Missions Paul

Happy Pentecost Sunday!

“For Christ … having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit; in which He also went and made proclamation…” (1 Peter 3 v 18-19)

The Spirit who empowered Jesus to rise is the same Spirit that is then outpoured on Pentecost.

What might seem dead today or finished isn’t necessarily so!

What you cannot do the Spirit can!

The Spirit works in you to work out from you to tell others!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Ever find yourself in a situation when you ask yourself how did we get here? When you simply, do not understand, there’s no rhyme or reason to it, it feels deeply spiritual, outside of common sense, irrational, beyond you. It feels like there’s another agenda, a hidden one, something is taking place that you cannot see right now, it feels like a battle that is being played out right in front of you but you don’t really know who the characters are.

Peter speaks right into this situation to a people who like us at times feel the onslaught of the situation, maybe the malicious talk, perhaps the persecution is actually not flesh and blood but demonic.

¹⁹ After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3 v 19-22)

Here’s the encouragement:

1. VICTORY. Christ has proclaimed (not evangelised) victory over the unseen world. The demonic are triumphed by the cross (numerous passages in the NT support this).
2. Wait. God waits. He waited patiently for Noah’s generation to believe and He thus is waiting patiently for the persecutors of His church to repent.
3. INADEQUACY. In the flood only a few were saved and at times when facing our enemy we also feel inadequate, few in number compared to the Goliath’s.
4. CLEAR CONSCIENCE. The flood symbolised the water baptism to come but not that it saves us but is the sign of a new relationship with the risen Christ who gives us a powerful clear conscience before God because of His forgiveness.
5. VINDICATION. Christ has gone, ascended, into heaven, at God’s right hand and the whole cosmos and underneath the cosmos are under His rule. It means this: Christ is vindicated. And because Christ is our Lord so we will also be vindicated.

Yesterday I watched an appeal for prayer from Archbishop Ben Kwashi for his fellow Christian Nigerians who are once again being killed in their own villages by wicked people. It seems so evil it is almost as if demons are amongst them. We believe attacks on Gods people for doing right comes from spiritual forces. It was the case for the Christians Peter is writing to. This is more than just a bad day. This is how to survive an evil demonic attack on your life.

We move into what is a difficult passage to understand but it starts off with ‘For Christ also suffered’.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. ¹⁹ After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3 v 18-22)

So how do you survive an evil demonic attack on your life? As you walk in the way of Christ:

1. Acknowledge the attack will hurt you. ‘For Christ also suffered’
2. The Spirit will come to your help and will bring new life. ‘made alive in the Spirit’
3. Know you will testify and be a proclaimer of your victory. ‘made proclamation’ (to the fallen angels)
4. Your commitment to Christ will save you. ‘baptism that now saves you also’
5. Evil will not have victory over you rather it will be in submission to you. ‘powers in submission to him’.

We move into a new section within the letter and Peter becomes really clear in addressing the problem of struggling because of who comes against you. Having telling us to be a good person in the previous verses he opens the new section with a rhetorical question. The answer is of course ‘no one’.

 ^“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (v13)

However I know some of the most faithful and ‘good’ Christians who suffer through malicious gossip and from people who should know better who want to bring them down.

Peter gives instruction in how to respond when you are spoken against.

^“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere 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 behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3 v 13-17)

Here are 6 responses:

1. I am blessed. Why? Perhaps it is simply the fact that we receive what Jesus Christ received. He was spoken against and so will we. We walk His walk.
2. I will not be afraid. Why? Because to fear is only a choice equal to obedience being a choice too.
3. I will fear Christ. Why? Because He is the Lord of your life not those who speak against you.
4. I will be prepared with my answers. Why? Because courage in the midst of suffering needs to be able to also challenge that what is making you suffer.
5. I will be gentle and respectful. Why? Because we are not called to fight flesh and blood. We choose a higher ground of vocabulary.
6. I will have a clear conscience. Why? Because holding onto your integrity so that you are not also being malicious is the basis for your victory.

People will speak against you and it might be today that they do. You might be in the middle of this malicious season. Choose these 6 responses.

Having given instructions to how to live under authority, slaves with masters and living in marriage, Peter now closes off his household code with the wide-ranging ‘how to live within community’.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. ⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. ¹¹ They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. ¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3 v 8-12)

Here are 6 qualities that we all should strive for. They should be in the centre of all our decisions and our responses and our ambitions. The Church is a body of sinners saved by grace. I accept that. But we must all do far more to be a good person as the Spirit helps us.

1. Be like-minded: if the Church is divided what will happen when the world attacks the church?
2. Be sympathetic: if the Church cannot think less of themselves and stand in the place of the pain of another how will the world ever see what Christ has done?
3. Be loving: if the Church does not show love then how will the world know love?
4. Be compassionate: if the Church cannot weep over the predicament of others then how will the world know the tender heart of the Father?
5. Be humble: if the ego of the Church drives it to humiliate others instead of humbling itself then how is it any different to the world?
6. Be a blessing: if the Church retaliates and cannot be gracious to those who hurt them then how will the world see the blessing of God on the Church?

Whether this applies to you or not you will know this passage has caused much arguments and sadly pain as Christians take Peter’s counsel and apply it to suit their desires.

Peter didn’t write it for the purpose or intent for harm at all.

He is writing a section teaching essentially about what to do with the freedom Christ has given the believer. Firstly under human authority, finding the right attitude in life and then being a slave. He then moves onto another illustration of our relationships in life.

He uses the imagery of a wife who becomes a believer but the husband doesn’t. How should the wife live with someone who doesn’t share her faith?

He then speaks to the Christian husband who is wanting his prayers to be answered and says how he lives with his wife (whether she is Christian or not) is key to that prayer life.

So here is the passage:

“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵ For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. ⁷ Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3 v 1-7)

Some observations …

To the Christian wife

1. There isn’t any encouragement to leave.
2. There isn’t instruction to speak the gospel to them.
3. There isn’t any command to view their marriage as less important to God.
4. There isn’t justification to not participate and give into the marriage.
5. There isn’t a need to fear.

To the Christian husband

1. If you want God to listen to you then make sure you listen to your wife, think of her when you make decisions, have her at the centre of how you live.
2. If you want God to listen to you then treat her differently to how the world objectifies women.
3. If you want God to listen to your prayers then view her as your equal for that is what she is according to Christ.

As an explanation for how slaves should respond to harsh treatment Peter then uses the example of Jesus.

This is not a call to simply put up with abuse, that is not the focus, but it is to highlight the importance of trusting God on those bad days ‘who judges justly’. It is to be like Jesus.

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2 v 22-25)

We know that the Bible tells us not only does God ‘judge justly’ but that there is a day of reckoning, a vindication day, a judgment day. But what of today? What of now, this next 24 hours? How do I handle this bad day better?

Peter gives us the example of Jesus.

Here is The Message: “He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.”

He didn’t do wrong to get out of the bad situation.

He didn’t twist the truth.

He didn’t retaliate.

He didn’t threaten.

He let God sort it out. He knew He would.

But there is more. This was not just some passive example to us. Trusting his Father was far more than that. It was to produce something incredible for all of us.

Drawing from Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant, we are reminded of the beauty of what Jesus did for us.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter is then saying look what Jesus accomplished through His suffering.

Today? Are you going through some tough stuff? How do we handle the bad days better? We look to Jesus and we try and do what He did.

• He trusted God the Father and so should we.
• His suffering accomplished the amazing work of God and so can our bad day be used of God as we handle it better.

There’s nothing quite like injustice to make us angry. Working for a harsh manager can become unbearable and we must not keep silent on certain issues. How does a Christian respond when they know absolutely they are in the right and their manager is in the wrong?

We are moving further into this code of conduct that Peter is writing. We get to the work place. To something that is hard for us to get our minds around: slavery.

Slavery seems to have been universal at this time. There are estimates of up to 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Many were well-treated but many were equally abused. They included not only domestic slaves and manual labourers but educated people as well. The problem Peter was addressing was that it seemed that some Christian slaves were believing that if God made them free then it meant they could run away from their masters and Peter says ‘no you can’t do that.’

“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2 v 18-21)

Though this is difficult to read because we all believe slavery is abhorrent it does have teaching that we need to apply to our lives, especially in serving/working for people in authority over us:-

1. If you are a bad employee and the consequence is punishment then you deserve it and God is not glorified in your life.
2. If you recognise that you are actually serving God and not man then if your work becomes difficult because you are unjustly treated then this is a God matter.
3. The outworking of revering God is the ability to submit to difficult managers. When others see Christians doing this they are likely to wonder where do they get the strength to do so?
4. We will adopt this submissive attitude because our model is Jesus Christ and our lives will point to what He has done for all. He suffered sinful treatment to atone for sin.
5. To walk in the steps of Jesus is to respond well to tough treatment even when you’re in the right.

I read an email this week forwarded to me from one person to another. It was vile and vitriolic and I wondered how the person was who it was addressed to.

I was shocked that this was not from some juvenile delinquent but a respected member of their community.

I was even more shocked that it was from a Christian leader within the Church addressed to their own Christian leader.

Clearly they need to go back to the classroom to learn how to hold the right attitude.

It is hard to understand a list of conduct dated over 2,000 years ago. We are in 2023 how can it be still for us today? I think we are helped knowing that life for the Christian in Peter’s day was significantly more difficult than for us in this Western world of ours.

“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor. (1 Peter 2 v 15-17)

Here are the 6 attitudes:

1. Do good – even when you are criticised.
2. Live as free – but still pay your taxes and obey the law.
3. Show respect – on all people not just the nice ones.
4. Love the Church – they are God’s family, they belong to Him.
5. Fear God – walk under His gaze even when you write an email.
6. Honour the ruler – emperor, king, government, even if they kill Christians as Peter’s emperor did, for it is the office you honour not necessarily the ruler.

Today choose the right attitude to live.

These people lived under the Roman oppressive regime which was particularly difficult as a follower of Jesus. This was not a democratic society nor was it a godly one either. It would be very easy to copy the Jewish thought and not obey a non-Jewish leader but Peter tells them that it doesn’t matter who they are they should obey. (The qualifier is always Acts 4:19 where we never submit to something if it means we are disobedient to God.)

Like Paul, Peter has a household code which covers all the social settings at the time. In each one he is basically saying ‘don’t fight but submit.’ Living under authorities; slaves and masters; wives towards husbands; husbands towards wives and everyone in the Christian community. That’s what is ahead of us in this letter. But for now …

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” (1 Peter 2 v 13-14)

Who do we submit to?

‘To every human authority’. Every human authority. Human authority. Every.

Whether you like them or not.

Whether you recognise them or not.

Whether you voted for them or not.

The highest authority to the lowest who carry out the orders.

Why?

1. For the Lord’s sake. It doesn’t matter whether you agree or disagree God has ordered authority within society.
2. They are sent by him. God has sent them into society, whether you would have sent them or not. If Peter believed the Roman Emperor was sent by God then we can believe ‘every human authority’ is sent by God too.
3. The purpose of order. So that the wrong is punished and the right is rewarded.

If this is how it is with the Roman Empire and with our governments today; if this is for every human authority in our social settings so in education, social services, healthcare etc. Then it is also for the Church. It applies to the church. Don’t fight but submit.