WEBVTT 00:00:00.870 --> 00:00:05.790 With that being said, open up your Bibles to First Peter chapter two. 00:00:06.420 --> 00:00:08.920 It's on page if you want to grab a Bible on the seat in front of you. 00:00:08.920 --> 00:00:11.900 It's on page 181 of the Bibles that we carry here at church. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:22.940 There comes a place in our spiritual lives, and hopefully it comes very early in our spiritual lives, where 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:30.020 we get to a position where we accept Christ as our Savior, and then we get to a place of commitment where we 00:00:30.020 --> 00:00:33.660 desire just to see what Jesus has for our lives. 00:00:35.760 --> 00:00:38.760 We ask the question, God, what do you want from me? 00:00:40.620 --> 00:00:46.700 And we lay ourselves down and not to live according to our wills, but what he desires for us. 00:00:48.260 --> 00:00:56.600 The question we look at this morning as we dive into the Book of Second Peter, we just simply ask ourselves, whatever 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:59.260 Jesus has called you to do in this world. 00:01:01.360 --> 00:01:04.080 What are you willing to give up for the sake of the gospel? 00:01:06.740 --> 00:01:10.380 What in yourselves are you willing to lay down that others may know? 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:17.680 Jesus discover in Scripture that the people that Jesus uses in his ministry are those who 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:24.940 just simply surrender, those who are about submission to his authority over 00:01:24.940 --> 00:01:25.160 them. 00:01:26.440 --> 00:01:31.860 And the thing I love about Jesus is that you don't have to be wonderfully gifted and talented to be used of God. 00:01:31.960 --> 00:01:33.120 You just have to be willing. 00:01:35.100 --> 00:01:41.280 And in that attitude, God works in you and through you to accomplish his will in this world. 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:49.250 It's amazing to me to look back and to see how God can just take ordinary people and do supernatural things with them. 00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:57.240 But it all starts with a place in your life where you look at God and what he's done for you and say to him, God, now that I 00:01:57.240 --> 00:01:59.970 know you, just have your way with me. 00:02:01.520 --> 00:02:08.740 And this morning, the context of the passage of scriptures that we're looking at are very simplistic in what they proclaim to us as people, 00:02:09.460 --> 00:02:16.090 but it only speaks to the heart of people who are at a place in their lives that say to Jesus, Jesus, I just want you to have control. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.510 And the reason is because today we talk about the word submission. 00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:29.000 And unless Jesus has become Lord of your life, that word is very unattractive to you. 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:36.440 As a matter of fact, I would say even in giving your life to Jesus, that word can still be unattractive to us. 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:42.760 I think as individuals, what we express in our hearts many times is an attitude of rebellion. 00:02:43.740 --> 00:02:48.880 It's all about me and what I want and what I get and forget whatever else has done to me. 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:50.220 I'm just seeking after myself. 00:02:50.940 --> 00:02:51.740 My glory, my gain. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:54.180 The Bible calls that pride. 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:55.500 In many ways. 00:02:56.160 --> 00:02:57.100 I am my own God. 00:02:57.440 --> 00:03:02.680 Though I know who he is, I elevate myself and my needs above his and what he desires. 00:03:05.100 --> 00:03:08.960 Pride and selfishness tends to think that we are our own boss. 00:03:10.640 --> 00:03:12.900 A lot of times it plays out into the work world. 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:19.980 If anyone's ever had a boss above them at some point in a particular moment, all of us have thought, my boss is dumber than 00:03:19.980 --> 00:03:21.600 me and I can do a better job, right? 00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:25.080 If only I had the position, I could show them how it really is. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:30.200 A lot of times in our lives I think we treat without saying it. 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:32.860 We treat Jesus the same way. 00:03:35.100 --> 00:03:41.940 Doesn't God know that I'm in charge of me and that it's my life that I've been given by him, but I can do with whatever I desire. 00:03:44.040 --> 00:03:46.050 Say the word submission to an American culture. 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:46.280 It's. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:47.760 It doesn't sit with us, right? 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:52.180 Especially knowing that we're a generation of people that were raised by hippies. 00:03:56.770 --> 00:03:57.420 60s. 00:03:57.460 --> 00:03:58.120 The 70s. 00:03:58.140 --> 00:03:59.720 Let's just do whatever, right? 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:04.060 I love me and everything that makes me feel good about me. 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:11.740 When Jesus calls us to in this world is a life of submission. 00:04:14.580 --> 00:04:21.720 And I got to say, in talking about submission to authority for some good reason, some of us don't enjoy it, because in positions in our life we've 00:04:21.820 --> 00:04:24.080 been abused by people of authority. 00:04:26.400 --> 00:04:30.380 Nonetheless, it's a place in which Jesus calls us to in this world. 00:04:30.380 --> 00:04:33.600 It's a life God has given us as a life of service. 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:42.620 Talking about submission and even thinking about Jesus's earlier earliest followers, it was difficult for them to accept what he called them to do. 00:04:43.700 --> 00:04:50.420 In a Jewish mind, when Jesus showed up in this world, Jesus was going to take the kingdom of God and he was going to conquer the world, and he was going to rule and reign. 00:04:50.760 --> 00:04:57.460 And when his followers began to realize that Jesus was going to lay himself down and ask them to be obedient to the authorities above them, they hated it. 00:04:59.900 --> 00:05:00.520 And despised him. 00:05:03.200 --> 00:05:10.580 And yet, when you come to a passage of Scripture in first Peter chapter two, Peter begins every position of our lives with one central 00:05:10.580 --> 00:05:16.300 theme to us, which is seek to show Jesus in this world with an attitude of submission and service. 00:05:18.760 --> 00:05:21.820 And Peter breaks down all the sections of chapter two into chapter three. 00:05:21.820 --> 00:05:25.600 And every area of our life, every facet in which we would abide by his people. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:32.660 All of us live under a form of government, and he says in 213, submit to every human institution. 00:05:32.940 --> 00:05:34.820 In fact, he ends this section in verse 17. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:37.680 He just goes ahead and says, submit to all people. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:44.000 In verse 18 he says, servants, submit to your masters, which we'll talk about. 00:05:44.020 --> 00:05:44.460 I'm not telling. 00:05:44.520 --> 00:05:46.730 You need to go out and sell yourself as a slave. 00:05:46.760 --> 00:05:48.900 But we'll talk about what that means to us in context. 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:55.420 And he he's talking about in our work environment and even in family life. 00:05:56.900 --> 00:06:00.040 Husbands, serve your wives, wives, submit to your husbands. 00:06:00.520 --> 00:06:07.780 There's an attitude of submission and attitude that elevates the other person above your well being for the benefit of Jesus and to sacrifice 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:09.040 for the gospel. 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:15.380 And so the question is, what are you willing to sacrifice that others may know Christ? 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:25.840 I think what Jesus desires for us in this passage of Scripture is that we become people that don't live by 00:06:25.840 --> 00:06:32.840 rebellion and fight, that we don't live by fear and run away, but that we become people 00:06:32.840 --> 00:06:35.900 that live by faith and trusting in him through all things. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:39.080 Passages. 00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:46.800 Scriptures, as Paul explains, asks us as people just to simply let God have control by submitting and allowing his authority 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.080 to work in us and through us. 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:55.820 Maybe we should stop and ask ourselves, why does Jesus ask us to submit? 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:59.880 Let me give you a few responses to that. 00:07:01.080 --> 00:07:06.800 First is very simple, very plain, and I think it's the reason Peter begins these passages of Scripture. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.120 It's because others judge Jesus by his followers. 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:19.140 And to think about the importance of who you are in your relationship to Christ as you encounter this world, you may be the only Jesus that 00:07:19.140 --> 00:07:21.840 people experience in this life. 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:28.290 And like it or not, people judge Jesus by the way that you choose to live your life. 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:36.810 Jesus even told his followers and they will know we are Christians by our love. 00:07:38.100 --> 00:07:40.300 It's a life that's demonstrated by action. 00:07:42.260 --> 00:07:48.580 Second is this selfishness doesn't cooperate with Jesus, but selflessness does. 00:07:49.840 --> 00:07:56.560 And the reason is because Jesus isn't is interested in our individuality as he is our community as a whole. 00:07:57.660 --> 00:08:04.780 And so when we live to worship Christ, we think about the benefit of all people and the way that we conduct our lives so that Christ may be known to 00:08:04.780 --> 00:08:12.340 them Third is this as we look at all areas in which Peter admits to us here that we need to think and serve 00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:18.660 Jesus, he he's recognizing for us that every area of our life is a place of worship. 00:08:20.470 --> 00:08:22.180 It's not just about Sunday. 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:29.320 As we sing at the cross and we think about worshiping God, it's Monday when you go to work and you're frustrated 00:08:29.320 --> 00:08:31.200 from your boss on Friday. 00:08:32.640 --> 00:08:36.360 It's Tuesday when you're upset over elections that have taken place. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:42.520 It's Wednesday when your spouse maybe has frustrated you or done something glorious for you. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:46.020 Father's day is coming up, ladies, I think here soon, so think about that. 00:08:47.380 --> 00:08:48.040 But it's all worship. 00:08:50.400 --> 00:08:52.150 When you're vacuuming your home. 00:08:52.680 --> 00:08:58.140 You can worship when you're choosing not to retaliate towards other people who have wronged you. 00:08:58.140 --> 00:09:01.100 It's an attitude of worship that others may see Jesus. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:08.720 We notice in our actions and through our worship, is that relationally bad situations get better. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:17.120 When someone is willing to submit and serve the well-being of other people, how do we know that the 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:17.840 answer is Jesus? 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:18.340 It's always Jesus. 00:09:20.540 --> 00:09:23.460 We see Jesus most through sacrifice. 00:09:24.020 --> 00:09:31.040 I think in this world, when the people that are most difficult to love are still loved, Jesus has people do that. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:35.480 You think about Jesus and the sacrifice that he's placed for us. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:42.880 We see the love of God by the evidence of Jesus going to the cross, and in that it inspires us to know this God that loves us 00:09:42.880 --> 00:09:43.580 so dearly. 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:48.500 And may our response to that in Christ be the same towards other people. 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:52.880 And that while I choose to rebel against God, God still loved me. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.920 And so as you rebel against me, I love you that you may see Jesus. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:04.000 That is difficult to swallow, easy to say, but difficult to swallow. 00:10:05.460 --> 00:10:12.820 I kept thinking, even in my own life, some of the hardest things I've had to do is forgive somebody 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.290 when they've wronged me. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:20.860 More than anything, I wanted to fight, scream, bring justice back. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:23.680 Let other people see the fury that I brought on an individual. 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:29.140 But when you step back and think for the well being of Christ and the sake of the gospel. 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.090 This isn't that beneficial. 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:38.410 Bless those who choose in those moments to make the sacrifice. 00:10:40.540 --> 00:10:44.000 Because in this world you are the people that are praised the least. 00:10:45.920 --> 00:10:48.480 You're the people that are recognized the fewest. 00:10:50.140 --> 00:10:55.760 It seems in our world, when someone does something wrong, we get pleasure out of seeing the other person bring justice. 00:10:57.980 --> 00:11:02.000 But in your sacrifice, Christ can be made known. 00:11:03.680 --> 00:11:08.300 Why submit to point to a better way through Jesus? 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.200 Why do we submit? 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:13.960 Because God holds you accountable for you. 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:22.100 When I was a little kid, I had to learn this tough lesson once I think I threw my sister down or something very difficult for 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.860 my mother to swallow, apparently, because my punishment. 00:11:24.900 --> 00:11:27.440 But I did something unjust to my sister. 00:11:28.280 --> 00:11:32.340 And my excuse was when I went inside his mom, she made me do it right. 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:37.200 That ugly face she made at me, she deserved to be punished, mom. 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.380 She made me do it. 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:44.200 The reality is, as you grow up, that excuse just doesn't cut it. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:49.380 Regardless of the way that one person treats you, God still holds you accountable for you. 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:55.100 And what God calls you to do in this world is despite what others might do to you. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:06.680 We learn from First Peter when we talk about submission, that we as people are never without a place in our lives that we are to submit for 00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:07.580 the sake of Christ. 00:12:07.640 --> 00:12:09.280 We become servants to this world. 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:18.440 And when I look at Jesus telling us to submit for the sake of the gospel, to sacrifice for him because he is our king, we 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:22.310 notice that God, what he wants to do, is to put us in a place that he can bless our lives. 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:29.260 God desires for us to be in a position in this world in which he can bless and work through us. 00:12:31.260 --> 00:12:38.400 And what we see is that when we submit to authority, when we submit in this world, what it brings is better unity, that we may communicate the 00:12:38.520 --> 00:12:40.040 truth of who God is. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:48.840 There's nothing more significant to a world that deserves not to be loved, than to have a people still choose to love it. 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:56.660 And Peter is asking us as people now that we know Jesus and everything, who he is in our lives. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:03.940 When he brings up the word submit, he's asking us what in the world would we be willing to give up and sacrifice for the sake of the gospel? 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:10.980 And he's asking us as people to begin to find the purpose of our living outside of self. 00:13:12.260 --> 00:13:14.770 Modern psychology and philosophy will say, are you not happy? 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:18.000 We'll look deep within yourself to discover the true meaning of who you are. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.700 Then live out life through that. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:24.020 Jesus tends to think the opposite of that. 00:13:24.520 --> 00:13:26.160 God says, listen, I'm the one that created you. 00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:29.440 I'm the one that understands who you are and why you exist on the on this earth. 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:36.860 And so for you to understand and find joy in this world, it's about living life outside of yourself because God has created you ultimately for 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.960 relationships, one with Almighty God. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:46.140 And as you grow in that living that relationship out with other people and through the word submission, we're learning how to best live out 00:13:46.140 --> 00:13:50.960 that life for the sake of the gospel that other people may begin to know and grow in a life with Jesus. 00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:56.930 Define life outside of yourselves. 00:13:58.300 --> 00:14:00.900 And so Peter begins the journey like this. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:09.740 In verse 13 and 14 he says to us, submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:16.780 institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors, as sent by him for the 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:20.880 punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:29.720 Sometimes we read passages like this when it tells us to submit to human institutions, and we always have a group that likes to think 00:14:30.300 --> 00:14:31.020 hypothetically in any situation. 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:34.090 What if they'll say not? 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:39.040 You're in Nazi Germany and the Germans come to your house? 00:14:40.260 --> 00:14:42.960 And my response to that is, that's hypothetical. 00:14:43.160 --> 00:14:44.420 And you don't live in Nazi Germany. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:44.720 Okay. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:47.740 But if it ever happens, you have my permission to punch them in the face. 00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:48.540 Okay. 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.240 Kick them. 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.040 Run. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.080 Hopefully they're down. 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:51.420 All right. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:59.460 But to the realistic world, that doesn't live in the hypothetical, what God has called us to do is 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:05.300 submit to authority, doesn't mean that we have to always submit to every authority. 00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:08.720 Let me give you an instance, the book of acts. 00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:09.650 In chapter five. 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:18.260 The apostles are going out preaching the gospel into this world, and they're the leaders of Jerusalem. 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:25.800 Come to the apostles and they say, listen, you're not to speak the gospel anymore, knowing that's what Jesus had called the apostles to do, 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:28.560 knowing that's what Jesus desires for his church to do. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:35.740 The response then was this Peter and the apostles replied, we must obey God rather than any 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.540 human authority. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:46.160 The response was, there comes to a place in our lives when we recognize that government requires us or asks us to do things 00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:51.540 that are contrary to God's Word, and in so doing, we obey God rather than men in all cases. 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.860 Some people will take liberty to justify this. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:16:02.760 Seems every year I have a conversation with a local pothead and they know two verses. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:07.460 God calls every seed bearing plant good and judge not right. 00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:10.960 Seeking to justify their own wrongdoing. 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.220 I always find it humorous. 00:16:13.780 --> 00:16:21.020 We get to a place like that where you're so lost on the focus of which Jesus wants to accomplish, that we desire to justify our own wrongful behavior 00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:24.040 any way that we can, and we use the Bible to actually do that. 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:33.260 Well, God's saying to us, listen, human government may not always be easy to abide by, but God's called you to abide 00:16:33.260 --> 00:16:34.020 by it anyway. 00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:40.140 And being an American citizen thus far, there's nothing unjust. 00:16:40.280 --> 00:16:42.340 A human government requires us to do that. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.520 It's against God. 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:46.000 So what do we do? 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.230 We pray for them. 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:55.280 We respect the authority that God has placed over our heads, and we abide by it. 00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.300 What does that do with complaining? 00:16:58.680 --> 00:17:02.500 Well, I think it eliminates it for the sake of the gospel. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:10.760 To be honest, praise God for the people in our church who would ever pursue politics to change it for the sake of Jesus. 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:16.369 But in my day to day life, it really doesn't make much difference. 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.880 My focus is central to Christ and His kingdom. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:25.240 Thinks more than just this world and what's taking place. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:27.710 It thinks about all of eternity and the sake of all people. 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:28.820 Amen. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.380 To know him. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:35.320 And might I give up a particular amount of my liberties that other people may know? 00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:35.660 Jesus. 00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:35.940 Absolutely. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:45.520 Every day we're faced with an opportunity where we will be challenged to not submit to something, and every day we must make the conscious 00:17:45.520 --> 00:17:45.620 decision. 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:51.180 Is this going to bring glory to God by bringing submission to this authority? 00:17:54.300 --> 00:18:01.440 Paul goes on and says in verse 16, excuse me, 15 for such is the will of God, that 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:04.820 by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:08.580 I like that he recognizes for us. 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:15.500 And when you're submitting to authority, you're not going to always see eye to eye with other people. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.500 And people aren't always going to see eye to eye with you. 00:18:19.020 --> 00:18:21.560 Matter of fact, some of them are going to treat you unjustly. 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:28.800 Your neighbor that carries particular philosophies that do not agree with Jesus is probably not going to like you because you like Jesus. 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:34.040 And your response to that is not dislike your neighbor as well. 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:35.660 It's love him. 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:39.140 And so Paul goes on for us in verse 16. 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:46.600 He says, listen, act as free men then, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves 00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.200 of God. 00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:48.940 Honor all people. 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.200 I like it. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.620 So, Paul, I mean, I understand that you want me to be nice to most people, but how many people you want to be nice to? 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.880 He goes ahead and clears the table. 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:58.800 We're talking about serving everyone in this world. 00:19:00.040 --> 00:19:00.880 Love the brotherhood. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.240 Fear God. 00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.880 Honor the King. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.500 Act as free men. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:13.500 Paul reminds us in this verse of something we contradict as people. 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:18.300 I think that verse 16 has gotten in recent days the Catholic Church in enormous trouble. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:21.900 Don't use your freedom as a covering for evil. 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:29.000 Catholic Church If you've watched the news recently, you've seen a lot of charges come against priests for particular things that they've done wrong. 00:19:29.300 --> 00:19:31.220 And the way that they've handled it was well. 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.400 The priest did something wrong. 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.040 He broke the law. 00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:36.160 But let's cover it up and handle it in house and not report it to the authorities. 00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:39.640 And we'll just make this person repent of their sins and move on with life. 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:44.500 And they've swept it under the rug and they've used their freedom for evil. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:52.860 And now news comes to light of things like that happening of kids being molested comes before grand jury, and now 00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:54.920 the human authorities are handling it. 00:19:56.940 --> 00:20:01.360 And you ask yourself, the people who claim to follow after Jesus, how does that make Jesus look in those moments? 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:14.140 For the sake of the gospel, though we may find particular freedoms in Jesus, we 00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:19.700 give up those freedoms for the cause of Christ to proclaim his name. 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:22.880 That other people may know him. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.440 I like how it says it in the book of Judges. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:32.240 Without a concern for authority or respect for anyone above us. 00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:37.760 We tend to live life however we please, regardless of what others may think. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:42.120 You get to the book of judges and you'll read this phrase over and over. 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:46.700 As I listed here in chapter 17, it happens every few chapters in this book, the same verse is listed. 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:48.600 Israel falls into sin. 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:51.320 When you ask the question, why did Israel fall into sin? 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.220 It explains right here. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:57.240 It says, in those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.940 That means Israel came to a place where God taught them who they were. 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:06.650 They had to make a decision and say, God, I want to submit to you in my life, or I want to be God myself. 00:21:07.800 --> 00:21:14.760 And rather than submit to God and His authority over them and accept the authority that God placed through rulers above them, they chose to live out life for themselves. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.700 Who cares about anyone else? 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:19.000 It's about me and my pleasure. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:27.860 That tells us, as you read the book of judges, Israel continued to go through cycles where they get to a place where they can accept God's authority over them, but they reject 00:21:27.860 --> 00:21:31.940 it, and they live in sin, and the nation suffers because of it. 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.640 You think about that in the life of a Christian. 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:42.160 You get to a place where God has called you to submit and demonstrate his name into this world. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:47.180 And can I tell you the only thing that truly changes the heart of people for any amount of time is Jesus. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.040 Are you tired of social injustices in the world? 00:21:51.080 --> 00:21:58.380 You read about slavery still existing today, of all things, 250 million people in this world today are still in 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.140 slavery. 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.500 How do you change such an injustice like that? 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:06.950 The answer is make disciples for Jesus. 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:14.900 Do what it takes to go in this world, to demonstrate Christ to other people, that they may come to know them and allow Jesus to change their hearts. 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:23.240 The alternative is to get to a place in our lives where we look at what God has called us to do and say, you know what, God? 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.500 I see the word submission. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.660 Don't like it. 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.470 I want to be king. 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.600 See you later. 00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:31.780 And the result is a nation suffers. 00:22:35.780 --> 00:22:42.760 By the power of God, demonstrated through Christians that lay down their lives and sacrifice for the cause of Christ. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:46.240 A nation can rejoice. 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:57.180 And so the praise this morning is to those who seek the importance of honoring their King by 00:22:57.380 --> 00:23:04.820 honoring their country, who understand the significance of the gospel, and live that out by submitting 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:07.720 to authority, even when it's difficult. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:16.340 To those who think about the times in their lives where they've been wronged and they still choose to forgive for the sake of Christ, rather than 00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:18.750 retaliate in anger and frustration. 00:23:21.260 --> 00:23:27.640 And so Peter moves for us in this passage of Scripture to thinking more than just about the typical government authority. 00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:30.610 He also thinks about those who suffer unjustly. 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:41.000 He says in verse 18 to 20 servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.800 also to those who are unreasonable. 00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:51.140 I'm going to let you know, as we read the context of Scripture here, that Peter is writing to people who can't change their current position and occupation. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:54.480 They're bound by law to serve the individuals who they're serving. 00:23:55.540 --> 00:24:02.600 This is talking about both slaves and indentured servants, people who have signed a contract and given over their lives to serve the benefit of another person. 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:05.380 And so they're stuck in this position. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.720 We have a little more freedom in America today. 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:14.560 You may feel like a slave at your job, but you, of all people, have more than likely chosen the job or occupation that you have. 00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:23.020 But Peter is saying nonetheless, to all of us, if your employer is reasonable or if your employer is unreasonable, still serve 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.760 for this, finds favor. 00:24:25.760 --> 00:24:26.360 He tells you why. 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.480 For this finds favor. 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:34.980 If for the sake of conscience towards God, a person bears up under sorrow when suffering unjustly, for 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.000 what credit is there? 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:39.860 If when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? 00:24:41.020 --> 00:24:46.000 But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:51.020 This finds favor with God. 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:57.460 I get two portions of scripture sometimes where I'm just not satisfied sometimes. 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.250 And this would be a portion for me today. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:01.880 And here's why. 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:05.460 It's because Peter doesn't answer for me why these people are suffering unjustly. 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:08.700 I want to know why all suffering happens in this world. 00:25:09.800 --> 00:25:11.220 And Peter doesn't even address it. 00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:19.400 For me, when I think about the idea of suffering, it is easy to accept suffering when I do things that 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.820 are wrong. 00:25:21.260 --> 00:25:24.400 That was a natural consequence for a poor behavior. 00:25:25.540 --> 00:25:26.600 Think of when I was in college. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.400 I decided I would retaliate against this teacher. 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:31.270 This don't observe this high school students. 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:37.020 I would retaliate against this teacher that I had by being disrespectful to him. 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:39.540 I had already graduated school, but I still had to go. 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:45.810 And so I just sat in my class because he mocked me one day on the first day of school, and I just slept in the front row. 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:51.400 And at the end of the semester, I suffered the consequences with an F. 00:25:52.520 --> 00:25:57.280 Those consequences were easy to handle because my behavior made sense towards that consequence. 00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:01.800 To get an F and to be disrespectful from a teacher, I deserve that. 00:26:03.260 --> 00:26:05.500 But what about consequences that we don't deserve? 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:12.560 What about when we suffer for doing what's right and Peter doesn't even tell us how to handle that? 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.020 You know what he says in that instance? 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:17.540 Serve anyway. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:27.500 Peter says that as people, it's better that we serve for in suffering and do what's right and that suffering than do what's wrong. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:35.520 Listen, if we go into this world and people wrong us, and then we make them pay the consequences rather than allow God to take care of the moment. 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.500 God also doesn't bless that life. 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:45.120 Not only are we receiving the consequence from the master that we're serving or the employer that we have, but now we're receiving consequences 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:48.700 from God for doing wrongly towards an employer who's wronged us. 00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:52.780 I said this last week, but I'll say it again because we need to reminded of it often. 00:26:53.300 --> 00:26:55.680 Whatever punishment you think that you're going to dish out to this world. 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.220 God's, God's is much better. 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.700 Amen. 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:07.000 Love people to Jesus, the way that Jesus has loved you, and know that one day God's going to do a far better job in bringing his justice 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:08.550 on sin than you ever will. 00:27:12.230 --> 00:27:19.230 Jesus would far much rather bless you for doing what's right in a moment of suffering, and to bring his justice upon you because 00:27:19.230 --> 00:27:20.680 you've chosen to retaliate. 00:27:21.750 --> 00:27:23.510 Knowing what he's called you to do in this world. 00:27:26.210 --> 00:27:30.800 And the truth is, we recognize that it is hard to serve wounded. 00:27:33.370 --> 00:27:36.910 It's hard to serve when it employers make it difficult. 00:27:38.130 --> 00:27:41.390 It's hard to serve your spouse when you're not getting along. 00:27:43.190 --> 00:27:46.160 It's hard to serve government when you feel like it's oppressing you. 00:27:47.770 --> 00:27:48.490 It's hard to serve. 00:27:50.770 --> 00:27:53.950 And I'm reminded of what Peter spoke to us in chapter one. 00:27:56.090 --> 00:28:03.350 It's for us not to focus on the present trouble, but knowing that your faith is much more precious than gold. 00:28:04.230 --> 00:28:06.910 It's to look at the hope that Jesus has brought forth into your life. 00:28:08.230 --> 00:28:12.700 To think that your actions on this world don't just have earthly implications. 00:28:12.770 --> 00:28:18.490 It's got eternal implications, gives you a fresh perspective on the life that you're living. 00:28:20.490 --> 00:28:22.250 To think about eternity in mind. 00:28:22.310 --> 00:28:24.390 To think about Jesus and mind. 00:28:24.390 --> 00:28:30.010 To think about the reality of the gospel and the effects that he can have if he can penetrate the hearts of others. 00:28:32.290 --> 00:28:39.290 I think we have the tendency sometimes to underestimate the effect that we have on our culture, and 00:28:39.290 --> 00:28:41.470 what we can do to bring people closer to Christ. 00:28:43.410 --> 00:28:48.770 And you get to a place like this in Scripture where you say to yourself, okay, God is asking me to serve. 00:28:49.170 --> 00:28:50.390 I think I can do that. 00:28:50.670 --> 00:28:51.950 I think I'll serve. 00:28:51.950 --> 00:28:59.090 And then you read this portion of Scripture and you see, okay, and now God has called me to serve even the unjust, even the 00:28:59.090 --> 00:29:01.030 most difficult people, even the most unlovable. 00:29:01.610 --> 00:29:02.570 Jesus wants me to serve. 00:29:03.030 --> 00:29:04.310 Who in the world does that? 00:29:04.970 --> 00:29:05.590 And why? 00:29:05.650 --> 00:29:08.390 Why in the world would I even conceive of doing that in my mind? 00:29:09.450 --> 00:29:16.590 And so then Peter, knowing that he's building this in our in our head and in a case of rebellion, is coming up because the word submission has already been 00:29:16.590 --> 00:29:17.150 spoken. 00:29:17.150 --> 00:29:18.570 As people, we want to rebel. 00:29:18.790 --> 00:29:25.930 He then draws out the Jesus card, for you have been called for this purpose since Christ also 00:29:25.930 --> 00:29:31.820 suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps. 00:29:34.490 --> 00:29:41.690 Talking of Jesus, he said, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth, and while being 00:29:41.690 --> 00:29:48.870 reviled, he did not revile in return, and while suffering he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges 00:29:48.870 --> 00:29:49.620 righteously. 00:29:51.210 --> 00:29:56.150 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 00:29:56.670 --> 00:29:59.130 For by his wounds you were healed. 00:29:59.190 --> 00:29:59.710 You get that? 00:30:00.570 --> 00:30:02.370 By his wounds you were healed. 00:30:02.690 --> 00:30:03.590 Amen. 00:30:03.830 --> 00:30:05.690 For you were continually straying like sheep. 00:30:05.790 --> 00:30:09.930 But now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 00:30:13.590 --> 00:30:21.050 The truth is, as people, we tend to stop serving when we feel we're in someone else's good graces, without concern 00:30:21.050 --> 00:30:23.340 that they're in God's good grace. 00:30:25.690 --> 00:30:30.210 And Peter says to us, Jesus has already given you this example. 00:30:32.030 --> 00:30:39.130 You think of the change that Christ has brought to this world because when he was persecuted against, he still chose 00:30:39.130 --> 00:30:39.990 to love. 00:30:42.450 --> 00:30:49.530 And in our situations of adversity in life, coming back to this world with justice and vengeance 00:30:49.530 --> 00:30:52.090 may bring a temporary satisfaction. 00:30:52.350 --> 00:30:56.270 It may bring a temporary release from the pressure that we're facing in this world. 00:30:56.410 --> 00:30:59.250 But when we talk in the scope of eternity, it does nothing. 00:31:01.810 --> 00:31:08.830 But when someone else is willing to sacrifice and when someone else is willing to pay the expense, that attitude of submission 00:31:08.830 --> 00:31:13.630 by those wounds that someone else embraces, others might be healed. 00:31:15.350 --> 00:31:15.490 You. 00:31:15.550 --> 00:31:19.550 What that ultimately demonstrates to us as people, as an attitude of grace. 00:31:21.270 --> 00:31:28.560 You are grace agents in this world, and that demonstrating when no one else deserves your love, when no one else deserves your affection, 00:31:28.690 --> 00:31:32.410 you turn to the most unlovable person and you say, I love you. 00:31:36.890 --> 00:31:39.060 Pride is a hard thing to swallow, isn't it? 00:31:40.550 --> 00:31:43.860 Rebellion and justice for us can be difficult. 00:31:45.490 --> 00:31:53.110 Peter says to us in this world, because what you're demonstrating most when you lay down your life is 00:31:53.110 --> 00:31:53.510 Christ. 00:31:56.090 --> 00:32:03.110 You're showing to God His authority over you, out of worship, and you're showing to this world the significance of 00:32:03.130 --> 00:32:03.690 who Jesus is. 00:32:06.890 --> 00:32:13.340 And so the question we ponder both now and every day of our lives that we're faced with decisions such as this and challenges. 00:32:15.230 --> 00:32:16.830 What will I give up for the sake of the gospel? 00:32:19.670 --> 00:32:22.390 How can I best love that others may see Jesus? 00:32:24.730 --> 00:32:31.940 What is it that God has called me to do in any area, in all areas of my life, that Christ may be known in the lives of others? 00:32:34.770 --> 00:32:42.590 And can I say, lest I bring forth confusion, that it's more than words, actually, 00:32:43.110 --> 00:32:50.230 it's mostly action that we demonstrate a life of Christ to other people, that 00:32:50.230 --> 00:32:54.640 they may desire to inquire of us while we choose to love, even in the most difficult times. 00:32:56.750 --> 00:33:02.980 And in those moments, we can show Jesus in the most practical way. 00:33:04.470 --> 00:33:08.330 I would say this Jesus doesn't care what we have to say on Facebook. 00:33:11.810 --> 00:33:16.870 Facebook and your friends oftentimes don't care about the venting that you and especially Jesus mean. 00:33:18.850 --> 00:33:19.710 When your world is hurting. 00:33:19.790 --> 00:33:21.310 Don't attack other people online. 00:33:21.310 --> 00:33:22.410 Go to Christ with that. 00:33:25.550 --> 00:33:31.450 Show the beauty of who Christ is by the language in which you choose to respect, rather than the vengeance that you have on other people. 00:33:34.690 --> 00:33:36.320 Let me ever get online and get stressed by Facebook. 00:33:41.230 --> 00:33:48.690 Does that ever break your heart when you go to places as people with a group of believers and you want to share 00:33:48.830 --> 00:33:53.910 Christ with others and you're thinking about sharing Christ, but there's one person in your group that just treats other people like dirt. 00:33:55.510 --> 00:33:57.640 You ever been to that restaurant after church on Sundays? 00:33:58.230 --> 00:34:01.470 If you go to a restaurant, tip your waitress well. 00:34:01.490 --> 00:34:02.390 Tell them you go to Apple Bible Church. 00:34:02.570 --> 00:34:07.440 Tip your waitress well, if you don't, tip your waitress well, tell them you go to a different church. 00:34:07.930 --> 00:34:08.469 Okay. 00:34:08.610 --> 00:34:10.190 But you heard Alpine Bible church tips. 00:34:10.230 --> 00:34:10.530 Well, okay. 00:34:11.170 --> 00:34:12.310 Serve people. 00:34:14.130 --> 00:34:21.330 I think sometimes we get in the mentality of serving type jobs, and we treat those people as if they weren't important because they have other those 00:34:21.330 --> 00:34:22.090 serving type jobs. 00:34:23.770 --> 00:34:25.420 But seek to show them Jesus. 00:34:25.449 --> 00:34:27.900 When you go out in the community, love other people to Christ. 00:34:28.050 --> 00:34:33.290 May we not be embarrassed by people in our congregation that just treat other people like dirt. 00:34:36.510 --> 00:34:38.210 But sacrifice for the cause of Christ. 00:34:40.730 --> 00:34:41.310 And so he says this. 00:34:44.969 --> 00:34:52.110 He starts off from the highest authority in our world of government, and he brings it down to our employer and 00:34:52.270 --> 00:34:53.199 finally into the family. 00:34:55.469 --> 00:35:02.490 And I got to say, oftentimes this is the place that we address last in lives that we care way too much about what other 00:35:02.490 --> 00:35:07.160 people think about us and not enough about what our spouse thinks about us. 00:35:08.870 --> 00:35:16.090 And so he says to the ladies, I always point this out in Scripture, but every time God talks to the women, he always says more than when 00:35:16.090 --> 00:35:16.870 he talks to the men. 00:35:17.630 --> 00:35:19.210 It's like God knows us. 00:35:20.130 --> 00:35:27.370 And so he says, in the same way, wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if any of them are disobedient 00:35:27.470 --> 00:35:31.530 to the word, but they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives. 00:35:35.170 --> 00:35:38.190 Don't underestimate the power of your actions for Jesus. 00:35:38.850 --> 00:35:39.830 That's right. 00:35:40.250 --> 00:35:47.290 As they observe your chase and respectful behavior, your adornment must not be merely external braiding 00:35:47.290 --> 00:35:54.750 the hair and wearing gold jewelry or putting on dresses, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, but 00:35:54.770 --> 00:36:03.310 the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God. 00:36:03.310 --> 00:36:05.820 Ladies, you want to be treated like a queen. 00:36:06.970 --> 00:36:08.280 Treat your husband like a king. 00:36:10.450 --> 00:36:17.510 It's saying to us in this passage of Scripture two we get to this portion of these verses, and I always feel like in 00:36:17.510 --> 00:36:23.490 the minds of people, sometimes we get that, but do you know what he said to me? 00:36:24.510 --> 00:36:26.120 But do you know how they're treating me? 00:36:27.450 --> 00:36:31.290 But do you know that I don't feel this way, even though that you're calling me to be this way towards them. 00:36:32.490 --> 00:36:36.130 And I read the rest of the passage, and he never said anything about the. 00:36:36.210 --> 00:36:43.350 But he only said, listen, you've married this person, and this is what God has called you to do, regardless of the way they treat 00:36:43.350 --> 00:36:43.670 you. 00:36:43.990 --> 00:36:44.850 Treat them this way. 00:36:51.010 --> 00:36:52.260 And swallow your pride. 00:36:54.470 --> 00:36:56.870 You want to be treated like a queen. 00:36:56.870 --> 00:36:57.640 Treat him like a king. 00:36:59.210 --> 00:36:59.370 All right. 00:36:59.490 --> 00:37:01.030 I got to admit, I went and watched the Avengers. 00:37:01.890 --> 00:37:02.470 Oh, man. 00:37:02.950 --> 00:37:03.750 This past week. 00:37:04.090 --> 00:37:05.350 I'm so strong, I just tore the Bible apart. 00:37:06.430 --> 00:37:08.490 It pumped me up, obviously. 00:37:10.130 --> 00:37:10.800 I want to come home. 00:37:10.970 --> 00:37:13.860 And I'm going to confess. 00:37:14.010 --> 00:37:15.330 I want to be a superhero to Stacy. 00:37:17.030 --> 00:37:18.410 Just call me the Hulk, sweetheart. 00:37:19.950 --> 00:37:22.710 You may not think that I'm incredibly good looking, but I don't care. 00:37:23.030 --> 00:37:23.730 Lie to me. 00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:26.840 Tell me how you like my muscles. 00:37:27.950 --> 00:37:28.790 Build me up. 00:37:29.190 --> 00:37:29.810 Make me strong. 00:37:33.670 --> 00:37:35.370 That's how your husband should feel when he comes home. 00:37:35.410 --> 00:37:36.550 Maybe not like the Incredible Hulk. 00:37:36.550 --> 00:37:37.530 I don't think that you want that. 00:37:37.690 --> 00:37:39.130 Who wants green people in their house? 00:37:39.130 --> 00:37:39.270 Right? 00:37:39.910 --> 00:37:40.570 He's got an anger issue. 00:37:45.110 --> 00:37:52.250 Well, I'll tell you, the more time that you dedicate towards regardless of how your spouse might treat you or this current moment, the more time you dedicate towards building 00:37:52.250 --> 00:37:57.500 them up, more sensitive their heart becomes in response to you. 00:37:58.450 --> 00:38:00.530 There's a popular teaching that we use in this church. 00:38:00.650 --> 00:38:04.990 It says without love she will react without respect and without respect. 00:38:05.350 --> 00:38:06.450 He's going to react without love. 00:38:07.850 --> 00:38:08.930 And it's just a vicious cycle. 00:38:11.190 --> 00:38:18.450 And the only way that cycle ends is that one person in that moment recognizes what God has called them to do, and they stop 00:38:20.030 --> 00:38:20.410 and they submit. 00:38:21.810 --> 00:38:29.050 Even when it's hard, and even when someone's given them a reason not to love them, they submit and they just serve. 00:38:31.170 --> 00:38:33.850 And the heat of a debate rather than debate back. 00:38:35.070 --> 00:38:36.390 That's a clever word for arguing. 00:38:38.470 --> 00:38:41.130 You just love you say, you know what? 00:38:41.210 --> 00:38:43.050 I don't care, man, I love you. 00:38:44.270 --> 00:38:44.890 Whatever you want. 00:38:44.890 --> 00:38:45.810 I just want to serve you. 00:38:45.870 --> 00:38:49.870 Obviously, this is important to you, and I just want you to be on this, I love you. 00:38:52.640 --> 00:38:59.690 Now, let me give you an extreme example, ladies, for in this way, in former times the holy 00:38:59.690 --> 00:39:06.910 women also who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling 00:39:06.910 --> 00:39:07.510 him Lord. 00:39:08.710 --> 00:39:14.180 And you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 00:39:14.790 --> 00:39:15.420 How do you handle that? 00:39:16.850 --> 00:39:17.730 Go home and call your husband. 00:39:18.030 --> 00:39:18.970 Lord, no, don't do that. 00:39:19.430 --> 00:39:20.110 I saw you do that. 00:39:20.170 --> 00:39:21.730 Okay, Lord. 00:39:21.770 --> 00:39:22.940 Don't do it. 00:39:23.890 --> 00:39:24.430 Don't do that. 00:39:27.370 --> 00:39:28.480 Whatever you want. 00:39:29.550 --> 00:39:29.910 That's not good. 00:39:31.710 --> 00:39:35.410 The Bible is saying customarily, in that time, that was just the way men were addressed. 00:39:36.050 --> 00:39:37.870 We don't do that today, so we're not going to bring it back. 00:39:38.190 --> 00:39:38.870 Okay. 00:39:38.990 --> 00:39:40.690 Some things in the past we want to keep in the past. 00:39:41.150 --> 00:39:42.370 Right. 00:39:42.710 --> 00:39:45.240 Some of you guys are like, no, that's not. 00:39:45.830 --> 00:39:45.830 No. 00:39:45.830 --> 00:39:52.910 The point of the story is Peter's given us an extreme example of how much Sarah just wanted to 00:39:53.010 --> 00:39:54.000 love Abraham. 00:39:56.350 --> 00:39:56.780 And she understood. 00:39:57.770 --> 00:39:58.090 Yes. 00:39:58.090 --> 00:40:00.170 There are authorities in my life in which I. 00:40:00.630 --> 00:40:02.890 I respect that authority over me. 00:40:03.590 --> 00:40:10.230 But, all the authorities that exist in this world, there is nothing more intimately and nothing more you're involved with in this world than your marriage relationship. 00:40:12.650 --> 00:40:20.090 And so Peter is saying, look how extreme Sarah went for the sake of the unity of her marriage, just to serve and to love. 00:40:23.050 --> 00:40:29.070 And 90% of the time, those who read this verse really try, I think, as believers really try. 00:40:29.730 --> 00:40:30.450 And then there's that 10%. 00:40:33.490 --> 00:40:34.690 Just couldn't take it anymore. 00:40:34.730 --> 00:40:36.210 And we lashed out. 00:40:38.430 --> 00:40:41.630 We wanted to honor him in this position ladies. 00:40:41.910 --> 00:40:44.880 But he just did that one thing that pushed my buttons. 00:40:48.210 --> 00:40:50.010 Without love, he'll react. 00:40:51.030 --> 00:40:51.970 He'll react without respect. 00:40:52.210 --> 00:40:52.430 Without respect. 00:40:53.770 --> 00:40:54.770 He'll react without love. 00:40:56.630 --> 00:40:57.710 And someone has to end it. 00:40:59.870 --> 00:41:05.390 Someone has to see what Jesus would rather have in that marriage relationship than what currently exists. 00:41:07.850 --> 00:41:10.370 And someone must be willing to lay it down. 00:41:12.190 --> 00:41:14.830 And maybe 90% of the time you did do what was right. 00:41:16.010 --> 00:41:17.550 God still holds you accountable for the ten. 00:41:20.930 --> 00:41:23.970 And so in an attitude of submission, it's about confessing. 00:41:26.350 --> 00:41:32.910 Looking at what Jesus has said to us, we get to a place in our lives where we say, okay, Jesus, I want you to have control. 00:41:34.210 --> 00:41:35.690 And Jesus, I want to serve. 00:41:37.790 --> 00:41:45.470 And in recognizing that without causing a spouse to repent of the wrongdoing that they've done in their lives, we just go to them and we reaffirm 00:41:45.470 --> 00:41:47.550 what we want to do for them in that marriage relationship. 00:41:48.290 --> 00:41:48.730 Men and women. 00:41:50.330 --> 00:41:50.950 Honey, I did this. 00:41:51.830 --> 00:41:52.420 It was wrong. 00:41:54.150 --> 00:41:54.870 I just want to love you. 00:42:00.310 --> 00:42:02.290 Maybe it goes beyond just the marriage. 00:42:02.290 --> 00:42:03.630 Maybe we think of employers. 00:42:05.890 --> 00:42:11.970 Maybe we think of people just in our lives where it says honor all of the brothers of this world, all the Brotherhood, just honor them. 00:42:12.430 --> 00:42:18.130 And we think of people who've wronged us, and yet we've still chosen to retaliate and be angry back to them rather than to show Christ. 00:42:18.610 --> 00:42:20.490 And we go back to those moments and we say, you know what? 00:42:22.930 --> 00:42:23.290 I was wrong. 00:42:24.370 --> 00:42:27.210 Regardless of what they've done, just tell them I was wrong. 00:42:28.790 --> 00:42:29.290 And I love you. 00:42:30.990 --> 00:42:34.470 And there's nothing more important to me that you understand how much I care about you. 00:42:34.530 --> 00:42:42.570 And my attitude did not display it, and I'm sorry you ever had to do that in 00:42:42.570 --> 00:42:43.270 those moments. 00:42:43.290 --> 00:42:50.610 Can I just say there is nothing more beautiful to Jesus than to watch someone swallow their pride 00:42:52.250 --> 00:42:55.890 and come to another person for the sake of Christ and loving them. 00:42:58.310 --> 00:43:05.510 You know, I've seen a lot of times in those moments is that when one person swallows their pride and humbles themself, so 00:43:05.510 --> 00:43:06.110 goes the other. 00:43:07.350 --> 00:43:07.930 Not always. 00:43:09.690 --> 00:43:13.370 We don't live that kind of life so that other people won't respond. 00:43:13.390 --> 00:43:16.230 We don't say, I'm apologizing to you, but you didn't apologize to me. 00:43:16.250 --> 00:43:18.440 So I take my apology back and we're moving on. 00:43:18.590 --> 00:43:19.730 It doesn't work like that. 00:43:23.450 --> 00:43:28.040 It's all about a concern of what Jesus desires for you. 00:43:29.410 --> 00:43:36.570 And regardless of how they respond to me in my repentance towards them, Jesus sees the beauty of that moment 00:43:36.570 --> 00:43:38.780 and he is my King. 00:43:41.670 --> 00:43:43.890 And so he says to the guys, one whole verse. 00:43:46.590 --> 00:43:54.190 Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives and in an understanding way, as 00:43:54.190 --> 00:44:01.430 with someone weaker since she is a woman, and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 00:44:02.410 --> 00:44:05.590 You can't lead your family to Jesus guys, if you can't talk to Jesus. 00:44:07.230 --> 00:44:09.670 And so he's saying here, honor your wife as a weaker vessel. 00:44:09.730 --> 00:44:12.350 Can I just give you an idea of what I think this passage is talking about? 00:44:13.830 --> 00:44:14.830 Women are different than men. 00:44:16.030 --> 00:44:16.750 That's what I think he's talking about. 00:44:18.250 --> 00:44:19.250 And here's how you know. 00:44:21.470 --> 00:44:23.150 I'll give you a marriage example. 00:44:24.550 --> 00:44:26.240 Stacey likes to talk more than I do. 00:44:28.530 --> 00:44:33.090 And you can say that's pretty much every marriage thing I say, I know, that's why I shared it, right? 00:44:33.250 --> 00:44:34.310 I can't get in trouble for that. 00:44:34.450 --> 00:44:34.610 That's all. 00:44:34.890 --> 00:44:35.290 That's everybody. 00:44:35.930 --> 00:44:39.510 So Stacey likes to share things and go through an emotional experience. 00:44:39.850 --> 00:44:42.410 As a guy, I just want the details, tell me what I need to know so I can get the job done. 00:44:43.070 --> 00:44:47.570 She wants me to understand the emotional experience through every detail to that point where I need to understand. 00:44:47.570 --> 00:44:50.550 So I got to pay attention long enough to get to the point where I need to do what I need to do. 00:44:50.550 --> 00:44:50.650 Right. 00:44:51.230 --> 00:44:51.410 Okay. 00:44:51.590 --> 00:44:51.770 That's good. 00:44:52.990 --> 00:44:54.510 Let me explain how this works for us culturally. 00:44:57.550 --> 00:45:02.210 Men and women, because we're wired different, require a different amount of social interaction. 00:45:03.490 --> 00:45:05.930 Guys, there's this new show that just came on called Mountain Men. 00:45:05.950 --> 00:45:13.050 If some of you have watched it, you're dreaming about going to live in Montana on some ranch by yourself and living on your own, off the land, real 00:45:13.050 --> 00:45:14.830 men where they are with no phone. 00:45:15.130 --> 00:45:15.410 You don't even. 00:45:15.430 --> 00:45:16.490 You just talk to the animals. 00:45:16.490 --> 00:45:17.590 You don't need conversation, right? 00:45:18.130 --> 00:45:22.610 That's you and the ladies enjoy the social interaction of life. 00:45:24.850 --> 00:45:27.670 You uproot your family and move to Utah. 00:45:27.710 --> 00:45:29.140 There's a lot of people that have done that here. 00:45:31.630 --> 00:45:35.770 Guys, let me tell you, when you make a decision like that, there is a lot more burden placed upon you than you realize. 00:45:36.350 --> 00:45:37.590 Why? 00:45:37.710 --> 00:45:41.480 Because your wife has just lost her entire social network of friends. 00:45:42.130 --> 00:45:43.490 And now tag you're it. 00:45:45.570 --> 00:45:47.230 I'm serious. 00:45:48.950 --> 00:45:50.790 You know, psychology says two. 00:45:50.890 --> 00:45:56.010 It takes 2 to 3 years for a family to feel like they're a part of a community. 00:45:56.990 --> 00:46:04.050 Which means if you moved to Utah, outside of your network of social friends, your wife is really going to have to depend on you to 00:46:04.230 --> 00:46:11.530 see her emotional needs as a lady for quite a number of years, until she can begin to network and develop those friendships again. 00:46:12.450 --> 00:46:19.140 And so if you have made a move like that recently, or you've gotten out of that shell, what you need to do as guys is give her money and say, go out with the ladies in church. 00:46:19.870 --> 00:46:21.370 She needs that social interaction. 00:46:21.410 --> 00:46:23.330 And we recognize guys, you're not wired that way. 00:46:23.690 --> 00:46:27.830 You can try for as long as you want, but it takes energy for a man to do that. 00:46:28.030 --> 00:46:29.290 So ladies, give your man some grace. 00:46:30.430 --> 00:46:32.170 And guys understand that need for your wife. 00:46:33.690 --> 00:46:34.170 She needs that. 00:46:35.890 --> 00:46:41.650 And the best way for you to serve her talking about submission is listen to the details. 00:46:44.610 --> 00:46:46.050 Be there for her. 00:46:47.690 --> 00:46:54.840 There's no better way for you to demonstrate your love than to listen to the challenges of her day and 00:46:56.650 --> 00:46:59.330 how it affected her. 00:47:00.410 --> 00:47:06.870 And don't roll your eyes, look straight forward and think, I love you because of Jesus. 00:47:06.890 --> 00:47:07.280 I love you because. 00:47:10.690 --> 00:47:11.520 So here's the point. 00:47:14.330 --> 00:47:16.360 We talk about giving our lives to Christ. 00:47:16.990 --> 00:47:18.190 We're not going to sing the last song. 00:47:18.210 --> 00:47:20.150 Just so you guys know, we're getting way past. 00:47:21.170 --> 00:47:23.290 We talk about giving our lives to Christ. 00:47:24.750 --> 00:47:27.650 You can't escape it without an attitude of serving. 00:47:30.070 --> 00:47:35.610 It's a life that thinks outside of itself and asks God rather than what I want. 00:47:37.030 --> 00:47:37.530 What do you want? 00:47:39.710 --> 00:47:46.810 It's a life that looks to Jesus and thinks about his sacrifice on the cross as our example when we look to ways to 00:47:46.810 --> 00:47:52.950 demonstrate his love to this world by also making sacrifices and loving those who were unlovable. 00:47:56.030 --> 00:47:58.830 Even causes us as people to think about our lives. 00:47:58.850 --> 00:48:04.590 When we walk out of here today, and we think about every area that God has called us to serve, which is every area of our lives. 00:48:06.170 --> 00:48:07.380 God, where can I do this better? 00:48:08.590 --> 00:48:09.890 God, how am I doing this well? 00:48:11.210 --> 00:48:14.850 Lord, where do I need to repent of failing to do this? 00:48:16.290 --> 00:48:21.930 And God, how can I bring you glory? 00:48:21.930 --> 00:48:22.370 My hope. 00:48:23.710 --> 00:48:32.630 I think Peter's hope is that we be people that carry a burden for the sake of all in this world, knowing 00:48:32.630 --> 00:48:38.990 the significance of who you are as God has called you to demonstrate him to all people everywhere. 00:48:41.070 --> 00:48:43.450 Don't underestimate what God has given you in this world. 00:48:45.130 --> 00:48:52.350 Don't underestimate the opportunity to serve him for other people and the chances that you get to act in vengeance instead, just to show 00:48:52.350 --> 00:48:53.450 his grace. 00:48:55.430 --> 00:48:56.490 Let me close in a word of prayer.