Wayfaring Strangers
A Study of 1 Peter
Part 9
“Someone is always watching”
I want to thank each of you for the warm and loving reception you gave to Brother Mark and Dee last week.
They truly enjoyed being here and were very complimentary about the entire experience
Patti and I were warmly welcomed in Jacksonville
And were blessed to be allowed to preach to Mark’s sheep as well
As Much as we both enjoyed it
I feel Mark is
And Know I am glad to be back at my home church
Surrounded by my sheep
So today after a short break
We are returning to our study of 1 Peter
We have seen repeatedly
That Peter in this short book
Is encouraging believers
Those who have place their hope and trust in Christ
And now are experiencing some distress
They are now strangers in places where they used to feel at home
This is what often happens to us as well
We accept Christ
And then really begin to live for Christ
Sometimes there is years in between
And then
We are no longer comfortable in place we used to be comfortable in
No longer comfortable doing the things we used to do
Or hanging out with the ones we used to run with
Or maybe
Suddenly you are no longer accepted
Maybe it is as simple as no longer being in the cool crowd
Or everyone gets quiet when you walk in
Things can get bad like they did in the early church
And we can also face all sorts of persecution
But at whatever level
Things are now different
So, Peter tells the early church
And us in the process
The dangers of going along to get along
And challenges us to take a stand for Jesus
It is amazing how Mark’s message from last week from the Old Testament Book of Daniel
And our message from 1 Peter from the week before spoke the same take home message
Confidence of who you are--- in Christ
And today’s text will once again build on that foundation
I know this may come as a surprise to some of you
Especially if you only know as Brother Randy
I am not typically loud, I can get that way
Especially around a squeeze chute
Or outgoing
Often times in a group
I get quiet
And simply sit and listen
It is absolutely amazing all the things you can learn when you stop talking and listen
Last year at Camp WOW
God gave me an illustration
That I knew I would use one day
But was unsure when
Today is the day
Each day we would have free time
We fortunately had enough sponsors that each kid
For the most part could spend their free time doing what they wanted
There were obstacle courses
Rope courses
Arcades
Basket ball
Gaga ball
Roping
Swimming
And many other activities
One of the activities
Was riding behind a jet ski on an innertube
--- Lots of fun---
With a but
the line would eat all of the free time away and the kids would not get to do anything else
Most of the kids chose to skip it
But
Rose and Sierra really wanted to ride
So, we tried
Day one
They backed out due to the line
Day two
When went to the lake
Me – Little Rose and Sierra
And no matter what we were determined to get the girls on that tube
Please bear with me
I promise this does have a point
And an application
As I said
The line was long
The temperature was hot
So, I found a spot in the shade where I could keep the girls place in line
And let them go and play just a little
Sitting there in that little patch of shade for what seemed like hours
I did what I often do
I got quiet
Opened my bible
Read a little
And listened to the world around me
The problem was
The shade was small
And I was sharing it
I don’t recall the church
I don’t know the names of the people involved
I would not or could not say in good coconscious even if I did
But right there in the Oklahoma heat about a year ago
I got the illustration for our teaching today in 1 Peter
As I sat there
There were two young women
I would say in their upper twenties
To early thirties
And
Over the course of a couple of 3 hours
I heard every detail
About every person in their church
From the Pastor who I did not know
All the way down to the newest person in the church
These two women
Spilled everything
For anyone who happened to be sitting quietly to hear
It was actually ,sort of ironic that they would key on this one or that one
And talk about how they were such a gossip
I can tell you
I think maybe I should have said something
But
They were not talking to me
And
Often times we have the right to remain silent
But not the ability
But this time I did
I was not going to move from my shade
I was not going to make our girls miss the only thing they wanted to do
And I was not going to make a potential donkey of myself
So, I just sat in the shade and tried not to listen
Ineffectively I might add
You may say
Preacher
Why are you telling us this?
Here is my point
We were at Church camp
I was surrounded by Christioans
These people who were disturbing the silence
Were church members
To hear them tell it
Good church members
And there I sat
Also, a believer
Listening to this junk
Thinking
If I was not a believer in Christ
This conversation would make me want to never be one
If I had been sitting there seeking Jesus
I would have only found conflict
And hatred on that afternoon in Oklahoma
And what it did was really make me think about
How we as believers are supposed to act
And it also made me think
That we must always be aware
Of the fact
That there is always someone watching
Listening
And when they find out you are a follower of Christ
They are listening to see if you walk what you talk
I can tell you honestly guys
I prayed for those ladies that night and in the days to come
I should have prayed with them- right then and there
I know all it would have accomplished was for someone else to hear all about how that
Red headed preacher with the big mustache had disrespected them
So, I can say I think I did it right
At least I can sleep with my response
My point is
These women
Were simply going on with their idea of life
With no clue someone was watching or listening
And no thought what so ever for the appearance they were giving of Jesus-
The church in general
Their Church
Or themselves
Listen
I only told you this as an example
Because quite frankly
We have all been guilty of similar actions
Me
You and every other Christian alive
Maybe not gossip
Maye you blew up when your appointment was canceled
Or the part you ordered did not come in
Or your truck wasn’t ready at the time
Maybe someone cut you of in traffic and you gave them a big Texas on finger salute
Maybe you said something
Or did something to hurt someone’s feelings
Accidently or even on purpose
Maybe you were rude
Inconsiderate, uncaring
Maybe you were just in the wrong place
Doing the wrong things
With the wrong people
And forgot others were watching
Listen I did not tell you this story to bash those women
If I had, I would have used their names and the name of their church
I pray they hear this message one day from me or someone and see themselves in it and make changes
I did not tell this story
To make you or I Feel bad about our mistakes
And misjudgments and failures
I told you this so
We can use scripture as it is designed
As mirror
We are to look into scripture
Identify our weaknesses and faults
And use God’s word
To, make course changes
Make repairs
This is where I want to get to today
Please open your bibles to 1 Peter
Chapter 2
Verses 11-12
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
Peter again begins this section
With
The words
Foreigners
Or temporary residents
Wayfaring strangers we call them
Believers
Followers of Jesus Christ
And he says
I warn you
To keep away from the worldly desires that wage war against your very souls
Every battle we have as believers is against good and evil
Satan wants to steal kill and destroy
Render us ineffective
Take the joy of our relationship with God
And he will use every tool at his disposal to accomplish this
But the ones he uses best are the ones we give him
And Peter tells us
We must identify those things in our lives
What things cause you to act ungodly?
I can tell you for me it’s anger
For you it may be
Gossip
Booze
Drugs
Bitterness
Lust
Selfishness
Pride
Maybe your love for others, cases you to do unloving things to people who hurt the ones you love
There are so many other possibilities
Peter says we must identify those things
Then we must
Keep away from them
Run from them
Get them away from us
Because these things
Can cause us to lose our joy
And very quickly lose sight of Jesus
And all that he brings into his relationship with us
But
Peter gives us another reason in verse 12
Keep away from these things
Because---
Well let’s read verse 12a again
12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors.
Live properly?
Live by the book
God’s people in some parts of the world are called people of the book
We are called as believers
To live by God’s word
All of God’s word
Not just the parts we like
Not just the parts we can change to suit us
We are called to live proper lives
And here he says that we are to do that among
The unbelievers
This shows us again
That we are just wayfaring stranger—this is not our homes
But also shows us we are to be” in” the world
But not of the world
Why is it important to live proper lives in front of the lost?
Verse 12 b
“Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior”
Listen
As believers we are going to be accused
Most the time I Pray the accusations are unfounded
Unfortunately, a lot of the bad things that the world says about Christians are true
The church is full of hypocrites—That is a fact
Many Christians
Act just like the world they live in- That is also a fact
The only difference in their lives and the lives of the lost
Is they don’t take God’s name in vain when they cuss
And they put those little fish stickers on their cars
Listen
WE are called to be different
When we are called to be people of the book
---We are called to be people of the book
When we accept Christ as savior
Jesus says if you love me
Follow my commands
Do what I say
And we live by this book
Peter says
That when you keep away from the evil desires we all struggle with
And live by the book
That when the lost accuse you
They will see that they are wrong about you
And in your honorable behavior
You will bring honor to the one to whom honor is dues
Verse 12c
and they will give honor to God when he judges the world
They will give honor to God
Prayerfully
They will see that you are different
Want what you have
And find Christ for their own lives
So, what does all this mean for us
Let me break it down
Peters advise sounds a lot like Jesus’ very words from the sermon on the mount
--It should Peter was a good student—
Both Jesus and Peter say
When your actions
Your reputation
Your integrity
Your words
Your lifestyle
Your everything
Is above reproach
That means without guilt
When you line yourself up with the word?
Even those who are hostile to God
Hostile to the word of God
Anti-Jesus
Anti- Christian
Anti- Church
Will see the difference in you
They may well end up praising God though your actions
They may end up getting the chance to accept Christ for themselves because of your model of proper living
Because you
Are different
So I want to encourage you today
Peter’s book is about encouragement
I want to encourage you to
Identify your weak spots
Address the issues
And make the changes needed to live a life that is pleasing to God and that lines up with his word
I want to encourage you to be a light for the lost
In your actions
Your words
And your love
I want to encourage you to
Walk the walk if you talk the talk
I want to encourage you to always remember
When we accept Christ
We have a responsibility to live like Christ
I want to encourage you to also remember that others are watching
Judging Christ by what they see in you
I want to encourage you if you are already a believer to become a person of the book
And if you are not
I want to encourage you to open your heart and realize your need for salvation
Close from the heart
Pray
Wayfaring Strangers
A Study of 1 Peter
Part 9
“Someone is always watching”
I want to thank each of you for the warm and loving reception you gave to Brother Mark and Dee last week.
They truly enjoyed being here and were very complimentary about the entire experience
Patti and I were warmly welcomed in Jacksonville
And were blessed to be allowed to preach to Mark’s sheep as well
As Much as we both enjoyed it
I feel Mark is
And Know I am glad to be back at my home church
Surrounded by my sheep
So today after a short break
We are returning to our study of 1 Peter
We have seen repeatedly
That Peter in this short book
Is encouraging believers
Those who have place their hope and trust in Christ
And now are experiencing some distress
They are now strangers in places where they used to feel at home
This is what often happens to us as well
We accept Christ
And then really begin to live for Christ
Sometimes there is years in between
And then
We are no longer comfortable in place we used to be comfortable in
No longer comfortable doing the things we used to do
Or hanging out with the ones we used to run with
Or maybe
Suddenly you are no longer accepted
Maybe it is as simple as no longer being in the cool crowd
Or everyone gets quiet when you walk in
Things can get bad like they did in the early church
And we can also face all sorts of persecution
But at whatever level
Things are now different
So, Peter tells the early church
And us in the process
The dangers of going along to get along
And challenges us to take a stand for Jesus
It is amazing how Mark’s message from last week from the Old Testament Book of Daniel
And our message from 1 Peter from the week before spoke the same take home message
Confidence of who you are--- in Christ
And today’s text will once again build on that foundation
I know this may come as a surprise to some of you
Especially if you only know as Brother Randy
I am not typically loud, I can get that way
Especially around a squeeze chute
Or outgoing
Often times in a group
I get quiet
And simply sit and listen
It is absolutely amazing all the things you can learn when you stop talking and listen
Last year at Camp WOW
God gave me an illustration
That I knew I would use one day
But was unsure when
Today is the day
Each day we would have free time
We fortunately had enough sponsors that each kid
For the most part could spend their free time doing what they wanted
There were obstacle courses
Rope courses
Arcades
Basket ball
Gaga ball
Roping
Swimming
And many other activities
One of the activities
Was riding behind a jet ski on an innertube
--- Lots of fun---
With a but
the line would eat all of the free time away and the kids would not get to do anything else
Most of the kids chose to skip it
But
Rose and Sierra really wanted to ride
So, we tried
Day one
They backed out due to the line
Day two
When went to the lake
Me – Little Rose and Sierra
And no matter what we were determined to get the girls on that tube
Please bear with me
I promise this does have a point
And an application
As I said
The line was long
The temperature was hot
So, I found a spot in the shade where I could keep the girls place in line
And let them go and play just a little
Sitting there in that little patch of shade for what seemed like hours
I did what I often do
I got quiet
Opened my bible
Read a little
And listened to the world around me
The problem was
The shade was small
And I was sharing it
I don’t recall the church
I don’t know the names of the people involved
I would not or could not say in good coconscious even if I did
But right there in the Oklahoma heat about a year ago
I got the illustration for our teaching today in 1 Peter
As I sat there
There were two young women
I would say in their upper twenties
To early thirties
And
Over the course of a couple of 3 hours
I heard every detail
About every person in their church
From the Pastor who I did not know
All the way down to the newest person in the church
These two women
Spilled everything
For anyone who happened to be sitting quietly to hear
It was actually ,sort of ironic that they would key on this one or that one
And talk about how they were such a gossip
I can tell you
I think maybe I should have said something
But
They were not talking to me
And
Often times we have the right to remain silent
But not the ability
But this time I did
I was not going to move from my shade
I was not going to make our girls miss the only thing they wanted to do
And I was not going to make a potential donkey of myself
So, I just sat in the shade and tried not to listen
Ineffectively I might add
You may say
Preacher
Why are you telling us this?
Here is my point
We were at Church camp
I was surrounded by Christioans
These people who were disturbing the silence
Were church members
To hear them tell it
Good church members
And there I sat
Also, a believer
Listening to this junk
Thinking
If I was not a believer in Christ
This conversation would make me want to never be one
If I had been sitting there seeking Jesus
I would have only found conflict
And hatred on that afternoon in Oklahoma
And what it did was really make me think about
How we as believers are supposed to act
And it also made me think
That we must always be aware
Of the fact
That there is always someone watching
Listening
And when they find out you are a follower of Christ
They are listening to see if you walk what you talk
I can tell you honestly guys
I prayed for those ladies that night and in the days to come
I should have prayed with them- right then and there
I know all it would have accomplished was for someone else to hear all about how that
Red headed preacher with the big mustache had disrespected them
So, I can say I think I did it right
At least I can sleep with my response
My point is
These women
Were simply going on with their idea of life
With no clue someone was watching or listening
And no thought what so ever for the appearance they were giving of Jesus-
The church in general
Their Church
Or themselves
Listen
I only told you this as an example
Because quite frankly
We have all been guilty of similar actions
Me
You and every other Christian alive
Maybe not gossip
Maye you blew up when your appointment was canceled
Or the part you ordered did not come in
Or your truck wasn’t ready at the time
Maybe someone cut you of in traffic and you gave them a big Texas on finger salute
Maybe you said something
Or did something to hurt someone’s feelings
Accidently or even on purpose
Maybe you were rude
Inconsiderate, uncaring
Maybe you were just in the wrong place
Doing the wrong things
With the wrong people
And forgot others were watching
Listen I did not tell you this story to bash those women
If I had, I would have used their names and the name of their church
I pray they hear this message one day from me or someone and see themselves in it and make changes
I did not tell this story
To make you or I Feel bad about our mistakes
And misjudgments and failures
I told you this so
We can use scripture as it is designed
As mirror
We are to look into scripture
Identify our weaknesses and faults
And use God’s word
To, make course changes
Make repairs
This is where I want to get to today
Please open your bibles to 1 Peter
Chapter 2
Verses 11-12
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
Peter again begins this section
With
The words
Foreigners
Or temporary residents
Wayfaring strangers we call them
Believers
Followers of Jesus Christ
And he says
I warn you
To keep away from the worldly desires that wage war against your very souls
Every battle we have as believers is against good and evil
Satan wants to steal kill and destroy
Render us ineffective
Take the joy of our relationship with God
And he will use every tool at his disposal to accomplish this
But the ones he uses best are the ones we give him
And Peter tells us
We must identify those things in our lives
What things cause you to act ungodly?
I can tell you for me it’s anger
For you it may be
Gossip
Booze
Drugs
Bitterness
Lust
Selfishness
Pride
Maybe your love for others, cases you to do unloving things to people who hurt the ones you love
There are so many other possibilities
Peter says we must identify those things
Then we must
Keep away from them
Run from them
Get them away from us
Because these things
Can cause us to lose our joy
And very quickly lose sight of Jesus
And all that he brings into his relationship with us
But
Peter gives us another reason in verse 12
Keep away from these things
Because---
Well let’s read verse 12a again
12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors.
Live properly?
Live by the book
God’s people in some parts of the world are called people of the book
We are called as believers
To live by God’s word
All of God’s word
Not just the parts we like
Not just the parts we can change to suit us
We are called to live proper lives
And here he says that we are to do that among
The unbelievers
This shows us again
That we are just wayfaring stranger—this is not our homes
But also shows us we are to be” in” the world
But not of the world
Why is it important to live proper lives in front of the lost?
Verse 12 b
“Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior”
Listen
As believers we are going to be accused
Most the time I Pray the accusations are unfounded
Unfortunately, a lot of the bad things that the world says about Christians are true
The church is full of hypocrites—That is a fact
Many Christians
Act just like the world they live in- That is also a fact
The only difference in their lives and the lives of the lost
Is they don’t take God’s name in vain when they cuss
And they put those little fish stickers on their cars
Listen
WE are called to be different
When we are called to be people of the book
---We are called to be people of the book
When we accept Christ as savior
Jesus says if you love me
Follow my commands
Do what I say
And we live by this book
Peter says
That when you keep away from the evil desires we all struggle with
And live by the book
That when the lost accuse you
They will see that they are wrong about you
And in your honorable behavior
You will bring honor to the one to whom honor is dues
Verse 12c
and they will give honor to God when he judges the world
They will give honor to God
Prayerfully
They will see that you are different
Want what you have
And find Christ for their own lives
So, what does all this mean for us
Let me break it down
Peters advise sounds a lot like Jesus’ very words from the sermon on the mount
--It should Peter was a good student—
Both Jesus and Peter say
When your actions
Your reputation
Your integrity
Your words
Your lifestyle
Your everything
Is above reproach
That means without guilt
When you line yourself up with the word?
Even those who are hostile to God
Hostile to the word of God
Anti-Jesus
Anti- Christian
Anti- Church
Will see the difference in you
They may well end up praising God though your actions
They may end up getting the chance to accept Christ for themselves because of your model of proper living
Because you
Are different
So I want to encourage you today
Peter’s book is about encouragement
I want to encourage you to
Identify your weak spots
Address the issues
And make the changes needed to live a life that is pleasing to God and that lines up with his word
I want to encourage you to be a light for the lost
In your actions
Your words
And your love
I want to encourage you to
Walk the walk if you talk the talk
I want to encourage you to always remember
When we accept Christ
We have a responsibility to live like Christ
I want to encourage you to also remember that others are watching
Judging Christ by what they see in you
I want to encourage you if you are already a believer to become a person of the book
And if you are not
I want to encourage you to open your heart and realize your need for salvation
Close from the heart
Pray
