1 Peter 4

Verses 1-2, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”  Christ suffered in the flesh; so being His followers, we need to prepare ourselves for the reality that we too will suffer in the flesh. When you arm yourself with this mindset, you won't be so easily shaken by the trials. There is no room to be passive about letting your flesh rule your thoughts and actions. Jesus was committed to obeying the will of the Father in mind and spirit. He chose to suffer in the flesh for our salvation. We also need this same committment to God's will, which will require endurance through trials and suffering. After all, that is what trials are intended to produce in us...endurance; and that is why we should rejoice in them. James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

We have wasted enough time walking according to the flesh, and obeying its desires. Our flesh seeks pleasure and avoids pain. If you are avoiding suffering in the flesh now, you will not partake of His rest later. Considering that time is short, we need to make a conscious choice about how we spend the time that is left. Verse 3-6, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”  The only way you will be considered strange is if you don't look like the world and act like the world. Your flesh will cause you to avoid these persecutions by compromising the truth so that you can have peace with man...but we need peace with God! Knowing the righteous judgement of God ought to motivate us to walk in holy fear and reverence.

Verses 7-10, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  Because time is so short, we are told to be serious and watchful in our prayers, to have fervent love for each other, and to be hospitable without complaining, using the gifts that God has given us to minister to one another. Love covers a multitude of sins, but not in the way that sinners would like to think. The covering is not hiding or ignoring others' sin, but rather exposing their sin, so that they can turn back to the truth and be saved. James 5:19‭-‬20, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”  In this same section, Elijah prayed for God's blessing of rain to be withheld from sinful people to bring them to repentance. The most loving thing we can do sometimes is pray that a person's flesh will be destroyed so that their soul can be saved. They may need blessings withheld!

Verse 11, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  Let's save our well-meaning personal advice, and stick to God's counsel when dealing with others. There is no power in the opinions of man...only power in His word. As ambassadors for Christ, speak the truth that God supplies, being careful not to water down the message to make it more pleasing to men.  Matthew 12:36‭-‬37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Make certain that your words represent the Lord, and not the foolish wisdom of the world which has no lasting benefit. We also know that we will suffer when we speak the truth, because Christ suffered. 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” John 15:18-19, “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.”  If you blend in so much of the world that the world receives you, then you are doing something seriously wrong.

Verses 12-16, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”  Having the right mindset will certainly help you endure persecutions, but you need to make sure that your suffering is indeed for Christ. If you are suffering the consequences of your evil deeds, you ought to be ashamed and repent. For instance, we know that the company that we keep will affect us spiritually...the way of the wicked leads you astray and corrupts any good morals you once had. If you then suffer because of your bad choices, it is not to your credit if you endure the suffering...and you will not be blessed.

Verses 17-19, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? No 'If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?' Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”  God will use suffering and trials, as judgement, in order to purify the body of Christ. We need to commit to doing good and allow the training God wants to do in us through the suffering. Praying to escape the discomfort of our trials may not be the answer. We also need to allow others to experience suffering, knowing the purification that it will produce in them. Rescuing people from their troubles may actually, at times, interfere with the judgment of God. They need to commit their souls to Him, and the pain they are experiencing is meant to bring them wholly back to God. You need to point them in that direction.

Hebrews 12:5-11, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  It may not feel like it at the time, but chastening is for our own good. Rather than resisting God, we need to remain humble and teachable, so that we will be useful for His purposes and escape the condemnation that will come upon the rest of the world.