How to Live Right When Things Are Wrong

Introduction

Background of Text:

In our message from last week we saw how even when rejection comes from others due to our stand for Christ, we can find our acceptance from God.

As we live out the lives that God intends us to, we can show forth the marvelous light that saved us, and shed light to others who are walking in darkness around us.

Peter continues with this same line of thinking as he reminds these suffering Christians of the importance of their testimony before the lost.

How that they can rise above their circumstances and situations and still live a life for the Lord regardless of the ridicule it might bring.

The title of our message this morning is “How to Live Right When Things Are Wrong.”

READ I PETER 2:11-12

PRAYER

-In order for something to grow and thrive, it is crucial that they are placed in the right surroundings for that to happen.

-There are some plants that may thrive in a certain area of the world, that if it were planted in our area, it would die out.

-I think of animals. Polar bears for instance. They thrive in a colder climate and environment. In fact, scientists said that if they migrated south, they would have a harder time surviving.

-People. Can you imagine moving to a country other than the USA? The differences in language, culture, and fitting in. It would be hard to thrive in an environment like that.

We grow and thrive in environments where we are comfortable. Where we are confident. Where it is conducive for growing.

But in our text, we see quite the opposite. These people were placed in surroundings that caused them to feel alienated among their own people.

They were in an environment where it would be difficult to live out their faith. Yet, we find that they are called to grow and thrive in an environment that was less than ideal to do that.

Someone has wisely said:

“For the nonbeliever, the world was nothing more than a lust filled physical playground , but for the believer the world is a spiritual battleground.”

How do you live right when things are wrong? How can you be a Christian when others around you aren’t?

Transition

Today we will look at Three Characteristics that should be true of a child of God as they live holy lives in an unholy context.

A Child of God Must Remember Their Position (v. 11a)

All throughout the book of I Peter, Peter uses this terminology to describe the people of God in the world they were living in. As he called them strangers and pilgrims it would remind them that their ultimate citizenship was not on this earth, but in heaven. That was their position.

In verses 9-10 we looked at how God views us as His children. We are royal, we are chosen, we are peculiar people. Since we have been saved we should show forth that light to others. That is our position according to God.

A constant theme in this book is the author reminding the audience, who they were in Christ.

As these people would live in a world that opposed God, and rejected morality, if they weren’t careful they’d get sucked into that same mentality. They would live apart from God’s plan for them.

They would dwell in the darkness instead of showing forth the light with their life. My, how this applies to the context of our culture and our day.

There are those who oppose the things of God. We live in a culture that rejects morality. We as Bible-believing Christians, don’t really fit into the mold or agenda that they have.

We are pilgrims, we are strangers, because this isn’t our home. Instead of God immediately moving us to heaven after we get saved, He instead leaves us here to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Instead of focusing on who we aren’t in this world’s eyes, we need to focus on who we are in God. We as God’s children need to remember who we are in Jesus.

Jesus has a plan for us. Jesus has a purpose for us. We weren’t placed in this world to just blend in with everyone else. We have been divinely placed in this world to make a difference in the lives of those who are lost.

Even though the surroundings that these people were in were less than ideal for a Christian to thrive in. And even though taking a stand for God wouldn’t have been a comfortable task, they needed to remember their position.

Church, let me remind you of your position today as well. God didn’t save you just to sit and suck air. He saved you so that you would show forth His marvelous light to those who are lost.

You are chosen, you are royal, you are holy, you are special, and you may not fit in with this world’s agenda. But you were never meant to. You were called to be different.

May we as a church be different in this sense, that our lives bring glory to God, and bring others to Christ.

-I can remember especially as a teenager, my mom would utter these words before I left the house to go somewhere: “Don’t forget who you are.”

-Being the upstanding child I was I would respond, “I won’t, I’m Michael Bennett.”

-What was she trying to say? Don’t forget how you’ve been raised. Don’t forget what you’ve been taught. Don’t forget whose son you are. Don’t forget whose house you’re in. Remember who you are.

This morning I challenge you and me, don’t forget who you are. Before you walk out that door tomorrow for another week of work, remember who you are.

You are a child of God, you are precious in His sight. You are a son or daughter of the king. You are chosen. You are saved. You are loved. You are called. You are highly favored. You are special.

You are a stranger and pilgrim in this world. But don’t let that detour you from your purpose and mission that God has called you to.

We Must Remember Our Position. It does not matter what the world says about us, it matters what God says about us.

A Child of God Must Have the Right Passions (v. 11b)

One evidence that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world is shown in the second part of this verse. We are at war in our own homeland. The battle that we are fighting is not against other people, rather it’s against ourselves, the flesh.

Ungodly passions. These things try to destroy our soul. Peter warns these believers to stay away from these lusts.

It’s been said, when we get saved God saves our soul, but He doesn’t save our flesh.

Even after salvation we sin. We have wrong thoughts. We commit wrong actions. We do things we shouldn’t. This is a constant battle that will be fought to our grave. It’s a full out war to guard our souls.

In a moment we’ll look at verse 12 and see its application, but it speaks of having a right lifestyle so that others will see your good works and be led to Christ. But in that verse it also points out that there will be those who speak evil against you.

Church, I’m telling you, the world has enough that they hate Christians for because of our stand on the Bible, may we not give them ammunition to speak evil against us even more because we commit evil.

With that context in mind, Peter is trying to help these suffering Christians to understand the importance of getting their passions in check. Because if they had ungodly passions, they would end up doing ungodly things.

We saw this same subject addressed in chapter 1. Peter told the people to gird up the loins of their minds. And as they did their passions would be right, which in turn would cause them to live right, to be holy as God is holy.

The way they got their passions right was by directing their focus to the Lord. By remembering all that was said in the first section of that chapter.

Reminding themselves of who Jesus was. Reminding themselves of what He did for them on the cross. Remembering that there was a heaven to gain.

And with this thinking it would change their passions. We saw at the beginning of chapter 2 the illustration of the baby and its milk. And how we ought to have the same desire for the Word of God in our lives.

And as we take in the Word and we see God’s grace and goodness displayed, we have even more of an appetite for the Word. And as our appetite grows for the Bible our appetite for maliciousness decreases.

The Word changes our passions. Jesus changes our passions. What we dwell on changes our passions. It is a heart issue.

There are so many things that this world has to offer that could steer us in the wrong direction. So many things that could carry us away from the right passions.

As children of God we must guard against the lust of the flesh. Why would a lost world be interested in salvation if they can’t see the difference it’s made in your life and mine?

May our passion for Jesus being greater than any other passion in this world.

A Child of God Must Demonstrate Right Practices (v. 12)

There were those who would speak evil against these believers, even though they had a good testimony. No doubt the stand they took on the Word of God and the way it contradicted these people’s lives was what caused them to slander these Christians.

But Peter tells them, “Even though they’ll slander you, you keep a good testimony. You do good works, and maybe, just maybe, these same people will see it and glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Some of you may be familiar with the name Randy Alcorn. He is a Christian author of several books. He posted the following on his facebook page on Friday and I believe it encapsulates what verse 12 is saying.

-Here in my home state of Oregon, recent record-breaking fires have burned more than 800 square miles, and over 500,000 people — over 10 percent of the state's population — are under an evacuation warning or order. Our state could certainly use your prayers.

-When I stopped by my home church yesterday, I witnessed them providing refreshments and space and help for hundreds of people and their animals who have evacuated and are now relocated on our church property.

-It made me very proud that God‘s people are helping, and I truly believe that people will come to faith in Jesus as a result. Perhaps many will see that Christians are not the selfish hypocrites that many think them to be; they are caring followers of Jesus, who offers life to all. God is at work in dark times.

How true is that? Those who don’t know the Lord think of Christians in a certain way. Hypocrite. Bigot. Judgmental. Hateful. Closed-Minded. Holier than thou.

The way to change their mind? Show them by your good works. Live the right way.

As we show forth the marvelous light, our prayer is that there will be those who come alongside out of darkness and do the same.

Conclusion

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Hold Up the Light

I remember hearing of a man at sea who was very sea-sick. If there is a time when a man feels that he cannot do any work for the Lord it is then—in my opinion. While this man was sick he heard that a man had fallen overboard. He was wondering if he could do anything to help to save him. He laid hold of a light, and held it up on the port-hole.

The drowning man was saved. When this man got over his attack of sickness he was up on deck one day, and was talking to the man who was rescued. The saved man gave this testimony. He said he had gone down the second time, and was just going down again for the last time, when he put out his hand. Just then, he said, some one held a light at the porthole, and the light fell on his hand. A man caught him by the hand and pulled him into the lifeboat.

It seemed a small thing to do to hold up the light; yet it saved the man’s life. If you cannot do some great thing you can hold the light for some poor, perishing drunkard, who may be won to Christ and delivered from destruction. Let us take the torch of salvation and go into these dark homes, and hold up Christ to the people as the Savior of the world.