A Ready Witness Series

This is the passage I want us to focus on this morning. Peter says even if we suffer, we are blessed. How can that be true? How can it be a blessing to suffer? Peter knows that life is NOT just what we face here on this earth. Instead, we who follow Christ believe wholeheartedly that ONE DAY God will set everything right. In the book of Hebrews, in chapter 11, the great FAITH chapter of the Bible, we see that all throughout history, followers of God faced adversity but rejoiced that God would one day set things right.

The chapter closes with these words: Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawn in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

History is filled with believers who suffered for their faith. And the constant source of HOPE for them was that ONE DAY God would set everything right. And the author of Hebrews reminds us that they together with us, will one day enjoy all that God has prepared for those who love Him.

Peter knows that even when we try our best to live a godly life, there will be those who seek to cause us trouble. People will mock you, insult you, make fun of you, try to intimidate you, slander you, and do all kinds of mean, insulting things to you if you try to live like Jesus. But Peter reminds us in verse 15 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. What does that mean? Here’s my take on it - who are you going to fear? Those who are out to intimidate you, or God Himself? Jesus said in Matthew 10 - Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

In Isaiah 8, the prophet Isaiah writes these words for us: The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said . . . do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.

Why is it that we get so fearful of others? One of the key reasons we aren’t witnesses, telling others about Jesus, is because of FEAR! We are afraid of what others might say. We get afraid they will laugh at us, that they will mock us, that they won’t want us to be their friend. But the truth we need to get down to is making the decision - what do we really believe? Do we really believe that all that we talk about at church on Sunday is really true? Do we really believe that those without Christ face eternal damnation? Do we really believe that God can use US to be His witnesses?