Living As A Witness

Living a Witness - 1 Peter 2b

July 13, 2008

Turn with me this morning to the end of your Bibles, to the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2. We want to continue on in our study of the book of 1 Peter. Remember that Peter is writing to give practical help to Christians dealing with daily problems. He starts by reminding us that we all face trials. They come in all shapes and sizes of trial. Peter says we can expect them to come; so don’t be surprised when they do come. They can be very hard to deal with, but with God’s help, we can make it through. Peter says in spite of the trials in our lives, we are to Live in Hope. Hope is not a futile wishing for a good future, rather hope is the confident expectation that God will work, based upon his character. I can have hope in the midst of trials, Peter tells me, because I am chosen of God - God loved me and elected ME! I am born of God - God not only loved me, but he made me his child. I am destined for good - I have an incorruptible inheritance waiting for me. I am shielded by God’s power - I am completely protected as I face these various trials. Therefore, I can have JOY in the midst of the trials, and I can GROW spiritually.

Because we have hope, we are called to Live in Holiness. To do that, Peter calls us to

control our minds, imitate our master, inquire of scripture, anticipate judgment, and confirm our faith. In living holy lives, we are to Live in Harmony with one another. Peter calls us to holiness - remember this word holiness is really the idea of being “different” than the world - and then he calls us to live in harmony in response to the holy life we live. We have a fond affection, a brotherly love for one another, but we go on to extend ourselves to sacrificial love, and seek to live in unity, because we are children in the same family, stones in the same building, priests in the same temple, and citizens of the same nation.

That’s a quick review of what we’ve seen so far in 1 Peter. Today, we want to look at the verses we ended with the last time. Join me as we look at 1 Peter 2:9-12. READ TEXT. PRAY.

Today is a Jerusalem Sunday - a day we set aside regularly to remind ourselves of the commands that Jesus gave us in Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” How do we go about being a faithful witness for Jesus Christ here in our Jerusalem, in Owosso, Corunna, Oakley, New Lothrop, Ovid, or whatever area you live in. Our call is to be a faithful witness, but often we fail to live out our call. So today, we want to talk a little about Christ’s command to us to be witnesses.

Here in our passage in 1 Peter, Peter reminds us we are a chosen people -- who are chosen - to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. We are chosen to declare. This word used here for “declare” carries with it the concept that today we would call “advertising.” As Christians, we are to “advertise” for Jesus. So thinking about that this morning, let me ask for some of your input.

Have you ever bought anything because of the advertisement for the product? Raise Hands -- How many here have ever bought a product because of the advertisement for it?

?What was it about the product’s advertisement that appealed to you so much that you wanted to buy it?

(allow time for responses)

I’ve been amazed at the ads for the Kenoki Foot pads - have you seen these? They are supposed to take all toxins out of your body. You put the pads on the soles of your feet at night, and they draw all the impurities out of your body while you sleep. You put on a white pad, and in the morning when you take the pad off it is brown with impurities. The only problem is that upon investigation I saw an experiment where the pads turned brown overnight just lying on a plate, not even on someone’s feet.

But ads that get our attention are those that show us the value of the product. There are a lot of cute commercials that are memorable, but they don’t really get us to buy the product. But good ads get us to see the value, to want to get the product.