Wayfaring Strangers , A Study Of 1 Peter , Part 10 " Citizens Arrest" Series

Wayfaring Strangers

A Study Of 1 Peter

Part 10

“Citizen’s Arrest”

1 Peter 2:13-17

Open in Prayer

Today we are going to continue with our study of 1 Peter titled wayfaring Strangers

Please turn to 1 Peter chapter 2

Reading verses 13-17

13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.[a] Fear God, and respect the king. For today’s message

I have downloaded a clip from the Andy Griffith Show

So just set back and enjoy

I promise there is a point to it

----- Show video---- 5:32

How many of you like the Andy Griffith Show?

I would live to live in a place like Mayberry

Wouldn’t you?

Nobody ever dies

Nobody ever gets seriously sick

All problems are solved within thirty minuets

And all of this is done with

No Judge Judy

No foul language

No explicit images

Nothing but

Good

Wholesome entertainment

In this episode as you saw

Barny

Wanted to enforce one set of rules

And play by another

As funny as this video is

Many believers

I myself at one time

Often try and do the same

We preach one set of rules and live another

The subject of “authority” is one of those sensitive issues that is often viewed with controversy or cynicism today.

The nonconformist revolution of the 1960’s

The sense of entitlement that has become prevalent in the world today

Along with

The widely publicized scandals in government

And the generalized moral degrading of our politicians

Has helped to promote a popular, even “cool” disregard or even distain for

Rules

Ethics

Laws

Those in authority

And

Authority in general

But

Despite these popular worldly attitudes

Authority remains as a very important institution to God as it ever was

One that is critical for Christians to understand in order to properly relate to Him and His system of values.

Listen

The world changes

But God’s word never changes

It does not get outdated

Or evolve with the conditions of society

We are called by God

In many places in scripture

To submit to authority

This includes the authority of the elected officials

The authority of those who keep our laws

The authority of the family

The authority of the church

Even those who we allow to have authority over us, such as employers, supervisors etc.

In todays world, authority is sometimes a nasty word

It brings with it thoughts of corruption

unfairness

Power struggles

And authority can just cause us sometimes to get our hackles up

Our Red necks to get even redder and stiffer

But

If we

Read scripture

Believe Scripture

And apply scripture to our lives

God’s word clearly says we are to follow our leaders

Today though the words of the Apostle Peter

We will look at why we should submit to authority

In this text Peter is talking about submission

submission to authorities in government

submission to bosses

He goes on to talk about submission to family and to the church

and in context he is saying even in suffering, we are to submit to those in our lives who are placed in positions of authority over us.

Listen

When people look at Christians, they shouldn’t find those who are slandering their leaders or starting riots to overthrow government, even in the cases of injustice, such as persecution

You may be saying

Preacher

You just don’t understand

My boss

Our Elected officials

Are just unfair and harsh

I need you to understand and remember from our prior teachings in 1 Peter

That Nero is on the throne

And Christians are being thrown to the lions and burned at the stake.

Killed for their beliefs

You would think that would have been just the time to fight back

But that is not what Peter teaches the Christians to do.

He tells them to submit to the unjust authorities in leadership.

In this passage, we will learn why we as Christians should submit even to unjust authorities and see how they should be known for their submission.

We will discuss some ways of standing up and helping to make changes in a way that honors God in the conclusion

Why should believers submit to the ones in authority even to unjust authorities?

Believers Should Submit to Authorities to Honor God

Verse 13-14a

For the Lord’ sake submit to all human authority- whether the king as head of state or the officials he has appointed