Sermon Tone Analysis

Well, we have been.

For some time.

Now looking at 1st Peter.

And we are learning about persecution in the suffering that comes from it.

Today we're going to learn what to do when you suffer for doing.

What is right?

So let me invite you to take your Bibles this morning and turned with me to 1st Peter chapter 3.

And today, we're looking at verses 13 through 17 1st.

Peter chapter 3 verses 13 through 17.

Peter says who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

But even if you should suffer, for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed and do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled.

But sanctify Christ, as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone, who asked you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence and keep a good conscience.

So that into thing in which you were slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

For this better.

If God should will it so that you suffer for doing what is right rather rather than for doing?

What is wrong?

It's very important that we understand how to respond does the suffering that comes from persecution.

And how we respond will bring blessing to us.

It will also bring praise to God and it will further the gospel to those who opposed it.

Peter begins this passage as we saw in verse 13 with a question and then he proceeded to answer it and his answer shows us how important it is to have right convictions and attitudes to our opponents.

It actually shows us the place of suffering in the will of God.

Suffering is certainly a mystery.

But I believe, Peter helps us with this mystery 13, Peter begins with this question.

He says again who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

Does Peter ask that question?

He uses rhetorical language.

And in a rhetorical question, it implies a response.

So when you asked, who can harm you, what's the answer?

No one.

And when he talks about harm, what's he talkin about here?

Well, the word harm is just actually continuing the concept of evil that was found in.

Verse 12 as he says, they're at the end of verse 12, that the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

And then he says, who is there to harm you?

This harm.

This concept of evil that we find here in this rhetorical question verse 13, it only occurs here.

And in the book of Acts, I'm only find it in the book of Acts.

We find it you in several ways.

For example, accused of the oppression that the Israelites experienced at the hands of the Egyptians and Acts chapter 7 verse 6.

We find it used of the antagonism that was toward the church and Acts chapter 12, and we also find it used of the vicious attitudes toward Believers and Acts chapter 14.

And what he's talkin about this harm, he is talking about this hostile and dangerous attitude or activity that essentially promotes damn where there's damage to you, physically or damage to your reputation, damage to your character.

I saw the harm here.

He is.

Speaking of this, this injury.

This is something that you could suffer.

And this is something that people do suffer Christians, do suffer persecution.

There's a story told that during WWII.

There was a 12 year old little boy who was a Christian little boy.

And he had refused to join a movement in Europe.

I said they said to him, don't you know, that we have the power to kill you?

Which she replied very quietly and meekly.

Don't you know, that I have the power to die for Christ.

You had the conviction that Peter is talking about here in verse 13.

He believed that no one could harm him.

And that is no one could harm him.

Unless God allowed it.

So.

And so this really focuses in on God's sovereignty.

God is in control of our lives, every aspect of our life.

He is in control of in United times, tend to think we're the ones in control of our life.

But he is in control of Our Lives.

Charles Spurgeon says it this way.

There is no attribute more comforting to his children.

The dad of God's sovereignty under the most adverse circumstances in the most severe trials.

They believed that sovereignty has ordained.

Their afflictions that star midi overrules them and that sovereignty will sanctify them.

All.

There's nothing for which the children are not more earnestly to contend then the doctrine of their Master over all creation, the kingship of God, over all the works of his own hands, the Throne of God and his right to sit upon that Throne.

Nothing can happen to us.

Unless God allows it.

That's why that's a comforting word.

And whatever he does allow, we need to keep in mind.

He allows it for our good.

A verse that you should commit to memory is Romans 8:28, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.

And to those who are called according to his purpose.

It doesn't say some things.

He says, all things work together for our good.

Even in those times of suffering that you don't understand, you don't understand why you're going through this.

And we might not understand every exact detail of what we're going through.

But we do know that scripture teaches that we do suffer and it teaches in Philippians 1:29.

It's the will of God that we suffer and we have the same conflict that Paul had in his life and Peter having his life, as well as the rest of the Apostles in the rest of others, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, have suffered for Jesus.

He is our master and because they persecuted him, they will persecute ass.

Sir, Peter says, who is there to harm you?

Who is there to harm you if you're doing what is right?

Don't want you to think with me about the context here because you backup 2 verse 8. Down the verse 12.

He identifies for us.

What is right?

What is good.

Look at the rest of the 1st of August 13th?

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

If you're being harmonious sympathetic, brotherly kind-hearted, and humble, you're doing what is right.

If you're not returning, evil for evil or insult for insult, verse 9, or giving blessing instead of cursing verse 9, you're keeping your tongue from evil verse 10, and you're not speaking deceitfully.

You're turning away from Evil.

You're doing good verse 11.

You're seeking and pursuing.

Peace.

And according to the chapter 2 verses 21 through 23, you're following the example of Christ.

First 22, who committed?

No sin nor was any deceit found in his mouth and while being reviled he did not revile in return.

And while suffering he had heard, no threats, but kept and trusting himself to him who judges righteously.

See if all this is true in your life.