Committing Your Soul To God
1 Peter 4:19
INTRODUCTION
A.1:3-6: The original recipients of this letter were experiencing some distressing trials, including persecution.
1.Peter focuses heavily on encouraging (giving hope to) his readers to persevere through their “various trials.”
1)4:12: They are admonished not to be alarmed at an unnamed “fiery ordeal.”
2)Rather, they should “keep on rejoicing” in the sharing in “the sufferings of Christ.”
B.While we might not ever endure “physical” persecution, it is unlikely that we will escape occasional “verbal” or “social” persecution.
1.Therefore, what Peter has to say can be of great benefit to help us persevere in such circumstances. Peter gives 3 reasons to rejoice in various trials.
1)13: It means glory in the future – “at the revelation of His glory.”
2)14: It means blessing in the present – “Spirit of glory…rests upon you.”
3)15-16: It means Christ is glorified – “glorify God.”
*When we endure any trial through the strength Jesus gives us, we will make manifest the “life” (power) of Jesus (2 Cor 4:7-11).
C.A warning is given along with the encouragement to endure and rejoice.
1.Suffering will provide no benefit if it is the result of sin.
1)4:19: Only by suffering as a true servant of God may one truly give his soul over to Him.
2)We have every reason to rejoice in times of persecution.
3)But for us to make the most of such situations, we need not only “rejoice”, but also to “reflect” – Use the time to…
I.EXAMINE YOUR LIFE (15-18)
A.If we must suffer, make it worthwhile.
1.15: Make sure it is not for reasons listed by Peter.
1)“Murderer” – Human life is cheap to those who do not believe in God.
* Especially in ancient history – murder was common.
* Many today look upon murder so lightly.
2)“Thief” – Common, especially among slaves.
3)“Evildoer” – Law breaker – all types of lawlessness – criminal.
4)“Troublesome meddler” – (allotrioepiskopos)
* Allotrios – Belonging to another.
* Episkopos – Overseer, bishop.
* Literally – one who oversees others’ affairs.
* Brings unnecessary suffering to the church.
2.16: Make sure it is because we are “Christians.”
1)It is an opportunity to “glorify God.”
2)It is an opportunity to demonstrate the grace He gives us to endure.
B.17: “For it is time for judgment to begin”
1.This is not the final judgment because it was to begin at that time in the near future. It refers to the destruction of Jerusalem.
1)7: It was the “fiery trial” (12) Christians were beginning to undergo.
2)1 Cor 11:32: “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.”
3)Note: Eternal judgment is ever near to each one.
2.“With the household of God” (1 Tim 3:15).
1)One thing we need to understand is that we will suffer whether we are Christians or not.
2)A person may become unfaithful because of sickness, or death in the family, family troubles, natural calamities.
3)But that is not going to help him escape such problems.
4)He is worse off because now he has no hope – nothing better to look forward to.
3.“And if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
1)If God allows His children to suffer “for righteousness sake” terrible things now, what will be the final outcome for those who do not obey God?
2)If God allows His holy and righteous people to be burned at the stake, tortured with pain, crucified on a cross, etc. what will the ungodly man have to face?
C.18: “And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?”
1.Does this mean that Christians will barely be saved?
1)2 Pet 1:11: “For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”
2.Trials would be so severe that the righteous would come through them with great difficulty. (They escaped the city of Jerusalem).
1)Matt 24:22: Jesus said, “And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
2)But the ungodly would be much worse off. (Over 1 million killed).
3.What God permits Christians to suffer for His cause is almost unbelievable, beyond our capability to understand.
1)Therefore, the end result of the ungodly and disobedient spending eternity in hell is something beyond our imagination (Prov 11:31).
2)If you think suffering for doing right in this life is bad, just think what hell would be like for those who do not do what is right.
4.In view of the coming judgment of God, of which the persecution of the saved is only a forerunner (sign) – use the times of persecution to reflect and make sure of our standing before God.
II.COMMIT YOURSELF TO GOD (19)
A.The act of committing your soul to God requires righteous suffering.
1.And rightly so, for suffering has a way of filtering out “lip-service” Christians.
1)Often, one’s lack of true faith and trust in the Lord will only be shown when it is put to the test.
2.Suffering also has its more positive benefits.
1)14: Peter tells us we are blessed if we suffer for Christ’s sake.
2)1 Cor 10:13: One can be uplifted by trials.
* Implied here is the fact that suffering is evidence of the faith God has in you. The Father is saying, “I believe in you!.”
* From this confidence we can gain great strength!
3)It is part of God’s plan that suffering be endured.
B.“Commit” (entrust) means to “deposit money with a trusted friend”
1.What does this commitment involve?
1)God is in control of your life.
2)But this does not mean you simply put your life on “autopilot.”
3)It requires – “doing what is right” no matter the cost.
4)Why? Because of your love for the “faithful Creator.”
5)He promised the strength and power to overcome every circumstance.
2.When you commit the keeping of your soul to God, you are allowing Him to be its protector.
1)But this does not mean that all hardship will suddenly disappear.
2)In fact, this passage clearly stresses quite the opposite.
3.Committing your soul to God is not something you do only at one moment in your life.
1)Keeping the faith is not about “going through the motions.”
1 Cor 4:16: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
2)Entrusting your soul to the Father involves renewing your inner self daily.
* Through prayer.
* Study and dedication to His precepts.
* It involves putting into practice your sincere love of the brethren.
4.The Christian’s attitude under suffering and persecution is the crux of the matter.
1)A good attitude will see him through.
2)A bad attitude will destroy him.
5.The attitude we should possess is, “Not My will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42).
1)Luke 23:46: Just as Jesus committed (exact same word) His spirit into the hands of the Father, we, too, must fully hand ourselves over to Him.
2)2 Tim 1:12: Paul committed – deposited his spirit with a trust friend.
3)Song – “Where could I go but to the Lord?”
CONCLUSION
1.Certainly we should hope and pray that we never have to endure the sort of persecution experienced by the early Christians (1 Tim 2:1-2).
1.But if we do, will we be prepared?
2.We can be, if we take to heart the words of the apostle Peter in his epistle.
2.As for being prepared, have you “obeyed” the gospel?
1.Some think it odd that the gospel is to be “obeyed” and not just “believed.”
2.But both Peter and Paul warn of the end of those “who do not obey the gospel”
(1 Pet 4:19; 2 Thes 1:8-10).
3.How does one obey the gospel?
1.Mark 16:15-16; Rom 6:3-4, 17: Obey from the heart that teaching.
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