WEBVTT 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:24.719 First Peter two, verse eleven until chapter three, or seven. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:35.759 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:48.399 Be subject to the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be the Emperor as Supreme or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:54.560 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:02.079 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:08.480 Honor everyone, love the Brotherhood, fear God, honor the Emperor. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:16.560 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:24.079 For this is the gracious thing, when in mindful of God one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:28.879 For what credit is it if when you sin and are beaten for it you endure? 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:35.359 But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:44.799 For to this you have been called, because Jesus because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:50.159 He committed he committed no sin, neither as deceit found in his mouth. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:53.840 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:02:01.760 When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judged justly. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:10.240 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to the sin and live to righteousness. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:19.840 By his wounds we have been healed, for you were straying like sheep, but had now returned to the shepherd or and overseer of our souls. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:36.400 Likewives, wives, be subject to your husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be one without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:54.000 Do not let your adorning be external, the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear, but let your adorning be hidden, be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:03:00.560 For this is how the holy woman who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:05.840 As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, and you are her children. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.520 If you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:25.280 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are their hair, our heirs with you of the grace of life, so that you your prayers may not be hindered. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:32.400 So, folks, being part of the chosen people of God who have this living hope is something wonderful. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:32.960 Amen? 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:35.439 Majestic, amen. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:36.879 Hopefully. 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:47.360 Earthy. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:04:02.960 And when I say earthy, what I mean is that the church is made up of real people who live real lives in real time, in real places, and amongst real cultures in a world that is broken, sinful, and hostile. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:12.400 And each of our experiences of living as God's people in a broken world, in a sinful world, in a hostile world, will be manifested differently. 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:18.639 They just will be because of the different context that we find ourselves in and the different experiences that we have. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:34.000 The earthiness of living in this reality as God's people does and will expose the truth of what is happening in our hearts in any given situation, in any moment in the rough and ready of the day. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:50.079 Peter, in sharing the reality of who they are as God's people, is also fully aware that the pressure coming from the culture to embrace its perspective on life, responses to things, roles, and relationships will be heavy on the Christians. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.759 And it's true for us today. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:05:01.759 So that's why Peter urges them, verse 11 of chapter 2, when the rubber hits the road, in the reality of life, what does he say? 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.519 Abstain from the passions of the flesh. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:12.639 And to verse 12, keep your conduct amongst the Gentiles honorable. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:22.319 When confronted with hostility of the culture, remember that you are sojourners, exiles, you are aliens, you are foreigners, that this is not your culture. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:31.920 What may be being impressed upon you is not how you are to respond, because you are from another place, because this is not your home. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:44.160 And Peter is urging them to remember that when the pressure is on, they are not to respond from the passions of the flesh, from the sinful desires that may arise in you at that point of hostility or that point of conflict. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:50.079 That pressure, whatever it may be, folks, will trigger a battle in your heart. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:59.519 As the desire to sin and respond wrongly will go to war with your soul, verse 11, that knows that you are part of God's holy people. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:00.879 It's gonna happen. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:06.319 So the reality of living in a broken world, yes, being the people of God, yes, having this living hope. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:13.040 When the rubber hits the road, the temptation to sin and to live from the passion of the flesh is enormous and it's heavy. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:18.079 Now, folks, point of clarification passion of the flesh is not just sexual. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:22.000 I think sometimes when we hear that we think sexual things, no. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:35.839 Actually, in this case, it's wrong self-preservation, it's the desire for revenge, it's envy, it's slander, it's gossip, it's the desire for comfort that comes from disobedience to God. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:46.160 Peter is saying, Abstain from those things and alternatively, conduct yourselves honourably amongst unbelievers and towards unbelievers. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:47.680 Verse 12. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:55.600 This is how you display the praises of Him who calls you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:04.160 This is how you live as people who have been formed by the grace and mercy of God and are marked as people of grace and mercy. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:12.480 Because this honorable conduct of verse 12 is for the intention of mission. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:17.680 It's not so that people can look at you and go, what a lovely person that person is. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:20.079 Aren't they wonderful? 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:21.839 No, it's for the intention of mission. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:33.519 Because verse 12, even if they speak evil of you, they will see your good deeds, your honorable conduct, your inappropriate joy, given the circumstances which will result in them worshipping God. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:34.639 That's what it says. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:43.439 They will see how you respond in the midst of the brokenness of the world, and it will lead people, even though they speak evil about you, to worship God on the day of his visitation. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:49.600 How you live in the rough and ready of life has missional impact. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:08:04.720 And the pressure and the heat that comes from living in a hostile world exposes the heart and reveals who we are, or it will reveal whether or not we believe what we say we believe. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:07.600 So here I think it's I love the Bible. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:17.040 Peter highlights and makes comments regarding three areas of real life that these people are dealing with, and it's the same for us. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:25.120 Number one, in society as we live as citizens, number two, in the workplace, and number three, in the context of marriage. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:29.519 And I understand many of you aren't marriaged, but many of you will be married. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:38.559 Now, again, we're gonna look through this, and verse 13, it begins with a word that is repeated three times subjection. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:46.960 And in each of these areas, there is a call to subjection, in other words, to submit, to be obedient to. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:49.279 Verse 13, subjection to authorities. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:57.840 Verse 18, subjection to masters, and in verse 1 of chapter 3, wives to be subject to their husbands. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:00.879 It means willing obedience. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:02.799 Willing obedience. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:07.919 Now, willing obedience or the refusal to do so is something that is seen in the New Testament. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.440 The Lord Jesus was subject to his parents. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.600 We see that actually we refuse to submit to God's righteousness. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:21.039 And that and in Ephesians 5, we see that the church is to be submission to Christ. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:28.320 All over the New Testament, there is this talk of what it means to be subject, to be willing, to willingly obey something. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:43.600 Now, one of the potential issues that I think that we have when seeking to understand the issue of subjection and submission is that we assume it means this complete unadulterated submission and unquestionable obedience. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:58.080 Now, whether or not submission involves unquestionable obedience, our understanding cannot be determined by the term subjection or submission. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:04.639 Our understanding has to be determined by the context that that is being used. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.799 That is so important, folks. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:09.039 By the context where it's being used. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.559 Often we hear that word, boom, and you can feel it. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.240 I always preach on Ephesians 5. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.080 It starts with wives, submit to your husbands. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:24.480 So when you're doing non-Christian weddings, you're feeling, and even Christian women, you feel it, and you can see all the ladies going, okay then, what are you gonna do here, fella? 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:28.480 And all the husbands are like, Yes, go, go, go, go. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.039 And it blows it all up. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:33.120 It blows it all up. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:34.240 Why? 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:45.200 Because in the in the context, the understanding of it is something that is so beautiful, both in the workplace, both in society, and in the both in the context of our relationship. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.840 Let's look at the first one, verses 13 to 17. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:55.200 In society, chapter 2, in society, be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.240 Then it goes on. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:06.240 Peter is telling them, for the Lord's sake, be subject to every human institution, or every institution that has been ordained by God, and he is using people. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:18.720 In this case, here it was the emperor of Rome and all the governing bodies, and for us, it will be the government and everything that pours out of that, whether that's the police force or the tax office or or any institution that comes from that. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:23.759 Now, during his ministry, the Lord Jesus was asked the question, Should we pay taxes to Caesar? 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.639 Do you know that story? 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.000 And what did the Lord Jesus do? 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:27.279 He said, Give me a coin. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:32.960 And someone gives him a coin and he holds up this Roman coin, he says, Whose face is on that coin? 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.720 And they say, Well, Caesar's. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.919 And what does he say? 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:41.519 Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but give unto God what is God's. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:47.600 Now in Romans 13, it also tells us, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.799 For because there is no authority except from God. 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:56.799 And those that exist have been instituted by God. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:04.000 Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:09.759 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:12.000 That was the intention of these authorities. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.720 Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:18.080 Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.720 All of the Bible we're called to subject, be subject to the authorities that God has ordained and put over us. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:32.399 And here Peter is saying the will of God is that these governing bodies are in place to deal with evil and to praise what is good. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:38.240 And it is the will for those of us as Christians to live as good citizens, honoring the governing bodies. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:40.639 That's what it says in verses 14 and 15. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:51.679 Folks, we submit and we are to submit as Christians, even in the midst of hostility to the governing authorities, because of and out of our relationship with God. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:58.879 And we are to respond to them with good conduct as citizens because that is his will. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:10.159 Verse 15: whatever the issues that arise because of the governing bodies and the ruling entities, whatever they are, we are to do good in the public place. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:18.399 And Peter says, by doing this, we will silence ignorant people. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:24.080 Because the ignorable people will say, Why are they responding like this? 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.960 Why are they responding like this? 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.519 We live as citizens because we are free people. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.960 That's what he says. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.320 We're able to respond because we are free in Christ. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:43.440 Now, for us, I think for many of us, especially those of us who are from this sort of Western culture, this is less tangible. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:52.399 But for many around the world, and I also suspect those who are in this room, they understand this a little bit more because that is their reality. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.159 They are oppressed. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:01.039 They're oppressed by the authorities, and they're not free as citizens, but they are free in Christ. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:09.919 So therefore, in the midst of even oppressive regimes and societies, they are free to love and pray for their oppressors. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.080 They are free to love their enemies. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:16.799 They are free to do good in the midst of the cultural and political landscape that they live in. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:22.799 So how much more is that for us when we live in contexts where we are not being oppressed in the same way? 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.720 We are there to do good. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:39.759 Folks, we are to submit from our freedom in Christ that comes from who we are as his people in the context of the living hope that we have, not from fear or subserve or a subservient spirit, but as free people in Christ. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:41.440 That's what Peter is saying. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.799 You are free. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:53.279 So because you are free, and even in the midst of hostility, you are free to do good as citizens under the authorities that God has ordained. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:59.120 But this freedom, verse 16, is not freedom to sin. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:05.679 And that means that we can't justify behaviour because we aren't happy. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:14.399 We can't justify our behavior because we're not happy with what's happening with the governing bodies or around. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:34.080 That we have a massive temptation to justify our sin because we don't agree with the governing bodies, temptation to dishonour, temptation to be abusive towards, and temptation to cause anarchy. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:44.080 And the place where I'm guessing many of your generation without a car is on social media, that we think it's okay for us because we don't agree with the politicians that we can slag them off. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:52.639 That is sinful, not right, and it doesn't present the living hope that is in Christ to those who are watching in a hostile world. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.679 We're just like them. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:59.279 Okay, Steve, you might say, but what if we are called to do something that is contrary to God? 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.600 Well, look at verse 17. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:11.039 Peter said we are to honor everyone, honor the emperor, honor everyone, love the brotherhood which is each other, but we fear God. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:16.720 The will of God is for the governing bodies to do the will of God. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:26.399 If we are commanded or instructed to live in ways that fall outside the will of God, this does not give us license to sin, we must obey God. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:33.279 This is an issue of context regarding submission that is driven by the authority of God and his will. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.399 You see that? 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:41.519 If we're called to do stuff that is outside of the will of God, we we are fearful of him or respond to him. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.799 Now we see that all over the Bible. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:54.000 We say that in Exodus 2, where the Hebrew midwives are told by Pharaoh to kill all the babies, but they don't, they lie, and people are like, oh my word, there's they lied. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.039 Is that a good thing? 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.480 Of course it was a good thing. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:58.240 Why was it a good thing? 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.960 Because God says we should not murder. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:09.200 And even though the governing body at the time that was ordained by God, he did not use his authority for the good of those under his care. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:18.480 He used his authority and was using it for his own means and because of his own insecurity, those Hebrew midwives feared God and they obeyed God. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:23.519 It wasn't freedom to sin, it was freedom to walk in the will of God. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.960 And that's where civil disobedience is right. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.680 That's where it's right in the midst of the hostile. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.680 We see that with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:34.799 And Daniel in the book of Daniel, we're going to be read that later on. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.559 Someone's going to read that later on, apparently. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.200 We keep hearing that. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:47.279 Folks, as Christian people in a hostile world, and some of us really feel the hostility of the governing bodies that are over us. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.279 We're not happy with this, we're not happy with that. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.920 In the UK at the moment, people are striking left, right, and centre. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.720 Striking's fine, it's not sinful, it's not wrong. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.839 It's within the law of the land in our context. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:01.519 Teachers are striking, doctors are striking, everyone's striking because they're not happy. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.400 That's fine. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:06.640 These are things that have been put in place in order for the people to be heard. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:13.519 In my context at home, I'm sure it's similar in this context, but we are to do that as people who have a living hope in Christ. 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:18.559 We are to conduct ourselves honorably amongst the Gentiles, and we are not to sin. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.839 Amen. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:26.400 So let us do good in our society, honor those in leadership well, and live as free people. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:32.880 Let us as Christians be marked for what we stand for, not for what we stand against. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.119 You see that? 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:41.440 Let us be marked for what we stand for, not what we stand against. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.440 Significantly different, folks. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:47.519 And in your context, you'll understand what that means. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.039 Let's look at the next one. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.200 In the workplace. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:19:02.480 Verses 18 to 25, let me read the servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to do good and gentle to the good and the gentle, but also to the unjust. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.759 For this is a gracious thing. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:08.400 When mindful of God, who endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:12.640 For what credit is it if when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:17.599 But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:24.799 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. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:28.000 He committed no sin, neither was the seat found in his mouth. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.720 When he was reviled, he did not revile and return. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:36.000 When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued un entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:41.599 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:43.279 By his wounds you've been healed. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:49.119 For you are straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:51.039 Now let me deal with one issue here. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.079 It's really interesting. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.599 It talks about servants be subjects. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:56.160 Some of your Bibles might say slaves. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:56.640 Okay. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.319 Nowhere in the Bible is slavery condoned. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:00.880 Okay? 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.240 Nowhere. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.000 You will get people who will use that. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.559 Well, you read in the Old Testament, slavery is condoned. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:13.599 Nowhere in the context of how we understand slavery, and this happened in the happened in the last few hundred years. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.839 Nowhere in the Bible is slavery condoned, but slavery was present. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:31.759 Now, here Peter is addressing those who were domestic servants, domestic slaves, those who served as doctors, accountants, those who did skilled jobs that often meant that they were more skilled than their masters in lots of places. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:54.640 So for us, we need to see that we are called also to be submissive to our masters, to our employers, to our line managers, both to those who are gentle, which means kind, those who are good bosses, and also those who are unjust, those who are harsh and those who are unreasonable. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:59.039 Many of us have had good bosses. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.680 Agreed? 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.240 Amen. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.279 Yeah, some of us, some of us, maybe it was a little bit tensive. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.160 That wasn't a hard. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:17.519 Peter says, honor them both. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.920 Honor them both. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:23.839 And honor them even if you are being mistreated. 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:35.039 Now what's interesting, he says, you are able to do this by being mindful of God and looking to the example of Jesus in how he was mistreated. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.279 Verses 21 to 25. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:44.160 We're able to do if the Lord Jesus was able not to revile as he was reviled. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:48.079 As the Lord Jesus was able to keep his mouth quiet as he was accused. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.920 If the Lord Jesus, when he suffered, he did not threaten. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.480 We also, as those who follow him, are able to do the same. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.759 Folks, we will face trials in the workplace with those who have authority. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.880 Over us. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:06.319 But we cannot allow the passions of the flesh to rise up and cause us to sin. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:18.799 But rather being mindful of who Jesus is and what he has done for us and who we now are, we should submit, serve well, and display good deeds in those contexts, contexts. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.759 Now in verse 20, Peter, I think, is dealing with one of the temptations that we face in work. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.400 One of those. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.680 For what credit is it? 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:29.279 If when you sin or are beaten for it, you endure. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:34.240 But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, that is the gracious thing in the sight of God. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:40.319 We are to show grace even if we are being treated harsh for being good. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.599 Now, can I just clarify? 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:46.319 If you're being beaten in work, you need to report that. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.039 Alright? 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.240 Alright? 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:56.319 But if you're being treated harshly for being good, respond like Christ. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:04.480 If you're being treated harshly for being good, respond like Christ. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:07.680 Yeah, but what if I'm being abused, Steve? 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.440 What if I am being beaten? 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:12.079 What if I am being treated terribly? 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:19.440 Now, folks, what's interesting, if that is the case, you are to use the means that will be in place to deal with such behavior. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.519 So use those means. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:25.200 But use those means in a way that is Christ-like. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:36.319 Don't gossip, don't dishonor, don't move, don't move towards those who you can rally around to bring another image bearer of God down in the midst of their sin. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:45.200 No, actually move in those ways towards the person who is treating you harshly with love and forgiveness because that's what Christ does. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.000 It's the biggest temptation I think we have. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.279 I can just I go. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:51.359 Did you hear what he said to me? 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:54.000 Did you hear how he spoke to me? 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:55.279 I had enough. 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.160 I have had enough. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.119 I'm making a complaint. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.559 I want to make a complaint about him. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:04.799 My boss is a I can justify because he should not treat me like that. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.519 Well, that's not being Christ-like, is it, folks? 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.279 It's not being Christ-like. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:16.240 We need to move towards even in the midst of complaining and grievances with love and forgiveness. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:27.200 And again, if you're instructed to do something that is outside of God's will, i.e., fix the accounts, change results if you're a teacher, break the law. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.960 Okay, all of those things are true. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.519 If you're an accountant, you've probably been asked to do that at some point. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.440 If you're a teacher, that may have happened. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.640 If you're a police officer, you've probably broken the law at some point. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:42.079 Bully others, you fear God and you obey Him. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:52.640 The war in our souls between godliness and the passions of the flesh has the potential to be at explosion point in the workplace. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:55.359 So remember who you are. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:59.920 And finally, marriage. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:05.920 I know many of you aren't married, but I think this is really important. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:15.519 Like with our relationship with society and the workplace, our responses and the call from God to submit flows from who we are as people. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:20.000 In society, it flows from being free people and servants of Christ. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:25.039 In the workplace, we ought to be mindful of God and also look to the example of Christ. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:27.920 And it's the same here in the context of marriage. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:35.680 But marriage has an added factor because marriage is a picture of the gospel to the world. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.839 It's an added factor. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:43.200 We are to understand marriage in light of Jesus' relationship with the church. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.960 If you're not married, please don't switch off. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.839 Please listen to this. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.319 This is important. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.640 No, I'm being serious. 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:53.440 Because you may be married one day, and I've cancelled hundreds of people. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.400 Sean and I. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.839 Marriage cancel, that's what we do. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.200 Hundreds of people. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:02.720 And often people don't think rightly regarding these things before they enter into marriage. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:09.440 They spend thousands of pounds and hundreds of hours planning a wedding day and not one second planning a marriage. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.640 Think now. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:16.240 It's an added factor, and we ought to understand marriage in light of Jesus' relationship with the church. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:20.559 See, people ought to make sense of the gospel when they look at marriages. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:24.799 And we ought to make sense of marriage when we look to the gospel. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:29.920 So marriage is not only a place where authority can be abused and oppression felt. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:36.400 Marriage is also the place by which the praises and the glory of God should be clearly seen between a husband and a wife. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:40.960 Because Ephesians 5 says, husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:43.680 So there should be something in that relationship. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.880 There's something that's wonderful. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:50.160 The other people look in and say there's something about what is happening there that makes much of God. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:53.119 That makes much of the gospel. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:56.880 But sadly, at times this is not the case. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:04.960 And for many, and maybe even some in this room, we are married to those who don't know Jesus, which gives added complication and challenge. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:13.200 But all that is said here to wives is both for those who are married to non-believers and those who are married to believers. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:23.359 So in the first instance, it is important for us to see that being a godly wife, whether your husband is a believer or not, flows from being a godly woman. 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.920 A godly woman. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:30.000 It flows from who you are as being part of his people. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:38.720 It is the root of godly womanhood that makes submission within marriage the strong and beautiful thing it is. 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:41.279 So, ladies, please hear. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.440 And brothers, listen in. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:47.200 The roots of godly womanhood. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.960 That's what Peter's talking here. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:53.519 Number one is this a godly woman hopes in God. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:28:05.920 Verse 5 A godly woman does not put her hope in her husband or getting a husband, neither does she put her hope in her appearance, her intelligence, her career, or even her children. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:09.200 She puts her hope in the promises of God. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.000 Verse 5. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:14.000 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:21.200 Proverbs 31, verse 25 says, Their strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.160 Why? 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:24.559 Because she hopes in God. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.400 That's where her hope is. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:31.920 We were all nodding and saying yes before when we're talking about the mercy of God and Christ. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.880 The nodding should happen as well. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:38.480 Because that's where godly womanhood comes from. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:40.880 Hope in Christ, not in anything else, just in. 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:48.720 Now, in the midst of difficulty and trouble, what it says here, her focus and attention is on the sovereign power of God. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:57.200 She knows who God is, she lives in light of his word, and Peter is talking to women who have unshakable biblical roots. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:00.720 So godly women hope in God. 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:08.240 And my prayer for you guys, and I don't know you, but you're all here, and I'm assuming you either are Christians or in some way interested. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:12.000 You want to flourish as a daughter in Christ. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:15.920 Put all your eggs in the basket of hoping in Him, not in anything else. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.680 That's what Peter's saying here. 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:21.440 The roots of a godly woman is fearlessness. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:24.240 This hope in God produces fearlessness. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.039 Verse 5. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:32.000 This for this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn us by submitting. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:38.000 And you are children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:40.480 This hope in God produces this fearlessness. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:42.960 Verse 5 says the holy women hoped in God. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:51.200 And then in verse 6, he gives Sarah, Abraham's wife, as an example, and then refers to all other Christian women as her daughters. 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:55.759 You are her children if you do good and do not fear anything. 00:29:56.079 --> 00:30:00.400 Ladies, this fearlessness grows from a hope in God. 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:09.279 Because if your hope is in things that are that are finite and are fading, if it's there, you're not going to be fearless for God. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:20.559 But if your hope is in God who says, I'm keeping you in the midst of what is to come, and that is an inheritance, your hope will be in him, and whatever comes your way, you will enter into it fearlessly. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:23.200 Fearlessly, that's right, fearlessly. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.160 You just will. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:32.000 Godly women who have their hope in God fight anxiety that rises in their hearts and they wage war on fear with the promises of God. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:34.720 Now hear me, I'm not saying you don't get anxious. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:36.079 I'm not saying that. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:40.960 But what I'm saying, those who have their hope in God are not overwhelmed by their anxiety. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:49.759 See, anxiety is is taking an uncertain future and bringing it into the reality of the present. 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.119 That's what it is. 00:30:53.599 --> 00:31:09.519 Even in the I don't know what's going to happen when I walk out this door, and you bring it in and you allow this, but actually, what we know is that God graciously and lovingly has said that you have a hope that's anchored in the past, a short future, and is active in the present. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:17.599 So your hope in God will lead to a fearlessness in the midst even of anxiety that rises in your heart that wage fear with the promises of God. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:21.359 And godly women entrust their souls to a faithful father. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:24.559 They have hope in him and they triumph over the evil. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:27.440 They do what is right and they are obedient to him. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:31.119 So godly women, the fruit of godly women is they hope in God. 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.720 They are fearless. 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:39.599 And the endorment of the hidden person is their priority. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.960 This is what he says. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:44.960 This is how the holy women who hoped in God adorn themselves. 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:48.000 And then it's referring back to verses 3 and 4. 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:50.319 Do not let your adorning be external. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:54.240 The braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry and other clothing you wear. 00:31:54.319 --> 00:32:03.599 But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very, very precious. 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:11.279 Don't focus your main attention and efforts on how you look on the outside, Peter is saying. 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:15.680 Focus your main attention and efforts on how you look on the inside. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:20.720 Focus on the beauty that is inside that comes from having hope in God. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:24.000 Be more concerned with that inner beauty. 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:37.279 Verse 4, when a woman puts her hope in God and not her husband and not in her looks, and when she overcomes fear through the promises of God, this will have an effect on her heart. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:40.640 It will give her inner tranquility. 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:46.799 Verse 4, imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious to God. 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:48.319 Now hear me. 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:52.319 Those words, gentle and quiet spirits, are not negative. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.880 He's saying all women are quiet and gentle. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:59.119 Well, I'm not saying anything, that's what Peter's saying. 00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:04.960 Well, the hope is if you love Jesus, yes. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:08.799 Because the Lord Jesus was meek. 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:12.160 And meekness is bridled strength. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:16.160 Meekness is bridled strength. 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:34.000 So a quiet and gentle spirit, which is precious to God, is a spirit and an endorment of the inner self that puts all the eggs in the hope of God, that gives them a sense of fearlessness that enables them to walk in a maturity that only God can give. 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:37.279 Gentle and quiet, which is precious to God. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:40.079 It's got nothing to do with should women be quiet and all this sort of stuff. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:52.240 No, it's talking about what's going on in the heart, in the midst of the hostility of the world, and in the midst of the hostile issues that some women in this context and maybe in this church are dealing with in the context of their marriages. 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:55.599 When the rubber hits the road, is it the passion of the flesh? 00:33:55.759 --> 00:34:00.079 Or is it or living in a way that is honourable amongst the Gentiles? 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:03.039 And some of you may marry non-Christians. 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:06.640 I hope if you're a Christian, you don't, because that's not helpful for you. 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.079 It's not. 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:12.639 But some of you may be married to Christians, non-Christians now. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:15.360 Some of you may marry and then some one of them walk away. 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.559 What does this look like? 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:19.519 In the midst of when the rubber hits the road. 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.039 And Peter goes on. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.719 This flows verse 6 from Sarah. 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:32.719 Now this is a reference to Genesis 18, verse 12, where I think it's the Lord Jesus and two angels came and spoke to Abraham and said, You're gonna have a kid, he's an old man, she's in a tent. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:36.000 She's like hearing this, laughing her head off, going, as if that's gonna happen. 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:38.239 This fella can't even get out of a bed, never mind. 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.440 Sort me out with a baby. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.239 You know what I mean? 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:42.159 Literally, that's what was going on. 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:44.400