October 22, 2023
Morning Service

Last week Peter walked us through the instructions for the marriage relationship and finished by touching on how we are to “have compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and courteous.”  We emphasized following these commands were an act of the heart as “the Lord looks upon the heart.”  Our obedience in following these commands and creating our household to reflect what God designed is our act of worship to our Lord.  Today we will begin to look at something Jesus warned the disciples that would come as a result of choosing to follow Him.  It is not something we find pleasant to discuss, but I truly believe it is something we need to be prepared for.  We are called to suffer for Christ.  Jesus explained this in the Gospel of John:

John 15:18-21"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  (19)  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  (20)  Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  (21)  But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

            This is the oldest war that began in the Garden of Eden.  The war of good vs evil; a spiritual battle.  The world, ruled by Satan, loves its own, but hates anyone who has chosen to follow the way of truth in worshipping the only true God.  That is the basis for the war we see in the Middle East now.  The radical Muslim nations who serve Allah as their god desire to totally destroy all who are connected to the true God, mainly Israel and also Christians.  It is at its base a spiritual battle of good vs evil.  Jesus here is warning us to expect both hate and persecution to come our way for a single reason; “all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”  When we chose to follow Jesus, we declared war against Satan and this world.  It is a battle not against us personally, but against the Spirit we received at our conversion. The evil spirit of this world will lash out at the Holy Spirit within us. This is a battle we must be aware of and be prepared to fight.  Peter begins a section in his letter to instruct us to be prepared.

 

1Pe 3:13-14 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  (14)  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED."

            God promises to reward those who seek after Him and protect them, but as we rightly divide the Word here we also see that there will be times we are hated, persecuted and asked to suffer for Christ.  As we choose to be faithful to Jesus, there will come times when we face suffering as we war against evil.  In the moment it becomes a decision whether we trust God more than we fear man.  Peter quotes a passage form Isaiah to not be afraid of our enemy’s threats knowing God is greater. The disciples faced this early on in their ministry as the Sanhedrin, the governing religious leaders, questioned Peter and John then threatened them to quit speaking in the Name of Jesus.  Peter spoke up and said to all of these powerful, intimidating religious leaders (being a doer and not a hearer only):

 

Act 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.  (20)  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

            When they were released they rejoiced and prayed, not for the persecution and threats to cease, but for a greater boldness to speak God’s Word.  In that moment, God showed His approval of the state of their heart and “the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the Word with boldness!”  God said, “I hear you and I like what I hear” answering their prayer with a loud YES!   A little while later Peter again was brought in for questioning and this time the threats became a reality as “they were beaten and commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus.”  So how did they react this time when their threats were acted out against them?

 

Act 5:41-42 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  (42)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

 

            As Peter writes to us he is speaking from experience.  He knows what it feels like to suffer for Christ.  Oh that we too would have the same attitude they did and rejoice in being “counted worthy to suffer for His Name!” Peter continues as he encourages us to be ready to share our story with others by preparing our heart beforehand.

 

 1Pe 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  (17)  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

            To sanctify means to set apart.  Peter is telling us to set the Lord God as the owner of our hearts so we can be ready when opportunities arise for us to speak of the “reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”  This command is true whether we are facing persecution for our testimony or just sharing it with those around us.  We need to be like Peter in that we cannot be silent knowing all that God has done for us.  “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."  Our testimony is truly the most powerful thing we can share with others.  It is also the safest as they cannot debate it as it is your story.  We, at this time, are not being interrogated for our faith as Peter and John were, but we do need to be ready to share our testimony with those around us when opportunities arise.  Notice Peter says be ready when someone asks.  Many times we don’t know if someone is open to hearing the gospel message, but when they ask the door is wide open.  If we have sanctified God in our hearts, we will want to share all that He has done for us. Peter now focuses in on the reason behind this.

 

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit

            Peter here puts our suffering into perspective as he points out how Jesus “suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”  As we look intently upon the cross which Jesus bore for us, any suffering we incur will be small compared to what He did for us.  Not only was it the extreme physical suffering, but spiritually He bore the sins of the world upon His shoulders for that moment in time.  Only He could do that for us and He faithfully yielded His will to that of His Father in heaven for our redemption.  All because He and His Father love us.  Peter now reminds us how we enter into this saving relationship with Jesus by dying to ourselves.

 

1Pe 3:19-22 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, (20) who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.  (21)  There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (22) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

            This can be a very confusing few verse if you take it out of context.  Peter speaks here that the Spirit of Christ in Noah preached to those in prison during those times (imprisoned by sin and death) yet only eight souls were saved.  He then points out that the flood that followed was an antitype of how God saves us; through the waters of baptism.  We through obedience to the Word spiritually die in the water and are resurrected to a new life in Christ through faith.  He closes this chapter with a glimpse of heaven as Peter tells us that Jesus is “at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”  Never doubt that He is in total control at all times.  We don’t always understand, but we can always trust Him completely.

            Today we have seen that suffering for Christ is a reality for us who follow Him and that theme will continue next week.  As time winds down, I believe this persecution/suffering will become more frequent and intense as our enemy will be like a cornered animal and will fight fiercely as he sees the end approaching.  It is a true battle between good vs evil.  Begin today to “sanctify the Lord God in your heart and always be ready to give defense to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope that is in you.”  Don’t let the fear of persecution deter you from sharing the Good News that God loves us and gives us hope of a better tomorrow.

 

Heavenly Father, allow each of us to truly sanctify You into our hearts that our life would line up with all You have planned for us.  Thank You for loving us and empower us to trust You far more than we fear man.  Grant us the courage and opportunity to share our story and Your love with someone this week.