WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.639 Peter, first Peter chapter one, you can turn there if you would for this evening. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:08.800 We'll start with a reading from First Peter one. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:28.719 I'm just gonna read the first two verses to start tonight. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:53.840 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those chosen, living as exiles, dispersed abroad in Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:57.920 May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:06.079 Lord, we are asking in your kindness you would multiply grace and peace to us. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:11.439 And you tell us that the ones who read and listen to your word are blessed. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.719 So bless us tonight indeed, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:15.280 Amen. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:20.239 The Apostle Peter writes this letter. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:27.439 We'll get to 2 Peter next week, but 1 Peter is all about living as exiles. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:33.200 So the verses that I just read, notice how Peter starts. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:46.400 To those chosen, living as, and then my transition here says, exiles yours might say strangers or pilgrims or sojourners, but living as exiles dispersed abroad. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:50.480 Look down to verse 17 of chapter 1. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:02:05.680 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one's work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time, living as, and then mine says strangers in this particular verse here. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:08.000 We've got exiles, we've got strangers. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.080 Over to chapter 2, verse 11. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:21.439 Peter says, Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.560 And then finally turn over to chapter 5, verse 13. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.479 Very end of the letter. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.240 Almost the last verse. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:38.719 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:43.120 Who is this person in Babylon? 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:56.319 Well, when Peter's writing this letter, the actual city of Babylon was kind of in shambles, and we're not really aware of a Christian presence in the geographic Babylon at this time. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:04.080 But what about Babylon and the Old Testament? 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:08.400 Did God's people have to live in Babylon and they get instructions while they're living in Babylon? 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:09.120 Yeah. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:18.879 And looking at some other sources and evidence, it seems like Peter might have been writing this letter from Rome. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.919 What was the Babylon-like superpower of Peter's day? 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:25.199 Rome. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:35.039 But he's even in using this language of the ones who are in Babylon, together, chosen by God with you, hey, we're we're living as exiles. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:40.639 Yeah, we're living in Rome, and they're they're in control right now, but we belong to God's people. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:45.120 So this letter of 1 Peter is all about living as exiles. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:52.240 And before we get into how to do that, just to maybe clear the deck a little bit here, what does it not mean to live as an exile? 00:03:52.240 --> 00:04:02.639 It doesn't mean we have to live like an Amish person who is sort of in every way sectioned off from life in the world. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:11.520 So yes, we're exiles, there's a certain mentality there, uh, but it doesn't mean, you know, if everyone at Wall Street's wearing a suit, I'm gonna wear overalls. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:15.039 If it's not it's not that kind of a separate culture. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:23.040 It also doesn't mean, and and maybe our word sojourner kind of i has this connotation sometimes. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:26.480 It doesn't mean that you're called to live a rustic lifestyle. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.160 Like we've got to live off the grid. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.680 You know, that's kind of homesteading or whatever is kind of popular these days. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:37.920 If you want to give your kids duck liver for breakfast instead of Captain Crunch, go right ahead. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.040 I mean, that that that may well be better for them, probably is. 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.600 That's just not what Peter's talking about here. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.720 He he's not talking about a rustic lifestyle. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:05:00.399 And then when he says live as exiles, he's also not saying that the the only way that we view ourselves in relation to the world is like we're we're gorilla troops. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:02.879 This is gonna take a little more explaining. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:04.160 Let me explain what I mean by that. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:08.720 I don't wanna if if Kevin Cooney listens to this, I don't want him to just have a seizure. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.240 Well, what do you mean we're not in warfare? 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:11.199 Of course we're in warfare. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.199 We are, we are. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:13.839 Okay, we are. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:15.920 So here's what I here's what I mean by that. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:28.240 You you see these movies where it's like there's a nuclear bomb and there's you know a few survivors, and you wake up and you're in you know the bunker and there's one other guy left, and you're like, Yeah, okay, we're left. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.639 Like, let's get them before they get us. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:33.839 And you're like, yeah, and you nod, and then you just take off with the bayonet. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:42.079 And it it's it's Peter's not calling us to live um as as antagonists violently in this world. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:45.279 I'm gonna explain a little more as we go on, you'll see what I mean by that. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:49.040 But there is a place in 1 Peter where he talks about waging war. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.120 Anybody know where that is? 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:55.120 I was right on it earlier, but I didn't actually finish the verse. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:00.160 Look over to chapter 2 again. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.360 The verse I read there that I started to read. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.519 Verse 11. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:15.519 I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against your soul. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:23.360 So the first and most violent conflict, if we're going to use that metaphor, is against our own sinful desires. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:27.920 There's other kinds of ways to relate to the world, and we'll get into that as we go. 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:32.480 So, what does it mean to live as exiles? 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:37.920 I'm pulling out four ways to live as exiles from this book. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:45.680 And first, exiles find strength in God's eternal purposes. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:57.759 I already read verse one, where Peter says, to those who are chosen, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:10.240 And then if you go over to chapter 5, verse 13, which we also looked at, she who was in Babylon chosen together with you. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:18.879 So Peter frames this whole letter by reminding these believers, your chosen people. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:20.720 God's chosen you. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:23.439 At the end, God's chosen you. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:32.720 So to say, well, you know, all this this sometimes this doctrinal language and God's election, just doesn't really interact with my everyday life. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:37.920 But Peter is saying, if you really want to have a mindset as an exile, you need to be armed with this truth. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:42.160 You need to know that if you're chosen by God, that that changes your whole outlook on life. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.639 That changes the way that you can go out into the world and even encounter suffering that we'll get to. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.879 So God's eternal purposes are right here. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:59.519 Chapter 1, if you go back to chapter 1, looking down at verse 20, look at how Christ is brought into the center of this purpose of God. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:04.160 So God chose us according to his own foreknowledge. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:06.160 He set his loving gaze on us. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:09.279 And then look what he says about Christ. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:17.759 After just saying that we've been purchased with the blood of Christ, verse 20, he was foreknown before the foundation of the world. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:27.839 So God had a purpose to bring Jesus in and redeem sinful people like us, even before there was sin in the world. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:36.639 That's how wise and astounding and masterful his plan is that it would accompass the beginning and the end, and we'd be centered all on Jesus Christ. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:45.840 The same mercy that brought Christ to the world and that saved us is still at work. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:59.919 So if you go back to chapter 1, verse number 3, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because of his great mercy, he's given us new birth. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:06.320 He's creating a whole new people, and that mercy is gonna hold us. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:08.960 So, verse number five of chapter one. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:19.039 You're being guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.879 So arm yourself. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:24.799 I'm an exile, but God's got his grip on me. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:30.639 And I'm gonna keep believing because he's got his hand on me to keep me believing. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:31.679 And I can rest in that. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:38.559 Scriptures. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:44.639 I mean, we're having this whole study through the through the Bible because we have access to it because God is a speaking God. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:56.080 And you see that, verse number 10, chapter 1, concerning the salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:10:01.519 Then he goes on to talk about their word of Christ's sufferings and the glory that would follow. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:05.279 If you go down to verse 23 of chapter 1, you've been born again. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:08.159 There it is again, God's purpose in us to redeem us. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:16.720 Not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:23.919 So God's purposes that we can understand and know and enjoy are anchored in Scripture. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:40.240 And part of that means that we have to have our gaze set not just on what's present, but in light of what God is doing across eternity, we've got to look forward towards the future. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:44.480 And Peter does a lot of emphasis on looking towards the future. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.440 Verse number seven of chapter one. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:56.159 So that the proven character of your faith, more valuable than gold, may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:11:08.320 In other words, when Christ comes back the second time, there's going to be where the difference makes between suffering and humility now and glory then. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:11.440 Or look down to verse number 13 of chapter 1. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:16.879 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:26.480 And then this is this is a mysterious thing still to me, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:38.240 But we hope in what Christ has done for us, but here Peter is saying, launch into you're going to get even more grace when Jesus comes back. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.840 But you need to think about that now. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.519 Don't just sleep on it and wait for it. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:45.840 Think about it right now, and that'll affect the way that you live as alert people. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:50.639 And then chapter 4, verse 7, I'll give you one more example of that. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:57.440 The end of all things is near. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:58.399 Future. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:06.720 Therefore, scan the newspapers and interpret every sentence in light of what you see. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.000 No, that's not what he says. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.960 Wrong. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:15.039 Be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:24.879 As exiles, we get to enjoy and even be part of God's eternal purposes. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:31.279 The second way that we live as exiles is by expecting suffering. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:39.200 I didn't say go around looking for suffering, but not to be surprised by suffering. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.879 Back to chapter 1, verse number 6. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:56.639 You rejoice in this, you rejoice in God's work, even if now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:00.799 And one of the things that does is prove the character of our faith. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:06.720 And we're suffering, but notice we're not focused on our suffering. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.559 Verse number 8 of chapter 1. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:15.360 Though you have not seen him, we haven't seen the Lord Jesus with our physical eyes. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.679 You love him. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:24.480 And though not seeing him now, you believe in him and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:32.960 The suffering around us doesn't keep us from the Savior that we love and who's transformed us and changed us. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:36.559 But suffering we must take on. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:40.240 It's a silly example, I know. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:47.360 But you know in the Princess Bride, when Wesley's on the rack, and it's like he's getting stretched out, but for his love, he's gotta just stick in there and do it. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:54.240 Christ should be so meaningful to us that it allows us to endure anything because we care about him. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.519 Chapter 3, verse 13, another example here. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:03.600 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.320 Aha! I'll just devote myself to good and no suffering. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:08.799 But look at verse 14. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:12.399 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you're blessed. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:14.879 Don't fear them or be intimidated. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:19.519 Look down to chapter 4, starting at verse number 12. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.639 And he said, if necessary, a couple times in his life. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.000 If necessary, you'll suffer. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.360 And now he just goes ahead and says it right out in chapter 4, verse 12. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:31.120 Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:38.960 So he's preparing them and preparing them, and just to so they get the realization, don't be surprised because it's coming. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:48.720 Fiery ordeals have been there for Christians in the past, fiery ordeals will be for Christians in the future, fiery ordeals will be for us at times in our lives. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.919 And it's gonna be different amounts of different people. 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:54.080 And that's a mystery of God's providence. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:59.840 I I why did Job have to go through this much and others have to go through this much? 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:10.000 Um, why for some people is there such turmoil within their own heart and soul and and body, and others seem to have such equilibrium? 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:18.320 Why, with some people does it seem like everyone in their family attacks them in their faith, and for others, their family embraces Christianity? 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:28.159 Why for some, when they go out into the park or the or the or the streets, people seem eager to get into an argument, and others it seems like they want to hear the gospel more. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.440 I I I don't know. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.039 I don't. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:41.200 But the Lord does say to some extent, and he uses categories here, social categories, it's not just about losing our life or being physically persecuted. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:46.639 There's mocking that we all face on some level as Christians, and we can expect that. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:53.919 As we suffer, we can look to Christ who suffered. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:16:00.159 Now, we're quick to say Christ is not merely an example. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.600 He's a redeemer. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:06.080 But he is an example, according to Peter. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:15.120 So he's not merely an example, and and he's not mainly an example in that sense, that he came to redeem, but he did come to give us an example. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.279 So look again at chapter four. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:30.000 Look at verse number fourteen. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:44.799 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:49.440 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:17:00.159 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:06.000 Why is it that we can suffer so as Christians? 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.480 Look back to chapter 2. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:13.920 Peter's already given us the why of the suffering because we're doing it as a Christian in that name. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.359 Chapter 2, verse 21. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:27.119 You were called to this because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:42.079 Not that we could follow his steps and vicariously suffer as a substitute for someone else's sins, but seeing his example of suffering, that should inspire us that that's my Lord, and I'll do whatever it takes to be to be with him. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:49.759 So when he was insulted, verse 23, he didn't insult in return. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:55.519 He didn't launch out at the enemy with personal kind of attacks. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.359 He entrusted himself to the Lord. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:02.480 Exiles find strength in God's eternal purposes. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.000 Exiles can expect suffering. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:07.279 Exiles should live lives devoted to God. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.799 Why do I say that? 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.079 Go back to chapter 2. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:13.759 Peter gives us this beautiful image. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:34.880 Verse 4 of chapter 2 As you come to Him, the Lord, a living stone, rejected by people, but chosen by God, chosen and honored by God, you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built up to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:43.599 Verse 6, for it stands in Scripture, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:50.240 Peter borrows so much language from the Old Testament, so many themes and images. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.160 And he borrows this language of a temple. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.640 And he says, but you're living stones. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:57.680 What is that? 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:01.680 Well, you're you're a temple, but you're not just rocks. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:14.079 You're you're people who have uh ideas and emotions and actions, but you're meant to be a holy priesthood in an even greater way than that Old Testament temple and priesthood. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:20.079 That holy temple was devoted to the Lord. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:26.319 That's what holiness is, to be consecrated, set apart, devoted for a particular purpose. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:35.759 And Peter is telling his readers, you're exiles, but you're to live as devoted people. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:38.799 You're to live as this beautiful new temple. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.720 Paul says something very similar in Corinthians, his letter there. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:48.640 Don't you know that you're the temple of God and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:53.200 Well, then shouldn't you want to live a devoted, holy life to the Lord? 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.200 Yes, you'd you'd want that. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:57.680 So what does that look like? 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:01.920 Verse number 12 of chapter 2. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:20.640 Right after painting this beautiful portrait, he goes on to say, conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:29.359 So living a devoted life is, at least in part, living a life of good works before a watching world. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.880 Well, what does that look like? 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.920 Great question. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.680 Peter gives some specific examples. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:37.200 Submit and love. 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:40.160 Those are two of the main categories that Peter uses. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:54.960 So now we're kind of getting into why I said in 1 Peter, the main lens is not that I am in a battle with the people that are out there, because he doesn't say to battle them, battle the sin that's that's there, and the sin that is out there, but most importantly in you. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.279 But he says, submit in love. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:00.240 Those are his two main exhortations here. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:03.359 Look at verse 13 of 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:15.759 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors, and he goes on to talk about governors. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:20.079 And then look at verse number 18 of chapter 2. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:27.119 Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to the cruel. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:30.480 And he goes on to talk about those relationships. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:33.440 Look at chapter 3, verse number 1. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:43.599 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, so that even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:45.839 So you hear that repeated refrain there. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:48.079 Submit, submit, submit. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:52.720 Micah, you're saying that all those relationships are the same. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:56.160 No, they're different relationships, but there's this common thread of submission. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.680 Micah, you're saying there's never any exception to that? 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.880 No, I'm not saying that. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:04.960 But our basic default mode is submit. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:07.200 That's what Peter says to do right here. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:12.880 But he also goes on to talk about the wonderful priority of love. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:18.559 So look at what he says, starting up in verse number seven. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:24.000 And he he starts now not with wives, but switches to husbands. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:40.160 Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way as with the weaker partner, showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.880 And there's a lot of serious stuff here. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:47.920 Wives live in this way so that your husbands might be won over by the word. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.519 That sounds powerful. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:55.359 Husbands, if you don't love your wives in an understanding way, God won't listen to your prayers. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:57.839 That sounds pretty serious, right? 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:05.039 And then he goes on in chapter three to highlight verse number eight. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:11.920 All of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:15.680 Verse number nine. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:19.519 Not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:26.640 Verse number 11, now he's quoting from the Old Testament, let him turn away from evil and do what is good. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:31.119 Let him seek peace and pursue it. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:49.440 Sometimes we think of living as exiles as some kind of like exciting mission impossible sort of adventure where we're like, you know, you know, like submit to authorities, love other people, that sounds kind of boring. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:51.839 It's not boring for the people of God. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.519 And it's not easy either. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:57.359 That takes supernatural power and grace to be able to live that way. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:06.799 It's a lot harder to do those things than to fill in the blank whatever you think this this glorious thing God might call you to do. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:13.119 Even just living that life of quiet godliness, Peter says that's so honorable in the Lord's eyes. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:21.119 Last thing to highlight for tonight how do we live as exiles? 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:28.160 Well, exiles worship as an ordered family. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:30.160 Why do I say that? 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:37.680 You're here in chapter 4, verse number eight. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:41.759 Above all, maintain constant love. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:44.160 So there's the theme we just hit. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:48.640 And Peter himself says, I'm highlighting this above everything else. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:50.559 Gotta maintain that love. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:54.559 He says, for one another. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:59.359 Verse 9, be hospitable to one another. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:04.000 Who's the one another that he's talking about? 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:11.119 Certainly, we should maintain a love towards our unbelieving friends and neighbors. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:17.680 Certainly, we want to maintain love towards all Christians everywhere as much as we can. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:24.880 But these letters were read aloud in churches, in assemblies. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:31.920 So the most immediate application here is love the people in your church. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.319 Love the people that you assemble with and worship with. 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:36.079 Love and care for them. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:48.720 And I think we can see that even more confirmed by the next verses, verse number 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others as good stewards of the very grace of God. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:51.359 Now we're in the language of gifts and body life. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.920 And doesn't God give gifts to build up churches? 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.960 Yes, he does. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.920 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:01.039 If anyone serves in the strength that God supplies. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:12.640 So we're living as exiles, but we're not guerrilla renegades like Elijah. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:14.480 I'm the only one left, Lord. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:21.440 No, God's given us these outposts of heaven on earth in our churches that we can love and adore and worship. 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:35.920 And yes, that's the way that we shine as exiles in the world, not by so withdrawing that we never talk to the world, but our churches want to be such a city on a hill, such a light, that people would say, What's going on over there? 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:41.119 I need to hear more about this exile life and more about this crucified Christ. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:43.599 Chapter 5. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:50.000 He gets even more specific here with this kind of ordered life of the family of God. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.480 I exhort the elders among you. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:58.240 Not the elders of all time everywhere, the elders among you. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:01.279 There's a specific group of people here that have specific elders. 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:05.519 Shepherd, this is verse 2 of chapter 5. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:21.920 Shepherd God's flock among you, not overseen out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you, not out of greed for money, but eagerly, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:28.000 So elders, shepherds, overseers, it's all language of the same office and type. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:45.200 But these are men who are supposed to model what it means to love, what it means to live as an exile, what it means to speak God's word, not in a harsh way or as it says here, lording over, but in a way that's serving up the word for others. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:51.200 So pray for us as elders that we would do that, just as we pray for each other and pray for all of you. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:59.839 I'm going right to chapter 5 right now, so I'm glad that chimed in perfectly. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:03.519 Chapter 5. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:06.559 Look, look, just the last two verses to bring out tonight. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:18.720 This hope that Peter has that though we're exiles, God's grace is behind our activities, and Christ's glory is ahead of us. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:24.319 Verse number 11 to him be dominion forever and ever. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:46.400 Amidst this letter of very tangible calls of suffering and what that could look like with insults and life in the home, and what that looks like with husbands and wives, and relating to emperors and kings, all those very earthly types of concerns that are legitimate, he's able to still set in the place that God's reigning in all of this. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:29:02.079 And he reigns, verse number 10 of chapter 5, as a God of all grace, God's not looking to judge his exiles, he's looking to strengthen them and build them up and say, keep going. 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:05.039 As we say to one another, keep going as exiles. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:21.359 A little while. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:23.440 Eternal glory and dominion. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.480 Let's pray. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:43.599 Lord, we we so find ourselves acclimated to comfort and ease that when we have just a little bit of suffering, we are quicker to gripe than to pray. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:46.880 We don't want to be surprised, Lord. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:59.759 We we want to have in mind that the work you're doing from beginning to end, we want to live devoted lives that we're so in love with Christ, some insulte. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:03.839 Some suffering there, what is that compared to eternal glory? 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:07.359 What is that compared with knowing Jesus Christ the Son? 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:13.680 So, God, we call on you that by your grace you would equip us for every good work. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:25.759 The good works in our places of work, the good works in our public sphere as citizens, the good works in our homes, that in every way you give us holiness and holy lives. 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:46.960 Lord, that you would, by your grace, more and more bind us to your people, bind us to an intense and sincere love for one another, and that you would yet help us to set our fully on, help set our set our hope fully on grace that's still coming. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:52.400 A grace that'll come to us tomorrow and this week and this month and keep our faith. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:31:08.400 But even the grace that comes when Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven, when we receive an internal inheritance that can't fade or spoil in any way, Lord, give us that heart that recognizes we're just strangers here. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:15.200 We are exiles, we we are citizens of another place, and we're looking forward to that heavenly country. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.839 In Jesus' name, amen.