What Do You Have To Fear? Series

Introduction: the Final Countdown!

Plot Summary for

The Final Countdown (1980)

An American nuclear aircraft carrier and its crew are caught in a classic dilemma when a supernatural storm sends them back in time just before the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbour.

Summary written by Keith Loh {loh@sfu.ca}

The USS Nimitz, a modern-day nuclear aircraft carrier, is drawn through a time warp from 1980 to a couple days before the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor, and the crew must decide whether to launch a preemptive strike against the incoming Japanese carrier fleet with their more advanced air wing, or allow history to take its course, which might not happen since they had rescued Senator Chapman, who disappeared shortly before the attack, from his death.

Summary written by Jeff Cross {blackjac_1998@yahoo.com}

It is 1980 and the USS Nimitz puts to sea off of Pearl Harbor for routine exercises. After encountering a strange storm and losing all contact with the US Pacific Fleet, nuclear war with the Soviet Union is assumed and the USS Nimitz arms herself for battle. However, after encountering Japanese Zero scout planes and finding Pearl Harbor filled with pre-World War II battleships, it is realized that the storm the Nimitz went through caused the ship to travel back in time: to December 6th, 1941.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

I. Peter asks a rhetorical question. vss. 13-14

A. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

B. This is like the five unanswerable questions Paul asks in Romans 8.

It has been stated that Romans 8 has five undeniable affirmations followed by five unanswerable questions… it is like Paul raises his voice and cries out to all of creation to answer these questions! Each question is unanswerable because it is grounded in an undeniable truth.

1. Who can be against you? vs. 31

a. Who is against you?

1. The world

2. Satan

b. Who then is for you?

1. God the Father

2. God the Son

3. God the Holy Spirit

4. God’s angels

5. God’s people

2. Will God give you all things? vs. 32

a. We do not want to answer this? Test our faith!

b. Ten dollars ten billion what promise can God give us that he already has not already given?

1. Overcome temptation 1Cor 10:13

2. Lonely John 15:15

3. Scared Matt 28:20

4. Direction Psalm 32:8a

5. His Son

3. Who can bring any charges against you? vs. 33

a. Zachariah 3:1-ff Satan? No-one

4. Who is it that condemns you? vs. 34

a. No one for Jesus is the one who is on our side.

5. Who will separate you from Jesus? vs. 35

a. No one!!!

Can anything separate you from Jesus?

NO

II. So what is the purpose of this passage?

A. To remind you who you are in Jesus Christ.

B. To give you three simple steps to take the Gospel to the world.

1. Set apart Christ as Lord vs. 15a

2. Be prepared to give an answer vs. 15b *Calvin pg. 289

3. Give the reason for the hope that you have vs. 15c

John Stott – “Peter would prepare the church, not simply to endure persecution, but to find in persecution an opportunity for witness.”