WEBVTT

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 Okay, good morning everybody. This sounds very loud. I'm sure Millen can sort it out.

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 Firstly, just a warm welcome to Danny and Laura. I know you guys are hiding anonymously there.

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 You were a minute ago. Danny and Laura lead the church in DB, DB International Community Church.

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 Is that right? Something along those lines. And they've just moved to Hong Kong six weeks ago or so

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 to take up that role. And they're with us this morning. Guys, great to have you with us. So just

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 a warm welcome to you. It's great to have you with us today. Now, I do apologize for this very

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 boring weather. I know last week was a little bit more exciting. And this is a bit tame after last

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 Sunday. But it is good to be back together today. Last Sunday was our first typhoon we have ever

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 experienced in our lives before. And so thank you for welcoming us with such a gentle little intro

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 to Hong Kong. It is great to be with you though together. Now this morning we continue our series

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 called The Splendor in the Furnace as we work through the book of 1 Peter. And I hope you

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 got to listen to last week's sermon. I do apologize for the way it sounded. I was recording it in

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 my bedroom looking at the mirror, which is not as good looking as you folk. I tried to preach

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 with much conviction and authority and excitement, but it wasn't quite the same. And so I listened

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 to a little bit of it afterwards and I thought that sounds dreadful. But anyway, I hope it served

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 some purpose. But if you didn't get to listen to last week's message, it is the previous seven

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 verses, which is a very contentious passage because it starts off like this. It says,

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 likewise, wives submit to your husbands. Okay? And then it goes on for the next six verses

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 to talk about how God calls Christian wives not to live a life of self-assertion of their rights,

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 but a selfless, sacrificial life of surrender. Now ladies, before you stone me or storm out,

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 at the end of that passage, Peter says the exact same thing to the husbands. He says,

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 likewise, husbands. And then he calls husbands to live a life of selfless, sacrificial,

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 servant-heartedness towards their spouses. And Peter starts with both those sentences,

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 likewise, wives, likewise, husbands. And the reason is because just before that,

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 he said, employees submit to your masters, even those that treat you unjustly. And then before

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 that, he says, all Christians surrender to the government, to authorities and those in leadership.

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 And so for two chapters, Peter has called all Christians in all circumstances to rather than

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 living a life where they demand their rights and what they feel is fair, to live a life of selfless,

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 selfless, sacrificial surrender. And Elizabeth Elliot said it like this,

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 the secular world looks for happiness through self-assertion, asserting my rights, my privileges.

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 The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. And the grand motivation of this,

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 of course, is Jesus Christ. Right in the middle of that passage, Christ, the perfect example,

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 who suffered unjustly for our sins is raised as the great example. Now, if you're anything like me,

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 the natural response to this radical call from the scriptures to live lives of selfless,

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 self-surrender is you've got to be joking, right? And maybe you think, Kevin, that might work for you

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 guys in the office. You work in a Christian office and you can pray together and everyone's nice and

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 kind to each other. But where I work, it's dog eat dog, okay? People are out to get one another. No

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 one cares about one another. You trample on top of one another. All of this turn the other cheek,

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 be nice to each other. That's pie in the sky stuff. That doesn't work in the real world.

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 And so my job this morning is to help convince us from the scriptures that God's word does work.

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 And that the very best thing we can do with our one and only lives is to trust Christ and to

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 bank our lives on him and to follow Christ's example by living radical lives of self-sacrifice

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 and self-abandonment for others. That's when suffering for the gospel comes, God's call is

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 don't retreat into self-preservation, but continue to give yourself for the sake of others, okay?

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 And so the big idea this morning is this. When you're persecuted for being a follower of Jesus,

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 bless those who persecute you and keep your eyes fixed on the hope that is found in Jesus.

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 Okay, when you're persecuted for following Jesus, bless those who persecute you and keep your eyes

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 fixed on the hope that is found in Jesus. And there's two kind of main points this morning. The

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 first one is a scandalous response to persecution and then secondly, a scandalous reason for this

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 response, okay? So let's dive in. We're looking at 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 8 to 22. Now I must just

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 tell you, the second half of this passage, Martin Luther, who is a wonderful Bible commentator and

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 reformer, he wrote, I think I actually took it out, he wrote something like, of all the passages in the

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 New Testament, this is probably the most difficult to understand. I still have no idea what the Apostle

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 Paul was trying to say. So we're going to try our best to see if we can make some sense of this passage

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 today. Okay, so, but firstly, let's look at verse 8 to 17 together. So if you're new this morning, the

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 context of the book of 1 Peter is that these Christians are being persecuted, they're being

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 oppressed, they're being harassed because they are followers of Jesus, they won't follow the household

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 gods and society's gods, and so their honor is being disgraced, they are being publicly shamed for

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 following Jesus. And some of this is coming from their families, their spouses, some of it's coming from

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 their parents, because they won't follow the family gods, some of it's coming from the employers, and

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 some of it from the government. But friends, it's important for us to realize that this is not just

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 a unique time in history at the beginning of the church. Jesus said that if you follow Jesus, you will

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 endure persecution. Jesus said, the way they treated me is the same way that they will treat you.

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 And so as you read the history of the church throughout the ages, Christ's followers have always endured

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 such persecution. This is not an obscure incident that just happened 2,000 years ago. If you follow

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 Jesus, the chances are that this will happen to you as well. And so the question is, how do we respond?

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 Do we just silently endure it and turn the other cheek? Do we retaliate and say, I'm going to show you

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 just who's boss? How do we respond when persecution comes our way? Well, let's look at verse 9.

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 Peter writes this. He says,

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 Now, when we think of blessing someone, we often think of just saying something nice back to them.

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 Somebody says something unkind and you retaliate with some kindness. My three-year-old daughter,

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 she's now four, but earlier this year, a great example of this. I don't know where this came

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 from. Well, actually I do. It came from her mother. Okay, let me just say this. But she was at school,

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 she's three years old, and her one friend says to her, Shiloh, you can't come to my birthday party.

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 And Shiloh says, that's okay, you can still come to mine. I don't know where she got that from other

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 than from Claire's kindness. It certainly wasn't from me. But Jesus is not just, I mean, Peter,

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 Jesus through Peter, is not just saying that. He's not just saying when somebody says something

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 unkind, you say something kind back to them. In the Bible, to bless somebody is to pray for God's

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 favor to rest upon them. It's to get on your knees and call on God and say, God, I pray for your

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 blessing on this person. And so look at what Peter says. When somebody persecutes you and oppresses you,

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 do not repay their evil with evil, but instead bless them, pray for them. Karen Jobes tells the story of

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 a Christian military serviceman in the United States. Every night he stayed in a barracks with

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 a whole bunch of other soldiers. And every night, just before going to bed, he would spend some time

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 reading the scriptures and praying. And he had a fellow soldier in his barracks that stayed across

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 the aisle from him. And this guy just thought this was ridiculous. And so every night he would mock him

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 and laugh at him and ridicule him and say all sorts of things. And one day, this particular soldier had

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 a bad day. And so as this Christian's reading his Bible, this guy grabs whatever he can find, which

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 happens to be some muddy boots, combat boots. And he throws them across the aisle at this guy. And he hits this

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 guy. And so now he's got mud on his pillow and on his Bible and on him and just before they go to bed.

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 Well, the next morning, you've got to get up early for inspection, you know, dressed, ready for

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 inspection, inspect your boots. And so this guy that threw this boot across the aisle gets up to look for

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 his boots so he can clean them quickly. And he finds them neatly put at the end of his bed, washed,

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 cleaned, cleaned, and polished. What happened was this Christian, after the lights had gone out,

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 had got and found his boots, stayed up and polished his boots and got them ready for inspection the

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 next morning. And this is what Peter calls us to. He says, respond to insults with blessing.

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 Respond to scoffing and mocking with prayers and acts of divine favor. Now the question is,

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 why do we find this so hard to do? Why is this hard? Well, one of the things I'm learning about

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 our culture here is that we as a culture hate to be outdone by anybody else. Is that right?

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 Somebody does something good for you and you feel like you can't just receive it without paying them

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 back. Is that right? We had this in the lift the other day. We were going up our lift and a couple

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 walked in and the wife was very large and about to give birth any day now. And so we said to her,

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 hey, when are you due? She said, I'm past my due date any day now. And so two weeks later,

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 Claire and I took some flowers down to them. I said, hey, congratulations on your new baby,

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 et cetera, et cetera. Two weeks later, we get a knock on our door and this couple come with a big

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 box of strawberries, right? And so I thought, ah, I know how this game works. As long as I

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 continually being nice to them, they'll be nice back to me. And so then I wrote a card and put it in

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 their mailbox and it ended there. They didn't respond. My game didn't work, right?

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 But then last Sunday, we had this typhoon. And so Claire says, hey, let's invite Matt and Fiona up to

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 our house for tea. And so we text them and they say, hey, why don't you come for tea to our house?

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 We're all locked indoors anyway. And so then they arrive with this big parcel of goodies and things,

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 right? Why? Because in Hong Kong, we hate to be outdone by anybody. Nobody can get one better at us.

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 If somebody pays for something, we want to pay them back. Is that right? Sort of, okay?

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 Well, it also works when somebody harms us. We hate to be outdone. We don't want to lose face. And so

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 when somebody does something to us, we don't want to lose face. And so we feel like I can't be shown

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 to have been weak. And so I've got to do something back to them. And then what happens? They feel like

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 they've got to do something back to us, right? And it just escalates. Friends, where does that go?

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 Where does it end when you repay evil for evil? Who wins in the end? I read a great line this week

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 in a book the author wrote, those who fought together to overthrow the king now quarreled

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 amongst themselves. They had won the war, but they lost all peace. They defeated their enemies,

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 but in their hearts, they were just as bitter as ever before. And so when this retaliation, you repay

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 evil for evil, where does it get you? Who wins in the end? Well, friends, there is a way to win.

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 There is a way to win the war when somebody gets back at you and you're tempted to get back at them.

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 The way to win the battle is to bless them, is to pray for them, to find it within yourself,

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 to pray for God's favor, to rest upon them. You see, in blessing those who curse you, you're both

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 uprooting evil and self-imprisonment, and at the same time, you're sowing seeds of redemption.

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 You're cutting at the root the tree of bitterness and self-preservation, and you're planting instead

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 seeds of redemption and seeds of healing. And part of the reason why this is so hard is that because

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 when somebody does something wrong to us, or somebody oppresses us, or somebody persecutes us,

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 and when you ask God to be gracious to such a person, it feels like a part of your soul is dying.

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 Or is it only me that feels like that? Right? When somebody does something wrong, and I feel like

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 God calls me to respond with blessing and praying for God's favor, it feels like I'm dying inside.

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 But friends, that's exactly what is happening, because my self-centeredness and my pride

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 is being crucified in that very moment. In that very moment, I'm praying and saying,

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 God, let your kingdom come. Let your will be done in my heart as it is in heaven,

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 and a part of my pride is dying. And so look at what Peter says here. He says in verse 9,

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 he says,

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 It's counterintuitive, but God promises that as we respond counterintuitively and counterculturally,

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 that something of his favor and his blessing rests upon those who bless their enemies.

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 I remember many years ago as a student at university, and I listened to a man that I really

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 respected talk about praying for his enemies. And I thought, man, I'm going to try that. And I didn't

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 have too many enemies, but there were a couple of people that used to rub me the wrong way, right?

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 There were a couple of people that just could get on my nerves. And so I decided that I'm going to try

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 and pray for them every time they do that. I'm going to pray the very best prayer that I can pray for

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 myself. I'm going to pray for them. I'm going to pray for their jobs. I'm going to pray for their

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 marriages. I'm going to pray for their finances. I'm going to pray for their children. Whatever I

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 would love someone to pray for me, I decided I'm going to try and pray for them. For instance,

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 you know who was blessed the most in that whole situation? I was. You know how many relationships

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 were turned around overnight? People that we weren't quite seeing eye to eye. People where there's

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 tension. The relationships are healed and restored. I can tell you story after story after story of how

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 God healed relationships just because somehow God inspired me to pray for them. That story of the

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 soldier that Karen Jobe tells, the story goes on because in the coming weeks and months, that

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 Christian soldier led countless other soldiers to Christ in his barracks. Men that were hardened by

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 battle were suddenly softened by the gospel as they saw him responding to persecution with kindness.

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 You see, friends, this is the scandalous call of the gospel, that because of Jesus and who he is,

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 that we are those who are able to bless even when oppressed, to pray for those who hurt us.

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 And of course, the supreme example of this is Jesus Christ himself. Christ having been flogged

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 beyond recognition, having been subject to the vilest hatred and animosity. Jesus being just

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 scorned and mocked and beaten beyond recognition. Jesus who is treated worse than people would have

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 treated their enemies and their enemies and their animals. Jesus finally is nailed to the cross and

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 he's suffocating to death and he cries out, Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.

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 Friends, where's our world going to find such a love like that? It's not going to find us in the sinful

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 heart of humanity. It's going to find us, it's going to find it in the everlasting heart of Christ himself.

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 Jesus Christ, our Father, forgive them. They don't know what they do.

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 And then look at what Peter does here. Peter quotes, for the second time in this letter, Psalm 34.

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 And Psalm 34 is a psalm that is written when King David is on the run. Remember, David, he's not yet

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 king, but he has been anointed king by Samuel. Samuel's promised David, you're going to be king. But the king

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 at the moment is who? It's King Saul. And so David is on the run because Saul is jealous of David and

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 Saul wants to kill him. And so David has tried to avoid him and eventually he can't avoid him anymore.

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 And so David skips the border and runs across the border to where the Philistines are. But while he's

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 in the Philistine territory, the Philistines recognize him and they start to say amongst themselves, hang on,

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 isn't this David who used to come and defeat our enemy, our army? And so the Philistines start to

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 talk amongst themselves. And David hears this and thinks, this is not looking good. I'm an enemy at

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 home and now I'm an enemy here. He's being squeezed by both sides. Both sides want to take David out.

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 And in this moment, David writes this psalm, Psalm 34. And so look at what he says. Peter quotes it here.

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 He says, whoever desires to love life and to see good days. Friends, if I was being persecuted on

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 every side, I would write a psalm about how terrible life was and how miserable and unfair God was to

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 me. But David writes about loving life and seeing good days. He says, if you want to see this, let him

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 keep his tongue from evil. Let us keep his lips from speaking deceit against his enemies. Let him turn

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 away from reviling, from doing evil and let him do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

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 That's an amazing thing to write. Just after this, David goes back to Israel and he's hiding in the

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 caves. Saul wants him dead. Saul has sent an army after him and David is hiding in the caves. And at

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 that moment, Saul is chasing him and he doesn't know where David is. He knows he's somewhere around here

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 and Saul needs to relieve himself. He needs to go to the washroom, right? But there's no washrooms in

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 the desert. So Saul decides to go into this cave to go and relieve himself. And David is hiding in the

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 cave. And so Saul is at his most vulnerable. And David's friends say to him, he's right there.

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 There's your enemy. Go and take him out. And David says, forget it. I will not touch my enemy or repay his

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 evil with evil. We will bless him who has given evil to us. Now friends, why does David do that?

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 God gives his enemy into his hands. Why does David not take him out? Well, look at what David says here

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 in verse 12. He says, for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers.

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 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Friends, do you want the face of the sovereign God,

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 the majestic God who made all the world? Do you want his face to shine upon you or to be turned

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 against you? Remember the great blessing of Numbers chapter 6. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

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 May he make his face shine upon you. May he be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face towards

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 you and give you peace. Friends, do you want God to turn his face towards you and give you peace?

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 There is a way. There is a way. And David says it's for those who bless those who revile them.

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 Friends, if you're a Christian this morning, is there somebody that you may need to pray God's

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 blessing over them? Friends, you have parents that have hurt you and scarred you and left you wounded.

00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:02.900
 Maybe it's a spouse that has spoken words that have broken your spirit and broken your heart.

00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:11.160
 Can you pray for them? Friends, is there somebody at work to whom you can repay their words of mocking

00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:16.080
 and scorn with kindness and blessing? Friends, maybe there's somebody who gives you a hard time

00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:20.800
 because you're a Christian. Maybe someone who opposes your faith and makes you feel small and

00:20:20.800 --> 00:20:28.160
 insignificant. Can you pray for them? Can you pray for God's blessing upon them? Peter writes this and

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:33.980
 says, do not repay evil for evil, but on the contrary, bless them. For to this you've been called

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:39.120
 that you may obtain a blessing. For the eyes of the Lord are on those who are on the righteous and his

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:45.980
 ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. A radical,

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:54.980
 scandalous response to persecution. Secondly, a scandalous reason for doing so. Now, again, if you're like

00:20:54.980 --> 00:21:00.039
 me, you might think this has got to be a joke, right? This just doesn't make any sense. What kind

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:06.180
 of world do you live in, Kevin and Peter and everyone else? Now, let's look at what happens in

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:13.200
 the second half of this passage. In verse 14, Peter says here briefly, he says, have no fear, don't be

00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:18.660
 troubled, in your hearts honor Christ as Lord. So he's saying, don't be scared. People persecute you,

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:24.160
 they oppress you, they oppose you, don't be scared. Verse 13, he says, who's there to harm you?

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:28.820
 Because God is sovereign. Your hands are not in the hands of your enemies. Your life is in the

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:34.600
 hands of the sovereign God. So don't be scared of them. Don't be afraid of them. But keep your heart

00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:41.880
 fixed on King Jesus, okay? And now look at what he says, verse 17. He says, for it is better to suffer

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:49.120
 for doing good, if that should be the Lord's will, than for doing evil. Okay, so better that you suffer

00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:54.140
 temporarily in this life than you take vengeance on your enemies and then you face God's judgment.

00:21:54.160 --> 00:22:02.140
 And now he wants us to know that our life, he wants to call us to fix our eyes on Jesus.

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:07.040
 And so Peter wants to drive this home. He wants to lift the heads of weary Christians who are

00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:12.240
 caught up in their circumstances. And he says, lift your eyes to Jesus and see him who's seated

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:17.000
 on the throne. And Peter's going to say two things. He says, look to Jesus because Jesus,

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:24.640
 just as Jesus' death brought life, so your suffering will produce good. And secondly, he says, because

00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:31.259
 what appeared as defeat for Jesus actually resulted in victory. Okay? He says, look to Jesus, follow his

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:37.619
 example, because just as Jesus' death brought life, so your suffering will produce good. And just as Jesus'

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:43.440
 death looked like defeat, actually it resulted in victory. And so look at what he says here, verse 17.

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:50.240
 It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil, for or because

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:58.440
 Christ also suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.

00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:05.299
 Friends, in the midst of your suffering, in the midst of your persecution, in the midst of people mocking

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:12.099
 you and reviling you and pouring evil on your life, look to Jesus and take courage. And if you doubt it,

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:17.579
 if you're not sure if your suffering will ever produce any good, remember Jesus. Remember Christ,

00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:24.839
 the example of the only righteous man who ever suffered. And look at how his suffering produced life.

00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:31.359
 Friends, if Jesus had not been willing to go to the cross, to suffer unjustly, to endure the shame,

00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:37.959
 to experience the ultimate dishonor, you and I would be stuck in our sin. You and I would be left without hope.

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:43.659
 But friends, Jesus did suffer, and therefore we do get the one thing that our hearts desperately need,

00:23:43.699 --> 00:23:49.279
 and our hearts were made for, we get to be brought back to God. Out of his suffering came renewed hope.

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:53.799
 Out of his rejection came acceptance. Out of his death came life.

00:23:53.799 --> 00:24:01.720
 And Peter says, if you're a follower of Jesus, and you follow his example, the pattern of Christ's life is the pattern of your life.

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:06.839
 Out of his death came life. Out of your suffering comes life as well.

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:11.180
 You remember the story of Joseph in the Old Testament?

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:17.980
 Joseph is a young man, and he's got a whole bunch of brothers, and his brothers are jealous of him, right?

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:23.019
 He's got the father's favor, and he can be a little bit irritating, let's be honest.

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:28.819
 But so his brothers decide, this guy, we've had enough of him. Let's just get rid of him.

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:31.579
 And so Joseph's brothers decide to kill him.

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:34.400
 And they're busy plotting how to get rid of him.

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:40.500
 And then some people, some slave traders drive past, and they say, well, let's just sell him to the slave traders.

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:44.480
 That way we can make some money off his life and get rid of him in the process, right?

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.559
 Double honor.

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:50.019
 And so they sell their brother to these slave traders on the way to Egypt.

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:56.539
 So Joseph goes to Egypt, and he's working as a slave, and God's favor's upon him, and he works his way up.

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:58.819
 And then he gets thrown into jail unjustly.

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:03.519
 And while he's in jail, he finds somebody that can get him out of jail.

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:06.200
 And so he says, hey, remember me when you leave jail.

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:09.279
 And as this guy leaves jail, he forgets all about Joseph.

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:11.839
 And so Joseph's life just goes from bad to worse.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:14.420
 But eventually, God hasn't forgotten about him.

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:21.480
 And so God releases him from jail, his favor's upon him, and Joseph actually becomes kind of the prime minister of Egypt.

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:25.779
 And many years later, 40 years later or so, he meets his brothers.

00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:30.880
 And his brothers are now petrified because his brothers think he's going to get us back.

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.880
 But look at what Joseph says.

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.080
 Joseph says to him this.

00:25:34.800 --> 00:25:38.779
 He says, what you intended for evil, God intended for good.

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:43.920
 To bring it about that many people should be saved, just as is the case today.

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:49.839
 You see, his unjust suffering, his humiliation was the very thing that saved Israel.

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.639
 And think about what Jesus said.

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:56.960
 Jesus said, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone.

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:59.759
 But if it dies, there it produces fruit.

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.079
 Jesus said this.

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:07.500
 He said, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:12.980
 Jesus wasn't talking about being lifted up in honor and being exalted and being raised to the heavens.

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:20.980
 He said, when I am lifted up on the cross, when they hoist me up on the cross and they mock me and they scorn me and they crucify me,

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:26.019
 in that moment I will draw people and save people and draw them to myself.

00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.140
 And friends, that's what Peter is saying.

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:37.960
 He's saying, just as Jesus was hoisted on the cross unjustly, illegitimately, without any legality, his death brought life.

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:43.820
 And friends, in the same way that as you and I face persecution, as you and I face oppression,

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:47.840
 as you and I face maybe ridicule and opposition,

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:53.500
 that in the economy of God's kingdom, that injustice produces life.

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:58.480
 If we'll be those who respond to evil with blessing.

00:26:59.439 --> 00:27:03.299
 Friends, if you're a Christian this morning, it may well be that you'll suffer for it.

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.699
 Friends, if you're a young lady here,

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:10.279
 your boyfriend may break up with you because you won't sleep with him.

00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:13.740
 Friends, maybe you won't get that promotion at job

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:16.819
 because you won't flirt with your boss or dress inappropriately.

00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.660
 Maybe if you're here this morning,

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:21.960
 your girlfriend might break up with you

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.400
 because she's not a follower of Jesus

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:25.740
 and doesn't want to follow Jesus with you.

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.880
 Friends, it may mean that you remain single all of your life

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:32.220
 because you're attracted to the people of the same gender as yourself

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:35.140
 and yet you choose to honor God with your sexuality.

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.980
 Friends, it may mean that you suffer financially

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.359
 because you won't cut corners

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:42.700
 or you disclose some information which was previously hidden.

00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:45.940
 It may mean that your parents or your family shame you

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:49.779
 because you won't worship the family ancestors like they want you to.

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:53.819
 Friends, it may feel like your soul is being put to death in the furnace.

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:57.039
 But in that furnace, you'll find a splendor.

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:59.400
 In that furnace, you'll find some gold.

00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:04.360
 In that furnace, your heart will be purified like gold in a furnace.

00:28:04.600 --> 00:28:06.460
 And you'll find something about Christ

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:10.180
 and you'll discover a beauty and a purity and a majesty about Christ

00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:12.420
 that you'll never have discovered outside of the furnace.

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:15.700
 Friends, in that furnace, your soul will sing.

00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.900
 You'll find that you'll get to know Jesus

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:21.279
 and the beauty of the gospel in a way you never would have apart from that suffering.

00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:23.799
 Friends, if you follow Jesus to Calvary,

00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:25.980
 a part of your sinful nature will be crucified

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:28.340
 and it will feel like you're being crucified.

00:28:29.100 --> 00:28:30.519
 It'll feel like you're dying.

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:33.240
 And yet in that place, you'll find life.

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.680
 Friends, if you fix your eyes on Jesus,

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:39.500
 if you pay back evil with blessing,

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:42.700
 if you pray for those who persecute you.

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:46.160
 And then finally, Peter gives us one last reason.

00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.360
 He says,

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:50.880
 if you follow Jesus and blessing those who persecute you,

00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:54.700
 remember how Jesus' death,

00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.759
 which seemed like defeat,

00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.519
 actually resulted in victory.

00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:00.140
 Look at verse 18.

00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.940
 He says here,

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:03.400
 Christ suffered once for sins,

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:05.220
 the righteous for the unrighteous,

00:29:05.300 --> 00:29:06.060
 that's you and I,

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.680
 that he might bring us to God,

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.680
 being put to death in the flesh,

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:12.420
 but being made alive in the spirit.

00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:13.720
 And then verse 22 says,

00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.900
 this same Lord Jesus,

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:16.540
 who has gone into heaven,

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:18.640
 is now at the right hand of God,

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:21.160
 with angels and authorities and powers

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.640
 now being subject to him.

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.600
 See, friends,

00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.439
 on that awful Friday afternoon,

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:27.359
 when Easter Friday,

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.279
 Jesus,

00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:30.339
 they put a coat,

00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:31.459
 a purple coat on him,

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.699
 that's the colors of royalty.

00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:34.039
 They're mocking him

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:36.279
 and they put a crown of thorns on his head.

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.179
 They're laughing at him and saying,

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.519
 you pretend to be a king,

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.879
 we'll make you a king.

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.079
 They mock him,

00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:43.219
 they beat him,

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.399
 they scorn him.

00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.419
 As Jesus,

00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:48.240
 his nine inch nails smashed through his hands.

00:29:48.679 --> 00:29:49.980
 As Jesus is on the cross

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:51.399
 and they put a spear in his side

00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:53.319
 just to make sure that he really is dead,

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.240
 friends,

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.259
 in that afternoon,

00:29:55.419 --> 00:29:56.199
 later in the evening,

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:58.319
 when Pilate comes to the soldiers

00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:58.699
 and says,

00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:00.059
 is Jesus really dead?

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.639
 And they come back and they say,

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.519
 he's dead.

00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.039
 That day,

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:06.500
 the Pharisees and the religious leaders

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.679
 must have been celebrating.

00:30:08.199 --> 00:30:09.059
 They must have thought,

00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:09.839
 we've got him.

00:30:10.459 --> 00:30:11.179
 That day,

00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:14.759
 the religious leaders must have thought,

00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:16.399
 we finally got rid of that man.

00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:17.379
 That day,

00:30:17.419 --> 00:30:18.819
 the disciples were locked away

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.539
 in the upper room

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:22.159
 for fear of the people that killed Jesus.

00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:24.600
 And every single person in Jerusalem

00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.580
 must have thought,

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.660
 he's dead.

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.840
 It's over.

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.040
 It's gone.

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:31.300
 And every person must have thought

00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:32.980
 that what a complete waste,

00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:35.620
 that frauds like Judas Iscariot had won.

00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.400
 Friends,

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.840
 imagine you're in the upper room

00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:38.580
 with your disciples

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:40.399
 and you think to yourself,

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.439
 that,

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.259
 I was going to say something

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:44.899
 I won't say.

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.819
 That person,

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.879
 Judas Iscariot,

00:30:46.919 --> 00:30:47.339
 won.

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.019
 He won.

00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.960
 He betrayed Jesus

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.299
 and Judas

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:54.019
 got away with it.

00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:55.139
 He didn't in the end.

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.679
 And Jesus is dead.

00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:57.839
 Friends,

00:30:57.919 --> 00:30:58.879
 they must have thought

00:30:58.879 --> 00:31:00.179
 that hypocrites

00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:01.220
 like the religious leaders

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:01.679
 had won.

00:31:02.439 --> 00:31:03.659
 Self-serving cowards

00:31:03.659 --> 00:31:04.799
 like Pontius Pilate

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.960
 had won.

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.279
 But friends,

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:08.559
 the hope-preserving,

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.920
 faith-building,

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.360
 confidence-giving truth

00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.960
 of the gospel

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:14.200
 is that what seemed like defeat

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:16.420
 ended in victory.

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:18.799
 What seemed like Satan

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:20.279
 had triumphed over Christ,

00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.420
 actually Satan

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.680
 was digging his own grave.

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.500
 Because by dying on the cross,

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.220
 Jesus was taking upon himself

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.840
 the punishment

00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.960
 for the sins of the world.

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:29.759
 He removed the power of death.

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:31.100
 He dissolved the sting

00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:31.840
 and the accusation

00:31:31.840 --> 00:31:32.740
 of the devil forever.

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.740
 Jesus' apparent defeat

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:36.460
 was actually his greatest victory

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:38.140
 over all creation,

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.140
 over all angels,

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.400
 over all authorities,

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.700
 over all powers,

00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.859
 over all spirits,

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.559
 even death himself.

00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.099
 And now all those things

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:48.079
 are subject to him.

00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.759
 Karen Jobes,

00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:51.779
 the greatest,

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:53.039
 probably the best commentator

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.920
 on what Peter writes this,

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.339
 she says,

00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:56.059
 what Peter is telling us

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.460
 is this,

00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:58.200
 that even if a Christian

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.140
 were to suffer,

00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.480
 let me move this side,

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:02.700
 to the point of unjust martyrdom

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.740
 for the sake of Christ,

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:05.700
 even such a suffering

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.960
 is both purposeful

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.019
 and victorious.

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.319
 Because death

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.460
 is not the final word.

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.859
 Christians following

00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.720
 Christ's footstep

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.380
 through death

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:14.279
 to victory.

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.980
 Although the death of Christ

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.500
 was uniquely redemptive,

00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.700
 those who suffer

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:20.279
 and even die unjustly

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.180
 simply because

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.880
 they are Christians

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.819
 are actually

00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.819
 on the right side

00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:25.079
 of the mysterious way

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.740
 in which God

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.359
 has chosen

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.599
 to work out his plan

00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:29.380
 throughout the history

00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.460
 of the world.

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.700
 And then Peter

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.359
 gives us

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.480
 these two great examples.

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.059
 You see that?

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.559
 So Karen Jobes

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.000
 is saying this,

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.380
 she's saying,

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.079
 even though it looked

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.700
 like defeat,

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.599
 in the end

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.279
 it was victory.

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.940
 Jesus won

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.160
 even though he died.

00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.339
 And Peter now

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.299
 gives us two examples.

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:45.799
 He says,

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:46.660
 think about Noah.

00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:48.279
 In the days of Noah,

00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.200
 the world was filled

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.279
 with such wickedness

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.920
 and rebellion

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:52.940
 that God says

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.640
 he regretted

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.579
 making mankind

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:56.140
 such evil

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:56.740
 in the world.

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.200
 Mankind was meant

00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.900
 to be the pinnacle

00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.680
 of God's creation,

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.120
 meant to be

00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:01.480
 the image of God

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.400
 to show the world

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.200
 what God is like

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.640
 and the end

00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:04.839
 mankind was a mess

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:06.079
 filled with such

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:07.160
 rebellion and sin.

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.579
 And so God

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.400
 calls a man,

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:09.980
 a family

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.519
 to trust him

00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.539
 and to build an ark.

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.640
 And the building

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:15.220
 of the ark

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.140
 was a proclamation

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.980
 of the gospel.

00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.579
 As Noah's building

00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.019
 the ark,

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.140
 he's saying to the people

00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:20.660
 around him,

00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:22.000
 turn from your sin

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.140
 and trust him,

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.940
 find refuge

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.799
 in this ark,

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:26.079
 find refuge in God

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.819
 and you'll be saved

00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.799
 from the coming judgment.

00:33:28.419 --> 00:33:29.419
 So as Noah's building

00:33:29.419 --> 00:33:29.759
 the ark,

00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.599
 he's proclaiming

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.039
 the gospel.

00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:31.480
 He's saying,

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.419
 there's the problem

00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:32.879
 of sin,

00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:34.159
 but find refuge

00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:34.579
 in God

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.700
 and you will be saved.

00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:37.440
 And yet this ark

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:37.899
 must have been

00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:38.859
 a ridiculous thing.

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.500
 Imagine they're

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.059
 in the desert

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.940
 and Noah's building

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.659
 this gigantic

00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:43.000
 big box

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.339
 and he's telling people

00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:45.059
 that if you come

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.779
 and hide in here,

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.700
 you'll be saved.

00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:47.619
 Friends,

00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:48.359
 the ark must have

00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.839
 involved or invited

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:51.059
 a whole lot of ridicule

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.220
 and scoffing.

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.359
 Must have seemed

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.200
 like the most ridiculous

00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.940
 thing in the world.

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:55.919
 Nonsensical.

00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:56.980
 You don't hide

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.619
 in a boat,

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.000
 right?

00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.179
 And yet that was

00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:01.599
 Noah's deliverance.

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.819
 What seemed

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:04.439
 like nonsensical

00:34:04.439 --> 00:34:05.779
 was his path to life.

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.899
 What seemed

00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:07.879
 ridiculous

00:34:07.879 --> 00:34:08.759
 was actually

00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.420
 his salvation.

00:34:09.819 --> 00:34:10.559
 What seemed

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.380
 like judgment

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.359
 was actually

00:34:12.359 --> 00:34:13.420
 his path to life.

00:34:13.839 --> 00:34:14.519
 And then Peter

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.420
 gives us the example

00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:15.960
 of baptism

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.679
 and so look at

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.159
 what he says.

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:17.480
 He says,

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.739
 baptism saves you

00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:20.099
 not as a removal

00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:21.179
 of dirt from the body

00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.079
 but as an appeal

00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.599
 to God

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.539
 for a good conscience

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.799
 through the resurrection

00:34:24.799 --> 00:34:25.400
 of Jesus.

00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.460
 Now he's not saying

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.539
 baptism saves you

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.159
 because you earn

00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.800
 your salvation.

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:29.960
 He's saying

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:31.259
 when you get baptized

00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:32.259
 it's an expression

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:32.980
 of your faith

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.460
 in Jesus

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.199
 and that's what

00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:34.759
 saves you.

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.559
 The fact that

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.960
 Jesus is enough.

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.079
 But he's saying

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.820
 that when you get

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:39.279
 baptized,

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:39.980
 as all Christians

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.300
 should,

00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:41.900
 you're making a pledge.

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.400
 You're making a promise.

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.739
 When you get baptized

00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:45.119
 you're saying

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.920
 just as I go

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.860
 under the waters

00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.679
 and come up

00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:48.679
 again,

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.920
 my old life

00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:50.460
 is dying

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.000
 and I'm coming

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.000
 back a new person.

00:34:52.279 --> 00:34:52.920
 My old life

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:53.719
 has died to sin

00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:54.500
 and now I'm alive

00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.320
 to Christ again.

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:55.860
 He's saying

00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:56.579
 my old life

00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:57.340
 of sin is dead

00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:57.860
 and now I'm

00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.599
 a new person

00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.500
 in Jesus.

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.539
 And so when you

00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:01.460
 suffer for Jesus

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.320
 you're living out

00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:03.380
 your baptism pledge.

00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.300
 When you are

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:04.900
 persecuted

00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.340
 you're saying

00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:06.380
 hey my old life

00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.800
 is dead

00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.940
 but in this death

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.800
 I come alive.

00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.000
 This old way

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.500
 has died

00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.320
 but now I get

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:11.880
 a new life

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.400
 in Jesus.

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.139
 Friends,

00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:13.739
 your baptism

00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:15.079
 is a picture,

00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.360
 it's a dramatization

00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.599
 of that the old

00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.059
 is dead

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:19.780
 but through that death

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:21.480
 you find new life.

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.760
 And Peter's saying

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.039
 this,

00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:23.900
 he says remember

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.639
 your baptism.

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:26.079
 Remember the picture

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.820
 painted for you.

00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:27.940
 Remember that as

00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:29.099
 people revile you

00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:29.960
 and ridicule you

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.639
 and scoff you

00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.219
 and mock you

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.199
 and you feel like

00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.639
 you're dying

00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.579
 a thousand deaths

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.360
 remember that

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.139
 that death

00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:35.880
 produces

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.400
 life.

00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.000
 Remember how

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.960
 Jesus' death

00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:41.019
 tragic and as awful

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.679
 as it was

00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:43.400
 was not the final word.

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.579
 It was just

00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.760
 his way to new life.

00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:46.920
 Friends,

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.900
 when you're persecuted

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.699
 and you're rejected

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.880
 you're ashamed

00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:50.639
 for doing good

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.819
 when people

00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:52.420
 laugh at you

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.219
 or scoff you

00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:53.799
 because you're

00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.619
 pursuing holiness

00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:55.779
 because you're

00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.219
 saying no

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:57.079
 to ungodliness

00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:58.339
 when people

00:35:58.339 --> 00:35:58.940
 don't understand

00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.460
 you because

00:35:59.460 --> 00:35:59.940
 you will not

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.500
 worship their

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:00.920
 idols

00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:02.500
 when people

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.099
 jeer at you

00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:03.519
 because you

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:03.799
 will not

00:36:03.799 --> 00:36:04.599
 turn from sin

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:06.019
 friends

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:07.279
 when you pray

00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:07.639
 for those

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.400
 who persecute

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.559
 you

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:08.900
 and you

00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:10.659
 respond to

00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.239
 their wickedness

00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:11.839
 with blessing

00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:13.279
 you may feel

00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:13.719
 like you're

00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.440
 dying a thousand

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:14.859
 deaths

00:36:14.859 --> 00:36:16.159
 but that death

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.639
 is not the

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:17.299
 final word.

00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:18.779
 The final word

00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:19.239
 is that it

00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:20.420
 leads to life.

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.940
 It leads

00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.659
 to life.

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:23.980
 Christians

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.940
 follow Jesus'

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.599
 footsteps

00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.900
 through death

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:28.139
 to victory.

00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:29.920
 Mark Ballinger

00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.960
 said this

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.759
 to be willing

00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.819
 to free people

00:36:32.819 --> 00:36:33.460
 from the debts

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.279
 that they owe you

00:36:34.279 --> 00:36:35.519
 to release them

00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.460
 from the punishment

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.299
 they deserve

00:36:37.299 --> 00:36:38.759
 and to bless them

00:36:38.759 --> 00:36:39.900
 you must have

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.839
 a greater reason

00:36:40.839 --> 00:36:41.799
 to choose love.

00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:42.980
 God

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:44.219
 his glory

00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:45.339
 and the gospel

00:36:45.339 --> 00:36:46.940
 is that reason.

00:36:47.859 --> 00:36:48.159
 Friends,

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:48.859
 every Christian

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.840
 in every church

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.900
 is constantly

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.420
 going to be

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:51.800
 tempted

00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:53.140
 in one of two

00:36:53.140 --> 00:36:53.519
 ways.

00:36:54.140 --> 00:36:54.460
 Either

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.360
 we'll try

00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.360
 we'll preserve

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:57.640
 gospel doctrine

00:36:57.640 --> 00:36:58.400
 gospel truth

00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:58.800
 but it'll be

00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.460
 divorced from

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.099
 real life

00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:01.000
 we'll listen

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.480
 to a sermon

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:01.980
 on Sunday

00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.620
 but on Monday

00:37:02.620 --> 00:37:02.940
 it'll be

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.440
 divorced from

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:03.940
 the realities

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.420
 of life

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:04.900
 and we'll go

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.200
 on with

00:37:05.200 --> 00:37:05.519
 our own

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:05.840
 life

00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.920
 or we'll be

00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.280
 a church

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:08.039
 that tries

00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:08.400
 to live

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:08.680
 a good

00:37:08.680 --> 00:37:09.380
 Christian life

00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:09.960
 but is

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.500
 divorced from

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:10.920
 the gospel

00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.260
 of who

00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:11.880
 Christ is.

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:12.980
 Peter comes

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.320
 and he says

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.500
 remember Jesus

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.699
 remember how

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:16.480
 Christ suffered

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:17.059
 on the cross

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:18.280
 the only righteous

00:37:18.280 --> 00:37:18.619
 one

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.840
 suffered unjustly

00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:21.000
 died for your

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:21.760
 sins and my

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.519
 sins to bring

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.139
 us to God

00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:24.280
 remember how

00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:25.000
 Jesus through

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.460
 his death

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.239
 brought life

00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:27.440
 and in the same

00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:28.099
 way as you go

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:28.659
 into your week

00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.340
 as you go to

00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:29.920
 work tomorrow

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.179
 as you

00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:31.139
 at home

00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:31.679
 as people

00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:32.320
 revile you

00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:33.519
 let the gospel

00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:34.119
 of Christ

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:35.539
 result in gospel

00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.000
 life.

00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:37.280
 Peter's urging us

00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.099
 to lift our eyes

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.719
 off of our

00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:39.320
 circumstances

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:40.239
 to lift our eyes

00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:40.739
 to Christ

00:37:40.739 --> 00:37:41.460
 and because of

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.320
 who Jesus is

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:43.220
 to live this

00:37:43.220 --> 00:37:43.880
 radically

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:45.100
 counterintuitive

00:37:45.100 --> 00:37:46.080
 countercultural

00:37:46.080 --> 00:37:46.780
 scandalous

00:37:46.780 --> 00:37:47.940
 message of

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.460
 the gospel.

00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:49.680
 In this passage

00:37:49.680 --> 00:37:50.500
 Peter calls us

00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.039
 to be a church

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:51.840
 which is rich

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:52.440
 in gospel

00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:53.019
 theology

00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:54.059
 and rich

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:54.660
 in gospel

00:37:54.660 --> 00:37:55.120
 life

00:37:55.120 --> 00:37:56.320
 knowing that

00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:57.059
 Christ suffered

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:58.059
 for our sins

00:37:58.059 --> 00:37:59.240
 for your sins

00:37:59.240 --> 00:37:59.800
 and my sins

00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:00.280
 and not just

00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:01.140
 sins long ago

00:38:01.140 --> 00:38:02.340
 your sin this

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:02.620
 week

00:38:02.620 --> 00:38:03.700
 my sin this

00:38:03.700 --> 00:38:04.000
 week

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.960
 my sin this

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.660
 very day

00:38:05.660 --> 00:38:06.700
 the righteous

00:38:06.700 --> 00:38:07.840
 for the unrighteous

00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:08.840
 that he

00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:10.000
 might bring us

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:11.240
 to God.

00:38:11.239 --> 00:38:12.399
 Friends can we

00:38:12.399 --> 00:38:13.159
 be such a church

00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:13.759
 that lives this

00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:13.979
 out?

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.399
 Can we be a church

00:38:15.399 --> 00:38:15.779
 that is

00:38:15.779 --> 00:38:16.779
 countercultural

00:38:16.779 --> 00:38:17.259
 and swims

00:38:17.259 --> 00:38:17.659
 upstream?

00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:18.759
 Can we be

00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.359
 those that

00:38:19.359 --> 00:38:21.159
 repay evil

00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:21.879
 with blessing

00:38:21.879 --> 00:38:22.439
 and praying

00:38:22.439 --> 00:38:22.979
 for our enemies?

00:38:23.459 --> 00:38:23.959
 Can we be

00:38:23.959 --> 00:38:24.439
 those that are

00:38:24.439 --> 00:38:25.159
 so in love

00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:25.679
 with Christ

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:26.339
 and his gospel

00:38:26.339 --> 00:38:27.039
 and his glory

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:28.099
 that we even

00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:28.579
 be willing

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.279
 to endure

00:38:29.279 --> 00:38:30.779
 such opposition

00:38:30.779 --> 00:38:31.459
 for him?

00:38:31.879 --> 00:38:32.459
 Let's pray

00:38:32.459 --> 00:38:32.879
 together.

00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:40.799
 Friends I

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.220
 I want to

00:38:41.220 --> 00:38:41.980
 pray for us

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:43.080
 together

00:38:43.080 --> 00:38:45.140
 but my

00:38:45.140 --> 00:38:45.680
 guess is that

00:38:45.680 --> 00:38:46.120
 there's some

00:38:46.120 --> 00:38:46.740
 of us here

00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.160
 who

00:38:47.160 --> 00:38:50.060
 maybe for the

00:38:50.060 --> 00:38:50.560
 first time

00:38:50.560 --> 00:38:50.940
 ever

00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:53.100
 need to pray

00:38:53.100 --> 00:38:53.900
 for people

00:38:53.900 --> 00:38:55.560
 who your

00:38:55.560 --> 00:38:55.980
 whole life

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:56.500
 you've wanted

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:57.240
 to just

00:38:57.240 --> 00:38:57.800
 see

00:38:57.800 --> 00:39:01.060
 maybe those

00:39:01.060 --> 00:39:01.420
 that you've

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:01.780
 wanted to

00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:02.500
 retaliate

00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:04.940
 maybe those

00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:05.340
 that you've

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.060
 wanted to

00:39:06.060 --> 00:39:08.240
 repay their

00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:09.460
 wickedness

00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:10.019
 to you

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:11.740
 with wickedness

00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:13.260
 friends

00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:13.740
 maybe there's

00:39:13.740 --> 00:39:14.199
 some people

00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:14.460
 in our

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:15.099
 life who

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.639
 have made

00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:16.019
 your life

00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:16.840
 so difficult

00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:18.659
 so

00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:20.380
 unbearable

00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:25.280
 the Bible

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:25.780
 doesn't say

00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:26.140
 that they

00:39:26.140 --> 00:39:26.500
 are

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.940
 immune

00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:28.460
 from facing

00:39:28.460 --> 00:39:29.240
 the consequences

00:39:29.240 --> 00:39:29.559
 of what

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:29.980
 they've done

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.680
 but it

00:39:31.680 --> 00:39:32.079
 does say

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.579
 it does

00:39:32.579 --> 00:39:33.059
 ask us

00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:33.440
 to pray

00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:33.880
 for them

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:37.160
 friends

00:39:37.160 --> 00:39:37.840
 this morning

00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:39.559
 will you

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.280
 allow yourself

00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:40.660
 to

00:39:40.660 --> 00:39:42.700
 be

00:39:42.700 --> 00:39:43.240
 crucified

00:39:43.240 --> 00:39:45.059
 will you

00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:45.680
 allow yourself

00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.679
 to

00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:49.139
 to

00:39:49.139 --> 00:39:49.539
 embrace

00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:49.859
 and do

00:39:49.859 --> 00:39:50.339
 probably the

00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:50.899
 hardest thing

00:39:50.899 --> 00:39:51.299
 you've ever

00:39:51.299 --> 00:39:51.759
 done in your

00:39:51.759 --> 00:39:52.119
 life

00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:53.699
 and to

00:39:53.699 --> 00:39:53.980
 bless

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:54.239
 them

00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:56.799
 this morning

00:39:56.799 --> 00:39:57.079
 will you

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:57.539
 allow a

00:39:57.539 --> 00:39:57.940
 part of

00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:58.239
 your

00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:00.059
 self

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:01.799
 preservation

00:40:01.799 --> 00:40:03.119
 self

00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:03.759
 sufficiency

00:40:03.759 --> 00:40:05.599
 maybe even

00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:05.919
 self

00:40:05.919 --> 00:40:06.460
 righteousness

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:08.379
 be crucified

00:40:08.379 --> 00:40:09.059
 this morning

00:40:09.059 --> 00:40:11.860
 as you

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.619
 respond to

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:13.000
 their

00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:15.019
 wickedness

00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:15.500
 and evil

00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:17.699
 with blessing

00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:18.219
 and prayer

00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:24.480
 as I was

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:24.860
 praying for

00:40:24.860 --> 00:40:25.279
 this week

00:40:25.279 --> 00:40:25.500
 I was

00:40:25.500 --> 00:40:25.920
 praying that

00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:26.380
 some of us

00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:26.679
 would be

00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:27.460
 set free

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:27.900
 from the

00:40:27.900 --> 00:40:28.699
 imprisonment

00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:30.079
 that bitterness

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:31.299
 holds on us

00:40:31.299 --> 00:40:33.539
 friends

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.299
 some of us

00:40:34.299 --> 00:40:35.380
 are slaves

00:40:35.380 --> 00:40:35.960
 to our

00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:37.539
 own resentment

00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:38.539
 there is a

00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:39.039
 way to be

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.500
 free from

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:39.860
 it but

00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:40.139
 it's the

00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:40.579
 hardest thing

00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:40.759
 in the

00:40:40.759 --> 00:40:41.039
 world

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.820
 it's to

00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:43.440
 follow Jesus

00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:44.179
 to Calvary

00:40:44.179 --> 00:40:47.519
 it's to

00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:47.900
 die to

00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:48.380
 ourselves

00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:49.139
 that Christ

00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:49.679
 may make

00:40:49.679 --> 00:40:50.019
 us

00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:51.400
 alive again

00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:54.300
 it's to

00:40:54.300 --> 00:40:54.659
 pray for

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.000
 those that

00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:55.320
 have hurt

00:40:55.320 --> 00:40:55.820
 us

00:40:55.820 --> 00:40:59.440
 friends

00:40:59.440 --> 00:40:59.739
 why don't

00:40:59.739 --> 00:41:00.259
 you do

00:41:00.259 --> 00:41:00.579
 that

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:01.539
 why don't

00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:01.920
 you ask

00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.259
 God to

00:41:02.259 --> 00:41:02.539
 give you

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:02.980
 the faith

00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:03.279
 to do

00:41:03.279 --> 00:41:03.539
 that

00:41:03.539 --> 00:41:14.880
 maybe

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.239
 some of

00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:15.400
 us

00:41:15.400 --> 00:41:15.619
 have

00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.039
 never

00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:17.119
 experienced

00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:17.539
 that

00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:18.139
 that's

00:41:18.139 --> 00:41:18.519
 not our

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.000
 reality

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.079
 right now

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:22.559
 friends

00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:22.960
 this morning

00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:23.480
 as we've

00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:23.920
 sang about

00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:24.259
 this

00:41:24.259 --> 00:41:25.360
 sure and

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:25.559
 steady

00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:26.000
 anchor

00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:27.360
 we continue

00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:27.800
 to worship

00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:28.440
 let's draw

00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:28.880
 near to

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.139
 this

00:41:29.139 --> 00:41:29.759
 sure and

00:41:29.759 --> 00:41:29.920
 steady

00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.159
 anchor

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:30.519
 let's

00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:30.779
 draw

00:41:30.779 --> 00:41:31.159
 near to

00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:31.480
 the one

00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:31.699
 who

00:41:31.699 --> 00:41:32.719
 went to

00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.139
 the cross

00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:33.559
 for us

00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:33.819
 that we

00:41:33.819 --> 00:41:34.219
 could find

00:41:34.219 --> 00:41:34.579
 life

00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:35.920
 let's

00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:36.279
 confess

00:41:36.279 --> 00:41:36.799
 our sin

00:41:36.799 --> 00:41:38.339
 and let's

00:41:38.339 --> 00:41:38.779
 ask him

00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.960
 to heal

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:40.299
 us and

00:41:40.299 --> 00:41:40.859
 restore us

00:41:40.859 --> 00:41:41.199
 and make

00:41:41.199 --> 00:41:41.639
 us alive

00:41:41.639 --> 00:41:41.960
 again