WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.620 Welcome to Watermark. My name is Chris, if you don't know me. 00:00:06.679 --> 00:00:13.400 And it's, I think going through this series in 1 Peter, I don't know how it's impacting you, 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:20.640 but actually I'm really very challenged by this. And actually, even with this passage today, 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:25.980 I've been going, God, just, I need you to work in my heart through this. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:31.560 Because this is a, there's some tough things that God is saying, but things which I think are really, 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:40.439 we need to hear in our society. Because we live in a world which, if you ever watch the news, 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:49.120 is very polarized, right? We have all kinds of issues. There's mass immigration throughout the 00:00:49.120 --> 00:00:55.480 world, whether it's in rural China into the cities or the mainland into Hong Kong or 00:00:55.479 --> 00:01:02.119 war-torn countries into safer countries or people seeking economic opportunities in different places. 00:01:02.919 --> 00:01:08.179 People are looking for a home. People are looking for an identity. And across the world, there's also 00:01:08.179 --> 00:01:13.879 this kind of backlash against a lot of this. People are being protectionistic. There's nationalism 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:21.959 growing in different areas of the world. And everyone seems to be becoming either pro or 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:29.399 anti-everything. Pro-government, anti-government. Pro-immigration, anti-immigration. Pro-poor or 00:01:29.399 --> 00:01:39.459 anti-poor. Pro-rich or anti-rich. And in 1 Peter, Paul is talking to a group of small groups of 00:01:39.459 --> 00:01:45.619 Christians across Turkey. And he's writing to them and he calls them exiles and sojourners. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:52.740 He says, basically, you're like migrants in a foreign land. And he says, your primary allegiance 00:01:52.740 --> 00:02:01.200 isn't to be to any political authority. It isn't a national identity. Your primary identity is that 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:07.600 your citizenship, like Paul talks about, is in heaven. We have a different president. You know, 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:17.019 right at the heart of the gospel message is the statement, Jesus is Lord. That means he's higher 00:02:17.019 --> 00:02:25.419 in allegiance to every other allegiance. And that puts us in this world in a kind of no man's land 00:02:25.419 --> 00:02:31.340 in many ways. But in God's eyes, through faith in Christ, and this is what Bon Peter's been showing, 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:40.240 we are God's chosen people. We have a home. We are the royal priesthood, a holy nation. We belong to him. 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:46.539 And all of those privileges that David was talking about, of our heavenly identity, are ours. We have 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:54.340 a different hope. We have a different joy. We have a different holiness. We're distinctive, a different 00:02:54.340 --> 00:03:01.280 honor. And last week, we talked about how we are now the new temple of God, this place where 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:09.000 God by his spirit dwells amongst us. And that's where we've got to today in 1 Peter. 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:17.520 But the question that comes with all of these things is how do we live out this heavenly identity 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:25.780 in an unjust world of politics and power struggles? How do you live that out in the day-to-day of life? 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:32.020 And the next two chapters, Peter's going to flesh out what this looks like. He's going to talk about 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:36.960 as citizens. He's going to talk about in workplaces. And he's going to talk about in marriage, 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:44.800 how these things work. And we're going to look at the first two today. But the early Christians, 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:51.500 just to give you background, the early Christians were often accused of being dangerous to society. 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:56.740 not because they were doing a lot of terrible things, but they didn't worship the emperor 00:03:56.740 --> 00:04:01.860 or the pagan gods around them. And so people thought they were disrupting the harmony of society. 00:04:02.939 --> 00:04:07.280 Slaves were meant to worship the gods of their masters. So if they became Christians, 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:13.139 it looked like they were rebelling against them. And then there were so many rumors that went around. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:19.819 You know, there were a number of rumors which said that Christians commit incest because they call 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:25.040 each other brothers and sisters. They had other rumors which people thought they were cannibals 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:30.000 because like we've just taken with communion, they talked about eating the body and blood of Jesus. 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:37.819 And they ridiculed them. This is true. They ridiculed them for being killjoys, 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:42.920 because they wouldn't join in with all the drunken parties and they wouldn't go to all the gladiator 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:49.800 fights. And if you're a Christian in this and you're feeling rejected and misunderstood, 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:56.099 and ill-treated in many ways, how do you respond when you feel like life is unfair? 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:04.719 Well, I don't know if you've got kids or if you've ever been a kid, which I think is all of you. 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:12.839 But when things seem to be not going the way you want them to, what are the words that every kid says? 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:21.719 It's not fair. It's not fair. You didn't have to think about it. Every language in the world has 00:05:21.719 --> 00:05:30.099 it's not fair in it. You see, you know, you get parents going to their child, did you hit your 00:05:30.099 --> 00:05:37.879 younger sister? And the kid goes, well, she hit me first. And the parents go, well, you're her older 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:44.519 brother. And the kid goes, it's not fair. She always gets away with it. I always get in trouble. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:52.459 Isn't that what happens? And we have this innate sense we want justice in the world. And we know 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:59.899 that this world is filled with unfairness. And it's not just kids who feel that. But what happens is 00:05:59.899 --> 00:06:06.060 normally when we feel like we're treated unfairly, we think that that excuses us to treat other people 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:13.180 the way we've been treated. And we feel perfectly okay about our behavior. But Peter is going to say 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:20.840 to us, you guys, that's the way the world rolls. But you guys are a different people. You're a holy 00:06:20.840 --> 00:06:29.180 people. You are following in the footsteps of the one who experienced the greatest injustice that history 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:42.040 has ever known. And yet, he stayed holy and responded perfectly. And that was Jesus. And so what I want 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:49.460 to do is start in this passage to look at the end of the passage and then to flow through the logic that 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:56.879 Peter is showing to how we are to respond to political authorities and to unfair bosses. 00:06:57.799 --> 00:07:02.359 Okay? Are you with us? Kevin's with us. That's great. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:14.879 Okay. I've got three things. Patterned after Jesus is the first one of them. Verse 21 to 25. Patterned after Jesus. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:22.439 He says this. And have your, if you've got your booklet with you, have this in. Please make notes in your 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:29.180 booklet. If you don't have it, get your bulletin out. He says, verse 21, to this you were called because 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:36.600 Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps. 00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:44.659 And that word, he left you an example, is the same word that you use for when a kid is learning to draw 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:48.960 the alphabet. Write the alphabet and you have a template over which they begin to start writing. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:54.700 It's, that's the word. And what he's saying is, Jesus has given you a template. 00:07:56.040 --> 00:08:05.360 Jesus suffered for you. He died to atone for our sins. You cannot do that. Jesus doesn't ask us to 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:11.960 suffer to make up for our sins or to atone for anybody else's sins. He's done that. But he does say, 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:20.699 your life is to be traced over the pattern of my life. And not just the way I lived, but the way I 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:29.819 suffered and the way I died. See my footprints and you start walking in them. And so he says, 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:37.279 when Jesus called you, he called you as a disciple and he said, follow me. And where did he tell you to 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:44.360 follow him too? To the jacuzzi? No. He tells you to follow him to the cross and then through the cross 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:51.860 to the resurrection hope that we talked about a couple of weeks ago. And so here, Peter begins to 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:59.679 kind of riff off Isaiah 53 to show you that Jesus understands. If you think the world is unfair, 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:08.459 Jesus knows exactly what unfairness and injustice is all about. It says, Isaiah 53, it says, 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:19.459 Jesus took up our pain. Our pain. It wasn't his pain. It was our pain. He bore our suffering. 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:28.120 Not his suffering, our suffering. It says he was pierced for our transgressions, our iniquities. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:35.019 We deserved it. We deserved it, not him. And we even thought, it says, we considered him punished by God. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:43.580 We thought he deserved it. And yet it was what we deserved. And so we get peace. He gets punishment. 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:51.700 We get healing. He gets wounds. We go astray. He takes the consequences. It's the ultimate in unfair 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:58.800 trade deals. But he did it to bring us back to God so we could come to know him. 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:09.300 And how in all of this did he respond to the injustice? Well, Peter tells us, without sinning, 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:17.840 committed no sin. When he was mocked and reviled, that means insulted. He didn't throw insults back. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:23.860 When he suffered, he didn't threaten. In other words, Jesus didn't sin. 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:34.139 No one, their sin and our sin couldn't make him sin. When we shout, it's not fair, he said, 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:39.820 Father, forgive. When we get mad and to someone's face or behind their backs try and tear them down, 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:46.960 he showed grace. And Jesus in John 18, he says, my kingdom is not of this world. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:52.900 If it were, my servants would have been fighting that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:58.420 But my kingdom is not from this world. I don't fight the way everyone else fights. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:07.720 You see, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, he knew he was innocent, but he condemned him just to 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:15.860 give himself an easy life. His sin couldn't make Jesus sin. You know, people think that freedom is the 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:22.480 ability to do what you want. But freedom is actually the ability to do what God calls you to do, 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:30.019 regardless of the circumstances. And Jesus was the freest man the world has ever known. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:38.419 Because no matter what they threw at him, nothing could touch his soul. He wasn't a fearful victim. 00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:47.259 He was courageous and strong in the midst of the injustice. How did he do that? How was he without sin? 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:54.579 Because it says he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He entrusted himself to his father. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:12:03.419 Do you know that word entrusted? It's the same word that is used for when Judas handed Jesus over to the authorities. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:09.599 Judas entrusted Jesus to the authorities, but Jesus entrusted himself to his father. 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:18.740 You see, his silence wasn't passivity. It was a deep confidence that in an unjust world, 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:26.479 his father was always just and would vindicate him. He didn't need to judge and shout now because 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:30.840 he knew his father would be the judge. Because that's security. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:42.019 Without sin, he could entrust himself over to his father. And he had this focus on his father's 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:49.560 mission through it all. Because you know, even in the most unjust situation, his life was a witness to 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:56.459 the gospel. He didn't just die to save us. Even the way he died, others were saved. 00:12:57.579 --> 00:13:04.139 Right? On the cross, one of the thieves who'd been mocking him suddenly stops and says, 00:13:04.739 --> 00:13:09.259 man, we guys deserve what we're getting, but he's done nothing wrong. 00:13:10.219 --> 00:13:15.539 And he turns in faith to Jesus and Jesus says to him, today you will be with me in paradise. 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:21.620 Someone right at that darkest hour snatched out of hell into the heavenly kingdom. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:27.860 How did he respond like that? Because he saw how Jesus responded. 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:35.240 You see, his response was evangelistic. His response was honoring his father. 00:13:36.579 --> 00:13:37.639 And Peter says, 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:44.600 The one who was led like a lamb to the slaughter is now the shepherd of your souls. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:50.759 He bore your sin not to just get you a get out of hell free card, not just to make you a nice person, 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:55.980 but he died so that you might die to the desires for payback in your own life. 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:59.699 And you might live to do what is right in God's eyes. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.000 Do you realize that's why you were saved? 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:07.700 You see, the gospel isn't just what saves you, it's what shapes the pattern of your life. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:12.960 The gospel's not just what saves you, it's what shapes the pattern of your life. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:23.559 And so Peter is saying to these Christians who are facing this unjust, unfair treatment, 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.480 he's saying, that's who you're to look to. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.779 Follow him. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:32.919 And so he comes back, so if I move back, and he says, 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:35.179 Now this is how you were to live distinctively. 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.819 Verse 11 and 12. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:45.720 As sojourners and exiles, abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. 00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:51.079 Abstain from the passions of your flesh that wage war against your soul. 00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:58.120 What he's saying is, just like Jesus, the way you respond in unfair treatment is evangelistic. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:05.240 So don't let the desires for revenge, for anger, for bitterness, to overtake your desire to follow Christ. 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:08.019 Because it will destroy your soul. 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.980 Do you know what soul means? 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:13.580 Soul doesn't mean just kind of that spiritual kind of fuzzy part of you that you have no idea where it is, 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.220 but it's in there. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.379 That's not what it means. 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:17.060 It means your identity. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.899 That's what the word, your whole identity. 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:28.340 So don't let who you are, this chosen, holy, beloved child, chosen people, distinctive people of God, 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:30.220 for who Jesus died to make you. 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:34.299 Don't let that be derailed in this moment. 00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:35.340 He says, 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:47.360 He says, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.379 He's saying, 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:50.360 Don't just kind of withdraw from society. 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:55.379 You know, often in history, people, when they're oppressed, minorities just kind of back out and go into monasteries. 00:15:55.780 --> 00:15:58.759 You know, don't just withdraw into your own little holy huddle. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:04.379 And don't just go into society and try and be as disruptive as possible to make your own demands. 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.779 He says, 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:11.379 Be engaged in your city and known as Watermark who does good in this city. 00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.819 That's who you're called to be. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:19.039 So even if they hate your teaching on sexuality, even if they hate your teaching on truth, 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:21.220 they can't argue with your lives. 00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:26.819 Do you know, Bill Clinton, who was a fierce abortion advocate, 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:33.240 that once heard Mother Teresa speak passionately at the UN against abortion. 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.600 And do you know what his only response is? 00:16:35.640 --> 00:16:39.180 He stands up after her speech and everyone's stunned, waiting for him to answer. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.120 And his one response is, 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:44.379 It's hard to argue with a life well lived. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.620 That's who God has called us to be. 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:55.480 A witness as a community, even when you are slandered and mistreated, 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:58.980 to draw others to himself like that thief. 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:03.840 Because that's what's going to show and demonstrate the distinctiveness of the gospel. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:08.579 So Peter's going to now earth that, 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.819 of Jesus as our pattern, 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:14.980 and how he's to shape the way to live distinctively in two ways. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:21.519 First way is living distinctively as citizens in an unjust world. 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.399 He says this. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.480 This is verse 13 to 17. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:33.860 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.680 whether it be to the Emperor Supreme or to governors, 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:41.140 as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:43.860 For this is the will of God. 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.900 If you were wondering what God's will is, here it is. 00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:47.519 That by doing good, 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:51.500 you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.420 What is he saying? 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:56.180 He's saying the way that you live as citizens 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:59.960 and the way that you treat those in political authority 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:03.640 is also a witness to other people. 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:05.920 Because the Christians could say, 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:08.560 well, we belong to another kingdom. 00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:10.240 Jesus is our king. 00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:12.660 Therefore, we don't need to obey the Emperor. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.340 And actually, you find in the history, 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.840 a lot of people have said that kind of thing. 00:18:16.300 --> 00:18:17.600 Because he's just human. 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.519 We follow God. 00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:20.600 We're free from that. 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:22.220 But Peter says, 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.420 you are free. 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:27.660 Your highest allegiance is to God, not the Emperor. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.799 So live free. 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:33.559 Don't be intimidated by the power of unjust rulers. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.920 But don't sin against them. 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:40.860 Everyone else is always trying to break the rules, 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.680 trying to get behind and get under 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:45.460 and trying to find loopholes. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:50.180 But you guys be distinctive by honoring and submitting to them. 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:53.380 Because God has put them in place, Romans says, 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.259 Romans 13 says, 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:57.860 to protect society from chaos. 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:01.200 So keep the speed limit 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:03.600 for the sake of Jesus' name and reputation. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:06.159 Because actually, 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.639 if you're the one who's speeding 00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:09.000 and others are not, 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:11.240 what does that do to Christ's reputation? 00:19:13.219 --> 00:19:14.119 Because he says, 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.279 your opponents, 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.379 like with Jesus, 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.359 may slander you, 00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:20.359 may say all kinds of things against you, 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.980 but your life is your greatest argument 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.000 to silence them. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.240 And you know, 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.200 I don't know about you, 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.380 but actually the first thing 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.859 that came into my mind was, 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.880 that sounds great, Peter. 00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:35.220 But how do you honor, 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.740 not good governments, 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.920 I can cope with good governments, 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:40.019 but how do you honor 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:41.599 someone like Hitler? 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.240 How do you honor 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:45.259 an unjust government? 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:48.539 And Peter would go, 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:50.900 that's precisely the kind of governments 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:51.799 I'm talking about. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.000 Because, you know, 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.879 Jesus knew about unjust politicians. 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:57.640 Herod at birth, 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.180 Pilate at death, okay? 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.879 He knew something about that. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.879 Peter himself was beaten 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:05.379 and imprisoned by political authorities. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.920 You know, Nero, the emperor, 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.779 would kill Peter in a couple of years' time. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:12.579 And if you actually do any reading on Nero, 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.299 I don't know if you have, 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.160 but he's not the kind of guy 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.220 you want to hang out with. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.799 Here's a couple of things. 00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:21.139 He killed two of his wives, 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.119 one by kicking her 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.720 and their unborn baby to death. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.460 He killed his mother. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.539 He tried to murder 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:27.139 and force all his political opponents 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:28.019 to commit suicide. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.240 He killed Christians mercilessly. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.160 He's not the kind of guy 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.579 you kind of want ruling your country. 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:36.799 But if we complain sometimes 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.500 about the governments in our countries, 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:41.099 just look at Nero. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.879 How do you honor a guy like that? 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:45.680 And that's who Peter is precisely talking about. 00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:49.700 And maybe for us, 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.200 we're not quite at that stage. 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.899 Maybe we're like, 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.259 hey, how do you honor and submit 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:54.259 to political leaders 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.799 that you don't always agree with? 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.559 And you know, Christians can 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.859 and we should disagree on political issues. 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:02.960 The Bible is not a political handbook. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:07.920 But I was reading something 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.460 that John Piper wrote 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.380 and I often quote him, 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:12.059 but this I found just very helpful, 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.380 just even as we're wrestling through this 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:16.079 because we live in an environment 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.579 with politically charged. 00:21:20.120 --> 00:21:21.120 John Piper was writing 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.460 in an American context 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.180 about the abortion debate 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:27.840 under the previous U.S. administration. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.119 and he wrote an article saying, 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.159 how do pro-life Christians 00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:34.519 honor a pro-choice president? 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.599 And here's four things that he said, 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:39.139 which I think are just really helpful 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:41.099 for us as we think about this. 00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:42.679 He said this, he said, 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.919 we honor the president 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:46.039 by acknowledging 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.799 that you are made in God's image. 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:51.079 Therefore, you have dignity and worth. 00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:53.339 The government of your country 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.579 are not faceless. 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:56.839 They are people made in God's image. 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:58.299 So we will treat them 00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:59.039 with that dignity 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.500 and we will not just mock them 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:02.019 and speak ill of them. 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.559 We will honor you 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:06.720 because along with Romans 13, 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:09.159 we know that God has appointed you 00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.039 to this office 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.559 to be a servant for good. 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.439 Though we're grieved 00:22:13.439 --> 00:22:15.079 by some of the political decisions 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.759 you have made with that authority, 00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:18.419 we know that bad government 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:19.839 is better than no government 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.179 as Somalia 00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:23.299 and other lawless countries show us. 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.740 He says, 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.079 we honor you 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.319 because we know 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.399 if we dishonor you, 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.379 we dishonor God 00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.680 who placed you in power. 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.419 We honor you 00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:35.839 through making you an image bearer. 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.480 We honor you 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.779 knowing God has appointed you. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.579 We honor you 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.659 by submitting to the laws of the land 00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:41.680 which don't conflict 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.819 with Christ's lordship. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:46.460 Submission is a gift we offer. 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:49.039 It's a gift we offer. 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:50.480 Jesus pays his taxes 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:53.279 even though he says he's free. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:53.720 He says, 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:55.779 I do it to not cause offense. 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.400 You know, 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.680 the only time you disobey 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.420 those authorities 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.380 is when they call you 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.620 to disobey Christ. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.400 In Acts 5, 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.880 Peter is told 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.819 to stop preaching 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:07.319 and they go, 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:07.860 hey, 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.400 thanks for the suggestion 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.759 but Jesus has told us 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.559 that we need to preach 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.960 so we're going to honor him first. 00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:14.500 That's the only time 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.460 you dishonor 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.420 and disobey them. 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.620 But also, 00:23:19.300 --> 00:23:20.519 he says a fourth thing. 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.380 He says, 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.259 just like Jesus 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.759 and the prophets call us, 00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:27.000 we honor you 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:29.160 by opposing injustice 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.900 with nonviolence. 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.740 And I think I have the quote 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.660 on the screen. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.300 With nonviolence, 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.340 with reasoning 00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.340 instead of rocks, 00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:37.820 with rational passion 00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.720 instead of screaming, 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.240 with honorable speech 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.340 instead of obscenities, 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:43.100 with forthright clarity 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:43.700 of language 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.660 instead of dodging 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.620 the tough realities 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.880 and tough words, 00:23:47.040 --> 00:23:47.840 with evidence 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.920 instead of hearsay, 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.800 with real portrayals 00:23:50.800 --> 00:23:51.259 of life 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.680 instead of blanket statements, 00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:54.000 we'll honor you 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.220 by a relentless effort 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.100 to put truth 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.720 and not mere emotion 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.380 before you 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.300 in the White House. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.779 Do you see what he's doing? 00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:02.420 He's talking about 00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:04.019 a hot button issue 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.120 that they're there 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:06.380 and he's saying, 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.940 our first allegiance 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.000 is to Christ 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.000 and though I disagree 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.700 with you 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.680 in this position, 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:16.440 I need to honor you 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:18.620 even in my disagreement 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.900 and the way I do that. 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.600 Do you know, 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.160 the emotion 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:24.360 that spreads virally, 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.560 let me just earth this 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.039 a little bit. 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.720 What's the emotion 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.980 that spreads virally 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:30.120 on social media 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.660 the most? 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.279 Do you know? 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.220 Anger. 00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:35.299 All studies show 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.360 anger spreads 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.880 faster than anything else. 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:39.460 And you know, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.259 anger and hate 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.519 is often towards leaders 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.840 and political decisions. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.299 And I don't know 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.940 how you use 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.060 your Facebook account 00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:49.259 and your social media accounts, 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.480 but you know, 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.180 we're called to honor 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.259 our leaders 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.420 and to glorify God 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:53.920 even there. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.920 And so, 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.759 what we say is 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.960 we will not sin 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.000 in our disagreement, 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:00.799 but we will entrust 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.980 judgment to God 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:03.279 and we will care 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.100 about our witness 00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.980 to his name. 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.580 Because you know what? 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:08.279 I've received so many 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:11.339 things as Christians, 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.839 I think we can actually 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:14.659 pass on information 00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:16.399 which is unsubstantiated, 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:18.419 which actually 00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:20.579 dishonors leaders 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.480 because we haven't 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.399 taken the time 00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:23.240 to really work out 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.039 whether it's true or not 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.960 and we just WhatsApp it 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.019 on to everybody else. 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.019 And do you know what? 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:28.159 That dishonors Christ 00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:29.639 because I've found 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.199 that sometimes 00:25:30.199 --> 00:25:30.619 those things 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.419 are not always true. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.099 And so, 00:25:33.199 --> 00:25:34.519 here's just a few things 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.319 that I think 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.559 what Jesus is saying, 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.940 our pattern of Jesus 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:39.079 for how we live 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.940 distinctively 00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:41.279 towards our leaders 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.579 on social media. 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.220 Okay? 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.920 The gospel's very relevant. 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.119 Here's a few things. 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.839 Am I glorifying God 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.980 by the way I'm reacting 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.680 and responding? 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.139 This is what you 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:51.900 should ask yourself. 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.819 Should I hold off 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.720 commenting before 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.099 I'm sure I have the facts 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:57.420 so I'm not just venting? 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.279 Do I praise the good 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.900 they do 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.379 as well as critique 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.500 or not just critique 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.079 the bad? 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:06.940 Do I pray for my leaders? 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.279 Because, you know, 00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:09.680 and this is, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.859 oh, I found this convicting. 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.720 I should not post 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.740 or speak a critique 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.400 of a leader 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.559 that I'm not praying for. 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.420 Do you know why? 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.599 Because my heart 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.700 is not entrusting them 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.279 to God. 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:24.059 I'm actually just trying 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.859 to take control 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.700 of the situation 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:27.639 and be what honors me 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.920 rather than what honors Christ. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.359 Because 1 Timothy 2 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.379 tells us to pray 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:33.740 for those in authority. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.819 So are we that kind 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.240 of church 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.920 that does that? 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:38.980 Respectful, 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.819 honoring, 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.359 but still speaking 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.460 where we need to speak 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.799 in a way that causes 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.879 Christ to be honored. 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.460 Because you see, 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:49.359 we live in a polarized world. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:52.039 You're either pro-government 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:52.859 or anti-government. 00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:54.359 But if we're citizens 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:55.399 of another country, 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.299 those who are pro 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.479 will dislike the way 00:26:58.479 --> 00:26:59.599 we critique policies 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.399 which are unjust. 00:27:01.419 --> 00:27:02.559 And those who are anti 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.619 will dislike the way 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.879 we honor people 00:27:04.879 --> 00:27:06.019 they want us to hate. 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:08.079 But we're exiles 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.559 with a different president 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.959 and our lives, 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.579 even our political discourse, 00:27:12.699 --> 00:27:13.839 is patterned after him. 00:27:14.699 --> 00:27:15.539 Does that make sense? 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.799 I think this is challenging. 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.119 But we need to hear this 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.000 even in Hong Kong 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.659 right now. 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:25.139 That's the first point 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:27.240 of how we can live 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.220 differently patterned 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.779 after Jesus. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.559 Second point, 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.119 we need to learn 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.220 how to pattern our lives 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.460 in an unfair world 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.659 as workers 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:37.039 in unjust workplaces. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:43.559 This is tough. 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:44.980 Servants, 00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:46.339 verse 18 to 20, 00:27:47.139 --> 00:27:48.859 be subject to your masters 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:50.960 with all respect, 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:53.240 not only to the good 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.859 and gentle, 00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:56.720 but also to the unjust. 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.200 Don't you just wish 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.940 Peter hadn't put 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.960 some of this stuff in here? 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.680 For this is grace. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.879 That's what it means. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.819 This is grace. 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:07.019 When mindful of God, 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:08.980 one endures sorrows 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.460 while suffering unjustly. 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.420 Let me just say, 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:18.039 the context here, 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:18.839 the Roman Empire 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:20.960 is made up of 25% of slaves. 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.680 So many Christians 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.740 came out of this group. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.819 And life was tough. 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.619 When they converted, 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.440 they came out 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.379 and it's as if 00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:30.059 they were standing 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.859 against the religion 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.659 of their master. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:32.879 And you know, 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.940 a slave could be anything. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.460 They could be 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.460 a domestic helper, 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.500 they could be a tutor, 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.460 they could be a doctor, 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.319 they could be a miner, 00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.299 they could be anything. 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:42.279 But slaves were legal property 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:44.279 of their masters. 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:46.140 There were no career moves 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:46.519 for them. 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.640 It wasn't a kind of 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:48.720 great way out 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.859 that they had available. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.279 Because if they escaped, 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.220 well, the consequences 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.839 could even be death. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.380 And you know, 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.440 just like we have, 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.500 some slaves had good masters, 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:00.000 some slaves had bad masters. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.140 And Jesus still says, 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:08.299 pattern your life after Christ 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.539 whether you have a great boss 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.680 or you have a bad boss. 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.359 And you know, 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:15.460 he's talking to powerless people. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.720 He's talking to those of you 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.420 who have to answer your emails 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.279 at three in the morning 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.200 or you'll just get shouted 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.000 at the next day. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.680 He's talking to those of you 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:24.220 who get unreasonable deadlines 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:25.079 placed on you 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:26.799 and no sense of appreciation 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.579 or recognition 00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.420 for what you do 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:29.119 when you do them. 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.899 He's talking to those of you 00:29:30.899 --> 00:29:32.279 who feel devalued 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:34.219 and who feel exploited in work. 00:29:34.459 --> 00:29:36.119 Who get blamed for mistakes 00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:37.959 that other people have made. 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.539 For those who feel 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.919 you're mistreated and mocked 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.979 even for your faith. 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.439 Some of you know 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.219 what that's like. 00:29:46.739 --> 00:29:47.819 And Peter knows. 00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.019 He says, 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.619 even when you've been 00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.519 trying to do good, 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.259 you've been trying to do 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:51.919 the right thing, 00:29:51.979 --> 00:29:53.179 you've been trying to honor God 00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:54.679 and trying to show integrity 00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:55.459 and work hard 00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.199 and do all the things 00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:56.579 that you know 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.799 good Christians should do 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:59.399 and then you still 00:29:59.399 --> 00:30:00.519 get treated like that. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.879 And that's really hard. 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.319 But he says, 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.359 endure, 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.839 keep going 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:10.700 without letting hate 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.460 or anger 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.079 or insults 00:30:12.659 --> 00:30:13.740 shape you 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:16.079 because this is grace 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.740 to you. 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.720 This is pleasing 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.819 in God's eyes. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.359 In fact, 00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:21.279 it's a sign 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.599 that you are following 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.519 after Christ 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.980 and you will enter 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.779 into resurrection glory. 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.759 Because what Peter 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:31.160 is not saying here, 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:32.079 he's not saying 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.059 if you have a bad boss, 00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.220 just kind of keep calm 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.859 and carry on 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.980 like a good British person. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.259 He's not saying 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.559 have no emotion. 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.799 He calls it sorrow. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:42.779 You see, 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.779 he knows, 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.059 you know, 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.500 have you ever read the Psalms 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:47.359 when they're in unjust situation? 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.480 It's not British emotion. 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.940 It's like filled 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:52.200 with cries to God 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.720 in the midst of injustice. 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.420 So it's not emotionless 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.519 and neither is it 00:30:58.519 --> 00:31:00.079 simply accepting abuse 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.940 just passively 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.819 as if you've got to kind of 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.279 act as a punch bag 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:03.839 for Jesus 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.079 and then kind of 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.680 thank people 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.360 for hitting you. 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.279 That's not what 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.240 he's talking about. 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.920 He says, 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.059 no, 00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:11.400 we honor and respect 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:11.779 our gods 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.539 because when we're 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:14.099 mindful of God, 00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.480 we know 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:16.779 when we go 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.400 into our workplace, 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.539 I've got a higher boss 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.059 than the boss 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.200 who's right in front of me 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:22.279 and he has my allegiance, 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.099 not my boss 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:24.139 straight in front of me 00:31:24.139 --> 00:31:25.279 and sometimes 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.920 that will mean 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.720 you speak out 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.639 where there is injustice 00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:29.059 and sometimes 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.740 that will mean 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:31.019 you actually get out of there 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.759 if actually 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.460 it's going to lead you 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.700 to dishonoring Christ 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:36.200 and for those of you 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.000 who are going through, 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.839 if you are going through 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:39.079 an abusive situation 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:40.379 at work, 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:40.899 in family, 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.559 in any place, 00:31:41.639 --> 00:31:42.920 come and talk to us 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.460 as elders 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:45.000 because we're a community 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.759 we want to walk 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.019 alongside you in that. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.339 Because I want you 00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:49.940 to hear that. 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.539 That's not what 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.819 Peter's talking about. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.000 Peter's talking 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.279 about your heart. 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.779 Because, you know, 00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:59.019 sometimes in work, 00:31:59.139 --> 00:32:00.299 in hard workplaces, 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:02.039 we don't speak out 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.839 when we should 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.899 because we're so 00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:05.359 intimidated and fearful 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.500 because we fear 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.039 we're going to lose 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.379 our job if we say something 00:32:08.379 --> 00:32:09.940 or our sense of worth 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:11.139 has been so crushed 00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:13.139 because what's happened 00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:14.399 is their words 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.600 and our boss 00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:17.340 has actually become 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:18.500 larger in our eyes 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.019 than God 00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.780 and what he says 00:32:19.780 --> 00:32:20.620 about us. 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:21.940 And God, 00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.440 Peter says, 00:32:22.540 --> 00:32:23.780 be mindful of God. 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:24.720 Fear him. 00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:26.440 See him for who he is 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.480 whenever you go 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.519 into your workplace 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:30.519 because he's with you. 00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:32.280 He's with you. 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:33.840 He's with you. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.660 But sometimes 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.759 it's not just fear 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.560 which grips us. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.680 Another response 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.480 when you're treated 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.400 unfairly 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.220 is we kind of 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.200 want to fight back 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.040 and we kind of 00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:44.540 get a little bit 00:32:44.540 --> 00:32:45.880 rebellious in our heart. 00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:47.340 Maybe you don't say it. 00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:48.380 Maybe you just vent 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.460 to all your colleagues 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.360 around and try and 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:51.360 show them how bad 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.120 the boss is. 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.660 Maybe you kind of 00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.540 do the equivalent 00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.600 of spitting in the food 00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:57.720 when you're cooking. 00:32:58.060 --> 00:32:58.560 You withdraw. 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:00.860 We forget 00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:01.759 who we are 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.600 because the passions 00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.300 of our flesh, 00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:03.840 our anger, 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:05.340 begins to eat us up inside. 00:33:07.280 --> 00:33:08.040 I wonder 00:33:08.040 --> 00:33:09.800 how many of you 00:33:09.800 --> 00:33:10.500 have actually become 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.440 so consumed 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.440 with the unfairness 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.400 of your situation 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.039 that it's no longer 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.079 even on your radar 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:16.859 to do good 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:17.779 to your colleagues. 00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.380 Have you ever 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.140 thought about that? 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.900 Because he says, 00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:24.720 or maybe you haven't 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.519 even prayed for them. 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.099 Because he says, 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.019 if you sin 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.160 and are beaten for it, 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.680 in other words, 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.720 you deliberately 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.559 get rebellious 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.720 and then you kind of 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.960 take the punishment 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.480 for it 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.259 and you endure 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:35.819 because I'm going 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.279 to be strong. 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:36.559 He says, 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.539 what reputation, 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.220 what credit 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:38.859 is that to you? 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.119 That doesn't honor Jesus. 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:43.799 You know, 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:45.019 I've shared before 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:47.740 but I had an experience 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.940 with a previous boss 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.299 and it wasn't Tobin. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.920 Just in case, 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.359 you know, 00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.299 rumors spread. 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.700 Where 00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:59.559 a previous boss 00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:01.000 just treated the staff 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:02.000 so terribly. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.059 They lied 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.579 and tried 00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.319 not to pay us 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.940 our salaries. 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.819 They blamed us 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.440 for problems 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.119 at the company 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.599 and when 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:12.079 this particular 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.179 boss left, 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.179 we discovered 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.039 she'd embezzled 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.280 the whole year's profits 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.679 from the company 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.880 and stole half 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.500 of the company's 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.440 computers as well. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:26.380 I was pretty angry 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.579 during this time. 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.280 I was not, 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:30.860 well, 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:32.860 I felt justified 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.700 to be mad. 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.340 I felt absolutely 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.920 justified 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:37.640 because this was unjust. 00:34:38.200 --> 00:34:39.260 The way she was treating 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:40.059 everybody there. 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.420 I was mad. 00:34:42.180 --> 00:34:43.360 And before she left, 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.820 I knew I'm a good Christian 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:46.019 so I'd be polite 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.740 on the outside 00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:47.519 but on the inside 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.380 I was a furnace 00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:49.140 of hatred. 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:52.120 Anyone ever been like that? 00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:52.880 Was it just me? 00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:53.960 Okay. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.440 Okay. 00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:58.559 Okay. 00:34:58.840 --> 00:34:59.179 Well, 00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:01.179 come and see me afterwards 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.099 and pray for me. 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.699 But you know, 00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:08.659 I wouldn't pray for her. 00:35:09.720 --> 00:35:10.480 I'd join in 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.260 with all the venting 00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:12.139 at all my colleagues 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:13.720 and I had not even 00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.420 one thought 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.539 to do anything good 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:15.940 to her. 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.440 Didn't cross my mind. 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.940 I was not mindful 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.539 of God. 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.740 I was mindful 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:23.480 of her sin. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.800 I was mindful 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.659 of all the things 00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:27.000 I wanted to say to her 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.599 but didn't have 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.599 the courage to say. 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.920 But I wasn't mindful 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:32.000 of who God had called me 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:33.340 to be in that situation 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:34.679 and that my God 00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:35.500 was with me 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.500 right there. 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.460 And then one day 00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.639 I was reading my Bible 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:41.920 and God spoke to me 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.240 and said, 00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:43.420 have you prayed for, 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.539 and let's call her Mary, 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.400 and I went, 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:47.519 no. 00:35:48.240 --> 00:35:48.940 No way. 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.699 I'm not going to pray 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.320 for her. 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.460 Don't you know 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.220 what she's done? 00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:55.539 And I felt God's voice 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.759 coming back at me 00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.099 and says, 00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.559 yes. 00:35:58.759 --> 00:35:59.519 And do you know 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.239 what you've done 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:00.799 to me? 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.219 Jesus himself 00:36:04.859 --> 00:36:06.359 bore your sin, 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:06.819 Chris, 00:36:06.879 --> 00:36:07.919 on that cross. 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:10.639 By his wounds 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.439 you were healed. 00:36:12.859 --> 00:36:13.159 Chris, 00:36:13.259 --> 00:36:14.079 you are a victim 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.019 of injustice 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.859 but you're also 00:36:15.859 --> 00:36:16.219 a perpetrator 00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:16.819 perpetrator 00:36:16.819 --> 00:36:17.559 of injustice 00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:18.739 in the way 00:36:18.739 --> 00:36:19.719 that you have responded 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:21.139 to people 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.659 who are made 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.459 in my image. 00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.439 And Christ, 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:25.919 Chris, 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.639 is not just 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:27.419 your example. 00:36:27.819 --> 00:36:28.279 He's also 00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:28.939 the Savior 00:36:28.939 --> 00:36:30.419 who needs to save you 00:36:30.419 --> 00:36:31.159 from yourself 00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:33.639 to show you mercy, 00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:35.059 to save you 00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:36.059 even from your bitterness 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:37.000 right now, 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.739 to show you 00:36:38.739 --> 00:36:39.419 that grace. 00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:41.699 And he said to me, 00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:41.879 you know, 00:36:41.919 --> 00:36:42.839 I've called you 00:36:42.839 --> 00:36:44.119 from being a wandering, 00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:45.679 stray sheep, 00:36:45.859 --> 00:36:46.900 as Peter calls it, 00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:48.059 insecure, 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:49.480 vulnerable, 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.739 feeling the need 00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:52.500 to passively fight back. 00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.460 But now, 00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:55.839 he said, 00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.719 you've got a shepherd 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:57.739 who cares 00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:58.679 for your soul. 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.239 You're mine, 00:37:00.359 --> 00:37:01.279 I've got you. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:04.259 And you know, 00:37:04.299 --> 00:37:05.539 as God convicted me 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.779 of my own sinfulness 00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:08.900 and I repented, 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.279 I began to pray 00:37:10.279 --> 00:37:11.639 regularly for my boss. 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.380 And do you know what? 00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.099 It's hard. 00:37:14.299 --> 00:37:15.019 Those of you who know 00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.859 what I'm talking about, 00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:16.940 it's hard. 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.079 But do you know, 00:37:19.139 --> 00:37:19.839 over time, 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:21.400 God gave me courage 00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.400 to speak out 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.659 where there was injustice 00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:24.699 because my fear 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:25.920 of losing my job 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.759 if I spoke out 00:37:26.759 --> 00:37:27.440 lessened 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:28.400 as I saw 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.059 that my boss 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.819 was insecure 00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:31.440 and she didn't hold 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.239 my future, 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:32.900 my career, 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.739 in her hands. 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.759 Jesus did. 00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:37.019 And I could speak 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:37.679 without hatred 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.500 and fear 00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:40.039 and still honor her 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.940 in my words, 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:42.740 but still talk 00:37:42.740 --> 00:37:43.539 about the issues 00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:44.240 with clarity 00:37:44.240 --> 00:37:45.360 and directness 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.780 because Jesus 00:37:46.780 --> 00:37:47.440 is the shepherd 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.280 of my soul 00:37:48.280 --> 00:37:49.200 and he's going 00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:49.940 to bring me through. 00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:52.460 You know, 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:53.500 it was Easter time 00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:55.159 and I went 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:56.039 and bought Easter eggs 00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:57.019 for all my colleagues 00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:58.780 and I bought one 00:37:58.780 --> 00:37:59.519 for everyone 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:01.780 except her. 00:38:01.780 --> 00:38:08.019 And I felt God 00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:09.240 tug in my heart 00:38:09.240 --> 00:38:09.840 saying, 00:38:10.540 --> 00:38:11.340 love your enemies, 00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:12.940 do good to those 00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:14.080 who persecute you. 00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:15.480 How different are you 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:16.780 from all the pagans 00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:17.420 around you 00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.200 if you just love 00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:19.220 the people who love you? 00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.440 You see, 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.380 in an unjust world, 00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.040 we're not called 00:38:23.040 --> 00:38:25.340 to be just avoiding sin. 00:38:25.580 --> 00:38:25.920 We're called 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:27.600 to be actively doing good 00:38:27.600 --> 00:38:28.780 to those people 00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:29.800 around us. 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:31.380 And you know what? 00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:32.300 This is the last thing 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:32.760 I'll say. 00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:35.760 You cannot do that 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:36.780 from your heart 00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:38.660 by yourself. 00:38:39.660 --> 00:38:40.640 Try it. 00:38:43.640 --> 00:38:45.460 Unless you are mindful 00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:46.260 of the one 00:38:46.260 --> 00:38:47.240 who has done that 00:38:47.240 --> 00:38:48.019 for you, 00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.880 unless you see 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.480 the cross, 00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:52.800 you can wear your cross 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:53.740 around your neck, 00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:55.740 you can sing a few songs 00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:56.440 about the cross, 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.500 we can take communion, 00:38:57.820 --> 00:38:59.059 but until you see 00:38:59.059 --> 00:39:00.779 Jesus who died 00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:01.699 for you 00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:02.639 and the pattern 00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:03.360 of your life 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:04.259 is to be patterned 00:39:04.259 --> 00:39:04.960 after him, 00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:07.079 until you see 00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:08.500 that the resurrection 00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.880 follows the cross, 00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:13.019 until you see 00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:14.400 that you can entrust 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.860 and hand over 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:17.239 the situations 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:18.159 you're going through 00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:18.880 right now 00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:19.539 to him 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:21.360 who judges justly, 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:23.320 you can trust him 00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:23.739 with whatever 00:39:23.739 --> 00:39:24.559 you're going through. 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:26.500 You can trust him. 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:28.239 And that, 00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.440 as we wait 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:29.840 for him 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:31.199 to sort things out, 00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.239 we long 00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:33.260 for his return 00:39:33.260 --> 00:39:33.940 to come. 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:36.619 So your anger, 00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:37.739 your fear, 00:39:38.099 --> 00:39:38.860 your sorrow, 00:39:39.219 --> 00:39:40.019 you're just continually 00:39:40.019 --> 00:39:40.880 in community 00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:41.739 giving that back 00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:42.340 to God. 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.440 What will happen 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:46.860 is your life 00:39:46.860 --> 00:39:47.199 will begin 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:47.860 to be a witness 00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:48.599 to the people 00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:49.280 around you. 00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.780 Some will mock, 00:39:51.579 --> 00:39:52.239 but there will be 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:53.400 some who are drawn 00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.820 to see the gospel 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.440 lived out 00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:56.159 in your life. 00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.840 So how mindful 00:39:58.840 --> 00:39:59.460 have you been 00:39:59.460 --> 00:39:59.940 of Jesus 00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.940 in your workplace 00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:01.519 this week? 00:40:02.720 --> 00:40:04.179 Let's be mindful 00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.720 of him this week. 00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:06.820 Let's pray. 00:40:06.820 --> 00:40:19.980 Father, 00:40:20.140 --> 00:40:20.539 there's, 00:40:21.780 --> 00:40:23.760 I know there's 00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:24.660 many people here 00:40:24.660 --> 00:40:25.860 who struggle 00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:29.559 with what we've 00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:30.320 been talking about. 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:31.300 I know I do, 00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:31.700 Father. 00:40:31.700 --> 00:40:31.820 Father, 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:35.519 and I pray 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:36.139 for us, 00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:36.480 Lord. 00:40:38.139 --> 00:40:39.340 I pray for those 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:39.880 right now 00:40:39.880 --> 00:40:40.780 who know exactly 00:40:40.780 --> 00:40:41.519 that that bitterness 00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:42.159 has really been 00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:42.920 eating them up. 00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:46.079 Whether that's 00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:47.099 being expressed 00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:48.800 towards leaders 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:50.340 in political situations, 00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:51.019 whether that's 00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.880 expressed towards 00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:52.920 bosses or others, 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:53.119 Lord, 00:40:53.139 --> 00:40:53.759 I pray 00:40:53.759 --> 00:40:56.719 that you would 00:40:56.719 --> 00:40:57.739 soften our hearts 00:40:57.739 --> 00:40:58.619 to see you. 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:01.619 Open our eyes 00:41:01.619 --> 00:41:02.400 to see who you've 00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.280 called us to be. 00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.760 show us that we 00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:06.740 cannot do it 00:41:06.740 --> 00:41:07.760 by ourselves. 00:41:09.180 --> 00:41:10.060 Show us that we 00:41:10.060 --> 00:41:11.060 need to have you 00:41:11.060 --> 00:41:12.320 in front of our face 00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:14.019 every single day, 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:17.360 reminding ourselves 00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:18.320 of the incredible 00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:18.920 gospel 00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:20.700 so that, 00:41:20.820 --> 00:41:20.940 Lord, 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:21.760 we just see that 00:41:21.760 --> 00:41:22.200 you are both 00:41:22.200 --> 00:41:22.820 our savior 00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:23.780 and our example. 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:26.200 Let us be a 00:41:26.200 --> 00:41:27.280 community in this 00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:27.580 city, 00:41:27.660 --> 00:41:28.640 even as we go 00:41:28.640 --> 00:41:29.680 into places 00:41:29.680 --> 00:41:30.620 of so many office 00:41:30.620 --> 00:41:31.200 politics, 00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:32.219 so many things 00:41:32.219 --> 00:41:33.379 which are filled 00:41:33.379 --> 00:41:34.159 with polarized 00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:34.939 hatred. 00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:36.099 May we be 00:41:36.099 --> 00:41:36.559 different, 00:41:36.739 --> 00:41:36.919 Lord. 00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:38.960 Forgive us 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:39.460 where we have 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:39.980 gone along 00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:40.379 with where 00:41:40.379 --> 00:41:40.879 everyone else 00:41:40.879 --> 00:41:41.480 goes along. 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.299 Change us, 00:41:43.419 --> 00:41:43.639 Lord. 00:41:44.759 --> 00:41:45.679 Bring healing 00:41:45.679 --> 00:41:46.379 to those who 00:41:46.379 --> 00:41:46.619 have been 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:47.319 really wounded 00:41:47.319 --> 00:41:49.679 in their workplaces, 00:41:49.799 --> 00:41:50.259 I pray. 00:41:50.859 --> 00:41:51.379 I really feel 00:41:51.379 --> 00:41:51.839 there are some 00:41:51.839 --> 00:41:52.179 people, 00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:53.119 you've just 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:53.980 been crushed 00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:55.519 and Jesus 00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:56.240 wants to say 00:41:56.240 --> 00:41:56.460 to you, 00:41:56.519 --> 00:41:56.820 I want you 00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:57.440 to look up 00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:58.240 and see me 00:41:58.240 --> 00:41:59.199 and see how 00:41:59.199 --> 00:41:59.900 much value 00:41:59.900 --> 00:42:00.639 I give you 00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:01.500 because I 00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:02.860 died for you 00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:03.800 to bring you 00:42:03.800 --> 00:42:04.699 into my people. 00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:06.019 Father, 00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:06.699 I pray 00:42:06.699 --> 00:42:07.579 that you'd 00:42:07.579 --> 00:42:08.079 make us 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.780 this kind 00:42:08.780 --> 00:42:09.780 of counter-cultural 00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:10.340 community 00:42:10.340 --> 00:42:11.079 in this city, 00:42:11.500 --> 00:42:12.940 that you would 00:42:12.940 --> 00:42:13.619 be our highest 00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:14.079 allegiance 00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:15.800 and that we'd 00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:16.460 live for you. 00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:16.579 Amen. 00:42:16.579 --> 00:42:17.099 Amen. 00:42:17.099 --> 00:42:17.659 Amen. 00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:17.699 Amen. 00:42:17.699 --> 00:42:17.740 Amen. 00:42:17.740 --> 00:42:17.780 Amen. 00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.000 Amen. 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:18.280 Amen. 00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:18.300 Amen. 00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:18.400 Amen. 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:18.579 Amen. 00:42:18.579 --> 00:42:19.099 Amen. 00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:19.599 Amen. 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:19.639 Amen. 00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:19.679 Amen. 00:42:19.679 --> 00:42:19.699 Amen. 00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:19.719 Amen. 00:42:19.719 --> 00:42:20.199 Amen. 00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:20.240 Amen. 00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:20.659 Amen. 00:42:20.659 --> 00:42:20.679 Amen.