Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:11] Speaker B: Good morning, Westgate. How's everybody doing?
[00:00:14] Speaker A: Great.
[00:00:15] Speaker B: It is great to be here today. Yes. Go and stand.
Let's worship the God who never leaves us nor forsakes us.
[00:00:22] Speaker A: Amen.
When I'm in the roughest water, I won't go under, I won't drown.
And when I'm in over my head, I know that you won't let me down.
And when I'm broken down to nothing.
I know that you are always up to something good.
I know that you are always up to something good.
Only you make a way whatever it takes. There's nothing your love won't endure.
I know that you, you are always up to something good.
Do you know that even through the deepest valley you go before me, you are here before. I know you'll never leave me. Your love surrounds me, I won't feel.
And when I'm broken and down to nothing.
Yes, I know that you are always up to something good.
I know that you are always up to something good.
Oh, you'll make a way whatever it takes. There's nothing your love won't endure.
I know that you are always up to something good.
Through the darkest night you are on my side.
You are always faithful. Through my fear and doubt you will leave me out.
You are always able.
Through the darkest night you are on my side.
You are always faithful. Through my fear and doubt you will lead me out.
I know you will always save us.
You are faithful God.
Yes, I know that you are always up to see something good.
Oh, I know that you are always up to something good. Yes you are.
You make a way whatever it takes. There's nothing your love won't endure.
I know that you are always up to something good.
Oh, you make a way what whatever it takes. There's nothing I want to do.
I know that you are always up to something good.
Amen.
[00:04:16] Speaker B: It's good to be here today. Go ahead and have a seat for a moment. My name is Adam Burrow. If you've never met me before, I'm the worship pastor here.
And this pick won't go back in the pick holder.
There we go. So yes. I am so excited to get to worship with each and every one of you today. If you're here in person or online, welcome. We are so glad you've chosen to worship with us today. If you are a first time guest, please check out the visitor center before you leave. Got a special gift for you. Just a way to get you connected to West Gaten and welcome you here. Also, please check out the Connection card in the pew in front of you.
And let us know how we can be praying for you. Let us know how you want to get involved. Maybe we've got a lot of ways. Here at Westco, you can get involved in two things.
Sorry, I'm flying through these quickly. We got a lot going on today. But the first thing I want to make you aware of are Bible studies coming up. Okay. Check the sermon notes inserts for the details. And it's starting the week of September. You can see there Bible studies coming up. It's going to be awesome. And I think it says fall 2024, doesn't it? Yes, it does.
Sorry y' all missed it.
The.
No, but for real, check out Bible studies. Great way to get involved and grow deeper in your. In your life following following Jesus. And the second thing I want to tell you about is the life group sign up event.
How many of you are in life groups?
A lot of you. Are they worth it, right? Yes. I love my life group. We get together as much as we can and it's hard when you have tons and tons of kids, but it is. Even though it takes time out of my week, I can't tell you enough how much it is worth it when we go and just get to share our lives with one another and dive into God's word together. And so we got this event on September 14th right after the services. So check it out.
Great way to get plugged in here and get to know people on a much more intimate level than you than just in this one big space here. With that being said, that's all I've got for you. I want you to stand up. I want you to greet those around you. Maybe since football season just started.
[00:06:27] Speaker A: Tell.
[00:06:28] Speaker B: Tell them who your favorite or ask them who their favorite team is. And if it's Ohio State, laugh at.
[00:06:59] Speaker C: Who am I that the highest king would welcome me?
I was lost but he brought me in on his love for me.
Oh, his love for.
[00:07:49] Speaker A: Die yes, he died for me.
I'm a child of God, yes I am.
In my father's house there's a place for me.
I'm a child of God, yes I am.
I am chosen, not forsaken.
I am who you say I am.
You are for me, not against me.
[00:08:43] Speaker C: I am who you say I am.
[00:08:47] Speaker A: I am chosen, not forsaken.
I am who you say I am.
You are for me, not against me.
[00:09:00] Speaker C: I am who you say I am, yes, I am who you say I am.
[00:09:12] Speaker A: Always free.
I'm a child of God Yes, I am.
My father's house, there's a place for you.
I'm a child of God. Yes, I am.
[00:09:41] Speaker C: In my father's house there's a place for me.
I'm a child of God. Yes, I am you.
[00:10:15] Speaker A: I am chosen, not forsaken.
I am who you say I am.
You are for me, not against me.
I am who you say I am.
I am chosen, not forsaken.
I am who you say I am.
You are for me, not against me.
I am who you say I am.
I am chosen, not forsaken.
I am who you say I am.
You are for me, not against me.
I am who you say I am.
I am chosen God, forsaken.
I am who you say I am.
You are for me, not against me.
I am who you say I am.
Oh, I am who you say I am.
Yes, I am who you say I am.
The sun sets free, always free.
I'm a child of God. Yes, I am.
In my father's house there's a place for me.
I'm a child of God. Yes, I am.
Give God praise.
[00:12:07] Speaker B: Amen.
You bow your heads with me for a moment.
God, we thank you so much.
We thank you so much that you go before us, Lord.
Lord, you are there in the midst of trouble.
You were there in the midst of suffering. You were there in the midst of joy.
You never leave us.
Your word constantly teaches us that. God, I pray that every person in this room this morning would come to that realization today.
I pray that every person here, if they've never accepted you, would do so today.
As we sing this next song. God, they would realize that you are there with them. Even if they're walking through. No matter what it is, God.
[00:13:06] Speaker D: You.
[00:13:07] Speaker B: Are there through it all.
[00:13:22] Speaker A: There's a crease when the heart is under fire.
Another way when the walls are closing in.
When I look at the space between I used to be in this reckoning I know I will never be alone.
There was another in the fire standing next to me There was another in the waters holding back the seas and should I ever need remind you of how I've been set free There is a cross that bears the another time for me There was another in the fire There was another in anymore.
[00:14:47] Speaker B: Should.
[00:14:47] Speaker A: I fall in the space between what remains of me and this work I need either way I will go to the face of this world and I know, I know I will never be alone.
There is another in the fire standing next to me There is another in in the waters and he's holding back the seas and should I ever be reminding what power set me free There is a grave that holds nobody now the power lives in me There is another in the fire Whoa.
There is another in the fire.
[00:15:48] Speaker D: There.
[00:15:48] Speaker A: Is another in the fire There is another in the fire I can see I can see the light in the darkness as the darkness bows to him I can hear the roar in the heavens As a space between their spin can feel the ground shaping the as the prison walls ca Nothing stands between us Nothing stands between us Hallelujah for the cross. Amen.
[00:16:42] Speaker B: Thank you God.
[00:16:48] Speaker A: There is no other name but the name that is Jesus.
Amen.
He who was and still is and will be through it all.
[00:17:02] Speaker B: So come.
[00:17:02] Speaker A: With me in the space between all the things unseen and this recogn I know I will never be alone do you know?
Oh I know I will never be alone There'll be another in the fire standing next to me There'll be another in the waters and you'll be holding back the seas Should I ever need reminding how good you've been to me how can the joy come every battle Cuz I know that way you'll be I can see the light I can see the light in the darkness as the darkness bouts to hit I can hear the roar in the heavens as the space between wested I can feel the crown shake beneath us as the prison walls ca Nothing stands between us Nothing stands between There'll be another in the fire Standing next to me there is in the waters you'll be holding back the sea Should I ever need reminding how could you been to me?
Rock can't destroy Come every battle Cause I know that's where you'll be I count the joy come every battle Cause I know that's where you'll be I count the joy come every battle Count it Cause I know that's where you'll be I'll count the joy come every battle cause I know that's where you'll be I'll count the joy come every battle Cause I know that's where you'll be Hallelujah. Give him praise. Amen.
You got it, man.
[00:19:23] Speaker D: He made. You may be seated. Would you join me in prayer? Lord, we thank you for this day. And we thank you God, for the opportunity again to be here in your house worshiping you again. Lord, as we come, we confess that we come in sometimes with so many things clouding our minds from our week, from things that are happening, that were unexpected burdens that we carry.
Lord, I know that as I walked in the first service this morning, I felt the same thing. Distracted.
And yet, God, we just lay that before you. We praise you and we thank you. That you are so big, that you are in control of all things, that we can lay our burdens down at your feet. And that, God, you walk with us, you help carry them.
And Lord, I pray that you would do that for each and every person in this room this morning as we meet and we gather to worship you.
That, Father, you would help us to see you, Father, as we seek you.
That our deepest desire would be to allow you to transform us and our hearts.
And that you would deepen our faith and our trust in you.
So that no matter what it is that we're carrying or facing, that our greatest pursuit, our greatest desire would be to give it all to you, to allow you to carry it and to carry us and in the process, to form us more into the likeness of your son.
So, Holy Spirit, we're here to together and we're asking you to come and to speak to us today and God, that you would receive all the glory from it.
We come to our time of offering God. And again, this is an act of worship for us as we come to you and we acknowledge, God, that everything we have comes from you. You've provided in so many ways. And so, Lord, we give back. And we ask that what we give back, that you would multiply it so more people would know your son and experience the incredible life that you have given to us.
[00:21:20] Speaker A: We love you.
[00:21:21] Speaker D: We pray this together in Jesus name. Amen.
We're going to take our offering this morning. And so the buckets are here on the center aisle. If you'd pass those out, they're up in the corners in the balcony. You can begin to pass those in.
We'll worship the Lord together as we take our offering.
You know, y' all are looking good today. Like you're ready for a picnic, huh?
We're gonna have a great time. If you're new here at Westgate again, we are so glad that you're here. We would love for you to join us for our church picnic that's happening after the second service today. Tons of food that is here. If you didn't bring anything, that's okay. We got it for you. Just come join us. It's gonna be out at the front of our property. I'll give you some information at the end of the service about that.
You know, if gathering with other people, meeting new people, talking doesn't entice you, good food doesn't Entice you. I hear there's a dunk tank that they're me in. And so this is your opportunity to get at me for something you didn't like. All right, we don't do anonymous connection cards anymore, folks. We do dunk tanks. All right, so lineup. I was like, we should make this a fundraiser. So anyway, just kidding. We hope you'll come and join us. It's going to be a great time together. Following our service this morning.
How many people here like baseball? Anybody here like baseball? Watching baseball? Playing baseball, softball? Okay.
You know, if you've been been around here for any time, you know that I love baseball, have been a baseball fan my whole life growing up. There is a famous hall of Famer that most of you are probably familiar with by the name of Yogi Berra, hall of Fame baseball player who was considered to be one of the best catchers of all time. The only thing I don't like about this guy is the hat that he's wearing. I mean, this guy, Yankee fans, blue, okay? Only thing worse than that might be Dodger fans, but shame on you.
Shame on you. Shame.
Security.
But you know, Yogi berra was an 18 time All Star. He won 10 World Series rings. I mean, this guy was phenomenal. He even once as a catcher, if you can imagine what this guy's knees looked like when he got older. Once caught an entire game that went 22 innings straight. Did it by himself. He was considered to be one of the best. But here's the deal. Not only was he the best, he was also known for being just kind of different.
And I'm not always sure that was in a good way. He reeked of uniqueness. And one of the things he was known for is what were called his Yogi isms. They were phrases that he would use that you got it when you say them, you got to kind of pause, think about it and go, something's off here. So let me give you a couple examples. Yogi once said, you can observe a lot by watching.
Okay? Makes sense. Duh.
Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.
Okay?
He's a baseball player for a reason and not a math teacher. So the future ain't what it used to be.
A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.
He also said, always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.
It's a little odd. Okay.
Speaking of a popular restaurant, he said, nobody goes there anymore. It's far too crowded.
There you go. Kind of settled in took a second. All right, some of you need some coffee this morning. All right, here we go. Last. First one. When complimented by a woman in the grandstands at Wrigley Field, he was complimented on how he seemed to be enduring the heat of the hot summer's day. And he turned to the woman and said, thanks, ma'. Am. You don't look so hot yourself.
Yeah, yeah. That was one unique dude, wasn't he? The name Yogi Berra is synonymous with difference.
Been in a series together over these past many weeks entitled A Living Hope. It's in the book of First Peter. And to give you a little bit of a quick background on the series that we've been in, last week we talked about some of this background that the people that Peter is writing to in Northwest Asia Minor, they have been experiencing persecution and different forms of spirit suffering. The suffering initially that they are feeling is because of their status within society. They're considered to be non resident aliens, if you will, in the place where they live.
They had different things that because they weren't Roman citizens, that they faced, like higher taxes, they faced people constantly looking at them as kind of odd and kind of different.
I mentioned last week one of the things is that because of their status within Rome, that they weren't even allowed to hand down an inheritance from their family when they died. That inheritance would become their own. There were definite difficult things that they were struggling with. And as we looked at this last week, there's a lot of application that Peter gives about anybody that finds themselves in a position of suffering, of understanding that suffering is also an opportunity within the Christian life, an opportunity that God wants to use to not only cause us to go deeper in our faith and our trust in him to go into deeper intimacy in that relationship, but also to deepen our faith to such a point that when the world looks at us that they see that there's something unique and different about who we are, that they might go, that is what I need. How is it that you are so different?
But not only was Peter talking to them because of suffering that they might face within society because of their status. We know specifically over the last many weeks that it was also because of their faith in Jesus Christ that they were facing all various forms of persecution.
And in the midst of that persecution, they were called to stand out and to be different for the name of Jesus, even if it costs them something.
I want you to think about this because we today in our world do in some ways experience persecution because of our faith in Jesus.
Sometimes it's in what we might call. Some people might look at it and go, that's a pretty minimalistic form. Like when I was in college and I went to my first class ever, it was a geology class at Long Beach City College. And my teacher, when I walked in, didn't know that he was an atheist who thought it was really romantic that we all came from blue green algaes. And I came in wearing my nice, bold Christian teacher, not knowing what I was walking into. And he used that as a point to ridicule me in front of my classmates all semester long, that I was kind of his kicking boy, if you will. And here's the deal we will face in our lifetime. Different types of ridicule, public shaming, maybe even loss of friends because of our faith in Jesus.
Some people experience vandalism.
Some, if you remember over the years back big in the news, where a Christian baker was taken to court because he didn't want to bake a cake for an LGBTQ wedding because it went against his faith in Jesus. And so he was taken through the court system for years and years. We can look at these things and go, they're all different forms of persecution.
But the persecution we face in America seems quite different than what happens all around the world around.
People taken to prison because they believe in Jesus, people dragged out of their secret house churches, people that are even killed for their faith. There's a ministry called Open Doors International, and they produce what is called a world watch list, and they have 1 for 20, 25 where they take a look at persecution and how it is shaping up and taking place all around the world. And this morning, I want us to watch a short video together that is going to help us to understand the context of persecution that maybe isn't happening here in our lives, but that today is happening all around the globe. Let's take a look at it.
[00:30:20] Speaker E: Jesus said on my account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses.
When they arrest you, do not worry about what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the spirit of your father speaking through you.
Persecution is as real for the church today as it was for Jesus. First followers.
Every day, millions of Christians pay the price of witnessing for Christ.
And these are the top 10 countries where faith costs the most.
Number 10, Afghanistan.
With the Taliban checking people's phones for Bible apps and Christian messages, believers risk arrest, interrogation, and even death.
At number nine, Iran seeming hosted a secret house church. Until one day, police raided her home and arrested her.
She had to flee the country to protect her family.
Pakistan is at number eight.
Christians live in fear of lies and mob violence. Lazar, a 73 year old Christian, was falsely accused of blasphemy. His home and business were destroyed. Brutally beaten, he died from his injuries.
Number seven, Nigeria.
According to Open Doors research, more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in all the other countries of the world. Combined attack survivors run for their lives.
Millions are displaced, enduring desperate conditions, unable to return home.
At number six, Eritrea.
Christian leader Palos knows he could be arrested at any moment. Eritrean prisons are notoriously brittle and many Christians do not survive.
Sudan is at number five.
In this war torn country, more than 100 churches have been attacked and believers have been abducted and killed.
Christians who are displaced often face discrimination when aid is given out.
At number four is Libya.
In Libya, converting to Christianity can cost you your life. Anyone leaving Islam risks violence, violent pressure from their families and communities to renounce their new faith.
Christians are kidnapped and even killed.
Yemen is number three on the list.
There are only a few brave Yemeni Christians.
Zara used to work alongside another believer to disciple secret Christians until he was murdered by extremists.
But despite death threats, she carries on.
Number two, Somalia.
All Somalis are expected to be Muslims. Step away from that path and you pay a high price.
Christian converts are violently targeted by community, the authorities and jihadists.
And at number one, North Korea, still the most dangerous country in which to be a Christian.
At having escaped this prison nation and found freedom in Christ, Ju Min made an incredibly brave decision.
She would return to North Korea and share her newfound faith.
If she's discovered she could be sent to a labor camp or even killed on the spot.
More than 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faiths.
That's one in seven believers worldwide.
Each day they bear witness to the light and life that is found in Jesus Christ.
[00:34:04] Speaker D: Sometimes when we watch a video like this, it can be really sobering because we don't necessarily experience it. Maybe we might catch a news clip or a news headline where we hear about people in Nigeria that have been killed or Christians that have been killed for their faith in Jesus.
But we don't recognize just how rampant it is all throughout our world because we don't experience it here at home.
You have here from this ministry, Open Doors International, this map that is on the screen that shows each of these places, the top 50 places throughout our world where Christians face varying degrees of persecution. And it was pointed out to me before the service began that hey the yellow section doesn't even show up. Like everything is kind of on that higher end. You'll see in the middle that there's kind of a slider bar when you're on the website that you can go back to 2021 and you would see more of those yellow areas. But what has happened is you push the slider to 2025, not only does the areas of persecution continue to grow on the map, but also it becomes much more violent and much more extreme.
Again, this is something that is very, very sobering. And one of the things that's interesting to me is that I have heard pastors and some people say that you can't really apply First Peter to modern day Christianity in America because we don't experience this. So it's really not written for us or necessarily to us. But I would disagree and I would actually disagree strongly and here's why.
Because when we are afraid to even speak Jesus name in front of our classmates or our co workers or our neighbors, or more just simply for fear of what they might say or what they might think, I think the implications for us actually have even greater application for certainly if we read the Bible correctly, it tells us that there will come a day all throughout the world where persecution for the name of Christ, even to the point of death, will only come to continue to increase, certainly one day, even within this country.
And if we can't take even a little bit of ridicule now as followers of Jesus Christ, how will we ever stand for Jesus when it really gets tough?
You see, one Peter is written to a group of people that while they were experiencing suffering in many different forms and persecution for the sake of Christ, it still had not yet quite grown to the point of what would happen a couple years ago later when Nero is in charge and Christians were being killed in many different forms. You see, this letter not only tells you how you can endure in the present, but it also is a letter that is written to prepare one for the future.
And that's what I see that Peter writes this and it matters for the church today because it is a preparation for a time that Christ has said in scripture is certainly coming. And before we dive into the passage, can I tell you what concerns me? What concerns me as a pastor is not necessarily on the level of persecution, but simply looking back a few years ago at what took place during COVID when churches, even in this church, we shut down for a few months and people worshiped at home online.
One of the things in the constant voices that was rampant was one people were disconnected from other people. They didn't have social connection within the church the way that it was designed. They felt lonely. They weren't sure what to do. But even more, even more.
So many people during that season decided that church wasn't worth continuing with, and they stopped going altogether.
Friends, that is endemic of something that is wrong within our hearts. And if we as the church are to be prepared, as Peter wants the church at that time to be prepared for persecution, then we need to understand not only that it's coming, but how we ready ourselves for it. And so I want you to look at it with me, if you will, as we dive here into First Peter. If you have your Bibles, you can turn to 1 Peter, chapter 4. If you have your sermon notes out, pull them out. Follow along with me.
The first point is this, is that we are called to stand out as different from the one world, the same way that we looked at Yogi Berra and how he was a little bit of a different guy, even more so as followers of Jesus Christ were called to be different. In 1 Peter 4:1 6, it says this.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh, no longer for human power passions, but for the will of God for the time that has passed suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the lawless idolatry. With respect to this, they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery and they malign you. But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the Gospel was preached even even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the Spirit the way God does.
The first thing Peter wants to do to prepare the Church for the face of coming persecution is this is to stand out as different from the rest of the world. In letter A, since Christ. He begins with since Christ suffered in the flesh. Let's unpack the meaning of what Peter means when he says this. Number one. When we think of Christ suffering in the flesh, the first thing we think is he was sinless, that Jesus lived a perfect life.
In other words, being sinless, there was no reason for him to face persecution, let alone death, for anything that he had done. But he lived a sinless life. And number two, in spite of that, it tells us that he humbled himself to God's plan, that Jesus understood that God's plan was that he would leave the perfection of heaven and come to a broken world where his creation would put him to death, but the purpose was so that they would be saved.
God's ultimate purpose was that Jesus would come and humble himself. And one of the passage of Scripture I love the Most in Philippians 3 is the Christ hymn, because it paints that picture for us of Christ humbled himself even to the point of death and death on a cross, leaving the perfection of heaven, so that we could be restored and reconciled in a right relationship with God. He humbled himself. But number three, it also tells us that he endured persecution from mockery to death.
Even in Jesus earthly ministry, it didn't go straight for the hard stuff. He faced ridicule. He faced religious leaders that were consistently trying to get him to stumble because they wanted to discredit him in front of people. And when they realized that they could couldn't discredit him and that he wasn't going away, then the persecution began to increase to the point of his death.
And so when we say that Christ suffered in the flesh, number four, what we truly mean is this, is that he gave everything.
Jesus gave all that he was, to reconcile a world that had rejected him, to reconcile this world to God. And that is a beautiful picture that is painted in what Peter says is, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves, Christians with the same way of thinking.
He says, letter B, think the same way. Let's unpack that. Number one, we should be pursuing holiness.
He says, whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. The idea of holiness as being different or set apart for a very specific purpose, set apart from everything else. You know, just. Just this last week, we had to take my son's old iPhone. We got him a new one. We had to turn it in to get the credit for it. And one of the things we had to do is give it a factory reset. You know, you got to do that before you take it in and turn it in. Wipe all your personal information off. The problem was he called me. He's like, dad, you remember when I was younger and you put all those parental controls on it. I need you to remove the password or I can't do the factory reset. Of course I didn't write that password down.
So I think I spent like three hours jumping through all of these hoops trying to figure out. And light came on and I figured it out and we took it to the factory reset. Now, the reasons that cell phone providers give this factory reset option one is because you can wipe all of your information to turn it back in. But the other reason that they do this is because they, they know that phones, inevitably, because they have software in them, often will end up with software issues.
They will have glitches, they will experience slow performance, and they will move away from the state that they were in when you eventually got them. And one of the ways to fix that is with a factory reset. What does that factory reset do? It returns it to its original state.
When we look at this idea of pursuing holy, we ourselves have been corrupted by sin. And the pursuit of holiness is one in which we pursue God and allow him to take us back to that original purpose and intent where we were becoming more holy and more like Christ, to experience the relationship that God truly designed for us to have with Him.
I want you to think about what it was like in light of that. For Peter's audience in Rome. Roman controlled northwest Asia Minor.
There was idolatry everywhere. The worship of many gods within the Roman Empire, the worship of Caesar himself. There was the worship and pursuit of extreme materialism and wealth. That area of northwest Asia Minor was considered to be one of the wealthiest provinces in all of the Roman Empire.
Sexual immorality was rampant. And even more, the temptation to assimilate to culture was no doubt strong. Not just because of the human heart that has a desire to engage in things that are. That are contrary to what God desires for us, but also because it would be much easier to assimilate into a culture where you don't stand out as different, near as much so that you would not face persecution or suffering because of Christ. That temptation existed.
But when I read this and I read what Peter says, as I list each of those things that this church faced, it sounds very familiar to the world that we live in today.
Think about it. We worship so many different things other than God. The worship of the pursuit of extreme materialism and wealth is rampant in our own country. We desire money and fame. We live in a highly sexualized culture, so much so that we even become desensitized to it.
We think like the world, we talk like the world. And sometimes it's hard to even know if there is really a difference at all. And speaking into the midst of this, Peter says, be like Christ.
[00:45:21] Speaker A: Be different.
[00:45:23] Speaker D: Stand out as different. And he calls them number two, to not just pursue holiness, but to hunger for God's plan for their lives. Hunger for it. Pursue it with all that you have. He says, whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so as to live for the rest of time in the flesh, no longer for human passions, but for the will of God.
Those words where it says so as to live for the rest of time really can be translated, translated with the words as a result.
In other words, as we pursue holiness, the result of that is a desire not for the things of the world, but for the things of God. In all aspects of one's life.
He says, think the same way as Christ. Pursue holiness. Hunger for God's plan for your life. Number three, endure persecution, he says, for the time that is past, suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do. And he lists all of those sins. And he says, with respect to this, they're surprised when you do not join them in that same flood of debauchery. And they what, they malign you or they persecute you because you stand out as different?
In the same way that Christ endured persecution, his followers. The Bible tells us, in numerous places, Jesus himself, that we will face increasing pressure to either conform to the world that is around or face growing forms of alienation, suffering or persecution. It might start with being maligned or having somebody say something bad, but if history were to continue its course, it could ultimately also, like it does all around the world, lead to death.
It's a reminder of Jesus words in Matthew 10:22, where he says, you will be hated by everyone because of me.
The world looks at Christ. And because Christ. Christ stands against what they want and what they pursue. His followers face what he faced and the question that we're really faced with in all of this, to be like Christ is number four. Are you willing to give everything for him?
Are you willing to give everything for him?
Peter says they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead dead. And when you think about this idea of giving everything, it's a tall order. I can't even begin to imagine what the Church in northwest Asia Minor experienced a few years later when Nero came to power. And because of the fire in Rome, he used Christians as his scapegoat. And he was hanging Christians on crosses, he was burning them at the stake, he was having them eaten and devoured by wild animals and looking for every possible cruel torture that he possibly could to go after Christians and to take their lives from them. I can't imagine what it must have been like.
But even more in an American culture where I don't feel usually like I have to worry about these things.
It also makes it hard for me to truly comprehend what's happening in other countries around the world today.
In places like Nigeria or Somalia, where at a moment's notice, people who have hatred for Christ can walk into a church and slaughter everyone that is there.
Christians in Nigeria and Somalia facing death for their faith. What is it that motivates a Christian to take that stand? To say, I'm willing to be different and to be different like Christ, willing to sacrifice everything for him.
That's what Peter jumps us into next. As you're looking at your notes, what's our motivation to stand out as different in the midst of suffering for Christ? Well, what we see first is this. That motivation comes from letter A, our belief that the end is near. Peter jumps right in, in verse seven, just the first couple of words, and says, the end of all things is at hand, or the end of all things is near. What we understand is that motivation, Peter says number one, comes from the fact that he believes that the end is near.
He understands that this is a covenantal shift that is taking place in the world at his time of writing.
Scholars suggest that Peter was very keenly aware of the covenantal system that was shifting, transferring from the old covenant, where worship was centered in Jerusalem and sacrifices were made for sin, to the new covenant covenant, where it was based on faith in Jesus Christ. And so his understanding is that there is this kind of cosmic shift that has taken place. And yet at the same time, number two, he believes that the return of Christ is imminent, that it is coming and happening soon, at any moment. And truly, when you think about Peter, can you blame him? Here's a guy who walked with Jesus. He fully expected that when Jesus was on this earth that he was going to take care of every right then and there. But then it wasn't the way he thought it would be. Jesus goes and he dies, and then he raises again to life. And I'm sure that Peter and all the disciples thought, okay, now is the moment. Then he says, nope, I'm out of here. And he goes to heaven and says, but I am coming back.
Can you imagine how Peter lived his life hungering for the return of Christ? He'd experienced the fullness of what it was like to walk with God in human flesh, hungering for that moment again. He was waited for that time where he would come and set all things right.
And it pushes us to think about all that happened in that moment. Because not only for Peter, but even the early church history records tell us, lived with a strong sense that the return of Christ was near.
This belief shaped everything about their lives. It shaped their ethics, it shaped their morals, it shaped their urgency in evangelism and sharing the good news with others.
It shaped their hope amid suffering.
And I want to ask you this question this morning as we consider that, do we live our lives with that same sense of urgency?
Do we look at our own lives and have we gotten ourselves so entangled in the things of the world and in so many other things that we've lost that sense of urgency that Peter and the disciples even lived with, of hungering for the day when Christ will return to set all things right, to wipe away all sin, and where we would rule and reign with Him. That's the urgency that we are called to. And our motivation to stand out as different in the face of suffering comes from our belief that the end is near the letter B. Also, it comes from our intentional daily dependence upon God.
Peter continues in verse 7 and he says these words. He says, the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be self controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers. Above the above all, keep loving one another earnestly. Since love covers a multitude of sins, show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. And whoever speaks as one who speaks the oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by what? By the strength that God supplies.
You see, in order for us to be the kind of people that God desires for us to be, especially to be able to endure suffering that would come in the face of persecution. It requires that we are surrendered to the very strength of God in our lives. And what that takes is an intentional daily dependence upon God.
It means, number one, that we can't live our lives with an attitude of complacency.
Because half hearted devotion never, never produces faithful Christian living. If we live our lives with complacency just believing that, you know, the world just continues to go on and you know, I got Jesus, I go to church on Sundays, but I'm going to just entangle myself over here with all these other things. What ends up happening is that our hearts, because we're not centering them on Christ, begin to become enamored with the world. And when that time of persecution does come, we now face the issue of, am I willing to give up all of these other things that I love, maybe even right now more than God himself?
You see, If I'm not intentional about making Christ first in my life every single day, it puts me in a very, very difficult position.
It leads to a divided heart that doesn't fully pursue God. And as I get entangled with the world, it is a recipe for spiritual disaster, especially in the face of persecution. That's why Peter calls the Church number two to consider prayerful dependence. This is what motivates and sustains us as we face persecution for the sake of Christ.
And I want to give you these two thoughts. If we struggle to daily depend on God when times are good, or even when we're just simply facing minor ridicule because we're Christians, what makes us think that we'll trust him when it could cost us everything, even our lives?
It's a sobering question.
Do you live each day intentionally dependent upon God, so focused on growing in your relationship with him and surrendering your heart to him and putting him first in your life, that you know not only how good he is, but how worthy he is to the point that you would lay down every.
Another motivation comes from our desire, Letter C, for God's glory alone. And in first Peter 4:11, the second part of the verse, he says, in order that everything, in everything, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.
And I want you to hear this this morning. If you are living for your glory, you will seek to protect it at all costs.
If you're living for your own glory, you will seek to protect it at all costs. But if you are living for God's glory, nothing will matter more than eternity in your life.
The question is the deepest desire of your heart that God would be glorified in your life and in this world.
Ultimately, as Peter seeks to prepare the Church for even greater persecution that is coming, he pushes them with this question that I give to you today.
Are you prepared to suffer for Christ?
When you look at this world, you think about all the things that we love and we become entangled with.
Are you willing to give that up even for Christ Himself, recognizing that there are people all around the world every single day, even now, making that decision?
And what drives it is whether or not your heart is more for the world or more for Christ.
And so Peter continues in this question of are you prepared? In verses 12 through 18, he kind of goes through this, and I'm going to just pick small parts out of it to kind of encapsulate the whole. But I want you to see this.
The first question that he asks Them is this. Are you expecting persecution?
He says at the very beginning in verse 12. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. It's what we talked about last week, the ready position in baseball or softball. It's the idea of, as a Christian, are we in that ready position, looking and waiting for that moment where persecution will come? Do we expect that it's coming?
Not only do we expect is it coming, but are we truly prepared for it, so centered in Christ in our lives that when it does come, we know what we will do, how we will respond, and how we will make sure that God receives glory above all things?
He questions, are you expecting it? He also asks this question, letter B, can you find joy and honor in the midst of it?
Huh? He says, but rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. You see, persecution is a sign of a couple things in Scripture, the things that actually bring us joy when we go through it. The first thing is this persecution is a sign of God maturing. You remember what it says in James Chapter, Chapter 1, Verses 2 through 4. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be what? Mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
You see, God does allow these types of things to happen in our life because he uses them for a purpose of maturing us and bringing us to a place of deeper faith. What a great thing. I can look back on trials in my life and go, I would never give them up because of who God has made me today.
But as well, he says, rejoice because in the moment the persecution and suffering comes for the name of Christ, you can have joy because God is shining through you. A broken world, a world that rejects him sees Christ in you. And that will either be for their salvation or for their own ultimate doom. But you are a part of God's ultimate plan and mission to make his name great in this world. Therefore, persecution for the believer becomes a badge of honor that we wear. To say that I would be willing to give everything for the God who gave everything for me.
Can you find joy and honor in the midst of it? And letter C, Peter continues and says the hostile reaction of unbelievers towards Christians serves as God's plumb line, sorting out those who are truly Christ's from those who are not.
He says, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him be ashamed.
Let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel? What he essentially says is that persecution for the Christian serves as a plumb line. Look at this picture on the screen. What is a plumb line?
A plumb line is a weight that is tied to a rope or a string, and it uses gravity to ensure that a structure is perfectly vertical and or centered. It's a tool for measuring.
What Peter says here is that persecution is a measuring tool that God also allows and uses.
He says, judgment is going to begin at the household of God. In other words, the persecution that the Church is going to face is going to sort out who is truly Christ's and who is not.
And it begs us the question, are you truly devoted to Christ and are you prepared for what will come?
And he finishes with these words.
Therefore, 1st Peter 4:19.
Let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator. While doing so. Think about that letter A. Entrust your whole being to your faithful creator.
Entrust. It's an intentional act of faith, of trusting in God. It's an intentional act of faith, but also an intentional daily act of worship, a posture of worship that each and every day, no matter what I face, no matter what I do, that I am trusting God with my whole heart and whole life. But not just God. He says, faithful creator. And can you think in those two words of how much is actually packed into those two small words? Your faithful creator. The One who created everything that you see. The one who is in control of all things, who is all powerful, of who there is no one greater. The one whom the Bible says that he actually formed you in your mother's womb, that every day he that was destined for you was known before one of them came to be.
[01:01:45] Speaker A: Be.
[01:01:46] Speaker D: He is the one that created you, that loves you, that is intimately involved in your life. But even greater and more than that is the fact that this God, that though we rejected him in our sin, he loves us so much that he sent His Son into this world. The Creator came into this world to die on a cross, to pay the price for our rejection of him, so that we could be restored to a holy God and be in a right relationship and return to the perfection that was meant for us from the very beginning.
He's our faithful Creator, the one who created us, the One who loves us so much that he is faithful to provide a way of salvation. But even after we've received him, we continue to struggle in sin and we can't always quite get our act together. And yet he is patient and he is loving, and he allows us that space as we walk with him to work out our faith in fear and in trembling. He's a faithful creator who is for you.
He wants you, he loves you. And he says, because of all of this, you can entrust your whole being to Him. Why, you can entrust him because he is worthy of it all.
He is worthy of being your faith and your trust, because he has proven how much he is for you.
As we wrap our service together this morning, we are going to sing a song together that's newer to us, that's called Worthy of it All.
And as we sing these words together, it is a reminder to us that he is truly worthy.
That he has given everything for us, us.
To the point that we should be willing to say, God, you are so worthy that I will give you all of me.
So let's worship him together.
[01:04:08] Speaker C: All the saints and angels bow before your throne.
[01:04:18] Speaker A: Throne.
[01:04:22] Speaker C: All the elders cast their crowns before the Lamb of God.
[01:04:32] Speaker A: Sing.
You are worthy of it all, you are worthy of it all.
[01:04:47] Speaker C: For from you are all things and to you are all things, you deserve the glory.
All the saints and angels bow before your throne.
All the elders cast their crowns before the Lamb of God and sing.
You are worthy of it all.
[01:05:47] Speaker A: You are worthy of it all.
So you are all things.
[01:05:58] Speaker C: Until you are all things, you deserve the glory.
You are worthy of it all.
[01:06:14] Speaker A: You are worthy of it all.
For from you are all things.
Until you are all things, you deserve the glory.
[01:07:04] Speaker C: Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.
Day and night, light and and day, let it sense arise.
Day and night, night and day, let it.
[01:07:46] Speaker A: Night.
[01:07:46] Speaker C: Night and day and night, night and day.
[01:07:59] Speaker A: You are worthy of it all.
Oh yes, you are you worth I deserve the glory.
You are worthy of the you're worthy of the are for you are all.
And to you are all things, you deserve the glory.
[01:08:55] Speaker C: I exalt something I.
[01:09:29] Speaker A: I One more time.
[01:09:55] Speaker D: The.
[01:09:58] Speaker A: I.
[01:10:20] Speaker C: You are worthy of it all.
[01:10:24] Speaker A: You are worthy. God so worthy.
[01:10:28] Speaker C: You are worthy of it all.
For from you are all things and to you are all things you you deserve the glory.
