Believers Under Assault

Bumped into the end that's podcast the child and family for Wednesday, July 27 let's continue studying how God uses difficulties and hardships to build strong character. It's interesting that our adversities in life are God's universities.

The teacher has some principles that will never learn to live away will never learn. As long as disease, comfort and pleasure and everything is going our way. And when Peter wrote this first epistle he knew at least a great idea what was coming. He knew the persecution was coming in. So what he was doing is trying he was trying to instruct those believers that when it comes they'll know how to respond they'll know how to act and the primary thing he was concerned about was that there personal testimony be without blemish that their conduct and reactions would be such that when persecuted when criticized, that their good conduct would win. Even their intimate and so on. The third chapter of first Peter, this is where we begin tonight. He says beginning in the 13th verse, and who is there to harm you if you prove zealously what is good, but even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness. Your blessed and do not fear their intimidation and do not be trouble but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who ask you to give an account for the whole that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence, and keep a good conscience, so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame but is better if God should will it so that you suffer for doing what is right, rather than for doing what is wrong now I want to look at this passage and I want to succeed.

Two very important things here in the first what is this and that is the possibility of suffering, but doing what is right and that's really what is referring to here looking verse 13 and who is there to harm you if you prove zealously what is good now the word zealous. Here is where we get our word. What seal and the word zealous, and the truth is, if you think about all that God has promised to be in us all that God has promised us in all that we are in him is it amazing that some people are so apathetic and so indifferent and somehow it so absolutely lazy about the things of God when he says we are to be zealous for the work of God that is weird to be enthusiastic about it committed to it engaged in it when many many people who attend church are not zealous for the Lord's work. They just attend church and hope that they'll enjoy a sermon on dental something that may help him but he says and who is there to harm you if you prove zealous, but what is good to let me ask you something. What is it that you are genuinely excited about tonight. What is it that you genuinely excited about committed to involved in all the van and something bigger than yourself. Most people, the biggest thing that they're concerned about is the big guy, but a Christian should be committed to zealous for involved in that which is bigger than himself are bigger than herself. We are a part of a cause, a part of the kingdom of God in our ministry is to evangelize the world aware that you can't get anything in a bigger than the world and he gave all of us a great commission. He says we are to be zealous for those things that are good and that he asked the question who is there to harm you if you prove zealous of what is good now what he simply saying here is a just sufferings going to be limited when he says who is there to harm you if you prove zealously what is good when he says harm Shirley, you and I can be harmed but not harmed. Ultimately we are going to be ultimately protected from anything anybody can do that is they can touch your body, but one thing they cannot do they can't mess around with our spirit. The Bible says we sit in the heavens is in Christ Jesus. The physical body may suffer harm, but he says who is that the harm you, that is to do you permanent harm if you prove to be zealous for the work of God, did he not just finished saying in the verses before the eyes of the Lord upon the righteous's ears attend their prayers but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil so no matter what may happen because ultimately nobody can harm your spirit because you have been born again by the Holy Spirit, and your spirit in God's spirit have been joined together and now will one so he says this suffering whatever it's going to be it's going to be limited and does he not say, for example, the 34th song. He says the angel of the Lord does what the angel of the Lord is in camping about that is, he is so has surrounded every single one of us so that the only thing that can touch you and me is only that which God allowed somebody else may think it will.

Who cares about your belief in God. Nobody can touch the believer apart from the permissive will of Almighty God. And so he moves on the second verse of the multi-verse to say but even if you should. He's not saying that you won't ever he says no one can harm you. Ultimately, no one can destroy you.

You belong to God. And even if God should allow this. Even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, which is his way of saying it's possible it may come, and he knew that they were going to suffer because of their faith, he says, even if you do, here's what I want you notice even if you do he says you blessed now, how in the world can you be blessed while you believe, how can you be blessed while you being persecuted for their several ways.

First of all when ever God in his permissive will opens the door and allows some form of suffering are hurt to come. God doesn't burn out one of several reasons. Sometimes it's because he knows that is exactly what we need to teach as a principal that he is committed but we learn so he allows us to be persecuted in some form or fashion. Sometimes it is the burn that is to burn the draw side of us to get our attention and is still working there life that we recognize that we that we find ourselves driven to God. Sometimes he sees us drifting and its criticism and persecution and all kinds of insults and things that are not right. I mean they are wrong and what they're saying but it drives us back to God forces us back to him to rely upon him and recognize how deeply we needed, but sometimes when he says we are blessed. God knows that's one of the finest ways the world grows up because what this persecution and hardship and heartache do but it forces us owner leaves the cry out to God and we begin to grow in ways that were not going to go any other way and then also we are blessed in our persecution in our suffering. Sometimes because God will allow us to go through some form of difficulty, heartache and persecution and he turns one available in the side and gives us something. It's as if he just balances it all. It's not that God's paying your office suffering is God in his loving kindness and goodness and mercy, knowing that you going to difficulty what does he do he just balances it all with some form of goodness and love and mercy. It may be something material. It may be some relationship. I don't know what it may be that God has the most beautiful way of balancing all our hurts with those things that will bring happiness and joy and peace in our life. Does he not say in the sermon on the Mount and you know these verses by heart. Blessed are ye, when men shall persecute you and do all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Great, he says, is your reward in heaven. He says so even if you persecuted even if you are he says is what you can expect. He says you can expect to be blessed. You go to work tomorrow morning mommy somebody gives you a terrible time. I mean they do select, you have what you gonna do, let him have it back. User law feel like it got understands that God is not in heaven checking you out to see I'm going to check them out CA feels no, he's checking you out to see how you respond. You see believers this the whole book is what Peter saying I want you to respond in the correct fashion.

When you find yourself being insulted gossip about criticize castigated insulted you name it. No matter what happens, what the criticism is.

He says you to respond the proper fashion. He says even if you should suffer for righteous site. So what you blessed. Then he says here is the way we ought to respond. The attitude is one of them zealously serving the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that persecution will come and can come the possibility of it's always there. But he says here's how we are to respond when it comes to list. Do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled. Don't be disturbed or shaken listening or shaken because they did not say the eyes of the Lord upon the righteous's ears attend their prayers.

The face Lord is against those who do evil. He says that response is to be one of fearlessness and not being intimidated easy you and I as believers obeying God don't have to be intimidated by anybody because of who you are and your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. He says will be fearless.

Now what does a believer have to fear if it first of all ultimately you cannot be harmed physically, we may suffer some things, but ultimately nobody can touch our spirit. What is it with the fear of losing something with.

We've Artie given to God is his business to protect and besides that, does he not say. Inasmuch as you've done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you don't want to make anybody who harms you. God says it is on the same level of harming the person of the Lord Jesus Christ same level. He says if you've done it to one of these Suman, you've done it to me that my for little to say something goes the way we treat each other like wise not only how your enemies may treat you, but how we treat each other the way we treat each other.

He says the way you treat the other person that one of on. He says it's like you're doing it to me so he says will be fearless and un-intimidated that is unshaken by anything that we may have to face now.

How is it that you and I can face some things that are very, very difficult, unintimidated and fearless. And here's what he says in verse 15.

This is what happens sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts when the world is he mean by that is not true that we are the ones ought to be being sanctified with the ones who set apart for him and unto him when he says be fearless and unintimidated, sanctify the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart is what he say he saying that our devotion. That is, the Jesus Christ should have such preeminence in our life and our devotion to him, such should have such intensity that we will respond to difficulty with fearlessness unshaken confident and bold.

Why because our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of our life and so our perspective is that no matter what touches us has to get his permission if he gives the permission and whatever is coming has to be for a good because God is committed listen God is committed to turning every single thing that happens in the life of the believer is going to turn it to good. We don't always understand why God allows what it allows one thing about it. God Almighty Jehovah God always expresses love and always reaches down and if we are willing, he will bring something marvelously good at a most difficult trying hard times that you and I face, so he says it even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you blessed, don't be fearful or intimidated cannot be trouble. Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts that is when he is the Lord of our life and we understand this now we understand that he is Lord of our life and we understand our intimacy with him and we know that whatever he's allowing God is expressing love. It's going to be good and in the outcome we gonna be better off for and then he says now in our action not only are we to sanctify the Lord Jesus Christ.

But he says, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give a reason on account for the hope that is in you when he says, always being ready to make a defense to make a defense and that word in the Greek's apology or from which we get our word apology and an apologetics which is area of theology of the defense of our belief of the persuasion of why we believe what we believe in defending that he says always be ready. That is if you going to be ready for trouble. Sometimes one of the ways you get ready is to be listened to, be ready to give to things to be ready. First of all to give a clear statement of your faith and secondly to keep a clear conscience. So first of all to keep a clear, to have a clear statement of what you believe if somebody walked up to you tonight and said would you tell me what you believe about Jesus Christ and would you explain to me why you believe that. Could you give them a clear statement of why you placed your trust in Jesus Christ. Why at some point in your life you surrendered your life to Christ.

Could you give them a clear statement could you say that you suppose they sent you, but why don't you just believe in God. While this Jesus bit. Could you explain to them the absolute necessity of the sacrificial all sufficient atoning death of Jesus Christ. There is a tragedy that goes on in the body of Christ, and that is that men and women could sit in church pews that Sunday after Sunday week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, 40, 50, 60 years and cannot defend their faith in Jesus Christ and see you see when suffering comes up all the times we need to be ready to give an account. That's the time and I wanted to brother its company is not going to come 20 years and now it's on its way.

It's already here but is going to intensify in a fashion that most of us never dreamed that other believers better get ready if somebody should say to unite you walk out of this billing and Sabella parking lots and hate you not in Canada denied out of what all this is up to. My life is about over and I wonder if there is any hope at all.

What would you say to them, listen to help you to put this piece is not always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the whole that is in you, Peter says, not as a suggestion.

He says every single one of us should be ready prepared to make a defense for our faith that one thing I'll have to admit one thing seller gets to be a once a while somebody says what you know I've been a Christian about 40 years. But you know I just never have understood the Bible 40 years, when you know I just never have. But I never have read the Bible much 40 years and never have read much the greatest book ever given to mankind just never have rented. Therefore, parents don't call me. He says that you to be ready know why because when persecution comes more people want to know the reason for your whole ever before.

Listen to me carefully.

If you walked into the hospital of one of your loved one who was dying and asking the question may be dying of cancer. Anything and ask you is there any hope beyond the grave. What would you tell them and if they said well how can I have that hope.

Would you know what to say that you know my friend.

A lot of pastors who would not know what to say. You know why because they have cut out so much of this is erroneous and myth and fable. They don't have anything to say when they stand they cannot offer any hope no hope friend when all hell breaks loose and I'm telling you it's going to break loose. We do have hope within us all people. We need to be ready ready fully prepare to be able to give to anybody and everybody anywhere and everywhere. Reason for the hope that is living and abiding. Thank you for listening to believers under assault. If you'd like to know more about child family for intense ministry that night and had started writing back. After the presentation of InTouch ministries Atlanta, Georgia