WEBVTT 00:00:03.987 --> 00:00:07.253 I am so privileged to be able to bring the Word of God to you from 1 Peter. 00:00:07.253 --> 00:00:19.065 We're in the middle of a sermon series called Grace Under Fire, and Neil did a great job last week of sharing about the importance of our lives being built on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ. 00:00:19.065 --> 00:00:20.984 Isn't that the truth? 00:00:20.984 --> 00:00:22.986 That's the most primary thing. 00:00:22.986 --> 00:00:50.290 And then he also talked about because the passage of scripture mentioned it that we are living stones that are being built together into the body of Christ, and so God places us in walls within communities so that we can make a difference, and so we are so grateful for the body of Christ and, in particular, this church, trinity Community Church, because that's where he's placed us, in a wall here, as a part of the building of what God's doing. 00:00:50.290 --> 00:00:56.832 So this week we're going to look at 1 Peter, chapter 2, and I'm going to be talking about a proper view of authority. 00:00:56.832 --> 00:01:08.584 And I just would ask, because a lot of times when we look at these kinds of passages, we immediately want to jump to contextualization, which means making it make sense in our culture, in our day. 00:01:08.584 --> 00:01:16.495 We are going to get there, but I ask that you would always let the principles of the Word of God instruct us first, if that makes sense. 00:01:16.495 --> 00:01:30.599 So, as we go through this, I know that our Western mindsets are going to be thinking about America and how things are done in America, but let's not forget that there are really important principles that are found in these scriptures that need to be applied regardless. 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:35.298 If they fit perfectly within our system of governance and things like that. 00:01:35.298 --> 00:01:36.040 Does that make sense? 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:36.881 All right? 00:01:37.281 --> 00:01:42.989 So let's look at 1 Peter 2, verses 13 through 25, and this is the word of God through 25, and this is the word of God. 00:01:42.989 --> 00:01:58.189 Be subject, for the Lord's sake, to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors, as sent by him, to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:01:58.189 --> 00:02:04.221 For this is the will of God that by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:02:04.221 --> 00:02:12.465 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 00:02:12.465 --> 00:02:31.533 Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God and honor the emperor Servants, be subject to your masters, with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust, for this is a gracious thing when, mindful of God. 00:02:32.133 --> 00:02:34.795 One endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 00:02:34.795 --> 00:02:40.717 For what credit is it If, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? 00:02:40.717 --> 00:02:46.306 But if, when you do good and suffer for it, you endure? 00:02:46.306 --> 00:02:58.645 This is a gracious thing in the sight of God, for to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. 00:02:58.645 --> 00:03:00.750 He committed no sin. 00:03:00.750 --> 00:03:03.401 Neither was deceit found in his mouth. 00:03:03.401 --> 00:03:06.911 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. 00:03:06.911 --> 00:03:13.231 When he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him. 00:03:13.231 --> 00:03:14.822 Who judges justly? 00:03:14.822 --> 00:03:21.801 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 00:03:21.801 --> 00:03:31.789 By his wounds you have been healed, for you were straying like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. 00:03:32.551 --> 00:03:33.820 Let's pray together this morning. 00:03:33.820 --> 00:03:49.569 Father, I thank you for your precious word and, lord, I thank you that your word is life and light, and I ask that you would give me the ability to communicate the things that you want me to share from your precious, timeless word with the people that are listening. 00:03:49.569 --> 00:04:01.549 I pray that each of us, lord, would have open hearts and open minds to see and to understand areas in our lives where we need to be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:04:01.549 --> 00:04:08.686 Give us grace that we need the working of the Holy Spirit to change us and especially to change our desires. 00:04:08.686 --> 00:04:18.541 Father, we cannot do that without you, and so we just ask that you would bless this and cause it to be used for the building of your kingdom and for your glory and honor. 00:04:18.541 --> 00:04:21.627 In Jesus' name, I pray Amen. 00:04:22.730 --> 00:04:38.620 So for any of us who have had any dealings with small children, if you've raised children of your own or if you've been involved in activities where children were growing, one of the things that's interesting is when they just start to begin to learn some words, right? 00:04:38.620 --> 00:04:44.151 And so what do you, what do we as parents do when our kids are starting to learn a few little words? 00:04:44.151 --> 00:04:52.314 Well, all the moms are saying what Mama say, mama, and all the dads are saying dada or whatever the words are. 00:04:52.314 --> 00:04:56.495 They're trying to get them to mimic, to say their name back to them, right? 00:04:56.495 --> 00:04:57.619 And why is that? 00:04:57.619 --> 00:05:00.208 Because they want a closer connection. 00:05:00.208 --> 00:05:03.338 They want a personal connection with their child, right? 00:05:03.338 --> 00:05:19.733 And they also want bragging rights, to be able to say they said my name first, or they said you know, whatever the case is, but how many of you know there's one word that none of us as parents or grandparents by the way, my wife and I now we teach our babies Pops and Mimi, because that's who we are. 00:05:19.733 --> 00:05:29.401 We're not mom and dad anymore, we're Pops and Mimi, so that's what we try to get them to say, but mom and dad anymore. 00:05:29.401 --> 00:05:31.165 We're pops and Mimi, so that's what we try to get them to say. 00:05:31.185 --> 00:05:36.055 But anyway, regardless of all of that, how many of you know there's one word that you do not have to teach your children how to say, or what to say, and what is that word? 00:05:36.055 --> 00:05:38.622 That word is no, and there are varying degrees of the word. 00:05:38.622 --> 00:05:39.764 No, right. 00:05:39.764 --> 00:05:45.535 So, for example, bedtime no, can be particularly exciting, right. 00:05:45.535 --> 00:05:48.889 All kinds of patience to be embraced during that. 00:05:48.889 --> 00:05:51.362 There's nap time no. 00:05:51.362 --> 00:05:54.490 There's diaper change no. 00:05:54.490 --> 00:05:56.634 There's sharing with friends no. 00:05:56.634 --> 00:06:12.175 You know, there's all of these things that we are teaching our children how to be obedient concerning, and yet they find this one word that seems to be just deposited within them and they use that word over and over and over again. 00:06:12.175 --> 00:06:15.783 Thank God, that's only children that deal with that, right? 00:06:15.783 --> 00:06:23.656 Somebody just said no, all right, thank you for my point. 00:06:23.656 --> 00:06:25.586 But you know this starts out. 00:06:25.586 --> 00:06:28.627 It can start out when your kids first say no, it's kind of cute. 00:06:28.627 --> 00:06:30.132 You know it's a cute thing. 00:06:30.132 --> 00:06:32.266 Look at them, we laugh at them. 00:06:32.266 --> 00:06:34.192 Oh, how cute they're being so silly. 00:06:35.055 --> 00:06:51.026 But if left untrained and untouched by the grace of God, how many of you know that mindset, the no mindset, can lead to a life full of resistance to authority, and the Bible calls it rebellion, rebellion, right. 00:06:51.026 --> 00:06:57.048 We don't have to look far to see the evidence of this and the way things are going in our culture. 00:06:57.048 --> 00:07:04.807 Consider the college students across this country who are becoming radicalized to the point of insanity. 00:07:04.807 --> 00:07:20.220 In the name of protest, many are spewing hate, rage and prejudice against people simply because they are Jewish. 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:29.077 This is insanity and it starts as simple as no. 00:07:29.077 --> 00:07:48.341 These same individuals are not only shouting out and protesting against people based on their race, they are cursing those who are sworn to protect them and attacking the very institutions that have espoused the coddling mindset that has unleashed this kind of hellish behavior. 00:07:48.341 --> 00:07:55.935 It's going to be a great message, but we have to start with truth, don't we? 00:07:55.935 --> 00:08:01.151 But in the year 2024, none of us should be surprised by this. 00:08:01.151 --> 00:08:06.732 This shouldn't be something that we are amazed by, or that we are shocked by. 00:08:06.732 --> 00:08:15.274 Troubled, yes, discouraged, yes, encouraged to pray more than ever before, yes, all of those things. 00:08:15.274 --> 00:08:19.127 But we shouldn't be shocked or surprised. 00:08:20.348 --> 00:08:32.768 Before we lose all hope and think that this is just a 21st century problem, let's go back a little ways, like a long ways, back to the very beginning, when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a garden. 00:08:32.768 --> 00:08:41.688 He gave them one rule you can eat from every tree in this garden that produces fruit, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:08:41.688 --> 00:08:43.605 Don't eat from it. 00:08:43.605 --> 00:08:46.567 And so what, do we know, happened? 00:08:46.567 --> 00:08:50.910 Satan came and tempted them and they took from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:08:50.910 --> 00:08:57.839 They ate from it and they received a curse and they died physical deaths over time. 00:08:57.839 --> 00:09:01.565 Right, they died physical deaths, which was not the original intent. 00:09:01.565 --> 00:09:09.201 We were built and made and created to live forever, and so sin came upon this earth. 00:09:09.201 --> 00:09:18.311 And that would be one thing if it was just Adam and Eve, but how many of you know that every person born after them, except for Jesus Christ, has been born dead? 00:09:18.311 --> 00:09:29.335 In our trespasses and sins, all of us have found the word no easy to say, because we are born dead to God. 00:09:29.335 --> 00:09:36.932 We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:43.830 So against that backdrop, let's talk now about what Peter says in these verses. 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:48.605 That is really impactful to not only the people he was speaking to but to us as well. 00:09:48.605 --> 00:09:54.322 He starts by kind of talking about the fact that God is our supreme authority. 00:09:54.322 --> 00:09:58.230 He says be subject, for the Lord's sake. 00:09:58.230 --> 00:10:03.129 So why are they supposed to be subject or be obedient to those who are in authority over them? 00:10:03.509 --> 00:10:10.988 Because of God, the supreme authority, the ultimate ruler of heaven and earth. 00:10:10.988 --> 00:10:20.647 You see, the supremacy of God is his state of being that is superior to all others in authority, power and status. 00:10:20.647 --> 00:10:27.715 There's no one and nothing that even comes close to God in his authority. 00:10:27.715 --> 00:10:32.844 Do you believe that what he says goes period? 00:10:32.844 --> 00:10:36.311 It does not matter what I think, what anybody else thinks. 00:10:36.311 --> 00:10:39.842 If God says it, that settles it. 00:10:39.842 --> 00:10:49.851 He has that kind of control and authority and rule and he has the ability to do that and he does do that based on what he feels is right. 00:10:49.851 --> 00:10:54.070 So, whether we agree with him or not, how many of you know he's in charge? 00:10:54.070 --> 00:11:00.687 He is in charge and father knows best, he does know best. 00:11:00.687 --> 00:11:04.227 So not only is he supreme in authority, but he also. 00:11:04.227 --> 00:11:05.772 Nothing comes close to his power. 00:11:05.772 --> 00:11:23.692 In all of creation, in all of time and history Anything that comes to your mind right now when you think of power none of it is anything in comparison to the power that our God has, is, is and manifests. 00:11:23.692 --> 00:11:36.885 His power is greater than anyone can dare to imagine, and when it comes to his status, there aren't even titles that are appropriate. 00:11:36.885 --> 00:11:45.568 Especially, it seems that we're lacking in the English language to find enough words to be able to declare, to say, to sing, to express the greatness of our God. 00:11:45.568 --> 00:11:47.250 We are so limited. 00:11:47.250 --> 00:12:00.928 Even just the word love is so seems so small when we talk about the love that God has toward us and the love that we have in return toward him. 00:12:00.928 --> 00:12:04.899 His status is greater than that Toward him. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:07.664 His status is greater than that. 00:12:07.705 --> 00:12:36.048 Peter has already expressed in earlier chapters in his book the fact that we are sojourners in this world, we are aliens, we are citizens of another kingdom, and so, before we even consider the fact that God has placed us under certain rule here in this life, in this earth, we must understand that, first of all, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are not of this world. 00:12:36.048 --> 00:12:51.346 We have a king that is above all kings and a Lord that is above all Lords, and he is supreme, and our allegiance must be always first and foremost and last to him. 00:12:51.346 --> 00:13:02.068 We are resident aliens in this earth as we await the kingdom of God to be fully recognized at the soon coming return of Jesus Christ. 00:13:02.068 --> 00:13:23.803 How many of you know that there will be a day when Jesus will return to this planet and he's going to make everything right, the way that it's supposed to be, and everything that is crazy and out of whack and insane and stupid about the way that this life and this earth exists is going to be fixed. 00:13:30.350 --> 00:13:35.816 Peter goes on now to expound upon how God exercises his authority in the earth. 00:13:35.816 --> 00:13:43.462 He uses examples here of government and workplace. 00:13:43.462 --> 00:13:48.813 Next week we're going to talk about the family as well, but you could put anything that equates to authority that God has placed in our lives. 00:13:48.813 --> 00:14:05.586 You can use these verses kind of as a roadmap, as a means to an end as far as understanding the attitude that we should have towards those who are in authority and the way that we respond to authority in our lives, because, you see, god places rulers and authority. 00:14:05.586 --> 00:14:19.361 Peter goes on to say be subject, for the Lord's sake, to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him, to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:14:19.883 --> 00:14:21.225 Who is Peter writing to here? 00:14:21.225 --> 00:14:24.812 Who are the recipients of his words? 00:14:24.812 --> 00:14:29.884 Are they under what governance are they under? 00:14:29.884 --> 00:14:32.633 They're under Roman governance, aren't they? 00:14:32.633 --> 00:14:35.461 And Nero happened to be the emperor of the time. 00:14:35.461 --> 00:14:38.067 He was emperor from AD 54 to 68. 00:14:38.067 --> 00:14:43.304 He was not exactly the type of leader that you and I would choose if we had a choice to make. 00:14:43.304 --> 00:14:49.267 In fact, in his latter years, he became a cruel persecutor of Christians. 00:14:49.346 --> 00:15:05.052 And yet Peter is writing these words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to people who found themselves, at this current stage in their lives, underneath a government and a governance that was not conducive to them being Christians. 00:15:05.052 --> 00:15:19.932 It's a very difficult thing that he was asking from, even from an attitudinal standpoint of the Christians that he was writing to, but we must understand that human governments are instituted by God. 00:15:19.932 --> 00:15:28.874 Rulers are God's servants first, even if the rulers are not believers or they're worse than that, they are anti-believers. 00:15:28.874 --> 00:15:31.308 They are against everything that we believe in. 00:15:31.308 --> 00:15:39.245 They are still God's leaders, officially, officially, even if they are dictators and tyrants. 00:15:39.245 --> 00:15:54.232 Their rule is often better than no rule at all, and all of us right now are thinking of the exceptions, and please, let's not get lost in that mindset or mentality, because that will take us away from the basic principles that we're needing to talk about today. 00:15:56.041 --> 00:15:58.249 The complete absence of rule is anarchy. 00:15:58.249 --> 00:16:00.226 How many of you have ever experienced anarchy? 00:16:00.226 --> 00:16:06.981 If you don't believe me, take a trip to Haiti right now, and as you enter into Haiti, you will understand. 00:16:06.981 --> 00:16:15.446 There is no governing authority that's in control here, and because of that, there's literally utter chaos. 00:16:15.446 --> 00:16:28.327 You do not know from day to day whether you're going to live or whether you're going to die, whether you're going to be able to work, whether you're going to be able to earn money, whether that money is going to be taken away from you, whether you're going to be able to work, whether you're going to be able to earn money, whether that money is going to be taken away from you, whether you're going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 00:16:28.327 --> 00:16:39.332 It is a country that has been overtaken by mob mentality and mindset, and it's a cruel place to live today. 00:16:39.332 --> 00:16:50.120 So, even though government at times can seem very bad, any government is usually better than no government at all. 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:53.746 Order is better than chaos. 00:16:53.746 --> 00:16:58.214 So let's look at the passage again. 00:16:58.494 --> 00:17:00.982 Peter goes on to say that governments have two roles. 00:17:00.982 --> 00:17:15.654 According to this passage, first of all, those in authority should punish those who do evil, and we all say amen to that right, unless we see some blue lights in our rearview mirror. 00:17:15.654 --> 00:17:18.042 And then what do we say? 00:17:18.042 --> 00:17:21.829 Those people who do evil over there? 00:17:21.829 --> 00:17:23.732 Not this one right. 00:17:23.732 --> 00:17:25.316 But it's true. 00:17:25.316 --> 00:17:33.811 Governments are placed in positions in order to create a means to punish those who break the law. 00:17:33.811 --> 00:17:39.387 Law and order are some of the seminal principles of any civilized culture. 00:17:39.387 --> 00:17:49.432 Even when men and women do not fear God, often the fear of repercussions that come from disobeying the law will keep them in check. 00:17:49.432 --> 00:17:54.250 Currently in America, we are seeing the lines get blurred, aren't we? 00:17:54.250 --> 00:18:29.809 Criminals are becoming emboldened because of the fact that, in many cases, they are not being held accountable for their crimes, and so this is creating the kind of mindset that says if nobody's going to punish me, if it doesn't matter what I do or don't do, then I might as well do whatever it is that I want to do and Jesus even said that in the last days that there would be many, that their heart of love would grow cold and that they would cast off all restraint and they would do whatever was pleasing to them. 00:18:35.121 --> 00:18:44.727 The second thing that those in authority should do, according to this scripture, is should praise those who do good, those who do well, those who are good citizens. 00:18:44.727 --> 00:18:52.943 Those who display citizenship and are subject to the laws of the land should be celebrated and looked upon as examples for others to follow. 00:18:52.943 --> 00:18:57.180 They should be considered for positions within the governments where needed. 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:59.604 Locally, regionally and nationally. 00:18:59.604 --> 00:19:10.883 Those who do the right thing for the right reasons should be exalted, should be praised and should be encouraged, and those around them should see them as an example. 00:19:15.088 --> 00:19:25.627 The next step in Peter's discourse is he says believers should obey authority whenever possible, and those last two words are important and we're going to get to the definition of that in just a minute. 00:19:25.627 --> 00:19:32.093 He says for this is the will of God that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:19:32.093 --> 00:19:41.766 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a coverup for evil, but living as servants of God Powerful. 00:19:41.766 --> 00:19:59.939 Paul goes on in Romans, chapter 13, speaking to Roman citizens about their very government, and he says let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 00:19:59.939 --> 00:20:08.510 There's a doubling down, and we see this carried out throughout a lot of scripture, especially in the New Testament, over and over and over again, this same sort of thought. 00:20:08.510 --> 00:20:13.394 We're supposed to pray for our leaders, we're supposed to be submitted to those that are in authority over us. 00:20:13.394 --> 00:20:17.244 We're supposed to maintain the proper attitude right. 00:20:17.244 --> 00:20:18.826 We're supposed to maintain the proper attitude right. 00:20:18.826 --> 00:20:24.174 Believers should submit to every human institution whenever possible, for the Lord's sake. 00:20:24.174 --> 00:20:26.278 In doing so, what are they doing? 00:20:26.278 --> 00:20:27.380 What are we doing? 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:32.867 We are fulfilling God's will and doing the thing that pleases him. 00:20:32.887 --> 00:20:47.192 It's interesting here, because you heard that word freedom, as Peter was describing who we are, that we are free people, and we know that in this country in particular, freedom is something that is seminal, that is of highest importance to us. 00:20:47.192 --> 00:20:50.843 But Peter gives some definition to that. 00:20:50.843 --> 00:20:54.830 We are free people in the sense that Christ has set us free. 00:20:54.830 --> 00:20:59.019 Let's not forget what true freedom is. 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:02.906 True freedom is not legislation necessarily. 00:21:02.906 --> 00:21:12.373 True freedom is a gift from God, and I don't care if you're under the harshest government on the face of the earth. 00:21:12.373 --> 00:21:18.131 If you have been born again, you have received the greatest freedom that is possible to humanity. 00:21:18.131 --> 00:21:22.492 I care, I don't mean to say that I don't care that people are under that. 00:21:22.492 --> 00:21:33.788 I'm saying that it is the greatest freedom of all to be free from the bondage of sin, to be free from Satan's dominion, to be free from the wrath of God. 00:21:33.788 --> 00:21:44.040 That is the freedom that we should cherish, honor and celebrate all of our days. 00:21:46.846 --> 00:21:50.997 But we shouldn't use our freedom as an excuse to live rebellious lives. 00:21:50.997 --> 00:21:59.499 We shouldn't use our freedom to stick our thumb in our mouths and to join with the choir of babies as we sing no, no, no. 00:21:59.499 --> 00:22:06.892 Sorry, I just pictured myself doing that. 00:22:06.892 --> 00:22:07.653 It was really funny. 00:22:07.653 --> 00:22:17.400 After all, even our master, even if our master is not the government, christians do have a master, don't we? 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:19.724 Even if our master is not the government, christians do have a master, don't we? 00:22:19.724 --> 00:22:27.337 Our master is God, our master is God, and he is the one who we serve and he is the one who we ultimately answer to. 00:22:27.337 --> 00:22:37.085 So freedom does not mean getting to do whatever you want to do. 00:22:37.085 --> 00:22:40.248 Freedom means getting to do what you ought to do. 00:22:40.248 --> 00:22:45.537 We have been made free so that we can say no to no and say yes to yes. 00:22:45.537 --> 00:22:58.742 We have been made free so that we can be obedient to the commandments of God and to his word and by his spirit. 00:22:58.742 --> 00:23:01.628 Obedience to authority is a good witness, and that's one of the reasons that we should obey. 00:23:01.648 --> 00:23:07.826 If you think that Judaism and its followers are the only group that is under attack, you are very wrong. 00:23:07.826 --> 00:23:20.179 How many of you know that around this globe today, there are millions of people who are in dangerous situations simply because they named the name of Jesus Christ? 00:23:20.179 --> 00:23:32.494 How many of you recognize that for years and years, the universities of our nation have become a breeding ground for attacking Christianity in every aspect? 00:23:32.494 --> 00:23:45.200 They are attacked in the classroom, they are attacked in the science laboratory, we are attacked even from pulpits who are preaching false gospels in this nation and around the world. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:24:06.626 And if you think that the mob mindset that we are seeing across our nation today is the end of things and you think Christianity is going to remain away from that and out of it and out of the scope of it, you're I believe you're completely mistaken. 00:24:06.626 --> 00:24:28.358 My friends, persecution is coming to the church of America and our job as leaders within this church is to do the very best thing that we can, the very, very, very best things that we can to prepare all of us to face persecution when it comes and to stand, having done all to stand. 00:24:28.358 --> 00:24:31.801 Stand, therefore, in the evil day. 00:24:31.801 --> 00:24:46.286 Words of Peter should speak volumes to us, not because of the situation that the believers found themselves in in the early century, but because we're facing similar things even in our life and in our time. 00:24:46.286 --> 00:24:48.650 We need to be ready for it. 00:24:50.773 --> 00:24:57.928 Ancient Roman society condemned Christianity because of the fact that Christians wouldn't worship the gods of Rome. 00:24:57.928 --> 00:25:03.472 How many of you know that the emperors even set themselves up and the people deified them? 00:25:03.472 --> 00:25:14.582 They considered them to be of the gods, or even God little g, god themselves, and because of that, christianity was under attack by the Romans and by those that were in authority. 00:25:14.582 --> 00:25:18.349 The general population viewed Christians as enemies of the state. 00:25:18.349 --> 00:25:30.977 Because of this, without giving into societal pressures to worship false gods, peter urges the believers to be model members of society as much as possible. 00:25:30.977 --> 00:25:32.105 So what is the antidote? 00:25:32.105 --> 00:25:35.692 Be the best citizen that you can possibly be. 00:25:37.134 --> 00:25:43.435 Such godly behavior will serve to shut down the ignorant criticisms leveled against Christianity. 00:25:43.435 --> 00:26:02.769 You know, what's disturbing to me is that you can take any kind of statistic that you find in the culture of this world and apply it to the church and almost all of the statistics find themselves pretty equal within the realms of the church world. 00:26:02.769 --> 00:26:35.846 Negative statistics I'm talking about marriage and divorce, sexual abuse you could name all of the different things that you can name and, unfortunately, because the body of Christ has not been filled with people who are truly converted, one thing and the other thing is because we have not experienced the fear of God in our lives, the way that we need to the church in America looks not very different from the world around us, and how many of you know? 00:26:35.846 --> 00:26:44.393 We have a chance, we have an opportunity to not be like that, to not live like that, by the grace of God. 00:26:44.393 --> 00:26:48.319 Titus 2, 7 and 8, this kind of fills this out. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:27:02.578 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works and in your teaching, show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 00:27:05.965 --> 00:27:10.276 The next thing is that we should respect the position that a person has. 00:27:10.276 --> 00:27:13.693 That's an authority, even if it's hard to respect the person in authority. 00:27:13.693 --> 00:27:23.490 I remember just a few years ago when people stopped calling the president by that title and started using last names in the place of that. 00:27:23.490 --> 00:27:31.317 And I'm here to tell you I found myself at times in that same place and it's not a healthy practice. 00:27:31.317 --> 00:27:43.173 In my opinion, we are supposed to honor and respect the position of authority, even if we are not able to completely respect the views of the person who finds himself in authority. 00:27:43.173 --> 00:27:51.194 Peter was careful to point out that Christians in society are representatives of Jesus Christ first and foremost. 00:27:51.194 --> 00:27:53.519 We should respect. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.865 Because of that. 00:27:54.865 --> 00:27:58.388 We should respect the office, even when we can't respect the person. 00:27:58.409 --> 00:28:03.113 For example, remember when Jesus was questioned about taxes. 00:28:03.113 --> 00:28:08.477 Remember they brought and they questioned him whether we should pay taxes or not. 00:28:08.477 --> 00:28:09.778 And what did Jesus say? 00:28:09.778 --> 00:28:10.439 It was brilliant. 00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:12.420 He said show me a coin. 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:14.961 And what did he say about the coin? 00:28:14.961 --> 00:28:17.095 Whose picture is on it? 00:28:17.095 --> 00:28:17.744 Whose inscription is on it? 00:28:17.744 --> 00:28:18.973 And they said Caesar's. 00:28:18.973 --> 00:28:19.265 And what did he say about the coin? 00:28:19.265 --> 00:28:19.430 Whose picture is on it? 00:28:19.430 --> 00:28:19.875 Whose inscription is on it? 00:28:19.875 --> 00:28:20.113 And they said Caesar's. 00:28:20.113 --> 00:28:20.436 And what did he say? 00:28:20.436 --> 00:28:26.461 Those powerful words give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. 00:28:26.461 --> 00:28:27.446 And not only that. 00:28:27.446 --> 00:28:35.175 You think, oh, that's just a great something that he said for the crowd to hear, because there were people that were listening trying to catch him with messing up. 00:28:35.175 --> 00:28:37.914 No, jesus then sends Peter fishing. 00:28:37.914 --> 00:28:41.328 And what does he send Peter fishing to do? 00:28:41.328 --> 00:28:47.167 To catch a fish with a coin in his mouth so that he could pay taxes as well. 00:28:47.989 --> 00:28:56.711 Jesus was not only preaching, and Peter and all of the rest were not only preaching these concepts, but they were also living them. 00:28:56.711 --> 00:29:06.413 If Jesus himself could say of Caesar what he said of Caesar, how much more should we be able to do the same? 00:29:06.413 --> 00:29:11.268 And then this one is one that we're all hoping that we could get to. 00:29:11.268 --> 00:29:12.811 So just breathe a little bit. 00:29:12.811 --> 00:29:17.551 When authority is in conflict with God's word, we should obey God. 00:29:17.551 --> 00:29:19.457 We should obey God. 00:29:19.457 --> 00:29:25.117 This one's a little bit easier to embrace because it's right up our alley right. 00:29:25.117 --> 00:29:37.578 As much as possible, we should seek to cooperate with the government and obey the law, but we must never allow the law to make us violate our conscience or disobey God's word. 00:29:37.578 --> 00:29:46.022 You can say amen to that. 00:29:46.022 --> 00:29:46.464 That's the truth. 00:29:46.464 --> 00:29:49.448 Peter was very familiar with this exception clause. 00:29:49.468 --> 00:29:54.759 Do you remember the story of Peter and John when they were going up to the temple to pray and they passed by a lame man who was a beggar? 00:29:54.759 --> 00:30:00.406 And I'm sure that they had passed by him many times before Jesus probably even passed by him. 00:30:00.406 --> 00:30:04.535 But on this day the man asked them for some alms. 00:30:04.535 --> 00:30:06.825 He asked them to give him some money. 00:30:06.825 --> 00:30:17.234 And what did Peter and John say Silver and gold we don't have, but such as we have we give to you in the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. 00:30:17.234 --> 00:30:19.118 And what did the man do? 00:30:19.118 --> 00:30:23.067 Did he shake his can again and ask for some alms? 00:30:23.067 --> 00:30:23.689 Or what did he do? 00:30:23.689 --> 00:30:29.078 It says he went walking and leaping and praising God. 00:30:29.605 --> 00:30:30.608 And here's the problem. 00:30:30.608 --> 00:30:33.717 The Jewish rulers didn't like it. 00:30:33.717 --> 00:30:35.701 And so what did they do? 00:30:35.701 --> 00:30:37.647 They arrested Peter and John. 00:30:37.647 --> 00:30:39.114 And what did they say to Peter and John? 00:30:39.114 --> 00:30:41.273 What were the consequences of their actions? 00:30:41.273 --> 00:30:51.050 They said we're going to have to release you because this has become such a popular thing that this man that everybody had walked by all of these years knew that he was lame. 00:30:51.050 --> 00:30:53.480 And now that he's walking around, we can't dispute that. 00:30:53.480 --> 00:31:01.159 So we can't really keep you in prison, but we're going to release you and command you to never use the name of Jesus again. 00:31:04.605 --> 00:31:05.367 What did Peter say? 00:31:05.367 --> 00:31:08.356 Yes, master, no. 00:31:08.356 --> 00:31:10.872 Acts 4, 19 and 20. 00:31:10.872 --> 00:31:13.652 Peter and John answered them. 00:31:13.652 --> 00:31:18.611 It's kind of interesting that they even used some. 00:31:20.294 --> 00:31:21.718 They were careful in how they said this. 00:31:21.718 --> 00:31:36.212 Even Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. 00:31:36.212 --> 00:31:38.655 You know what they were actually saying. 00:31:38.655 --> 00:31:43.185 You'd have to kill us because we can't help it. 00:31:43.185 --> 00:31:52.209 Jesus has impacted our lives so much that, no matter where we are, no matter what we're doing, we can't help it. 00:31:52.209 --> 00:32:04.685 We're going to be using the name of Jesus, to be using the name of Jesus. 00:32:04.685 --> 00:32:05.267 Please remember this today. 00:32:05.267 --> 00:32:09.634 Christians are never required by God to compromise our loyalty or obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:09.634 --> 00:32:12.904 We're never required by God to do that. 00:32:16.270 --> 00:32:22.932 So obviously, context matters, and we've been talking about the Roman emperor and the government that was in place during Peter's time. 00:32:22.932 --> 00:32:26.115 It's obviously much different than the American government. 00:32:26.115 --> 00:32:34.193 What the emperor said was what was law, so whatever he said was the way it went. 00:32:34.193 --> 00:32:38.914 Everybody did what the emperor said, or there were repercussions right. 00:32:38.914 --> 00:32:55.848 We, because of the foresight of our founding fathers, are part of a representative government that gives we, the people, the power to let our voices be heard about the things that we feel are good for the nation or bad for the nation. 00:32:55.848 --> 00:33:07.477 We have the ability to speak up for the things that are good and godly for the nation and for the things that are bad and not godly for the nation. 00:33:07.477 --> 00:33:09.829 That was the foresight of our forefathers. 00:33:09.829 --> 00:33:15.587 That gave us that right and ability, and I don't care what iteration we find ourselves in. 00:33:15.587 --> 00:33:17.932 How many of you know that was the original intent. 00:33:17.932 --> 00:33:20.798 That's part of our constitution and our declaration of independence. 00:33:20.798 --> 00:33:25.356 And we should, because it's within the realm of the law of our land. 00:33:25.356 --> 00:33:27.673 We should take advantage of that. 00:33:29.184 --> 00:33:37.012 Christians at times should speak out against the decisions of the government in the United States of America. 00:33:37.012 --> 00:33:37.955 Does that make sense? 00:33:37.955 --> 00:33:43.417 Let me give you an example. 00:33:43.417 --> 00:33:51.134 How many of you have ever been involved don't raise your hands but how many of you have ever been involved in a peaceful protest about abortion? 00:33:51.134 --> 00:33:53.819 Many of us in this room have marched for life. 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:55.667 We've done prayer walks. 00:33:55.667 --> 00:34:02.871 We have stood in front of abortion clinics and prayed and begged God to change the hearts of individuals. 00:34:02.871 --> 00:34:13.849 We have also heard stories of people who were getting ready to enter into the abortion clinics that have had a chance to talk to somebody who was there, that was praying for them and made a decision. 00:34:13.849 --> 00:34:22.476 Many, many, many people made decisions not to enter into the abortion clinic because there was light that was shining in the darkness of that scenario. 00:34:22.476 --> 00:34:23.798 Does that make sense? 00:34:23.798 --> 00:34:31.016 So peaceful protest in that way is something that our government allows for. 00:34:31.016 --> 00:34:44.067 It's a part of the very fabric of who we are as a nation, fabric of who we are as a nation. 00:34:44.067 --> 00:34:44.847 But how many of you know? 00:34:44.847 --> 00:34:47.833 If some justice freak enters into an abortion clinic, it begins to kill those who are performing abortions. 00:34:47.833 --> 00:34:54.711 That is not lawful and that is not something that should be applauded or should be. 00:34:54.711 --> 00:34:58.119 That we should say is a good thing. 00:34:58.119 --> 00:35:00.706 Does that make sense? 00:35:00.706 --> 00:35:08.737 Do you see the difference in the distinction there? 00:35:08.856 --> 00:35:19.257 Civil disobedience remains a right within the governmental policies of most Western democracies, which we are, and it is considered legitimate social behavior. 00:35:19.257 --> 00:35:24.190 Some acts of civil disobedience are even perceived by society as a good thing. 00:35:24.190 --> 00:35:25.914 It's a good thing. 00:35:25.914 --> 00:35:35.809 It enables us, as Christians, to be both non-compliant to those things that are against our conscience or that are also against the word of God primarily. 00:35:35.809 --> 00:35:54.737 Yet within the parameters of good behavior, we can still act as good citizens of this nation, even though we are protesting or standing up against something that we disagree with, that the government is either allowing for or that is attempting to bring about a change within our nation. 00:35:54.737 --> 00:35:59.266 We have the chance to talk to our representatives. 00:35:59.266 --> 00:36:01.577 We have the chance to write letters. 00:36:01.677 --> 00:36:25.128 I remember when our church recently, when we had the I wish that I could think of all the terms right now but basically they were trying to pass something within the city of Knoxville that was to basically say that the Jewish people in Israel were involved in genocide, and so they were wanting to pass a like a what's the right word? 00:36:25.128 --> 00:37:04.726 Resolution, yes, and so many people within our church stood up against that, and also our eldership wrote a letter that was sent to the commissioner's office that stated biblically why we were in disagreement with that, and that was something that we felt like that we were supposed to do as an elder team, as a part of this community, and I'm not saying that we do everything exactly right when it comes to that, but there are times when the church needs to be heard and not just be seen right and again, that letter was written very respectfully. 00:37:04.726 --> 00:37:12.706 It was written with not any malice or hatred or trying to blame anybody in the scenario. 00:37:12.706 --> 00:37:23.498 It was just saying we don't believe that this is the right approach to take and thankfully, that thing was snuffed out twice now, right, twice now. 00:37:23.498 --> 00:37:25.400 That thing was taken out of the. 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:29.487 It was not allowed to move forward. 00:37:29.487 --> 00:37:31.088 Thank God for that. 00:37:31.088 --> 00:37:39.132 That's an example of what I'm talking about. 00:37:41.295 --> 00:37:45.173 So the key to all of this is, by the grace of God, to maintain the proper attitude. 00:37:45.173 --> 00:37:52.168 How easy is it for us to transition to having the wrong attitude? 00:37:52.168 --> 00:38:00.733 And here's a good way to define that when you hear the name President Biden, where does your mind go? 00:38:00.733 --> 00:38:07.400 Are you praying for him or are you just spouting out words of hate? 00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:18.416 I believe the Lord spoke to me back in 2020 that he was going to be elected into office and I said Lord, why would you do that? 00:38:18.416 --> 00:38:30.507 And I felt like the Lord spoke to me that he was going to use it as a means to expose more things, to cause more things to come into the light, and I believe I'm shocked, looking back on that now, how true that has become. 00:38:30.507 --> 00:38:34.297 And I don't mean exposing things just based on one party. 00:38:34.297 --> 00:38:35.097 I don't mean that. 00:38:35.097 --> 00:38:48.507 I mean exposing the depravity of human beings and also the grasp at absolute power and control that all of humanity faces on a daily basis. 00:38:48.507 --> 00:38:54.704 If you and I were in the same condition and had the same potential, who knows what you and I would do? 00:38:54.704 --> 00:38:58.449 Hopefully we would represent Christ. 00:39:01.976 --> 00:39:03.840 So Peter gives four exhortations. 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:05.623 I got to move here Number one. 00:39:05.623 --> 00:39:07.867 He says to honor all people. 00:39:07.867 --> 00:39:10.780 Honor or value all people. 00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:21.161 We cannot always honor their words or their behavior, but we can remember that every single life matters to God and it's of more value. 00:39:21.161 --> 00:39:26.427 Every person's life is of more value than all of the world combined. 00:39:26.427 --> 00:39:31.565 Every person was made in the image and likeness of God. 00:39:31.565 --> 00:39:47.961 Every person was made in the image and likeness of God and we must never forget that Jesus Christ bled and died for even those that are the most unworthy, just as we are and were, must honor all people. 00:39:47.961 --> 00:39:49.860 Secondly, we must love the brotherhood. 00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:52.235 Love is a stronger word than honor. 00:39:52.235 --> 00:40:01.695 Love is something that is a word that describes a connection that is not willing to give up on something. 00:40:01.695 --> 00:40:06.916 We are to love all people, but we're especially obligated to love the members of our spiritual family. 00:40:06.916 --> 00:40:09.661 This is a love like God's love for us. 00:40:09.661 --> 00:40:15.882 It is utterly undeserved, it looks for no reward and it is stronger than death itself. 00:40:15.882 --> 00:40:20.038 My friends, if there's ever a time that we needed the body of Christ, it is now. 00:40:20.038 --> 00:40:21.561 It is now. 00:40:21.621 --> 00:40:26.436 Do not allow yourself to become an isolationist that says it's just me and Jesus. 00:40:26.436 --> 00:40:40.050 How many of you know that the predators of the animal kingdom itself understand that the way to get fed is to single out the isolated, weak, sick, individual animal and take them out? 00:40:40.050 --> 00:40:44.786 Satan is a predator and that's what he attempts to do. 00:40:44.786 --> 00:40:51.485 Do not find yourself in this moment of time, wavering on whether or not to be a part of the body of Christ. 00:40:51.485 --> 00:40:53.969 Third, fear God. 00:40:53.969 --> 00:41:02.880 We fear him when we reverence him as the supreme Lord, glorifying him. 00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:05.389 When that then becomes our number one priority, we fear doing anything that would displease him. 00:41:05.389 --> 00:41:22.224 Not because we're concerned that we're going to fall out of good standing with him because Jesus paid the price for that, but because we have his heart so much as a part of our heart that we want to do everything that we do for him, for him and for his glory and for his honor. 00:41:22.224 --> 00:41:27.920 And we also should fear misrepresenting him before men and before people. 00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:30.266 And fourth, honor the king. 00:41:31.168 --> 00:41:34.356 Peter returns to the subject of human rulers for a final reminder. 00:41:34.356 --> 00:41:40.677 We are to respect our rulers as officials appointed by God for the maintenance of an ordered society. 00:41:40.677 --> 00:41:44.005 God is to be feared, but the emperor is to be honored. 00:41:44.005 --> 00:41:46.896 There is a distinct difference between the two. 00:41:46.896 --> 00:41:55.369 Right Kind of moving towards our conclusion, believers should face persecution with grace. 00:41:55.369 --> 00:42:02.478 Servants be subject to your masters, with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. 00:42:02.478 --> 00:42:08.938 For this is a gracious thing when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 00:42:08.938 --> 00:42:13.476 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? 00:42:13.476 --> 00:42:20.418 But if, when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:24.967 So Peter moves on here from government and he's talking about household. 00:42:24.967 --> 00:42:31.097 He's talking about working underneath the authority of somebody else as a master and a servant relationship. 00:42:31.097 --> 00:42:41.594 In our context this would be an employee relationship, right, peter goes on to address these things, but the principles apply to all kinds of people. 00:42:41.594 --> 00:42:44.322 The basic appeal is to submit to the master. 00:42:44.322 --> 00:42:50.545 With all respect, obedience should not vary according to the temperament of the employer. 00:42:50.545 --> 00:42:54.826 How many of you have ever defined your boss as a jerk? 00:42:54.826 --> 00:43:01.644 How many of you are the boss that others define as a jerk? 00:43:01.644 --> 00:43:13.728 Right, just because your boss is a jerk does not mean that you have the right to not be a Christian. 00:43:13.728 --> 00:43:15.751 Does that make sense? 00:43:15.751 --> 00:43:23.228 God's given us his grace to be an example in the middle of all of that stuff. 00:43:23.228 --> 00:43:32.123 Anyone who can submit to an employer who's good and gentle, but believers are called to go beyond and be respectful and obedient to the harsh, overbearing boss. 00:43:32.123 --> 00:43:36.429 This stands out as distinctly Christian behavior. 00:43:37.090 --> 00:43:59.675 Now I want to make clear one thing, because this is an absolute truth If there are people that are in violent situations and they are victims of violence, especially in the home life, with children and things like that, we are not saying that the Bible is teaching that that person should remain under that form of abuse. 00:43:59.675 --> 00:44:00.518 Does that make sense? 00:44:00.518 --> 00:44:10.902 We believe that there are other scriptures that, in line with this one, give reasons why there needs to be a way of escape made for somebody that finds themselves in that situation. 00:44:10.902 --> 00:44:13.403 So we're not talking about taking abuse. 00:44:13.403 --> 00:44:17.668 That is unjust in that way. 00:44:17.668 --> 00:44:31.327 If that makes sense, right, but it does mean that we should put up with a boss that has a bad attitude sometimes or that overlooks us or that, you know, says something about the fact that we're Christians and persecutes us in that way. 00:44:31.327 --> 00:44:35.815 Says something about the fact that we're Christians and persecutes us in that way. 00:44:39.675 --> 00:44:44.246 One thing that has always struck me as an interesting thing is that people often call persecution something that isn't persecution at all because it's self-inflicted. 00:44:44.246 --> 00:44:57.023 So if you are a bad employee, for example, if you steal from the company, if you say that you're working while you're playing what's the new game on the phone? 00:44:57.023 --> 00:45:00.530 Is it still the old game, solitaire? 00:45:00.530 --> 00:45:02.597 I don't even know. 00:45:02.597 --> 00:45:05.043 Right, I'm not saying I'm holier than thou. 00:45:05.043 --> 00:45:16.166 I sometimes play spades on my iPad, but whatever the game is that draws you in and you seem like every moment that you're awake, you've got to get to that game, even if you've got a few minutes left on the clock, right? 00:45:16.166 --> 00:45:20.422 So persecution isn't persecution if it's self-inflicted. 00:45:21.744 --> 00:45:38.126 My first job was at Toys R Us and, as I was there, one of the things we were taught this is a strange time for our young people Back then, if people came in to steal from the store, we were supposed to stop them, attempt to stop them from stealing and call them to account, and so we did that. 00:45:38.126 --> 00:45:40.903 There was a couple of guys that came in, young guys that came in. 00:45:40.903 --> 00:45:45.186