WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:07.280 In 1 Peter chapter 3, and by the way, let me say something to Carolyn. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:11.039 Susan didn't have my little jar. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:13.759 I know, I know, I know, I know. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:19.359 But but I wanted, I had a little jar, but my wife didn't think that was a good idea. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:20.320 But that's okay. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:21.839 I love you anyway. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:28.800 I had it full of coins that I was going to show you what we've been doing to feed the children. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:29.760 Amen. 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:32.000 And uh in Costa Rica. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.439 And it takes about$3 a day to feed them. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:41.679 And so uh anyway, I have a jar pack that we turned in. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.520 So don't forget about the children. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:52.079 Take that change, throw it in a jar right there by your bed, or when you come in, or on the uh Chester drawer, and just uh, you'll be amazed. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:54.479 You'll end up with 30, 40 bucks in a jar. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:55.759 I guarantee it. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.399 And so uh don't forget about the children that we want to help feed. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.200 Three dollars a day for about four of us. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:06.560 Well, actually, three of us, that's a cup of coffee. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:08.560 Hello, a day. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:18.560 For three of us that drank coffee, if we bought a cup of coffee, you're talking about even a senior cup of coffee at McDonald's, 62 cents. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:19.920 And then add a donut. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:20.959 And then add a donut. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:21.680 Oh, yeah. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:24.879 Boy, I'd like to have a chocolate cream-filled donut right now. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:32.480 But uh, anyway, so please, we want to be able to give the children a meal every day, and we're committed. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.439 I know Susan and I committed to doing that, so we appreciate it. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:36.400 Amen. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:52.319 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 13 through 17, and my goal is to be through with the first book of Peter by the time Susan I take our break at the end of June. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:02:00.319 And then I don't know what I'm gonna come back with this in August, but I'm thinking about doing a series on some characters. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:04.239 I've really been thinking about the good, the bad. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:08.639 Not the ugly, but the good and the bad in the Bible. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:09.439 So I don't know. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:13.680 I'm I'm really seeking the Lord's, or either come back. 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:21.039 I'm thinking strongly looking at the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, because we're in the process of building, building the wall. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:28.960 So I'm just uh I hadn't got complete clarity yet on which way I want to go there, but the Lord always does. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:29.840 But I've loved. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.039 Haven't you loved 1 Peter? 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.439 Now you and 2 Peter, it's been good. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:37.439 Well, again, the context is severe persecution. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:48.080 And what I'm about to preach this morning, I begin this message with a disclaimer that I am not qualified to preach it. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:54.479 And before you point your finger at me and say, Well, preacher, if you're not qualified to preach it, don't preach it. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.360 Well, there's a reason for that. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:10.719 And uh really it's let me point out another good point, is not only am I not qualified to preach it, you're not qualified to listen to it. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:14.080 Uh-oh, that's right. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:19.599 Because about what I'm about to preach, you and I have not experienced. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:24.400 I've never had anyone literally physically persecute me. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:30.560 Now have abused me verbally, yes, but physically, I've never had anyone. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:54.000 I've never been threatened with imprisonment or tortured by my faith, I've never had a property confiscated or my family torn away from me because of my commitment to the gospel, nor have any of you, to my knowledge, and uh have none of us have suffered much for our faith in Christ, like those that would be serving in China today. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:12.560 If I were a Chinese pastor who had served years in a harsh prison for preaching the gospel, and you were Christian Chinese church that could be threatened with your life because you're sitting here right now worshiping the true God, then we would be qualified. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:14.639 So none of us are qualified. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:16.000 Can I get an amen? 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:18.160 None of us. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:31.360 But with that said, I still want us to realize this morning that even though we have not paid that kind of price for our faith, we all have faced the fear of witnessing to lost people. 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:36.879 How many of you know that God has told you to witness somebody, but you're scared to death to do it? 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:37.600 Come on. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:38.399 All of us. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:41.279 I know you're thinking, well, Pastor Danny's never been afraid. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:48.639 Well, most of the time not, but there's been some times he's told me to do it in a certain place that I was saying, oh my goodness. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:53.120 With all these people here, with all these non-believers here, they're gonna think I'm crazy. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.800 And then the Holy Spirit said, Well, you are, so don't worry about it, just talk. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:07.040 But we've all had that fear that in our stomach, those those butterflies, whoo, who, or, or what are people gonna think? 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:10.639 Why is it that we all are worried about what people think? 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:12.639 Every one of us are guilty. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:20.399 Why is it that we strive to want to be accepted by the people's thoughts instead of God's thoughts? 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:29.519 Isn't that a pretty powerful accountability or responsibility that we really don't think about? 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:30.240 You know why? 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:31.920 Because we don't see God. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:36.800 We don't have God in our presence physically. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:39.040 Spiritually, yet. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:41.680 But people are there, and what are they gonna think? 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:52.240 I mean, it it peer pressure is one of the greatest causes for young people today, or in the top five causes for young people committing suicide. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:55.199 Peer pressure. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:56.800 What do people think? 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.959 But we've all been faced with the fear of witnessing the lost people about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:07.120 And I don't know if you, you know, it's embredded the fear. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.920 I don't understand it, but we all have experience. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:16.800 Now, watch, Peter's theme in our text is how to be a Christian witness in a hostile world. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:29.120 And you already know that these Christians were literally being killed, hung up, hey, crucified, set on fire to light the path of the king's driveway. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:33.199 So we're talking about unbelievable persecution here. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:37.120 But we see that these words apply to us too. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:46.720 And really the whole process that Peter's trying to convey in verses 13 through 17 is how we are to witness in a hostile world. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:51.600 Now, we are moving that way quickly in America. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:58.720 We're not there yet, but we're moving pretty quickly in that direction. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:06.800 We're almost divided right down the middle in liberal thinking and conservative thinking. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:18.000 And in the liberal thinking mind, if we don't agree with them, then we are crazy. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.000 We're uneducated. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:27.120 Then on the conservative side, we think the liberals ought to just be thrown into hell. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:35.120 I mean, it's it's almost like we've drawn a line in the sand and either you're for me or against me. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:38.639 And there's only one statement that applies to, and that's Jesus. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.879 Either you're for him or against him. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.360 We should not be against each other. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:44.240 Amen. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:51.839 And the common denominator that brings both sides together is the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:09.680 And Paul and Peter both, throughout the New Testament, are trying to convey that the people that are hostile toward Jesus will be hostile toward us, but we are to respond by not fighting back, but by loving back. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.800 And how do we do that? 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.120 He says, you can reach these folks. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:19.519 You know, there's some people I thought, that's why I quit listening to the news. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:27.360 Because the news was getting me so mad that I I was starting to think bad toward all the liberals. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.039 And I'd have a bad attitude, and I don't need that. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:37.519 I want to have a loving attitude toward anyone that does not know Christ. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:39.840 Can I get an amen, church? 00:08:42.320 --> 00:09:03.679 So the propositional statement here is the best witness Peter conveys in this hostile world combines a good behavior with thoughtful words under the leadership of the supremacy of Christ, the Lordship of Christ. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:07.919 And that's what we're going to be looking at this morning in your outline. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:09.600 Everybody have an outline? 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.519 All right, good. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.360 So note in your Bible right here in verses 13 through 17. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:26.480 Where each aspect of this theme, how to be an effective witness in a hostile world or good witness, the theme comes from basically three things. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.799 First of all, that you and I are gonna, what? 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:38.879 You and I are living and will be witnessing, especially in this context, Peter was, in a hostile world against Christians. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:40.480 And it's going there real quick. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:45.120 America's kicked God out of the school system, the Bible out of the school system. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:56.320 I mean, we we are, in fact, the recent missionary statistics, Deidre, is this that America is no longer considered a Christian nation. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:00.240 Oh me, church. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.600 This has happened in our lifetime. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.559 Where's the church been? 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:11.200 Well, over you know what the history says? 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:17.679 It takes at least 200 plus years for a nation to become liberal. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.840 Well, it's 219 now for us. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.080 We're there, folks. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.679 We're there. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.399 And that means hostility. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.720 That means hostility toward the Christian faith. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.799 What you and I believe in. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:39.840 And so, first of all, let's read these verses and then we'll look at them. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.279 The powerful. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:47.519 In 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 13. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:54.480 And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.919 Now that's the key. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:58.399 We are followers of that which is good. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.559 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:18.000 Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always, I love this, to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:18.639 Reverence. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:23.200 The word fear there's reverence, even though you're fearful sometimes to share. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:37.360 Having a good conscience, that whereas they speak vile of you, in other words, the hostility that comes against Christians, they're speaking evil of us as of evildoers, that we are evildoers. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.879 They may be ashamed that falsely accuse you. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:41.840 Why? 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.080 Because of your good behavior in Christ. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:59.679 In other words, he's saying, if I, if we don't retaliate but live Christ-like in front of those who are reviling us, that hey, they are going to end up being embarrassed because the way we live proves to them that we're really who we say we are. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.000 Well, that's good, preacher. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:06.480 That's a powerful statement there. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:12.480 And then verse 17, for it is better if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well-doing than for evildoing. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.759 So, let's look at it. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:19.120 First of all, the hostility of the world toward believers, verse 13, they want to harm us. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:24.159 Verse 14, we're gonna suffer for taking a right stand. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:30.240 But we're not to be intimidated and do, hey, when he says, Don't work, do not be troubled. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.720 Verse 16, we're gonna be slandered. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:34.320 We're gonna be reviled. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:37.120 I've had that my whole ministry, have I not, honey? 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:39.600 I meant, come at me with every kind of. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.440 I've been a Jim Jones. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:47.039 I've had them say, don't go to open door Baptist church, they're gonna bring out the Kool-Aid. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:50.159 All kinds of stuff. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:54.559 Verse 17, we're gonna suffer for wrongdoing. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:01.039 Hey, I meant, hey, we're gonna suffer for, excuse me, not wrongdoing, but right doing. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:07.200 And then secondly, the best witness Peter says combines both the good behavior and thoughtful words. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.360 Look, he says, good behavior, verse 13. 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.240 What does that mean? 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.919 Zealous for what is good. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:16.960 Be excited, be uh passionate about doing what's right. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:19.440 Can I get an amen for that? 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.279 Boy, that's so good. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:24.720 And then verse 13, good behavior. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:31.600 Uh, verse 14, righteousness, verse 16, a good conscience, a good behavior of having peace with doing what's right. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:33.919 Uh verse 17, doing good. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:38.639 Uh, verse 15, thoughtful words and the defense there. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.679 He said, be ready to give a defense, be ready to give an answer. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:56.320 The word there's defense, and it literally means uh uh the word defense there, the word there, answer is apologia, which we get our word uh apologetics from and apology from. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:00.960 Uh and then the account, be ready to give an account. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.600 Answer is the Greek word logos. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:06.080 Both terms refer to verbal witness. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:12.960 Be ready to give an effective, organized verbal witness of all that Christ has done in your life. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:16.080 That's what he's saying, and how important it is. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:20.080 And then thirdly, he says in verse 15, the Christ Lordship. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.240 Sanctify Christ as Lord. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:27.279 Good behavior, verse 16, in Christ, and then do the will of God, verse 17. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:32.720 These three themes show us three things that we're gonna look at this morning. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.360 Powerful. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.559 It's gonna be good. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:43.759 First of all, in your outline, the place where we're called to witness is often a hostile world. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:47.039 Peter is really quoting Psalms 34 here. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:15:03.120 Peter has reminded us that believe as believers we're to seek peace, but also that we are in a world that, hey, uh, in this world, those who are righteous, and that we're living in a world with those who are righteous, and we're living in a world with those who are evil. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.840 Wouldn't it be great to live in a world where everybody's righteous? 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.200 Oh, guess what? 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:11.440 One day we will, but it won't be of this world. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.320 Amen. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.679 It'll be in heaven. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.480 It's coming. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.320 There's coming a day, folks. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:21.440 But right here we Peter says, hey, you're living in a world where there's good and there's bad. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:24.480 And then he goes on and he gives us the implication. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.240 Look at verse 13. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:34.720 That if we are zealous for what is good, generally speaking, generally, not always, we will not be persecuted. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.080 Now that's pretty powerful. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.039 Look at that again. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.720 Look at verse 13. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.039 That is powerful. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:47.759 Verse 13, and who is he that will harm you if you be followers of that which is good? 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:56.559 In other words, most of the time, if we are doing what's right, even through the persecution, we come out on the winning side. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.000 Can I get an amen? 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.919 That ought to motivate us alone to be right. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:14.639 In other words, God's gonna take care of you, regardless of if you're witnessing to your boss, you're taking a stand where you are, you're worried about losing your job, you're worried about losing something or giving up something. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:24.720 If you really believe what God's word says, He says, if you stand for what's right and for me, I've not only will I take care of you, I've got something better for you. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:31.360 But it's so hard to see through the clouds when we're going through it. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.960 It's kind of like an airplane. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.159 You ever taken on? 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:45.039 For years we had a private plane that we flew, Susan I flew, had a grand assistant that was a pilot, and the president had a little twin engine. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:50.399 It's only a four-seater, but the thing would fly and do about 225 miles an hour. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:58.639 And uh, so every Sunday, Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, and what I loved about it, we could stay home, I could watch the girls play on Saturday basketball. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:04.720 Then we'd fly out about 5 30, 6 o'clock in the morning, anywhere in the eastern United States and be there by 9 o'clock. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.359 Easy. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:08.799 But but I don't know how many times we have taken off. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:13.599 And I mean it looked like the sky's about to fall. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:17.839 It's looking, now we've did our homework and checked the storms where they are. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:25.680 We had all the right uh um, what do you call it, instrumentation to fly around to all that. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:31.519 But but I I'd look and if you thought a minute, you'd just say, oh man, oh, it's terrible here. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.440 We're not gonna, what are we doing? 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:43.519 And uh in about 10 minutes, five minutes, or really about sometimes three minutes, next thing you know, you're like this, and every once in a while you have a little turbulence be bouncing, and you say, Oh my goodness, what have we done? 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.880 And then all of a sudden, oh, it's gorgeous. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:50.960 Beautiful, beautiful. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:58.559 And you look down, you see all the black clouds, but you're just oh gorgeous. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:04.400 What happens with us when we when we understand scripture like this? 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:12.880 We can't see the sun and the blessings and the brightness of God because Satan keeps us in the clouds. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.559 Can I get an amen? 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:21.519 And we have to see through the clouds by hanging on the truth of God's word. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:29.039 Even when we see it looks dismal, when we look see it looks dismayed, discouraging. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:33.039 We got to realize the brighter sun is right there. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.559 It's coming. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.599 And that's what he's that's what Peter's really saying. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:45.519 The implication here is those that uh that, hey, do what's good. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:51.119 Uh good, generally speaking, we will not be, you know, done in with. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.720 It's the simple principle. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.839 I want you to see this up. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.359 Proverbs 16, 7. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:58.319 When a man's ways, I want you to memorize this verse. 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:01.359 This is this is a verse for the week. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:08.720 When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:11.119 Somebody say that's good. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.880 Is that not good? 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:21.680 Even when a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.960 Wow. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:26.799 An upright life is more peaceful than a wicked life. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.160 Can I get an amen? 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.839 I love this verse. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:33.279 Look at what he says in Psalms 119, 165. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.200 These verses are powerful. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:41.519 I meant these are really revolution for you, revolutionizing for you and me. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:41.839 Watch. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.880 Watch what he says. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.440 Great peace, not just peace, great peace. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:47.759 You know what the word great there means? 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:50.319 Beyond comprehension. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:55.279 Great peace have they which love the law, God's word. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.839 Now read it out loud to me, church, the last phrase. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.720 And what? 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.640 Stop. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.920 And what? 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:08.640 What causes them. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.680 You know what the word stumble means? 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:13.119 To give up, to quit. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.240 Hey, hey, to just give up. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.559 Don't do it. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:25.119 Great peace of they which love the law, and nothing shall cause them to be offended. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:33.599 Peter made probably was been looking at the ultimate harm, contrasting the ultimate good. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:37.920 Jesus told the twelve, look at what he said in Matthew 10, 28. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:40.079 Do not fear those. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.119 Now watch this. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:44.480 This is, I'm leading up to something that's fantastic. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:50.319 Don't fear those who can kill the body. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:52.160 Paul knew this. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.240 All 12 disciples knew this. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:56.799 Most of them, seven, I think, or eight of them, honey. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:01.279 Well, I can't remember, were literally martyred for the cause of the gospel. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.720 All but one. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.720 Notice what he says. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:10.960 Don't fear those that can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:19.440 But then notice, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in where? 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.799 Hell. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.400 There's a hell. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.160 In other words, don't fear man. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.039 Now, what's this? 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:31.759 God gave me a definition through studying this message about the reverence of God. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.519 But I'm going to get ahead of myself. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.039 Hold on to that nugget. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:44.480 It's going to be good because that right there, what God's given me in the reverence to God is, let me tell you what that tells you right there. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.400 Do not fear those who can kill the body. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:55.759 What he's saying is man, hey, can only do a limited amount of bad to us. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.680 You say, well, limited? 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.480 Killing me. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.440 Killing you is. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.400 Guess what? 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.839 Yeah, you're dead, but guess what? 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.599 Now you're in heaven. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.920 Hello. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.279 Paul knew that. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:11.279 The disciples knew that. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:14.240 So you couldn't threaten them with death. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.839 So here's the point. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:19.759 We are to fear God more than any man. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:25.279 And if we really fear God more than man, we will not be afraid to witness. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.720 Can I get a homie or amen or something? 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:34.559 So that's what Peter's trying to convey to these folks. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:36.000 Do not fear those. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:40.720 Peter points out, look in verse 16 and 17 in 1 Peter 3 here. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:47.839 If we maintain a good conscience, when we're slandered, someday our enemies will be put to shame. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.960 I love that. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:53.839 Either in this life or, hey, in the afterlife when they stand before God. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.400 But God will bring vengeance. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:58.079 God will take care of us. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:04.640 Avenge not yourself, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord, Romans 12, 19. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:06.640 So we just got to be faithful. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.160 That's what he's telling us. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:15.359 Those who do evil to us will suffer either here through civil and divine consequences or in eternity. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:20.960 Those who do good may suffer here, but they will be vindicated in eternity. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:30.240 In fact, Romans 8.18, the sufferings of this present time is nothing to compare with the glory that we're going to receive in heaven. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:32.160 Romans 8.18. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.599 Man, that's good. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:35.119 That's good. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:44.079 So, because God does not immediately judge the wicked, we may face suffering because of our righteous living here. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:47.200 I love what R. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:47.440 C. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:55.599 Spro, he was one of my professors when I was working on my doctorate at Reformed Theological Seminary. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:00.079 In the book, if you've never read The Holiness of God by R. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.319 C. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:02.400 Spro, you gotta read it. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.319 It's phenomenal. 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:15.200 He tells about a leading professional gother who had been invited to play in a foresome. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:24.079 With Jack Nicholas, President Ford, and Billy Graham. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.759 So he played. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:39.599 And after the round was finished, one of the other pros came up and asked, Hey, what was it like playing with the president and Billy Graham? 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:48.160 The pro unleased a torrent of cursing and disgusting in a disgusting manner. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:54.319 And he said, I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:25:01.440 With that, he turned off and he went over to the practice green and took balls and started just teeing off. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:07.839 Well, his buddy, the other pro followed him and just was watching him, and he was just cussing and hitting. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:22.079 And then finally, his friend said quietly after he had calmed down a little bit, he said, Wow, Billy must have been a little rough on you out there. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:31.440 The pro after he had kind of embarrassingly sighed, said no, he didn't even mention religion. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.720 He didn't have to. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:46.079 His life, the way he talked, the way he played, the way he treated him, was so convicting. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:50.480 And I thought to myself, wow. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.000 Finally he just said, I just had a bad round. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.119 What a witness. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.680 What a testimony. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:02.400 I wished I could say that. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.079 That is my goal. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.519 Can I get an amen? 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:10.400 You don't have to say anything if it's radiating off of you. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.799 They know the difference. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:14.640 People know the difference. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.319 They know it. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.240 They know it. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.799 Wow. 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:25.039 Jesus put it this way in Matthew 5, 11, 12. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:33.039 Blessed are you when men cast insults at you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.920 Now watch. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:37.759 Falsely on account of me. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:45.680 Then he says, Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.640 Wow. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:54.240 As 1 Peter 3.17 makes clear sometimes that it's God's will that we suffer for doing what is right. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:27:03.039 But as we'll see in a minute in point three, Christ is still Lord, and we can still trust Him and not fear when we witness. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.480 Can I get an Amen? 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:11.599 So the first thing we need to recognize is that the world is a hostile place toward Christians. 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:16.640 Don't feel like that it's going to be easy. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:26.240 And the more liberal the world gets, the more vengeful they will be toward the church. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.880 History has proven that. 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:36.400 That's why Paul said, whatsoever things are written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patient comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.319 Romans 15, 4. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.960 So that brings them to the second thing. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:50.559 The practice of our witness combines two things, good behavior with thoughtful words. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:28:03.119 Now, when I was studying this and thinking through this, God gave me a statement that one of the late theologians wrote, and I can't even remember I read so much. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.359 But here's the statement. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:07.039 You may want to write it down. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:22.640 Our lives, our lives, our testimony provides the foundation for our lips to speak our witness. 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:29.759 In other words, how we live is the foundation that gives us the right to share the gospel. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.880 Wow. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:36.720 In other words, if you're living the gospel, you have the right to share the gospel. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:41.440 If you're not living the gospel, we shouldn't be sharing the gospel. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:45.599 That's exactly what he said. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.200 That's powerful. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:50.079 That's powerful, folks. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:29:08.079 I used to have a guy tell us all the time when we were being discipled in our youth group, and especially when I got the liberty, I used to have an evangelism professor stand up and say, if you're not living the gospel, don't share the gospel. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.160 That was convicting. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:21.039 Because people know, hey, they don't know what you're gonna share, but they know how you live. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:24.240 Let me tell you something. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:41.039 You may not believe it or not, but when you put Jesus and and don't please don't go rip your van off, but when you put Jesus' awesome van on there, and I love my church, that is a radar signal to people to watch you. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.200 I do that. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:48.319 You know, I have put Jesus' awesome on everything for two reasons. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:53.519 One, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, but two, it holds me accountable. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:03.200 When I'm about ready to let you have it, because you've done me wrong, and I look down and Jesus is awesome. 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:05.119 I say, hmm, amen. 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:07.039 God bless you, sister. 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.799 Makes a difference. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:26.400 You don't put them on there, I love Jesus on your trunk and then stop at the red light and cuss the purple out next to you because they're not going through the light. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.039 Or you don't have them on the back of your car. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.799 I've seen this more than once. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:38.079 I love Jesus, and they stop behind you, pull around you, and on the back, I love Jesus. 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:45.920 Yeah. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.880 Hello? 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.680 That's why I don't wear those bracelets. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.240 That's why. 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:52.000 Well, shame on you. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:56.000 Get right and wear them. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.000