT!” Let us pray.