Fiery Trials

~~~~~~~ No 19 in the series - The Epistles of Peter. ~~~~~~~ **Considering 1 Peter 4: 12-16** Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, ..... Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. *1/ Fiery trails and thinking rightly about them. 2/ A cause of rejoicing. 3/ God's verdict concerning his people and those that reproach them for his sake. 4/ A searching question - Are we really suffering as a Christian?* **Sermon summary:** This sermon, drawn from 1 Peter 4:12–16, presents a profound theological reflection on the nature and purpose of suffering for believers, framing trials not as random afflictions but as divinely appointed experiences designed to refine faith, deepen fellowship with Christ, and reveal God's sovereign goodness. It emphasizes that suffering—particularly when endured for Christ's sake—is not strange or indicative of divine abandonment, but a mark of spiritual kinship with Christ, who Himself endured reproach and persecution, and a foretaste of the future glory that will be revealed. The preacher underscores that God's perspective on suffering differs radically from human judgment: while the world may revile the believer, God declares the believer glorified, and the Spirit of glory rests upon them. The sermon calls for discernment, urging believers to examine whether their suffering stems from faithful witness to Christ or from personal sin, misbehaviour, or misguided zeal, reminding the audience that true Christian suffering is not self-inflicted but arises from faithful discipleship.