1. Times are tough. Families are struggling. Situations are serious.
a. Not everything is going the way they would like.
b. Really nothing is going the way they would like.
c. That’s the first century church, believers living out their faith under severe persecution.
d. Daily they could find example after example where they could EASILY say, “THIS IS JUST PLAIN WRONG!”
NOW Things might not be that tough for us… YET, but there are still things we can find in our lives where we say:
• “This is JUST PLAIN wrong.”
• Sometimes we brought it upon ourselves…
Like the great preacher FB Meyer once said:
THIS IS THE BITTEREST OF ALL—to know that suffering need not have been; that it has resulted from indiscretion and inconsistency; that it is the harvest of one’s own sowing… Ah me! this is pain
• AND Other times it’s been brought upon us by others.
• AND still other times, God may will us to suffer… 3:17 & 4:19
So what are we supposed to do? How are we to respond?
• Let’s read through 3:8-17
I. (3:8-12) LOVE IN UNITY
1. (8) Disrupting Unity.
a. Guys know this… one of Satan’s most used and worn out weapons is DISUNITY.
b. He throws all his weight into disrupting unity among the brethren, within the family of God! Why?
Psalm 133.1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It’s neat to see wonderful things follow our unity in Jesus Christ…
#1 – COMPASSION – sincere ‘feeling for & with’ the needs of others.
• When they hurt, you hurt. When they struggle, you struggle.
• Compassion flows from a soft heart, not a hard one.
• You’re sensitive for people dealing with pains & sorrows.
#2 – BROTHERLY LOVE & #3 TENDER HEARTS.
• These flow from the heart of Jesus to us & through us.
• With tender hearts, we can sense the leading of His Spirit to look out for others with an openness to meet other’s needs!
#4 - BE COURTEOUS
• This is humility, as we put others ahead of ourselves.
APP: We’re a family here. A family of believers drawn here and knit together by Jesus great & compassionate love for us!
• Some of you don’t have family outside of the Body of Christ.
• This is the one that God adopted you into and the bonds here are greater relationships than even blood relations.
• That’s why it hurts when there’s disunity, and flesh inspired heartlessness among us.
• The heart of Jesus is seen through love, compassion, tenderness and courtesy!
AND SOME MAY SAY: BUT I’ve been wronged! I’ve been hurt! I’ve received the short end of the stick. They’ve gossiped about me.
• She really hurt me. He did it on purpose… and v9 says.
2. (9) Not Returning Evil for Evil!
a. That humble spirit is shown in not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, or pain for pain.
APP: Has someone hurt you? Are you returning evil for evil?
• Jesus’ way is that we don’t do that. He wants us to look to Him.
• Paul writes strongly to the believers in Corinth because they decided to take things into their own hands.
• Let’s flip over to 1 Corinthians 6.5-8 (key is v7)
1 Cor. 13.5-6 (NIV) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
SO back to Peter, he says, BUT ON THE CONTRARY BLESSING…
• Oh how His time with Jesus so penetrated his soul.
• He’s speaking so similar to what Jesus taught
• Let’s go back to Matthew 5:43ff
KNOWING that you were called… this is so cool guys.
• We were called to this: brotherly love, joy, to unity, to courtesy.
• We were called, not to be bummed out & burdened.
• But to receive the blessing of abiding in Jesus & allowing His love to flow through us!
• We get to know Jesus and walk with Him and be blessed.
APP: I’ll tell you, just being a part of the family of God, being a part of this church, Calvary Chapel is such a blessing!
• This is a portion of God’s family here on the earth.
• There’s a wonderful harmony God produces with all of us here.
• All backgrounds, likes, dislikes, but in Jesus we’re one!
Eph. 4.1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3. (10-12) Practical wisdom.
a. We love life. We want to see good days… SO
b. No evil speaking. No deceit on our mouths.
THAT WORD DECEIT comes from the fishing world.
• IT means to bait the hook, to cover the pain with flattery.
• Deceit is not being real. Not being honest.
• You’re covering the true HOOK in your life with false words!
• That’s why it hurts so much when we bite into it!
• AND that’s why it hurts so much when you’re found to be a liar!
Eph. 4.15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
It’s true isn’t it? We wouldn’t get into so much trouble if we didn’t have mouths! AMEN? That’s what Brother James taught us.
• Let’s look back at James 3:1-6
• If we could just hold our tongues… not passing on that juicy little tidbit about so & so for the sake of God’s glory and for the sake of protecting that person struggling through it!
• When you’re struggling, you don’t want it broadcast do you?
SO v11, Turn away from EVIL & do Good! - Seek Peace & pursue it.
AND v12, God’s eyes are on the righteous… His ears hear.
NOTE: Let God take care of the wrong that was dealt to you.
• God will protect & guard & watch over you.
• It may seem like a while, but His timing is always perfect!
LOVE IN UNITY…
II. (3:13-17) TRUST IN OBEDIENCE
1. (13-14) Blessed Suffering.
a. You’re blessed if you suffer for the right reasons!
b. Suffering & persecution is going to come to all of us.
2 Tim. 3.12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
BUT don’t bring it upon yourself!
• Live a life that doesn’t cause trouble!
• Don’t do something stupid and then say, “Oh look at me, I’m being persecuted for my faith.”
• No, you’re reaping what you’ve sown!
• Let the trouble in your life come because you’re following Jesus in purity and righteousness.
2. (15) Be Ready to Give a Defense.
a. This is the passage where we get our word APOLOGETICS from, the defense of the Christian faith.
b. When you hear that word it doesn’t mean we’re sorry for Christianity, but it means we’re ready to give answers to those who have questions.
ONE REASON you need to know what you believe and why you believe it is because people come into our lives all the time and want to know!
• Especially when we’re suffering for doing good!
BUT the danger is always there to just quit!
• I’ve met many who have a tendency to step back when times get tough and give up because the pressure is so intense!
• But Peter says that’s exactly the time to be ready!
• Not ready to blast someone out of the water with our great answers and Bible knowledge…
• But in meekness (gentleness) & fear (respect).
NOTE: ALWAYS be ready. Please mark that.
• Let’s set our hearts toward Jesus and be ready to share Him, and defend our faith at every turn.
APP: You and I are called to put up a good fight for the faith!
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
• It’s not that we need to know all the GREEK & HEBREW and all sorts of the little details in Scripture.
• BUT IT IS important to know what we believe & why.
• Can you defend your faith? If not we can train you.
• Do you know the basics? If not we can train you.
• Besides the teaching here at the fellowship, we have countless classes available to help you learn & grow in Jesus!
LET ME CAUTION YOU THOUGH… Listen.
• There are some Christians that learn all the right answers but they become what I call: ARROGANT BIBLE BULLIES!
• They want to take the sword of the Spirit and cut people down and make them feel foolish for not knowing.
• Again, that’s not the heart of Jesus anywhere anytime…
• Defending the faith is not loveless, but loving!
3. (16-17) Keep a good conscience.
a. Here’s a key for all of us in living for Jesus.
b. Put your head down on the pillow every night with a peace from God that all is well in your relationship with Him!
NOTE: You can’t buy a good conscience, can’t manufacture it.
• But you can live with one.
• I’m not sneaking around. I’m not lying. I don’t have anything in private life that if revealed, would embarrass me or my Lord.
APP: Keep a clear conscience.
• If you have a guilty conscience, the enemy really beats you up with it and over it doesn’t he?
• He hits it. He hardens it. He encourages it!
• But if you confess it, Jesus will cleanse you and give you a peaceful & restful night’s sleep!
• No more secret sins. No more junk that we feel helpless about.
Romans 8.37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
V17 – YES, suffering is for real & YES sometimes it comes directly from God.
• Maybe sin opened the door. Maybe pride is exposed.
• But God’s will & God’s ways will get us through!
• And we will surrender ourselves to the One who paid the price for our sins… who washed us, cleansed us, and loves us!
What do I do when I’m wronged?
Love in Unity AND Trust in Obedience
