The Seed Blog: Enemy of the State, Part 7

We are in Lesson 7 of our walk through 1 Peter...This Book was chosen because it was written to people living in a world so like our own today...Christians living in Roman Provinces of moral collapse, and rejection of Christian beliefs...Who were publicly and politically rejecting and hating Christians for their beliefs...And in light of this past week's events... The following passages could NOT be more perfectly timed! We MUST take Peter's Words to heart...And live by God's Will...NOT by the natural emotions of fear, anger and anxiety...NOT through allegiance to anyone or anything BEFORE Christ!

Let's delve in where we left off...
 
Peter has reminded them of their importance and their mission...In sharp contrast to the useless way the world made them feel! He has just challenged them keep respect and obedience for the governing authorities and those around them... Even in light of mistreatment...To show our love for them is greater than our own comfort or even justice, in some cases! As Christ's Love was, and IS, for US!
 
Lastly, Peter has challenged them to keep their Marriages and Families in Unity, Respect and Love...In the midst of the crumbling, selfish society around them...
Because if this foundation of selfless submission and devotion falls...If we cannot keep oneness of mind and peace in our homes...Our hearts surely are not prepared to love this fallen world!
 
Now... As every passionate preacher often does...Peter begins the next section...
A section only half-way through his teaching... With the Words... "And FINALLY..." Let's listen as Peter continues with the mindset they are to have for one another... And the unbelievers... In a society of selfishness and decay!
 
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)
8  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
 
Peter FIRST calls the Believers to remain together in ONE MIND...With tenderness, love and respect...Except for a very few instances in this church over 15 1/2 years...
We have been so blessed by God thus far in this area...The spirit of unity in this church has held firm, thru His Power...But don't think that Satan is not anxiously waiting to raise up division and strife in one moment of neglect!
 
 I have watched churches all around us, allow...Small theological differences...
Use of money...Political stances...Construction projects, ministry projects, leadership positions...And unruly or selfish individuals who were left unchecked...
Take complete precedent over the love and mission of Christ...And become fleshly battlegrounds of selfishness and pride... Where personal preferences, pride, and immaterial topics... Tear the Church apart... While the unsaved world watching on!I have seen a number of churches begin to fight and divide just recently...Because they cannot agree on how to handle the virus...Simply whether to wear a mask or no mask, etc.
 
Listen closely... As long as a church is striving to remain True to God's Word and His Calling... Earnestly and honesty...There is NO WORLDLY DISAGREEMENT OR TOPIC, EVER...WHICH IS GREATER...Than the need for UNITY and LOVE within the Body of Christ...PERIOD! In the second half of this passage, Peter expresses this clearly!!! Saying that even when a brother comes at you in an injurious way or speaks in a mean and slanderous way..."Return a blessing for their injury and slander..." The Greek word for "blessing" here is eulogia (yoo-log-ee'ah)...
Meaning to speak with reverence and adoration...
 
The following verse expands on this thought...
 
1 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV)
10  For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11  Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12  For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
 
Even when done wrong or spoken to harshly in the church...Respond by showing continued respect and genuine concern for them! Pursuing healing and unity in love for them and Christ...Rather than speaking harmful and slanderous things in return! Seeking peace over returned hurt in anger!
 
God says that in doing so we will, "see good days and love life..."
How is that? Because God's Eyes are focused on those who act righteously...
His Ears and Heart are open to their requests and needs! But He turns away from those who return evil for evil to a brother!
 
The key is to remain focused on God's bigger calling...Of win their hearts back...
And keeping love and UNITY in God's House... And, protecting His Name before the world...Over retaliation or dominance at the expense of hate!
 
Here is the Scriptural Balance for Truth and Unity in God's Church...
ONE WHICH MANY CHURCHES SEEM TO HAVE COMPLETELY BACKWARDS TODAY! Show control and perseverance towards one another in our faults and disagreements...BUT... Powerfully reject and throw OUT...Any false teachings which deal with Salvation in Christ alone...Or about what God calls sin and rebellion...
 
In a world bent on changing and watering down the True Heart of Christ! And removing these things from His people... At all costs! WE CANNOT ALLOW the church be corrupted and misguided!
 
2 John 1:9-11 (NKJV)
9  Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11  for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
 
Galatians 1:6-10 (NKJV)
6  I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7  which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10  For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
 
God gives strong, and very distinct direction to take against those who pervert God's Gospel WITHIN the Church!! And you cannot stand against, or guard from...
Doctrines that you do not even know are false yourself!! Deceivers will sugar-coat Scriptures, omit passages, add words, and twist meanings far beyond the obvious intentions of the Scriptures...And how do you defend against this?  How do you stand firm on the true content and meaning... Of the Words you don't even know yourself?!
 
NOW... Regarding ANY OTHER ISSUE... PERSONAL PREFERENCES, METHODS, MINISTRIES, PERSONAL OFFENSES, POLITICAL STANCES...
Put the love and service to your brothers and sisters...And especially your passion for the Mission and the Reputation...Of Jesus Christ in this world...
ABOVE having your way... Above being right... Above your opinion or
preference... Above your reputation... Above your hurt feelings! If you are too angry or immature to agree and live in peace...Tuck your tail and leave that church quietly...And Trust God to work in their hearts... But DO NOT attack, defame, and divide God's House! God takes this VERY SERIOUSLY...And HE calls for swift, serious action against those who act so selfishly within His Family!
 
Titus 3:9-11 (NKJV)
9  But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10  Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11  knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
 
IN TODAY'S CHURCH... WE SEEM TO DO JUST THE OPPOSITE...
CONCERNING THESE TWO COMMANDS OF GOD! God calls us to remain united in fleshly concerns...And divide only when Spiritual concerns are changed and challenged! Instead... We are accepting of any and all blatant changes in God's Word & Christ's Salvation... Accepting any and all disregard for what God calls sin and rebellion...Stressing unity above OUR Love, Truth and Conviction to God...
 
Yet we tear apart unity...And fight and hurt on another...Over ridiculous matters of pride, control, or personal opinions about trivial differences! (Fleshly Concerns)
Showing that we are more concerned and passionately driven by worldly motivations... Than in love and service to Christ & one another!! WE MUST KNOW & PROTECT TRUTH IN THE BODY, no matter the cost...AND LOVE AND CARE for the Body of Christ IN UNITY... Above self!
 
We must guard our Love and Unity for one another! Remain strong and dedicated to one another...Allow for the diversity and differences God created in us...While agreeing on the severity of the Task ahead...And our love for one another! Be there, no matter what comes, for one another...Because we need each other now more than ever! Satan is working very successfully to keep us alone and defenseless!
 
Now, Peter shifts the focus of mistreatment from inside the church...
To the Christ-rejecting society outside the church:
 
1 Peter 3:13-14 (NKJV)
13  And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."
 
Remember who is writing this Epistle... Peter! The one who was so afraid in his earliest days of persecution beside Christ that he abandoned and denied Him three times...But later... Seeing all that Jesus had endured for his sake...And seeing with HIS OWN EYES, the Resurrected King!! Now in strength and joy, endures extreme persecution and hatred for his Faith...And will just shortly after this letter, lose his own life...(Along with his wife according to tradition)... In a horrible way.
 
THIS PETER now proclaims that it is a blessing to endure suffering for Jesus! THIS PETER tells US today, "Not to be afraid of their threats or live troubled and anxious over what may come!!" Because we get the opportunity to show Christ our true heart...Because we get to share in the shame that Our Savior endured...Thus having an intimate bond that could come no other way...Because God will especially bless those who have endured persecutions for His Name!
 
If we TRULY believe this...We will STOP feeling sorry for ourselves as the pressures and unfairness increase around us...  And we will meet it with resolve and readiness! Peter tells us exactly how to handle these threats and anxiety...
 
1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)
15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
 
ONE - Here is the KEY...Peter says to SANCTIFY (Greek: hagiazo, hag-ee-ad'-zo) the Lord in our hearts...This means to set HIM apart from all else in reverence and importance...To separate and dedicate ourselves completely to one purpose and intent... Serving Christ above everything else!
 
People I can with absolute certainty say...That Christianity as we know it...Church attendance as we know it...Living for Christ as we know it today...Will in the very near future... Be changed intensely! The die is cast... The laws are already changing around us... And now will increase with fervor!
 
Society and political correctness reflect massive shifts in beliefs and morals...
 
AND IT IS MORE OBVIOUS THAN EVER IN AMERICAN HISTORY...
THAT WE HAVE TO SEPARATE...STAND OUT... LIVE DIFFERENTLY...
IN A VERY UNWELCOMED WAY!
 
I will not sugar-coat things and speak comforting words of assurance...I will tell you, AS PETER DID...IT IS TIME TO SET CHRIST APART IN YOUR HEART AS ALL IMPORTANT...TIME TO DEDICATE YOURSELF TO SERVING HIM AT ALL COSTS...
 
Or it is time for you to throw in the towel and go home! But remember you and I have the opportunity to related to, and bond with Christ in the days coming...And glorify Him like no other Christian generation before us...
 
What will you do? Decide NOW...What purpose do you want your life to be spent upon? So Peter says FIRST... Set yourself apart to honor Him above all in the events ahead...
 
And SECONDLY, he tells us specifically how to behave in the midst of these changes...
 
1 Peter 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
 
By showing every person who mistreats and attacks you...Their true value in your actions and words in return...By assuring that if we DO suffer harassment, loss, or legal repercussions...It will be ONLY because of our witness and allegiance to Christ and His Ways...Not for any hostility or returned evil against others!
 
To the point that in their hearts...They have to be ashamed of our INNOCENT SUFFERING...Not angry and justified in our CRIMINAL SUFFERING!
 
Christ has NOT called us to hate and stand against this morally declining society in violence and lawless physical rebellion...He has called us to powerfully stand ON HIS TRUTH...In REAL LOVE for those who oppose us...No matter the consequences...Thereby convincing some of the genuineness of our love...
Through our perseverance... Even when done wrong! Peter explains the POWERFUL JUSTIFICATION for responding in such a seemingly unnatural and unfair way to hostility... LISTEN CLOSELY...
 
1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)
18  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
 
Peter reminds us that Christ suffered unjustlyat the hands of those who hated Him...
Meaning YOU and I! HE had the right to strike back and give hurt for hurt... To Justify! But the PRIZE of winning us... Far outweighed the PRIZE of Self-Justification... Or even Self-Preservation!
 
So Christ sought to show us our worth... Win us through His Mercies and Grace in love for us... Even when HATED! And He let our sins hurt HIM... Rather than ourselves...  And that action spoke a LOVE that still overwhelms us today!
HE IS CALLING US TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS!! RIGHT NOW... RIGHT HERE... TODAY! Calling us to a hard, costly love...That will either prove to be real...
Or drive us away!
 
I had a conversation with a dear friend the other day...About how we both found it easier to love animals than people! Because they just love you back!
 
We've all said things like, "I love my job, I just hate the people!" "Or I love Jesus, it's those church people I can't take!"
 
But in reality, we are proving that we are just as sinful and selfish as those we are knocking...Because we are only wanting to love and associate with those who treat us well in return...That's self-love! Where do we draw strength and rationalization to love those who oppose us? By realizing you are dearly loved by the One you have opposed...By understanding that every person who disagrees with you...Stands bitterly opposed to you and Christ...That upholds the most horrid moral beliefs in our eyes...That seems most evil, most aggressive, and most lost...
 
Is not the enemy... And is in fact... A treasured soul of Christ...JUST AS YOU ARE!
They are simply ignorant of His ways and love...Tainted by hurts, teachings and experiences of a broken world...Some even showing love in the best way they know how without God...And the only way to be different from them...  Truly...IS TO LOVE THEM WHEN THEY DON'T DESERVE IT! Bury these Words from Our Jesus deeply and sincerely in your hearts...Remembering He spoke these Words while living in a culture JUST like ours today!
 
Luke 6:27-36 (NKJV)
27  "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either... 32  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same... 35  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
 
Here are our closing thoughts... Listen with all of your heart...Do not label yourself according to political affiliations first...Do not identify yourself according to National Pride or Patriotism first...Do not fret over and strive for your self-focused
expectations, rights or freedoms first...You are FIRST... AND ABOVE ALL ELSE...
CHRIST'S BONDSERVANT...And Christ is no respecter of persons or positions!
 
You are FIRST here to show unconditional, and overwhelming love for ALL PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR LOVE YOU BACK! All men and women are your love and mission...Peter has given us TWO DISTINCT COMMANDS to follow in the culture and position in which we are now living... Which will worsen quickly!
 
One- "Stand in unapologetic, unashamed boldness of the love and wisdom of Christ over this world..."
 
Two- "But it is absolutely paramount that you do so in respect, love and honor for those you have to stand against!"

Loving those who do not love you in return... As Christ loved you!
 
Get this... You and I are called to be the best, law-abiding citizens we can... Caring for, loving and praying for our government...But we are to stand ready, now more than ever...To walk past any legal line drawn concerning our...Call to worship Christ...Our necessity to come together in His Name...And our dedication to following His Ways of Righteousness...
 
If that is too much to ask of you...You have forgotten what was already done for you...
And YOU need to realize Jesus is not truly your heart's desire!
 
A BRAND is a permanent mark which sets an animal apart...Showing it is owned by another, for life...Which is RECEIVED by taking on the image of it's owner through excessive heat! WILL THOSE AROUND US SEE YOU BRANDED FOR CHRIST IN TIMES AHEAD?