Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Do you have that hope in you? Do you have this living hope? The hope of the resurrection, the hope that when you die, you will go forever with Christ, that you've received Christ as your Savior, so that you can say, Yes, I have this living hope in me. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe.
In our cynical world, authentic followers of Christ stand out as lights in the darkness. But what happens when people notice that difference? Are you prepared to answer questions about your faith? Today, John discusses how to handle the natural opportunities that will come our way. Let's listen carefully as Pastor John Monroe brings the lesson.
the reason for our hope. In Peter's first letter, he's encouraging suffering Christians to live lives to the glory of God. He's not without relationship to the secular government. to employers and with our husbands and wives.
Now he turns to how we respond to unbelievers. I love this passage. 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 13 through 17. It contains the well-known words of a reason for For the hope that is in you. When we go through difficulties, other people observe us.
When responding well to the hardships and sufferings of life, people may ask us about them. What should be our response? Are you ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you? Remember we who follow Jesus have a living hope.
So listen to Peter. who is writing a About this hope. Our mission at church is being and making authentic followers of Jesus Christ. Then follows from the great commission of our Lord. Uh At the end of Matthew 28, commands us.
to go into all the worlds. and make disciples of all the nations. He calls all of us all authentic followers of Christ. to display with our lives and to proclaim with our lips that Jesus Christ Is God That he is, as we've been singing, a holy God. And that In his grace, he sends his son.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who comes into this world not to condemn us. but that through him we might be saved. Displaying and proclaiming Jesus Christ.
So here's my question. This past week. As people looked at you, if you claimed to be A Christian. Do you think people saw anything? of Jesus Christ in you.
In your words, in your attitudes, in your actions. When was the last time You Spoke to someone. about Jesus Christ.
Someone who did not believe. Perhaps someone in your own family.
Someone at work, a neighborhood. that you had the opportunity to speak to them about Jesus. Christ. Today, as we continue our series in First Peter, we will be challenged. about responding to unbelievers who ask about the hope.
That is in your This hope. has been described earlier by Peter in chapter 1 as a living hope. through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We are, as we've been singing and as we're instructed in the Word of God, we are people of hope. Paul talks.
in Ephesians about those who are in the world without God and without hope. We are living in a lost, confused, yes, and hopeless World. People around us are without hope.
Some of them are panicking, some of them are confused, some of them are lethargic. But apart from faith in Jesus Christ, they have no hope. On the other hand, we have hope. in this life And forever. in life and in death, and for all of eternity, we are people of hope.
This does not mean that life is easy for us, sometimes it's difficult, but nothing can extinguish this hope. The world doesn't give it You and the world can never take it from you. It comes as a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a hope. This living hope.
This hope that raised our Savior from the dead, this is a hope. which transcends life on earth. And so, as we live our lives here in this fallen world, in a world which is largely hopeless, When people come to us and ask us about the hope that is in us, Are we prepared? to respond. That's what Peter is saying.
And I invite you to turn on your Bibles to First Peter. Chapter three. If you're new to We are going consecutively through the book of First Peter. Yes, we do. believe in opening our Bibles in church.
People are surprised. People say to me, You actually read from the scriptures, you actually opened your Bible. That's what we do. We have no other message. We're here.
Not to hear what John Monroe believes, but to hear what God is saying in His Word. And so we treat the Word of God as our authority. And we treat it seriously. 1 Peter chapter 3, then, verse 13.
Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them. Nor be troubled. Put in your hearts, but in your hearts, Honor Christ the Lord as holy.
Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yeah, do it. with gentleness And respect. Having a good conscience, so that when you're slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better.
to suffer for doing good. If that should be God's will, Then for doing Evil. First Peter chapter three, verses thirteen through seventeen. First of all, I want to say from this passage that we are to display Christ. when giving the reason for your hope.
Look at verse thirteen.
Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? We are enthusiastically to do that which is right. As we saw last time from the preceding verses, rather than insulting others when we are insulted, rather than retaliating. When we receive slander or insults, We are in the spirit of Christ, and repeated here by the Apostle Peter, we are to bless those who offend us. In the midst of stress, Unrest, persecution.
Peter is exhorting his first century readers to seek peace and pursue it. The end of verse 11, let him seek peace and pursue it. As the people of God, as we've learned before, were not troublemakers, we're not anarchists. We don't go with some volatile rhetoric against people who disagree with us. Rather, we are to seek peace and pursue it.
We are to be zealous for doing that which is good. And so as we live in our communities. We are to display Christ. If our attitudes, if our actions are not Christ-like, Our words to unbelievers will be hollow. will be accused of being hypocrisy.
We are to be different. Just because the world is shouting insults at each other, we are not to adopt that kind of attitude and that kind of speech. And says Peter. general principle. If you do good, you'll not be harmed.
The Christian who does what is right. At work. You're honest, you're hardworking. If you do what is right, Normally you will not come to harm. If you return good for evil, It will be very difficult for unbelievers to criticize you and persecute you.
Also, as we saw last week in verse 12, the Lord is watching. And the Lord cares for you.
So do good enthusiastically. And some of you have experienced, as I have. Do you live your Christian life? In your office, your bank, hospital, wherever God placed you. You've experienced That the atmosphere in your workplace can be changed.
when you're displaying Christ. It's amazing at people who are foul mouthed. People who are profane.
sometimes stop when they realize That you're different, that we're different, that we are Christians. that we don't talk this way. that we don't insult each other, that we don't use vulgarities, that we don't blaspheme. That rather than Evil speech coming from our mouths. We bring grace.
We bring healing. We are zealous, verse 13, for what is good. Is that true of you? Remember Jesus said Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good. works and glorify your God in heaven.
What an impact we would make in the city of Charlotte. in Fort Mill, in Rock Hill, in Mooresville, Concord, wherever you live, what a difference it would make if we were zealous for doing that which is good. Love and kindness And the grace of God have a powerful impact when speaking to unbelievers. Karen Jobs, in her commentary on First Peter, recounts the story of a. Christian soldier living in a barracks with his unit.
Each evening. And you know, this will be difficult. Each evening, When he read his Bible, And he prayed. before retiring. He was ridiculed and insulted by this soldier Opposite him.
One night As he prayed, and as you read his Bible. A pair of muddy combat boots came flying. in the Christians direction. The next morning, the hostile soldier found his boots at the foot of his bed, cleaned and polished. and ready for inspection.
Karn Job says that several of the soldiers in this company were impacted for Christ. as a result of the inner strength of this soldier. Who could do something very difficult? Not only did he not retaliate, not only did he trade insult for insult, but rather, As a follower of Christ, no doubt. Convicted by the Spirit of God and filled by the Spirit of God when he received evil and insult.
He gave A blessing. Is that the path of the Christian? Didn't we previously learn in chapter 2 when our Lord was reviled, he did not revile in return? And Peter says, Now you're called to follow in his steps. That's displaying Christ, isn't it?
All of us have an opportunity to do this, starting in our home. to follow in the steps. And when you're treated badly, verse 14, what do you do? You're to stay calm. Verse 14.
Even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them nor be troubled. You ever been treated badly because you're a follower of Christ? What are you to do? You have to stay calm.
When you're suffering, do what is right, and God will bless you. Even when you're Christ-like in your home, At work in the community, some people may still harm you, some people will still. Persecute you, Peter is saying to these readers. They knew that, but he said, when you suffer for righteousness' sake, You're going to be Blessed. Chapter 2, verse 20.
For what credit is it when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure it. But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure. This is a gracious thing in the sight of God. Here's a young student at high school. displaying Christ.
And she's ridiculed for it. And she's perhaps Shunned because of it. isolated by her cool friends, so-called. Isn't that wonderful to know that God's blessing? is on that young woman.
Here is a businessman. Who doesn't conform to the sleazy business practices of those around him, and for that he is criticized. Isn't that wonderful to think? But even though he may s he may lose a sale, That God's blessing Is on him? And when that happens.
I love what Peter says. Have no fear of them. Not be troubled.
So many of our people live in fear. You think, well, if I display Christ, Um I'm going to be isolated, I'm going to be afraid no. Don't fear. Don't be troubled. Don't be anxious.
And here Peter is quoting from Isaiah chapter eight. If you got your Bible and can find Isaiah, turn with me to chapter 8. Isaiah chapter Eight. Peter knows the Old Testament, and he's alluding to this important passage in Isaiah 8. And I'll read verses eleven through thirteen.
Isaiah 8 verse 11 For the Lord spoke thus to me, Isaiah the prophet. with his strong hand upon me. and warned me not to walk. In the way of this people saying He's a man of God. He's got to be different from the culture.
Do not call conspiracy all that these people call conspiracy. And here it is. Do not fear what they fear, nor. Be in dread. By the Lord of hosts Him you shall honor as holy.
Let him be your fear. And let him be your dread. Don't fear people. but fear God and walk in the ways of God. What's the context of Isaiah 8?
Well The king of Judah is King Ahaz. And he threatened. By the kings of Syria. And the king of Judah. And A has Rather than trusting in God for deliverance against the enemy, know what he does.
He enters into alliance with another enemy, with the Assyrians. And Isaiah the prophet is saying to him, don't do that. Don't form alliances with unbelievers. You should trust God. You should have no fear of them, nor be troubled.
We read in Isaiah. Seven verse two. That because of the enemy, the hearts of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. The people are afraid because of the enemy. And here is the word of God to them.
Here is the word of God to the first century readers. Here's the word of God to us. When you are When you're persecuted, when you're suffering, have no fear nor be troubled. How wonderful to know. I talked about people who have no hope.
So many people around us. are fearful. Fearful of the future. They are. Troubled.
Peter, as he refers to Isaiah 8, is saying, there's no need to be afraid of your enemy. As the people of God, You're not to fear man, but you're to fear God. The fear of man brings a snare. The fear of the Lord, well, that's the beginning of wisdom. Their trust was to be in the Lord.
Don't compromise with the enemy. Very easy to compromise in the world, isn't it? to lower your standards. in terms of your morality. Your tendency our tendency to fit in, we compromise, and then we are on this lazy slope of compromise, and we go down and down and down.
Don't do that. Take a stand. Ahaz, don't be afraid, don't be troubled. If you trust in the Lord, the enemy will be defeated. Leave the enemy to the Lord.
And the application to us is obvious, isn't it? In the face of hostile opposition, Don't be afraid. Do what is right. Don't worry about the consequences. Leave it to the Lord.
Don't have fear and don't be troubled and don't compromise. Alex Mottier in his excellent commentary on Isaiah writes. Those who lived Under the word and promise of God, we're thus called to hold aloof from popular clamor for the supposed safety of political alliance and worldly armed strength. Isaiah and his disciples Are to have no part in a fear-ridden society. Listen to it.
But to be conspicuous for a different lifestyle, unmoved by the fears around, a calm in the midst of life's storms and menaces. Let me ask you, I wonder. How many of us here right now? Are it calm? are at peace.
You say John, but My life is difficult. You have no idea what I put up at work. You have no idea. of the illness I'm facing. You have no idea.
of the interaction I have with people. Listen to the word of God.
Okay. You can have a calm. In the midst of a storm, When your trust is in the Lord, a confident trust. Trust. in the Lord.
When you're living for Christ Don't allow anyone or anything to intimidate you. as the people of God were so easily intimidated underway. These protesters I'm not afraid to know their views. of politics. And here we are as the people of God, aren't we?
We're so often afraid. When something happens in life and were blown off course. And with paddock. We think the world is going to end. And we're in a situation where we think it's impossible that we will get through it.
I want to tell you from the Word of God and also from my experience, you will get through it if your trust is in God. A calm in the midst of a storm. Don't allow, I repeat, anyone or anything to intimidate you. Perhaps you have a hostile boss. Perhaps you have a sarcastic spouse who's not a believer, who makes life very, very difficult for you.
When facing opposition, Trust the Lord. Have courage. God is on your side in the midst of suffering, intimidation, persecution, and suffering. Here is the message. Have no fear of them.
Don't be troubled. Keep shining for Christ.
So we're to display Christ when giving the reason for our hope. Secondly, we are to proclaim Christ when given. Giving the reason for our hope, displaying Christ with our lives, proclaiming Christ with our lips. Verse 15, but in your hearts. Honour Christ the Lord as holy.
That sounds a little Familiar, we just read it. And Isaiah 8. Honor Christ, the Lord is holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. Instead of fear, what are we to do? We're to honor.
Christ the Lord as holy. To honor, that is to sanctify, that is to set apart our Savior as holy. Peter is again referring to Isaiah 8 verse 12 where we read, But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Here is Judah afraid. What's their priority?
Their priority is to honor the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the conqueror. Honor him as holy. Don't be afraid of the opposition. Fear the Lord. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe, and the beginning of a message titled The Reason for Our Hope.
John will be back in just a moment. The connection to Isaiah 8 that John highlighted reminds us that God's people have always faced pressure to conform to surrounding cultures. Yet those who honor Christ as holy, who refuse to fear what others fear, become powerful examples that draw people in. To help you continue to develop your biblical perspective and fully understand what you believe, we encourage you to request John's booklet for the time is near. This resource helps you better understand the big picture of God's plan of salvation.
the importance of Christ's return and what will happen in the future. With this big picture view, you can speak with even more confidence about the reason for your hope. Get your free copy of For the Time is Near at the Verdict. org. As a listener-supported ministry, your faithful support of the verdict helps us continue equipping believers worldwide to be effective witnesses for Christ in their communities.
Every gift strengthens this ministry's ability to equip followers of Christ to be authentic as we live and share our faith. Would you consider making a gift today to help sustain this vital ministry? Just visit theverdict.org to give securely. The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road, and we invite you to come join us for worship this Sunday.
We'd love to meet you. For more details about Calvary and current service times, visit theverdict.org. And now, here's Pastor John Monroe with closing remarks for today's lesson.
Well, what's your verdict? I know you've been treated badly sometimes. I know you've experienced suffering.
Well, have you ever had someone ask you how you have coped or how you are responding so well? There's something about you that's different.
Now they have asked, and the door is open. How can you continue to follow Jesus Christ in the middle of such difficulties? In such situations, it's important we stay calm. Don't react negatively. Display Christ.
and be ready to give the reason for the hope that is in you. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
