Things get out of proportion when we are suffering, and it takes a vision of something bigger than ourselves to get life's dimensions adjusted again. Note that he says we need to recover our lost perspective on life. And what I would like to try to do with you here this morning is to give to you a perspective that we can sink our teeth into when we are undergoing personal trials, a perspective for us when we're in the midst of trials. So I'm gonna ask you to turn in your Bibles with me, please, to 1 Peter chapter 4.
If you would turn in your Bibles to First Peter chapter 4 and just by way of backdrop, the receivers of this message, Peter's audience are scattered believers. They are scattered because of persecution. They are on the receiving end of persecution and so therefore these believers are suffering. These are believers who have been sinned against, if you will.
Some of these believers haven't done anything wrong at all. To deserve the ill treatment that they are receiving, and there may be some believers, however, who unfortunately because of their own wrongdoing may be on the receiving end of attack as well. But for all intents and purposes, what Peter is seeking to do is to encourage them in the midst of their trials, to encourage them in the midst of their suffering, and he wants to give to them, I submit to you a gospel-infused perspective in relation to their trials in life. There's a number of places in First Peter where he addresses this issue of trials and suffering.
But what I want us to do, this morning is to focus our attention in 1 Peter 4:12. 1st Peter 4:12, and I believe that this passage, verses 12 and 13 will help us to answer the question, how can one stand in the midst of suffering? How can one stand in the midst of suffering? Look at the passage with me, please, as I read aloud....
