Principles to Guide Us in the Midst of Suffering
1. Joyfully endure suffering (vv 13, 14) - We must view our life with the triumphant view of an overcomer! Satan only attacks those who are living righteously.
2. Sanctify (establish exclusively) Jesus in our hearts (v 15) - We have a SURE hope… that anchors our soul, and allows us to testify to others.
3. Keep doing right even in the midst of our suffering (v 16) - Make those ashamed who falsely accuse us. Satan’s world wants to see us fail, because there is always much collateral damage.
4. Make sure we are suffering for the RIGHT reasons (v 17) - Is our suffering the chastening hand of God… or Satan’s darts?
5. We can endue suffering because righteousness will ALWAYS overcome (v18-20) - We are victors in Christ!
6. Our faithfulness in suffering will point sinners to Christ! - Only God’s children can have joy in the midst of suffering.

1Peter 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1Peter 3:16   Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Peter 3:18   For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1Peter 3:21   The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.