Zealous

1. The Hook

ME: Help me fill in the blanks of these famous quotes.

“You don’t make 100% of the shots you don’t take” — Wayne Gretzky

“Life is like a box of chocolates” - Forrest Gump

“Get busy living or get busy dying”

“Practice Makes Perfect” -

Let’s dig into this quote for just a second. Why is there so much practice before a game? In football you practice for 5 days then have 1 game? Why is that? Because coaches want to make sure you are prepared for every scenario possible. Why is there training and onboarding before you officially start your job? Because they want to make sure you are prepared for things that may be thrown at you.

WE:

When you were in school do you remember having to do safety drills? You had your tornado drills, fire drills, some states have earthquake drills and back in the day you had the nuclear bomb drills. Now we have lock down drills in case of a bad person coming into a building and trying to harm folks.

2. The Context

3. The Text

1 Peter 3:13–15 “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

4. The Application

“PRE-ACTION LEADS TO RIGHT REACTION”

PREACTIONS: These are the things we need to be doing beforehand to help us when tough times come.

Become zealous for good works.

I want us to make sure we understand this. Peter is not saying do some good when it is convenient for you. He doesn’t say do some good works when you are voluntold to.

He says be passionate about doing good works. If you can develop your own passion for good works you will be wanting to create opportunities for yourself to do good.

Find what you like to do and see how you can apply that to good works for God.

Know you are blessed

I love this point. It reminds me of the quote from Francis Bacon in the 16th century. “Knowledge itself is power”

Blessed ≠ protected from hardship

Blessed = approved by God

Blessed = on the right side of eternity

Even though you may be in a current struggle think of how many blessings you have

Make Christ Holy in your hearts

Is Jesus the loudest voice in your life? Do you consult God before taking action and making big decisions?

Know the hope that you have

REACTIONS: These are the things that will happen because of the Pre-actions we have done beforehand.

No fear

We won’t have any fear of those around us. Because we will understand the answer of that question who is there that can really harm us? NO one.

No trouble

This is not to say that we will not have any hardships in our life. This is not saying that we will end up never having another trial. What this is saying is that our view of those trials will be different.

I taught on Psalm 73 not long ago. In the first 15 verses of that Psalm you find Asaph struggling and complaining about all the troubles he has had in life. Then he has this sanctuary moment where he is able to see how is life with God is important to his eternal destination.

What is fascinating to me and why i am telling you this…Asaph didn’t have all the troubles taken out of his life but rather he understood the blessing he has a man of God.

Ready to make a defense

Gentle / Reverent

5. The Invitation

FInd