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Now, let's dive into today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. Hey, you remind me of somebody. Have you ever had anybody tell you that? Who is it you remind me of? I've had people tell me that at different times.
I've had people say, You remind me of someone, then I find out who I remind them of. It's not very flattering. Hey, you remind me of that famous movie star. Oh, which one? Lassie?
Oh, thank you. Frankenstein, whatever it might be. I was on an airplane sometime back, and I was flying next to Gene Hackman. Do you know who he is? He's an actor.
And he was trying to kind of be incognito so nobody would recognize him. And when we were getting off the airplane. There was another guy on the airplane. He had evidently been. Drinking Something.
And he just wasn't quite in his, he wasn't lucid, let's put it that way. And so at the end, when people are getting off the flight, he stops and he notices Gene Hackman. And this guy turns to him in his sort of half-inebriated state. He says, You remind me of Jane Hackman. And I'm going, uh-oh, he's recognized.
And Gene Hackman didn't miss a beat. He goes, No, really? And the guy kind of looked at him and They had this little conversation, and by the end of it, the guy said, You're right, you don't look anything like him. One of the greatest compliments you could ever receive. Is somebody telling you, you remind me of Jesus?
Wouldn't that be great? You just remind me of him. Not because you have a beard and sandals and a robe and a walking stick, but you have a personality that compels them to notice that in you. When the Twin Towers fell, September 11, 2001. Many of you, many of us.
worked at the site. I worked there for three weeks and I was having the privilege of working alongside of brave firefighters and. People in law enforcement. And my job was working on the pile, working with the debris, and every, there's a perimeter around that. Whenever you leave the perimeter, you're pretty contaminated.
You've been walking in. Broken sewage lines and human debris, pulverized cement.
So when you leave, Uh they would want to decontaminate you. And one volunteer group set up these wash basins, these tubs, where they would wash people's boots. They just did it as sort of a ministry, so to speak. a favor. And so I was walking out of the perimeter out of Ground Zero one day, and there was this group, and I put my feet in this tub, and he began washing my boots and the dust away, and it just struck me what he was doing.
And so I said to him, Hey, You remind me of Jesus Christ. And he'd looked at me like I was from Mars. I remind you of whom? And then I told him the story in John chapter 13, where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Oh, he took a big breath and he said, oh, okay, well thanks.
According to the Apostle Peter, one of the best ways to resemble Jesus. is submission. Submission is a word we've been talking about. that you submit during difficult circumstances. And you go, wait, wait, submission.
You know, there are certain words that are just hard to understand or hard to grasp, or they're harsh when you hear them, they sort of grate at you. Foreclosure is one of those words. You're fired, would be another one of those words. Inoperable is a harsh word to hear. Submission is hard because it Naturally grates against our idea of freedom.
We think if you're free, it means you don't submit to anybody. And what Peter has been telling us is because you are free, verse 16, we've discovered, because you are free. You should never use that freedom in a way that would cover up something evil, something wrong, but use your freedom for the right means. In other words, Because we're free men and women, we curtail certain freedoms that we might cultivate. Other freedoms.
And so he continues in verse 21. of 1 Peter chapter 2. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us as an example. that you should follow his steps. who committed no sin.
nor was deceit found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, Did not revile in return when he suffered. He did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness. by whose stripes you were healed.
for you were like sheep going astray. but have now returned to the shepherd and the overseer. of your souls. Just to bring you back up to speed and get us all on the same page, and especially if you're visiting us, what Peter has been dealing with, and we've been looking at the last few weeks, is this whole thing of submission. And we've been talking about submission to government.
We've been talking about submission to management. And now, what Peter does is he brings us to the highest point of the text, really, the example. The motivation for submission, and that is because we want to be like Jesus Christ. He did it. We do it.
And the whole theme, that hinge verse that we told you about last time and the week before, the hinge verse. Is back in verse 12, where notice he writes, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. You and I live in such a way among unbelievers who are watching us. And if we live like Jesus and we have this attitude. It could be a catalyst for them.
to know Christ. Listen to that verse, verse 12 in the New International Version. Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God.
Now, with the five verses that we have in front of us, I want to give you five. Quick. statements to apply. How to be like Jesus in this area. Like Jesus, live with endurance.
That's number one. Like Jesus, live with endurance. You know what endurance is, it means putting up with things. putting up with people. Endurance.
Verse 21, for to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us. Leaving us an example that you should follow in his steps. To this you were called. To what were we called? to put up with harsh circumstances and harsh people.
To this, you were called to endure or to even suffer unfair treatment. And simply because you and I Follow. a suffering Saviour. Remember that song, I have decided to follow Jesus? Do you know that one?
I've decided to follow Jesus. Do you know what the lyrics say in it? I have decided to follow Jesus. I've decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.
No turning back. Really? You've decided to follow Jesus, no turning back? Because again, last time I checked, Jesus has walked in some pretty gnarly places. And the footsteps that he has laid out for us.
were in many places footsteps of suffering. It's a great song. But the reality of I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.
Well, that really is what he is saying. We're following him. Notice the word he uses, leaving for us an example. I gotta tell you what that word means. The Greek word is hupagramos.
Which means literally writing. Under. Writing under. In ancient times, when they wanted to teach little kids their ABCs. They would take letters, writing.
and place it under a piece of paper.
So that the little kids could see through the top sheet of paper down to what's below and trace perfectly the letters they were learning. In other words, Jesus Christ is the one by whom we trace. The behavior of our life, whether good times or bad times. And that's the reason why we put up Endure. harsh circumstances and harsh people is because Jesus did it.
The text says we're following his steps, literally footprints, footsteps. Like a dad. Putting out steps in the snow, and his son or daughter follows behind him and just puts those little feet in those little footprints, those big footprints. But those footsteps Led to Calvary. Those footsteps Led to Roman persecution and Jewish persecution that cost him his life.
And so, too, the Bible says: all those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer what? They'll suffer persecution. You're listening to Connect with Skiff Heitzig Weekend Edition. Every day, the generosity of friends like you helps make clear, verse-by-verse Bible teaching available to people searching for truth, purpose, and hope. And this month, we want to thank you with a pair of powerful resources to help you understand your identity in Christ and God's design for your life and relationships.
When you give, you'll receive the Expound Ephesians 9 CD series with digital download, along with Pastor Skip's book, Beyond the Summer of Love. Together, these resources explore the richness of the gospel, reveal your place in God's family, and show how biblical truth brings strength, restoration, and lasting hope to your relationships. We'll send both resources as our thanks when you give $50 or more to support ConnectViskip-Heitzig. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwithskip.com/slash offer.
Now, let's return to today's teaching. I've always been compelled by a missionary woman named Amy Carmichael. She lived in the 1920s and 30s. She was Irish. She moved to India.
Her whole ministry was to rescue children who would have been Um used as Part of a sexual ritual in Hindu temples, she brought them and she raised them. In 1931, Amy Carmichael was praying one day and she said, Lord, Whatever you want from my life. That's what I want to do. Whatever it costs, whatever it takes, I want you to do whatever you want to do in my life. The next day, she fell down and she broke several bones that rendered her basically.
Immobile for years to come. She couldn't have the same workload that she had with the children. Never one to be bitter, she decided that this was the Lord's gracious way of allowing her a career in writing, letters, books. and poems. Here's this young gal in Ireland following Jesus.
She believed to India, following Jesus to rescue kids. looking for the Lord's will, this happens, seeing this as Following Jesus. And so she wrote a little poem that I've always loved. Goes like this. Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot. Or side? Or hand? I hear thee sung as mighty in the land, I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star Hast thou no scar? Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archer, spent Lean me against a tree to die, and rent By ravenous wolves that encompass me, I swooned. Hast thou no wound? No wound? No scar? Yet as the master, shall the servant be?
And pierced be the feet. The follow me. But thine are whole Can he have followed far? Who has no wound or scar? And so, like Jesus.
Live with endurance. Lord, toughen me up. to endure. as I follow you. Let's take it a step further.
Like Jesus, forego. Vengeance. First twenty two. Who committed no sin. Nor was deceit found in his mouth.
Now what Peter is doing is quoting. From the Old Testament, from Isaiah chapter 53, he's quoting what Isaiah predicted. Jesus would be like. And then in the very next verse, because Peter lived with Jesus. In real time, he says, that's what he did.
So look at the quote again: who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth.
Now this is Peter's own experience. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return when he suffered? He did not threaten. but committed himself to him who judges. Righteously.
Isaiah the prophet looking through the fog. of time seeing into the future there would come a Messiah Who would suffer? Having said nothing wrong and having done nothing wrong, still he would suffer. His actions and his words were pure, were undefiled, were truthful, and were non-retaliatory. He didn't fight back.
Notice when he was reviled. That means verbally abused. People using insulting language against him, untrue accusations. Have you ever thought of all the things just said about Jesus that were untrue? Take comfort because when people say things about you, Remember back to this study.
They call Jesus an evildoer. Can you imagine? They call Jesus a deceiver. An illegitimate child, a blasphemer, and one who would come and destroy the temple. But here's the point.
When all that happened, He didn't retaliate. He didn't say, wait till after the resurrection. I know where you live. He didn't say anything. He didn't fight back.
Now, it's not like he didn't have backup, right? I mean, he had bouncers, am I right? He had how many legions of angels? 12 legions of angels, 72,000. Angels, he told Peter in the garden: Don't you know that I can call 72,000 angels right now?
Put your sword away. He didn't retaliate. At any moment. Jesus could have zapped people. Oh, there's a Pharisee.
Ha ha ha ha ha. Ooh, a sad you seem. I'll have a little more fun with him. Never did that. In fact, not only did he not do that, Punches pilot.
His judge. Marveled at Jesus saying nothing. And at one point in the trial, he said, Do you answer nothing? Wouldn't even open his mouth. And then from the cross, what were the first words out of his mouth?
Father, for Give them. I don't know what they're doing. Hey, if it would have been me. I don't know, I could say, Father, forgive them. I might say, Father, fry them.
flatten them. I don't deserve this. Jesus said, Father, forgive them. But herein lies the problem, the little quandary we have, because I said that I wouldn't say what Jesus said, and probably you wouldn't either. Here's the problem we have.
You tell me if this is true. It's a whole lot more fun to get even than it is to forgive. It's a whole lot more satisfying to just get even. Then to forgive me.
Some of you are looking at me like, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm so holy.
Okay, whatever. It is human nature. It's that human nature that has to be restrained and brought in and say no to because it is so natural to want to fight back. Like the maid who was fired. From a large estate, she worked for a family, and the family fired her, and on her way out the door, They were all standing around and she took a $5 bill out of her purse and threw it to Fido, the family dog.
And the family said, what's that for? She said, I never forget a friend. That's for all the time she helped me clean your dishes. Oh, that felt so good for her to say that. And we laugh at that because we know that would feel good.
True story. A man created a product. called revenge. Selling for $3.99. He was just sick and tired of smokers.
Blowing secondhand smoke into his face, he decided I'm going to create a little aerosol pocket-sized can called Revenge. That gives smokers a dose of their own medicine, bad air. This foul smelling disinfectant Irritates their nose and their eyes, and he carried it with him, carries it with him, sells it, called revenge. Sad thing is, some of you are writing that down. Google Revenge.
Like to get some. Ugh. To forego revenge. That was a lesson Peter, the author of this letter. had to learn.
You remember the time he walked up to Jesus and he said, Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? He was feeling generous. Seven times. Hey, just if right now I came down there and I punched you.
And I said, I'm sorry, I'm just crazy. You say, okay, you are sort of crazy. I forgive you. And then I turned right around and slugged you again. Yeah.
Okay, get away from me. And then I said, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Would you just please forgive me? I'd probably get away with it. But if I did that, number three, and number four, and number five, and number six, and number seven.
You'd have a hard time.
So Peter, when he said seven times, he's feeling pretty good. And then Jesus said, No, not seven times, but 70 times seven. It's not to be an exact count, by the way.
Okay, at 150, I'm going for it. Or 400, what is it, 490? 491, man, come home. Peter's question. was the issue How many times Do I let things happen and forgive?
before I start fighting back. Forgiveness. Is easy to preach on and easy to listen to in a sermon. but try living it out on the street. That's the difficulty.
One author, Fredrik Buchner, said. Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to savor the last toothsome morsel is in many ways a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast It's you.
So, like Jesus, he's writing, live with endurance, and like Jesus, forego vengeance. Here's a third. Like Jesus, rest in confidence. Notice how verse. 23 closes out.
But he committed himself to him who judges. Righteously, you know what commit means? Let it go. You turn it over, you commit it, you turn it over, you drop it off. And you let it go.
You confidently rest in God's ability to handle the hurt that's been done to you. Let it go. Look over to chapter 4 for just a moment. 1 Peter 4, verse 19. He augments this thought.
Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God, here it is, commit their souls to Him in doing good as to a faithful Creator. Have you learned to do that? Have you learned to do that? Not w not once, but Many times? Thanks for joining us today on Connect with Skip Heitzig.
Before we go, remember, your generosity helps share God's word with people around the world, offering truth, hope, and encouragement where it's needed most. And this month we'd love to thank you for your gift of $50 or more by sending you the Expound Ephesians 9 C D series with digital download, along with Pastor Skip's book Beyond the Summer of Love. These resources will help you understand your identity in Christ and see how God's design brings strength and restoration to your relationships. Give today at connectwithskiff.com slash offer or call 800-922-1888. We'll see you next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word here on Connect with Skip Heitzig Weekend Edition.
I make a connection. Should never fall. Of the crisis. Castle and burst. Connect with Gif Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
