Peter instructs us to view our present trials from the perspective of eternity. When we walk with Jesus Christ, submitting to His plans and remaining faithful to Him, our suffering down here will result in additional delights in heaven. The Apostle Peter focuses upon the positive aspects or benefits of suffering as a Christian. Many Christians are surprised or shocked when the trials and sufferings of Christ come into their lives. There is a popular theology which is espoused by some which suggests that the sun always shines upon the Christians, that our grass is always greener, and that the spiritual temperature around us is always ideal (fair-weather believers). Peter is reminding us that such teaching is simply not true. In fact, as we have seen, Christians will often suffer for doing good (1 Peter 3:13-18). We should not be surprised when the fiery trials come our way. We are at spiritual warfare with Satan himself. It is not a strange or unusual thing. Christians have faced trials and have suffered for their faith from the beginning of the church. Peter, himself, suffered greatly for his Christian faith. Tradition tells us that he was crucified on a cross upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same way as did his Master, Jesus Christ.

       OCCASION FOR TRIALS (1 Peter 4:12- Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you”).

1. TRIALS WILL HAPPEN: 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Note Jesus’ sayings: John 15:18-21 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” Peter probably wrote this letter shortly before or after the burning of Rome, and at the beginning of the horrors of a 200-year period of Christian persecution. “do not think it strange” – do not be surprised (same word used in 1 Peter 4:4) “happened to you” – means “to fall by chance.” A Christian must not think that his persecution is something that happened accidentally. “happened” – is a compound word meaning to stand; together. The word often envisioned two parties meeting to discuss differences and, hopefully, to arrive at a compromise. Gradually it simply adopted the idea of “coming together” in the sense of “happening” as used here. The Christian, by his profession, is on a collision course with suffering. The world is antagonistic to the saints’ commitment. 
   
   
2. SOME TRIALS WILL BE HOT: “fiery” – the image of fire is often applied to testing or persecution. “He is really going through the fire!” Peter saw in the image of fire a refining process. 1 Peter 1:7 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” God’s purpose in allowing trouble is to test the reality of one’s faith. But the benefit of such a testing or “fire” is immediately for the Christian, not God. When a believer comes through a trial still trusting the Lord, he is assured that his faith is genuine. The image of the refiner’s fire suggests that such suffering purifies and strengthens Christians. “fiery” – focuses on the severity of the trials. A chronicle of the sufferings of Paul (2 Cor. 11:21-28) or of the heroes of the faith (Heb. 11:32-40) provides insight into the extent of these expected trials. The trials not only provide witness to onlookers concerning the adequacy of our faith, they even assist in demonstrating for the benefit of the one being tested that the Lord is able to meet every need in the fiery furnace. 
   
   
3. SOME TRIALS WILL BE HELPFUL: You are encouraged to see God’s purpose behind your difficulties, enabling you to grow stronger in faith and give more glory to God.

       OPPORTUNITY FOR REJOICING (1 Peter 4:13,14 – “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”). The Christian who is persecuted for his faith is a partner in the same kind of suffering Jesus endured; suffering for doing what is right. Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” The verb translated “granted” is from the noun for grace. Believers’ suffering is a gift of grace which brings power and eternal reward (1 Peter 4:13). 1 Peter 5:10 “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.” While the believer is being personally attacked by the enemy, he is being personally perfected by the Lord.

       Suffering allows us to glorify His name. Anything we must suffer for the sake of Christ becomes a privilege and not a penalty. Rejoice, for your glory day is near!