Becoming: Who God Wants Me to Be
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Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Stephen
Stephen
Acts chapters 6 and 7 give us the account of Stephen’s martyrdom. Stephen is considered one of the first Christian martyrs after Christ himself.
Stephen was speaking the truth of Jesus Christ. However, his words offended the listeners. They put together a council that brought false-witness to the things Stephen was saying (Acts 6:11-13). Stephen proclaimed that God’s own people were at fault for suppressing the prophets’ call to righteousness. They even killed the Holy One, Jesus Christ.
Their reaction was to gnash on him with their teeth. They ran Stephen out of the city and stoned him. Yet Stephen patiently accepted the persecution that was given to him. Stephen asked the Lord not to hold them guilty who had stoned him. He essentially repeated Christ’s words on the cross.
Andrew
Andrew
Andrew was one of the first disciples of Christ. He was previously a disciple of John (John 1:40). Andrew was the brother of the boisterous Simon Peter. After the biblical record of Andrew’s life, he went on to preach around the Black Sea and was influential in starting several churches. He was the founder of the church in Byzantium or Constantinople.
Tradition says that Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross on the northern coast of Peloponnese. Early writings state that the cross was actually a Latin cross like the one Jesus was crucified upon. But the traditional story says that Andrew refused to be crucified in the same manner as Christ because he was not worthy.
Simon Peter
Simon Peter
Brought to Christ by his brother Andrew, Peter is known as the disciple who spoke often before he thought. After Christ’s death Peter was the fiery preacher prominently seen in the first half of the book of Acts. He founded the church at Antioch and traveled preaching mainly to Jews about Jesus Christ.
Peter was martyred under Nero’s reign. He was killed in Rome around the years 64 to 67. Tradition holds that he was crucified upside down. Like Andrew, his brother, he is said to have refused to be crucified in the same manner as Christ because he was unworthy to be executed in the same way as the Lord.
Polycarp
Polycarp
As with many people in the early centuries, Polycarp’s exact birth and death dates are not known. Even his date of martyrdom is disputed; though it was some time between AD 155 and 167. Polycarp was probably a disciple of the Apostle John who wrote the books of the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John and the book of Revelation. Polycarp may have been one of the chief people responsible for compiling the New Testament of the Bible that we have today.
Because of his refusal to burn incense to the Roman Emperor he was sentenced to burn at the stake. Tradition says that the flames did not kill him so he was stabbed to death.
Wycliffe
Wycliffe
Known as “The Morning Star of the Reformation,” John Wycliffe was a 14th century theologian. He is probably best remembered as a translator of scriptures. He believed that the Bible should be available to the people in their common tongue. He translated the Latin Vulgate into common English.
He was persecuted for his stand against Papal authority. While he was not burned at the stake as a martyr, his persecution extended beyond his death. His body was exhumed and burned along with many of his writings. The Anti-Wycliffe Statute of 1401 brought persecution to his followers and specifically addressed the fact that there should not be any translation of Scripture into English.
John Huss
John Huss
Huss was a Czech priest who was burned at the stake for heresy against the doctrines of the Catholic Church. Particularly he fought against the doctrines of Ecclesiology and the Eucharist as taught by the Roman Catholic Church. He was an early reformer living before the time of Luther and Calvin (other well-known reformers of Roman Catholicism).
Huss was martyred on July 6, 1415. He refused to recant his position of the charges that were brought against him. On the day he died he is said to have stated, “God is my witness that the things charged against me I never preached. In the same truth of the Gospel which I have written, taught, and preached, drawing upon the sayings and positions of the holy doctors, I am ready to die today.”
William Tyndale
William Tyndale
Most known for his translation of the Bible into English, William Tyndale was a reformer who stood against many teachings of the Catholic Church and opposed King Henry VIII’s divorce, which was one of the major issues in the Reformation. Tyndale’s English translation of the Bible was the first to draw significantly from the original languages.
Tyndale was choked to death while tied to the stake and then his dead body was burned. The date of commemoration of Tyndale’s martyrdom is October 6, 1536 but he probably died a few weeks earlier than that.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed on April 9, 1945. I hesitated to include Bonhoeffer in this list because he was not martyred strictly for his Christian beliefs. He was executed because of his involvement in the July 20 Plot to kill Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer staunchly opposed Hitler’s treatment of the Jews. As a Christian pastor he could not sit idly by and watch the murder of so many men and women.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged just two weeks before soldiers from the United States liberated the concentration camp in which he was held.
Jim Elliot and Four Missionary Friends
Jim Elliot and Four Missionary Friends
Jim Elliot, along with four of his missionary colleagues was killed on January 8, 1956 while trying to establish contact with the Auca Indians in Ecuador (now known as the Waodani people). Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Flemming and Roger Youderian had been working to make friendly contact with the Auca tribe which they had seen from the air. Though they had only met one tribesman face to face, they had participated in trades with the Auca from a plane to ground system. When Elliot and his friends landed on a river beach on that fateful January day they were slaughtered by the waiting men.
Their deaths were not in vain though. The widows continued to try and make peaceful contact and eventually won the hearts of the tribe. God has used this recent missionary martyr story to inspire new generations of missionaries willing to give their lives for what they believe.
Nag Hammadi Massacre
Nag Hammadi Massacre
On the night of January 7, 2010 a group of eight Egyptian Christians were killed as they left their church after celebrating a Christmas mass in Nag Hammadi, Egypt. The motive behind the massacre is disputed, but it was carried out by militant Islamic believers. It may have been done in retaliation for an alleged crime against a Muslim girl by a Christian man. Even if that was the reason, the retaliation was not targeted at the man who committed the crime but at Christians because of their association through religion.
This type of martyrdom happens in many parts of the world today. There are still wars being fought on small and large scales because Christians hold strongly to their beliefs. The Christians are not the aggressors in most cases. They are being targeted because of their religion.
Most of us, thakfully, though we can begin to see here in the US where the road might lead us into a similar place one day … but just because we don’t suffer death doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes suffer
I had a friend who told me that in his neighborhood there was a group that got together, planned a trip together … and that his family wasn’t included because of their known faithfulness to Jesus
Maybe for you it’s a work. You’ve always strived to be the best employee you work hard. you give 110%. And when it came time for that promotion someone else got it.
When it came time for that award or that bonus you didn’t get it...
There’s probably some wives or husbands here today and you’ve been doing all that you can to obey God when it comes to your marriage and for some reason life at home keeps getting harder.
Somehow it has become controversial to say that a black life matters, controversial to say that the life of a police officer matters, controversial to say that the life of an unborn child matters, that the life of the pregnant young woman matters, that the life of student who is wrestling with their sexuality matters, that the life of down’s syndrome child matters …
Maybe you are here today... and you’re saying Pastor Jerry from the moment that I gave my life to Jesus, or from the moment that I started to live as I believed in Jesus, there are people in my family that are mad at me, unkind to me, people in my family that make fun of me.
People are mocking me they are persecuting me … left out, left behind, turned on, abandoned, financial, emotional, psychological pain …
And maybe you are tired … the cost of following Jesus, the cost of doing the right thing, the cost of trying to be righteous (not in a self-serving way) but in a genuine I want to honor Jesus with my life, do the right thing, love God with all my heart, and love my neighbor as myself … the cost feels high, and maybe even too highs
That’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today!
We’re in a series that we are calling Becoming... The Road from Here to There. And in this series, we are taking an in-depth look at the book of 1 Peter.
Who was Peter...
If we go back to 1st Peter Chapter 1:1
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ...”
Peter was the famous disciple of Jesus Christ. This guy walked with Jesus every day for 3 years. He was one of the fishermen that Jesus called and said drop your nets take up your cross and follow me I’m going to make you a fisher of man... and Peter drop his net left everything and followed Jesus...
And let me tell you something if anyone knows what it feels like to feel alone and rejected it’s this guy...Peter was imprisoned ... Peter was persecuted and he was eventually crucified as we just said ... yep he was crucified because he decided on that beautiful afternoon to follow Jesus.
In this world, you are going to go through difficult moments and times when your faith will be tested but be brave because he has overcome the world
Endurance Under Attack Responds - How do you react when you are attacked? - That is today’s question … follower of Jesus … how do we become those who are becoming who God is calling us to be … especially when we are being persecuted
1. By Know that God is going to reward you.
1. By Know that God is going to reward you.
1 Corinthians 2:9 f—”
God is going to reward you
Eternal life
Unspeakable Joy
Peace that surpasses understand
God is going to reward
God is going to give you strength
God is going to life you up
....
If God is for you. ( and He is)... if God is for you who can be against you
The second thing you need to do when
you are attacked ... when people come against you when people come to destroy you
2. By Not being afraid of their threats.
2. By Not being afraid of their threats.
One of the best ways to overcome fear is to comfort fear.
It’s to look at fear dead in the eyes
Mt 10:28 “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? Isaiah 51:12
1 Peter 3:13-15 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
Know the extent of their power …
if we have our lives investment into eternal things … no one can take it away ..
if we have our hope vested into those things rust, moths, floods, thieves can’t take away …
3. By Recognizing who Jesus Is.
3. By Recognizing who Jesus Is.
You Need to recognize who Jesus Christ is in your life
In the moments when you feel like you are under attack
you need to recognize who Jesus is.
In the moments when you feel isolated by your current circumstance... You need to recognize who Jesus is!
Most of us have at least an incomplete view of Jesus …
We serve the Lord of Lords and the king of Kings
The one that spoke the world into existence
The one that by his word said let there be light and the heavens were filled with stars and the Sun the closest star to the earth one of the most violent spectacles of creation came to existence because of Him
The one created you and me in the palm of his hangs
The one that hung on the cross for you sins and my sins.
The one that put in a grave and on the third day rose from the dead.
That’s the Jesus that we serve.
The Jesus that walked on water
The Jesus that one day he was on a boat with professional fishermen...
That same day when Jesus calmed the storm there was a group of people waiting for Jesus to get off the boat... And one of those people in the crowd was a desperate man... A father who’s little daughter was dying... and he fell on his knees and begged Jesus please heal my daughter. And Jesus walked with him and by the time Jesus got to the house. Everyone was crying and and they told the dad don’t bother Jesus... it’s too late.... don’t waste his time
Check out what happened:
Mark 5:36–42 (ESV)
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
That is the Jesus that we serve!
The one that tells you when all hope is lost... when people are making fun of you... When people are trying to harm you...
Don’t be afraid ... believe!
Repeat this with me:
“I am not afraid...
Jesus is the Lord of my life!”
There is hope in Jesus Christ!
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
4. By Being ready to tell people about Jesus.
4. By Being ready to tell people about Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We are the light in the darkness ... We are the ones God has chosen to spread his message of Hope to a sick and dying world.
“We are more worried with not being persecuted, than in influencing others.”
Many of us never have opportunity to share our faith a because we are so worried that someone is going to make fun of us... or talk behind our back... So we are hiding our faith....
There are many of you here today that God wants to use you in big ways. God has a plan for you life... But you are running from it.
There was a man in the Bible that ran from the will of God...
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I am driven away
from your sight;
yet I shall again look
upon your holy temple.’
The waters closed in over me to take my life;
the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord my God.
When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Hope for the runners … Hope for the compromisers … it’s why Jesus came
Call to serve, sacrfice … Hope for all!