WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.960 Good morning everyone. 00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:12.759 It's a pleasure to be back here at St Paul's bringing the Word of God this morning and to have been asked to share with you. 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:21.199 My wife Vanessa and I are here from Africa for roughly two to three months and we'd love to catch up with you during that time. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:31.500 Vanessa arrives tonight, late tonight on a plane from Perth and we'll probably be having a rest for a few days but after that we'd love to catch up with any and all of you. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:46.000 Now the epistle of Peter, the first epistle of Peter is an epistle that Peter has written to Christians who are scattered throughout a pagan society. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:01:04.960 And it is a letter written to Christians who in their context will be undergoing suffering and persecution and where the values of the society around them are putting a pressure upon them to live a particular way. 00:01:05.960 --> 00:01:09.480 And so it's in this context that we look at the passage here today. 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:17.579 It's quite applicable this passage really in that light for us here in Sydney and the church in Sydney. 00:01:18.320 --> 00:01:31.060 And although persecution here is not as overt as it was in the Roman Empire, it is nonetheless it is there and it is underlying a lot of the fabric of our society. 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:37.980 And you will hear Christians and the Christian faith openly mocked on television or on the radio. 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:42.960 There is so much media coming through with anti-God values. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:51.920 And so in that way our society in Sydney has a lot of things that are similar to the society back in the days of the Roman Empire. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:57.159 And of course they had gladiator events, then we have the rugby league. 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:12.639 But there's a lot of similarities there and there is nonetheless a pressure on us as Christians to be living and responding a certain way when confronted and surrounded by people from a pagan society. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:19.239 So when this passage opens, we see it says, 00:02:19.339 --> 00:02:26.959 Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. 00:02:27.519 --> 00:02:32.099 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, 00:02:32.179 --> 00:02:37.179 they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:44.379 These desires actually wage war against our soul. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:52.000 And in the passage, I don't actually think Peter is so much talking about the sinful desires of the flesh 00:02:52.000 --> 00:03:01.180 or about anger or greed or coveting as much as I think he is talking about things simply like submitting to authorities, 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:07.500 respecting one another, respecting one another, loving one another, and honouring the king, fearing God. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:14.659 These are all temptations that with the pressure of the society around them, acting upon them, 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:17.280 it is a temptation not to do these things. 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:24.360 Not only are these things waging war against our soul and against their soul, 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:32.520 but we have an enemy, as Sam points out, we are in a war against an enemy who roams around like a roaring lion 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:34.640 waiting for someone to devour. 00:03:35.600 --> 00:03:41.120 And you see, the devil knows that Christians have a righteousness that is by faith. 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:47.440 Our righteousness is because we believe that Jesus has died for our sins, 00:03:47.440 --> 00:03:51.940 and because of that, we are made completely righteous before God. 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:55.280 And that is based on what we believe. 00:03:56.079 --> 00:03:59.139 And so the devil knows that while ever we believe that, 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:01.840 and while ever our faith is at this level, 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:06.979 then the life we live will accordingly be at an equal level. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.620 And so the devil's main aim is to get us to doubt, 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:18.079 to get us to not believe that Jesus has paid the full penalty, 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:22.759 not just for our sins, but for all our brothers' and sisters' sins. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:26.939 He does this through our conscience. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:31.000 That is the main weapon he uses, is our conscience. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:34.000 You know, Peter says later in the passage, 00:04:34.219 --> 00:04:38.699 he talks about not using our freedom as a cloak for evil, 00:04:39.479 --> 00:04:40.560 to hide sin. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:45.980 It is very easy in that society and in our society 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:49.040 to compromise our values as Christians, 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:51.459 to compromise our walk with God, 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.480 and actually say, well, that's okay, I'm under grace. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.240 I'm under grace, so I'm under freedom, 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:00.779 so it doesn't really matter what I do so much. 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:04.139 But, you see, because we have an enemy, 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:07.379 and that enemy will use a pure conscience, 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:10.159 and he will come to someone with a pure conscience, 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:13.079 and he will try and get them to stop believing 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.540 they are righteous because of what Christ has done, 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:20.420 let alone if we go forward with an impure conscience. 00:05:21.159 --> 00:05:24.399 If we go forward and go forward willingly in sin, 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:30.060 then the devil will use the fact that our conscience is muddied, 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.779 he will use that to get us to doubt 00:05:33.779 --> 00:05:36.240 that we are righteous before God, 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.660 and that we are completely forgiven 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:41.300 because he knows that our walk 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.740 will be always equivalent with what we believe. 00:05:45.460 --> 00:05:50.600 In 2 Peter 1, verses 5 to 9, it says, 00:05:51.400 --> 00:05:54.120 for this very reason, make every effort 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.280 to add to your faith goodness, 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:57.840 and to goodness knowledge, 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:00.319 and to knowledge self-control, 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:02.660 and to self-control perseverance, 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.660 and to perseverance godliness, 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:07.180 and to godliness brotherly kindness, 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:09.040 and to brotherly kindness love. 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:13.500 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:15.700 they will keep you from being ineffective 00:06:15.700 --> 00:06:19.300 and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:19.520 --> 00:06:21.800 But if anyone does not have them, 00:06:22.340 --> 00:06:24.340 he is nearsighted and blind, 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:28.640 and has forgotten that he has been cleansed 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:30.279 from his past sins. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.120 You see, the problem with a backslidden Christian 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:37.159 is not primarily about what he is doing. 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:39.879 The problem with the backslidden Christian 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:42.560 is about what they have started to believe. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:45.759 And what they have started to believe, 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:48.800 their faith will naturally come out in what they do. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:53.960 If we are living lives 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:56.199 where our conscience gets seared, 00:06:56.960 --> 00:06:58.139 we will start forgetting 00:06:58.139 --> 00:07:00.740 that we have been cleansed from our past sins, 00:07:00.740 --> 00:07:03.560 because that is what the devil will be helping us do 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:04.420 by saying, 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:05.100 you're guilty, 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:06.139 you're not forgiven. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:08.360 And we will forget 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:10.340 we have been cleansed from past sins, 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:11.680 and as a result, 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:14.600 we will live accordingly to that. 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.960 Our faith has to issue itself in action. 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:18.959 What we believe 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:21.839 will always be demonstrated by what we do. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:26.879 And in a context 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:29.000 where the society's values have decayed, 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:30.419 and Christians are suffering 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:31.620 and are being persecuted, 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:33.199 the threat of Christians 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.399 using the freedom they have in Christ 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:37.199 as a cover-up for evil, 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:39.279 and subsequently forgetting 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.099 their cleansing from past sins, 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:42.919 was a very real one to Peter. 00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:46.560 So when Peter goes through this passage, 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.399 there are really primarily three things 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:50.339 that he is on about, 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:52.220 and the first thing he is on about, 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.300 it is God's will that by doing good, 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.899 you should silence the ignorant talk 00:07:57.899 --> 00:07:58.939 of foolish men. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.019 That is the first thing 00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:02.620 in this passage he is addressing. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:05.300 The Christians are in a context 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.319 where for the Lord's sake, 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:09.980 they need to submit to all those authorities, 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:12.640 and we need to submit authorities 00:08:12.640 --> 00:08:13.560 always anyway, 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:16.160 but especially in this pagan world 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:18.280 where they are under such scrutiny. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:22.060 See, the unbelieving world 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:23.960 watches us like a hawk. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:26.319 They watch us so carefully 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.439 and try and find where we slip up. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:31.939 And so what Peter is saying 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:34.300 is that we have to live such blameless lives 00:08:34.300 --> 00:08:35.220 in that world 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:36.960 by submitting to authorities, 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.180 by honouring the king, 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:39.539 by fearing God, 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.739 by loving one another, 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.979 that they have absolutely no substance 00:08:43.979 --> 00:08:46.699 to any of the foolish accusations 00:08:46.699 --> 00:08:48.099 that they make 00:08:48.099 --> 00:08:49.759 against the people of God. 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:53.339 And so that those accusations 00:08:53.339 --> 00:08:54.979 have no substance. 00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:59.699 We might remember back in Genesis chapter 41 00:08:59.699 --> 00:09:02.679 when we saw Joseph, 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:04.819 and he was in Egypt, 00:09:04.820 --> 00:09:06.460 and he was there 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:07.920 with a pagan king 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.360 and a pagan society, 00:09:10.020 --> 00:09:11.080 and yet this pharaoh 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:12.040 was able to say, 00:09:12.400 --> 00:09:13.400 was able to say, 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:14.920 can we find anyone 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:16.040 like this man, 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.140 one in whom 00:09:17.140 --> 00:09:18.420 is the Spirit of God? 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:22.680 A pagan pharaoh. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.900 And back then, of course, 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:26.280 there was no, you know, 00:09:26.420 --> 00:09:27.700 no one really 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:29.000 officially knew 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:30.160 the Holy Spirit 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:30.920 in that way. 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:34.419 But see, 00:09:34.599 --> 00:09:36.099 the pharaoh could look at Joseph 00:09:36.099 --> 00:09:37.919 and he could see 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.120 that inside that man 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.379 was something different, 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:42.299 and he could tell 00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:44.120 by the way he conducted himself, 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:46.120 by the insight he was given, 00:09:46.479 --> 00:09:48.360 and by the man that he was, 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:49.579 he could tell 00:09:49.579 --> 00:09:51.039 that in that society 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.199 this was someone 00:09:52.199 --> 00:09:53.039 who stood out, 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:54.279 and he could tell 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:55.279 that within him, 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:56.839 even though being a pagan, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:57.599 he could tell 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:58.639 that within him 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.040 was a holy God, 00:10:00.300 --> 00:10:01.480 was a Holy Spirit. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.259 And similarly, 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:03.800 in Babylon, 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.899 when Daniel had been 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:05.960 taken into captivity 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:07.200 with the rest of Israel, 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:09.019 King Nebuchadnezzar 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:09.740 said of Daniel, 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:11.560 he had named him 00:10:11.560 --> 00:10:12.659 Belteshazzar 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:13.480 after the name 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:14.220 of his God, 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:15.820 and he said, 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.340 he is called Belteshazzar 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:17.980 after the name 00:10:17.980 --> 00:10:18.580 of my God, 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:19.220 and the Spirit 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:20.500 of the Holy Gods 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:21.279 is in him. 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:24.100 This is coming 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:24.960 from a king 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.379 who made giant golden statues 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:29.620 and asked people 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.759 to come and bow down 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.220 to them, 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:32.200 or he was going 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:32.780 to chuck them 00:10:32.780 --> 00:10:33.480 into a furnace. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.900 This is a pagan king, 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:38.200 and yet he was able 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:39.100 to look at Daniel 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:39.639 and say, 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.300 the Spirit 00:10:40.300 --> 00:10:41.379 of the Holy God 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.100 is in him. 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:46.139 You are the light 00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:46.600 of the world. 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:47.400 A city on a hill 00:10:47.400 --> 00:10:48.240 cannot be hidden. 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:49.500 Neither do people 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:50.180 light a lamp 00:10:50.180 --> 00:10:51.360 and put it under a bowl. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:52.240 Instead, 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.700 they put it on its stand, 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:55.440 and it gives light 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.540 to everyone 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:57.560 in the house. 00:11:01.800 --> 00:11:02.879 In the same way, 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:03.460 let your light 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.360 shine before men 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.140 that they may see 00:11:05.140 --> 00:11:06.020 your good deeds, 00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.820 and praise your Father 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:08.240 in heaven. 00:11:08.300 --> 00:11:09.580 It brings God glory 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:10.980 when the people of God 00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:12.460 are living in such a way 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:13.960 that the pagan world 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:14.740 looks at them 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.460 as blameless, 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:16.400 and that when they are 00:11:16.400 --> 00:11:17.620 making their accusations, 00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:19.040 everyone can see 00:11:19.040 --> 00:11:19.520 that they've got 00:11:19.520 --> 00:11:20.560 no substance to it. 00:11:20.900 --> 00:11:21.860 That brings glory 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:22.320 to God. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:22.920 Similarly, 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:24.379 it brings slander 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.420 and blasphemy 00:11:25.420 --> 00:11:26.520 to the way 00:11:26.520 --> 00:11:27.140 of Christians 00:11:27.140 --> 00:11:28.440 and to Christ himself 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:29.640 if we are living 00:11:29.640 --> 00:11:30.460 in society 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:31.600 and we are walking 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.480 forward in sin. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:35.780 And so, 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:36.800 part of that, 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:37.379 and what Peter 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:37.900 is saying, 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.200 is that to silence 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.680 the talk of foolish men, 00:11:40.780 --> 00:11:41.700 we need to submit 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:42.480 to the authorities 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.360 that have been put 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:43.900 in place. 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:44.920 And of course, 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.860 we learn in Romans 13, 00:11:47.140 --> 00:11:48.440 verses 1 to 3, 00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:49.560 everyone must submit 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.240 himself to the 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.120 governing authorities, 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.279 for there is no authority 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.419 except that which God 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:55.100 has established, 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.840 and the authorities 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:57.620 that exist 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.600 have been established 00:11:58.600 --> 00:11:59.820 by God. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:01.460 Consequently, 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:02.560 he who rebels 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:03.600 against the authority 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:04.460 is rebelling 00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:05.399 against what God 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.480 has instituted, 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.159 and those who do so 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:09.120 will bring judgment 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.240 on themselves. 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:10.639 I mean, 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.919 it's pretty straightforward. 00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:13.379 Unfortunately, 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.639 as Aussies, 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:15.600 we come from 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.320 originally 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.039 a settlement 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.060 of convicts, 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:19.459 so we have a bit 00:12:19.459 --> 00:12:20.000 of an attitude 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:20.859 to authority, 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:22.159 which works 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.079 a little bit like this. 00:12:23.119 --> 00:12:23.779 I figured it out 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.159 from being, 00:12:24.219 --> 00:12:24.359 well, 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:25.299 it's not that hard 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:25.899 to figure out, 00:12:25.959 --> 00:12:26.239 actually, 00:12:26.359 --> 00:12:27.500 but you see it 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.159 very clearly 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:28.779 when you're living 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:29.919 in another culture 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.019 where submission 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:31.719 to authority 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:32.479 is a very, 00:12:32.619 --> 00:12:33.500 very different thing. 00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:34.519 So, 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.579 the way our thinking 00:12:35.579 --> 00:12:36.639 works is like this. 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:37.839 This man is in authority. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:39.079 What's he doing? 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.939 What's he saying? 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:40.859 And so, 00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:41.819 we sort of judge 00:12:41.819 --> 00:12:43.099 and rate what he is doing 00:12:43.099 --> 00:12:43.739 and saying, 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:45.059 and then determine 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:47.059 from our judgment 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.139 and our rating 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.139 as to whether 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:50.000 we should submit 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.719 to his authority 00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:51.179 or not. 00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:52.019 Now, 00:12:52.099 --> 00:12:52.819 in Africa, 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:55.279 submission to authority 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.979 can be authorities 00:12:56.979 --> 00:12:57.939 who are treating them 00:12:57.939 --> 00:12:58.699 very badly, 00:12:58.839 --> 00:12:59.899 but they will always 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.159 submit to the authority 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.319 because submission 00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:02.979 to authority 00:13:02.979 --> 00:13:04.059 is not about 00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:05.139 what the person 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:05.819 in authority 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:07.379 does or says, 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.539 it is about 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:09.479 his position. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.319 Completely unconditional. 00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:14.179 It is about 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:14.839 his position. 00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:15.899 It is a position 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:17.759 that we know 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.399 that God 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.179 has given 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:20.240 to that person 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:21.299 and so, 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.120 like they do 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.600 in Africa, 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.860 we should submit 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.959 to the authorities 00:13:24.959 --> 00:13:25.679 that have been 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.759 put in place 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:28.500 simply because 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.699 of the position 00:13:29.699 --> 00:13:30.639 they have been 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:30.959 given 00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:32.419 by God. 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.179 And in so doing, 00:13:35.319 --> 00:13:36.240 we are acknowledging 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.539 that it is God 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.959 who put them there 00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:40.139 and we are confirming 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.179 that the word of God 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:41.860 is true. 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:45.519 And so, 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.279 it is for the Lord's 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.379 sake that we do this. 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:50.060 Now, 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:51.060 the second point 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:52.000 that Peter is making 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.060 here is suffering 00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:54.240 for doing good 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.320 is commendable. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:57.220 Suffering for doing 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.279 good is commendable. 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.300 And I am sure 00:14:00.300 --> 00:14:01.200 at this stage, 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.620 Peter was recalling 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.639 Jesus' words 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:05.360 in Luke chapter 6 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.240 which are also 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:07.240 recorded in Matthew 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.220 chapter 5. 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:09.440 He says, 00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:10.240 But I tell you 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.000 who hear me, 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.139 love your enemies, 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.480 do good to those 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.300 who hate you, 00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:15.500 bless those 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.440 who curse you, 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.160 pray for those 00:14:18.160 --> 00:14:19.139 who mistreat you. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.360 If someone 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:20.940 strikes you 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.700 on one cheek, 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.680 turn to him 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:23.580 the other also. 00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.279 And if someone 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.080 takes your cloak, 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:27.940 do not stop him 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:29.019 from taking your tunic. 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.379 Give to everyone 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.300 who asks you 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.379 and if anyone 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.340 takes what belongs 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:33.740 to you, 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.139 do not demand it back. 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:36.600 Do to others 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.259 as you would have 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:38.080 them do to you. 00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:39.300 If you love 00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:40.120 those who love 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.420 you, 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.420 what credit 00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:42.320 is that to you? 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:44.540 If you just 00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.040 love those 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:45.639 who love you? 00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:48.060 Even sinners 00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:48.580 love those 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.160 who love them 00:14:49.160 --> 00:14:49.860 and if you do 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.460 good to those 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:50.820 who are good 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.279 to you, 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.060 what credit 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:52.860 is that to you? 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:54.440 Even sinners 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:54.980 do that. 00:14:55.300 --> 00:14:56.060 And if you lend 00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:56.500 to those 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.560 from you 00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:59.100 what credit 00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.759 is that to you? 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.560 Even sinners 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:01.340 lend to sinners 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.379 expecting 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.120 to be repaid 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.620 in full 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.680 but love your 00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:05.040 enemies, 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:05.779 do good to 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.660 them and lend 00:15:06.660 --> 00:15:06.960 to them 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.139 without expecting to get anything back. 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:10.980 Then your reward will be great 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:13.000 and you'll be sons of the Most High 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:16.040 because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:20.200 Be merciful just as your father is merciful. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:24.460 And so it is only in the light of being mistreated 00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:27.879 and being harshly spoken to 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.639 and being unfairly done by, 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:34.600 it is only in the light of our response to that 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:39.300 that people will see that we are in actual fact different 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:40.879 and the one that is in us 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.340 is different to the one that is in the world. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:48.019 Otherwise we're just doing what the world does. 00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:50.500 We just, I mean, we can be Christians 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.379 and we can be really nice people 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:55.560 who are really nice to the people who are really nice to us. 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:57.320 But let me ask you a question. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.740 Is there anyone on your heart 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:03.220 who you do not look at as absolutely righteous 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:05.259 and spotless before God? 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:08.840 Is there another human being in your heart, 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:09.940 in your mind, 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:13.519 who you do not look at as absolutely spotless? 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.399 And if they don't know Christ, 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:17.279 that they potentially could 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:20.800 and therefore that you should still treat them in that light. 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:25.379 Or are we storing up all the faults that people have, 00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:27.300 all the things they've said wrong against us, 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:30.600 all the times they've ticked us off a bit? 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:38.440 You see, Jesus has wiped our slate completely clean 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:42.019 and we have got to do that right now 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:45.320 with anyone we are storing things up about 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.100 that we should not be storing up about. 00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:49.360 Because in God's sight, 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:53.820 they are completely holy and righteous. 00:16:53.820 --> 00:17:01.660 In God's sight, 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:03.300 they are completely holy and righteous. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.200 So if there's anyone in the body of believers 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.100 that we have got a problem with, 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.640 then we are really having a problem with God 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.100 because God has declared them innocent. 00:17:14.820 --> 00:17:16.539 God has declared them righteous. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:20.160 God has declared them pure and faultless. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:26.700 And that's how we have to treat them 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:29.360 and that's how God expects us to treat them. 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.779 So if your enemy is hungry, 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:33.860 give him food to eat. 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.080 If he is thirsty, 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.200 give him water to drink. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.620 And in doing this, 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.840 you will heap burning coals on his head 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:42.100 and the Lord will reward you. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.680 And doing this is a powerful testimony 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.000 to the one we worship 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.440 and is a form of spiritual warfare. 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:51.539 I think in 2 Corinthians 10, 00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.759 verses 3 to 4, 00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.120 it says, 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.660 For though we live in the world, 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:57.299 we do not wage war as the world does. 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.980 The weapons we fight with 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.400 are not the weapons of the world. 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.519 On the contrary, 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:03.259 they have divine power 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.880 to demolish strongholds. 00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:07.019 And we can be very spiritual 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.960 and we can say, 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.420 well, that's the prayers of the saints. 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:11.700 And I think it definitely includes that. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.900 But I tell you, 00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.840 when you turn the other cheek 00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:16.299 when someone strikes you, 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:18.419 it demolishes strongholds. 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.940 When you love those who hate you, 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:23.220 when you bless those who curse you, 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.740 when you pray for those who persecute you, 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:27.700 you demolish strongholds. 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.559 It is a form of warfare. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:37.440 Jesus didn't say these things 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.919 without demonstrating them in his life. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:42.200 He demonstrated all these principles 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.339 through what he did. 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.779 And we might remember 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.759 in Matthew chapter 27, 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.399 verses 12 to 14, 00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:50.359 when he was accused by the chief priests 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:50.960 and the elders, 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.500 he gave no answer. 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:54.220 Then Pilate asked him, 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:55.740 Don't you hear the testimony 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:57.259 they are bringing against you? 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:59.500 But Jesus made no reply, 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.700 not even to a single charge, 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:04.039 to the great amazement of the governor. 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.980 I don't know about you, 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.940 but if I was Jesus 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:09.099 and I had people saying to me, 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.819 are you the king of the Jews? 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:13.440 I'd start pointing them 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.660 to all the miracles I'd done. 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.660 I'd start saying, 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.819 am I the king? 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.920 I mean, have a look. 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.940 I walked on water. 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:21.759 I mean, I made the lame walk. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.980 I made the blind see. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:25.700 I cast demons out of men. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.779 But he doesn't do any of that. 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.019 He just says, so you say. 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:36.039 You see, the powers of darkness 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:37.700 are baffled 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:39.960 when we do not wage war 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.839 on the same terms 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.420 and in the same fashion 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:45.059 that they wage war. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:49.019 That's what confuses them. 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:55.500 And Jesus said to his disciples, 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.879 if anyone would come after me, 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.079 he must deny himself, 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:00.019 take up his cross and follow me. 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:02.079 For whoever wants to save his life 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.779 will lose it, 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:05.319 but whoever loses his life for me 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.359 will find it. 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:09.119 Whoever loses his life for me 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:09.839 will find it. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.680 Are we prepared to do that? 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.700 Are we prepared, 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:17.480 just as Jesus set us an example 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:19.279 and going before us, 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.059 are we prepared 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.640 to follow in that example 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:24.339 and lose our lives 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.680 for Christ's sake? 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.500 Are we prepared 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.920 to suffer ridicule 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.480 and meet it with love? 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.480 Are we prepared 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:39.200 to bless those who persecute us 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.799 and pray for those 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:42.019 who are bad to us? 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.700 Are we prepared 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:46.680 if our enemy is hungry 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.400 to feed him 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.519 or if he is thirsty 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.539 to give him a drink? 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.460 You see, 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:54.200 as Brian said earlier, 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.360 we are in a war. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.180 We are in a war 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:59.319 and the people of this world 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.559 are suffering 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.759 because they are under 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.640 the power of slavery 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.819 to fear of death. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:07.279 And the powers of darkness 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.779 use the fact 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.480 that there are 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.799 handwritten requirements 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.680 of the law 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.900 which are built up 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.759 in their conscience 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.700 against them 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.700 and they know 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.660 that the handwritten 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:18.019 requirements of the law, 00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:20.080 the wages of those requirements 00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:20.900 is death. 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.980 Everyone knows it. 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.640 You might have people 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:24.980 saying, 00:21:25.060 --> 00:21:25.539 I'm an atheist, 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.440 but they know it. 00:21:26.840 --> 00:21:27.620 They know it. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.460 We all know 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.779 because in our conscience 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.660 we know 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.259 when we've done 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.980 something wrong. 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.779 And those things 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.600 build up and up 00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:35.160 and up and up 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.480 and up 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.460 and the powers 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.100 of darkness 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.779 use those things 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.859 and constantly 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.799 hold them up 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.599 to people 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.619 to show them 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.700 you're going to die, 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.859 you're under sin, 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.180 you're going to hell 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:47.500 and it keeps them 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.299 in that guilt 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.899 and it keeps them 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.879 pinned down 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:52.720 in a sinful lifestyle. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.879 And the way 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.960 to battle it 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.319 is to proclaim 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.899 that those powers 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.819 have been defeated 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.399 at the cross of Christ. 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:05.019 That's the irony 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.539 is we defeat 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.440 those powers 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.700 by proclaiming 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.480 that they have 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.180 been defeated. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.120 It says that 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.140 Christ paraded them 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.559 and he took 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.900 that handwritten 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.539 requirements, 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.320 that list of 00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.279 handwritten requirements 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.480 and he nailed it 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.220 to the cross. 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:29.080 Taking us up 00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:29.660 with him 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.700 into that cross 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.320 and purging us 00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:33.700 of all our sin, 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.640 all our judgment, 00:22:35.080 --> 00:22:35.900 all our guilt. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.559 so that we are 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.519 completely pure. 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.820 So that we can 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:47.000 live a godly life. 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.960 Because the grace 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.440 of God 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.400 that brings salvation 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.080 has appeared 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:53.799 to all men 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.340 and it teaches us 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:56.279 to say no 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.820 to ungodliness 00:22:57.820 --> 00:22:59.039 and worldly passions 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:03.659 while we wait 00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:04.559 for the blessed hope, 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:06.159 the glorious appearing 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.559 of our great God 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.200 and Saviour, 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:10.039 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:12.000 So my friends, 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.339 surrounded by a similar 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.359 world that the Christians 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.639 were surrounded in then, 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:18.000 there's not as much 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.180 overt violence 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.599 in our society, 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:22.079 but given the right 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:22.639 pressures, 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.440 there would be. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:26.059 But surrounded 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.400 by a pagan society, 00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.680 we have to be those 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.600 whose goodness 00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:31.360 is shining out of us, 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.519 who are shining 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.820 the light of Christ 00:23:33.820 --> 00:23:34.840 to a dark 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.799 and sinful world. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.740 God bless you.