WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.679 We're going to get back in our series here in this little letter that Peter wrote to those that are scattered and enjoying this letter. 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:16.820 I hope that you are as well. Brother, can you turn me down just a tad? I feel a little louder than I should. 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:23.439 But it's good to be here. Thanks for coming tonight. I know that some of you aren't able to stay, but if you are, we'd love for you to stay afterwards and just eat some cereal. 00:00:23.880 --> 00:00:27.339 You say, I don't like cereal. That's your own problem, but you can stay and hang out with us, Justin. 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:31.940 And so we can do those things and just enjoy some time together as a church family. 00:00:32.379 --> 00:00:34.420 A good opportunity just to fellowship a little bit. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:41.039 And excited about this message this evening here in the epistle of 1 Peter, chapter number 3. 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:44.359 You found your place. We're going to read verses 8 down through verse number 12. 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:45.380 The Bible says this. 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:51.280 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another. 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.320 Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 00:00:54.840 --> 00:01:00.100 Not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrawise blessing. 00:01:00.100 --> 00:01:05.120 Knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing. 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:13.960 For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:19.180 Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue it. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:23.620 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers. 00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:28.760 But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:37.859 So here in 1 Peter, chapter 3, we see that Peter's kind of bringing this section to a close that he started here in the middle part of chapter number 2. 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:40.500 And he's reminding us that we're living as pilgrims. 00:01:40.880 --> 00:01:42.560 And he's kind of dealt with different situations. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:46.400 And he's going to kind of wrap it all up and say, hey, this is what a Christian looks like. 00:01:46.740 --> 00:01:49.120 This is how we live life in the family of God. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:57.040 This is how a church operates and what it should look like to the outside world and to those that are even in here in the church family. 00:01:57.180 --> 00:01:58.439 So that's what we're going to look at tonight. 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:00.819 We're going to talk about this, a family resemblance. 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:02.980 That we should resemble somebody. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:05.039 And that somebody's Jesus Christ. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:06.560 And that's what the world needs to see. 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:08.759 So let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask him for help tonight. 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:10.079 And then we'll jump right in. 00:02:10.139 --> 00:02:13.219 Father, thank you for this opportunity that we can gather here. 00:02:13.539 --> 00:02:16.000 Thankful for the songs once again about the cross. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.500 And I'm thankful for what you did for me on the cross of Calvary. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:20.500 And I'm sure everybody in here is the same way. 00:02:20.579 --> 00:02:26.000 If there is somebody that doesn't know you as their Savior, Lord, that today, this evening, would be that day of salvation. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:28.879 Lord, I pray you'd be with me, that you would just help me. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:29.800 Lord, give me the strength. 00:02:30.020 --> 00:02:33.259 Lord, give me the words to say that it would be a help to these people tonight. 00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:34.400 We ask it in Christ's name. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:35.180 Amen. 00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:36.039 Thank you so much for standing. 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:36.479 You may be seated. 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:41.699 You know, we all have that moment in our life where we try to avoid it. 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:42.319 We try to avoid it. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:43.620 We try to act like it's not there. 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:46.180 We adamantly oppose it. 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:48.700 But then you realize you are your parents. 00:02:50.420 --> 00:02:52.080 It just comes in waves. 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:55.240 And it hits you at different times and in different situations. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.120 And we were looking through some of the photos that we took on vacation. 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:00.960 And it was just, we're just scrolling through. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:02.240 And Renee's showing us all. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:02.740 And we're looking. 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:04.280 And then we come to this one photo. 00:03:04.700 --> 00:03:08.580 And it was like I was looking at my dad when he was 40 with me. 00:03:09.380 --> 00:03:12.140 And it was just, you ever had those moments where it just hits you? 00:03:12.160 --> 00:03:14.040 And I told her, I said, oh my goodness gracious. 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:16.500 And I even remember what I was saying. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:18.100 I was saying something that my dad would say. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:20.180 I'm like, this is not great. 00:03:20.420 --> 00:03:21.800 I was like, let's delete this photo. 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:23.780 But, you know, you see it. 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:27.660 And sometimes even as you live with your family, you live with your spouse. 00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:30.540 I mean, you see older couples that have been married forever. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:32.340 They just look like each other. 00:03:32.820 --> 00:03:35.560 I mean, they start to resemble each other in so many different ways. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:36.740 And sometimes it's physical. 00:03:36.740 --> 00:03:39.560 And, I mean, you see a father and a son standing together. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.400 And you think to yourself, you never met them from Adam. 00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:44.240 But you're like, there's no doubt they're related. 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:45.920 I mean, you can just see it there. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:50.060 Sometimes it's the way that people laugh and the expressions they use, 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:52.719 the mannerisms that you pick up from one another. 00:03:53.700 --> 00:03:54.740 I'm sure you've heard it. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:55.760 You've said it to other people. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:00.200 You know, I remember we'd go and visit my grandparents in my dad's hometown. 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:02.260 And they'd say, you act just like your dad. 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:05.620 And, you know, or sometimes you sound just like your mother. 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:07.259 And, you know, we try to push it back. 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:09.140 But there's a reason that happens. 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:11.640 Because families share a resemblance. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:13.080 They share commonalities. 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:14.360 They share mannerisms. 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:16.079 You spend so much time together. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:20.060 And then the more you live together, the more that you're around each other, 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.620 the simple fact is you're going to reflect one another. 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:28.959 But Peter's going to remind us, and he's kind of been reminding us through this letter already, 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:32.500 that that's how our spiritual life should be as well. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:35.939 That we are a church family. 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:39.240 We're not just a group of people that gather once in a while. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.840 No, God has placed us within this body of Christ. 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:44.120 He has placed us within this local church. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:46.800 And if somebody walked into our church for the first time, 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.379 there should be some things they notice right off the bat. 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:52.139 There should be some family resemblances. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:55.600 And the most important thing they should see is, hey, these people, 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:57.920 they kind of act like they like to be here. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:00.259 They kind of enjoy each other's company. 00:05:00.659 --> 00:05:02.120 And they should be able to see it. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:02.240 Why? 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:05.339 Because we should have a joyful spirit about us. 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:08.839 We should be thankful that we can gather and we can worship Christ. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.379 Because that's who we should all resemble. 00:05:10.659 --> 00:05:13.159 They may not know why we're all so excited. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:14.040 But here's the reason why. 00:05:14.180 --> 00:05:15.339 Because Jesus loves us. 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:16.800 Jesus died for us. 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:18.159 Jesus changed our life. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.800 That's what Peter's going to show us here in this text. 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.780 See, as we've been walking through this little letter, 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:29.280 Peter's been teaching us what it means to live as pilgrims in a world that is not our home. 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:32.520 And really, since the middle part of chapter number two, 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:39.860 he's reminded us that our heavenly citizenship should shape our earthly relationships. 00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:42.280 No matter what situation it is. 00:05:42.700 --> 00:05:46.460 And he dealt with how Christians should respond to the government. 00:05:46.459 --> 00:05:49.959 How we should respond in difficult workplaces. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:54.620 He was talking to servants, but he's really just talking to people that are in difficult situations. 00:05:54.739 --> 00:05:56.500 And maybe bosses that aren't kind. 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:57.699 How do we respond? 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:03.899 The last couple weeks, he showed us how wives ought to honor Christ in marriage. 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:05.819 And how husbands ought to honor Christ in marriage. 00:06:06.299 --> 00:06:09.500 A lot of these relationships that we are going to face every single day. 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:13.099 And now he's coming here in verse number eight in a classic preacher movie. 00:06:13.179 --> 00:06:13.799 He says, finally. 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:15.859 And he's still got two and a half chapters left. 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.500 I appreciate Peter and Paul for those kind of things. 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:21.560 They say it and then they just keep writing. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:24.500 But he's not ending the letter when he says, finally. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:32.000 He's bringing this section, this idea of submission and living a life that is visible to others for the cause of Christ. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.540 He wants us to see how that looks as a whole. 00:06:37.100 --> 00:06:39.360 Because he's kind of dealt with very specific situations. 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:41.980 But now he's gathering everything that he's been teaching. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:44.139 And he's kind of widening the application. 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:49.199 And he's saying, hey, this isn't just for husbands and wives or people that are employees or employers. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:53.300 No, this is how every follower of Jesus should live their life. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.099 It should be here within the church. 00:06:56.159 --> 00:07:00.259 But it should be also outside of these walls and in our homes and in our relationships. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:04.199 Because you remember Peter's writing to these people that are scattered. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:08.099 People that are all over the world because of the persecution. 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:13.240 But he has a burden because the world is constantly seeing division. 00:07:14.099 --> 00:07:15.539 And that's not just a first century problem. 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:16.959 That's the same problem we face today. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:19.339 The world is constantly seeing division. 00:07:19.659 --> 00:07:20.919 And they've seen enough anger. 00:07:21.039 --> 00:07:22.379 And they've seen enough selfishness. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:23.379 And they've seen enough bitterness. 00:07:23.799 --> 00:07:27.199 And he says, listen, when they look at you, they ought to see something different. 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:30.019 When they look at the church of God, they should see something different. 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:33.179 When they look at a Christian, they ought to see Jesus. 00:07:33.979 --> 00:07:35.719 That's what Peter's bringing them to this point. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:37.779 One preacher said it like this. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:39.319 The world needs to see Christianity. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.939 Not buildings, not programs, not successes. 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:44.620 But just genuine Christian living. 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:46.959 I think that's what the world does need to see. 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:49.560 They need to see what an authentic Christian looks like. 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:53.540 Because a lot of times the world has a very bad representation of what a Christian is. 00:07:53.579 --> 00:07:56.300 It's somebody that said something but lived a completely different way. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:02.000 And what Peter's saying, these are some things that need to be evident in our life if we're going to be followers of Christ. 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:07.420 Because our greatest testimony is not merely what we say we are, but it's how we live. 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:09.420 It's how we treat one another. 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:12.780 So kind of the big idea of the text as we get into it is this. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:16.759 Is the gospel, it doesn't merely just prepare us for heaven someday. 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:21.800 No, it changes the way that we live in God's family today. 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.140 That we need to be reminded of that. 00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:26.379 So we're taking notes, we're going to answer this question. 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:28.400 If Jesus has changed us on the inside. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.360 If the gospel has changed our life completely. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.279 What should that look like on the outside? 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:37.039 What does that look like in real time? 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:38.480 How does it look today? 00:08:38.579 --> 00:08:40.279 How's it going to look in your life this week? 00:08:40.839 --> 00:08:43.059 The first thing that we see is found here in verse number 8. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.919 Is that we are to love like Christ. 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:48.120 Verse number 8, he says this, 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:53.000 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another. 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:53.939 Love as brethren. 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.079 Be pitiful. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:56.699 Be courteous. 00:08:58.079 --> 00:09:05.219 In this single sentence, he gives us five characteristics, five marks that should be on every believer's life. 00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:11.080 Now, much like the Beatitudes, these aren't personality traits. 00:09:11.779 --> 00:09:15.779 Sometimes we read the Beatitudes, I mean, I can do this one, but that's just not my disposition. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.580 That's not my personality. 00:09:18.040 --> 00:09:19.440 That's not what Peter's saying. 00:09:19.540 --> 00:09:20.759 That's not what Jesus is saying. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:25.180 These aren't suggestions and the ones that are easy for you, then apply them to your life. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:26.879 And the other ones, somebody else can take care of that. 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:29.720 Let me say, no, this needs to be a characteristic of your life. 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:31.720 The other ones, of how you live. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.379 And here's what they are. 00:09:33.700 --> 00:09:35.899 They're part of that family resemblance. 00:09:36.680 --> 00:09:41.980 The closer you are to Christ, the closer you are to one another, these should be things that are coming out. 00:09:42.420 --> 00:09:45.879 That people get around you, they begin to realize, man, I need that in my life. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:51.139 And as we walk through these little snippets that Peter gives us, 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:56.779 I want us to notice how every one of them points us away from ourselves and towards other people. 00:09:57.319 --> 00:09:59.100 Because that's what Jesus calls us to do. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:01.059 That's how Jesus lived his life. 00:10:01.580 --> 00:10:03.059 He didn't come to be ministered unto. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:04.539 No, he came to minister. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:05.519 He came to serve. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:07.980 He came to give his life a ransom for many. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:16.759 And so the first thing that we see here in our text is Peter reminds us that we are to be united. 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.179 That we are to be united. 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:23.419 He says, finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind. 00:10:23.939 --> 00:10:28.739 He brings this out and he's not saying that we all should think identically. 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.419 Because we don't. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:35.019 Everybody here has different opinions and has different likes and different personalities. 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:37.099 And we understand that. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:40.859 He's not saying that we have to all have the same preferences. 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:46.679 And we have to be all on the same page and have the same opinions about every non-essential issue. 00:10:47.479 --> 00:10:49.039 That's not what Peter is saying. 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.959 No, unity is much different than that. 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:56.679 Here's the unity that he wants us as believers, us as a family of God to have. 00:10:56.839 --> 00:10:57.719 A shared heart. 00:10:58.479 --> 00:10:59.719 The heart that God has. 00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:02.559 That when we love God, we're naturally going to love people. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.959 We're going to love the things that God loves. 00:11:04.219 --> 00:11:05.919 He's talking about having a shared purpose. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:09.699 Listen, we can gather here for all kinds of reasons. 00:11:09.839 --> 00:11:11.159 And I'm excited about eating cereal. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.419 I'm excited about fellowship. 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:14.159 And I'm excited about things that God is doing in our church. 00:11:14.339 --> 00:11:15.279 But here's our purpose. 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:16.599 To make Christ known. 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.479 That's why we're here. 00:11:18.979 --> 00:11:21.879 That's the job that Christ has called us to. 00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:23.099 It's this unity. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.099 It's this shared commitment to Jesus Christ. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:30.839 That's what Paul urged the Philippians there in Philippians 2. 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:37.060 He said, be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. 00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:41.040 Listen, unity is not uniformity. 00:11:42.160 --> 00:11:43.639 No, no, I'm thankful for that. 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:48.180 I'm thankful that this is not just a machine shop and God's just trying to make us all the exact same. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:52.980 No, he's given us different talents and personalities and interests and gifts. 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:55.720 And we're one body, but we're many parts. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:58.259 We see that multiple times in the New Testament. 00:11:58.259 --> 00:12:00.460 Paul talks at length about that. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:04.700 And the church should be wonderfully diverse. 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:07.860 I'm thankful that this church is a church. 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:09.779 It's a multi-generational church. 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:14.439 That we're not all just, hey, this is the age group you have to be in to be plugged in this church. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:16.620 No, if you're breathing, you're welcome here. 00:12:17.439 --> 00:12:18.179 No, we need that. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.399 I'm thankful we're having all these baby showers. 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:25.700 And then we have teenagers that are locked in and engaged here in services. 00:12:25.819 --> 00:12:27.500 I'm thankful for the young classes. 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:29.379 I'm thankful for the older saints. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.059 Listen, we need that diversity. 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.440 We need different backgrounds. 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:36.259 The church should have different gifts. 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.940 That's why God's placed you here, by the way. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:39.860 You're not here by accident. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:42.700 You're here because this is where God led you and you have a gift. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.700 And here's what he wants you to do. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.659 Use it within the body of Christ. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:48.159 We have different personalities. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:53.339 But we are united around one Savior, one gospel, one mission. 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.039 And that's what Peter's saying. 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:57.879 He said, listen, you need to be all of one mind. 00:12:58.079 --> 00:12:59.819 Because here's the reason why. 00:12:59.959 --> 00:13:02.819 When we're focused on the mission, then we're going to continue on the mission. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.539 Because Satan cannot destroy the church. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.000 Praise the Lord for that. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:11.120 Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:12.720 But he can't destroy it from the outside. 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.240 But here's what he's very good at. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.279 Dividing it from the inside. 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.379 That's his kind of M.O. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:22.480 And what he wants to do is to render it ineffective. 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:28.120 Because the sad reality is, even today, all across this country, there were so-called churches meeting. 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:29.720 But they're not really a church anymore. 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:34.039 You've got different sects and you've got different groups and you've got this and you've got all these things. 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.580 The mission, nobody really knows what it is. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.379 Here's the mission. 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.399 Go ye therefore. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:39.980 And we have to be reminded of that truth. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:45.460 And one of his greatest weapons against the church and against the people of God has always been disunity. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:50.159 You get a little rumbling within a church family. 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.480 You get a little rumbling within a family. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.120 Things start to go sideways. 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:56.220 And Peter's saying, listen, we're going to have some family resemblance. 00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:57.759 We need to make sure we're on the same page. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.940 We need to be of one mind. 00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:03.500 See, healthy churches fight for unity. 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:06.639 That's the thing we should be fighting for. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:09.460 That's what God wants us to be striving for. 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:14.080 You read John chapter 17 as Jesus is praying the prayer right before he goes to the cross. 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:16.940 Here's what he prayed for, that we might be united. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:21.259 He said this, Lord, I'm praying for them. 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:22.779 That they would be like me and you. 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:24.139 We'd be on the same page. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.379 Because when people walk into a church, they should know something different. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.500 They should say, hey, something different is here. 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:30.100 Here's what it is. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.539 Jesus is alive and he's guiding our lives individually. 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:38.000 And when we come to that realization as a church, we're going to move together as a whole. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:44.259 See, we're not here because we always agree and everybody loves everybody all the time. 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:47.100 No, we're here because Christ loves us. 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:50.259 And because of that, we're going to do our very best to love one another. 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:52.840 We're going to do our very best to stay on the same page. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.159 And we love Jesus more than we love getting our own way. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.440 That is the goal that God has for us. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:02.200 So Peter says, here's what you need to have, some resemblance. 00:15:02.280 --> 00:15:05.420 You need to have this family resemblance of being united. 00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:08.000 Also, he wants us to be compassionate. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:14.560 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another. 00:15:15.780 --> 00:15:19.260 The word literally means this, to suffer together. 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:28.960 It carries the idea of entering into another person's joy or another person's sorrow or another person's grief. 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:31.120 See, here's what compassion does. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:34.039 It doesn't mean that we just remain emotionally distanced. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:38.799 You know, we have things in the South where we say things like this, bless their heart. 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:44.799 You know, sometimes we say that because that means they're really dumb and they shouldn't have done that. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:52.359 Sometimes there is an actual need, but we just feel better about ourselves if we say, bless their heart or I'm praying for you. 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:54.120 And we just like kind of let it be. 00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:56.599 That's not what Peter is saying here. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:03.339 Being compassionate, showing compassion one of another is not just kind of remaining at arm's length. 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:05.079 We don't say, hey, that's your problem. 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:10.240 No, one of the wonderful things about a church family is that you step into the burden with them. 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:13.819 The Bible commands us in the New Testament to bear one another's burdens. 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:15.260 To pray for one another. 00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:16.640 To lift one another up. 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.940 Hey, because here's the idea. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:19.960 When one member hurts, the body hurts. 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:22.280 I mean, stub your pinky toe. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:25.540 Some of you probably didn't, you've not thought about your pinky toe all day. 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:27.740 You stub it, you'll think about it. 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:31.360 I mean, it renders you ineffective. 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:35.600 And when one little member of our church hurts, here's what we all do. 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.720 We hurt as a church body. 00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:38.020 We hurt as a church family. 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:40.640 When one member rejoices, the family celebrates. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:45.699 And that's what Peter's reminding us, that we move towards each other. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:49.860 Because one of the greatest testimonies of a healthy church is that no one has to suffer alone, 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.000 or celebrate alone, or walk through life alone. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:54.179 No, we're here on the same goal and the same mission. 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.220 We get to do it together. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.840 And we can have compassion one for another. 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.319 So we need to be united. 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.659 We need to be compassionate. 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:04.599 And then he says this, love as brethren. 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:09.419 See, the church is more than an organization. 00:17:10.679 --> 00:17:12.639 It's more than a gathering. 00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:16.899 It's more than a weekly meeting, a weekend activity. 00:17:17.199 --> 00:17:18.299 No, it's a family. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.379 And that's what Peter uses here. 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:23.119 He intentionally uses family language. 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.319 He said brethren. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:27.259 Brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:30.059 And it means that we care for one another. 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.460 And we do these things. 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.619 Because we know this. 00:17:32.879 --> 00:17:33.859 Families aren't perfect. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.440 Yeah. 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:38.140 You don't have to pretend like it is. 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:40.400 I mean, you look at some people's Instagram and Facebook. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.539 They're like, their family's perfect. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.119 No, that's the highlight reel. 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:47.039 Because I'm sure you have some family photos like this. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.160 We look all happy. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:51.480 But getting that photo was difficult. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.379 You're going to smile. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.900 And you're going to act like you love each other. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:57.320 And then, like, I mean, you're storming off. 00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.600 I mean, we've probably all been there. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.300 Listen, families aren't perfect. 00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:02.100 Every family has disagreements. 00:18:02.340 --> 00:18:04.640 But here's what a godly family does. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.460 Is they are committed to one another. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:09.420 And Peter says that should be real in your life. 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.600 That should be real in your church family. 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:13.500 That we are committed one to another. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.200 That's how we should function. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.900 That this shouldn't be a place of division. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:23.780 No, it ought to be a place where people come and they discover something much different than they experienced all week at work. 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:25.399 Maybe what they experience in their home. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:29.119 Maybe what they experience in their neighborhoods and whatever relationships they have. 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:31.680 No, when they walk into the family of God, they're thinking this. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.759 I don't know what's going on here, but I want to be a part of something like this. 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:38.440 Peter's saying that should be real in your life. 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.599 That the love is not manufactured. 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.079 It's not some fake smile. 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:45.899 It doesn't mean that everybody in the church, you have to be best friends with everybody. 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.000 But we understand this. 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:48.519 That we're all in the same thing together. 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.420 That we're all in the same family. 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:52.220 And we learn to love. 00:18:52.300 --> 00:18:53.180 We learn to grow. 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.779 He goes on and says this. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.740 In the next phrase, be pitiful. 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:02.400 The idea is tender hearted. 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:06.940 See, in our English language, this word has changed a lot over time. 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.720 When we say, oh man, they're pitiful. 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:14.180 You know, we would think they're weak and they're pathetic and they can't really do anything. 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:16.420 That's not what Peter is saying here. 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:20.160 That is not the idea behind showing pity or being pitiful. 00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:22.779 What he's describing is a heart that is tender. 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:25.259 A heart that is merciful. 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.420 And I'm thankful for the mercies of God in my life. 00:19:29.060 --> 00:19:31.500 I'm thankful that Jesus Christ is merciful to me. 00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:36.240 I'm thankful that his mercies are new every single morning. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.840 I'm thankful that God's heart is tender towards mine. 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:42.000 And that's the idea that he's showing. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:45.059 That yes, we're going to have difficulties as family. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:47.059 But we should be quick to forgive. 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.160 We should be quick to care. 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:54.059 And instead of becoming hardened by life or hardened by things that happen, 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:58.000 a Christian, somebody that's in the family of God, 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:01.440 should allow the Holy Spirit to keep their heart soft. 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.400 It's something we've got to think about. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.279 Something we've got to pray about. 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:07.420 Because if we don't seek the Lord and we're not asking for his help, 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.799 here's the reality. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:11.299 Our hearts can become calloused really fast. 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:13.359 Even within the church family. 00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:16.079 I'll be here, but I'm not saying anything to them. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:19.599 I mean, they took my seat one time, and I'm never going to forgive them. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:22.059 You know, grievous sins like that. 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:31.379 But in all seriousness, God says a hard heart is not something that should be cultivated in the family of God. 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.059 Do you know what a hard heart does? 00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:34.039 It builds walls. 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:36.279 It doesn't let people in. 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:38.000 It keeps people out. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:41.919 And we kind of have our little group and our little people and our little family. 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:45.659 No, but Jesus is reminding us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Peter 00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:47.440 that a tender heart, here's what it does. 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.379 It builds bridges. 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:51.559 It finds opportunities to love one another. 00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.720 And think about Jesus. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:55.099 Everywhere he went, he had a tender heart. 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:57.319 He was moved with compassion. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.180 He moved towards people. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.019 He had pity on them. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.139 He touched lepers. 00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:03.460 He welcomed children. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:06.720 He cried and wept with grieving families. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.700 His heart towards people was always tender. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:15.339 And if we're going to say, I'm a follower of Christ, and he's my Savior, and I love him with all my heart, 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.940 then our heart should be like his heart. 00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:20.120 It should be tender one towards another. 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.380 And he says here at the end of verse number eight, he says, be courteous. 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:27.360 Now, this isn't just about manners. 00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:29.160 It's good to have manners. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.920 I think it still should be taught today. 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:35.260 You know, I still ask my kids, where'd your manners go? 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:36.500 Did you lose them? 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:38.500 You know, that's what my mom used to ask me all the time. 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:40.660 She'd look at me, she's like, you better find your manners right now. 00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:42.360 It's not what he's talking about. 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:44.520 He's not saying please and thank you are the magic words. 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:46.300 That's not the idea behind being courteous. 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.879 The idea here is humility. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.680 That we need to be humble. 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.859 We need to be humble in mind. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.919 We need to be humble in spirit. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:02.379 You study the New Testament, especially, you find that humility has always been one of these secret ingredients 00:22:02.379 --> 00:22:04.819 that holds Christian relationships together. 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:10.960 We see that Christ was, our ultimate example, was more humble than anybody. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:14.860 We see that we need to live that way. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.140 Because here's what pride says. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.240 Hey, what about me? 00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:19.240 Something happens that we don't like. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.299 Well, what about me? 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:22.180 Hey, they recognize so and so. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.140 Well, what about me? 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.700 Well, they got that. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.720 What about me? 00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:27.700 But here's what humility asks. 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.860 How can I serve? 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:31.160 How can I be a blessing to other people? 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:33.079 We see it all the time. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.240 We probably heard the acronym that real joy, it comes from Jesus, others, and you. 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.460 That's a humble mindset. 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:42.519 I love, I'm sure you've heard this quote before. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.279 I don't know who it's attributed to, but it says this. 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:47.660 Humility isn't thinking less of yourself. 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:49.340 It's not having this Eeyore syndrome. 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:52.559 No, it's thinking of yourself less. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:57.940 That your mind and your life is not consumed about what I need and what can I get. 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:58.880 No, here's what it's about. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.019 It's about other people. 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:03.120 It's about thinking of others in that situation. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:07.559 The most joyful Christians are rarely those who demand their own way. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:10.500 They say, hey, I deserve this. 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.079 I need this. 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:15.759 No, I would submit to you, and I think you would agree, that the most joyful Christians 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.220 are the ones that just put others first. 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:20.259 They just live and love like Jesus. 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:23.779 Because they realize they're not living for the applause of man. 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:26.759 They're not living for what they can get from other people. 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:27.720 They just want to serve. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:32.819 I mean, that's what Paul told us that Jesus did in Philippians 2, that he made himself 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:37.860 of no reputation and humbled himself and became obedient unto death. 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:40.339 Even the death of the cross, he did that for us. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:46.940 And the idea is that if our Savior clothed himself with humility, as followers, we should 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.100 clothe ourselves the same way. 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.700 That we should be courteous. 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.420 We should be humble. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.740 We should be tenderhearted one towards another. 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:59.140 So we see these qualities here, and every one of them revolves around how we treat other 00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.480 people. 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:04.819 Imagine a church where believers genuinely lived this way. 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:07.380 Where unity replaced division. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.660 Where compassion replaced criticism. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.200 Where brotherly love, it replaced cliques. 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:14.380 Where tenderness replaced harshness. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.079 And where humility replaced pride. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.400 Do you think that church would stand out a little bit? 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.960 Absolutely. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.599 It should. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:21.679 Good. 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.759 And I feel like we do a lot of things good on this list. 00:24:24.959 --> 00:24:25.519 But here's the thing. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.439 We need to keep moving forward in it. 00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:30.799 We don't need to be comfortable like, hey, we're pretty good at this. 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.019 No. 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.619 That's not. 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:33.279 Jesus didn't call us to be pretty good. 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:34.419 He called us to follow him. 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.480 And then we're pressing towards that mark. 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.199 He's the goal. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.279 He's the aim. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:42.259 And when someone walks into this church, they ought to encounter something different 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:44.199 that they don't regularly experience. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.839 They may think we're weird at the beginning. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.839 They're on to something there. 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.480 But we are. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:53.140 I mean, Peter's already told us, hey, you're a peculiar people. 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.220 It should be something different. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:25:01.740 It should be something that is enticing in the sense of, man, I want to know a little bit 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:04.160 more about this because they seem to love each other. 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:06.720 And some of the married couples seem to love each other. 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:08.559 And the kids actually somewhat listen. 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.980 Like, how does that happen? 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.720 Here's how it happens. 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:12.700 God gets in the middle of it. 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.620 That God is the one in control. 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:20.639 When somebody comes in this church, they ought to encounter people who genuinely look and 00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.379 act like Jesus. 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:26.359 They may not know what God looks like, but they should get a real quick glance when they 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.799 realize who's here. 00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:29.559 And there's nothing within us. 00:25:30.739 --> 00:25:33.579 So Peter shows us how believers should treat one another. 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.500 But here's a question. 00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:38.279 What happens when people don't treat us like that? 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:42.539 What happens when we do the right thing and it's not reciprocated? 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.420 Here's what Peter does. 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:46.539 He calls us to respond the same way Jesus did. 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.660 Here's what he wants us to do. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.759 Bless like Christ. 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:52.279 He wants us to have that same mindset and that same attitude. 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.200 Look at verse number nine. 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:58.279 Not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrawise blessing. 00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:04.160 Knowing that ye are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:11.120 I mean, what happens when people don't respond to our kindness with kindness? 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.160 I mean, it probably irks you a little bit, doesn't it? 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:19.340 Well, you know, when somebody, when you're kind to somebody and they just kind of scoff 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:21.759 it off or don't even say anything, you're like, what? 00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:24.840 I want to ask them, hey, where's your manners? 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:26.480 You know, that's what I want to ask them. 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:31.120 I mean, what happens when we're insulted, when we're misunderstood, when we're criticized, 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.800 when we're treated unfairly? 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:36.919 Here's what the world screams and here's what our flesh screams, get even. 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:41.220 You know, we say things like this, I'm going to give them a taste of their own medicine. 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:45.139 I mean, that's kind of, sometimes we try to act like we don't think that. 00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:47.940 I think that's pretty built into our flesh. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.059 I think that's just kind of there. 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:54.500 But Peter says, listen, that's not how we're called to live. 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:57.440 That's not how God wants us to live. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:02.100 And in this one verse right here, Peter gives us one of the most difficult commands in the 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:04.340 New Testament in the Christian life. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:07.420 Not difficult because we don't understand it. 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:09.720 Difficult because it's really hard to obey. 00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:12.620 It's really hard to live out in real time. 00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.620 Here's what he tells us. 00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:15.940 Not rendering evil for evil. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:22.000 Peter says, here's what you need to do as a child of God, as a member of the family. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:26.079 You need to, you need to refuse retaliation. 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:29.819 That word render, it means to repay. 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:34.259 So Peter's just simply telling us here at the beginning of this verse, when somebody hurts 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:36.980 you, you don't repay them with more hurt. 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:39.759 You don't give them a taste of their own medicine. 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:41.480 And I know that goes against our flesh. 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:43.039 It goes against our natural instincts. 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:47.059 But Peter is so adamant about this because he wants us to understand this truth. 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.859 We already know it, but we need to be reminded. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:51.759 Retaliation, it only multiplies evil. 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:53.279 It doesn't remove it. 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:57.299 You know, you hit somebody, they hit you back. 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:59.079 You don't think, well, that made me feel better. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:27:59.660 You know what you want to do? 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.640 You want to hit them again. 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:03.420 I mean, that's just kind of how it goes. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:05.779 And Peter's saying, that's not how you live your life. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:10.259 Here's what Peter is constantly doing in this letter. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.740 Here's what the Bible constantly doing. 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:13.319 It's just pointing us back to Jesus. 00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:16.079 You say, nobody can live this way. 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.279 Well, Jesus did. 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.539 And he's calling us to live that way. 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:21.319 He gives us the power to do it. 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:23.679 Jesus didn't just teach this in Matthew 5. 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.960 No, he did teach that. 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.019 Love our enemies. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.619 Bless them that curse you. 00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:30.419 Pray for them that despitefully use you. 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:32.079 No, he lived it out. 00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:33.899 He did those things. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:36.240 And he calls us to do the very same thing. 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.079 And Peter goes on. 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:40.000 And he says, and railing for railing. 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:45.960 Anybody's tongue, anybody's mouth ever got them in any trouble? 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.980 We probably all should raise our hand. 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:51.399 I mean, we raise both hands and our feet. 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:55.720 What Peter's saying there is don't answer insults with insults. 00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:59.119 You know, some of you think, well, that's my spiritual gift. 00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.279 My mind just works that way. 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:03.019 And I just, oh, man, I'm really good at those things. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:07.000 Don't answer harsh words with harsher words. 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:11.839 Don't answer social media attacks with another angry post. 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:14.299 We don't answer gossip with gossip. 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:16.319 We don't answer sarcasm with sarcasm. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:19.599 You know, I love how one, I was reading the wrong commentary. 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:23.419 It said this, just because somebody throws mud at you doesn't mean you have to pick it up and throw it back. 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:26.139 That's a good way to live. 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:33.279 One of my favorite observations, and I was reading a commentator, Warren Wiersbe. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:35.240 He said there's three ways people can live. 00:29:36.179 --> 00:29:37.779 You can return evil for good. 00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.339 That's satanic. 00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:41.799 That we do evil when somebody does good. 00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:44.659 You can return good for good or evil for evil. 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.539 That's human. 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:47.240 It's just kind of how we operate. 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.579 You're nice to me, I'm nice to you. 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:50.379 You scratch my back, we'll do those things. 00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:52.139 You cross me, I'll cross you. 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:56.799 But to return good for evil, that's Christ-like. 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.960 That's what we're called to live. 00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:00.240 That's what Peter is reminding us. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:03.500 Hey, we're not to render evil for evil or railing for railing. 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:07.420 You know, we've got to be careful how we respond to situations. 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.299 Because it's naturally going to come up. 00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:12.539 I mean, this is something I'm sure all of us struggle with. 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.599 I mean, there's times you're really good. 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.299 Nothing's bothering you. 00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:17.379 But somebody says just the right thing. 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.039 I mean, the wrong thing at the right time. 00:30:19.219 --> 00:30:21.000 And it just sets off a spark. 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.980 I mean, it's like lighting the fuse there. 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:28.459 I mean, have you ever noticed how quickly your tongue responds when someone hurts you? 00:30:28.959 --> 00:30:30.539 When somebody says something about you? 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:33.139 I mean, there's no praying about it. 00:30:33.199 --> 00:30:34.539 I mean, you're unleashing. 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.519 It's like a blitzkrieg coming on. 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:42.440 I mean, sometimes before we even have thought about the words that we are saying, they're already out of our mouth. 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.440 And Peter doesn't just remind us. 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:50.619 We see it all throughout the New Testament that the tongue is rarely just a tongue problem. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.119 It's not a speech problem. 00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:52.960 Here's what it is. 00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.119 It's a heart problem. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:57.579 It takes a temperature of what's inside. 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.819 Jesus told us, 00:30:58.819 --> 00:31:05.579 See, our words just simply reveal what's going on inside. 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:09.259 So Peter says, hey, we need to refuse retaliation. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:12.539 But he doesn't just say, he doesn't say, hey, don't do that. 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.119 That's bad. 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.839 Stop that. 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:17.139 No, he says, I want you to do this instead. 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:20.720 But contrawise, blessing. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:24.500 Well, you think, well, that's not what I wanted to hear. 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.339 I don't like to do that. 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:28.519 You know, I'll stop saying mean things. 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:30.319 But I'm not going to do anything nice. 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.940 Well, that's not what Jesus calls us to do. 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.700 It's not how he calls us to live. 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:37.400 This is not a natural response. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:40.720 Now, I would imagine we could take a poll and it would be pretty high. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.980 Our flesh doesn't want to bless our enemies. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.640 You know what our flesh wants to do? 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.660 Keep score. 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.100 Just mine? 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:48.980 Okay. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:51.819 No, I think that's kind of how we operate. 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:55.660 So how can Peter, I mean, like Peter, man. 00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:57.960 Sometimes you read this and I was kind of studying. 00:31:58.059 --> 00:32:01.200 I thought, of all people saying this, Peter. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.799 How did Peter get over this? 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.759 Because I don't know if you know this. 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:06.740 Peter liked to open his mouth and stick his foot in there. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.960 Kind of his spiritual gift. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:11.559 I mean, he wasn't known for thinking before he spoke. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:14.440 And now he's telling us, hey, don't render evil for evil. 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:16.900 Don't rail on somebody just because they rail on you. 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:18.059 No, here's what you need to do. 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:18.940 Bless them. 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.819 Think, Peter, how's that possible? 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.039 Here's how it's possible. 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.759 The gospel changed your life. 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:26.400 Jesus showed up and changed everything. 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:29.460 We don't bless people because it's a natural instinct. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:33.319 We bless people because Christ is transforming us from the inside out. 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:37.779 That's how Peter can sit down here and write this book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:43.019 The man that couldn't control his tongue is reminding us, hey, you need to control your tongue because it's an important testimony. 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:46.639 It shows that you're in the family, that God is working on your heart. 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:54.840 Because the same Savior who forgave you now empowers you to treat others with kindness and forgive them and to love them and to bless them. 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:59.060 Because Christianity is not about modifying our behavior. 00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:02.700 It's about allowing God to transform our hearts and our lives. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.539 That's how we can do this. 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:08.039 Because there's no other way to say, hey, well, you know what? 00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:09.799 That just comes naturally to me. 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:12.859 I just want to bless people that are absolute jerks to me. 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.519 Said nobody ever. 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:19.599 But we think about our example, Jesus. 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:25.000 As the nails were driven through his hands, what did he say? 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.779 You're going to regret this. 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.420 That's not what he said. 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:32.879 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:37.339 We see a man that lived a life that was pleasing to God. 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:39.019 His name was Stephen there in the book of Acts. 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:45.879 And as they were stoning him to death, not because he did anything wrong, just because he preached the gospel to them, 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:51.579 because he showed them who Jesus Christ was, as the stones crushed his body, he said, 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:55.500 Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. 00:33:57.259 --> 00:34:00.879 Listen, those responses don't make sense to our natural man. 00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:03.220 They don't make sense to the unsaved world. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:09.079 But they make perfect sense to someone whose life has been changed by Jesus Christ. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.360 That's how we can bless other people. 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:15.760 It's not within us, but it is now because his name is Jesus Christ. 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.980 So we need to refuse retaliation. 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:20.300 We need to return evil with a blessing. 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:23.539 And you say, well, I'm just really struggling how to get a hold of that. 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:25.199 Peter tells us at the end of verse number 9, 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:30.539 knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.539 Why do we bless others? 00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:34.839 Because that's what we've been called to do. 00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:40.619 We are to let our light so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father, which is in heaven. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.779 That our life is to be a signpost. 00:34:42.839 --> 00:34:44.539 Our life is to be a light pointing others. 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:48.239 See, the Christian life has never been about demanding our rights. 00:34:48.459 --> 00:34:53.279 It's always been and always will be about displaying Christ in the way that we live. 00:34:53.939 --> 00:34:56.139 We don't live so others can say, wow, what a great Christian. 00:34:56.419 --> 00:35:00.899 No, we should live in a way, we should live as a church family, and others say, I want what they have. 00:35:00.959 --> 00:35:01.480 What is it? 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.219 Here's what it is. 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:03.099 It's Jesus Christ. 00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:06.119 That's what he's reminding us to do. 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:11.239 See, Peter reminds us that we have already received far more than we deserve. 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:15.480 I mean, the fact that we're here today is a miracle. 00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:18.179 But if you're saved, you know Christ is your Savior. 00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:22.619 Listen, you can look at that one situation in your life, 00:35:23.419 --> 00:35:24.519 and you know what you should be thankful for? 00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:27.119 That God didn't repay you according to your sins. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:29.679 None of us would be here. 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:31.460 None of us would be saved. 00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:32.719 You know what he did? 00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:34.079 He showed us mercy. 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:37.779 He was all of those things that we read in verse number 8. 00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:41.440 He didn't answer our rebellion with his wrath. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:44.000 He took all that wrath on himself. 00:35:44.160 --> 00:35:46.040 He bore it in his own body. 00:35:46.160 --> 00:35:47.920 He answered it with grace. 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:49.220 And here's what Peter's saying. 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:51.259 Live like that. 00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:53.019 Live like Jesus. 00:35:53.419 --> 00:35:57.279 Go treat others the same way you've been treated for Christ's sake. 00:35:57.939 --> 00:35:59.799 We see that all throughout the New Testament. 00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:03.500 Freely you've received, freely give. 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.980 That's what Peter's calling us to do. 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:09.340 But he does, right there at the end of verse number 9, 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:11.579 he says that you should inherit a blessing. 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:14.280 Now, don't misunderstand what Peter's saying. 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:18.260 He isn't saying that we earn God's blessing by blessing other people. 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:21.179 We're not going to go out here tonight and just start blessing people all over the place. 00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:23.659 I'm like, the more I bless, the more blessed I'm going to be. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:25.579 That's not what Peter is saying. 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:26.559 Here's what he's doing. 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:28.960 He's reminding us who we already are. 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.760 You remember the very first chapter? 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.739 It's been a long time. 00:36:31.739 --> 00:36:35.359 But he opened this letter in reminding us of everything that we had in Christ. 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:37.719 And he reminded us of this wonderful truth, 00:36:37.779 --> 00:36:42.459 that our inheritance, it's incorruptible, it's undefiled, and it doesn't fade away. 00:36:43.299 --> 00:36:46.519 That what we have in Christ is not some earthly treasure 00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:48.899 that we're going to hold on to for a while and it's going to decay. 00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:50.259 No, it's eternal. 00:36:50.919 --> 00:36:54.259 It's something that we haven't even really fully grasped. 00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:57.799 And the idea is that because our future is certain 00:36:57.799 --> 00:36:59.859 and our inheritance is certain, 00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:03.200 we can live differently here on this earth. 00:37:03.740 --> 00:37:07.079 We can live differently with our relationships and our church family. 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:11.420 Because we know what awaits, we don't have to win every argument today. 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.320 I like to win. 00:37:14.660 --> 00:37:15.720 Anybody else like to win? 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:20.960 Sometimes, I mean, I'm going to the death in the argument. 00:37:21.180 --> 00:37:22.760 I already know I'm lost, but I'm still trying to win. 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.800 Not great, by the way. 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:27.039 It's not a good thing. 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:29.039 But we don't have to get even. 00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:33.080 We don't have to fend ourselves every time somebody misunderstands us. 00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:33.420 Why? 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:37.460 Because our future hope should change our present behavior. 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.860 That's the idea that Peter's saying. 00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:42.200 We've already received an inheritance. 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.860 We may not have it all right now, 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:45.720 but we have enough of it to understand this. 00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.640 My life's different. 00:37:47.180 --> 00:37:48.900 My life's not about what it used to be. 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:53.160 And I think one of the clearest evidences that Jesus has truly changed a person 00:37:53.160 --> 00:37:56.059 is how we treat one another. 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:59.840 Anybody can be kind to anybody that's kind to them. 00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.240 That's pretty simple. 00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:04.740 Anybody can love those who love them. 00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:07.440 Jesus said, hey, even the publicans do that. 00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:09.220 Even the Pharisees do that. 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:12.579 But I think the gospel is most clearly seen 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:15.380 not in how we respond to friends and loved ones, 00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:18.539 but it's how we respond to those that are maybe enemies. 00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:24.340 Because there's going to be people that don't always appreciate your response. 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:27.820 There's going to be people that may misunderstand your kindness, 00:38:28.140 --> 00:38:29.880 that may continue to oppose you. 00:38:30.140 --> 00:38:31.440 But here's what Peter reminds us. 00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:34.840 Your responsibility is not to control their response. 00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:39.340 That your responsibility is to faithfully reflect the Savior. 00:38:40.140 --> 00:38:41.220 That's our job. 00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:43.420 That's what God has called us to do. 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:47.780 You say, preacher, why live this way? 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:52.740 I mean, sometimes doesn't it just feel better just to let them have a piece of your mind? 00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:54.119 Doesn't it feel better? 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:55.420 I mean, you know, retaliation. 00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:59.220 I understand certain things, but there's got to be some different ways. 00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:01.920 Or, you know, why should we pursue peace? 00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.940 Here's what Peter reminds us lastly. 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.039 Because none of this goes unnoticed. 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:09.180 Our Heavenly Father sees it. 00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:15.179 And so as believers, as children of God, we need to live our life as we're living before Christ. 00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:17.059 Because He does see all things. 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:20.819 See, Peter in these last few verses, verse 10 through 12, 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:23.539 really what he's doing is he's quoting Psalm 34. 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:26.779 Peter gives some very tough commands. 00:39:26.899 --> 00:39:28.619 He gives some hard ways to live. 00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:34.980 I mean, even verse number 8, they're not rendering evil for evil, but they're still hard to live that way. 00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:39.579 But Peter doesn't appeal to us by popular opinion. 00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:44.179 He's not saying, hey, you should do all these things because that's just the cool thing to do right now. 00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:46.059 He doesn't appeal to culture. 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:49.759 This is so countercultural what Peter is telling us to live like. 00:39:50.259 --> 00:39:52.859 He doesn't even appeal to, well, this works for me. 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:53.799 This is some good advice. 00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:56.860 Now, here's what Peter appeals to in verse 10 through 12, the Word of God. 00:39:57.720 --> 00:40:01.440 He's saying, you can do this because this is what the Word of God calls us to do. 00:40:02.120 --> 00:40:07.700 And see, Peter reminds us that a life that God blesses has always looked the same. 00:40:08.160 --> 00:40:14.160 Whether it was David's day in Psalm 34, or it's Peter's day in the first century, or it's our day right now, 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:17.560 God honors those who walk in His ways. 00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:19.460 That's who God's looking for. 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:23.420 Blessed is the man that follows the Lord. 00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:29.519 And he gives some real quick characteristics here in these closing verses of things that please God. 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:33.260 Number one is this, is that we guard our tongue. 00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:42.500 For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. 00:40:43.220 --> 00:40:45.820 I would imagine everybody in this room wants to enjoy life. 00:40:46.240 --> 00:40:48.840 Everybody wants to experience good days. 00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:54.300 And Peter says, hey, those things are connected to the way that we use our words. 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:56.920 And that really shouldn't surprise us. 00:40:57.860 --> 00:41:01.619 And the Bible talks about this constantly in the incredible power of the tongue. 00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:07.579 James refers to the tongue as a fire, set on fire from hell. 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:11.539 Proverbs tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. 00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:15.199 We've already mentioned that Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. 00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:19.899 He's like, well, didn't Peter already talk about this just in the previous verse? 00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.699 Yeah, he did. 00:41:21.619 --> 00:41:24.319 But Peter also knew who was reading this. 00:41:24.619 --> 00:41:25.719 And the Lord knows us. 00:41:26.339 --> 00:41:28.819 You ever have to be reminded of something over and over and over again? 00:41:29.299 --> 00:41:31.019 That we need to make sure we get a hold of this. 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.919 And he returns to our speech. 00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:33.599 You know why? 00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:36.759 Because he's writing to a people that are going through difficult times. 00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:38.059 And they've tried to be kind. 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.119 And they've tried to be humble. 00:41:39.339 --> 00:41:40.199 And they've tried to be tender. 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.699 And it's been met with resistance. 00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:43.360 It's been met with cruelty. 00:41:43.559 --> 00:41:45.079 It's been met with all kinds of things. 00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:50.759 And when suffering begins to pile on, it has a way of tempting us to say things that we're going to regret later. 00:41:51.839 --> 00:41:53.480 And Peter says, we've got to be careful of that. 00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:57.480 We can't allow the bitterness of life to control our words. 00:41:58.340 --> 00:42:01.719 And what he's reminding us is the answer is not just to say nicer things. 00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:04.639 No, the answer is to continue to let Christ work in your life. 00:42:05.420 --> 00:42:06.460 Continually seek him. 00:42:06.760 --> 00:42:08.500 Continually be in his word. 00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:15.519 And when we do that, people who live with hope, when we're reminded of all that we have, we're going to live a little differently. 00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:16.039 We should. 00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:21.240 We should live differently based on our heavenly citizenship than everybody else around us. 00:42:21.820 --> 00:42:23.699 We don't have to talk like them or think like them. 00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:25.579 So he tells us to guard our tongue. 00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:28.920 But verse number 11, he tells us to pursue what is good. 00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:31.759 Let him eschew evil and do good. 00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:34.219 Let him seek peace and ensue it. 00:42:35.699 --> 00:42:37.759 See, Peter doesn't just tell us what to avoid. 00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:39.759 He tells us what to pursue. 00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:44.420 Listen, the Christian life is not about avoiding sin. 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:46.880 We should strive not to sin. 00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:51.519 But if all we're trying to do is not sin, there's much more to it than that. 00:42:51.679 --> 00:42:52.360 Here's what it's about. 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:54.179 It's about pursuing righteousness. 00:42:54.179 --> 00:42:56.559 It's about pursuing Jesus. 00:42:56.859 --> 00:42:59.579 Sometimes we get so fixated on, I'm not going to do this. 00:43:00.059 --> 00:43:01.460 Well, what are you going to replace it with? 00:43:01.919 --> 00:43:04.019 What are you going to pursue instead of? 00:43:04.899 --> 00:43:07.759 And he reminds us, listen, peace doesn't just happen. 00:43:08.699 --> 00:43:14.639 Healthy relationships, whether we're in a church family, whether we're in a marriage, whether we're in workplace situations, 00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:16.759 they don't just drift towards peace. 00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:19.759 No, they require intentional effort. 00:43:20.339 --> 00:43:22.139 That we have to move that direction. 00:43:22.259 --> 00:43:24.199 That we have to move forward. 00:43:25.159 --> 00:43:30.279 And Peter says, he doesn't say, hey, if peace happens, be thankful and enjoy it. 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:32.159 Now, here's what he tells us. 00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:33.299 Pursue it. 00:43:33.779 --> 00:43:34.679 Chase after it. 00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.799 Fight for it. 00:43:35.800 --> 00:43:39.519 And it needs to be something that we're seeking after. 00:43:40.620 --> 00:43:42.720 Sounds a lot like Jesus in Matthew 5. 00:43:42.840 --> 00:43:44.320 Blessed are the peacemakers. 00:43:45.140 --> 00:43:48.000 For they shall be called the children of God. 00:43:49.100 --> 00:43:52.100 Listen, a peacemaker isn't somebody who ignores problems. 00:43:52.780 --> 00:43:54.280 It's not a peace at any price. 00:43:54.320 --> 00:43:55.360 A peace at all costs. 00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:58.120 And just let's bury our head in the sand and we'll all be fine. 00:43:58.380 --> 00:44:02.500 No, they aren't people who pretend that life is all rosy all the time. 00:44:02.740 --> 00:44:07.200 No, a peacemaker is somebody who works towards reconciliation whenever possible. 00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:08.940 They pursue it. 00:44:09.380 --> 00:44:11.200 They make it a part of their life. 00:44:11.960 --> 00:44:16.880 And we should be known as people who pursue peace that seek after it. 00:44:16.900 --> 00:44:17.059 Why? 00:44:17.220 --> 00:44:19.440 Because we are following the prince of peace. 00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:23.300 That should be a family resemblance that we have. 00:44:23.300 --> 00:44:28.580 Finally, Peter tells us in verse number 12 that we can rest in God's care. 00:44:29.680 --> 00:44:33.100 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers. 00:44:34.180 --> 00:44:36.920 Peter gives this encouragement to end the passage. 00:44:37.100 --> 00:44:38.880 He says, listen, God sees. 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:40.680 God hears. 00:44:41.720 --> 00:44:42.400 God knows. 00:44:44.140 --> 00:44:46.400 Because if we're honest, sometimes it feels like nobody notices. 00:44:47.680 --> 00:44:48.960 Even within a church family. 00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:51.200 You quietly serve. 00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:51.720 You forgive. 00:44:51.719 --> 00:44:53.559 You refuse retaliation. 00:44:53.879 --> 00:44:54.859 You pursue peace. 00:44:55.839 --> 00:44:58.919 And it just seems like nobody even notices that I'm trying. 00:44:59.659 --> 00:45:04.059 Nobody even noticed that I took a step and was willing to kind of let that thing slide. 00:45:04.219 --> 00:45:05.319 Here's what Peter reminds us. 00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:06.639 Your heavenly father does. 00:45:07.500 --> 00:45:09.019 He knows exactly what's going on. 00:45:09.480 --> 00:45:10.399 He knows your heart. 00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:14.339 And what a comfort that must have been to these first readers. 00:45:15.179 --> 00:45:17.279 To the recipients of this letter. 00:45:17.280 --> 00:45:23.540 They had been suffering and scattered all across Asia Minor thinking, man, nobody knows what's going on. 00:45:24.300 --> 00:45:27.740 The Holy Spirit allowed Peter to write this letter and say, I know what's going on. 00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:29.540 God knows where you're at. 00:45:30.140 --> 00:45:32.900 And it's not just for these people scattered across Asia Minor. 00:45:33.120 --> 00:45:34.360 What a comfort for us today. 00:45:35.320 --> 00:45:36.680 That you're never forgotten by God. 00:45:37.400 --> 00:45:39.019 That God sees the things you're pursuing. 00:45:39.019 --> 00:45:43.679 He sees when you try to be of one mind and compassionate and tenderhearted and humble. 00:45:43.900 --> 00:45:46.239 When you're trying to love as a family does. 00:45:47.759 --> 00:45:52.619 But at the end of verse number 12, he says, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 00:45:53.739 --> 00:46:00.219 See, the same God who lovingly watches over his children also stands opposed to the persistent evil that we face. 00:46:00.219 --> 00:46:05.699 Sometimes we can fall into that place where we refuse to do these things. 00:46:05.759 --> 00:46:06.359 Here's what we are doing. 00:46:06.519 --> 00:46:07.359 We're going against God. 00:46:08.519 --> 00:46:09.899 Not a great situation. 00:46:10.759 --> 00:46:12.759 Chances aren't real good. 00:46:13.339 --> 00:46:14.319 In fact, they're zero. 00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:16.359 We're not going to stand against God. 00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:18.379 But we can rest. 00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:23.699 And as children of God, we can rest because God sees every injustice. 00:46:25.379 --> 00:46:28.319 Just because you're going to try to apply these things to your life, here's what's going to happen. 00:46:28.480 --> 00:46:29.579 You're still going to be wronged. 00:46:30.219 --> 00:46:31.339 You're still going to be insulted. 00:46:31.699 --> 00:46:33.939 You're still going to be the recipient of things that you shouldn't be. 00:46:34.539 --> 00:46:38.779 You may even show kindness and tenderness and compassion to others. 00:46:39.559 --> 00:46:42.579 And we just were reminded, God sees both those things. 00:46:43.619 --> 00:46:45.259 God's keeping score, not your flesh. 00:46:47.139 --> 00:46:50.619 See, as we said at the beginning, families tend to resemble one another. 00:46:51.639 --> 00:46:55.739 In expressions and in attitudes and mannerisms and even how they look. 00:46:55.739 --> 00:47:04.319 And Peter's saying, listen, as children of God, as pilgrims in a strange land, as people just passing through, 00:47:05.259 --> 00:47:09.159 this world's not our home, but people should notice something about us. 00:47:09.159 --> 00:47:14.179 There should be an overwhelming resemblance to your heavenly Father. 00:47:15.379 --> 00:47:19.779 That when somebody walks through the doors of our church, they should see something they want to be a part of. 00:47:20.779 --> 00:47:23.759 Something they want to, that's missing in their life. 00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:27.019 Their conclusion ought to be there's something different here. 00:47:27.019 --> 00:47:29.500 Because that's what living hope does. 00:47:30.780 --> 00:47:33.860 We can live differently today because our future is secure. 00:47:34.599 --> 00:47:36.840 Our inheritance is certain. 00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:39.659 And the gospel changes lives. 00:47:41.059 --> 00:47:42.420 Listen, Jesus didn't save you. 00:47:42.460 --> 00:47:43.679 It's not a get out of hell free card. 00:47:43.880 --> 00:47:45.699 It's a completely different person card. 00:47:46.460 --> 00:47:47.320 You're a new creature. 00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:53.440 Your old habits and your old thoughts and the old way you used to talk and how you responded to situations, 00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:54.599 that's all gone. 00:47:55.559 --> 00:47:56.480 Let God control. 00:47:57.039 --> 00:47:58.119 Let God transform. 00:47:59.639 --> 00:48:02.400 And that's the kind of church God has called us to be. 00:48:02.860 --> 00:48:05.200 That's the kind of family member that He's called you to be. 00:48:05.820 --> 00:48:08.400 That's the kind of believer that He's called you to believe. 00:48:09.460 --> 00:48:11.300 Because here's the thought we'll take home with this. 00:48:11.559 --> 00:48:17.800 People who have experienced the grace of Christ should become the greatest display of the grace of Christ. 00:48:18.960 --> 00:48:20.420 We love it in our life. 00:48:21.019 --> 00:48:21.679 But here's the question. 00:48:21.940 --> 00:48:23.300 Are we showing it to others? 00:48:24.440 --> 00:48:27.679 I mean, if God wants to show me grace and mercy all the time, bring it on. 00:48:28.460 --> 00:48:29.220 But here's what He says. 00:48:29.280 --> 00:48:31.019 Hey, you should just be a conduit. 00:48:31.340 --> 00:48:33.340 It should come in and flow out. 00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:38.059 It should be evident to all of those around us. 00:48:39.619 --> 00:48:42.519 You know, sometimes we don't want to be compared to our parents. 00:48:43.039 --> 00:48:44.159 I'm nothing like them. 00:48:45.159 --> 00:48:47.460 Not true, but that's a different message for a different day. 00:48:48.380 --> 00:48:50.159 But here's the reality for everybody here. 00:48:50.340 --> 00:48:51.760 We should want to be just like our Father. 00:48:51.760 --> 00:48:54.720 Like Father, like Son. 00:48:55.440 --> 00:48:56.500 Like Father, like Daughter. 00:48:57.220 --> 00:48:59.640 There should be no doubt whose family you're in. 00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:03.660 And these are some characteristics that God says should be evident in your life. 00:49:04.220 --> 00:49:05.160 If you're in my family. 00:49:05.660 --> 00:49:06.560 They're going to rub off. 00:49:06.620 --> 00:49:08.940 The more we are around each other, the more we're around Christ. 00:49:08.940 --> 00:49:12.340 These things should be real in our life today. 00:49:12.400 --> 00:49:13.039 Would you stand with me? 00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:13.059 Please may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may