Don't Be Surprised, But Rejoice

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon by recounting Peter's rebuke of Jesus regarding His suffering, contrasting it with Peter's later conviction that suffering for Christ is inevitable…

Martin uses the analogy of a relaxed social gathering suddenly interrupted by an 'electrifying' comment or action to illustrate the shock and tension Peter's rebuke of Jesus created among the disciples.

The kind of interaction we have down in the foyer, after the service, in our homes, sitting in the living room with well-loved company in our homes. And into that setting of relaxed, goodwill, free conversation. Somebody says something or does something that immediately, as it were, injects an electrical...

2:16 - 2:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin highlights Peter's use of 'Beloved' as a significant, intentional term of endearment, assuring the suffering saints of God's deep love for them before delving into…

He compares Peter's process of writing the epistle, pausing and gathering his thoughts, to how one might compose a significant letter using sketchy notes to ensure all important points are included.

The various items that he wants to be sure to include in this letter. The same way some of us do that when we're composing a letter that is more than just the effusion of our hearts to an intimate friend. We may take little notes and as we then dictate or write the letter, tick off the items. Well, imagine Peter may have, may have, I have no evidence that he did, but he may have, could well have had a sketchy outline of what he wanted to say or at least in his mind as he contemplated what he wants to tell us.

12:17 - 12:47 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Dearly loved ones. Dearly loved ones. Dearly loved ones. In all that you read from my pen, Peter is saying, remember, I write out of the passion of principled love and concern for your souls.

Martin references the common 'You are loved' stickers and cards to highlight how trite the phrase has become, yet how deeply people still need to know they are loved, underscoring the significance of Peter's 'Beloved'.

And more than that, you are not only loved by me, but you are loved by God, your heavenly Father, and by Christ, your almighty Savior. So whatever I tell you about the will of God being that which leads you into suffering, remember it is the God who loves you with infinite, deep, inexplicable love. And he wants them to know that. We've seen the trite little phrase on little stickers, the magnetic stickers, that go on the refrigerator and in little remembrance cards, you are loved.

16:48 - 17:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Prepare for focused, shameless persecution for the name of Christ in the years to come, especially for those with right-angled convictions who will not compromise with post-modern relativism.

He shares the anecdote of a woman facing legal opposition for simply saying 'have a blessed day' at work, illustrating the increasing intolerance for even veiled references to God in a post-modern climate and foreshadowing future persecution.

heresy is to believe there is such a thing as heresy. And for you to say however sweetly, however graciously however compassionately that you believe men are lost that there is an absolute moral law and that God before me for whom all will give account in the day of judgment and except men repent they will perish and if you seek to work out a consistent lifestyle as a Christian bringing every thought captive to Christ, the whole of your life in every area, in every relationship in every set of circumstances seeking to glorify God by a life of meticulous obedience to his word the time may well ...

26:45 - 28:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Prepare for focused, shameless persecution for the name of Christ in the years to come, especially for those with right-angled convictions who will not compromise with post-modern relativism.

He cites the opposition faced by students trying to use rooms for prayer in public schools as another example of the 'first leaping force' of opposition that may escalate into intense persecution.

All she says is have a blessed day. There is legal opposition seeking to shut her mouth for simply saying have a blessed day, you see that infers that there's someone to give the blessing and that someone is outside of us and above us and controls things, that's a veiled illusion to God that is a violation of the American way of life. That stuff is going to increase. Some of you know the opposition in many public schools when students have tried to use a room just to gather to pray.

28:14 - 28:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The core command is to continually rejoice, without self-pity or moroseness, viewing every awareness of the fire's heat as a trigger for intensified joy, echoing Jesus' and Paul's…

Martin contrasts the commanded rejoicing with the self-pitying attitude expressed in the camp song 'Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to eat worms,' to emphasize the positive, joyful response required of believers.

but don't do this but this is what you're to do and what is it but in so much as you are partakers of Christ suffering rejoice that at the revelation of his glory also you may rejoice with exceeding joy he gives the essence of the response and then he gives reasons for the response what's the essence of the response and it's beautiful in the original this little imperative use of the verb I rejoice stands right in the middle of those two lengthier statements Peter says but on the other hand in so much in so far to the extent you are partakers of Christ suffering rejoice rejoice that at the rev...

34:28 - 35:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The only ground on which God can righteously pardon sin is found in the sufferings of Jesus plus no sufferings of you or anyone else a million angels no the blood of Jesus God's son cleanses from all sin no suffering of …

He quotes Archbishop Leighton to explain why the world hates Christians: their holy walk condemns the world's disorder and profaneness, stirring up a 'contrary fire of wicked hatred.'

part and parcel of vital saving Christianity that all can say in Romans 8 17 that the people of God will be glorified with Christ if so be that they suffer with Christ Philippians 1 29 to you it has been granted given as a gift of grace not only to believe on his name but to suffer for him and what lies at the root of that opposition to Christ and therefore to the people of Christ well the Lord more than hints at it in the passage that I read to you said if I had not come they had no sin but now they have no excuse for this I've exposed them John 3 19 this is the condemnation light has come in...

43:19 - 44:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second reason to rejoice is that present joy in suffering is a certain pledge and preparation for a greater, unmixed, exulting joy at the revelation of Christ's glory at His…

Martin quotes Lutheran commentator Lenski's vivid description of the future 'exceeding joy' as 'exulting, jubilating, skipping and bubbling over with shouts of joy,' to convey the intensity of the promised future rejoicing.

who are wondering how can I rejoice when the troubles become a burning and when the troubles are providentially ordered to test me I'm to rejoice why because you are not only sharing now in the sufferings of Christ but as you rejoice you are preparing yourself for a moment of greater rejoicing that rejoicing that will be yours at the coming of your lord and here there's a subtle emphasis in the grammar he uses an heiress subjunctive that you may rejoice with a concentrated isolated burst of joy that will be unique at the moment he comes and then he follows it with a participle that you may rej...

49:12 - 50:39 Read in full sermon