Holiness in an unholy world (6)

That you may inherit a blessing...

Two weeks ago we looked at 5 keys to unity: Being like-minded, sympathy, brotherly love for one another, compassion, and humility. Peter looked at positives that Christians can do to promote unity.

This morning, he changes gears a little bit to things that we should avoid. Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:8-12

1 Peter 3:8–12 NIV

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Things to avoid

1 Peter 3:9 NIV

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Do not repay wrongs with wrongs...

I saw a T-shirt that read, “I don’t take revenge, I just get even.” This is what comes natural. When I was in Kindergarten, a girl on the School Bus pulled my hair, I did what was natural. I pulled her’s. Not a good idea.

Often times, revenge doesn’t take place right away. A person will often wait weeks, months, and even years for the best opportunity to strike.

It starts out with an offense, and maybe the person that hurt you deserves to be punished for what they did. If we allow the offense to fester, we allow a root of bitterness to become established. This can happen to any of us if we allow it.

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Satan gets his foot in the door when we go to bed angry.

I want to use an example today of a man that allowed offense to control him.

Joab

Joab was the General of King David’s army. Joab and David were cousins. He had two brothers: Abishai and Asahel. These men were in David’s elite group of Thirty men.

Often we think that David became the second King of Israel without a hitch, but that’s not the way that it happened. After Saul and Jonathan died in a battle against the Philistines, David was anointed king over Judah. This was his tribe.

Ish-Bosheth, one of KIng Saul’s sons, became the king over Israel. Abner, who had been the commander of Saul’s army, supported Ish-Bosheth.

There was division. There was animosity between the two groups. Saul had hunted David and his men like you’d hunt wild animals, and it was Abner who was his General.

It wasn’t healthy for Israel to be divided so somebody had to take charge. In 2 Samuel 3, there was a scuffle that was taking place and David’s troops were overpowering Abner and his troops. Asahel, Joab’s brother who could run like a deer, was in hot pursuit of Abner. His purpose was to kill Abner. He was faster than Abner and he was gaining on Abner. Finally, Abner told him to chase after somebody else, but he wouldn’t relent. then Abner killed him with the butt of his spear.

These were men of war. Abner knew that it was to kill or be killed. Once Joab and Abishai knew what had happened they pursued Abner, but the men of the tribe of Benjamin came to his aid.

Later, after David and Abner had made peace, Joab couldn’t believe it so he took matters into his own hands. He brought him back to talk to him privately, and then he killed him.

It was also Joab that killed David’s rebellious son, Absalom even after being ordered by David to bring him back alive.

Maybe you’ve heard it his way, “Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.”

When Jesus was about to be arrested, Peter drew his sword and cut off the High Priest’s servant’s ear.

Matthew 26:52 NKJV

But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Hinduism has a word that has become very popular. It’s called Karma. Basically, it means, “What you do will come back to you.”

Jesus turned it around,

Matthew 7:12 NIV

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Forgiveness

Let’s stop and take a quick look at forgiveness. Ultimately Joab was put to death because of the evil that he had done.

If we allow bitterness into our lives, even though nobody else may see it, God sees it, and it will destroy our relationships with others, and ultimately it will destroy us.

Luke 6:37–42 NIV

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

It’s easy to look and to see the faults in others, but we must remember that in and of ourselves we can do no good thing. There is none righteous, no not one! If it weren’t for Jesus sacrifice on the cross for us, we have no forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Peter 3:9 NIV

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Why should we repay evil with blessing?

To this you were called. Jesus is our great example. 1 Peter 2:23

1 Peter 2:23 NIV

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father so that we can inherit a blessing. When He suffered, He made no threats. He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Jesus endured so that we could inherit eternal life.

In Genesis 12:1-3, God made a promise to Abram. He spoke of a blessing. We inherit this blessing in Christ.

Genesis 12:1–3 NIV

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

How do we repay evil with blessing?

Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16.

He says, 1 Peter 3:10-12

1 Peter 3:10–12 NIV

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Peter mentions three keys to this blessing. He says that whoever would love life and see good days must:

1. Keep our tongues

from speaking evil and telling lies.

James 3:1–8 NIV

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Peter says mot to repay insult for insult. When we are insulted, it can be very hurtful. As a child on the playground, I used to respond to insult with insult. “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Not necessarily true. Names can be very hurtful. if we allow them to, names can define us. We need to take every thought captive, and I believe we need to take every word spoken against us captive.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Our words are powerful

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Our words have the power to bring destruction into the lives of others, and they have the power and they have the power to bring life to others. Let’s speak words that bring life to others.

2. Turn from evil...

and do good.

Let’s look for opportunities to do what is just and what is right.

Romans 12:14–17 NIV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

What can we be doing in Lanigan? What can we be doing in LeRoy? What can we be doing in our sphere of influence to make a difference for the kingdom of God? Is the something that God has been speaking to your heart to do?

Sometimes we might feel inadequate for the task so we like Moses ask God to send somebody else who is more equipped. If God calls us do good, He will also equip us to do it. Let’s keep our hearts open for opportunities to do good to others.

Galatians 6:9–10 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

3. Seek peace and pursue it

Romans 12:18–21 NIV

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A HUNGRY ENEMY

Jeff Strite

A woman wrote to "Pulpit Helps" to explain a miraculous lesson her family experienced. During one of their family Bible readings as new Christians, they ran across the verse, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20 RSV). She writes:

Ours sons, 7 and 10 at the time, were especially puzzled. "Why should you feed your enemy?" they wondered. My husband and I wondered too, but the only answer John could think of to give the boys was, "We’re supposed to because God says so." It never occurred to us that we would soon learn why.

Day after day John Jr. came home from school complaining about a classmate who sat behind him in 5th grade. "Bob keeps jabbing me when Miss Smith isn’t looking. One of these days, when we’re out on the play ground, I’m going to jab him back.

I was ready to go down to the school and jab Bob myself. Obviously the boy was a brat. Besides, why wasn’t Miss Smith doing a better job with her kids? I’d better give her an oral jab, too, at the same time!"

I was still fuming over this injustice to John Jr. when his 7 year old brother spoke up: "Maybe he should feed his enemy." The 3 of us were startled.

None of us was sure about this "enemy" business. It didn’t seem that an enemy would be in the 5th grade. An enemy was someone who was way off... well, somewhere.

We all looked at John. Since he was the head of the family , he should come up with the solution. But the only answer he could offer was the same one he had given before: "I guess we should because God said so."

"Well," I asked John Jr., "do you know what Bob likes to eat? If you’re going to feed him, you may as well get something he likes." "Jelly beans," he almost shouted, "Bob just loves jelly beans."

So we bought a bag of jelly beans for him to take to school the next day, and decided that the next time Bob jabbed John Jr., John was simply to turn around and deposit the bag on his "enemy’s" desk. We would see whether or not this enemy feeding worked.

The next afternoon, the boys rushed home from the school bus and…” they could hardly wait to tell us what had happened. When Bob jabbed John Jr. he turned around and gave him the jelly beans.

What happened next? “Bob didn’t say anything. He was dumbfounded.” Eventually John Jr and Bob became best friends. “I guess this enemy feeding thing really does work after all.”

Proverbs 16:7 NIV

When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

Let’s be peacemakers. It’s not always easy to make peace, but as far as it depends on us, let’s live at peace with everybody. In James 1:5

James 1:5 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 3:17-18 says this about godly wisdom.

James 3:17–18 NIV

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

We should not only seek peace, but we need to pursue it. Let’s do everything in our power to obtain peace.

Let’s look at

God’s Part

1. He watches over us

Psalm 34:15–16 NIV

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.

When we turn from evil and pursue righteousness, God watches over us. Psalm 32:7

Psalm 32:8 NIV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 121:1–4 NIV

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

His ears are attentive

Psalm 34:15–16 NIV

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

1 John 5:14–15 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If God is for us who can be against us?

To close, no matter how hard it is to do what is right, as we submit to God we can resist evil and do good. In all these things, we are more than conquerors though Christ who love us.

Luke 6:27–28 NIV

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:36 NIV

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Mercy is extended to those who don’t deserve it. Let’s be mercy to those who have shown us no mercy. By doing this, we show that we are children of the Father.

Let’s pray!