Christian Governance-&-Work-4 Series

‘For The LORD’S SAKE’—1Peter 2:13—3:12

A. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Government—1Peter 2:13-17

B. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Work-IV—1Peter 2:18-25

C. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Marriage—1Peter 3:1-7

D. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Church—1Peter 3:8-12

Previously in 1Peter we have begun looking at the overall scheme of Submission—the give-&-take of relationships within CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE.

So far we’ve examined CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Government(1Peter 2:13-17).

Today we will continue looking at CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE & our WORK Obligations in:

B. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Work-IV—1Peter 2:18-25

Attention:

Back To Work:

Three men: a seasoned project manager was teamed with a greenhorn software engineer, & a greenhorn hardware engineer. They were in Carrabelle, FL for a two-week period helping out on a project.

About midweek they decided to walk up & down the beach during their lunch hour.

Halfway up the beach, they stumbled upon a lamp. As they rubbed the lamp a genie appeared & said, "I will grant you 3 wishes, one for each of you."

The hardware engineer went first. "I would like to live in a huge house in St. Thomas, with no money worries & married to a beautiful woman who loves me." The genie granted him his wish & sent him off to St. Thomas.

The software engineer went next. "I would like to live on a huge yacht cruising the Mediterranean, with no money worries & married to a beautiful woman who loves me." The genie granted him his wish & sent him off to the Mediterranean.

Last, but not least, it was the project manager's turn. "And what would your wish be?" asked the genie.

The project manager replied, “I’ve got a lot of work to do on this project, & I need those guys back after lunch!”

As Christians, we regularly work with people who don’t know up from down & These need your witness to Christ!

CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE is expected to rule/control your WORK Obligations. The way in which you handle your Work Obligations, speaks, either positively or negatively, to others about the power of God in Christ Jesus.

B. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-Work-IV—1Peter 2:18-25

Peter confirmed the role of Christian submission in relation to the obligations of servants.

Christian submission is crucial in to our work obligations.

‘Pertinent’—“Having a clear decisive relevance to the matter at hand.”

How is Christian governance addressed thru our work obligations?

4 aspects of Christian governance that are addressed thru our Work obligations. (or at work or in the workplace)

We have previously found that Christian governance is at WORK thru submission to...

1. SUPERIORS(:18)

2. SUFFERANCE/ing(:19-20)

3. EXAMPLE(:21-24)

4—Christian governance is at WORK thru submission to...

REPENTANCE(:25)

Explanation:(:25)Returning

:25—“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd & Overseer of your souls.”

“For you were like sheep going astray...”

Our condition demanding Christ’s action was as that of sheep in need of a shepherd.

We were totally unable to desire the direction of God, because we were the unwitting victims of our own desires & destiny. We completely avoided God in ignorance of our sin & became satisfied with our choice.

Isa. 53:6—“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Jn. 10:7-16—“Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves & robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, & will go in & out & find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, & to kill, & to destroy. I have come that they may have life, & that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming & leaves the sheep & flees; & the wolf catches the sheep & scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling & does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; & I know My sheep, & am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; & I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, & they will hear My voice; & there will be one flock & one shepherd.”

Jn. 10:27-28—“My sheep hear My voice, & I know them, & they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, & they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Rom. 11:33-12:2—“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom & knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments & His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him & through Him & to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.”