Messengers of the Gospel
Series: FRONTLINE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 19th March 2016
Passage: 1 Peter 3:8-16
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 So what is happening is that Christians are finding it harder and harder to talk about God,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 talk about sex, talk about politics.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 We can talk about what you do, mention Jesus, and it's a different subject altogether.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Let's just change that and talk about something else.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 Don't want to talk about religion.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:23 I've read, for instance, that Christian teachers are choosing not to wear crosses
00:00:23 --> 00:00:29 because they know that their credibility would be thrown out if they were known to be Christians.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:37 One student group, Christian student group, has decided not to speak about sex to its students on a university campus
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 for fear of losing its university affiliation.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:50 Last year, new graduate employees at a major bank in Sydney were told on their first day that we don't do religion here.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:57 Talk of faith wasn't welcome and would be considered a breach of corporate policy.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:02 And just recently, you probably saw in the news or in newspapers this week,
00:01:03 --> 00:01:09 the University of Sydney's Union stated that the Sydney University's Evangelical Union
00:01:09 --> 00:01:15 must remove requirements for members to sign a faith-based declaration
00:01:15 --> 00:01:20 and threaten them with deregistration of the clubs and societies program
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 if they do not comply by the end of this month.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:28 In practice, that means that non-believers could not only just be members of the Evangelical Union,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:32 but in fact could hold leadership positions in the executive committee.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:41 On many fronts, there is pressure to be quiet, to withdraw, to retreat from public spaces.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:47 Christians, not just Christians, in fact anyone who does not agree with the liberal left,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 basically, but Christians are being silenced.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:58 And yet God requires us, as his disciples, to be in this world
00:01:58 --> 00:02:03 and to speak as messengers of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 Jesus' own teaching in Luke chapter 24
00:02:06 --> 00:02:12 shows that the nations need to hear and repent in order to be saved.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 They need to hear the gospel, the good news of Christ,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 and they need to repent in order to be saved.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:22 And against the command to himself be quiet about the risen Lord Jesus,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 Peter said the same thing in Acts chapter 4, verse 12.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 Salvation is found in no one else,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they must be saved.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 And this itself was the great commission of the Lord Jesus
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 to his disciples and to us in Matthew 28.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 I said in the first sermon in this series,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 this is now the end of it, we're coming to the close of front lines.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 In the first sermon in this series, seven weeks ago,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:12 I said that understood in the correct way,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 vocation, that is understood Christianly,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:21 vocation is centered in a sovereign God
00:03:21 --> 00:03:25 who calls us to embrace the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 and to follow him in the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 That is a theology of vocation.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:37 And so the first and the primary calling of all people
00:03:37 --> 00:03:42 is to embrace the Lord Jesus as his disciples.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:50 That is, we are called to someone, not something or somewhere.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:59 The means by which God calls people to embrace their primary vocation
00:03:59 --> 00:04:06 is his disciples speaking as messengers of the very gospel
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 that God calls people to embrace.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:15 But under that primary calling,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 we all have a secondary calling,
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 a secondary position in life
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 in which we live out our primary calling
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 with faithfulness and fruitfulness
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 to the God who has called us.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 And so how do we work out our primary calling
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 to embrace Jesus,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 to call other people to embrace Jesus
00:04:36 --> 00:04:40 in a society that wants us to be quiet
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 about that primary calling,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 especially in our places of our secondary calling.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 And I think the temptation for us
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 is in fact to be quiet,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 to keep our heads down
00:04:55 --> 00:05:00 and in the end to propagate the secular sacred divide
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 which this whole series is against.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 that is, to live two separate lives,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 my private life and my public life.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 Now let me say that
00:05:11 --> 00:05:15 there is a lot at stake
00:05:15 --> 00:05:20 for the people of our country at the moment.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 There's a lot at stake.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 There's a lot at stake for the people who want us to be quiet.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 A number of Christians
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 are starting to speak up
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 about religious freedom in our country
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 and I think that's okay.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:37 But,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 I get a little concerned
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 if the motivation for speaking up
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 is for Christians
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 to be allowed to be Christians.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:53 That is,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 I'm concerned
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 if we are speaking up
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 just to protect
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 who we are
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 and what we are allowed to do.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 Because that's not why
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 we've been called to speak up.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 What's really at stake
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 is the hope
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 and the lives
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 and the souls
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 of millions of people
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 who don't have hope.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 That's what's at stake.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 As Dr. Ralph Winter,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 he was a former
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 American missiologist,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 scholar and pastor.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 He was one time director
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 of the United States Center for World Mission.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 He made a very significant point
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 about the task
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 that is before us as Christians.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 He wrote this
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 in 1978.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 We may do well
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 to recognize
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 what seems to be
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 the consistent thrust
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 of the whole Bible.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 That unless
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 and until
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 in faith
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 the future
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 of the world
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 becomes
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 more important
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 than the future
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 of the church,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 the church
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 has no future.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 as Jesus
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 puts it,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 the most dangerous
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 thing you can do
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 is seek
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 to save
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 your own life.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 Or to turn it around
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 another way,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 being messengers
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 of the gospel
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 to our society
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 is the only
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 future
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 of the church
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 and it's not
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 about protecting
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 the church.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 Every church
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 in history
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 that has not
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 reached out
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 has in fact
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 gone down.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 Every church
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 that has existed
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 to protect itself,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:47 to protect
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 its rights,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 has gone
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 down.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 God will
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 always cause
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 his people
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 around the globe
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 to give up
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 their lives
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 for the sake
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 of
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 his
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 mission.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 but we
00:08:04 --> 00:08:04 have no
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 biblical
00:08:05 --> 00:08:05 guarantee
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 that any
00:08:07 --> 00:08:07 given
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 denomination
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 or local
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 church
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 or individual
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 will endure
00:08:12 --> 00:08:12 to the end.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 Denominations
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 have come
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 and gone.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 Churches
00:08:16 --> 00:08:16 have risen
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 up and
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 disappeared
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 and many
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 individuals
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 like seed
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 sown among
00:08:22 --> 00:08:22 thorns
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 have confessed
00:08:24 --> 00:08:24 faith in
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 Christ
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 but have been
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 choked by the
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 cares and riches
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 and pleasures
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 of this life.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 Luke chapter
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 8.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 And so the
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 future of the
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 Anglican
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 Diocese of
00:08:34 --> 00:08:34 Sydney,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 future of
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 St. Paul's
00:08:36 --> 00:08:36 Chatswood,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 future of
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 you and
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 me,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 hangs on
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 whether we
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 lose our
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 lives as
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 messengers of
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 Christ and
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 the gospel
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 for the sake
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 of others,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 not for
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 our sakes.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 And so our
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 focus today
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 is our
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 personal
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 readiness to
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 be message of
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 the gospel
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 on our
00:09:04 --> 00:09:04 front line.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 This is
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 first base
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 stuff I
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 think for
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 us.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 And so the
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 text which I've
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 chosen is
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 1 Peter 3
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 and especially
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 14 and
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 15 which
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 come along
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 with me on
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 this.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 1 Peter 3
00:09:21 --> 00:09:21 verses 14
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 and 15.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:46 What does
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 it mean to
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 be ready
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 to make
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 a case
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 for your
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 hope?
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 And how
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 are we to
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 get ready
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 and to
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 stay ready?
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 A clue to
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 that is in
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 1 Peter 3
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 and you do
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 need your
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 Bibles open
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 because I
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 want you to
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 look at some
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 stuff here
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 fairly closely.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 1 Peter 3
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 verse 15
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 is the clue.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 It's the
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 relationship
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 between the
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 phrase be
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 ready and
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 what comes
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 just before
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 it in the
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 text.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 Literally
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and sorry
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 for getting
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 real technical
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 here there
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 is no
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 verb in
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 the phrase
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 be ready
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 or be
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 prepared.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 Literally
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 Peter says
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 set apart
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 Christ as
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 Lord in
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 your hearts
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 ready always
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 to make a
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 case for
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 your hope.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 That's what
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 he literally
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 says.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 And this
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 suggests that
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 there is a
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 very close
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 connection
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 between
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 setting
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 apart
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Christ as
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 Lord in
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 your heart
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 and
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 always being
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 ready to
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 make a
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 case for
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 your hope.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 There's a
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 connection
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 there,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 close
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 connection.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 So one
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 key to
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 understand
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 what it
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 means to
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 set apart
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 Christ as
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 Lord in
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 your heart
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 is to
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 notice that
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 it is the
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 alternative to
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 fearing men.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 Verse 14
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 is the
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 Lord.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 But even if
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 you should
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 choose to
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 be afraid,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 do not be
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 frightened,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 but or
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 instead
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 in your
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 heart set
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 apart Christ
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 as Lord.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 In other
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 words,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 don't be
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 afraid of
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 the sort of
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 things that
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 men threaten
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 you with.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 Instead,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 greatly
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 revere
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 Christ in
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 your
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 hearts.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 Setting
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 apart
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 Christ in
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 our
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 heart is
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 what you
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 do in
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 order to
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 not have
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 fear in
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 your heart
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 of what
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 men might
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 do or
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 say about
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 you.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 That's what
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 you do.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 So whatever
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 setting apart
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 Christ means,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 it is the
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 opposite of
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 fearing men.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 And it
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 is, in
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 fact, the
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 source of
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 your confidence
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 and your
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 hope.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 In verses
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 14 and
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 15, Peter
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 is giving
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 a Christian
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 adaption to
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 the text of
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 Isaiah 8
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 verses 12
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 to 13.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 And you
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 might want to
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 look at that
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 with me.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 Isaiah 8
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 verses 12
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 and 13.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 And it
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 gives us a
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 whole lot of
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 help in
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 deciding what
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 it means to
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 set apart
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 Christ as
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 Lord in
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 our hearts.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 God gives
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Isaiah a
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 warning in
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 these verses
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 about how
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 we should
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 feel, or
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 how he
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 should feel
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 about his
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 unbelieving
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 countrymen,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 about the
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 Lord God.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 And beginning
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 at verse
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 11, he
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 says,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 the Lord
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 spoke to
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 me with
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 his
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 strong
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 hand upon
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 me,
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 warning me
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 not to
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 follow the
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 ways of
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 his people.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 He said,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 do not
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 call
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 conspiracy
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 everything that
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 they call
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 conspiracy.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 Do not
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 fear what
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 they fear.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 Do not
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 dread it.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 The Lord
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Almighty is
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 the one you
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 are to
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 regard as
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 holy.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 He's the
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 one you
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 are to
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 fear.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 He is the
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 one you
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 are to
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 dread.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 And so
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Peter takes
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 this word
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 of God
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 addressed to
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 Isaiah about
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 his adversaries
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and he
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 applies it to
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 the Christians
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 in his own
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 day and
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 our day in
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 relation to
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 our
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 adversaries.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 And he
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 says,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 don't fear
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 what they
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 fear, but
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 regard the
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 Lord instead.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Isaiah 8,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 14 makes
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 it clear
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 that the
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 way to
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 regard God
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 or to
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 treat him
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 as holy
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 is to
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 fear him
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 instead of
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 fearing what
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 men fear
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 or to
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 dread him
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 instead of
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 dreading what
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 they dread.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 But God
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 doesn't mean
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 that we
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 are always
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 to be
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 gripped by
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 an emotional
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 fear when
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 God is
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 our Lord.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 That would
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 seem to,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 in my mind,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 to be an
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 invitation to
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 misery, I
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 would think.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 And I
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 don't think
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 that's what
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 he means
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 here.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 One clue
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 that he
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 doesn't
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 mean that
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 is the
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 very next
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 phrase in
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 verse 14.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 It's a
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 promise for
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 those who
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 fear him
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 as God.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 It says,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 God will
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 become a
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 sanctuary.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 sanctuary.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 A
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 sanctuary is
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 a place
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 where you
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 feel safe
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and secure
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 and peaceful.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 Now, it
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 seems on the
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 surface to be
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 somewhat paradoxical.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 If God is
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 your dread,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 how can he
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 be your
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 refuge and
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 your sanctuary?
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 But it's
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 not as
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 paradoxical if
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 we take the
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 words of
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 verse 14
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 to not
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 mean be
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 constantly
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 gripped by
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 the emotion
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 of fear,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 but rather
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 or instead
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 always regard
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 the displeasure
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 of God as
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 more fearful
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 than the
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 displeasure of
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 man.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 What God
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 wants here
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 from Isaiah
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 is for the
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 prospect of
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 offending God
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 to be much
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 more dreadful
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 thing to
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 him than
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 the prospect
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 of being
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 persecuted
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 by people.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 And that's
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 the way
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Isaiah
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 was to
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 revere the
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 Lord.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 It's the way
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 that Isaiah
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 was to set
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 apart God
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 in his
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 heart.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 The degree
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 to which God
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 was set
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 apart in
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 his heart
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 was the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 same degree
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 of his
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 desire not
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to displease
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 God.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 And what
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 was it in
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 particular in
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 the context
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 that would
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 have displeased
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 God?
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 Verse 12,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 do not
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 fear what
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 they fear
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 or be in
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 dread of
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 what they
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 dread.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 God would
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 have been
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 displeased
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 if Isaiah,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 he would
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 have been
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 displeased
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 with him
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 if he
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 had feared
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 the same
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 thing that
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 his unbelieving
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 countrymen
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 feared and
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 that is
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 the threats
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 of people.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 And the
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 reason is
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 that God
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 had made
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 many promises
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 to his
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 people that
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 should in
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 fact have
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 taken away
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 the fear
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and instead
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 filled them
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 with confidence
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 and hope.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 And so if
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 Isaiah feared
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 man and
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 not God,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 it would
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 show that he
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 doesn't trust
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 the promises
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 of God.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 God had
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 said,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 Isaiah 41
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 verse 10
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 and 13,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 do not
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 fear for
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 I am with
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 you,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 do not
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 be dismayed
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 for I am
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 your God,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 I will
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 strengthen
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 you and
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 help you,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 I will
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 uphold you
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 by my
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 righteous
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 hand for
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 I am
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 the Lord
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 your God
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 who takes
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 hold of
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 your right
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 hand and
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 says to
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 you,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 do not
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 fear because
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 I will
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 help you.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 God had
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 promised him
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 that already.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 God
00:17:31 --> 00:17:44 promised them
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 that already
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 and a
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 bunch of
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 other promises
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 and if
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Isaiah feared
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 the threats
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 of God,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 he cast
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 his vote
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 against
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 the
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 trustworthiness
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 of God
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 and does
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 not revere
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 the Lord
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 in his
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 heart.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 But if
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 we do
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 not
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 fear
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 what
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 men
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 fear
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 but
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 instead
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 fear
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 to
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 displease
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 God
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and so
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 trust in
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 his
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 promises
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 then
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 you
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 reverence
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 the Lord
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 in your
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 heart.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 You set
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 apart
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 Christ
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 as Lord
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 in your
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 heart.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 And so
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 what we see
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 from the Old
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 Testament
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 background
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 background
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 of Peter's
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 teaching here
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 in chapter
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 3
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 is that
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 setting
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 apart
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 Christ
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 as Lord
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 in your
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 heart
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 means
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 first of
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 all
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 feeling
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 that to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 displease
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 Christ
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 is more
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 fearful
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 than the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 threats
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 of any
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 human
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 being.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 Firstly
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and more
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 specifically
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 since what
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 displeases
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 Christ
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 most
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 is
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 unbelief
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 in his
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 promises
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 promises
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 then
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 setting
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 him
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 apart
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 in our
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 hearts
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 means
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 setting
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 your
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 mind
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 on his
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 promises
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 and
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 setting
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 your
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 heart
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 on
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 trusting
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 his
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 promises.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 Promises
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 like 1
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 Peter 5
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 verse 7
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 cast all
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 your anxiety
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 on him
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 for he
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 cares for
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 you.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 Promises
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 like 1
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Peter 5
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 10
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 after you
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 have
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 suffered
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 a little
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 while
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 the God
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 of all
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 grace
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 who has
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 called you
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 to his
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 eternal glory
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 in Christ
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 will himself
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 restore
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 establish
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 and strengthen
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 you.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 To set
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 apart
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 Christ as
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 Lord in
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 your
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 hearts
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 is to
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 set your
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 mind on
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 his
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 promises
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 to take
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 care of
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 you
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 and to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 trust those
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 promises
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 with all
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 of your
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 heart.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 And if
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 you do
00:19:39 --> 00:19:42 in increasing
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 measure
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 the fear
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 of men
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 will
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 decrease
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 and instead
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 be turned
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 into hope.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 And you
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 will have
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 a reason
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 to give
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 for the
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 hope that
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 is in
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 fact in
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 your
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 heart.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 Now if
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 what Peter
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 has written
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 here seems
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 like a
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 tall order
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 let's not
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 forget
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 that Peter
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 discovered
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 this secret
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 of hope.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 He
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 discovered the
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 secret of
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 boldness in
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 the face of
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 opposition
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 after a
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 massive
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 failure.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 This is the
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 Peter who
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 declared that
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 he would
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 never forsake
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 Jesus
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 but waiting
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 in a
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 courtyard
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 at the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 home of the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 high priest
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 while Jesus
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 was being
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 questioned
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 he failed
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 miserably.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 Three times
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 he denied
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 he was a
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 disciple of
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 Jesus.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 He wasn't
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 with Jesus.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 He did
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 not know
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 Jesus.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 And in the
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 background in
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 the shadows
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 stood Jesus
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 and Jesus
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 turns and he
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 looks at
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Peter and
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 as he
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 predicted the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 crow the
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 cock crowed
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 the rooster
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 crowed the
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 bird whatever
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 it was crowed
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 three times
00:21:01 --> 00:21:04 just as
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Jesus said
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 it would.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 And
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 contrast this
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 in that
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 moment in
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 that dark
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 night huddled
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 around that
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 fire and
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 the absolute
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 failure of
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Peter running
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 out from
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 them bursting
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 into tears
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 failing Jesus
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 to because
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 he feared
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 man.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 Contrast
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 that Peter
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 with the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 Peter who
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 had seen
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 the risen
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 Jesus who
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 was filled
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 with the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Holy Spirit
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 he's no
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 longer huddled
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 around a
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 fire but he
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 stands as
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 the accused.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 He who
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 had feared
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 to confront
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 a servant
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 girl now
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 confronts the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 high court
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 and accuses
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 the high court
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 of crucifying
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Jesus and
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 he refuses
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 to be silent
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 about the
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 resurrected
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 Jesus.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 He says
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 we must
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 obey God
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 rather than
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 man.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 in Acts
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 4 and
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 5.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 You see
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 Peter shows
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 us that our
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 hope provides
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 both the
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 courage for
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 our frontline
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 witness and
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 in fact the
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 content of our
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 frontline
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 witness.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 Our hope is
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 in the Lord
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 risen.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 Our devotion
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 to Christ
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 makes us
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 ready not
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 only in
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 rationale
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 but in
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 attitude.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 Notice it
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 says
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 give a reason
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 for the hope
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 you have
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 in gentleness.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 Respect,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 gentleness or
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 another word is
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 humility of
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 life is an
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 important,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 is just as
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 important as
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 boldness with
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 the word.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 Humility is
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 the other
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 result of
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 setting apart
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Christ as
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 Lord in your
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 heart.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 surely no
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 pride is
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 more offensive
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 than pride in
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 being trophies of
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 God's grace.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Is there
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 anything more
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 offensive than
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 that sort of
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 pride?
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 pride?
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 You see the
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 lack of fear
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 before man
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 doesn't lead to
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 pride or
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 smugness or
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 arrogance or
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 abrasiveness.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 This humility
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 is far more
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 than politeness
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 and political
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 correctness.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 It's an
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 attitude that
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 reflects the
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 fear of God
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 in your heart.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 You don't want
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 to disappoint
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Christ.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 You want to
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 have the same
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 attitude of
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 Christ.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 Christ.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 And so I
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 wonder,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 and just
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 wonder,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 if the
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 reason we
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 aren't more
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 free and
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 natural in
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 testifying to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 the reality of
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 our hope in
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 Christ, on
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 our front
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 lines or in
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 our society,
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 I just
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 wonder if
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 it's because
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 we don't feel
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 very hopeful
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 I wonder if
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 it's because
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 of lack of
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 hope that
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 we're not
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 free to
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 testify to
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Christ.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 And so the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 fear of man
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 grips us.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 I think that
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 if that's the
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 case, if we're
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 not hopeful,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 when our
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 hearts are not
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 full of hope
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 in the promises
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 of Christ,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 Christ, and
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 when the
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 occasion arises
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 at work or
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 at school,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 university,
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 at a bar,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:38 and the
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 opportunity is
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 there to make
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 a case for
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 our hope,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:46 we sense it
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 in fact as a
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 duty to defend
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 doctrine.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 doctrine.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 If hope's not
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 there, it's
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 just a duty to
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 defend doctrine
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 instead of a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 delight to tell
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 someone why we
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 have so much
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 hope in our
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 hearts.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 Being
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 messengers of
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 the good news
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 of salvation in
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 Christ Jesus
00:25:06 --> 00:25:09 will always be a
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 burdensome duty
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 to defend a
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 doctrine, as
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 long as
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 Christianity
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 means for us
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 simply accepting
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 certain doctrines
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 as truth and
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 keeping a
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 certain list of
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 do's and
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 don'ts.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 That is, our
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 mission to the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 world will
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 simply just be a
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 duty that we
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 have to do
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 if we don't
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 have hope in
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 our hearts.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 Any concept
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 of being
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 messengers of
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 the gospel will
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 be a painful
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 duty to be
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 avoided if we
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 confess the
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 lordship of
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 Jesus with
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 little more
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 that are sent
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 in our minds.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 If Jesus is
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 our treasure
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 and our
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 heart's
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 devotion,
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 then it is
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 a delight
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 to tell
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 someone why
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 we have
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 hope.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:09 and I
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 fear that
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 too many
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 church
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 people have
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 simply
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 inherited the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 motions of
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 church life
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 and outward
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 morality and
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 piety,
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 but the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 heartfelt
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 reality of
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 Christ and
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 a joyful hope
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 in his
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 promises,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 in spite of
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 opposition,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 are foreign.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 And so we
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 want to
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 defend our
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 way of
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 life,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:48 not see
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 people wonder
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 Christ.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 Christ.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 And some
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 people who
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 are in
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 that position,
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 they can
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 defend a
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 doctrine,
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 but they
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 cannot make
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 a case for
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 the hope
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 that is
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 within them
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 because they
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 don't feel
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 hope brimming
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 up within
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 their hearts.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 promise.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 And so
00:27:12 --> 00:27:16 the way
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 to get
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 ready
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 to be
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 messengers of
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the gospel on
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 your front
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 line,
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 the way
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 to get
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 ready to
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 make a
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 case for
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 the hope
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 that you
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 have
00:27:27 --> 00:27:30 is to
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 get hopeful.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Pretty
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 straightforward,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 really.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:37 it makes
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 the job
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 so simple.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 It
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 simplifies it
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 for us.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 Don't
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 start by
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 writing out
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 beforehand a
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 bunch of
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 answers to
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 someone else's
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 questions.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 That's not
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 where you
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 start.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 Apply
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 yourself to
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 settling the
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 questions of
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 your own
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 heart,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 your own
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 mind.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:06 do that
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 first.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 That's
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 where hope
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 begins.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 Settle
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 the questions
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 of your
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 own heart,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 your own
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 mind.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 We have
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 to find
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 for ourselves
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 reason enough
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 to get over
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 our fear of
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 men and to
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 live in
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 hope.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 And if
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 our own
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 hope does
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 not spring
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 up from
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 something that
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 Christ did
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 or that
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 something that
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 Christ said,
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 then it
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 is a
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 mere
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 sham to
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 try and
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 make a
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 case for
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 someone else
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 to put
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 their hope
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 in Christ.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 But if
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 we search
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 out the
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 promises of
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Christ and
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 meditate on
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 his character
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 and work for
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 the sake of
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 banishing our
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 own fear and
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 kindling our
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 own hope,
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 then this
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 very act of
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 setting apart
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 Christ as
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 Lord in
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 our hearts
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 will be
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 the
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 preparation
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 for making
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 a case for
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 our hope to
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 others on
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 our front
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 lines.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 And if it
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 is so,
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 then our
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 primary activity
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 in preparing
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 to witness
00:29:17 --> 00:29:20 is to keep
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 our own
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 hearts happy
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 in Christ,
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 hopeful in
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 Christ.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 And so that
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 means day
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 after day,
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 we go to
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 the scriptures
00:29:28 --> 00:29:32 not anxiously
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 trying to
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 amass a
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 bunch of
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 arguments for
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 work colleagues
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 and university
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 students and
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 whatever else,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 for every
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 possible rebuttal
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 that somebody
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 might have in
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 our secular
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 age.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 We go there
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 day by day
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 because our
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 own hearts
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 are so
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 desperately
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 needy for
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 hope.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 Because our
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 own hope
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 wanes.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 Our own
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 trust in
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 the promises
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 of Christ
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 wanes.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 We have
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 fears that
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 need to be
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 overcome by
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 the promises
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 of God.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 We have
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 doubts that
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 need to be
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 answers.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 The fight
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 of faith is
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 waged in
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 the word
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 of God
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 and prayer.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 And when
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 we emerge
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 from that
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 encounter with
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 God,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 with a
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 renewed and
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 lively hope
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 in his
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 promises,
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 we will be
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 ready to
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 make a case
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 for our
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 hope.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 hope.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 And in
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 making the
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 case for
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 our hope,
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 we have in
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 Christ with
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 gentleness and
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 respect, we
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 are praying that
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 God would make
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 us fruitful on
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 our front lines
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 for his glory
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 and the joy of
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 many people.
00:30:41 --> 00:31:11 for our