Confidence in perilous times
1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
We can be confident, even in troublesome times.
Not expecting to do well on the economics exam, Bill was heartened by the first question: In any given year, and to the nearest ton, how much wheat did the United States export?
Smiling confidently, he wrote, “In 1492, none.”
Who can be confident?
Is this confidence only for the individual believer, only the church, only those living in the N.T. era?
I like what pastor Alan Jackson said, “Don’t listen to people who say that the church is dead or dying. A couple thousand years ago some people who hated Christ spoke of His demise, yet He is still working and they are not.”
Don’t listen to anyone who says the church is dying, Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against it. There may be those who have taken a stand against God and His church, we may face perilous times, but we are on the winning side, because Christ will fight for His bride.
I. Confident in our favor with God.
I. Confident in our favor with God.
We have confidence that we stand in favor with God and nothing can come upon us that He does not permit.
Job, he suffered great sorrow but God permitted that He (God) would receive honor and glory.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation,
For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;
II. Confident in our foundation.
II. Confident in our foundation.
We must know what we believe, why we believe it, and be prepared to give a defence of it.
Theology is the foundation of the church. A pastor that does not preach foundation is not a pastor but an entertainer. Likewise, a church member who does not study theology is not a disciple of Christ but an apathetic pretender.
We have a firm foundation in Christ, therefore let us stand firmly upon in with boldness an unashamed
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Thus, one of primary strengths in perilous times will be our knowledge of God and His word.
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
III. Confident in the Fathers will.
III. Confident in the Fathers will.
In the end we can stay confident that regardless of what happens in life, that if we are living pleasing to God it is alright to suffer.
There are moments in life that are so far beyond our ability to correct that we must humble ourselves, if the circumstances themselves have not already humbled us. In these moments we must remain confident in our Fathers plan.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Even when we do not understand, even when we do not see anyway for a positive outcome, we can always depend upon God. He is the way maker. He is the light in the darkness. It is He that makes all things new.
Thus, I want you to know this morning that we can and should live confidently. Not in our selves but in Christ who lives in us.
When a professing believer lives in such a way that his or her life profanes Christ, then we would be advised to get out of the way.