WEBVTT 00:00:03.032 --> 00:00:11.233 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. 00:00:11.233 --> 00:00:21.565 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 00:00:27.932 --> 00:00:35.033 Well, we're continuing in our study of First Peter, where we've been on this theme of finding joy in suffering. 00:00:35.033 --> 00:00:37.600 How do we not just survive suffering? 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:43.665 And sometimes that's what you have to do, but how do we also find joy in the midst of it? 00:00:43.665 --> 00:00:52.566 This week in particular, Peter is going to talk about what do you do in those times where you think you're doing the right thing, where you're trying to do the right thing, and yet you suffer for it? 00:00:54.432 --> 00:00:59.232 I remember back a moment where I experienced this in elementary school. 00:00:59.232 --> 00:01:02.932 We were on the bus and the bus driver loved her tunes. 00:01:02.932 --> 00:01:10.099 She would always play one of two eight tracks rotated back and forth through them, and one day she said, threw it out to the bus. 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:14.566 Hey, if you guys got an eight track you'd like to play, I'd love to hear it. 00:01:14.566 --> 00:01:17.465 Let's mix it up a little bit, bring in some new music. 00:01:17.465 --> 00:01:22.033 And I thought, I can't wait to introduce them to the Imperials. 00:01:22.033 --> 00:01:28.533 Now, if you know the Imperials, you know they're like a gospel band, but kind of slower even. 00:01:28.533 --> 00:01:34.165 And it's not necessarily what you want to introduce your elementary school classmates to. 00:01:34.165 --> 00:01:34.933 I didn't know that. 00:01:34.933 --> 00:01:36.066 I thought, this is great. 00:01:36.066 --> 00:01:37.465 They're going to love it, too. 00:01:37.465 --> 00:01:42.165 The teacher, the bus driver asked, so I brought the track, handed it to her. 00:01:42.165 --> 00:01:43.233 She was excited. 00:01:43.233 --> 00:01:45.865 The bus was excited. Something new. 00:01:45.865 --> 00:01:47.066 And she put it in. 00:01:47.066 --> 00:01:50.165 And I'm telling you, within 30s I knew this was a big mistake. 00:01:51.665 --> 00:01:55.465 Big mistake because no one would even look at me. 00:01:55.465 --> 00:01:58.066 They did not want to hear this music. 00:01:58.066 --> 00:02:06.266 The worst part was that the bus driver either, who knows why, either to make me suffer more or because she just didn't know what else to do. 00:02:06.266 --> 00:02:14.066 She just let the whole thing play, even though right away we all knew this is not music that is welcomed on this bus we show up at school. 00:02:14.066 --> 00:02:15.733 It was like a 45 minute drive. 00:02:15.733 --> 00:02:17.466 It was down Carter Elementary. 00:02:17.466 --> 00:02:24.332 We show up at school, she takes out the track and she walks over to me and she goes, don't bring this back again. 00:02:24.566 --> 00:02:26.500 Now, you know, here I was. 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:28.765 I thought I was doing a good thing. 00:02:28.765 --> 00:02:33.900 I thought, let me introduce people to some Christian music, some music that's enjoyable. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:36.665 She asked. I'm here to help out. 00:02:36.665 --> 00:02:39.233 And yet I was punished for it. 00:02:39.233 --> 00:02:44.932 I suffered for, of course, that is a very small punishment or suffering in life. 00:02:44.932 --> 00:02:52.000 What about when you are trying to do the right thing because of your faith and you're punished for it? 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:53.032 You suffer for it. 00:02:53.032 --> 00:02:58.233 Maybe it's an employer, maybe it's a family member, maybe it's a neighbor. 00:02:58.233 --> 00:02:59.366 Someone you thought I was. 00:02:59.366 --> 00:03:00.900 I thought I was doing the right thing. 00:03:02.466 --> 00:03:07.665 One of our elders says where I work, no good deed goes unpunished. 00:03:07.866 --> 00:03:09.199 You've had that happen. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.332 What do you do? 00:03:10.332 --> 00:03:14.733 Well, Peter, in this passage today is going to share with us, I think, three things in particular. 00:03:14.733 --> 00:03:18.932 We're going to be in chapter three, verses 13 through 17. 00:03:18.932 --> 00:03:25.532 Here we're going to see him first address an assumption about suffering for doing well. 00:03:25.532 --> 00:03:27.265 Then he'll give us a strategy. 00:03:27.265 --> 00:03:28.800 What should I do then? 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.032 If I'm suffering? 00:03:31.032 --> 00:03:33.066 But then lastly will be a motivation. 00:03:33.066 --> 00:03:35.532 What should be my motivation in the midst of that? 00:03:35.532 --> 00:03:39.800 So we'll have an assumption, a strategy, a motivation. 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:43.966 Those are going to be if you have a church Bible verse, Peter three is on page 954. 00:03:43.966 --> 00:03:48.466 Go ahead and turn there and we'll look at those three things assumption, strategy, motivation. 00:03:49.466 --> 00:03:52.765 First Peter three verse 13. 00:03:52.932 --> 00:03:57.566 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 00:03:57.566 --> 00:04:04.233 But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. 00:04:04.233 --> 00:04:35.000 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason, for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 00:04:36.132 --> 00:04:44.000 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:52.132 The first thing we see here is an assumption about this reality of those who might be persecuted, might suffer for doing good. 00:04:52.132 --> 00:04:56.399 In verse 13 he says, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:57.632 And here's the assumption. 00:04:57.632 --> 00:05:00.632 The assumption is that that's not normal. 00:05:01.266 --> 00:05:04.600 In fact, he uses a it's kind of a rhetorical question. 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:06.432 You expect the answer to be, well, no one. 00:05:07.466 --> 00:05:10.665 And then there's actually in this verse, I won't drag it out. 00:05:10.665 --> 00:05:18.132 But in the original language is a very rare verb form that assumes this whole situation is unlikely. 00:05:18.333 --> 00:05:23.266 It's almost like he's saying that's not likely to happen, though, is it? 00:05:23.266 --> 00:05:28.165 If you who is there to harm you, if you are zealous for what is good? 00:05:28.165 --> 00:05:31.165 And of course, this was kind of the point of last week's message. 00:05:31.165 --> 00:05:41.966 In Psalm 34, we saw that that was a quote in first Peter from Psalm 34, and that David in that instance had been depending on God to rescue him from a dangerous situation. 00:05:41.966 --> 00:05:44.333 And God did, and God was faithful. 00:05:44.333 --> 00:05:46.466 God rescued his anointed one. 00:05:46.466 --> 00:05:48.833 And so David writes out some instruction to us. 00:05:48.833 --> 00:05:55.932 And so if you're to live out some of what's listed here, keep your tongue from evil, turn away from evil, do good, seek peace, and pursue it. 00:05:55.932 --> 00:05:57.533 These are verses ten through 12. 00:05:57.533 --> 00:06:03.233 If you live that out, more than likely things are going to go well for you. 00:06:03.233 --> 00:06:12.000 If you follow God's plan, the assumption is more than likely things will go well. 00:06:12.065 --> 00:06:15.899 Not only that, but when it says who is there to harm you? 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:22.833 We know as Christians we know at the end of the day, there is no harm that can happen to us on earth. 00:06:22.833 --> 00:06:30.065 Yes, of course there's physical harm, but ultimate harm is not possible. 00:06:30.065 --> 00:06:34.899 I'm thinking of Romans chapter eight where they talk about what? 00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:37.065 Where he talks about what can separate us from the Lord. 00:06:37.065 --> 00:06:39.600 Can anything can death, persecution, peril? 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.266 Can anything separate us from the Lord? 00:06:41.266 --> 00:06:44.266 No, nothing can. 00:06:44.565 --> 00:06:53.065 And so we know that even in the midst of whatever trial we might face, ultimately no one can do us real, significant, eternal harm. 00:06:54.065 --> 00:06:55.932 So that's the assumption here. 00:06:55.932 --> 00:06:58.932 The assumption is that it's not likely. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:02.500 And yet verse 14 addresses the other side of the coin. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:03.565 Look at verse a coin. 00:07:03.565 --> 00:07:05.800 Look at verse 14. 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:13.766 But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. 00:07:14.333 --> 00:07:16.132 Maybe it's not likely. 00:07:16.132 --> 00:07:19.165 Maybe it's not normal that you suffer for doing good. 00:07:19.165 --> 00:07:20.565 But it does happen. 00:07:20.565 --> 00:07:22.500 It can happen. 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:25.432 Maybe the assumption is is that it's not likely to happen. 00:07:25.432 --> 00:07:26.632 It does happen. 00:07:26.632 --> 00:07:29.199 Many of you have had it happen. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.632 What should our mindset be in the midst of that? 00:07:32.632 --> 00:07:35.300 And Peter uses an interesting word here. 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:37.000 He just uses the word blessed. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:40.932 In fact, again in the original language, it doesn't have the verb here. 00:07:40.932 --> 00:07:43.665 Even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. 00:07:43.665 --> 00:07:46.865 It doesn't say you will be blessed, just says blessed. 00:07:46.865 --> 00:07:49.065 Just a declarative word. 00:07:49.065 --> 00:07:49.699 Blessed. 00:07:51.833 --> 00:07:54.165 It doesn't always feel that way, though, does it? 00:07:54.165 --> 00:08:01.766 In the midst of the challenge, in the midst of the suffering, it doesn't feel like this is blessing really. 00:08:01.766 --> 00:08:24.966 This is partly why we come here every week, because the messages we hear all week long, at every turn, at every layer of the world, is that your significant if you buy this thing, if you live this way, if you value this other thing, and we come here to get a true reminder of where our value is rooted in fact, that word blessed is going to be a familiar one. 00:08:24.966 --> 00:08:29.865 If you've read other words of Jesus, flip over to Matthew five. 00:08:29.865 --> 00:08:33.365 This is probably the most prominent place where that word is used. 00:08:33.365 --> 00:08:36.000 It's going to be a few pages back the front of the New Testament. 00:08:37.765 --> 00:08:40.799 Matthew five is famously called the sermon on the Mount. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.232 That's where it's one of Jesus's longest recorded sermons. 00:08:44.232 --> 00:08:47.700 And he starts out just with that word, blessed over and over and over again. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:52.200 And by doing this, and we're going to read some of these phrases, here's what he's doing. 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:55.100 He is reversing what the world values. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:55.432 He's saying. 00:08:55.432 --> 00:08:58.365 You want to know what is really a blessed life? 00:08:58.365 --> 00:09:00.133 Let me tell you. 00:09:00.133 --> 00:09:04.466 And you look at Matthew chapter five and we just read off a few of these phrases. 00:09:04.466 --> 00:09:07.765 Verse three blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.566 Blessed are those who mourn. 00:09:11.566 --> 00:09:13.299 Blessed are the meek. 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:16.865 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:09:16.865 --> 00:09:17.966 Blessed are the merciful. 00:09:17.966 --> 00:09:19.500 Blessed are the pure in heart. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:20.966 Blessed are the peacemakers. 00:09:20.966 --> 00:09:29.299 But then he lands in verse ten, 11 and 12 where Peter is talking about today, you know who's blessed, the culmination of blessing. 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:32.966 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. 00:09:32.966 --> 00:09:38.000 Same phrase Peter draws on persecuted for righteousness sake. 00:09:38.865 --> 00:09:40.799 For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:47.066 Blessed are you when others revile you, persecute you, utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 00:09:47.066 --> 00:09:53.000 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:55.466 I was in a meeting once with a group of guys. 00:09:55.466 --> 00:10:03.732 We were serving in a ministry, and one of the local businesses was accusing our ministry of some things that weren't true. 00:10:03.732 --> 00:10:09.265 And in this meeting, one of the guys in this meeting was very upset. 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:12.700 Furious about these false accusations. 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:27.633 And that's the time, though, for us, according to this verse, our response to that should be rejoice and be glad, for our reward is great in heaven. 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:34.299 Now, I'm not talking about if they have legitimate gripes against us. That happens too. 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:35.966 We're not perfect. 00:10:35.966 --> 00:10:40.799 Just because someone is upset with you doesn't mean that you're suffering for righteousness sake. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:43.799 Sometimes you really blew it. 00:10:44.166 --> 00:10:50.166 But there are times when you take a stand for Christ and you suffer as a result. 00:10:50.166 --> 00:10:51.765 And it's not natural. 00:10:51.765 --> 00:10:54.765 But here is our call rejoice. 00:10:55.100 --> 00:11:01.332 Be glad your reward is great in heaven. 00:11:01.332 --> 00:11:13.166 God's values are different than the world's values, and we've got to keep reminding ourself of that truth over and over and over again. Here the assumption is this isn't likely. 00:11:13.166 --> 00:11:16.166 It's not normal, but it happens. 00:11:16.466 --> 00:11:25.666 Now, what do you do if you have suffered for righteousness sake, if you suffered because you've taken a stand for your faith and someone persecuted you for it, you're trying to do the right thing. 00:11:25.666 --> 00:11:26.299 What do you do? 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:29.365 He's going to give us a couple of strategies here. 00:11:29.365 --> 00:11:33.232 I think two separate strategies in the next group of verses. 00:11:33.232 --> 00:11:37.666 Look back at verse, last part of verse 14. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:40.799 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 00:11:41.265 --> 00:11:56.133 Verse 15- but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason, for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. 00:11:56.265 --> 00:12:01.133 The first strategy here is to make sure you're fearing the right things. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:02.966 Make sure you fear the right things. 00:12:02.966 --> 00:12:05.533 Notice here, he says, do not fear them. 00:12:05.533 --> 00:12:08.533 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 00:12:09.232 --> 00:12:11.066 Here he's quoting Isaiah chapter eight. 00:12:11.066 --> 00:12:13.533 We already know Peter loves to quote the Old Testament. 00:12:13.533 --> 00:12:20.166 He's already quoted Isaiah chapter eight back in chapter two of First Peter, where he talked about a stone, a stumbling, a rock of offense. 00:12:20.166 --> 00:12:24.633 He was quoting from Isaiah chapter eight then, he's quoting here again from Isaiah chapter eight. 00:12:24.633 --> 00:12:31.732 In Isaiah chapter eight, the setting there was that the Assyrians were about to attack Israel, and Isaiah was warning them. 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:35.432 But in Isaiah the wording is a little different. 00:12:35.432 --> 00:12:38.432 It says, do not fear what they fear. 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:41.600 That's a good reminder. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:45.533 We're we're called not to fear what the world fears. 00:12:45.765 --> 00:12:48.765 The the world fears missing out. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:53.066 If I miss out on something, I'm less of a person. 00:12:53.066 --> 00:12:56.200 The world has different fears than we're called to have. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.832 That's what Isaiah says to them. 00:12:57.832 --> 00:12:59.066 Don't fear what they fear. 00:12:59.066 --> 00:13:12.000 Peter gives it a different emphasis and he says, not only don't fear what they fear, don't fear them, don't fear them, don't fear what they might do to you. 00:13:12.466 --> 00:13:20.166 28 he says, do not fear those who can kill the body, but not not the soul. 00:13:20.166 --> 00:13:24.365 Rather, fear those who can destroy both the body and soul in hell. 00:13:25.566 --> 00:13:28.466 Make sure your fears are in the right place. 00:13:28.466 --> 00:13:29.466 Have no fear of them. 00:13:29.466 --> 00:13:30.966 Don't fear what they can do. 00:13:30.966 --> 00:13:32.732 Don't let your fears be rooted there. 00:13:32.732 --> 00:13:35.133 Instead, look at what he says in response to that. 00:13:35.133 --> 00:13:42.133 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled instead, but in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy. 00:13:42.332 --> 00:13:45.332 Some translations sanctify the Lord. 00:13:45.533 --> 00:13:47.466 Of course, we can't sanctify him. 00:13:47.466 --> 00:13:53.265 We can't make him more holy, but we can remind ourselves constantly of how holy he is. 00:13:53.265 --> 00:13:57.133 I think that's the most powerful part of us worshiping together in the morning. 00:13:57.133 --> 00:14:06.365 I mean, we just start by saying over and over again, here's what's true at my heart needs to hear it because it doesn't believe it or it quickly forgets it. 00:14:06.365 --> 00:14:10.299 The smallest little thing happens and I forget how great God is. 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:13.000 I get overwhelmed by this tiny circumstance. 00:14:14.566 --> 00:14:22.000 It becomes everything, but I've gotta over and over again tell my heart he is holy. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.000 I've got to fear him. 00:14:25.732 --> 00:14:30.299 You know, the disciples went through this exchanging fears, fear of man for the fear of God. 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:35.066 The disciples in acts chapter five, they're preaching out publicly. 00:14:35.066 --> 00:14:43.466 They're preaching in the temple grounds, and Jewish leaders arrest them and say, you got to stop talking about this Jesus guy. 00:14:43.466 --> 00:14:45.966 He's dead and gone. 00:14:45.966 --> 00:14:51.633 And the phrase they say back to them, by the way, this is Peter. 00:14:51.633 --> 00:14:54.966 Peter, the guy who hid and denied Jesus. 00:14:56.832 --> 00:14:58.533 Here's what they say to those leaders. 00:14:58.533 --> 00:15:01.533 We must obey God rather than men. 00:15:02.332 --> 00:15:04.533 Do what you need to to us. 00:15:04.533 --> 00:15:08.265 Do what you want, but we've got to obey God, not not you. 00:15:08.265 --> 00:15:09.365 Talk about boldness. 00:15:11.133 --> 00:15:16.432 I mean, when you fear the right things, that's where boldness comes from. 00:15:16.432 --> 00:15:18.533 Boldness for the gospel. 00:15:18.533 --> 00:15:19.799 Peter made that exchange. 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.299 The disciples made that exchange. 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:22.932 We feared man before. 00:15:22.932 --> 00:15:24.399 We feared what man would do to us. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.666 And now we fear God. 00:15:25.666 --> 00:15:28.633 So fear the right things is the first strategy. 00:15:28.633 --> 00:15:37.466 Make sure your fear is rooted in the Lord and honoring him more than your fear of what anyone might do to you. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.966 But the next strategy here is in the next couple of verses. 00:15:39.966 --> 00:15:52.432 Look at verse 15- in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason, for the hope that is in you. 00:15:52.432 --> 00:15:54.633 The second strategy is to be prepared. 00:15:56.066 --> 00:15:57.832 Make sure you're prepared. 00:15:57.832 --> 00:15:59.133 Make sure you're ready. 00:15:59.133 --> 00:16:02.232 And I think there's three ways to be ready within the midst of this. 00:16:02.232 --> 00:16:06.865 These won't be on the screen, so you'll want to capture these three ways to be ready. 00:16:06.865 --> 00:16:09.865 First is spirit ready. 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.799 Make sure your spirit is ready. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:16.200 What I mean by that is make sure you're attentive to what the Holy Spirit is doing. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.500 Make sure you're listening. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:27.033 You're sensitive to how he might be moving, and might be opening the heart of someone else to want to hear about what God has done in your life. 00:16:27.133 --> 00:16:29.466 I've got a friend like this. 00:16:29.466 --> 00:16:32.100 Everywhere we go, he is always in tune. 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:35.133 He's always listening for just a word, a hint. 00:16:35.133 --> 00:16:36.899 Someone might say, it doesn't matter. 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:38.399 We might be out on a bike ride. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.966 We might be in a coffee shop. 00:16:39.966 --> 00:16:42.932 He's listening, waiting. Ready. 00:16:44.365 --> 00:16:46.299 Ready to initiate. 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.799 Oh, you like coffee? 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.966 You know, God’s like coffee. 00:16:48.966 --> 00:16:51.899 He brews. 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.932 Let me tell you about what God has done in my life. 00:16:53.932 --> 00:16:58.700 I mean, he looks for any hint to start to bring up a conversation. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:00.865 He's sensitive. He's thinking about his. 00:17:00.865 --> 00:17:07.032 He's ready in his spirit to defend the faith, the God, the hope that God has given him. 00:17:07.032 --> 00:17:08.000 That's the first way. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.732 The second way, spirit ready. 00:17:09.732 --> 00:17:12.732 Second way we see here is mind ready. 00:17:12.833 --> 00:17:13.766 Mind. 00:17:13.766 --> 00:17:19.165 You have prepared your mind to talk to others about the hope you have in yourself. 00:17:19.165 --> 00:17:21.500 He says it this way always be ready. 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:29.465 Look back at verse 15, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason that's in you. 00:17:30.465 --> 00:17:32.032 Interesting part of that phrase. 00:17:32.032 --> 00:17:34.299 Make a defense in the original language. 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:37.299 That sounds a lot like our word apology. 00:17:37.732 --> 00:17:38.665 That's where we get the phrase. 00:17:38.665 --> 00:17:41.665 You may have heard a Christian apologetics. 00:17:41.665 --> 00:17:44.965 Christian apologetics is where you learn to defend the faith. 00:17:44.965 --> 00:17:55.633 The confusing part of that, though, is when we use the word apology normally, we mean, I'm sorry because I'm wrong when I apologize, but that's not what this means here. 00:17:55.633 --> 00:18:04.932 When Paul was brought before Jewish leaders and told to defend his face, he faith, he wasn't saying, I'm sorry for being a Christian. 00:18:04.932 --> 00:18:06.165 No. He was making a case. 00:18:06.165 --> 00:18:08.165 Here's why I'm a Christian. 00:18:08.165 --> 00:18:14.633 Here's why you should be to so much so that Agrippa, King Agrippa was like, hey, are you trying to make me a Christian? 00:18:14.633 --> 00:18:16.066 Yes I am, that's the point. 00:18:17.665 --> 00:18:20.032 Be ready. 00:18:20.032 --> 00:18:22.299 And I know many of us are. 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.833 I'm sure you've thought this, I thought this. 00:18:23.833 --> 00:18:25.165 I'm sure others have said this to you. 00:18:25.165 --> 00:18:25.432 I'm. 00:18:25.432 --> 00:18:29.500 I'm kind of scared to talk about my faith because I won't have all the answers. 00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:32.032 Anybody else here afraid of not knowing something? 00:18:32.032 --> 00:18:34.766 Afraid of looking like you're wrong. 00:18:34.766 --> 00:18:37.400 That's probably my biggest fear in life. 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.965 One I've struggled with my whole life. 00:18:38.965 --> 00:18:41.532 I gotta, I gotta, I can't be seen as not knowing something. 00:18:41.532 --> 00:18:46.633 My gosh, who can know everything you want to know what's more powerful than that? 00:18:46.633 --> 00:18:48.432 Okay, three little words. 00:18:48.432 --> 00:18:50.799 I don't know. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:54.465 Let's figure it out together, I don't know. Good question. 00:18:54.465 --> 00:18:56.833 Let's figure it out together. 00:18:56.833 --> 00:19:03.599 One of the things we do here at church to help equip you, we do a dgroup, probably almost every tomb two, term. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.665 We do a dgroup on Wednesday nights. 00:19:05.665 --> 00:19:09.865 That's where you can get equipped, especially around Christian apologetics. 00:19:09.865 --> 00:19:14.232 We usually have one class in particular on that call, something around Christian worldview. 00:19:14.232 --> 00:19:17.365 Here's how you can better understand the questions the world is wrestling with. 00:19:17.365 --> 00:19:18.932 Here's how you can be better equipped. 00:19:20.032 --> 00:19:21.299 Check out one of those groups. 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.432 We have one going right now. 00:19:22.432 --> 00:19:24.965 30. 00:19:24.965 --> 00:19:33.766 But also just in your regular conversations with other Christians, talk about your faith. 00:19:33.865 --> 00:19:44.633 I think a lot of times we just assume a certain spiritual state about others we know well and talk about what God is doing in your life. 00:19:44.633 --> 00:19:45.900 Just bring it up occasionally. 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:52.232 Hey, tell me, what is God teaching you right now and not to put you on the defensive? 00:19:52.266 --> 00:19:54.266 I just want to hear what God's doing in your life. 00:19:54.266 --> 00:19:57.465 And you know what? And and be honest. 00:19:57.465 --> 00:20:01.165 If he's doing nothing in your life right now, just say it. It's okay. 00:20:01.165 --> 00:20:03.365 Look, I got to tell you, this is a dry season. 00:20:03.365 --> 00:20:04.232 Will you pray for me? 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.633 That's okay. 00:20:06.633 --> 00:20:07.833 But look for opportunities. 00:20:07.833 --> 00:20:12.865 Even with Christians who love you to talk about your faith in your small group. 00:20:12.865 --> 00:20:14.200 Say someone. Share your testimony. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.400 How did you come to know Christ? 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:20.299 Remind yourselves of what he did in your life over and over again. 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:23.299 And here's why that's important. 00:20:25.566 --> 00:20:30.299 You need to pause and remind yourself of how Christ rescued you regularly. 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:35.232 It's too easy to forget all he rescued you from. 00:20:35.232 --> 00:20:39.932 Remind yourself one easy way to do that is just to tell others. 00:20:39.932 --> 00:20:40.833 Tell other Christians. 00:20:40.833 --> 00:20:41.599 Tell other friends. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.665 Tell other family members. 00:20:42.665 --> 00:20:44.165 Here's what he did in my life. 00:20:44.165 --> 00:20:47.165 You've got to hear it because I've got to hear it. 00:20:47.165 --> 00:20:50.732 Be prepared in spirit, be prepared in mind. 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:54.700 And then lastly, be kind. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:56.633 Be prepared to be kind. 00:20:57.665 --> 00:20:59.665 Look at how he ends this section. 00:20:59.665 --> 00:21:06.932 Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason, for the hope that is in you. 00:21:06.932 --> 00:21:08.000 Here's the caveat. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:11.965 Yet do it with gentleness and respect. 00:21:12.965 --> 00:21:15.665 Having a good conscience. 00:21:15.665 --> 00:21:17.032 Sometimes people hear that. 00:21:17.032 --> 00:21:31.532 Always be ready to defend your faith and they love that idea of defending to the point of where they're defensive and off putting, and they get to the point where no one wants to be around them, and they're angry about their faith. 00:21:31.532 --> 00:21:39.432 But here it says, do it with gentleness and respect and with a good conscience. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:46.432 I've never seen anyone won to the faith through someone's aggressiveness and arguing and anger. 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:50.732 They might pretend to agree with you to get rid of you. 00:21:52.633 --> 00:21:54.032 Instead, we show gentleness. 00:21:54.032 --> 00:21:56.500 We show respect, we show kindness. 00:21:56.500 --> 00:22:02.299 I would hope that anyone who is wrestling with Christianity, wrestling with what it means to follow Christ. 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:08.465 If I would hope that if we talked, they would walk away going, maybe I don't agree with that guy, but I felt like he respected me. 00:22:08.465 --> 00:22:10.165 I felt like he listened to me. 00:22:10.165 --> 00:22:13.165 I felt like he cared about me. 00:22:13.965 --> 00:22:17.799 We're not here to pressure anyone into the faith. 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:22.365 God is at work and things take time. 00:22:22.365 --> 00:22:24.599 Yeah, occasionally someone has a radical conversion. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:33.133 Everything changes all at once, but usually it's a lot more of a long, slow process. 00:22:33.133 --> 00:22:37.965 I mean, just think about how many of you never even learned how to program a VCR. 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:44.032 You know, the VCR has come and gone and you try to figure it out how long it took to try to figure that out. 00:22:45.165 --> 00:22:49.165 Most people know nothing about the Bible. 00:22:49.165 --> 00:22:53.200 It's going to take a while for them to wrestle with questions. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.500 Let's be patient. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:56.900 You can't shortcut that process. 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.599 God's at work. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.000 Trust that he's at work in there. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.299 Let's keep praying. 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.566 Keep pressing in. 00:23:01.566 --> 00:23:03.232 Be kind through it all. 00:23:03.232 --> 00:23:04.766 Be prepared. 00:23:04.766 --> 00:23:07.932 So the assumption is not likely, but it does happen. 00:23:07.932 --> 00:23:10.333 We have a strategy. 00:23:10.333 --> 00:23:12.566 But there's a reason for all this. 00:23:12.566 --> 00:23:14.532 I love that Peter does this over and over again. 00:23:14.532 --> 00:23:17.032 He gives us the reason, the motivation for why. 00:23:17.032 --> 00:23:18.599 Why should I try? 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:21.599 Why should I be prepared? 00:23:21.732 --> 00:23:22.599 Look at this. 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.333 The motivation. 00:23:23.333 --> 00:23:26.333 It's in verse 16. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:35.833 Have a good conscience so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 00:23:37.633 --> 00:23:44.365 Now, part of you may feel like really, I should desire for someone to be shamed, to be put to shame. 00:23:44.365 --> 00:23:48.232 Some of us are going finally, you're speaking my language, right? 00:23:48.232 --> 00:23:49.099 Thank you. 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:54.665 I love that verse in Romans 12 about dumping burning coals on their head when you show them kindness. Right? 00:23:54.665 --> 00:23:55.465 That's my verse. 00:23:55.465 --> 00:23:58.465 I'm going to claim that one for the Lord's victory. 00:23:58.465 --> 00:24:03.099 Well, that doesn't mean you want to actually hurt them. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.766 It's a lot. It's kind of like an idiot. 00:24:04.766 --> 00:24:09.133 It's almost like when you say, hey, are my my ears were burning. 00:24:09.465 --> 00:24:11.465 You don't mean they were literally on fire. 00:24:11.465 --> 00:24:14.066 It's just a way of saying something else was going on. 00:24:14.066 --> 00:24:19.066 When you say you're going to dump burning coals on their head, here's what you hope is that it sears their conscience. 00:24:20.365 --> 00:24:22.133 Not so that then you were vindicated. 00:24:22.133 --> 00:24:25.066 They finally saw how right I am. 00:24:25.066 --> 00:24:29.500 No, so that they finally see how right Jesus is. 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:32.500 They finally see I have been so wrong. 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:45.965 And you've had that happen where you've had that searing warmth pass over you when you saw, I thought, by the things I was pursuing, I thought I was going to find hope and joy and life there. 00:24:45.965 --> 00:24:48.333 And it was a dead end. 00:24:48.333 --> 00:24:53.500 And I even ridiculed those who follow Christ. 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:55.865 That's the kind of shame you want in your life. 00:24:55.865 --> 00:25:01.500 Not a stifling shame, but it's the shame that points us to Christ. 00:25:02.066 --> 00:25:04.700 It's the guilt of our sin. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:07.165 And when you're ready, look. 00:25:07.165 --> 00:25:08.799 And this is how it goes. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.732 It's hard to hear. 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:17.232 God likely will use your suffering to point others to Christ. 00:25:17.865 --> 00:25:19.932 But if you got to go through suffering, that's what you want. 00:25:19.932 --> 00:25:21.766 That's the point of verse 17. 00:25:21.766 --> 00:25:26.766 It's better to suffer for doing good than suffer for doing something stupid. 00:25:26.766 --> 00:25:31.865 I don't think that's the Greek per se, but it's true. 00:25:31.865 --> 00:25:40.865 Wouldn't it at least be great to know that through the challenge I've faced, God, use that to bring someone else to him. 00:25:40.865 --> 00:25:43.165 John Piper tells a story. 00:25:43.165 --> 00:25:45.133 He's a popular pastor and author. 00:25:45.133 --> 00:25:48.532 He tells the story of a woman, a muslim woman. 00:25:48.532 --> 00:25:53.599 She grew up muslim, lived in a muslim country where it was illegal to be Christian. 00:25:55.566 --> 00:25:59.066 But she comes to Christ, she becomes a widow. 00:25:59.066 --> 00:26:03.633 She comes to Christ all alone, and she's telling others about Christ. 00:26:03.633 --> 00:26:05.665 Let me tell you about the hope I have in Christ. 00:26:05.665 --> 00:26:07.532 She's proclaiming Christ. 00:26:07.532 --> 00:26:09.566 And so doesn't take long. 00:26:09.566 --> 00:26:13.766 They take her to prison and they start to beat her and torture her for this. 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:20.665 And she finally gets to the point one night she's like, oh Lord, I can't take this anymore. 00:26:20.665 --> 00:26:22.900 This is all I can handle. 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:25.799 I can't handle this suffering anymore. 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:30.599 And she said, I opened my mouth to scream out, to cry out to the Lord, take this away. 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:32.900 I can't handle it anymore. 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:36.365 And when she opened her mouth, what came out instead? 00:26:36.365 --> 00:26:39.365 Full intention of screaming out. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:43.200 Instead, what came out was a song of praise. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:47.400 It surprised her too. 00:26:48.766 --> 00:26:49.965 And what she heard. 00:26:49.965 --> 00:27:00.099 She was expecting immediate beatings, retribution, and as she was singing a song that surprised herself, she heard the guards go silent. 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:02.400 She heard the prison go silent. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:04.432 Everyone there goes silent. 00:27:04.432 --> 00:27:07.266 All the stirring and scuffling of life. 00:27:07.266 --> 00:27:10.099 Still. 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:13.165 And the next morning the police chief comes down and opens the door. 00:27:14.365 --> 00:27:16.032 And he said, I'm going to let you go. 00:27:16.032 --> 00:27:19.032 On one condition. 00:27:19.232 --> 00:27:22.232 I heard you singing praise last night. 00:27:22.766 --> 00:27:27.066 He said, every woman in my life is racked, is stifled with fear. 00:27:27.066 --> 00:27:30.066 Everyone I know is overwhelmed with fear. 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.165 And yet here you are. 00:27:31.165 --> 00:27:33.865 You fear nothing. 00:27:33.865 --> 00:27:35.299 I'm going to let you go on one condition. 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:47.066 That you come to my house and you tell the people in my house how it is that you can do that, how it is that you can have hope and no fear when everyone I know is overwhelmed with fear. 00:27:47.066 --> 00:27:50.066 Would you do that for me? 00:27:52.032 --> 00:27:57.566 God used her suffering to tell others about Christ. 00:27:57.665 --> 00:28:01.599 I don't know what he's doing in your life right now. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:03.365 But I know there's some heaviness in this room. 00:28:04.665 --> 00:28:07.732 I've already experienced it in a few conversations this morning. 00:28:07.732 --> 00:28:10.732 I know many people are carrying a lot. 00:28:11.865 --> 00:28:13.432 That's hard to hear. 00:28:13.432 --> 00:28:14.833 I don't like hearing that. 00:28:14.833 --> 00:28:17.833 I don't like hearing when anyone suffers. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:24.365 My prayer is that he uses that in your life to his glory this week. 00:28:24.365 --> 00:28:25.799 I don't know what that looks like. 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:33.266 I don't know what he has in mind, but I hope that you can trust his word and hang on to the word blessed. 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:36.500 Let's pray. 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:55.900 I can't imagine, Lord, what it must have been like for that woman to be beaten because she preached your name. 00:28:57.432 --> 00:29:01.432 It's so easy to tell that story. 00:29:03.032 --> 00:29:10.566 I pray for the Muslims around the world who have come to know you, and now face an insane amount of persecution. 00:29:13.365 --> 00:29:24.200 God, would you open doors for us to come alongside them and pray for them, and to help them and to serve them, and to see your name proclaimed throughout the world. 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:45.865 But God here today in Valley Station and Louisville, Kentucky, and our little worlds, you're at work and whatever every person in this room is facing, especially those who thought they were trying to do the right thing or being persecuted for it. 00:29:45.865 --> 00:29:49.932 Would you give them hope and courage today? 00:29:50.900 --> 00:30:07.200 In fact, if you need prayer today in particular because you feel like I have been trying to honor Christ and I'm being persecuted for it, I'll just stand where you are and we'll have a couple of people put their hands on you and pray for you if you're comfortable with that. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.266 If not, that's okay. 00:30:09.266 --> 00:30:12.932 But now would be a time to just ask for prayer specifically. 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.633 Just stand right where you are. 00:30:14.633 --> 00:30:19.932 A few people will gather around you, put their hands on you, put their hands on you. 00:30:19.932 --> 00:30:21.099 There's one person back here. 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:24.133 If you would, a few people would gather around them. 00:30:24.133 --> 00:30:27.133 Just lay hands on them, pray for them. 00:30:28.266 --> 00:30:30.032 I'm just going to keep praying. 00:30:30.032 --> 00:30:38.732 I know many are suffering and not always want to stand up about that, but you give us peace and hope today. 00:30:38.932 --> 00:30:39.266 Jesus. 00:30:39.266 --> 00:30:44.032 Will we find our peace in you, not in our strength. 00:30:44.365 --> 00:30:47.365 But in you. 00:30:48.032 --> 00:30:57.400 Help us to remember how you worked in our lives through your death, your resurrection, your death on our behalf. 00:30:57.400 --> 00:31:00.000 Thank you for forgiving our sins. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.032 Jesus, we love you. 00:31:02.532 --> 00:31:02.965 Amen.