Sunday, December 5, 2004– Second Sunday of Advent
The Road to Blessing
1 Peter 3:13-22
14 . . . But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. . . . 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.1 Peter 3:14 & 15NIV
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The Christian church has been the target of abuse and harassment from its beginning. Its history is filled with pages of stories of men and women who have suffered physical torment simply because they carried Christ’s name. Sadly, the history books are being filled with pages yet today of those who suffer for confessing Christ as their Lord.
The first letter of Peter inspires us to at least attemptsolidarity with the persecuted church in the world. We need to be upholding our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering for the sake of Christ.
In the weekly emailthat arrived this past Monday,The Voice of the Martyrs invites us to join in praying for Hany Samir Tawfik of EGYPT, the British House of Commons and A pastor in the republic of Tatarstan, RUSSIA.
Prayers for November 30, 2004
From The Voice of the Martyrs
Hany Samir Tawfik of EGYPT(Compass Direct)
Hany Samir Tawfik, 28, a Christian jailed without charges for 19 months, has become emotionally disturbed and lost vision in one eye from torture and lack of medical treatment. Tawfik was arrested because he refused to spy on an evangelical Christian pastor. Despite direct appeals by his widowed mother, authorities refuse to release him or make public his alleged "crimes."
Pray international publicity about this case will force Egyptian authorities to release Tawfik. Pray God in His mercy will make Himself known to Tawfik with a very real sense of His presence and encouragement. Pray the Lord will give Tawfik's mother a supernatural peace to comfort her heart and build her faith.
British House of Commons bill to ban incitement to religious hatred - ENGLAND(ASSIST News Service)
A bill before the British House of Commons extends laws that ban incitement to racial hatred to cover religious hatred as well. Barnabas Fund, which assists persecuted Christian minorities, is seriously concerned that far from achieving this laudable aim, the law will instead effectively end up banning all legitimate criticism of another's religion. It is feared that those who speak out on behalf of people who suffer as a result of particular religious teachings, such as Muslimswho convert to another faith (who, according to Islamic law, should be executed) or Dalits (who are treated as "untouchables" in the traditional Hindu caste system), could be silenced. The clauses on incitement to religious hatred were included in an otherwise unrelated bill to help the government get this controversial issue through Parliament.
Pray the members of Parliament will be discerning to see the potential problems this bill would create. Pray God will give wisdom and clarity to those who speak out against this bill. Pray the Holy Spirit will bring a revival to England, renewing the faith of all Christians and bringing many others to faith in Christ.
A pastor in the republic of Tatarstan, RUSSIA(ASSIST News Service)
The pastor of a small church in the mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan reports he was recently visited and threatened by a local security official. According to Forum 18 News Service, a Tatar pastor of a small evangelical church, about 500 miles east of Moscow, has complained of threats to halt the church's activity and drive him out of town. He said the authorities in Tatarstan are Muslim and can tolerate Orthodoxy but have not allowed him to rent a hall that would accommodate more people than would attend meetings in his private flat.
Pray Protestants in Tatarstan will be witnesses of Jesus' love to all their neighbors, both Muslim and Orthodox. Pray the Lord will reveal Himself to those who have not sought Him. Praise God that many Christians can join in prayer for a small republic that may seem remote to us but is precious to Him.
Hear our prayer, O Lord.
The Road to Blessing, from 1 Peter 3.
For all of Peter’s firsthand knowledge of the persecution of the early Christians, it seems a bit surprising that Peter asks, in verse 13 of chapter 3, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”Those who were first to read his letter knew about suffering for identifying with Christ. As hard as it is to imagine that anyone would harm someone for doing good, these people to whom Peter wrote didn’t have to imagine at all. The names and faces of their terrorizers were only too fresh in their minds.
Before digging into our primary text in 1 Peter 3 this morning, I would like to give some attention to the story of the Apostle Paul’s conversionin Actschapter 9.
Paul’s story gives meaning to the word conversion. He went from serving one commander to serving another. His conversion meant that he went from being under the authorityof one master to being under the authority of an entirely new one. He was truly converted.
If Paul lived among us today in his unconverted state, he would likely feel right at home among attorneys who enjoy filing law suits against churches and Christians to silence their message and diminish their influence.
Verses 1 and 2 of Acts chapter 9.
Acts 9:1-31 (NIV)
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Saul, whose name would later become Paul, marked for special treatment those who belonged to the Way. His target city was Damascus. His special treatment included shutting up and shutting out Christians.
To Saul’s surprise, his little terrorist organization was about to be closed down by none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was taking this persecution personally, as He does all persecution against those who follow Him.
3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
Then Saul asks a very unusual question.
5"Who are You, Lord?" Saul asked.
What is the meaning of asking the identity of someone you already know? Or, did Saul really know who was speaking? Maybe his question is more like the one we Washingtonians are asking today, “Who are you, governor?” Is it Gregoire or is it Rossi?
Consider Saul’s upbringing and training. He had an understanding of Lord. He eventhought he was serving Him by attacking these fanatical followers of Christ. He thought he was doing God’s work by disrupting and derailing the lives of those who were being misled by the false prophet Jesus.
He did not think that he could be the one whose theology was out of whack, needing realignment. Yet, that was the surprise that came to Saul that day on the road to Damascus.
6"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," He replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This confrontation with Jesus Christ was meant to bring Saul’s theology and behavior into proper alignment. Key to that correction was the understanding who the Lord truly was. For the Lord to be Jesus Christ was both startling and life changing for Saul. Thus, I believe his question was legitimatelyneeding an answer.
“Jesus Christ is Lord, Saul.” That message came through loud and clear.
What is also so profoundly significant about Saul’s conversion is how God involves several other people in the process. Plainly, God can bring about a person’s conversion without anyone’s help or contribution. But, mysteriously, God most often chooses to engagethe services of others in the process of a person’s conversion. God even used Saul’s pre-conversion friends to help him obey his first assignment from his new Lord. They led him by the hand into Damascus.
And there in Damascus God had his welcoming committee lined up. Some of the members of that committee needed a little coaxing, or persuading, to overcome their very reasonable fear of Saul. Thankfully, they obeyed God and participated in the re-formation of the heart and ministry of Saul.
But, place yourself in Ananias’ shoes. Try to get a handle on some of the emotions he must have felt as part of Saul’s welcoming committee.
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
This sounds like pieces to a puzzle coming together so we can hear the great “tada!” Saul’s vision of Ananias in advance of Ananias coming to him would be like confirmation that God was, indeed, speaking to him.
Now that was great for Saul. But, what about Ananias?
13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name."
Saul’s reputation was well known. He was truly someone to be feared. Now, Ananias was having a crisis of faith. Would he act in obedienceto this vision he had from the Lord, or would he act on his fears?
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name."
Notice how Jesus is here, again, acting like a Lord. He told Ananias what to do. Earlier, he told Saul what to do. That’s what Lord’s do. They give commands. And subjects of masters or Lords obey.
Quite disturbing in the Lord’s command to Ananias was the inclusion of the line, “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”You’ve got to wonder why the Lord said that, don’t you?
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, . . .
Can we even imagine what emotional struggle Ananias must have had to carry out this assignment, especially to call Saul, “brother?”
"Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus,
I like the way the NIV inserts the breakor the pausebetween Lord and Jesus. It’s like a flashback to when Saul asked, “Who are You, Lord?” “Brother Saul, the Lord who spoke to you is Jesus.”
"Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Imagine what must have been going through Saul’s mind when Ananias said those words. This was the real thing. He had already seen the previews, now Ananias was there in flesh and blood saying words he had already heard in his vision. This is powerful stuff. This was orchestrated by the Lord to make a point. Jesusis, indeed, Lord!
18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
20Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Already in this short time, Saul had followers. And they came to his aide to protect him from being killed. Thetables have, indeed, turned. The one who set out for Damascus breathing murderous threats, is now the target for murder by the same allies who had helped Saul in his pre-conversion life.
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Saul was a lightning rod for trouble. When he spoke out boldly, opposition just sprang right up wanting to kill him. He must have really provoked his listeners.
Given the fear that the Christians had of Saul and their reluctance to believe that he was truly converted, and given the threats on his life from those who didn’t like Jesus, it is understandable that for Saul’s safety and a return to peace, sending Saul away to Tarsus seemed like a good idea.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Now I wanted us to have this story as a backdrop as we look at our primary text for today.
1 Peter 3:13-22 (NIV)
In the previous section, Peter has encouraged us to live such impressively good lives among unbelievers that they will see our good deeds and eventually glorify God. The thrust of what Peter was saying was, “Be a blessing.” In everything you do, seek to be a blessing to the people around.
As Peter continues, he now shows us the road to blessing.
What is the most fundamental reality that must be happening in my life and yours if you and I are going to be on the road to blessing, if we are going to be a blessing to those around us?
This next section answers that question.
1 Peter 3, at verse 13.
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
What kind of question is this, Peter? Where have you been? Haven’t you ever heard of a man named Saul? That’s someone who would harm us even when we are eager to do good. And there are other’s like him.
True, it seems illogical that someone would harm a person who is out there doing good. And, even though Peter was very aware of those who would, he also recognized, by the way he makes his argument, that it is not the usual that someone would be harmed for doing good.
But, what happens to you when you are ostracized and ridiculed for living to please your Lord Jesus? Do you become overwhelmed with fear? Do you become frightened?
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”
Peter says that the road to blessing starts by doing what is right even at the risk of suffering for doing it. So, though you may be tempted to wither away in fear and even apologize for your faith in Christ, Peter says you can be enjoying blessings from God for doing what is right. Even in the face of opposition, you can be bold and confident when you are doing what is right.
Then Peter lays out the road map to blessing in our lives. Do you want to be a blessed person? Do you want to be a blessing to others? Here is the key. Here is the road to blessing. Verse 15.