Mission in Life (1 Peter 3:8-17)

Well, good morning. As you know, we're working through the letter of First Peter and I don't know if you know there's a whole series of books called for dummies this topic for dummies. Topic for dummies. It's not really for dummies. What it really means is it's a summary if you're a student you may have bought Cole's notes and Cole's notes are just summaries. Like if you're taking Macbeth and you don't want to read the whole play a Kohl's knows we'll just give me the give you the summary today. Peter is going to give us a summary of what we're supposed to be doing on Earth. You know, we're all born with the sense of purpose. We all are born with the question. What are we here for? We instinctively know that we are here for a Reason by the way, that's why people have midlife crises cuz they realize I'm halfway through life. Not only am I not achieving the goals. I don't even know what the goal is. Today we're going to leave learn Peter simple four-step summary for life. He's going to make a clear statement of what our mission is while we're on Earth. And I think we're going to find it refreshing and invigorating.

2 things we need to do so that we can understand. This one is we don't need to understand 1st Peter so far. We're in chapter 382 22. This is not a series of verses in isolation. It is connected to the rest of 1st Peter and we need to understand those connections to understand the significance of our passage. And then we need to understand what the Four Points of our passage are. Show 1st Peter so far. Can I tell you who you are? Can I tell you what your identity is? You may be a man. You may be a woman. You may be white. You may be black. You may live in Oshawa. You let me live in Ajax. You may be rich you may be poor all that's important. But can I tell you what your true identity is you are an elect Exile and that makes all the difference. One of the differences that makes is you have an imperishable inheritance and imperishable inheritance and you should spend your time thinking about this you Jesus Christ is the first fruits. He was resurrected in a body in a physical body. He was the first fruit and guess who's next you thinking about this. You should be fantasizing about this your hope for the future should guide all your steps. Which raises the question is having is so much better. Why aren't I they know they are now if I had this imperishable inheritance, why doesn't got to give it to me immediately. Louis doesn't give it to us immediately because he has a job for us to do here and a job that we can only do here. And now you are Eternal you will still be alive in a trillion years, but this little 70 or 80 year chunk. This is the only time that you can partner with God in his Redemptive work. How would I do that with the main thing is you need to keep your conduct honorable honorable lives? By the way, let me just pause and give it an illustration when you're living honorable life. It sticks out. What I walked up and I'm wearing a hat people say Foster dogs wearing a hat. That's kind of weird. I'm sure he'll explain it in the first couple of minutes and then I start off into my normal sermon. Did I make you notice I'm wearing a hat that I say. Hey everybody. I didn't say that. Did I make you ask the question? Why is Pastor Don wearing a hat? I didn't say a word about it. Just the fact that I'm doing it. You can't avoid noticing you can't avoid asking the question. Why is he wearing a hat? Because it's so unusual. You can come to church forever. Nobody wears a hat particular to the preacher when we live an honorable life. We don't have to ask people to notice. They can't help it. We don't have to get them to ask questions. They can't help it. That's why I later in the passage is going to say be ready when people ask question cuz they're going to cuz we live honorable lives. Can you give me an example? Sure, I can if you're a citizen obey the government if you're a servant obey your master, if you're a wife be beautiful for your husband, if you're a husband add or your wife, these are examples of honorable conduct that will bring glory to God and this is the only opportunity for us to live honorably among unbelievers. And then our passage today, the first word is finally so that's the clue. This is a summary I've been going on for quite a while about how to live a honorable life now finally. Let me give you a summary. Let me give you the Cole's notes. This is Honorable Life For Dummies. How does it work? Brothers Four Points come live an honorable life. There are four points that he's going to make one love the brothers love the brothers love your brothers and sisters in Christ. That is an honorable life that will attract people to the Lord and live honorably when you're in the body love them, but when you're in the world live honorably, And it's God calls upon you to suffer Suffer Well. And while you're doing all this celebrate him. Let's take a walk.

Finally, okay. So I've been talkin about conduct conduct honorable to 12. And then I just gave you an example citizens not to give you another example servants. Then I gave you another example wives that I gave you another example husband's finally in summary. Let me package all this up for you. Let me give you for helpful things for honorable lice one is love the brothers. Love the brothers. Let's take this verse apart. I don't have time to do all five elements here. But just let me point out three things one is his he says all of you this isn't two wives. This isn't a husband's decision to Masters decision to Slaves. This isn't the slaves. This is to everybody. Have Unity of mind. I just wanted to comment. I don't have time for all 5 I wanted to comment on Unity of mine and sympathy Unity of mine when we are loving each other. We have Unity of mind. What does that mean? It does not mean we always agree. The root word for this Unity of mine here is Harmony when people are in harmony, they are not singing the same note. But they are singing the same song. There is room in the body for us to disagree about the Canadian election or the American election or the government response to covid-19. Right taxation law is or what the best sports team in football or hockey is there's room but even when we disagree we are in harmony, we may be singing different notes, but it's the same song. We all have the same goal as a matter of fact disagreement when handled wealth is good in the body iron sharpens iron disagreement causes us to think through things and ask questions that we normally wouldn't do. We need to be gracious to one another when we don't quite agree, but still have Unity of mind even if we don't see everything the same way and sympathy your sympathy literally. I was interested to see this word sympathy literally means to experience something that comes from the outside. Let me just say that again sympathy means to experience something that comes from the outside. You know when I suffered a tremendous loss, I feel that on the inside. I don't need sympathy for that when I have a tremendous Financial loss or loss of health or loss of a loved one or loss of a job. I feel bad on the inside. But when you experience loss, I feel bad on the outside. It's not my loved one know my money was sympathy is when we experience something that comes from the outside your tragedy hurts my heart. I'm in sympathy with you because I love you.

We don't have time for the other three things Brotherly Love tend to hurt humble mind. But let me just point out here. One of the main ways. We live an honorable life is found in the way that we treat each other. This verse is cause for introspection. You know when we die and go to the bema seat Jesus phone evaluate whether we're going to heaven or hell, he's already died for our sins were going to heaven but he will evaluate the quality of our service. I'm pretty sure this questions on the exam.

I'm pretty sure he's going to evaluate how we treated each other. If only I could have a Cole's notes. If only I could cram for this exam. There's the five questions. Did we have Unity of mind where we gracious to one another? What did we listen to one another? Did we have sympathy did we have a brotherly love a tender heart and a humble mind. This is gold. This is the exam questions before we take the exam. This is a major component of living an honorable life how we treat one another

Not only love the brothers but live honorably chapter 3 verse 8 is talking about our life together. Love the brothers sympathizers Unity of mine 9 to 13 is our life in the world. We're not always living with the brothers and sisters sometimes were in the world. And when we are in the world when we are experiencing relationships outside the body of Christ. What should we do? We should live honorably. Do not repay evil for evil. In reviling for revealing this word revealing here means slender. Someone's talking against you. Don't do that instead bless. You know, what bless means.

Just be quiet love when people are slandering you speak well of them. It's honorable. And noticed to this you were called really I don't remember that who called us our Lord. Our Lord called us but I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Don't repay evil for evil revealing for revealing but bless for this you were called. But you may have Tina blessing. I just wanted to remind you that when you live in audible life God Is Watching and he will bless you. He will bless you for that honorable life. One of the ways he often not always but what are the ways he often blesses and honorable life is with peace and enjoyment when we are living truthfully when we keep our word when were being gracious to people when we are living an honorable life generally speaking. We have a happy peaceful life because all the things that create problems in life are strongly diminished when we live an honorable life. That's why he quotes Psalm 34 If you desire to love life if you want a good life, let me give you some examples. Is it going to give you some? pointers one speak well Keep your tongue from evil kids that's in your sermon notes keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceit speak. Well, not only speak well, but Live Well Turn Away From Evil do good. And when you live this honorable life God notices. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil all I'm trying to say here friends is that when we live honorable lies God notices and blesses and one of the ways he often blesses and honorable life. Is with joy and peace and Tranquility in her life.

And people notice this zealous life and they want a piece of that and they honor that and they respect that first 13 the who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good when you do good when you live an honorable life people will applaud that Christians non-christians of everything. They will applaud that. except when they don't and sometimes they want. when we live in honorable life and rather than people applauding it rather than people honoring it. They persecuted then we are called to suffer. but to Suffer Well Does that ever happen like if you lose an honorable life who who quarrel with that? Why would they want a persecuted on Herbalife? Does that actually happen? Yeah. Yeah, it does. but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake Can you think of anybody who lived a righteous life and got suffering instead of Honor? Does the name Jesus Christ ring a bell? Live the perfect life. Nothing, but truth. And yet later in his career from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. Jesus is our primary example of someone who lived a righteous life.

And didn't get Earthly honor. But got Earthly punishment, but may I just point out even when we don't get our Earthly honor? There is still Heavenly reward. Jesus life didn't end with the persecution. It didn't end with the unjust suffering. God still saw that. And blessed it in a Heavenly way in the resurrection and that's what this first says. Even if you should suffer what I talked about Christ, we're talkin about you, even if you should suffer for righteousness sake you will be blessed. We are called to live an honorable life. That is one of the major reasons God leaves us on Earth so that we can live this honorable life. And usually when we do that people will say that an honor that and just like my hat say, what are you doing? Why are you wearing that at this is weird. Like I never saw that I can't stop thinking about it. Why would you ever do something like that? That's what usually happens but not always that's when we're called to live honorably but not on always sometimes when we live an honorable life. We don't get reward we get persecution, but even then we get God's reward. God will see and honorable life. And he will bless it. Jesus himself said this and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children's or land for my namesake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Friends, I just want to encourage you as you live your faithful honorable life. God is taking names and keeping score and he is no man's debtor. You will be blessed on Earth or in heaven or both, but you will be blessed. But if you should suffer for Christ's righteousness sake you will be blessed. Don't fear these people that are persecuting you or be troubled that were troubled is really interesting. Let me give you a sense of what it means by showing you where else it appears in the Bible. Remember when King Herod was hearing rumors about a king being born? What was his reaction to his, he's going to put up? No, no, no. No, he was what was he? He was troubled. Oh my goodness. I have something my kingship and now I fear losing it. I'm experiencing trouble. This is exactly the kind of trouble that first Peter tells us not to have. By the way kids you're looking for one of these two names one either Herod or Zachariah. Do you remember Zachariah? The father of John? The Baptist went into serve in the temple and there was surprised to see an angel and what was his reaction he was troubled. He was in the situation. He didn't expect that. He couldn't control the seemed uncertain and his reaction was trouble. I'm feeling trouble. Friends, this is exactly the kind of trouble that first Peter tells us not to have. When were like Herod and we have something that we value that suddenly seems at risk. We don't have to be troubled God's in control. And when were in a situation like Zachariah that is unanticipated uncontrollable. It seems dangerous to me are natural reaction. We will be trouble. We don't have to feel trouble. You know, Isaiah wrote two people in trouble. Isaiah wrote to people who are about to lose everything you value your nationhood to lose it you value your physical comfort about to lose it. Do you value the holy city in the temple in it here about to lose it. They were about to lose everything like Herod and they were in this weird situation that they did not anticipate and seem scary just like Zachariah and Isaiah told him don't be troubled. Do not call conspiracy and all that. This people calls conspiracy. I wish I could explain why he's talked about conspiracy. I don't have time be happy to explain to you for one free coffee. And do not fear what they fear nor be in dread. Don't be troubled. Don't fear what they fear. Don't be in dread. Oh really? What should I do? But the Lord of hosts him you shall hold honors. Holy let him be your fear. You know someone once said you either fear God and nothing else or don't fear God and everything else. Isaiah saying don't fear these things don't feel route wars and rumors of wars Dear God. He says some Isaiah 12 and 2. Behold God is my salvation. I will trust and I will not be afraid. For the Lord God is my strength and my song may I just connect those two verse for two halves of the first we cannot not be afraid unless the Lord is my strength and song One. Causes the other when we live in the truth that God is my strength and my song then we are not afraid because we know who he truly is we don't have to be troubled. What are we doing stead of being troubled? We honor Christ the Lord Is Holy. Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason and why will they ask? Because we stick out like a sore thumb.

It was supposed to do that. That's weird. I'm sure he'll explain it. Is not explaining at this is just weird people will ask and when they do we answer but we answer in gentleness and respect. Long time ago. I read this book called humble apologetics. Good book. I sent to me by my former Pastor in the introduction the author tells of an experience. He had when he was in university Interpol adjust a person explaining and defending the Christian faith came to Camp the campus. He was on and the author invited a non-Christian friend from University and was instantly filled with fear. What if what is this event just feels like a loser event. What if nobody comes will they get to the event? It's packed proof. Oh, wait a minute. What is the guy's not a very good speaker? What if it's a poor presentation, I got to be embarrassed outcomes of presentation is brilliant than the embassy says, let's take some questions. The author's filled with fear. Oh my goodness what he's doing his presentation. It looks good. But these are smart people. What if he messes up on the questions question after question after question, the author has the speaker Handles in a high-quality wonderful way. And then the MC says just one more question who would like to ask the last question. I will I will outcomes a person and he asked those long detailed question. That is angry. And up the question or thinks he's got the presidential on the ropes. Presenter looks a little nervous and the author says I'll hear it. Here's where it all crumbles. Well, the speaker in this presentation says says to the questioner implied in your question. There's a choice do you mean option A or B? And it's clear the question or has not thought of that and so he's just made this big rant and he does he can't say I haven't even thought through that so he has to say I guess. So the question says okay. Hey, do you mean A1 or A2 not so two different possibilities? The question I hadn't thought of that either since 82. Do you mean a to Alpha or a 2 Beta and suddenly the crowd realizes with the speaker has done he has boxed in the questioner so that he has to contradict himself and the questioner recognizes. That's what's happened to that. His question is nonsensical and the author who is invited. His friend is inside just rejoicing the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. The Lord has delivered our enemies into our hand thought it was a great Victory. He's walking out of the event. And two women are walking out of the event and one woman says to the other and the author overhears and says I don't care whether the SOB is right. I still hate his guts.

We need to answer carefully wisely. The truth is on our side. We don't need to back off, but we need to answer.

with gentleness and respect we won't be able to argue anyone into the kingdom, but we can love them. They will ask be ready with an answer. But when you give your answer don't win the argument when they're heart. Win the argument with fox in? Truth when they're heart with gentleness and respect. Having a good conscience so that when that you are slandered and you will be 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 then for doing evil. You know, there is an example of someone who suffered for doing good because it was God's will. Jesus just think of the last days of his life. He's taken to a trial by the way read carefully the Gospel of John that trial that Jesus was subjected to was illegal even by Jewish law. Let me give you a six things that happened in the trial that are prohibited by Jewish law won the trial was held at night. The Jewish law prohibited that can't be done at night to they presumed the charged with guilty. You have to presume him innocent 3, the court itself provided false Witnesses. For the The Prisoner was mistreated before a verdict was given five. The decision was rendered on the same day in Jewish law you had to wait to make sure that you would really thought through this. You can't hear a casein or and answer the same day. Number 6 the high priest tore his garment in frustration specifically prohibited by the levitical law. It was totally a sham. It was totally unfair. It was totally unjust And yet when he was reviled he did not revile in return. When he suffered he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

I'm going to turn the service over to the deacons and they're going to lead us in communion.