The Bible Speaks - Defending Our Faith

[00:00:00] Let us pray, Grant together on our knees. Let us pray, Grant together on our knees.

[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, oh Lord, ever see on me.

[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of harvest international.

[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's Word.

[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast. And now here's Elgin.

[00:00:57] We have to stand against him. Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to another discussion of God's Word.

[00:01:08] Today we are going to be looking at 1 Peter chapter 3 and having a discussion with the topic of defending our faith.

[00:01:21] In 1 Peter chapter 3, the Apostle Peter is writing to a group of Christians who are scattered throughout the various regions of Asia Minor.

[00:01:30] These believers were facing persecution and challenges due to their faith in Jesus Christ.

[00:01:38] Peter addresses his letter to the elect exiles of the dispersion, indicating that they were a marginalized and persecuted minority within their respective community.

[00:01:51] Peter's audience would have been comprised of both Jews and Gentiles who were converse to Christianity, who had embraced the message of the gospel and were living as followers of Jesus Christ in the midst of a predominantly non-Christian community.

[00:02:06] They were facing social, cultural and possibly even physical challenges as a result of their commitment to Christ.

[00:02:18] Throughout the letter Peter provides encouragement, instruction and exhortation to these believers, emphasizing things such as perseverance and suffering, living holy lives, submitting to earthly authorities and remaining steadfast in their faith.

[00:02:35] He seeks to strengthen their resolve and deepen their understanding of their identity as God's chosen people, called to live as witnesses for Christ in a hostile world.

[00:02:51] Living in the world today, in many cases is the exact same scenario.

[00:02:58] The word tells us that we are in the world but not of the world, that we are to continue in a standard that was set by the Word of God as we navigate through life every day.

[00:03:14] So I wanted to cover a few verses and share my thoughts in the hope that it will prick your spirit, that you may leave our time together looking at things a little differently and strengthening your resolve to press toward the mark of the high calling.

[00:03:32] In verses 7 and 8 of 1 Peter 3, reading from the New Living Translation, it reads,

[00:03:42] In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are but she is your equal partner and God's gift of new life.

[00:03:56] Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

[00:04:02] So what does it mean to honor your wife?

[00:04:05] Honoring one's wife encompasses a holistic approach to marriage that involves respect, love, appreciation, protection, empowerment, consideration and faithfulness.

[00:04:19] It reflects the Bible's teaching on the mutual submission and sacrificial love that should characterize Christian marriages with husbands and wives mutually honoring and serving one another in love.

[00:04:34] In verse 1a, it reads, in the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husband but husbands need to be following God and living the life that is placed in the life of God.

[00:04:49] It is a reason to him before you can expect your wife to acknowledge the authority you were given. That is why verse 1b through 2 reads,

[00:04:58] that even if some refuse to obey the good news, your godly lives will speak to them without any words.

[00:05:06] They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.

[00:05:12] When your household is in order, people are blessed from the observance of how you interact with one another and how that transfers to others.

[00:05:22] Verse 8, Finally, all of you should be of one mind, sympathize with each other, love each other as brothers and sisters, be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.

[00:05:37] I am of the opinion that this is the most prevalent problem in our communities and around the world today, all of the violence, drug addiction, human trafficking, etc.

[00:05:50] All the result of us not loving one another.

[00:05:54] When this level of this association grows, it leads to indifference so we can hear of atrocities and not be moved.

[00:06:03] We can see things happening and do nothing because it doesn't directly concern us.

[00:06:10] I was watching a video on the internet and there was a young lady who walked up to an ATM machine on a very busy street where people moving back and forth

[00:06:22] and she was using an ATM machine and did all of a sudden her activity stopped and she fell to her knees and then laid out on the street.

[00:06:34] The people who were moving about this busy street never paid any attention, they just kept going about their daily lives.

[00:06:42] Finally, one gentleman walked over to her, knelt down to her, put his ear to her mouth to see if she was breathing and immediately began administering CPR.

[00:06:57] As he is doing the compressions on her chest, another gentleman walks up and he started with the breasts and still people are moving back and forth.

[00:07:07] No one is even turning to notice what's going on and after a few moments the young lady revived.

[00:07:17] By that time two or three other people had walked over to see what was going on but I think that is so indicative of where we are as a society

[00:07:29] where even a person that is in peril and obviously experience some great challenge is of no concern.

[00:07:39] That we have allowed the lack of compassion and empathy to cause us to be indifferent to things that don't have a direct effect on our family, our household or ourselves.

[00:07:54] So one way we are to defend our faith is to be loving, caring, compassionate and always willing to help.

[00:08:03] Verse 9, don't repay evil for evil.

[00:08:08] Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you.

[00:08:12] Instead pay them back with a blessing.

[00:08:15] That is what God has called you to do and He will grant you His blessing.

[00:08:21] This verse is another embodiment of what is meant by to whom much is given, much is required.

[00:08:28] We were given eternal life through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and for that we were required to hold the standards that we have been taught.

[00:08:39] Even when the other person is wrong and insulting, we are to bless them earnestly.

[00:08:47] The word says that if we do so, God will grant us His blessings.

[00:08:52] So when you retaliate and act as the world would, you not only cheat that person from seeing their love of God through you but you block a blessing that may very well be what you were praying for.

[00:09:05] In fact, the person you retaliate against might be the person who holds the key to whatever you've been asking God for.

[00:09:14] Verse 10-12,

[00:09:45] This is part of the abundant life Jesus speaks of in John 10-10.

[00:09:50] But there are conditions and requirements, most prominent being turn away from evil and do good.

[00:09:58] Such a simple concept but so challenging with our sin nature.

[00:10:03] I really like the statement of search for peace and work to maintain it in verse 11.

[00:10:09] We, peace is the foundation of endurance.

[00:10:13] If we truly believe Romans 8 and 28 which reads,

[00:10:17] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose, then peace gives us the ability to move through the tough times because we understand it came to pass.

[00:10:33] But more importantly, it shows others how our faith in God and the finished work of Jesus Christ sustains us.

[00:10:41] If I may take a sidetrack for a moment when I read Romans 8-28 yesterday the words called according to His purpose,

[00:10:51] The Holy Spirit shared with me the fact that we were not born, we were called and that we are to find our purpose.

[00:11:02] And that will give us the peace that surpasses all understanding.

[00:11:07] So no matter the circumstances that brought you to this earth, whether it was through an unplanned pregnancy or some sort of abuse situation,

[00:11:19] You were not a mistake, you were purposefully called and when he called you, you were born verses 13-14.

[00:11:28] Now who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?

[00:11:34] But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it so don't worry or be afraid of their threats.

[00:11:44] This is so appropriate for the times we live in.

[00:11:48] We have taken political correctness and not offending people to a level that no one wants to speak out against injustices or even things that are just simply wrong.

[00:12:00] It is appropriate that this is coming from Peter because he could be considered one of the most outspoken of the disciples and we need to be as bold.

[00:12:11] Romans 8 and 31 reads, what shall we say then to these things?

[00:12:16] If God be for us, who can be against us?

[00:12:21] Verse 15,

[00:12:23] Instead you must worship Christ as Lord of your life and if someone ask about your hope as a believer, always be willing to explain.

[00:12:33] What is interesting is you never know who is watching you.

[00:12:37] They hear what you say in terms of being a believer in Jesus Christ but they watch what you do.

[00:12:43] So you should not only turn from evil and do good, but carry the standard that the Word of God and being a believer entails.

[00:12:53] It is the standard that God raised up against the flood.

[00:12:57] So be ready to share your story.

[00:13:00] Be ready to share your story.

[00:13:03] You don't have to quote chapter in verse, unless the Spirit moves you but be willing to be transparent as you are comfortable and listen to them as well.

[00:13:15] Don't let it just be a one sided story.

[00:13:18] If they are asking you about how you have faith, how you have hope, how you are resilient in the times that they know that you are going through.

[00:13:28] It is because that they have a need as well.

[00:13:31] And we must be sensitive to that need and always willing to come to their aid.

[00:13:36] Brothers and sisters, I thank you for spending this time with me and I look forward to our next conversation.

[00:13:43] Until then, be blessed.

[00:13:46] I've wandered far away from the heart.

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[00:14:05] We look forward to hearing from you and invite you to write us at Harvest International Post Office Box 6690, Ocala, Florida 34478.

[00:14:16] Again, that's Harvest International Post Office Box 6690, Ocala, Florida 34478.

[00:14:46] Open wide, I know love, Lord, I'm coming home.