WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.900 Now we're going to read in Isaiah chapter 8 from verse 9 to verse 18. 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:15.099 And we're reading this because again Peter draws our minds to it in 1 Peter chapter 3. 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:17.879 So Isaiah chapter 8 and at verse 9. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:21.500 Raise the war cry you nations and be shattered. 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:23.679 Listen oh you distant lands. 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:25.839 Prepare for battle and be shattered. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:28.679 Prepare for battle and be shattered. 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:32.060 Devise your strategy but it will be thwarted. 00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:37.679 Propose your plan but it will not stand for God is with us. 00:00:38.519 --> 00:00:42.100 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:44.780 Warning me not to follow the way of this people. 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:48.340 Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:52.000 Do not fear what they fear and do not dread it. 00:00:52.740 --> 00:00:56.620 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy. 00:00:56.619 --> 00:00:59.219 He is the one you are to fear. 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:01.820 He is the one you are to dread. 00:01:02.459 --> 00:01:04.899 He will be a holy place for both Israel and Judah. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.340 He will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. 00:01:10.039 --> 00:01:12.819 And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:14.679 Many of them will stumble. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:16.459 They will fall and be broken. 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:18.560 They will be snared and captured. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:24.579 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God's instruction among my disciples. 00:01:25.219 --> 00:01:29.820 I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. 00:01:30.240 --> 00:01:32.540 I will put my trust in him. 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:36.560 Here am I and the children the Lord has given me. 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:44.060 We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty who dwells on Mount Zion. 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:50.900 From 1 Peter 3 and at verse number 8. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:52.439 And we are going to read to verse 17. 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:54.939 So let's hear God's word together. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:02:05.159 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:09.219 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. 00:02:09.460 --> 00:02:12.319 On the contrary, repay evil with blessing. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:15.759 Because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:24.399 For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.500 They must turn from evil and do good. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.679 They must seek peace and pursue it. 00:02:31.299 --> 00:02:37.199 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer. 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:41.399 But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:45.700 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:49.640 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:51.980 Do not fear their threats. 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:53.540 Do not be frightened. 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:57.819 But in your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:02.420 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you. 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:04.740 To give the reason for the hope that you have. 00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:07.939 But do this with gentleness and respect. 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:10.180 Keeping a clear conscience. 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:17.359 So that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:25.840 For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:33.280 Now if you turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 3 and at verse 8, 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:39.300 we're going to think together about the life-changing hope that there is in Jesus. 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:44.300 Now of course we all recognise, don't we, that hope is so important. 00:03:44.980 --> 00:03:51.199 And we felt so glad, I'm sure, with that sense of light at the end of the tunnel. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:56.719 And especially for us as a church to be able to think about coming back together again. 00:03:57.319 --> 00:04:00.039 But it's much wider than just current restrictions. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:05.759 The medical profession for years has recognised that patients are much more likely to have a good recovery 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.639 if they feel that they have hope, something to live for. 00:04:10.019 --> 00:04:14.259 And we can all agree, I am sure, that hope is important in everyday life. 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:18.279 But the question of course remains, who or what do we hope in? 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:26.339 And is that a solid hope that is firm and unchanging regardless of circumstances? 00:04:26.599 --> 00:04:30.279 Or are we hoping in wishful thinking? 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:34.459 You know, I can resolve to think positively, 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:38.759 as the self-help psychologist would encourage me to do. 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:43.639 But what if visualising my goals doesn't change my circumstances 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:46.920 and rather it makes my circumstances actually get worse? 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:52.180 You know, we can place our hope, for example, in a vaccine. 00:04:52.300 --> 00:04:55.500 But at the same time, I'm sure we're realistic enough to know 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:59.879 that that's not going to solve all the problems of our society. 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:06.839 As the foundations of our lives have been shaken in so many ways in the last 12 months, 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:11.139 how does Christianity bring good news? 00:05:11.659 --> 00:05:16.179 And how do we offer the world solid hope? 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:24.219 And that takes us to our text because Christian hope is in the risen Lord Jesus. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:28.659 Christian hope is, in fact, the Lord Jesus. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:31.079 Not in something temporary. 00:05:32.179 --> 00:05:34.959 Not something we can lose or be separated from. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:40.139 Rather, a hope that matches our dreams and longings. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:44.259 A hope for now and for eternity. 00:05:45.219 --> 00:05:47.819 Now, as we get into our text, 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:51.759 that one image that might be helpful for us to think about is this one. 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:56.959 You know, Jesus asked the church to be shining a light. 00:05:57.099 --> 00:05:58.839 You are the light of the world. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:04.719 So think of Christians and think of the church acting as a lighthouse. 00:06:06.159 --> 00:06:09.839 With that call to shine light in the darkness. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:18.120 And the light that we shine is, of course, the living hope that's found in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:28.620 And so Peter writes to a church that was facing opposition, that was being marginalised, could easily give in to fear. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.560 And maybe we feel that ourselves. 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:35.060 And he says, hold on to that hope you have in Jesus. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:39.360 And not just hold on to it for yourselves, but shine out that hope. 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:41.100 Communicate that hope to others. 00:06:41.780 --> 00:06:47.240 Because, and this is the theme of the section, it could save lives. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.019 Chapter 2, verse 12. 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:58.959 Live good lives and do good deeds so that people may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:01.099 So how can we do that? 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:04.219 How can we hold on to hope and shine that hope in our world? 00:07:04.359 --> 00:07:13.620 Well, Peter draws attention to who we love, who we fear, and who we place our hope in. 00:07:14.099 --> 00:07:16.060 So let's think about those together. 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:18.399 First of all, who we love. 00:07:18.479 --> 00:07:20.379 Now, we're in verse 8 here. 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:23.339 Who is Peter speaking to in verse 8? 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.120 He says, finally all of you. 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:29.139 So he's been looking at talking to specific groups within the church. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.660 Now he's talking to the whole church. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:31.540 And he's saying, finally. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:36.399 So remember, this is continuing that theme of chapter 2 in verse 12. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:41.399 That the way that we live might lead others to be saved by the Lord Jesus. 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:46.500 And so the question becomes, how does the Christian church express love? 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:53.300 And how does the hope of Jesus motivate our love to create something attractive that would lead people to Jesus? 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:58.500 And he focuses on who we love in two regards. 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:01.480 First of all, thinking about within the church family. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:13.300 So one of the wonderful messages for this church under pressure is that the church, the people of God, are to be a place of comfort and refuge. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:22.699 Refuge, because the church is the family of God that is built on and centred on the living Lord Jesus. 00:08:23.020 --> 00:08:28.060 And so he uses family language to talk about how we are to be with one another. 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:30.220 So let's just look at this language for a moment. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:32.399 He says, be like-minded. 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:37.500 Remember that you share the same faith and you share the same ethics. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.779 He says, be sympathetic. 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:44.759 Show understanding to one another. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:50.440 At the centre of these five qualities, we are to love one another. 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:52.320 This is brotherly love. 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:53.940 This is family love. 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:57.340 That special love that we have because God has saved us. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:00.220 We are to be compassionate. 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:05.879 We are to have a kindness and a care for one another in our family. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:08.440 Sensitive to each other's needs and weaknesses. 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:13.480 And we are to be humble, serving and not competing. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.340 And Peter introduces that because it matters for two reasons. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:19.060 One, it matters for our mission. 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:29.439 Because we are to show a loving, hope-filled, alternative community to a watching world that needs the light of Jesus. 00:09:30.079 --> 00:09:31.479 Currently living in darkness. 00:09:32.239 --> 00:09:34.839 Perhaps living in despair or loneliness or fear. 00:09:34.979 --> 00:09:38.519 And they need a community that's got hope and love and unity. 00:09:39.579 --> 00:09:41.699 And it also matters because of our witness. 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:47.199 Because our words and our actions should match up. 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:49.860 So we've been thinking about the church as being a lighthouse. 00:09:50.160 --> 00:09:54.680 Now perhaps you are familiar with some classic stories set in Cornel. 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.640 If you've read Enid Blyton and the Famous Five. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:59.259 If you've read some Daphne du Maurier. 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:05.120 You'll be familiar with this group of people in history known as the Wreckers. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.660 And what they would do is on stormy nights, 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:15.680 these group of men would go and extinguish, put out the light in a lighthouse. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:17.899 So that ships would run aground. 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:23.739 And they would then plunder and take the wealth from the ship. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:29.179 Should have let the light shine but instead they extinguished it. 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:34.239 And that's a warning and a challenge and encouragement to us as a church. 00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:40.979 Not to be those wreckers that would extinguish the light of God's love by not loving one another. 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:46.779 Rather that family love would shine bright in the way we live together. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:49.300 That as we come back together in a couple of weeks, 00:10:49.560 --> 00:10:52.700 it'll be clear that we're a group of people that love each other. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:57.039 And so he talks about how we love within the Christian family. 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:02.920 But he also, in verses 9 to 12, talks about how we love, show love towards opponents. 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:04.920 Those who oppose us. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:11.099 And Peter here draws again, I think, on Jesus teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:11:11.219 --> 00:11:19.019 So in Matthew chapter 5 and at verse 43, he corrects a misunderstanding. 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:22.340 You have heard that it was said, love your neighbour and hate your enemy. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:26.779 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:29.379 That you may be children of your Father in heaven. 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:35.759 He causes his Son to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:45.960 We are to love those who are opposed to us because that's how God our Father treats those who are opposed to him. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:56.340 We are called to a radical non-retaliation, not getting even, rather returning blessing for evil. 00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:59.400 Also because that's the pattern of Jesus and we'll think about that. 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:04.660 So why make this difficult choice to love those who oppose the church? 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.639 Three reasons we can identify. 00:12:06.780 --> 00:12:07.820 First of all, in verse 9. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:13.259 Repay evil with blessing because to this you were called. 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:16.759 So here is the calling of the Christian church. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:19.259 We've been called to be disciples of Jesus. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.679 So we're called to walk in his footsteps. 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:25.319 And he shows us that non-retaliation. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:31.960 Also, we are to love our opponents because that's the way of life in the kingdom of God. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:37.159 So verses 10 to 12 here draw on Psalm 34. 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:45.139 And as you read those words, you'll notice that there are positive promises and negative promises. 00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:50.019 So if you would love life and you want to see good deeds, there's a positive promise. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:53.879 You must keep your tongue from evil and lips from deceitful speech. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:13:00.720 If you want the eyes of the Lord to be on you and for you and for his ear to listen to your prayer, 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:05.919 you must turn from evil and do good and seek peace and pursue it. 00:13:07.059 --> 00:13:11.419 Recognising negative promise, the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:20.580 So if we want to know life with God and all its richness and vitality, then we need to love those who oppose us. 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:28.820 And also, now we mentioned this already in verse 9, we show love for our opponents because we're conscious of our blessing. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:35.020 Repay evil with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:41.820 In other words, the living hope in Jesus, our future hope in Jesus, the blessing of knowing God, 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:49.879 the reality of an eternity living in his presence with perfect love, that should motivate us towards loving people now. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:52.200 What does this look like? 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:54.180 Well, here's one example. 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:59.000 It's the story of a Japanese man by the name of Mitsuo Fuchida. 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:11.820 He was the pilot who led the kamikaze raids on Pearl Harbor, the US base, attacking and killing. 00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:13.759 He thought America was the ultimate enemy. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:20.480 He was later captured by America, became a prisoner, and he expected to be treated shockingly. 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:23.400 But rather, he was treated well. 00:14:23.520 --> 00:14:29.120 Indeed, he was looked after by Christian soldiers who loved him and who shared the truth of Jesus with him. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:34.620 And their love, instead of evil, led him to faith. 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:37.080 That's a dramatic story. 00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:41.900 But it also looks like offering friendship, a really listening, 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:48.259 giving a welcome to people with radically different views and very different behaviours to us. 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:50.360 We are called to love. 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:56.620 So here is a call to the church and to the Christian community that we are to act as a lighthouse, not like those wreckers. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:03.340 And for us to do that, both within the church and outside the church, we must have our life built on the Lord Jesus. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.980 We must be looking to his example. 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:09.740 We cannot give ourselves a day off from living like Jesus. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:17.000 His mission and his honour must come first and must dictate how we treat other people. 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:23.500 Our goal is to shine the light of Jesus to Edinburgh and beyond. 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:27.440 That's one of our primary callings as a church. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:31.260 And our love is an important part of that. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:40.740 Let me say, if you're not a Christian, please come and join us on the 28th to worship with us. 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:48.320 But also, let me encourage you to consider the promises that we looked at from Psalm 34. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:56.500 One of the things the Bible is clear, we will all face God on the judgment day and we will have to give an account for our lives. 00:15:56.580 --> 00:16:03.900 And especially, we will have to give an account for how have I responded to Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:11.779 On that day, do you want God's face to be turned towards you with his smile and his welcome? 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:19.579 Or do you want his face to be turned against you in condemnation because you have rejected Jesus, his son, his Saviour? 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:25.279 Let me urge you to consider who Jesus is. 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:31.939 God's love for you in sending Jesus to be the Saviour from sin that you need and to turn to him. 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:38.700 And for all of us, that we'd be looking to Jesus and seeing him as our example of perfect love. 00:16:40.760 --> 00:16:45.040 Peter encourages the church to have their words and their actions match up. 00:16:45.140 --> 00:16:49.140 Well, Jesus always practiced what he preached and we see this, especially at the cross. 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.240 Jesus said, love your enemies. 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.940 Seek the good, pray for those who persecute you. 00:16:54.940 --> 00:17:01.780 As he was being nailed to the cross by cruel enemies, Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them. 00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:04.059 They don't know what they're doing. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:08.180 And you know, this truth stands at the heart of our good news. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.860 Here is our hope. 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:14.440 By nature, you and me and all of us, we are enemies of God. 00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:18.080 We have turned our back on our loving Father in heaven. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:21.620 We have rejected and rebelled against God, our King. 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.339 We deserve judgment. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:35.599 But by God's grace in the sending and the sacrifice of Jesus, we can be loved and forgiven and granted eternal life and receive living hope. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:39.679 And it's that living hope that shapes who we love. 00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:43.399 But that also shapes who we fear. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:48.019 And that's where we turn to next, verses 13 to 15. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:51.639 Now, in verse 13, we're introduced to a general principle. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.759 And the principle is this. 00:17:53.939 --> 00:17:56.719 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:02.460 Essentially, if you're eager to do good to and for others, you will usually be well received. 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:07.579 But Peter introduces what we might call the Christian exception. 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:13.140 So in his day, the Christian church was being met with suspicion and distrust. 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:17.319 They were seen as a threat to society and to family stability. 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:26.619 Soon, Emperor Nero would come in his hatred of the Christian faith and would begin brutally persecuting and killing many Christians. 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.679 So there is a Christian exception. 00:18:30.419 --> 00:18:40.539 Today, there are untold stories of persecuted Christians who are feeding the poor, caring for the sick, teaching children, welcoming displaced people, 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:45.859 all the while facing attack and intimidation and mob violence. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:50.059 What about in our setting? 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:56.759 How do we face the fear of man that we can experience? 00:18:58.379 --> 00:19:03.079 You know, if we struggle with issues of self-esteem, 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:08.960 if we're sensitive to the views and the comments and the behaviours of others towards us, 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:17.139 there is that real temptation towards hiding our truth, hiding what we believe. 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:23.500 So Peter wants to encourage us to think about how can hope, how can hope in the Lord Jesus keep us on mission? 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:28.460 How can it cause us to shine rather than hide our light, to stand firm rather than cave in? 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:36.500 And Peter's big truth is that we fight that fear, the fear of man, with a greater fear, the fear of the Lord. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:40.539 Now, three ways to think about this in verses 14 and 15. 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:43.660 But first, from Peter's own story. 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:50.799 Now, if you know the story, when Jesus is arrested, when he's been betrayed, he's soon to go to the cross. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:57.539 Peter three times denies even knowing Jesus because of the fear of man. 00:19:57.879 --> 00:20:07.399 In a place called Galatia, he stops eating food and sharing friendship with a group of Christians out of fear of what people from Jerusalem might say. 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:10.740 So he knows the fear of man. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:13.440 And so Peter humbly shares this lesson. 00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.780 Here is what I've learned. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.759 What you need is a greater fear. 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.580 The fear of the Lord. 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:28.980 In other words, to be so overwhelmed with a sense of wonder that the love and the goodness and the wisdom and the power and the mercy and the kindness of God is for me and to me. 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:35.779 And when that fills our horizon, it displaces those other fears. 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:39.660 So he can use his personal story to draw on. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.839 He also draws on Isaiah 8. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.839 Verse 14, do not fear their threats. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.779 Do not be frightened. 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:48.279 We read that in Isaiah 8. 00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:53.960 In the wider context, we are not to fear the message of Isaiah is because the Lord is with us. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:59.880 He is the one who we are to fear and to honour and to regard as holy. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:10.900 He takes loyalty, devotion first place and his greatness again removes and displaces the place of the fear of man. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:18.680 And the other reality that he draws on is a reminder of blessing from God. 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:23.039 And this again takes us back to that beatitude that we began with. 00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:30.779 Blessed are you when people persecute you because you have your reward in the kingdom of heaven. 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:38.680 In verse 14, even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:48.220 So he's setting their vision not on the threat, the opposition, but on eternal reward and on life in the kingdom of heaven. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:55.839 Life in God's family, knowing God in your heart and your life, having his power, his truth, his love within you. 00:21:56.220 --> 00:22:00.480 While you also remember the reward from God still to come. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:11.339 When our vision is filled with a sense of the glory and the goodness of God, the impact of that can be amazing. 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:22.379 A number of us heard a recent story from Ethiopia of one man who came to trust in Jesus from a different faith background. 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:24.899 And as soon as he did, he was driven out of his village. 00:22:25.459 --> 00:22:26.679 His family didn't want to know him. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.659 He was told, don't come back. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:30.119 We don't want to hear your message or see from you. 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:34.959 His response, we went to the outside the village and he built a house there. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:42.160 And from that house, he kept going in to share his faith, to share the good news. 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:48.900 And over time, his family and his friends began to trust in the Lord Jesus too. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:56.500 And now that house on the edge of town, it's a church where people gather to worship Jesus as Lord. 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.460 What happened? 00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:02.460 Yes, he was fearful of attack and oppression. 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:09.140 But more than that, he had that overwhelming sense of God's goodness and was rejoicing in that. 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:12.759 And that eclipsed all those other fears. 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:23.860 And that's what God will do for us if we allow his glory and the goodness of his love to shape our lives and to be our focus. 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:30.619 Yes, maybe like me, you have struggled or you do struggle with the fear of man. 00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:42.579 You find yourself at times crippled by anxiety, wrestling with low self-esteem, fearful of the opinion of others, which would stop you doing what you know to be good. 00:23:42.579 --> 00:24:12.559 Peter says, 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:14.819 And that's the opinion that ultimately matters. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:24.879 And as we reflect on this, we recognise as a 21st century church, we're facing a similar situation to the church in the first century. 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:31.639 We face opposition and we live on the margins and many people don't necessarily want to hear our message. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:33.039 How do we deal with that? 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.899 How do we not give in to fear? 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:42.259 Well, we need to let the beauty of Christ kill the beast of fear and anxiety. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:59.900 We need to meditate on the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to see his incredible love for us and love for sinners that would overcome our fear of sharing God's truth, of living to display God's love. 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:05.380 We must talk to ourselves, of the good news at the heart of our faith. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:08.220 Talk to ourselves about the reality of the cross. 00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:15.160 The power of the gospel every day to remind ourselves of living hope. 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:23.300 And that takes us to our final section, who we place our hope in. 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:30.400 So Peter gives us a measure of great confidence here in verse 15. 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.800 He says, 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:39.579 So he's saying, 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:41.879 Christian, you have a living hope. 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.199 And he says, 00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:51.859 As you live out with good lives and good deeds, as you shine the light of Jesus, it will make people ask the why question. 00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:55.179 How do you love that way? 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:59.399 How do you have hope in the face of so much darkness and difficulties? 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:03.079 Is that what people see in us today? 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:09.679 And how do we speak when we've got an opportunity to talk about our hope? 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:12.339 That's where Peter goes next. 00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:12.939 He says, 00:26:13.679 --> 00:26:14.240 First of all, 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:15.399 Always be prepared. 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:19.139 And that's a great lesson, isn't it? 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:22.859 Imagine if every day we had high expectations. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.939 Imagine if every day we thought, 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:31.180 I could do something that could result in someone being saved. 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:37.160 By God's grace, you and I might meet someone in eternity. 00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:43.160 Maybe someone who we know, maybe someone who we don't, who would say thank you to us. 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:48.660 Because our words and our lives pointed them towards Jesus. 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:52.759 Isn't that a wonderful thing to think about? 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:57.460 When we think about heaven as this wonderful family reunion, 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:04.059 pray that there be people there because of your words and your witness. 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.879 And especially there's a message to the church. 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:12.079 Our words and our witness, our love for one another and for the world. 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:16.519 If we're always to be prepared, how do we make those preparations? 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:19.799 Well, we need to pray every day. 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.460 Pray about our day. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.440 Pray at the start of the day. 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:26.120 Pray through your diary as well as for those random moments. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:29.200 Have that prayerful mindset of dependence on God. 00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:34.420 Live aware of his love and of his good news for you, Jesus. 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:36.620 Stay close to God's word. 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.900 Stay close to that truth. 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:41.140 And keep that mission mindset. 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:45.440 Really hard during lockdown, but keep a mission mindset. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:47.440 So we're always to be prepared. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:52.980 And we're always to be prepared to answer the question of where our hope is found. 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:58.880 And the idea here is that we'd be ready to make an informal defence of the truth that we believe. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:02.740 Not that we'd necessarily have to stand on a platform and give, 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:08.200 here's my sort of very clear, concise ten-point speech. 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:17.779 Rather, in our everyday conversation, we can defend and explain the basic message at the heart of our faith. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:20.240 To show that our hope is not vague or naive. 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.420 It's not in ourselves. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.360 It's in the Lord Jesus. 00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:28.679 It's based on living hope because it's based on a saviour who died for us and then rose again for our salvation. 00:28:29.459 --> 00:28:32.039 We talk about the power of testimony, don't we? 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:38.500 We talk about people's stories being so important in others coming to church and coming to faith. 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:44.500 The power of testimony lies in not what we say about ourselves, 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:48.019 but what we say about the Lord Jesus. 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:51.779 That he would be clearly revealed as our hope. 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:55.839 And as we are always prepared and we're answering the question of hope, 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:58.079 our attitude matters. 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.279 Because there is a temptation, I'm sure, 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:05.019 on the one hand, as we face opposition, 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:10.019 to simply close the door to others out of fear or out of anger. 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:14.019 Or perhaps we want to sort of lob grenades, try and score points, 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:20.960 and we think in terms of teams and opponents and we don't really dialogue and really speak and really love. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.980 Peter shows us a better way. 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:30.180 He calls us to be, to do these things, verse 15, with gentleness and respect. 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:37.420 Remember, everyone that we talk to is an image bearer of the living God. 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:40.900 Those people who oppose you and mock you, 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.700 remember that apart from God's grace, 00:29:43.800 --> 00:29:48.240 we too would be hostile to God and want nothing to do with him and his love. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:52.100 We need to create a culture of respect. 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:56.980 Christians need to be different in the way that we speak to each other 00:29:56.980 --> 00:30:00.019 and speak to and about others as well. 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:03.860 We also, verse 16, need to keep a clear conscience. 00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:07.879 That is to say, do my walk and my talk match up? 00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:11.519 Do my words and my actions line up? 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:15.719 And do they reflect the character of the Lord Jesus? 00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.919 Remember, we want to be a lighthouse, 00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:20.859 not those wreckers that would extinguish the light of Jesus. 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:26.079 And verse 17, as our attitude matters, 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:31.539 are we willing to suffer for doing good? 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:35.879 Are we willing to count the cost of discipleship, 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:40.379 to follow the pattern and in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:46.059 who was willing to suffer and die for doing good, 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:50.779 for doing us ultimate, saving, eternal good? 00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:54.740 Peter's message then is this, 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:59.680 be transformed by the life-changing hope of the Lord Jesus. 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:04.080 In preparing for this message this week, 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:05.840 the government announcement was made 00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:09.840 that we were able to return to church as of the 28th of March, 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.200 and that's wonderful timing. 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.660 And that's a real gift for us 00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:16.460 because our focus on that day 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:20.740 will be the cross of the Lord Jesus. 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.299 And the week after, 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.640 we will think about the empty tomb 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:27.840 and the resurrection of Jesus at Easter Sunday. 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:33.480 So that our message to a world that's looking for hope, 00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:38.080 to you, if you feel drained of hope or empty of hope, 00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:39.660 if you're looking for answers, 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:42.120 your hope will be found, 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.220 ultimately and only, 00:31:45.020 --> 00:31:49.560 in a crucified and risen Lord Jesus. 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:54.679 One who was willing to die in love to forgive your sin. 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:59.700 One who rose in victory to grant you eternal life. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:04.259 And my prayer for us as a church in Becloot is that many would come to seek and to find, 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:06.220 and again, let me say you're welcome to come. 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:09.240 Sign up on our website to find out. 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:10.420 Because in his death, 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.660 there is certain hope 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:13.839 that our sins will be forgiven, 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.319 our guilt will be removed, 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:18.259 we will be declared right in God's standing 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:20.920 if we believe in him. 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.839 That what he did on the cross, 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.599 he did for me. 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:26.059 And in his risen life, 00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:27.400 there is eternal hope 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:30.620 as the last enemy of death is defeated, 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:34.339 that we can anticipate and enjoy life with God now 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:36.460 and the love of God now 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.299 and forever. 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:41.240 Amen.