WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.740 The Church Bible. 00:00:02.740 --> 00:00:04.679 It's good to sing the Lord's praises, isn't it? 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:09.540 It's good to gather in his name, and as we've been praying and reflecting on this morning, 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:11.919 remember the freedom that we have to do this. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:16.580 That no one is going to burst through the door, no one is going to round us up, 00:00:16.859 --> 00:00:21.480 that we can gather freely and we can praise the words of the living God 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:27.280 who said, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:32.060 And we're going to look this morning at some of the ways in which we use that freedom to stand out from the word, 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:34.140 but first we'll read our text this morning. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:39.359 So 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 13 to 25. 00:00:40.400 --> 00:00:41.280 Peter writes, 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:46.439 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority, 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:50.240 whether to the emperor as the supreme authority, 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.859 or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong 00:00:54.859 --> 00:00:57.180 and to commend those who do right. 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:03.179 For it is God's will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:09.019 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:11.640 Live as God's slaves. 00:01:12.740 --> 00:01:14.280 Show proper respect to everyone. 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:15.920 Love the family of believers. 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:17.540 Fear God. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:19.420 Honor the emperor. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:25.460 Slaves, in reverent fear of God, submit yourselves to your masters, 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:28.659 not only to those who are good and considerate, 00:01:28.820 --> 00:01:30.500 but also to those who are harsh. 00:01:31.240 --> 00:01:35.599 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.640 because they are conscious of God. 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:43.439 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:47.700 But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:49.980 this is commendable before God. 00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:54.579 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.159 leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:03.719 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:07.819 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:10.479 When he suffered, he made no threats. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:15.099 Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.659 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:23.800 so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:27.400 By his wounds you have been healed. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:30.419 For you were like sheep going astray, 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:37.199 but now you have returned to the shepherd and the overseer of your souls. 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:38.759 Let's just pray quickly. 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:42.739 Father, we thank you again for this freedom. 00:02:42.899 --> 00:02:45.459 We thank you for the reminder this morning 00:02:45.459 --> 00:02:49.000 that it is for freedom that you sent your son to set us free. 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:54.399 Freedom to live lives that honour you and point others to your son. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:57.539 And we ask this morning that you open our hearts and minds 00:02:57.539 --> 00:03:04.239 as we look at some very real, practical, and in many ways, uncomfortable ways 00:03:04.239 --> 00:03:07.039 in which we can live our lives to point others to you. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:09.739 So we pray that as we continue our worship, 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:12.399 that all things would be done for your glory. 00:03:12.699 --> 00:03:14.060 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:15.519 --> 00:03:18.139 I wonder what it is that makes you stand out from the crowd. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:21.879 This building kind of stands out from the crowd this morning. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.819 In fact, I thought I came to the wrong church when I walked in the door 00:03:24.819 --> 00:03:28.239 and saw the different set-up, but standing out from the crowd this morning. 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:33.199 And we get bombarded with this idea every day of standing out. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:36.620 Advertising is masterful at this, 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.159 if any of you work in advertising or marketing. 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:41.259 Sometimes it's subtle. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:43.959 Sometimes it's pretty on the nose. 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.539 But the message is always the same. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:46.879 It's all about you. 00:03:47.959 --> 00:03:48.959 Stand out from the crowd. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:51.080 And you hear stuff like this. 00:03:51.820 --> 00:03:52.879 Wash with this shampoo. 00:03:54.040 --> 00:03:55.460 You'll look like Jennifer Aniston. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:58.319 Shave with these razor blades. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:00.120 You can play tennis like Roger Federer. 00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:02.840 Or drink this coffee. 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:04.060 You'll be like George Clooney. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:06.580 I still haven't figured out that one, 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:08.180 but somehow it makes us like George Clooney. 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:12.900 And the world tells us all the time, 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:15.240 feed your desires. 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:17.699 And stand out from the crowd. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:20.000 Give in to that urge that you have 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.879 for people to admire you. 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:23.699 To think you're sophisticated, 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:24.920 rich, 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:25.920 good-looking, 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:26.639 good athlete, 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:27.860 whatever the case might be. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:29.280 Stand out, 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:32.199 because it's all about you. 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:35.199 But when it comes to our faith, 00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:37.500 we learned this last week, 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:39.160 the world tells us 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:40.319 the exact opposite. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.900 Blend into the background. 00:04:44.180 --> 00:04:44.660 Integrate. 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:46.920 Sacrifice your faith 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:48.300 on the altar of conformity. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:50.199 But Peter tells us, 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:51.259 actually, 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:53.519 God does want us 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:54.480 to stand out. 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:56.300 Not because of our possessions. 00:04:57.259 --> 00:04:58.420 Not because of our achievements. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:00.600 By our conduct. 00:05:01.400 --> 00:05:03.280 By the way we live our daily lives 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:05.060 such that people look at us 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:06.280 and they see 00:05:06.280 --> 00:05:07.819 that we don't look like 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:08.639 the rest of this world. 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:10.920 There is something 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:12.360 different about us. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.019 Something that points to Christ. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:16.979 And we're going to look at two ways 00:05:16.979 --> 00:05:17.539 this morning 00:05:17.539 --> 00:05:18.659 that Peter tells us. 00:05:19.099 --> 00:05:19.959 And I've given it away 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:20.899 in the title of the sermon, 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:22.120 but that happens sometimes. 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:22.620 That's okay. 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:24.279 In civil society, 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:25.779 we stand out 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:27.139 because we're citizens of heaven. 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:29.519 And in the workplace, 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:30.560 we stand out 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:32.560 because we're workers of Christ. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:34.620 So let's kick off 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:35.939 verses 13 and 14. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:38.300 Submit yourselves, 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:39.339 for the Lord's sake, 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:40.540 to every human authority, 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:42.240 whether to the emperor 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:43.519 as the supreme authority 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.360 or to governors 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:45.899 who were sent by him 00:05:45.899 --> 00:05:46.819 to punish those 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:47.839 who do wrong 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:49.579 and to commend those 00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:50.139 who do right. 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:52.060 Now, if there was a competition 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:53.600 for the least popular verses 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:54.399 in the Bible, 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:56.199 I think this would be up there. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:57.620 And I remember the first time 00:05:57.620 --> 00:05:58.759 I read this years ago. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:00.220 I was a political science student. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:02.360 And I since went on 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:03.200 to get a master's 00:06:03.200 --> 00:06:03.980 in the same subject. 00:06:04.260 --> 00:06:05.500 And I was indignant 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:07.660 when I read this verse. 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:09.640 I was just angry. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:10.880 Because you see, 00:06:10.940 --> 00:06:12.040 everything I've been taught 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.120 about government and politics 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:16.100 and everything we're exposed to 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:16.820 in the West 00:06:16.820 --> 00:06:17.680 tells us 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.680 we do not submit 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:20.700 to our government. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:22.400 Our government 00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:24.240 submits to us. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:25.820 At least that's the theory. 00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:28.360 We choose our government. 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.319 We decide 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:31.439 when the government starts 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.860 and the government finishes. 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:34.980 And so who is Peter, 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:35.680 I was thinking, 00:06:35.780 --> 00:06:36.400 to tell me? 00:06:37.020 --> 00:06:37.500 Dan, 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:38.639 submit 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.180 to your government. 00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:42.220 But ultimately, 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:42.920 it's not Peter. 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:44.920 Ultimately, 00:06:45.080 --> 00:06:46.020 this is the Lord himself. 00:06:47.020 --> 00:06:47.460 In fact, 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:48.480 Peter says 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:49.920 it is for his sake, 00:06:50.020 --> 00:06:51.060 for the Lord's sake, 00:06:51.580 --> 00:06:52.480 that we ought to submit. 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:53.900 Not to please the government. 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:55.319 Not to make 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:56.699 Leo and Pascal 00:06:56.699 --> 00:06:58.160 and all the rest of them happy 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:58.880 that we're being nice 00:06:58.880 --> 00:06:59.540 and submissive, 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.420 but to please God. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:03.500 And I remember reading this 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:03.900 and thinking, 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:04.480 all right, Lord, 00:07:04.520 --> 00:07:04.920 I get it. 00:07:04.960 --> 00:07:05.580 This is some kind of 00:07:05.580 --> 00:07:06.660 generic command, right? 00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:08.040 In principle. 00:07:08.840 --> 00:07:09.600 On average. 00:07:09.900 --> 00:07:10.800 But nothing specific. 00:07:11.820 --> 00:07:12.680 I remember reading it 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:12.980 and going, 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:14.240 you don't really expect me 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:15.360 to submit to Bertie Ahern, 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:15.720 do you? 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:17.900 You don't mean 00:07:17.900 --> 00:07:18.640 the kind of governments 00:07:18.640 --> 00:07:19.580 that we actually see 00:07:19.580 --> 00:07:20.180 in reality, 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:20.800 do you, Lord? 00:07:22.080 --> 00:07:22.440 Well, 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:24.060 look at the two kinds 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:24.540 of authorities 00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:25.300 Peter mentions. 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:26.759 the emperor 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.079 as a supreme authority 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.100 and governors 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:32.879 who were sent by him. 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:34.720 And in Peter's day, 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:35.939 the emperor 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:36.759 had another name, 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:37.879 Caesar. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:40.460 Caesar was the head honcho. 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:42.340 He was the boss 00:07:42.340 --> 00:07:44.040 on top of the political system, 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:45.080 the one who ultimately 00:07:45.080 --> 00:07:45.740 decided 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:47.400 how to direct the law 00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:49.120 and in which direction 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:50.379 society went 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:51.100 through the law. 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:52.640 And the Caesar, 00:07:53.020 --> 00:07:54.120 at this time, 00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:55.900 you've heard his name, 00:07:56.340 --> 00:07:57.560 was a guy called Nero. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:07:59.720 I once had a friend 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:00.780 who had a Rottweiler 00:08:00.780 --> 00:08:01.420 called Nero. 00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:03.560 That's pretty reflective 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:04.960 of the Caesar's character. 00:08:05.400 --> 00:08:06.180 Let me tell you about him. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:07.600 He murdered his brother, 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:10.000 he murdered his wife, 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.220 he murdered his mother, 00:08:13.640 --> 00:08:15.000 plundered the public accounts, 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.900 and used all of that money 00:08:16.900 --> 00:08:18.379 to fund these wild parties 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:19.459 for himself 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:21.300 and then build gods 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:22.620 or build statues of himself 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.579 as a god. 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:25.279 And then later on, 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:25.959 when he started 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:27.259 the persecution of Christians, 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:29.100 he would take Christians 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:30.600 and he blamed them 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:31.600 for burning down Rome 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:33.879 and as kind of a sick joke, 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.159 he then took them, 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:36.820 put them in his garden, 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:38.899 covered them in oil 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.659 and set them on fire 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:42.980 to use them as torches 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.299 for his garden party 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:45.200 so his guests 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.259 could entertain themselves 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:46.860 at night time. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:48.980 This was Caesar. 00:08:49.180 --> 00:08:50.019 This was the man 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:51.220 who held supreme power 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:52.300 and Christians were starting 00:08:52.300 --> 00:08:53.519 to ask things like this. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:54.899 Do we obey this guy? 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:57.139 This guy who does 00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:57.779 all these wicked, 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:58.980 terrible things? 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:00.820 Do we rebel him? 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:01.300 Do we go out 00:09:01.300 --> 00:09:01.980 and get swords 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:02.680 and spears 00:09:02.680 --> 00:09:03.539 and bows and arrows 00:09:03.539 --> 00:09:04.560 and try and overthrow 00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:05.159 the government? 00:09:06.560 --> 00:09:07.300 Peter's answer, 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:09.320 submit yourselves 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:11.100 for the Lord's sake 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:13.000 to every human authority. 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:15.060 Submit means defer. 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:17.339 Recognize the authority 00:09:17.339 --> 00:09:17.959 they have 00:09:17.959 --> 00:09:19.539 and do it, 00:09:19.859 --> 00:09:20.739 and this is the point 00:09:20.739 --> 00:09:21.399 we're getting into, 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.059 because it's part 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:25.019 of our Christian witness. 00:09:25.619 --> 00:09:26.739 Not because we're part 00:09:26.739 --> 00:09:27.619 of a political game, 00:09:28.579 --> 00:09:29.759 not because we're here 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.439 to change the world 00:09:30.439 --> 00:09:31.119 through politics, 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:32.439 because it's part 00:09:32.439 --> 00:09:33.879 of our Christian witness. 00:09:34.319 --> 00:09:35.539 Now we don't have emperors 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:36.679 these days, 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:37.659 although sometimes 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:38.299 the occupants 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:38.939 of the White House 00:09:38.939 --> 00:09:39.599 and Downing Street 00:09:39.599 --> 00:09:41.000 tend to act that way 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:41.759 lately. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:43.259 But these days 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:44.000 we have presidents, 00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:45.659 prime ministers, 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:46.740 TDs, senators, 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:48.340 the European Commission. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.379 So these are the people 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:50.240 who make the law 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.179 in our time, 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:51.960 and they're the ones 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.220 who hold this political power. 00:09:53.980 --> 00:09:54.840 And we might ask 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:55.899 some of the questions 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:56.340 the believers 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:57.080 in Peter's day 00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:57.600 were asking, 00:09:57.799 --> 00:09:58.600 what do we do 00:09:58.600 --> 00:09:59.379 about this government 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.279 that we have 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:02.279 that redefined marriage, 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.399 that introduced 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.159 legalized slaughter 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:08.059 of unborn children? 00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:09.720 This government 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:10.259 that looks like 00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:11.080 it's tone deaf 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:12.600 to poverty, 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:14.080 homelessness, 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:15.519 and any concept 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.220 of justice. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.399 Well, if Peter 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.500 told the early church, 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:21.120 submit to Nero, 00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:22.939 this guy who's going 00:10:22.939 --> 00:10:24.539 to put you on torches 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:26.319 and set you on fire, 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.159 he'd tell us, 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.299 submit to Leo. 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:31.899 Now let's be honest, 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:32.600 we don't have a lot 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:33.179 of interaction 00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:34.600 with Leo Varadkar 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:36.059 or with the Eurotus 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:36.519 in general, 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:37.639 except every five years 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.379 when they come around 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.340 and knock on our door 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:40.120 and kiss our babies 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:40.780 and very nicely 00:10:40.780 --> 00:10:41.879 ask us to vote for them 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:43.440 so that they can ignore us 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.220 for another five years. 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:45.639 That's the end 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:46.460 of my political speech, 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:46.759 I swear. 00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:48.780 Every few years 00:10:48.780 --> 00:10:49.200 we vote, 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:49.720 that's it. 00:10:50.660 --> 00:10:51.320 So what do we do? 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:51.960 Well, we do things 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:52.860 like Ralph just did. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:54.480 We pray for our leaders. 00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:56.259 We pray, first of all, 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:56.780 that they would see 00:10:56.780 --> 00:10:57.259 the gospel. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.720 We pray for opportunities 00:10:58.720 --> 00:10:59.759 to share the gospel 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:00.240 with them. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:02.879 I wonder if any of you 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:03.560 went door-to-door 00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:04.180 last year 00:11:04.180 --> 00:11:06.639 for the abortion referendum. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.600 Would you go door-to-door 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.460 for the gospel? 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.419 That's ultimately 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:13.139 what we should do. 00:11:14.819 --> 00:11:15.639 We stand up 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.240 for the unborn, 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:17.559 the impoverished, 00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:18.699 and the others 00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:19.419 without a voice, 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:20.279 yes, 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:21.600 but we stand up 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.120 for Christ 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:23.740 first and foremost 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:24.480 because no law 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.319 is ever going to change 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:25.899 this country. 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:27.439 No law is ever going 00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:28.340 to change the problem 00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:29.539 that the human heart has, 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.460 which is, 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:31.980 it is far from God. 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:34.299 And Peter isn't concerned 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:35.859 about who we vote for. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:37.439 He's not concerned 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:38.659 about what political party 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:39.519 we support. 00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:40.459 He's concerned, 00:11:40.719 --> 00:11:41.059 once again, 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.879 with our daily conduct. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:44.799 How does it make you 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:45.859 stand out from the crowd? 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:46.939 And even though 00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:47.740 we don't interact 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.419 with the cabinet 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:50.459 or even our local TD 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:51.039 every day, 00:11:51.579 --> 00:11:52.819 we do interact 00:11:52.819 --> 00:11:54.339 with what Peter calls 00:11:54.339 --> 00:11:54.979 governors, 00:11:55.839 --> 00:11:56.819 the ones that Caesar 00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:58.059 empowered to actually 00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:59.359 run the programs, 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:00.839 administer public programs 00:12:00.839 --> 00:12:01.759 that he put into place. 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:03.479 So you might ask, 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:03.740 okay, 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:04.960 who are they to us? 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:06.580 Well, here's a clue. 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.279 I work for one of them. 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.860 You get your passport 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.039 renewed at another one. 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:14.480 You get your state pension 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.580 for another one. 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:16.940 Every day, 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:18.720 you interact with the laws 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.379 established by this government 00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:22.279 because they're administered 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.519 by what Peter calls 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.340 governors, 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.159 the ones sent 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:27.259 by the political leaders, 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:29.519 empowered by the political leaders 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:31.320 to punish those 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:32.500 who do wrong 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.220 and commend those 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:34.879 who do right. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.680 In other words, 00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:37.280 the ones who enforce 00:12:37.280 --> 00:12:37.800 the law 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:40.300 set by the government, 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.840 the ones who represent 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.600 people 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.740 with power, 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:45.700 the ones you see 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:47.000 people interact with 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.480 every day 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.660 and people see you 00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:49.740 interact with every day. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:51.100 And this is the point 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:52.820 in our Christian witness, 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.500 at the dole office, 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:55.899 or the tax office, 00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:57.019 or the guards, 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:58.759 or traffic wardens, 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:00.759 when people are looking at you, 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:03.220 how do you submit 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.500 to these authorities? 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:07.340 Do we 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:09.740 submit to these authorities? 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.240 Do we obey them? 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:14.539 Or do we consider 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:15.279 ignoring them 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.720 when it might benefit us? 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.360 When we think 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.279 nobody is watching, 00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:20.899 when we think 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:21.740 nobody is looking 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.919 or it won't hurt anybody, 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.860 things other people do 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.700 without hesitation, 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:27.220 do we do things like this? 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:28.899 I'm only going to be 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:29.379 in the shop 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.159 for five minutes. 00:13:31.340 --> 00:13:32.200 I'll just park 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:33.259 in the disabled space. 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.279 Or I'll park 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.220 on the double yellow line. 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.480 How about this? 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.500 You go and you apply 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.299 for job seekers. 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:44.120 The condition for that 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:44.799 is that you have to 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.620 actively be looking 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.159 for work. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.179 But we know people 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:49.799 who claim that 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.240 and they have no intention 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:51.779 of working. 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:54.120 Is that us? 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.019 How about driving? 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.620 You drive on a public road 00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.139 every day. 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.659 Have you ever driven 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.519 a car that's got 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.200 no NCT? 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:04.780 No insurance? 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.800 No motor tax? 00:14:07.660 --> 00:14:08.379 That's the last time 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:09.080 I'll mention tax, 00:14:09.140 --> 00:14:09.520 I promise. 00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:11.320 Now these things 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.220 might seem simplistic 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:12.840 or trivial 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.300 and you say, 00:14:13.420 --> 00:14:14.140 Dan, that's very 00:14:14.140 --> 00:14:14.780 down to earth. 00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:15.820 That's very basic. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.120 This really isn't 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.000 what we're talking about, 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:18.240 right? 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.320 But if you think about it, 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.960 aren't these 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:23.580 pretty real ways 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:25.140 in which people 00:14:25.140 --> 00:14:25.720 see us 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.520 every day 00:14:26.520 --> 00:14:28.020 interacting with 00:14:28.020 --> 00:14:28.600 the laws 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:29.520 set by 00:14:29.520 --> 00:14:30.440 the authorities? 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:32.340 real ways 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.100 in which we show 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.860 whether or not 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.840 we do submit 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.540 to the authorities 00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.920 as the Lord 00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:37.760 tells us to do. 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.740 To show that we're 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.680 not like the rest 00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:40.260 of this world. 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.940 That we don't 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:43.280 disobey the law 00:14:43.280 --> 00:14:44.240 when it suits us. 00:14:44.640 --> 00:14:45.580 When we can benefit 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.240 from something. 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.920 We do these things, 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.080 Peter says, 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.800 for the Lord's sake. 00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:52.700 And look at verse 15. 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:54.740 It is God's will 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.780 that by doing good 00:14:56.780 --> 00:14:58.780 you should silence 00:14:58.780 --> 00:15:00.020 the ignorant talk 00:15:00.020 --> 00:15:01.700 of foolish people. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.060 That's pretty strong language. 00:15:04.300 --> 00:15:05.600 Silence the ignorant talk 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.400 of foolish people. 00:15:06.800 --> 00:15:06.960 You see, 00:15:07.020 --> 00:15:08.080 by doing good, 00:15:08.780 --> 00:15:09.920 by obeying the law, 00:15:10.640 --> 00:15:11.200 by submitting 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.300 to the authorities, 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.440 we stand out 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.540 from the crowd. 00:15:14.680 --> 00:15:15.379 We stand out 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.040 from a world 00:15:16.040 --> 00:15:16.860 that says 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.960 it's all about you. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.740 And you do what you can 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.379 and you get away 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.220 with what you can 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:22.520 as much as you can. 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.759 But by being good citizens, 00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:26.860 by flouting the law, 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.720 or by not flouting the law, 00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.920 when we could gain something 00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:30.980 from doing that, 00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:32.580 we're actually demonstrating 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:35.120 we're not from this world. 00:15:35.780 --> 00:15:37.379 Just like Jesus said, 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:38.720 my kingdom, 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.600 Pilate, 00:15:40.520 --> 00:15:41.700 is not from this world. 00:15:42.280 --> 00:15:43.320 Is not of this world. 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:45.060 And in verse 16, 00:15:45.140 --> 00:15:46.060 as we were talking about, 00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:47.920 we live as free people, 00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.240 yes, 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.960 but we don't use our freedom 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.900 as a cover-up 00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:51.879 for evil. 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.480 We don't say, 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.840 I'm free in Christ, 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:56.000 I'm covered by grace, 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.960 Jesus paid for my sins, 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.980 I'll do what I like, 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.179 I'll disobey the law 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.899 when it suits me. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.439 We are not Caesar's slaves, 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.460 that's not why we submit. 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.379 Peter says, 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.779 we are God's slaves, 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.799 we belong to God. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:17.099 When we looked last week 00:16:17.099 --> 00:16:18.479 at this idea of being 00:16:18.479 --> 00:16:19.479 a royal priesthood, 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.179 it said that we are God's 00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:22.620 special possession. 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.500 He owns us. 00:16:25.219 --> 00:16:26.259 And because he owns us, 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.359 we reflect his character. 00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.019 And we do that, 00:16:29.099 --> 00:16:29.799 verse 17, 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.919 by showing respect to everybody, 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.779 and honoring the emperor. 00:16:34.359 --> 00:16:35.959 Not because we love Nero, 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:38.400 not because we think 00:16:38.400 --> 00:16:39.060 Leo 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:40.700 is the political messiah, 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.280 but 00:16:42.280 --> 00:16:43.860 because we love 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.780 the family of believers, 00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:46.720 and 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:48.139 we fear God 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:50.000 above all else. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.879 So we live lives 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.039 that don't copy the world. 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.740 We live lives 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.320 that don't 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.779 look like the world. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.440 We live lives 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.100 that demonstrate 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.759 our visible witness 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.480 to the world 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.759 in a way that people can see, 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.200 to show people 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.539 we really are different. 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.940 And we do these things 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:07.180 not because we want 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.099 to be a good citizen 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.619 of Ireland, 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.279 or the US, 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.380 or the UK, 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.259 but here's the key, 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.819 because we're citizens 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.140 of heaven. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.740 So can we ever 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.539 disobey the government? 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.720 Because we're not 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.339 in heaven now. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.339 We're not in that place 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.160 where there's no sin, 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.160 and we're not in that place 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.799 where everything honors God. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.960 There are some things 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.599 that this government, 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.140 and governments like it do, 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.680 that tremendously 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:34.059 dishonor God, 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:35.700 that makes God angry. 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:36.720 In fact, 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.359 you may remember, 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.220 and this only just occurred to me 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.039 as I'm thinking, 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.180 you may remember 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:42.380 when we had the referendum 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.160 last year, 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.599 and that night 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.380 when the results 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.000 were announced, 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.119 that there was 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:47.859 a lightning storm. 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:50.019 I don't want to read 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:50.879 too much into that, 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:52.619 but I think it shows 00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:54.779 God is not pleased 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.219 with many things 00:17:56.219 --> 00:17:57.039 this government does. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.619 So we do disobey 00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.539 in two ways. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.599 When the government 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.659 commands us 00:18:02.659 --> 00:18:03.319 to do something 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.159 God prohibits, 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.740 when it commands us 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.219 to do something 00:18:07.219 --> 00:18:07.979 God prohibits, 00:18:08.199 --> 00:18:09.379 or when it prohibits 00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.479 doing something 00:18:10.479 --> 00:18:11.799 that God commands. 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.159 Commands us to do 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:15.119 something God prohibits, 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.319 or prohibits something 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.039 God commands. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.859 And this isn't 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.720 political philosophy. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.500 You can read about this 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.359 all through your Bible. 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.279 Here's some examples. 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.899 When Pharaoh said, 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.639 we need to wipe out 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.619 the Jews, 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.920 they're getting too populous. 00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:31.159 They'll rise up. 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.240 There were Hebrew midwives 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.259 who refused 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.700 to do that. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.039 Even though it was the law, 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.659 even though they could go 00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:39.480 to prison 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.420 or lose their head, 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:42.019 they sheltered 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.819 those babies, 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.440 one of whom, 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.339 as we know, 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.279 was Moses. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.660 Or how about Daniel? 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.500 Daniel is a great 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.359 case study in this. 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.579 Daniel was told, 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.259 you have to 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:53.899 worship 00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:55.420 the king of Persia 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.680 as a god. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.639 You have to bow down 00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.039 to him 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.500 and pray to him only. 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.619 Stop this praying 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.180 to your god. 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.359 Stop praying to Yahweh. 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.579 And Daniel said, 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.660 I can't do that. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.759 I respect the authority 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.480 that you're in, 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.460 and I respect 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.519 the position you're in, 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:10.480 but I cannot 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.799 stop praying 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.940 to my god 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:14.639 who has given me 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.519 spiritual life. 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.460 And of course, 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:17.879 Peter, 00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:19.619 who wrote this letter, 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.519 this wasn't in isolation, 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.980 Peter and John 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.619 were told 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:25.119 by the authorities, 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.319 stop 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.279 preaching 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:29.059 about this Jesus. 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.119 You're causing trouble. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:32.960 You're making 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:33.940 people think, 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:35.680 maybe I need to do 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.299 something different. 00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:38.419 Maybe I need to do 00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:38.879 something other 00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:39.539 than keep the law 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:39.980 of Moses. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:42.180 and Peter famously said, 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.819 we must obey 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.579 God, 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.720 not 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.559 men. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.380 And the key 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:48.980 with this, 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.559 friends, 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.099 they weren't 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.779 disobeying 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.500 because they didn't 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.319 like the law 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.680 that the government 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.059 had, 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:56.720 or because they wanted 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.539 to change 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.700 the political process. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.440 They weren't trying 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.319 to change things 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.660 to something 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.279 they preferred. 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.120 They were put 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:03.740 in a position 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:05.360 where to obey 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:06.079 what the government 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.940 was telling them 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.980 would be to 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.819 disobey God. 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.339 and because 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.980 our citizenship 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.740 is in heaven, 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.379 we obey God, 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.679 not men. 00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:17.039 Killing babies, 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.579 worshipping a pagan 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.019 religion, 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.700 keeping silent 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.259 about the only 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:22.819 great hope 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.299 that humanity 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.019 has for its 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.720 eternal life, 00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.960 these are things 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.000 we simply cannot 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.439 do, 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:29.079 and we cannot 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:30.539 bow to Caesar 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.439 when he commands 00:20:31.439 --> 00:20:32.059 such things. 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.099 things. 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.119 And in our 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:34.679 day and age, 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:35.919 and these are 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:36.339 just random 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.179 examples again, 00:20:37.919 --> 00:20:38.359 maybe you're 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:38.779 a teacher. 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.200 If the 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.919 principal tells 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.220 you, 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.079 you know, 00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:43.500 people are 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.079 getting really 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.539 uncomfortable 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.059 with you 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:45.579 sharing your 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.079 faith in the 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.480 break room, 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.659 you have to 00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:49.359 stop talking 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.039 about your 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.339 faith. 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.799 Do you? 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:56.279 Or do you 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:56.539 say, 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.519 I obey God, 00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.019 not men? 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.879 Maybe you're 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.319 a student, 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.519 and this is 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:03.960 happening all 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.480 over the world. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:04.779 If the 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.579 university tells 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.039 you the 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.740 Christian Union 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.460 now has to 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.259 participate in 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.779 the LGBT 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.420 Pride celebrations, 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.799 they have to 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.480 affirm that. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.599 No. 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.660 We obey 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.039 God. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.059 We don't 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.599 obey Caesar. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.859 We don't 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.400 affirm that 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:20.859 which God 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.220 does not 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:21.519 affirm. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.680 If you're 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.039 a nurse, 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.759 this is 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:25.960 here. 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:27.720 If you're 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.139 told you 00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:28.440 have to 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:28.900 assist in 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.360 an abortion, 00:21:30.540 --> 00:21:31.880 no, 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.880 I will 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.220 not be 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.680 party to 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.000 the wicked. 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.519 Those are 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.960 times where 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.320 you stand 00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:37.780 your ground 00:21:37.780 --> 00:21:38.040 and you 00:21:38.040 --> 00:21:38.259 say, 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:38.840 like Peter, 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:39.519 I must 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.380 obey God, 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.680 not men, 00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:42.580 because, 00:21:42.800 --> 00:21:43.320 and this is 00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:43.700 the key, 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.740 our true 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.240 citizenship 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.480 is in 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:46.780 heaven. 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:47.940 It's not 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.240 here. 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:49.660 Because at 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:49.960 the end of 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.240 the day, 00:21:50.300 --> 00:21:50.519 friends, 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:50.860 heaven, 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.440 that's where 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.200 Jesus is 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.540 seated. 00:21:53.780 --> 00:21:54.300 He has 00:21:54.300 --> 00:21:55.019 sat down, 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.240 his work 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.200 is finished, 00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:57.920 and he 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.280 didn't come 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:58.660 into the 00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.079 world to 00:21:59.079 --> 00:21:59.379 do this 00:21:59.379 --> 00:21:59.839 work to 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.160 set us 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.859 free through 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.720 politics or 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.740 economics or 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.279 anything like 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.539 this. 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.319 He came into 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.960 the world not 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.539 to lead a 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.440 political revolution, 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.480 but to lead a 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.420 revolution of 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.019 the soul, 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.539 to take out our 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.359 hearts of 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.879 stone and 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.279 give us a 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.619 heart of 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.079 flesh to 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.079 restore us 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.639 into right 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.559 relationship with 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:17.920 God. 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.680 He came so 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.259 that all 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.980 sinners would 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.440 know true 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.879 freedom, 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.019 not political 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.399 freedom, 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:25.460 freedom, 00:22:26.040 --> 00:22:27.280 not economic 00:22:27.280 --> 00:22:27.660 freedom, 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:30.160 freedom from 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:30.540 sin. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:31.580 And we 00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:32.240 ought not use 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.740 that freedom 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.519 as a cover-up 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:35.100 to disobey 00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:36.340 the laws of 00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:37.140 our state and 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.720 make our lives 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.200 easier. 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.400 We reject the 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:39.940 ways of this 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.680 world because 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.240 we accept 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.160 Christ and 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.519 because he 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.280 accepts us. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.500 And only when 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.220 we are forced 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.480 to choose 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.580 between obeying 00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:51.160 the law and 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:51.860 obeying God 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:53.119 God, do we 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.579 disobey? 00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:56.039 Do we refuse 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.479 to submit? 00:22:57.439 --> 00:22:57.899 And in verse 00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.859 21, Jesus 00:22:58.859 --> 00:22:59.740 gave us this 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.199 example. 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.679 He gave us an 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.439 example from his 00:23:02.439 --> 00:23:03.659 own suffering about 00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:04.559 how to follow in 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:06.139 his footsteps, in 00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:06.759 reverence, 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.759 faithfulness, 00:23:09.939 --> 00:23:10.379 humility. 00:23:11.459 --> 00:23:12.139 And Jesus 00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:12.779 might have 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.779 bled from that 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.219 thorn of 00:23:14.219 --> 00:23:15.639 crowns, just 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:15.979 like our 00:23:15.979 --> 00:23:16.439 brothers and 00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.059 sisters around 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:18.079 the world bleed 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.599 because of 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.219 corrupt, 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.279 God-hating 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.819 governments, 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.979 that oversee 00:23:22.979 --> 00:23:23.359 them. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.299 Even though 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.119 Jesus bled 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:25.459 from that 00:23:25.459 --> 00:23:25.859 crown of 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:27.659 thorns, he 00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:27.899 has been 00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:29.459 exalted and 00:23:29.459 --> 00:23:30.199 he now wears 00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:31.779 the crown of 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.199 glory. 00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:34.259 All things, 00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:35.479 Nero, 00:23:37.199 --> 00:23:37.619 Leo, 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.179 Trump, 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.759 Boris, 00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:42.339 all these 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.379 things are 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.539 placed ultimately 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.719 under Jesus' 00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:47.459 feet and he 00:23:47.459 --> 00:23:48.539 will reign 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.659 over the 00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:50.359 universe forever 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.079 and his 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.839 kingdom will 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.240 will never 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.220 end unlike 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.980 the ones 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.679 that we see 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:55.099 today. 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.439 And he 00:23:56.439 --> 00:23:56.980 submitted for 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.399 a time, 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.139 but now he's 00:23:59.139 --> 00:23:59.539 exalted. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.339 He's exalted 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:01.899 above all 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.419 rulers and 00:24:03.419 --> 00:24:04.119 all authorities 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.759 and we 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.259 follow his 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.740 example. 00:24:06.699 --> 00:24:07.240 We echo 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.759 Christ's 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.879 example by 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:10.599 submitting and 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.740 thus we stand 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.220 out from the 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.459 crowd. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.779 So we're 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.339 citizens of 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.559 heaven. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.319 Secondly and 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.299 finally, only two 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.959 points again this 00:24:17.959 --> 00:24:19.439 week, we're 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.000 workers of 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.420 Christ. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.180 Workers of 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.820 Christ, verses 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.740 18 and 19. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.860 Slaves in 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.700 reverent fear of 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.440 God, submit 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.180 yourselves to 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:30.120 your masters, not 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.880 only to those who 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.440 are good and 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.920 considerate, but 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.799 also to those who 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.299 are harsh. 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.000 For it is 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.340 commendable if 00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.279 someone bears up 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.000 under the pain of 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.779 unjust suffering 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:41.600 because they are 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.500 conscious of God. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:44.079 I was reading 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:45.019 this, anywhere 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.619 from one in 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.660 five to one in 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.880 three people in 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.619 the Roman Empire 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.640 were slaves. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.839 In the early 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.640 churches it looks 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.640 like large numbers 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:55.019 of believers were 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.380 slaves. 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.900 In other words, 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.259 they were the 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.680 ones who were 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:59.279 the backbone of 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.660 the empire, the 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.259 ones who worked 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.079 the construction, 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.259 worked the 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.559 manufacturing, were 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.039 the farm 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.619 labourers. 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.480 They were the 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.920 basis of the 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.599 Roman economy. 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:10.180 Without slaves, in 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.660 that context, there 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.480 was no economy. 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.099 So when you read 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:15.960 slaves, think 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.000 labour force, 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.319 workforce. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.660 Don't read too 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.420 much into it, that's 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.440 another sermon for 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.920 another day. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.079 Peter is addressing 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.519 people who work 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.759 for other people, 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.519 whose livelihoods 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.740 depend on other 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:31.059 people working 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.380 their land, working 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.000 their business, 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.039 whatever. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.039 And he tells 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.960 them, submit, 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.119 there's that word 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:40.519 again, submit to 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.299 their masters, to 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:42.720 the ones they 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.159 work for. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.599 And I don't 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:44.980 know what your 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.659 bosses are like. 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.819 I'd like to think 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.960 that unlike the 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.539 ones Peter is 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.539 talking about, they 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.099 don't give you a 00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:52.519 beating for doing 00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.079 something wrong. 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.059 If they do, we can 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.460 go to the Workforce 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.220 Relations Commission 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.700 or whatever it's 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:58.159 called, but hopefully 00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:58.839 that's not the case. 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.399 So I don't know what 00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:00.759 they're like. 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:02.059 Mine are friendly 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.539 and kind. 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:04.960 And they're always 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.519 understanding. 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.960 I enjoy working for 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.159 them. 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.980 But some of you 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.119 probably don't have 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.779 that experience. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.839 Some of you probably 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.519 have managers or 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.759 supervisors who 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.599 frankly just aren't 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.179 nice people. 00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:22.639 Maybe they don't do 00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.220 much of the work 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.639 themselves. 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.759 Maybe they let you 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.500 carry that burden. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.019 It's my business, 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.819 why should I work? 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:30.519 That's what all you 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:30.899 are here for. 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.460 Maybe whenever you 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.339 ask for time off, 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.819 their reaction is 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.579 derisive. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.740 What do you want 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.419 time off for? 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.039 What am I paying 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.379 you for? 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:42.639 This is why you're 00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:42.879 here. 00:26:43.939 --> 00:26:44.859 Maybe they only view 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.559 you as a pair of 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:47.200 hands or another 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:49.859 body or another 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.539 face on the 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:52.139 assembly line or 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.700 the office. 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.859 Maybe they've 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.799 personally harassed 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:55.960 you. 00:26:57.679 --> 00:26:58.519 Maybe they know 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.200 you're a Christian 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.220 and because they 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:00.720 know you're a 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.500 Christian, they 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.180 make your life 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.779 difficult, give you 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:06.099 the hard jobs, give 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:07.160 you all the rubbish 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.539 to do. 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.960 And if you have a 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.980 temperament like mine, 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.660 and many of you 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:13.400 likely do, you 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:13.960 probably want to 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.559 march into their 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:16.319 office and tell 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:16.859 them what for. 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.619 That's the most 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.359 polite way I could 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:20.259 come up with to 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.660 say that. 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.160 But Peter says, 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.220 regardless of 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.660 whether your 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.960 masters, your 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:27.180 bosses are good 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:29.019 and considerate 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:31.539 or harsh, we 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.940 are to bear up 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.320 in our places 00:27:34.320 --> 00:27:34.860 of work. 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.000 Bear up means 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.700 to endure, 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.279 literally to 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.960 carry this 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.019 burden that 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.660 has been placed 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.160 upon your 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.560 shoulders. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.480 And remember, 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.940 this is so that 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.840 we stand out 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:45.900 from the crowd, 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.180 so that we don't 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.860 look like the 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.660 world around us. 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.320 Because Peter 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:51.460 says we submit 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.440 out of reverent 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.660 fear of God, 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.920 not fear of 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.420 our employer, 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:58.580 not because we 00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.180 really want to 00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.640 please them, 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.080 although we 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.100 should, but 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:01.759 reverent fear 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.220 of God. 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.580 And remember 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.200 what that means. 00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:04.700 We looked at 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.160 this a couple 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.720 of weeks ago. 00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:06.940 Revering God, 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.940 respecting God, 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.940 honouring him 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.420 for who he 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.100 lives, and 00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.980 living our lives 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.779 in such a way 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.740 that gives him 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.279 glory, and 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.140 that points other 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.460 people to Christ 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.600 because we reflect 00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:20.480 the character of 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:20.759 God. 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.400 Showing that we 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.180 look different from 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.299 the world in 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.380 such a way that 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.560 our lives point 00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:27.680 people to Christ. 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:29.460 And he tells us 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.060 how we do that. 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.940 Look at verse 23. 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.360 When they hurled 00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.220 their insults at 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:35.220 him, at Jesus, 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.000 he did not 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.580 retaliate. 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:39.779 When he 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:41.380 suffered, he 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:41.700 made no 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.080 threats. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.060 Instead, he 00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:44.980 entrusted himself 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.420 to him who 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.539 judges justly. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.440 So when you 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.160 always seem to 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.700 pull the short 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:52.560 straw with 00:28:52.560 --> 00:28:53.060 overtime, 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:54.539 or the 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.420 graveyard shift, 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.960 or working 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.620 weekends, 00:28:58.620 --> 00:28:59.820 do you then 00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.400 steal the 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:01.060 boss's time 00:29:01.060 --> 00:29:01.420 and money 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:03.420 by working 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.480 as slowly 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.039 and as 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.600 slothfully 00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:07.220 as you 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.920 possibly can, 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.380 doing as 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:09.779 little as 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.140 you can? 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.880 Or do you 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.320 continue 00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:14.140 in faithful 00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.740 diligence 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:16.420 to your 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:16.799 duties, 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.920 to the one 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.299 who pays 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.500 you? 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:21.039 this probably 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.619 applies to a 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.019 few of you. 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.000 What about if 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.240 you've been 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.799 refused a 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.440 higher wage? 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:25.859 You've been 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.059 with the 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.059 company 15 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.440 years, 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.259 less 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.900 experienced, 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.200 maybe less 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.119 competent staff 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.099 who might be 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.720 related to the 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.039 boss, 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.240 seem to be 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.599 getting their 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.119 pay rises. 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.920 Do you 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.240 grumble? 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.720 Do you spread 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:43.279 gossip around 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.799 the office 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.079 talk about 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.460 how this is 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:45.740 such a 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.399 terrible place 00:29:46.399 --> 00:29:46.839 to work? 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.559 Or, 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.859 do you 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:50.299 remember what 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.879 Paul said 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:52.259 when he 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.420 said, 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.019 my God 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.920 will meet 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.799 all your 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.160 needs, 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.960 all your 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.399 provisions, 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:58.839 through Christ, 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.279 according to 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.839 his riches, 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.420 that God 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.920 gives us 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.240 what we 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.500 need? 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.920 How about 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.240 this? 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.539 When your 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.259 manager calls 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.799 you names 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.279 because of 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:09.740 your faith, 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.599 and this 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:10.940 has happened 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.299 to me, 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:12.779 when your 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.720 manager insults 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:13.940 you, 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.619 because you're 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.039 a believer, 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.119 do you 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:18.700 retaliate? 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:20.819 Yeah, 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:20.980 well, 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.319 I might be 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.740 a Christian, 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.240 but you 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.119 insert insult 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.359 here. 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.339 Do you 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.779 wish evil 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.279 upon him? 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.779 I know 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.259 one guy, 00:30:28.399 --> 00:30:29.019 Christian worker, 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:29.779 who keyed 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.279 his boss's 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:32.240 car on 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.579 his last 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:32.819 day at 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.099 work. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:33.740 Oh, 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.139 yeah. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:35.940 Now, 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.319 it's funny, 00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:38.720 but it's 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.279 not particularly 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.879 Christ-like. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.539 It doesn't 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.039 point people 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.519 to Jesus. 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:44.139 So do we 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.720 wish evil 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:46.000 upon our 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.660 bosses when 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.119 they insult 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:47.500 us, 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.460 or are we 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.099 like Christ? 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.579 On our 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.180 next break, 00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.480 or on the 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.200 commute home, 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.779 do we call 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.680 out tearfully 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.359 if necessary, 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.000 Father, 00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.599 forgive him. 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.180 He doesn't 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.619 know what 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.019 he's doing. 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.599 Do we call 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.019 out to the 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.899 only one who 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.460 can soften 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.019 the boss's 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.319 heart, 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.779 break down 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.399 his walls, 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.680 and pray for 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.240 God's mercy 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.740 to wash 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.200 over him? 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:12.900 Do we 00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:13.279 pray for 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.779 the strength 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.819 to be a 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.519 faithful witness? 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.759 In other 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:16.960 words, 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.299 friends, 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:18.360 does our 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:18.960 work life 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:20.700 reflect our 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.660 spiritual life, 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.640 or do we 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.100 put them in 00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:23.920 two compartments? 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.120 this is my 00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:25.900 spiritual life, 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.080 and it 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:26.580 belongs on 00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:26.880 Sundays, 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.259 and this is 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.660 my work 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:28.960 life, 00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:29.940 and the 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:30.279 two never 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:30.580 meet. 00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:32.720 When we're 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.759 wronged, 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.660 do we look 00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.200 the same 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.420 as everybody 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:36.820 else? 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:37.779 Do we 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.480 retaliate? 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.279 do we 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.860 take an 00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.200 eye for 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.559 an eye, 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.220 or a 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.559 car key 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:43.880 for a 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.220 car key? 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:46.059 Do we 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.640 look different 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.819 from the 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.299 world around 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:48.599 us? 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:49.620 Do we 00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.160 submit to 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.319 our 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:50.720 masters, 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.680 even when 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:51.980 it's the 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.299 hardest? 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.319 Because as 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.000 Peter says, 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.099 verses 19 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.779 and 20, 00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:56.120 and I'm 00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:56.720 paraphrasing, 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.680 if you 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.279 have to 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.660 suffer, 00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.259 friends, 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.960 suffer for 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.579 doing the 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.440 right thing. 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.960 Suffer for 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.500 standing up 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.079 for Christ, 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.799 not because 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.360 you're stealing 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.740 from the 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.039 boss. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.440 his time 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:08.680 or his 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:08.899 money. 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.299 You might 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.480 think, 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:11.960 by the way, 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:12.899 and this 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.240 just occurred 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.539 to me, 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:13.960 you might 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.819 be self-employed, 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.319 that's great, 00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:15.700 I don't have 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.099 any bosses, 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.720 I don't have 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.240 any masters. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.839 Who puts 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.279 food on your 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.559 table? 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.359 Your 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.740 customers. 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.480 So, 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:25.240 tomorrow morning 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.759 when that 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.500 customer walks 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:26.819 through your 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:27.059 door, 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.220 or you get 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:28.680 that first 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.039 email, 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.059 or that 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.619 first phone 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:30.920 call, 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.000 do you 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.519 treat that 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.599 person as 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:33.920 if the 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.700 Lord himself 00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.899 walked into 00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.420 your business? 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.240 Do you 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.559 submit? 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:40.519 And 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:40.819 brothers, 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.240 sisters, 00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:41.720 I could have 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.039 showed up 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.480 this morning 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:42.799 and I 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.000 could have 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.500 just given 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:43.779 you a 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.259 lecture on 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:44.500 civic 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:44.920 involvement. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.279 I could 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:46.519 have just 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:46.980 given you 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.779 point by 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.339 point through 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.039 the Constitution 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.539 and said 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.019 because this 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.440 is where we 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:50.720 live, 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.559 this is how 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.000 we act, 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.279 and that's 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.579 what Peter 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:52.960 means. 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.039 Or 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.440 workplace 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.019 relations. 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:56.899 If you're 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.220 a shop 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.599 steward, 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.079 maybe that's 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.240 what you 00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.559 were hoping 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:58.879 to hear 00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.779 this morning. 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:01.000 But that's 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.299 not the 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:01.599 point. 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.420 The point 00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:03.659 of the 00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:04.579 text is 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:04.920 that Peter 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.279 is not 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.559 interested in 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.000 telling us 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.240 how to 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:07.519 be a 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.799 social 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.259 justice 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:08.619 warrior. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.519 Peter is 00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.220 not interested 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.700 in telling 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.119 us how to 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.639 be an 00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:14.579 advocate for 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.119 traditional 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:16.659 rights or 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.659 workers' 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.119 rights. 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.440 He's 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:19.879 interested, 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.099 as am I, 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.799 in exhorting 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:24.000 you to 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.720 live lives 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.779 that honor 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:27.259 God in 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.940 very visible 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.480 ways that 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:28.960 people can 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:30.359 see in 00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:30.779 your daily 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.399 interactions, 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.480 in the 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.559 mundane elements 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:33.839 of your 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.099 life, 00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:34.500 the things 00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:34.779 that you 00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.099 think 00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:35.619 aren't 00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.259 necessarily 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.839 spiritual, 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.399 are those 00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:38.960 the things 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.440 in which 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:40.819 you honor 00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.339 God the 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:41.659 most? 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.299 Our lives 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:44.559 ought to 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.000 point people 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.440 to Christ, 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:45.779 friends. 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.359 It's the 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:47.919 only reason 00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:48.259 why we're 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.500 here. 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.859 We're here 00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.240 to point 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:51.679 people to 00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:52.399 Christ and 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.720 to do 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.379 that by 00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.079 standing out 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.399 from the 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.019 crowd around 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.359 us, 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:56.379 submitting 00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.539 to the 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:57.960 authorities 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:59.859 and submitting 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.200 to our 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.559 masters. 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.839 And we 00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.179 do these 00:34:02.179 --> 00:34:02.919 things not 00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.919 because we're 00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:04.579 so wonderful, 00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.839 not because 00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.659 we're do-gooders. 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:08.659 You probably 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.019 heard the 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:09.440 expression, 00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:10.320 Holy Joe. 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.799 Maybe people 00:34:11.799 --> 00:34:12.219 have said that 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.699 about you. 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:13.980 They've said 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.559 that about me. 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.299 We don't do 00:34:15.299 --> 00:34:15.699 these things 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.119 because we're 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.440 great. 00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.340 Verse 24, 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:17.980 we do these 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:18.719 things because 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.679 Jesus bore 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.860 our sins so 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.420 that in his 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.420 death we 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.239 might die to 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:24.840 sin and 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.199 live to 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:25.659 righteousness 00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.559 because by 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.159 his wounds 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:27.940 we have been 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.420 healed. 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:29.599 So we don't 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.099 live for 00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.380 sin. 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.619 We don't 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.119 live for 00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:32.599 ourselves. 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.739 We crucify 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.820 ourselves daily, 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.460 Paul says, 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.519 and never is 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.739 sin more put 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.320 to death in 00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:39.840 our bodies 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.059 than when we 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.759 live lives of 00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.279 simple, 00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.619 straightforward 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.679 obedience 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:46.320 and submission. 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.840 Things that 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:48.519 point people 00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:48.980 to the Son 00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.420 of God 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.840 who in his 00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:51.599 perfect 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.099 submission, 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:53.500 in his 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.059 perfect 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.619 obedience, 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.739 gave us 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.320 that freedom. 00:34:57.299 --> 00:34:58.000 Not political. 00:34:59.380 --> 00:34:59.880 Our freedom 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.420 from sin. 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.079 Because we 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.340 were like 00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:02.880 lost sheep, 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:03.480 Peter says, 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:04.840 but the 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.239 good shepherd 00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:05.659 brought us 00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:05.980 back. 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:07.840 It's all for 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.299 his sake. 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.980 It's all for 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.460 his glory. 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.799 And we don't 00:35:11.799 --> 00:35:12.420 have time now. 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:12.820 If you've got 00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.139 one of the 00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:13.639 notes there, 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.079 you can have 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.360 a look. 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.279 Read Revelation 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:15.980 5 sometime 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.639 later today. 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.119 It's a great 00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:18.380 image. 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:18.820 The Apostle 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.559 John sees the 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.179 Father holding 00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:20.739 the scroll, 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.699 the title deed 00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:22.799 of ownership 00:35:22.799 --> 00:35:23.559 to the universe. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.599 And John is 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.239 weeping because 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:26.279 nobody is there 00:35:26.279 --> 00:35:27.000 who's worthy 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.639 to take 00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:28.519 ownership of 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.000 all of these 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.719 things around 00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:29.960 him. 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.639 But then one 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:30.880 of those 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.460 presents said, 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:31.960 no, John, 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.559 look behind 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:32.820 you. 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:33.739 There's 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.179 Jesus, 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.360 the Lamb 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:35.880 of God. 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:36.820 And Jesus 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.659 walks up to 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.119 the Father. 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.219 And the 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:40.179 Father hands 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:40.599 him this 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:40.980 scroll. 00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.400 And everybody 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.219 starts singing, 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.760 you are worthy 00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:45.659 to take the 00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:47.579 scroll because 00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.860 you were slain. 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.480 You have made 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.119 your people, 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.800 that's us, 00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.519 the church, 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.360 to be a 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.280 kingdom and 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.179 to be priests 00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:56.360 and serve our 00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:57.179 God and they 00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:57.980 will reign on 00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.380 the earth. 00:35:59.420 --> 00:35:59.780 And as we're 00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:00.480 about to sing, 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.219 worthy is the 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:03.139 Lamb who was 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:04.980 slain to 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.880 receive power 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:07.019 and wealth 00:36:07.019 --> 00:36:07.940 and wisdom 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.940 and strength 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.719 and honor 00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.480 and glory 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.159 and praise 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:11.880 because every 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.880 wicked government 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:14.259 and every 00:36:14.259 --> 00:36:15.400 corrupt boss, 00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:16.840 everything you 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:18.400 own and every 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.199 single molecule 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:20.219 in this universe, 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:21.699 it's all for 00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:22.219 Jesus. 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:24.159 It has all been 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:25.079 placed under 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:25.659 his feet. 00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:27.699 Even when things 00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:28.239 look the most 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:28.639 bleak, 00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.860 especially when 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.739 things look the 00:36:31.739 --> 00:36:32.280 most bleak, 00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:34.099 Jesus will 00:36:34.099 --> 00:36:36.019 reign over 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.599 the universe. 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.659 And we get to 00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.460 reign with him. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.440 Despite everything 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:41.360 that passes away 00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:43.739 and fades away, 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.099 our inheritance 00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:46.460 is guaranteed. 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.119 And so we live 00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:49.840 our lives by 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.519 standing out 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:52.340 from the crowd 00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:54.220 pointing to 00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.660 the Lamb who 00:36:54.660 --> 00:36:55.100 was slain, 00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:57.680 worthy to 00:36:57.680 --> 00:36:58.320 inherit it all. 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.559 And we're 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:00.980 going to come 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.579 to the Lord's 00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:01.880 table. 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:03.300 Perhaps the 00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:03.860 musicians can 00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:04.300 make their way 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:04.760 back up. 00:37:05.600 --> 00:37:06.120 We're going to 00:37:06.120 --> 00:37:06.519 come to the 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.059 Lord's table 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:09.079 and as we do 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.760 so, think on 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.460 Jesus' words. 00:37:11.620 --> 00:37:12.420 Do this 00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:14.039 in remembrance 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:15.019 remembrance of 00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.259 me. 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:17.940 Remember the 00:37:17.940 --> 00:37:18.300 Lamb who 00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:18.739 was slain. 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:21.059 Remember the 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:22.579 King who 00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:23.119 wore the 00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:23.480 thorn of 00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:24.039 crowns, 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.199 crown of 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:25.500 thorns, 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.619 made worthy 00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:29.139 to wear the 00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:29.519 crown of 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:29.840 glory. 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:31.500 And we 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:31.920 submit, 00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:32.920 remember, 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.380 because so did 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:34.699 Jesus. 00:37:35.420 --> 00:37:36.679 And our lives 00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:37.840 ought to point 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.920 people to 00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.239 Jesus. 00:37:39.239 --> 00:37:39.359 Jesus. 00:37:40.279 --> 00:37:40.559 Amen. 00:37:41.299 --> 00:37:41.799 Let's pray. 00:37:44.059 --> 00:37:44.879 Father, this 00:37:44.879 --> 00:37:45.219 has been a 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:46.339 tough text to 00:37:46.339 --> 00:37:46.619 preach.