WEBVTT

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 You guys have all probably been in a situation where you kind of have to react quickly to a disaster that's about to happen.

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 So maybe something's falling over your head and you have a bodily instinct to immediately put your hands up to protect your head.

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 And those are good, but sometimes our bodily instincts are not good.

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 So for example, when you're falling from a building or you're about to get hit by a car, the human body often tenses up, become rigid.

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 And that actually makes, if your body's rigid and not relaxed, when you're hit, the impact actually is far more likely to damage your vital organs.

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 So you suffer more as a result.

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 And in a similar way, our spiritual instincts often lead us astray.

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 They mislead us as well.

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 And especially when it comes to suffering.

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 And Peter has been talking so far throughout these passages that we've been going through in 1 Peter,

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 that Christians should expect to suffer.

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 And that suffering comes upon us not because God's abandoned us, because we are God's people.

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 Because we belong to Him and not to this world, that it's normal and it's for us to experience suffering and persecution in this life.

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 But when we suffer, sometimes our instinct is not good.

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 Because when we are encountering hardship, often we'll try to seize control of it ourselves and take things into our own hands,

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 rather than letting God take control and submitting to Him and what He's trying to do, as this passage tells us to do.

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 And sometimes we would try to escape the pain and suffering that we're experiencing by numbing ourselves with distractions,

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 no matter what form that could take, instead of being alert and sober-minded and watchful, as this passage teaches us to.

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 And finally, in suffering, we can often think that we're suffering alone.

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 We have such an exaggerated or aggrandized view of our own suffering that we say,

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 no one else can understand, no one else knows what I'm going through, they can't relate.

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 So because of that, we isolate ourselves from community.

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 And all of these things are what we might be prone to do because of our sinful condition,

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 but they are not what this passage teaches us to do.

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 In short, if you look at 1 Peter 5, 5-11,

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 it tells us that we ought to keep the glory of Christ in view,

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 and that would enable us to endure suffering with humility and watchfulness.

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 Keeping the glory of Christ in view enables us to endure suffering with humility and watchfulness.

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 And first, I'm going to talk about the humility in suffering,

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 and then I'll talk about watchfulness in battle.

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 And then third, I'm going to talk about the glory in Christ that finally motivates us to be humble in suffering and watchful in battle.

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 So if you look with me at verse 6 and 7,

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 and keep your Bibles open, follow along with me because I'll be going back and forth throughout.

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 First, it says,

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 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God,

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 so that at the proper time He may exalt you,

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 casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.

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 So He had already told us in just the preceding verse in verse 5,

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 clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,

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 for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

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 And we talked last week in the sermon about how pride is the total anti-God state of mind

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 because it doesn't let God be sovereign.

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 Instead, He wants to be God Himself, the prideful person,

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 and therefore renders God irrelevant and unnecessary.

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 And in contrast, humility is the quintessential Christian virtue, right?

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 Because it encapsulates the idea of faith.

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 Because we're saying we are at an end of ourselves.

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 We can't save ourselves, but only God can save us.

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 And that's the humility that God calls us to.

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 But unfortunately, when we're facing suffering,

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 our tendency more often is to let pride rear its ugly head

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 rather than humbling ourselves in suffering.

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 And this is what I mean is that we will often replay the mistakes that we made

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 to get into this situation over and over again in our heads,

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 maybe thinking that perhaps by doing so we can somehow change the situation,

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 make it better.

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 Or we will go to the other direction and our minds would race

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 with all the possible worst-case scenarios

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 and try to come up with contingency plans

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 and get anxious and worked up and edgy as a result.

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 And we lose sleep.

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 But you might be asking then, how is that a sign of pride, right?

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 Because that kind of looks like weakness.

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 That looks like that person's helpless, not prideful.

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 But that's where this passage is so insightful.

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 I think it's very counterintuitive,

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 but it teaches us something that's very insightful into the human condition.

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 And namely, what it teaches us is that anxiety is not an admission of weakness

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 when you become anxious.

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 It's a boasting in your strength when you become anxious.

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 That anxiety is not a sign of humility, but a sign of pride.

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 How so?

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 How is anxiety a sign of pride?

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 Because in any given moment, the sense of control that we have is an illusion.

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 Because your vital organs can suddenly fail, right?

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 At this very moment, you could get bit by a mosquito

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 that's been infected with the Zika virus, right?

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 And at this very moment, your loved one can get into a car accident somewhere.

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 At this very moment, or later, as you're going home,

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 you're getting on the subway, a terrorist can detonate a bomb

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 and you could die in the midst of a crowd of people.

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 In fact, Acts 17, 28 teaches us that in God we live and move and have our being.

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 In other words, everything that we do now,

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 we're walking around breathing and moving and thinking.

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 Everything that we do, we don't have ultimate control over it, right?

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 We are able to do those things because God sustains us and God enables us.

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 We don't have ultimate control over anything that happens in our lives.

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 And at any given moment, a million things can get out of control, right?

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 So when this is the case, even that idea of losing control is an illusion

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 because we never had control to begin with.

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 So how can we lose control over a situation, over our lives?

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 And so it's exceedingly prideful than when we think

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 and presume that we have both the ability and the power

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 to control our lives and the situations around us.

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 And that's why we become anxious,

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 is that we want to take control of things.

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 We want to make sure everything's going okay.

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 And we think that we have the power and the ability

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 to make sure that that happens.

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 That's why it's prideful, he's saying.

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 And this is why the first exhortation here in verse 6,

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 humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God,

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 is modified by the phrase in verse 7,

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 casting all your anxieties on Him.

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 It's only those who have humbled themselves before God

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 and have acknowledged that it is only God

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 who ultimately has control over all things

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 that can really cast all anxieties on Him.

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 Because if you do not humble yourself like that,

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 then you will be wrecked with anxiety.

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 And sometimes we might mistakenly think

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 that it's people who are pridefully confident in themselves

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 who have things under control.

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 But it's really, if you look below the surface

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 and when push comes to shove,

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 the most prideful people are really the most insecure people.

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 And when things are not going as they planned or as they wish,

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 that they become more irritable and edgy and sensitive and defensive

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 than people who have humbled themselves before God.

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 That those people have the rock solid foundation to be stable

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 even when the storms of life come upon them.

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 And then Peter,

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 so Peter tells us to be humble,

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 to humble ourselves,

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 and then he concludes his exhortation

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 by giving us the reason

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 why we ought to humble ourselves

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 and cast all our anxieties on God.

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 And that's at the end of verse 7.

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 He says,

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 Because He cares for you.

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 If God were just an all-powerful God,

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 a being,

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 then He could do anything that He wanted to do,

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 but He could also just be a really powerful tyrant, right?

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 That revels in messing with our lives

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 and making our lives miserable, right?

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 But that's why it's not enough that God is simply powerful,

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 but that this powerful God also cares for us, right?

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 As the Bible consistently tells us,

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 this all-powerful, sovereign God is not just powerful,

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 but that He's also good, right?

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 And He loves us and He cares for us.

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 And that's what this passage reminds us of.

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 This mighty God,

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 the God with the mighty hand,

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 He cares for us.

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 And it's when we get those two things together,

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 the might of God and the care of God,

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 that we can live freely and fearlessly in this life.

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 And to illustrate that,

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 the person that's the most brutally honest in my life

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 is my wife, right?

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 So when it comes to how the ministry is going,

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 how my sermon was,

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 or how my character, my parenting,

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 or my function and role as a husband, right?

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 So she could tell me things

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 that no one else would dare tell me, right?

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 And that's because,

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 and she also has my ear more than anybody else.

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 And that's not just because

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 she knows me better than everybody else,

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 which she does,

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 but also, even more importantly,

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 because she loves me more than anybody else, right?

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 Because I know she cares for me, right?

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 And so I'm willing to put up with the harsh criticism

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 and the painful things that we have to deal with

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 because I know she cares for me, right?

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 In the same way,

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 when we understand that this all-powerful God,

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 almighty God who rules the universe,

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 really cares for us, right?

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 That he's not just strong and powerful,

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 but he cares for us,

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 and that really will relieve the sense of burden

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 and the fear and the anxiety that we have about life

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 and about the things that are happening to us.

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 So when you feel burdened, overwhelmed

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 with what's happening at work

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 or with the difficult relationship that you have,

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 remember that God cares for you in those situations.

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 Or if a tragedy hits

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 and then you're starting to wonder,

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 how can God let this happen to me?

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 Remember that God in that moment still cares for you.

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 And as Peter has been telling us,

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 even if you're mocked or unfairly treated

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 for your faith in Christ,

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 you're persecuted,

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 remember that God is not unaware

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 and he's not unconcerned about what is happening.

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 He cares for you.

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 And so he says,

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 verse 6-7,

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 Humble yourselves, therefore,

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 under the mighty hand of God,

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 so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

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 casting all your anxieties on him

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 because he cares for you.

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 When suffering and persecution come,

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 and as they will for believers,

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 we have to humble ourselves

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 under the mighty hand of God.

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 That's Peter's first exhortation.

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 And his second exhortation follows

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 in verses 8 and 9.

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 It says,

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 Be sober-minded,

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 be watchful.

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 Your adversary, the devil,

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 prowls around like a roaring lion,

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 seeking someone to devour.

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 Resist him,

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 firm in your faith,

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 knowing that the same kinds of suffering

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 are being experienced by your brotherhood

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 throughout the world.

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 There's really three exhortations here.

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 So it's just be sober-minded,

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 be watchful,

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 and then resist the devil.

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 But all of those are really getting at the same idea.

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 And Peter,

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 if you've been here with us

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 throughout this series in 1 Peter,

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 you know that Peter likes to tell us

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 to be sober-minded.

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 This is, in fact,

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 his third time telling us

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 to be sober-minded.

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 Again, getting back to the idea

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 that a drunken man,

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 someone that is in a spiritual stupor,

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 he's not able to,

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 he's not prepared

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 and he's not ready

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 to respond to the trials that come in life.

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 You have to be sober-minded and watchful.

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 And the reason that Peter gives

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 is that your adversary,

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 the devil,

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 prowls around like a roaring lion,

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 seeking someone to devour.

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 And this is continuing that motif

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 of the sheep and the shepherd

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 that Peter was just using

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 in chapter,

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 earlier in chapter 5,

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 because he told us

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 that the church is the flock of God

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 and then the elders are called

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 to shepherd the people, right?

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 But when the lion is prowling

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 around the flock,

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 the shepherd and the sheep

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 are not sleeping, right?

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 I mean, they know danger is out there.

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 They're not sleeping.

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 They're alert.

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 They're vigilant.

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 That's the image here

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 of the church.

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 That's what Christians are called

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 to be watchful,

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 as if we are a flock of sheep

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 and there's a lion prowling around.

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 And the word that's used here

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 of the devil to describe him,

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 the adversary,

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 it's the language of court and battle.

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 So you could think of it

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 like the devil is prosecuting you,

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 accusing you,

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 trying to get us locked up in jail

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 for something.

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 Or you could imagine

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 the adversary,

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 him being in battle array,

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 trying to destroy us,

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 in battle against us.

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.879
 This is our adversary,

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:02.539
 our enemy.

00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:06.379
 And if you pay attention

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.620
 to politics

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.879
 or you listen to the radio

00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.560
 or things like that,

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.039
 a lot of the doomsayers today

00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:11.879
 say that

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:14.240
 the World War III

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.399
 is not far in the horizon.

00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.019
 So they will warn us of that.

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.980
 Now that may or may not be true,

00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.219
 but this I know is true,

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.819
 and that's that already,

00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.579
 presently,

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:25.199
 we are in a spiritual battle

00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:26.839
 of eternal significance

00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:29.299
 that far outweighs

00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:30.419
 and overshadows

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:32.199
 any imaginable

00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:33.159
 nuclear World War III.

00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:35.019
 And that's what

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:35.860
 the Bible teaches us.

00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.620
 It's that Satan

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.919
 is a more potent

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:39.699
 and pernicious enemy

00:13:39.699 --> 00:13:41.039
 than Nazism,

00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:41.959
 Communism,

00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:43.199
 or even militant Islam.

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.579
 And yet,

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.659
 and this battle,

00:13:46.839 --> 00:13:47.860
 this war is happening

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:49.219
 not just in a distant country

00:13:49.219 --> 00:13:50.480
 somewhere that we find out

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.039
 about on TV,

00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:51.719
 but it's happening

00:13:51.719 --> 00:13:52.659
 in our country.

00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:54.559
 It's happening in our city,

00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:55.319
 our neighborhood,

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:57.279
 and even in our own minds

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:57.759
 and hearts.

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.179
 This battle is being waged

00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:00.500
 all around us.

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.220
 And the casualties

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.899
 of this war,

00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:03.779
 it's not just,

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.379
 you know,

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.419
 bodily limbs

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.659
 or earthly lives,

00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:09.379
 but it's eternal

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.799
 perdition in hell.

00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.919
 That's what the casualties

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.699
 of this war are.

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.059
 Yet,

00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.699
 so many of us

00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:17.459
 live as if

00:14:17.459 --> 00:14:18.360
 this is not the case.

00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.620
 We live as if

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.860
 we're living in the peace times,

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.159
 right?

00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.600
 Not war times.

00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.679
 And in war,

00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:25.299
 like if you look at history,

00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:27.000
 read in history books

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.559
 or textbooks about

00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.139
 World War II,

00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.179
 World War I,

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.379
 there's no room

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.379
 for dilly-dallying

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.100
 or, you know,

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.920
 wasting time

00:14:32.920 --> 00:14:33.379
 and money,

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:33.639
 right?

00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.840
 Because the whole

00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:36.019
 energy of the nation,

00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:37.240
 all the human resources,

00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.060
 economic resources

00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:39.080
 are concentrated

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:40.120
 and expended

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:41.080
 in order to win

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.019
 this single war

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.200
 because they know

00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:44.000
 that the luxuries

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:44.779
 and the leisures

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.659
 have their place

00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.940
 at another time

00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:48.159
 because if you don't

00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:48.700
 win this war,

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:49.279
 you're going to have

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.159
 no luxury

00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:50.920
 or no leisure,

00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:51.200
 right?

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:51.420
 I mean,

00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.640
 it's time for war,

00:14:52.800 --> 00:14:53.040
 right?

00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:55.400
 And so in a similar way,

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.960
 then if we lose

00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:58.040
 this spiritual war,

00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:59.120
 we lose everything,

00:14:59.420 --> 00:14:59.580
 right?

00:14:59.640 --> 00:15:01.560
 If we are lost

00:15:01.560 --> 00:15:02.600
 without Christ,

00:15:02.660 --> 00:15:03.540
 apart from Christ,

00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:04.600
 if the people

00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:05.700
 that God is calling us

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.520
 to reach in mission,

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.180
 if they're lost

00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:07.879
 apart from Christ,

00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.740
 they're lost forever.

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.660
 They're lost in eternal perdition.

00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:12.600
 And as Mark 8.36 says,

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.780
 what does it profit a man

00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:14.920
 to gain the whole world

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.000
 and forfeit his soul?

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.639
 Right?

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.419
 Following Christ

00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.519
 is not a hobby

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.259
 that we devote

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.320
 just a part of our

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.019
 leisure time to,

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.720
 but it's a life

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.799
 or death warfare

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.639
 because the adversary

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.860
 that of all of us,

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.600
 of all believers,

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.840
 the devil is prowling

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:31.100
 around like a roaring lion

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:31.879
 seeking someone

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.539
 to devour.

00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.059
 And that's what we're called

00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:35.000
 to resist him

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.419
 firm in our faith.

00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:38.259
 So then we have

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.980
 to ask ourselves,

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:39.480
 you know,

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.480
 in what ways

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.460
 are we living as group

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:41.840
 if we're living

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.620
 in the peace times

00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.620
 and not in wartime,

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:43.980
 right?

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:44.960
 What are the things

00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.000
 that we indulge in

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.300
 that intoxicate us

00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:48.420
 or numb us

00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:49.400
 and distract us

00:15:49.400 --> 00:15:50.620
 from the battle at hand,

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:50.960
 right?

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.780
 And that could be

00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:52.420
 a number of things.

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.120
 It could be things

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.740
 that seem as innocent

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.620
 as, you know,

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.080
 playing, you know,

00:15:58.160 --> 00:15:59.120
 Pokemon Go too much,

00:15:59.320 --> 00:15:59.519
 right?

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.519
 Or it could be things

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.000
 as seemingly innocent

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.240
 as eating too much,

00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:05.300
 you know,

00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:06.820
 and becoming slothful

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.420
 as a result,

00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.460
 gluttony, right?

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.759
 Or it could be

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.040
 something like,

00:16:11.180 --> 00:16:11.400
 you know,

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.220
 binge watching

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.080
 on weekends

00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:14.139
 on Netflix

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:14.819
 as a way

00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:15.939
 to evacuate,

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.500
 as a way

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.179
 to escape

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.960
 from the burdens

00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.600
 and the realities

00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.059
 of life,

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.299
 right?

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.539
 Or it could be

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.259
 something that

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.600
 seems seemingly

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.240
 more serious

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.539
 like addiction

00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.500
 to pornography

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.919
 or drugs

00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:30.199
 or alcohol.

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.759
 All of these things

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.899
 from seemingly trivial

00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.679
 to the serious,

00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.580
 they can all

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.720
 distract us

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.259
 and take us away

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.220
 from this wartime

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:40.419
 mindset

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.159
 so that we are not

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.039
 sober-minded,

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.080
 so that we're not

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.780
 watchful.

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.280
 And I'm not,

00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.139
 I don't know,

00:16:49.280 --> 00:16:50.080
 I don't say this

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.280
 as a way to condemn

00:16:51.280 --> 00:16:52.660
 you as a church.

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.080
 This is something

00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.840
 that I battle with

00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.660
 every day as well,

00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:55.020
 right?

00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.100
 And I repent of it

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:58.500
 on a regular basis,

00:16:58.680 --> 00:16:58.820
 you know,

00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.560
 I don't know how many

00:16:59.560 --> 00:16:59.920
 times,

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.100
 you know,

00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.259
 I lie in bed

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.340
 and then I think of

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:04.519
 what if I spent

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.559
 those times

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.319
 that I did this

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:06.700
 and this

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.340
 or I was surfing

00:17:07.340 --> 00:17:08.059
 too much online,

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.140
 what if I pray

00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:09.860
 during that time

00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:10.559
 for the brother

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.559
 that's struggling

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.559
 with a certain sin,

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.799
 maybe then that brother

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.679
 would see more victory

00:17:14.679 --> 00:17:15.259
 in his life,

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:15.960
 right?

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.339
 Maybe

00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:18.220
 this,

00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.940
 the people

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.599
 that are struggling

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.179
 or suffering

00:17:21.179 --> 00:17:21.839
 around us

00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.759
 and if those people

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.379
 that maybe I could

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:23.779
 have been reaching

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.440
 out to those people,

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.039
 if I could have been

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.899
 reading this book

00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:27.259
 instead of doing this,

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.379
 then maybe my sermon

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.480
 could be more compelling

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.539
 and powerful

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.740
 and that people could

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.359
 and it could really

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:32.839
 serve people,

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:33.000
 right?

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.079
 Those are all things

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.259
 that I struggle

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:35.779
 with as well.

00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:37.220
 but it's something,

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.180
 but God's calling us

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.559
 as our church

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.660
 to be sober-minded

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.440
 and watchful

00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.139
 because this is

00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.359
 a serious business.

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.220
 We're in a wartime

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:49.279
 and in this,

00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:51.539
 the culture

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.539
 that Peter is writing

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.220
 in especially,

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:59.180
 Christians can be

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.680
 persecuted

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.680
 for a number of things

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.519
 but because they

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.220
 possess,

00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.240
 they claim

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.160
 exclusive allegiance

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.700
 to God,

00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:06.920
 in a polytheistic culture.

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.080
 They were at the risk

00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:09.220
 of losing their status

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.460
 in their family

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.559
 but also in their society

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.039
 at large

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.740
 and of losing

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.400
 their livelihood

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:13.940
 and potentially

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.600
 their life

00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.720
 and to these people,

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.759
 Peter is telling them,

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:17.840
 when you're suffering

00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:18.279
 this way,

00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:18.720
 when you're suffering

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.600
 be mindful,

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.500
 be sober-minded,

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.299
 be watchful,

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.519
 stay firm

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.420
 in your faith

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.779
 knowing that the same

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.799
 kinds of suffering

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:27.620
 are being experienced

00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.400
 by our brotherhood

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.039
 throughout the world,

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.299
 right?

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.620
 And that's again

00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.400
 a huge source

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.340
 of comfort as well

00:18:32.340 --> 00:18:33.299
 because if you have

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.299
 gone through suffering,

00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.400
 if you've gone through

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.340
 a particular tragedy

00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:36.880
 in your life,

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:38.340
 you know that it could be

00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.960
 an isolating experience

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.400
 because when you're suffering

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:42.080
 you feel like

00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:42.700
 other people

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.600
 just don't understand

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.600
 because they haven't

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.180
 gone through that

00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.120
 or they just don't know

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:47.259
 what's going on

00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:49.220
 but this is hugely comforting

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.039
 because he's telling us,

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.299
 no,

00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.319
 we're not alone

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.080
 when we suffer

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:52.680
 as believers.

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.700
 We're not alone

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.140
 when we undergo suffering

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:56.259
 for being Christians

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.140
 because Christians

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.160
 all throughout the world

00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.660
 he's saying

00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.340
 is undergoing

00:18:59.340 --> 00:19:00.740
 the same kind of suffering

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.559
 and this is the reason

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.640
 why when you're getting

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.680
 counsel from someone

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:05.579
 and someone who has

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.019
 gone through the same experience

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.480
 comes alongside

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.599
 to help you

00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.620
 and to pray with you

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.940
 it matters a lot more

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.859
 it's more impactful

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.660
 it's because you know

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.740
 that that person understands

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.039
 that person knows

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.819
 and so in a similar way

00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.200
 this could be

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:18.920
 a tremendous comfort

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.539
 for us

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.380
 knowing that we're

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.180
 not alone in this

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.759
 but the church

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.559
 throughout the world

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.339
 is experiencing

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.740
 this kind of suffering.

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:28.359
 So Peter exhorts us

00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.220
 to endure suffering

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:29.819
 with humility

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.660
 and watchfulness

00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.740
 humility and suffering

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.799
 and watchfulness

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.380
 in battle

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:35.819
 and Peter finally offers us

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:36.579
 the motivation

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.940
 for this fight

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.180
 how we can persevere

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.120
 in this way

00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.980
 and he says

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.180
 in verses 10 to 11

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.500
 and after you have

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.779
 suffered a little while

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:46.339
 the God of all grace

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.079
 who has called you

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.059
 to his eternal glory

00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.579
 in Christ

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:50.220
 will himself restore

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.180
 confirm

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:51.980
 strengthen

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.279
 and establish you

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.220
 to him be the dominion

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.379
 forever and ever

00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:57.200
 amen

00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.079
 it's the glory in Christ

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.160
 that Peter is ultimately

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.000
 pointing us to

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.019
 because if you

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.579
 if we admit

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:04.899
 you know

00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:06.379
 people never voluntarily

00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:07.160
 subject themselves

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.740
 to suffering

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.019
 right

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.960
 they have to have

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.680
 a reason for it

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.619
 so the Olympics

00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.359
 have been going on

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:11.759
 so if you look

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.480
 at those athletes

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:12.799
 you know

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.259
 they did not

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.559
 you know

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.720
 subject their body

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.899
 to so much pain

00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:19.379
 and daily rigor

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.940
 and discipline

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.259
 over the last four years

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.019
 or eight years

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.700
 for some people

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.080
 just for the sake

00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:24.600
 of doing it

00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:24.799
 right

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.559
 just because they

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.120
 like the pain

00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:26.620
 or discipline

00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.160
 no they're not

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.400
 doing that

00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:28.200
 they did that

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.940
 they subjected

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.920
 subjected themselves

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.819
 to that suffering

00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.420
 that pain

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.000
 and rigor

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.340
 with the goal in mind

00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:33.740
 knowing that

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.600
 they're going to win

00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:35.400
 the gold medal

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.440
 that they're going

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.720
 to break the world record

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.660
 that they're going

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.360
 to be remembered

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.279
 for what they did

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.600
 right

00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:41.980
 so they strove

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.759
 that goal

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.720
 in the same way

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.100
 Christians

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:44.920
 we don't suffer

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.519
 in vain

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.420
 we don't suffer

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:46.960
 for the sake

00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.480
 of suffering

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.039
 saying oh no

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.559
 this is just

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.039
 we're just going

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.400
 to suffer

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.080
 because we like

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.480
 suffering

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:53.059
 suffering is good

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.779
 in and of itself

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.559
 no rather

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.240
 we suffer

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.240
 knowing that

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.000
 that points

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.200
 to our future glory

00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.120
 knowing that

00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.120
 our alienation

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.779
 in this world

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.779
 is a sign

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.700
 of our reconciliation

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.420
 with God

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.140
 it's because

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.299
 we are with God

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.900
 and belong to Him

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.519
 that we don't belong

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.019
 in this world

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.920
 the fact that

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.660
 when we're rejected

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.240
 by this world

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:09.740
 that's a sign

00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.579
 that we're accepted

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.200
 by God

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.480
 right

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.099
 that we're

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.960
 His elect

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.099
 that He elected us

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.960
 He chose us

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.740
 that's why

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.279
 we're able

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.960
 to suffer

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.500
 and endure

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.940
 because of the glory

00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.860
 that we foresee

00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.740
 that is coming

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.299
 in Christ

00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.440
 and the word

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.039
 glory

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.539
 Peter uses it

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.319
 throughout his epistles

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.500
 to refer to what

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.460
 Christ has accomplished

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:30.279
 and what awaits us

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.140
 in the future life

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.579
 to come

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.360
 when Christ

00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.519
 comes to judge the world

00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.480
 and to redeem

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.200
 all creation

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.640
 and you hear

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.539
 an echo of this

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.460
 even earlier

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.519
 in verse

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:41.360
 verse 6

00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:43.240
 it says

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.000
 humble yourselves

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.700
 therefore under

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:46.059
 the mighty hand

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.980
 of God

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.319
 now that's not

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.240
 simply referring

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:49.740
 to the fact

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.619
 that God is mighty

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.759
 but the mighty hand

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.160
 of God

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.259
 is a phrase

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.140
 that occurs

00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.259
 repeatedly

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.160
 in the context

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.039
 of the Exodus

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.599
 right

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.940
 so if you look

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.880
 read throughout Exodus

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.380
 it will say

00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:02.279
 by the mighty hand

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.680
 of God

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.660
 God delivered

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:05.000
 Israel from Egypt

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.039
 mighty hand of God

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.980
 God led Israel

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.740
 through the wilderness

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.519
 right

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.619
 and so the mighty hand

00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.059
 of God

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.700
 is a phrase

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:12.119
 that hearkens

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.900
 back to

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.619
 people

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.500
 to Israel's

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.339
 history of redemption

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.519
 the fact that

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.359
 God one time

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.179
 redeemed you

00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:18.899
 from slavery

00:22:18.899 --> 00:22:20.599
 and if you look

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.459
 at the New Testament

00:22:21.459 --> 00:22:21.979
 New Testament

00:22:21.979 --> 00:22:22.939
 takes that metaphor

00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:23.939
 and then applies

00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:24.599
 it to Christ

00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.759
 and describes

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.899
 the redemption

00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.819
 that Christ accomplished

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.979
 as a second Exodus

00:22:28.979 --> 00:22:29.419
 right

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:30.639
 so the first Exodus

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.539
 God sent Moses

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.459
 to deliver his people

00:22:32.459 --> 00:22:33.019
 from slavery

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.519
 Egypt

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.759
 in the second Exodus

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.239
 God sends his own son

00:22:36.239 --> 00:22:36.859
 Jesus Christ

00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:38.259
 to deliver his people

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.979
 from slavery

00:22:38.979 --> 00:22:39.699
 to sin

00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.419
 right

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.400
 and Christ

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.640
 pays the ransom

00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.300
 price

00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:44.560
 for sin

00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:45.380
 he dies

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.720
 lays on his own life

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:48.380
 so that we might be saved

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.759
 so that we can partake

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.800
 and bask in this

00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:51.640
 eternal glory

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:53.019
 that belongs to Christ

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.180
 that Christ won for us

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:57.160
 and it's that glory

00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.700
 in Christ

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.300
 that enables us

00:22:59.300 --> 00:22:59.900
 to be humble

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.600
 in suffering

00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:01.759
 and watchful

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.220
 in battle

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.580
 right

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:04.000
 because we know

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.740
 because of what Christ

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.240
 has done

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:07.100
 that we will be vindicated

00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:08.380
 just as Christ suffered

00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.440
 and now he's in glory

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.240
 we too

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.000
 we suffer now

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.780
 we'll be vindicated

00:23:12.780 --> 00:23:13.920
 and we'll be delivered

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.680
 as it says

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:17.500
 the God of all grace

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.120
 says

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.100
 has called us

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:20.360
 to his eternal glory

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:20.920
 in Christ

00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:22.620
 and he will himself

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.400
 restore

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.440
 confirm

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.360
 strengthen

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.420
 and establish

00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.240
 us

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.040
 so

00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:28.920
 those all

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.840
 those four words

00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.360
 it's kind of like

00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.740
 a crescendo of assurance

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.820
 that God will one day

00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:34.100
 make all things right

00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:35.260
 he's going to restore

00:23:35.260 --> 00:23:35.740
 confirm

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.300
 strengthen

00:23:36.300 --> 00:23:37.420
 and establish us

00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.580
 as a household of God

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:38.920
 right

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.539
 and

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.800
 and compared to

00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:42.759
 this eternal glory

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.960
 that we anticipate

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.840
 the suffering

00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:45.660
 that we experience

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.500
 is going to be

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:48.259
 only for a little while

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:48.800
 it says

00:23:48.800 --> 00:23:49.080
 right

00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:51.080
 the suffering

00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.980
 seems interminable

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.460
 sometimes

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:52.960
 but it says

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.660
 it's just for

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.460
 a little while

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.820
 and compared to

00:23:55.820 --> 00:23:56.539
 the eternal glory

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.000
 that we're going

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.600
 to experience

00:23:57.600 --> 00:24:00.100
 if you

00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:00.980
 have

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.140
 please don't mind

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.779
 my daughter

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:04.420
 it's the second time

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:04.880
 this has happened

00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.280
 that if you have

00:24:06.280 --> 00:24:07.040
 not yet made up

00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:07.460
 your mind

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.200
 about whether or not

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.320
 to follow Christ

00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:11.440
 these promises

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.300
 obviously are not

00:24:12.300 --> 00:24:13.180
 for you

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:15.860
 that God will himself

00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.260
 restore

00:24:16.260 --> 00:24:16.720
 confirm

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.180
 strengthen

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.840
 and establish

00:24:17.840 --> 00:24:19.060
 because those promises

00:24:19.060 --> 00:24:19.840
 are for those

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:21.120
 whom he has called

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:22.580
 to his eternal glory

00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.100
 in Christ

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.600
 so if you have not

00:24:24.600 --> 00:24:25.080
 repented

00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:25.920
 of sin

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.080
 and if you have not

00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:27.940
 trusted in Christ

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.780
 for salvation

00:24:28.780 --> 00:24:29.960
 then we invite you

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.740
 to do that today

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.140
 right

00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:32.660
 don't forfeit

00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.540
 the eternal glory

00:24:33.540 --> 00:24:34.160
 that you have

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.340
 that you could have

00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:35.820
 in Christ

00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.980
 for the temporal glory

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.660
 of this world

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:39.000
 don't ignore

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.960
 the spiritual warfare

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.640
 that's going on

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.480
 all around you

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.140
 simply because

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.980
 you don't see

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.780
 the devil

00:24:43.780 --> 00:24:44.180
 right

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.520
 it's kind of like

00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:46.140
 if you look at

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.620
 the modern

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.600
 modern warfare

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:50.020
 the warfare

00:24:50.020 --> 00:24:50.840
 is not waged

00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.400
 any longer

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:51.880
 it's simply

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.640
 in the brick and mortar

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.140
 spaces

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.920
 but it's in

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.040
 cyberspace now

00:24:55.040 --> 00:24:55.360
 right

00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.960
 in the same way

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.420
 the fact that

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.080
 we don't see it

00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.560
 doesn't mean

00:24:58.560 --> 00:24:59.480
 that it's not happening

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.740
 right

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.500
 spiritual battle

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.240
 is waging

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.039
 all around us

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.120
 and it's even more

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.579
 insidious

00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.200
 because we don't

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:04.660
 see it

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:06.579
 don't ignore it

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.220
 you will ignore it

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.019
 at your own peril

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.920
 but if you are a Christian

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.779
 then I want to join you

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.799
 to remember the glory

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.839
 that is in Christ

00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.940
 that is yours in Christ

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.039
 that is ours in Christ

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.039
 because that's what's

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.740
 going to ultimately

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.839
 enable us to persevere

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.759
 through the suffering

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.819
 and to be watchful

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.740
 to remain watchful

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.160
 in battle

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:22.980
 and that we are

00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:24.279
 children of God

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.480
 cared for and guided

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.880
 by the mighty hand of God

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.220
 that we are the soldiers

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.900
 of God

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.640
 that are supposed

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.320
 to be part

00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:31.000
 of this battle

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.320
 and to battle

00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:33.380
 against the adversary

00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.100
 who is out

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.680
 to get us

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:37.780
 and I love how

00:25:37.780 --> 00:25:39.000
 this passage closes

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.220
 this is really

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.640
 the main

00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.800
 the end of the body

00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:42.400
 before he goes

00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.259
 into the greeting

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.100
 and to conclude

00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.540
 his letter

00:25:44.540 --> 00:25:45.320
 it says

00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:45.880
 to him

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.680
 to God

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.560
 be the dominion

00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:48.280
 forever

00:25:48.280 --> 00:25:49.180
 and ever

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.080
 amen

00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:51.920
 because

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.940
 Peter's writing

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.940
 in the Roman Empire

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.780
 and Christians

00:25:54.780 --> 00:25:56.040
 are facing persecution

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.859
 and soon

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.539
 you know

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.720
 statewide persecution

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.460
 under Nero

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:01.559
 and in this

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.319
 climate

00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.299
 it would surely

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.359
 have seemed

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.359
 to all the believers

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.119
 that dominion

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:07.139
 belongs to the Rome

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.940
 dominion belongs

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.519
 to the emperor

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.519
 not to themselves

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.359
 not to God

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.220
 but yet

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.539
 in this context

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.200
 Peter writes

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.940
 to God

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.539
 be the dominion

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.319
 forever and ever

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.659
 amen

00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:17.819
 and he concludes

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.299
 this letter

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.480
 and then we see

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:21.099
 2,000 years later

00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.019
 the Roman Empire

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.920
 is just the page

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.620
 in the history books

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:23.920
 now

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.279
 but the church

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.140
 has endured

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:28.080
 God's people

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:28.720
 has endured

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.259
 and the kingdom

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.700
 of God

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.160
 continues to advance

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.600
 dominion does

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.560
 belong to God

00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:34.519
 and God alone

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.120
 so then when

00:26:35.120 --> 00:26:36.460
 it seems to us

00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.519
 that power

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.279
 glory and dominion

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.900
 is not ours

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.440
 but it belongs

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.960
 to the world

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.539
 when it seems

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.080
 that way

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:42.820
 say it along

00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.380
 with Peter

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.480
 and the believers

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.259
 who have been saying

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.600
 this over the centuries

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.600
 to God

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.400
 be the dominion

00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.800
 forever and ever

00:26:49.800 --> 00:26:50.660
 amen

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.800
 and it will be so

00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:52.259
 in eternity

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:55.700
 with that

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.940
 let's respond

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.940
 in prayer