Preparing to Trust God in Difficulty.

Steve Gentry

[0:09] We’ll go ahead and have a seat. [0:10] Welcome to Village Church. [0:11] This is your first time here. [0:12] My name’s Steve, one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:14] And as always, I’m thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you [0:18] this morning. If you have a Bible, go ahead and open it to First Peter,

[0:21] Chapter three. [0:22] We’re going to be starting in verse 13 this morning. [0:25] We are well into our series [0:28] where we’re going through the entire book of First Peter. [0:30] Last Sunday, we went through verses eight through twelve, [0:33] where Peter started.

[0:34] What he referred to is basically a summary of this section of the book, [0:39] not of the book as a whole, but the section that began in Chapter one, [0:42] verse 13. [0:44] He told the church that they needed to prepare to live out [0:47] the Christianity that they claimed to believe. [0:50] And in doing that, they needed to prepare that the culture around them

[0:55] was going to be hostile towards their faith. [0:58] And the faith in Jesus, though, was going to equip them [1:00] to have the ability to bless when they were reviled. [1:04] And this, of course, would enable them to seek to be a blessing [1:08] rather than the curse that others were going to try to be towards them. [1:13] Now, Peter’s thesis was basically that following Jesus

[1:17] leads to a good life, even if present circumstances are difficult. [1:22] And that’s different than the way that we tend to think about life. [1:25] That the good life has to be an easy life. [1:28] Peter says the faith in Jesus changes that dynamic, [1:31] but living out the reality that Jesus has blessed me [1:35] above my present circumstances allows me

[1:38] to have the proper perspective that when I’m facing suffering, [1:42] this is a difficult situation that everyone is going to face. [1:46] Every single one of you are going to face difficulty in life, [1:49] whether that difficulty is because of the same things going on in First Peter, [1:53] where they had real adversaries in front of them, [1:56] or if it’s just simply because you live in a world where the curse of sin is real.

[2:00] And that will bring illness and, yes, pain into your life. [2:03] Everyone, as I said, at some level is going to face suffering. [2:07] But the question that you have to answer is, will you face it faithfully? [2:13] You see, faithfulness to Jesus does not happen by accident. [2:17] Faithfulness requires that you orient your life [2:20] around active discipleship every single day.

[2:24] And that is what’s going to prepare you to face the unknowns [2:28] that necessarily lie ahead of you so that you’re not gobsmacked [2:33] into discouragement that leads ultimately to unfaithfulness. [2:37] And verses 13 through 18 delves into the preparation [2:41] to understand the theological realities of God’s faithfulness [2:46] in your life to his promises.

[2:47] And those serve as a light in very dark circumstances that are going to happen. [2:53] But because of the faithfulness of God, I can face difficulty fearless. [2:58] See, because of the faithfulness of God, I have a defense for my faith. [3:03] Because of the faithfulness of God, I will endure into eternity. [3:08] But it is building a life on understanding [3:11] and believing in God’s faithfulness

[3:14] that I can remain faithful to his call for me. [3:18] We’ll start reading in verse 13 this morning. [3:22] The apostle Peter writes, and he says, Now, who is there to harm you [3:26] if you are zealous for what is good? [3:29] But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. [3:34] Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.

[3:38] Number one, this morning, I want you to see what Peter’s telling us [3:40] is that a good life is a fearless life. [3:43] A good life is a fearless life. [3:47] The issue that so many of you deal with is that you, [3:50] even in claiming faith in Jesus Christ, you’re afraid of everything. [3:54] Your life is wracked with fear.

[3:57] Anxiety, according to scripture, is fearfulness, [4:01] is where you live every day, fretting every day, filled with worry [4:04] every day, filled with stress of what might happen [4:07] if this scenario falls out or if that scenario falls out or this person does [4:11] what they say they’re going to do or this person doesn’t come through with me [4:14] or the check doesn’t come in or if my child does this or doesn’t do that

[4:18] or on and on and on. [4:19] You play out all these scenarios and you are overwhelmed [4:24] with fear. [4:25] It really isn’t more complicated than that. [4:28] We have to understand that in the New Testament alone, [4:33] if you just go home and you type in to your computer, how many times

[4:39] does the scripture tell me to not fear? [4:43] You see, that is one of the main commands [4:46] in the New Testament as a whole. [4:48] But yet [4:50] we often excuse away our fear, not realizing [4:57] I’m actually being disobedient to a command of God

[5:00] when I’m filled with fear. [5:03] You see, he begins by talking about something that we’re afraid of. [5:06] You’re afraid people are going to harm you. [5:08] I mean, that’s a that’s a fear. [5:10] We would say that’s a common sense fear, especially if you’re in [5:12] certain circumstances, if you’re in a certain place in your life.

[5:16] But Peter begins with really a rhetorical question. [5:18] He says, now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? [5:24] And so he says this basic natural law principle. [5:27] If you invest your life in goodness, you have less to fear [5:32] because pursuing goodness, according to him, [5:35] is an investment that pays off.

[5:38] Now, in order for us to think about this rightly, because, you know, [5:41] you go through verse by verse, you deal with sections of scripture at a time [5:44] that gives us a temptation to where we treat a section of scripture [5:48] like is an island to itself. [5:49] And that’s not how you read the Bible. [5:51] It’s the verse 13 jumps right off of where we finished last Sunday in verse 12.

[5:56] And so verse 12 feeds into what we’re talking about in verse 13. [6:00] And so what he finished saying in verse 12 is this phrase. [6:04] The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. [6:09] And so he’s making a great juxtaposition. [6:12] When he gets to verse 13, he’s saying there may be [6:17] people who are going to try to harm you.

[6:21] But those people have a greater enemy [6:23] because the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. [6:27] And I don’t know if you know this or not, the math is pretty simple to figure out. [6:31] It’s better to have a human enemy than a God enemy. [6:35] That’s just better. [6:36] Even if we’re reading Marvel comic books, that’s better.

[6:39] All right. But in scripture, he’s saying the claim [6:43] is that the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. [6:46] Who are those that do evil? [6:47] Well, in First Peter, in the context, [6:49] those are the people that are coming against the Church of Jesus Christ. [6:52] But then he looks to the church and he says, who is there to harm you

[6:55] if you do what is good, if you are zealous for good works? [6:59] And he’s making this great comparison by feeding into verse 14, [7:03] where he’s going to say there’s still going to be some people [7:05] that are going to come against you. [7:06] But when he says, don’t fear, you’re not fearing [7:10] because the face of the Lord is not against you.

[7:15] The face of the Lord is against your human enemy. [7:19] And that is far worse than facing a human enemy. [7:23] That leads, of course, to an eschatological comparison. [7:27] And that’s really what Peter is getting at. [7:30] That’s supposed to sober you up to how foolish it is [7:34] to fear the things that you are fearing in your present circumstances.

[7:39] Even if you suffer the rest of your physical life, [7:43] adversaries stand in front of you every single day of your physical life. [7:46] In the end, God is not against you. [7:49] And in eternity, it’s kind of all that matters. [7:53] Is that when you face God, you face a friend. [7:57] Rather than an enemy.

[7:59] And why is he your friend? [8:00] He’s a friend because of the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf. [8:04] The Christian lives every day, knowing [8:10] no one can harm me in light of the sovereign power of God, [8:16] in light of the eternal promises of God through Jesus Christ. [8:20] But there’s even more to it than that.

[8:23] You see, there is a natural law principle [8:25] that we can just see through natural revelation in our lives. [8:28] It’s at play. [8:29] And when he says in verse 13 in Proverbs 16, seven, it states, [8:34] when a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies [8:38] to be at peace with him.

[8:40] Now, there’s a natural law principle that if you invest your life in goodness, [8:45] you’re going to have a better life. [8:47] I mean, there’s just no doubt about that. [8:49] If you do good things, well, you tend to reap some good things in return from that. [8:54] It is far better to go through life responsible than irresponsible. [8:59] If you go through life irresponsibly, you shouldn’t expect much peace.

[9:03] If you take one hundred thousand dollars out in debt [9:04] with no intention to pay it off and just frivolously go blow it in Vegas. [9:08] Guess what? Rinse do.

[9:11] I have told the story before, but I drive down ninety five sometimes. [9:17] I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it. It’s a highway [9:19] all the way up and down the East Coast, lead you to Florida, promised land.

[9:27] And every once in a while, I’ll be driving on a family vacation [9:30] or something, heading to some beach, some theme park somewhere. [9:33] And it’s weird because every time I’m heading down 95 at the same time, [9:39] someone tends to be walking down 95. [9:42] I don’t know if you’ve ever asked yourself the question, how did you get here? [9:47] Because usually when I see them, there’s no gas pail in their hand.

[9:50] All right. They’re not close to a vehicle. [9:52] Actually, I’ve been driving for 200 miles. [9:54] I’ve seen zero vehicles on the side of the road. [9:57] And so you can kind of summarize in a certain way. [10:00] That guy’s been walking for quite a while. [10:04] And every time I don’t even care if you judge me for this and think I’m wrong.

[10:07] Doesn’t matter to me. Who are you? [10:10] But I use it as a lesson for my children. [10:13] I point at that person and I say every decision [10:17] he has ever made has led him right here, right now. [10:23] And I don’t think it takes a genius to realize that when you’re walking down 95, [10:28] that didn’t come from good decisions because you’re not supposed to walk down 95.

[10:34] I tell my kids, make good decisions, [10:38] make responsible investments, and hopefully you too, one day [10:43] will not be marooned on the side of 95 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. [10:48] But so often we don’t do the math in our minds [10:52] and we think I can make bad decisions and I will never be held responsible [10:57] for any of my unwise choices in life.

[11:01] The Bible is very clear. [11:03] There is goodness found in living according to God’s standards. [11:08] And he even makes the statement in Proverbs, it cultivates peace. [11:13] And we talked about that last Sunday. [11:15] We pursue peaceful life through obedience to God [11:19] because if I don’t spend more than I make, I tend to be able to pay my bills.

[11:25] That’s the way God designed the world to work. [11:28] But also understand that when you are making those bad decisions [11:34] and you have to ultimately suffer for your bad decisions, [11:38] don’t fall prey to the foolishness of believing [11:41] that just because you are suffering, it is somehow virtuous. [11:47] It’s important to qualify these things about suffering

[11:49] because we get it wrong sometimes. [11:52] Some of you just by virtue of you suffering, you’re like, [11:55] this is a holy thing. [11:57] Not if you did it to yourself, dummy.

[12:01] Not if it’s because you made a thousand bad decisions [12:04] and so your life’s all falling apart. [12:07] That’s not virtuous. [12:08] That’s actually natural law in effect. [12:12] There is suffering that is reaped from sin and foolishness. [12:17] You don’t want that in your life.

[12:20] But applying that very same proverb, if you do not obey God, [12:24] don’t expect it to go well with you. [12:27] You will cause mischief and you will cause problems for yourself, [12:32] as well as other people, and naturally reaping the stupidity that you have sown. [12:38] That type of suffering that we’re talking about in First Peter is very specific. [12:43] In this context, Peter is talking about suffering

[12:46] because of persecution for your faith. [12:49] This is not the type of suffering where you are reaping what you have sown. [12:54] This is suffering that is persecution because you’re a Christian. [12:58] And that’s what he’s saying. Don’t fear. [13:01] See, don’t fear the adversary when it comes against you [13:04] because you are faithfully following Jesus Christ.

[13:06] And that is why Peter takes that rhetorical question from verse 13 [13:12] and makes the opposite application in verse 14. [13:16] So, yeah, you do good. [13:18] You tend to have a peaceful life. [13:19] But understand, verse 14 says, there are people who will seek [13:23] to make you suffer because of righteousness sake.

[13:27] This is suffering that is reaped [13:30] because you invested well through your faith in Jesus Christ [13:35] and the enemy sought to bring you down. [13:39] Do not be discouraged when you obey God [13:44] and you suffer on the other side of your obedience. [13:48] Friend, I don’t know if you realize this or not,

[13:50] but some people will be your enemy [13:52] because of your obedience to God. [13:57] God warns us against basing, though, [14:00] every blessing on the present context. [14:03] And this is why I don’t know if you’ve ever had a day like this. [14:06] I have so many of them.

[14:09] Where I walk away from what I’ve done and I said, [14:12] I’ve done some good today.

[14:16] I was obedient today. [14:18] It’s I had a whole thought where I did my good deed for the day. [14:21] I have like 30 moments of those every day. [14:24] And it’s just like I walk away from it and I’m just like [14:28] fully expect when I get home in my mailbox, [14:30] there will be a thank you card from the Lord

[14:35] because I’ve been a good, good boy today. [14:38] I did everything I was supposed to do it. [14:40] I did it for the right motivations. [14:41] I did it the way God says to do it in scripture. [14:45] And so everything is going to go great tonight. [14:49] Usually those thank you cards should have money attached

[14:51] just in case you were curious.

[14:55] But there are times in life [14:56] when you’re going to do everything the right way, [14:58] you’re going to do it for the right reasons, [15:00] and you’re going to walk away. [15:01] And the worst day of your life is on the other side of that obedience.

[15:06] And every time there is this great temptation [15:09] that comes into the mind of sinful men, which I am one. [15:13] Was it worth it? [15:15] If this is the thanks I get, what’s the point? [15:22] And Peter wants us to be well aware [15:27] that that is going to be the temptation.

[15:30] Hard times are ones you to understand. [15:34] Difficulties in life do not equate [15:40] a lack of God’s favor on your life. [15:45] Instead, if you obey God, [15:49] this I’ve learned this over a lot of years. [15:51] The blessing for that often emerges

[15:54] on the other side of the difficulties that immediately follow that [15:57] in ways that I would never designed, in ways that I would have never imagined. [16:04] That’s why I cannot trust my version [16:08] of blessing every single time. [16:12] Proverbs three actually warns me against that. [16:14] Look at what the Proverbs write.

[16:15] Solomon writes here, he says, Be not wise in your own eyes. [16:18] Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. [16:20] I truly believe that Solomon wrote this in application [16:24] to this type of thought, where there’s going to be a way that I look at life [16:29] and I feared the Lord, I’ve turned away from evil [16:32] and things didn’t go the way that my eyes think they should have gone.

[16:36] And I am tempted to turn away from the Lord rather than turning away from evil, [16:40] to which God says, why are you trusting your own wisdom [16:43] of what a blessing actually looks like?

[16:46] Why do you trust yourself more than you trust God? [16:49] Here’s the deal, friend. [16:50] We must obey God, repent of sin [16:53] and trust God with the outcome every single time. [16:57] And I know if a counselor sat down with you [17:01] with what you are going through and had the audacity

[17:06] to look at your problem and say, [17:08] well, I think you need to obey God, [17:12] repent of sin and trust God with the outcome. [17:15] How dare you?

[17:19] My problems are unique. [17:22] My situation is something that you haven’t encountered before, [17:25] because you believe you are a special little snowflake [17:28] going through the world, experiencing things [17:30] that nobody’s ever experienced before in life.

[17:36] If the word of God looks at you and says, yeah, [17:38] but still the answer is obey God, repent of sin and trust God with the outcome [17:43] every single time. [17:46] Because it’s not about how unique you are, [17:51] how unique your situation is, [17:54] your emotional temperature, your number on the enneagram,

[17:58] your disc profile, your love language. [18:01] You know who is the center of all of that? You. [18:06] Not God. [18:08] But God looks at you with your emotional state, [18:11] your personality, everything that you bring into the equation. [18:14] And he says over and over in the scripture, obey me,

[18:18] repent of your sin, trust me with the outcome. [18:22] Matthew five, 10 sermon on the mountain. [18:24] Jesus warns about being persecuted for righteousness. [18:26] But look what he says. [18:27] Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, [18:31] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[18:34] Note where he says the blessing comes [18:37] after you’re dead. [18:39] That’s not doing me a lot of good right now. [18:42] But Jesus says, that’s the trustworthiness of God [18:46] is that you can trust him, not just in this life. [18:50] He delivers beyond the grave.

[18:54] Yet we still fear suffering. [18:58] We still fear the sacrifices that accompany it. [19:02] The commandment against fear over and over again, [19:05] I believe it is so fitting. [19:06] And I love the way that he says it here. [19:09] Peter, under the inspiration of the New Testament,

[19:11] of the Holy Spirit, he actually says in the original language, [19:15] when it says in first Peter three, three, three, 14, [19:18] and he finishes verse 14, he says, have no fear of them [19:21] nor be troubled in the original language. [19:24] It literally says, do not fear [19:28] the fear of them.

[19:30] And that’s a unique phrase. [19:32] You don’t see that specific phrase anywhere else. [19:35] And so it has led translators to an interpretation issue. [19:39] Sometimes in translation, you have to try to interpret [19:41] what he means by that. [19:43] And translations do two different things with it

[19:46] that I think both of them are fitting. [19:48] And I think there’s something to learn from both of them. [19:51] The first one is the way you see it read in the ESV [19:55] and the ESV. It’s not complicated. [19:58] Do not fear them, nor be troubled. [20:01] Don’t be troubled by them, is what the ESV is trying to say.

[20:05] This idea is that the enemy, [20:08] your adversary standing against you [20:12] is no one deserving of your fear. [20:14] This goes along with what Jesus himself said in Matthew chapter 10, [20:18] starting in verse 28. [20:19] Jesus says, do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul,

[20:23] rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. [20:30] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [20:32] Not one of them fall to the ground apart from your father, [20:35] but even the hairs on your head are all numbered. [20:39] Some of you can read that the hairs that used to be on your head. [20:43] Fear not. You’re sitting right there.

[20:45] I’m sorry. Fear not. Therefore, [20:49] you are of more value than many sparrows. [20:54] What is Jesus saying there? [20:56] Jesus is saying people are going to come against you [20:59] and they’re going to try to take the place of God in your life. [21:02] And they’re going to try to get you to be so afraid of them

[21:05] that you’re afraid they’re even going to kill them. [21:07] And Jesus basically says, you know how pathetic it is [21:09] to only be able to kill a person physically? [21:12] We don’t think it’s pathetic, but Jesus does. [21:16] He’s going to be afraid of them. [21:17] Imagine God can kill you physically and then kill you again later

[21:20] if he wants to in hell.

[21:24] That’s someone with power. [21:26] That’s someone whose strength and authority over you [21:30] doesn’t end with death. [21:32] It extends into eternity.

[21:35] Jesus’s point is human beings are not God. [21:40] Only God is God. [21:41] And if you have faith in Christ, you are so precious to God [21:47] that he can tell you everything about you, even down to the amount of hair [21:52] you have on your head. [21:55] The NASB, I love the way the New American Standard translates it.

[21:58] The New American Standard says, do not fear their intimidation.

[22:03] And that’s so understandable in life because people try to intimidate you. [22:08] People try to come against you. [22:10] Society at large will try to come against you. [22:13] Sometimes governments will even come against the Church of Jesus Christ. [22:16] In Colorado right now, they just signed into law a bill [22:20] completely targeted against Christians in order to scare pastors

[22:24] from standing against transgender surgeries.

[22:30] The Bible says, why are you intimidated by their threats? [22:35] Don’t be afraid of them. [22:36] They have no ultimate power over you. [22:40] People will stand against you because of your faith. [22:42] People try to intimidate me. They do. [22:46] I’ve had people tell me they were going to physically fight me.

[22:49] And that’s when I called Jake and I said, you stand in front of me.

[22:53] This is the moneymaker. [22:56] I can’t take any damage. All right. [22:58] I’m the face of the organization. Emphasis on face.

[23:03] I was with my boys, the staff at somewhere. [23:07] James will remember this. [23:08] And I thought security got called on us and they turned around [23:13] and said, where’s Steve? [23:14] I was gone. That’s where I was. [23:17] When it hits the fan, Steve is for Steve.

[23:20] I don’t have your back. All right. [23:22] I’m looking out for numero uno. OK. [23:26] So I’m not looking for a fight. [23:28] I’m looking for a way out. [23:30] But people will stand against you. [23:31] People will try to intimidate me sometimes.

[23:33] People in the church will try to intimidate me sometimes. [23:36] If I do something or somebody does something that they don’t like, [23:39] they’ll look at me and say, I’ll leave. [23:41] And I look at them and I say, one less problem. [23:44] I’m a bit obstinate. All right.

[23:48] Peter looks at the church, understand the context they’re in. [23:52] The suffering is not theoretical. [23:55] It’s right in front of their face. [23:58] And he says, don’t be intimidated by them. [24:01] You stand for Jesus Christ. [24:04] You endure in your faith.

[24:06] If you are threatened for your faith, [24:10] keep trusting God, keep obeying God. [24:16] It’s always the answer. [24:17] It never fails. [24:19] Other translations have a different way. [24:20] The NIV, it says, don’t fear what they fear.

[24:25] And I like that one as well, [24:28] because it still fits the Christian life, [24:30] because he’s saying a follower of Jesus Christ [24:33] should not have the same levels of fear that an unbeliever has. [24:39] They have no promise of the kingdom of heaven. [24:41] They do not have the favor of God in their lives.

[24:44] If they are threatened with suffering, [24:46] it will only get worse upon death as they awake in hell. [24:50] So if you’re a Christian [24:52] and you live life with the same fears unbelievers have, [24:57] it necessitates a questioning of the validity of your faith claims. [25:02] You see, Peter wants you to understand a good life leads to fearlessness

[25:06] because all fear is ultimately rooted in disbelief where God is concerned. [25:12] But when you trust God, as the apostle Paul puts it, [25:16] even death is gain. [25:19] But that doesn’t happen by accident. [25:22] You see, number two, this morning, you need to understand [25:24] faithfulness requires preparation.

[25:27] Faithfulness requires preparation. [25:29] Look what he says in verse 15.

[25:32] But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy, [25:36] always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you [25:40] for a reason, for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect, [25:44] having a good conscience so that when you are slandered, [25:48] not if. Not if.

[25:53] When you are slandered, [25:56] those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

[26:03] I think he begins with a presupposition. [26:07] Christ is your Lord, not human beings.

[26:11] Where do I get that? [26:13] Verse 15 begins when he says, honor Christ as holy in your hearts. [26:18] In the original language, it literally reads sanctify Christ [26:22] or set him apart as the Lord of your heart [26:27] or of the core of who you are, of your guts, [26:31] of what makes you you. Christ is Lord.

[26:36] He’s not to be treated as another human authority. [26:41] Therefore, your posture towards him is completely different. [26:46] When you are filled with the fear of man, [26:50] you cannot view Christ as Lord. [26:53] It’s impossible. [26:54] Faith and fear, they do not coexist on the same plane.

[26:57] You are, even if subconsciously, [27:01] when you live fearful, as though a person [27:05] or a material in this world is your Lord. [27:10] You’re denying the lordship of Jesus in your life, [27:13] and it should be and is evident [27:17] from the activity in your life who or what your Lord actually is.

[27:24] Look at Paul’s statement of First Corinthians four, one through two. [27:27] He says, this is how one should regard us as servants of Christ [27:30] and stewards of the mysteries of God. [27:32] Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

[27:39] Peter makes a statement here in Chapter three, [27:42] verse 15 that is applied, I believe, very well by Paul [27:47] in First Corinthians, Chapter four, what Peter says when he says, [27:51] set the Lord apart as the Lord of your heart. [27:55] Paul says, here’s what that actually looks like in practice. [27:58] It looks like someone who finds their identity as a servant of Christ

[28:02] and proves their identity as a servant of Christ by stewards of the mysteries [28:07] of 가지고 of Christ.

[28:12] And that 가지고 of Christ 가지고 of Christ [28:13] 가지고 of 가지고 of 가지고 of 가지고 of 가지고 of 가지고 of [28:18] [28:18] [28:18] 가지고 of [28:18]

[28:18] [28:18] [28:18] [28:18] 가지고 of [28:18] [28:18]

[28:18] [28:18] [28:18] [28:18] [28:18] [28:18]

[28:18] [28:18] [28:18] [28:18] 가지고 of [28:19] [28:19]

[28:19] [28:19] [28:19] [28:19] [28:20] ! [28:21]

[28:21] ! [28:21] 가지고 of [28:21] [28:22] ! [28:22] 가지고 of [28:22] !

[28:23] 가지고 of [28:23] [28:23] ! [28:24] 가지고 of [28:24] [28:25]

[28:25] [28:25] [28:25] [28:25] [28:25] [28:25]

[28:25] 가지고 of [28:26] 가지고 of

[28:32] !

[28:35] 가지고 of [28:11]

[28:36] very well prepared to serve Christ so long as everything is going your way.

[28:45] You know that old saying hashtag blessed?

[28:49] So long as God does what you want him to do, gives you what you’re asking him to give you, [28:54] and makes all your problems go away, I am a faithful steward.

[28:59] That’s not what Peter’s talking about. [29:02] Peter wants to know where your faithfulness is going to be when nothing goes your way, [29:08] when life doesn’t go according to your plan, when you wanted things to turn left and everything [29:14] turned right, when suffering enters, when relationships fall apart, when you have a [29:22] real adversary, and when you are worried about other people, where’s your faithfulness as a [29:30] steward there? You see, engaging life with fearlessness sounds so attractive, doesn’t it?

[29:36] I mean, it’s what courage is made of. The ability to face down an adversary or face down [29:42] a difficult situation with bravery, you deal with it heads on. That’s the stuff of stories. [29:50] That’s a great movie plot right there, but it will never happen without preparation.

[29:57] We want the type of faith and resolve, but most never follow through because of a refusal to [30:06] prepare yourselves by building lives prepared for sacrifice. You see, the preparation isn’t the [30:16] exciting part, but it’s the most necessary part. See, some of you are setting your lives up for [30:22] failure. You are setting your life up saying, okay, when the hard times come, you’re going to [30:25] come. I hope I’m prepared. I hope I can deal with it, but I don’t know what’s ahead of me. [30:34] So how could I prepare? The scripture has given us a roadmap for that, friends. You prepare first

[30:40] by understanding who you are in light of who Christ is. He is Lord, I am servant. That’s an [30:47] important distinctive to have in your life, and then you build that identity out in Christ. [30:53] Hebrews 10 23 reminds us that we hold fast to our confession by first realizing Christ’s [30:59] faithfulness, not my own. It’s founded on his faithfulness, not mine. My faithfulness does not [31:06] build the faith. It is Christ’s ability to keep his promises that makes any of this possible. [31:13] Therefore, I need constant reminders of that. I have to keep my eyes on Christ.

[31:20] By God’s grace, scripture, prayer, active discipleship, fellowship with Christians within [31:28] the church, do you realize that God is preparing you through those means? But when you neglect [31:36] those things, because they’re not exciting enough for you, because they’re too hard for you, [31:42] because there’s just no pizzazz in it, whatever the reason is, your preparation is lacking. [31:49] Do not compartmentalize your faith. Learn to think biblically. When I say obey God, repent of sin,

[32:02] trust God with the outcome. Do you know where I get those three things? [32:07] The Bible. That’s what it means to thank biblically. Too many of you are convinced [32:14] that health is found in thanking therapeutically. Your standards. It’s not it at all. You have to [32:23] thank biblically. And thanking biblically, it can save your life. But it also forces you to [32:29] realize what a liar you are. And you lie to yourself every single day. When you make your [32:37] decisions first, emotionally, you are not thinking biblically at all. You are thinking with you on

[32:47] the throne and how you feel being ultimate authority over everything and everyone. And if [32:54] people don’t make you feel a certain way, they don’t love you. That’s not biblical at all. [33:04] But when you thank biblically, and this is why it’s so important to memorize scripture, [33:09] to have anchor verses in the scripture. And when you saturate your life in the Bible, [33:14] and you want to know how I know you’re not doing that? Because most of you quit your Bible reading [33:19] plan in Genesis 15 this year. All right, I’m just saying. And so don’t tell me that’s too easy.

[33:26] Then how you doing at it? How much time are you spending in the word every single day of your life? [33:34] Some of you claim to know it and you’ve never even made it all the way through it.

[33:39] You have to thank biblically. Your responses to problems need to be biblical. Because here’s what [33:46] I mean. When I say thank biblically, some of you hear me saying when a problem comes my way, [33:53] I quote the Bible and the problem is poof, no more. No, that’s not what it means to thank biblically. [34:00] To thank biblically means when a problem comes my way, I’m reminded by the Holy Spirit of [34:06] scripture because I’ve memorized it and I know how to posture myself ready for the problem to [34:12] hit me square in the noggin. Because it doesn’t make them go away, but it certainly endures me

[34:19] through them. You see, friends, you have to learn to retrain your thought process to not have you [34:28] as God and have the author of scripture as the Lord of your life. But when you fail to realize [34:35] that Jesus is Lord of all, you will cease to prepare in so many avenues of your life [34:42] for a future where your faith will be tested. We live in a great era. I mean, think about [34:49] when I was a kid, the fact that I have all of the information in the world in my back pocket on a [34:56] phone right now. In 1985, that was like sci-fi. All right. And then even then computers filled

[35:05] entire rooms. I can’t even feel it back there. It’s probably radiating bad things in my body, [35:13] but it’s back there. So we live in an era where the greatest defenses of the faith are on demand [35:21] all of the time. And so when we read in verse 15, I love this. It’s a verse that I’ve quoted so [35:27] many times, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone. And it is the word apologia. And there’s [35:35] a whole field of apologetics that is so much further than it was years ago before we had all [35:41] of the information right in our back pockets. But what has happened is we have compartmentalized that

[35:46] and we’ve taken it out of context because he’s not talking in verse 15 about an academic defense [35:52] of the faith. And so many of you listen to so many podcasts, you read so many books, [35:59] you’ve learned so many sermons about defending the faith that you think he’s talking about. [36:04] And by the way, I’ve been much of my life on this. Men on our team have been much of our lives on [36:09] defending faith against atheists and cults. We just offered a class in that.

[36:15] But what he’s talking about here is not you spending your life preparing so on the off [36:22] chance that you meet an atheistic scholar someday and they’re like, hmm, yes, can you prove to me [36:27] ontologically the existence of God, talk about the problem of evil? And you’re like, well, thank God, [36:32] I obeyed first Peter 315. It’s a good thing to do. But by the way, it’s probably never coming. [36:40] 99% of atheists are just sexual perverts. All right. That just kind of slipped out. [36:47] All right. Just kind of happened. Right. Of course, I need to be ready for that. But what

[36:53] is he talking about in this text? You must deal with the reality that when you suffer for the faith, [37:03] people may look at you and say, where is your God now?

[37:10] And will you be despairing so much of suffering on that day that you say, I don’t know? [37:18] He sure isn’t blessing me right now, is he? Or will you be so prepared for suffering on that day [37:25] that when they look at you, they don’t say, where is your God now? They will say, how in the world [37:30] do you have hope? And on that day, will you be able to look at them and say, Jesus is Lord of my suffering?

[37:44] See, friends, of course, I need to be ready when atheists ask for an academic defense of the faith, [37:49] but that is worthless. If I can’t prove my own faith through the fruitfulness of my faith in the [38:00] moment of suffering. It’s why James and James 1-2, he begins the book when he says this crazy statement, [38:07] count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. No, [38:11] why would I do that? He says, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, [38:19] let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.

[38:26] Some of you are seeking only to have answers in your head when you actually need answers [38:33] in your daily choices of how to follow Christ faithfully. Then he makes a statement about [38:41] defend the faith in the moment of suffering with gentleness and respect. He isn’t speaking [38:48] in that moment that you just have a, you know, painted on smile. I don’t even know how to do that. [38:53] It means that when you defend your faith, you aren’t intimidated that they’re going to find out [39:01] you’re a fraud. That when you defend your faith, you’re not defensive about yourself.

[39:07] The proof is in your life. And so you aren’t intimidated. You don’t have anything to feel [39:13] threatened by because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain in glory. [39:19] And then you get to verse 16, you have a good conscience. And so when people slander you,

[39:29] it doesn’t really bother you. You don’t really care because you have a very real Jesus who is [39:36] very much a real Lord of a very real life. Because number three, Jesus gives victory in suffering. [39:47] It’s hard to believe in the moment, but he does. We can endure suffering for one simple reason. [39:54] I love the Bible is so simple. Treats things as way less complicated than I do. [40:00] He says in verses 17 and 18, you can endure this because Jesus already has. Look at what he says.

[40:10] For it is better to suffer for doing good. If that should be God’s will, then for doing evil, [40:16] for Christ also suffered. I love that. He says, why are you feeling sorry for yourself? Jesus [40:21] endured this once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God [40:28] being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. How is it possible that we can [40:37] endure trials and tribulations and grow in our faith through those trials where we are stronger [40:44] on the other side? And Peter says it’s a very simple equation because Jesus already showed us

[40:50] how to do that. I think verse 17 lays the gauntlet down. It is an unthinkable claim in a [40:57] godless society that is good to suffer for anything, but he claims it’s good to suffer [41:03] if that be God’s will for your life. And then he proves his case by stating that we have the [41:10] example of Jesus Christ to lead our way through suffering and into an eternity, knowing we will [41:17] not suffer in eternity because Christ’s sacrifice has paid the penalty. His statement there in verse [41:24] 18, that Christ suffered once for sins is significant. It shows the finality of the

[41:32] atonement of Jesus Christ in your life. It’s the same thing as Hebrews 10, 10 states, and by that [41:39] will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. That’s it. [41:47] No more sacrifice needed. The atonement is complete. The penalty for sin has been paid in [41:54] full, and I believe that is comforting in two ways when you are going through suffering. [41:59] It is comforting first because it means my salvation is certain. I am saved. I am redeemed. [42:10] It’s not something I earn. It’s not something I gain later. It’s not something that is questionable.

[42:19] This is Christ suffered once and that was it. I am redeemed from my sin, but there’s a second [42:25] reason that it is comforting. It’s comforting, and that is because Jesus’s suffering doesn’t need to [42:30] happen again. Why do I say that is comforting and how is it different? Because it means that there [42:37] is an end to suffering. It means that suffering has an expiration date for me just as Christ’s [42:47] suffering ended. It is a hellacious thought to think that suffering just goes on in perpetuity, [42:56] but in the moment of suffering, I’ve sat with enough people going through enough pain,

[43:05] and the moment of suffering, it sure feels eternal, doesn’t it?

[43:10] It feels like the darkness will never lift. It feels like hope is gone and the morning will never [43:18] come, but just as Jesus rose from the dead, so also will I. You see, my unrighteousness [43:30] has been nullified by Jesus’s righteousness. His death and resurrection mean that his final work [43:38] on the cross is sufficient for my sin, so there is coming a day where I am going to die,

[43:50] and sometimes that’s scary, and sometimes that’s relieving,

[43:56] because it means that on the other side, no more pain. I awaken to the paradise of the kingdom [44:06] of heaven, where he will reign forever and ever, and that’s why the suffering of Christ is our hope [44:15] for endurance. You see, friend, when Peter invokes the will of God in this text, it’s a statement [44:21] about resting in the sovereignty of God in the middle of trial. I don’t think some of you want [44:26] to say that suffering can be the will of God for your life, because you think that you are [44:30] attributing something negative to God. What’s the alternative? He’s not Lord of my suffering. That’s

[44:36] terrifying. When you say, if it be his will, what you are actually saying is, he’s got it. [44:44] He’s in control of it. It will not do more to me than he allows it to do it, and it will not last [44:52] a moment more than he intends for it to last in my life. Further down in Hebrews chapter 10, [45:00] verses 35 and 36, he states about a confident reward because of God’s will. Look at what he says, [45:08] Do not throw away your confidence. It’s tempting to, because that confidence has a great reward, [45:15] for you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God.

[45:22] He’s saying you’re going to be tempted to lose confidence, but be confident it’s the will of God. [45:29] You may receive what is promised. Romans 5, 3 through 5, similar idea from James 1. [45:35] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces hope and endurance [45:42] produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s [45:49] love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who he has given to us. [45:58] Suffering produces endurance, produces character, produces hope, and that is sealed by the power of

[46:04] the Holy Spirit to deliver the future promises of God. Friend, the work of Christ is sufficient [46:11] for your pain. Jesus is enough. In the moment of suffering, do not underscore the value of the [46:21] finished work of Jesus Christ over your pain. He will bring us to God. His righteousness nullifies [46:29] my unrighteousness. He died, He rose again from the dead, so that when I die, He can give me life [46:38] again. Do you believe this, friend? Because if you believe the gospel of Jesus, you will endure in [46:48] this life. You will take every moment captive to prepare you for the next trial that’s coming,

[46:56] and through every moment you won’t despair of your faith. Instead, you will grow in your faith [47:05] at every moment, as it offers you another opportunity to make a defense of the hope that [47:13] is in you. Are you prepared for that? Are you preparing for that? A few application points [47:24] this morning. Live a life worth suffering for. Live a life worth suffering for. That’s why wisdom [47:33] is vital. Don’t invest your life in foolishness. Secondly, refuse to fear people. They’ll try to [47:41] tempt you towards it. Don’t ever give in. Don’t ever fear man. Third, prepare to defend the

[47:49] validity of your faith. And then finally, trust that Jesus is sufficient.