"When Christ Dwells Within"

Learning to live for your faith is as important as learning to die for your faith. Are you ready to stand up for what you believe? Can you do it with love, or do you sound condescending and judgmental? Set apart Christ in your heart.

When Christ Dwells Within

(1 Pet. 3:13-17)

Intro:

A.  According to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary that as of 2006 there is an average of 171,000 Christians worldwide are martyred for their faith per year.

B.  In 1915 entire villages of Armenian Christians who were lined up and given the choice, “Christ or Muhammad?” and immediately shot if they chose Christ. “In 1977 the same choice was offered to Anglican Archbishop Janani Luwun of Uganda, who was shot by the national leader himself, Idi Amin.”

C.  Persecution comes in many forms.  Christians throughout the world suffer economic loss, imprisonment, torture and death just because they publicly admit their faith.  Then we come along in our nice cars, living in our nice homes, enjoying all of our nice technology and sing songs like “This World is not my Home.”  Really?  What do we mean when we say this world is not our home?  Phil. 3:20-21.  Can we make that statement?

D.  As we come to Peter’s letter, he encourages these Christians to understand submission and suffering for their faith.

I.  Don’t Let Fear Drive You

A.  What drives you?  For too many people, fear becomes a driving force.  Let’s come back to Peter (verses 13-14).  Peter is ready to unload on these people that they should not be surprised at the suffering they must endure.  Look over at chapter 4:12-13, 19.  Who is going to harm you?  The people who don’t like the way you live.  Being a Christian is radical.  Jesus told people who wanted to be his disciple they must, “deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”  It is so out there that it takes dying to self in order to live for Christ.  Paul would say in Rom. 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

B.  For many people it is fear that keeps them from being all that they can be for God.  Just walk through the pages of the Bible and see how fear stopped or hurt people from living out their faith.

1.   It was fear that caused Abraham to ask his Sarah to lie about being his wife.

2.  It was fear that caused the Hebrew people to come back from 40 days in the Promised Land and tell the people they could not go in to possess.

3.  It was fear that kept King Saul in a tent while Goliath taunted Israel in the valley.

4.  It was fear that caused Peter to warm himself by a fire while Jesus was question at the home of Caiaphas.

C.  Peter tells us “Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened.”  It is a quote from Is. 8:12.  The king of Assyria is marching against Judah and the king of Judah must decide if he is going to form an alliance.  Isaiah says to the king and the people don’t form his alliance, don’t fear what they fear (or their threats), but instead let the Lord God Almighty be the one whom you fear and reverence.  That is the calling of Peter to you and me.

II.  When Christ Dwells Within

A.  Peter’s words, “but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”  I cannot sanctify or make holy Christ.  Jesus already is holy, but what I can do is to understand this idea of sanctification as setting something or someone apart for a holy purpose.  Now in that light I can set Jesus apart from all others and understand what it means to make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

B.  Brethren, the world we live in is trying so hard to claim our hearts.  Satan worked hard over the years of persecuting Christians, but I believe he is working just as hard at giving us the desires of heart to draw us away from God.  The forbidden fruit was pleasing to the eye and a way of gaining knowledge.  Boy, sometimes we are persecuted by the things we want as much as by the pain inflicted upon us.

C.  I don’t make God holy, I am treating him as holy.  What do you believe your life would be like if you tried to the absolute best of your ability to make Jesus the Lord of your life?  If Jesus was truly your master, would it affect your words,  jokes, thoughts, desires, actions, or worship?  If Jesus was Lord all the time in your heart how would that change your prayer life, your testimony to others, your desire to witness to the lost or even to see people as lost?

III.  The Answer

A.  If Jesus directs my thoughts, actions, worship, prayers, attendance, excuses or any other part of my conscious life, then people will question me.

B.  You might remember a phrase that went something like, “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”   There are times when it is appropriate to respond and there times when it is appropriate to be silent.  When I respond I then have to determine how to respond.  A person attacks you because of your beliefs.  They are quick to label you, belittle you and set you up to seek to get you angry.  So you respond in the same way they attacked you, how often will that solve the problem and bring about glory to God?

C.  Remember what Peter had already said about Jesus in 2:21-23?  Now Peter cautions Christians to respond appropriately.  First, be prepared to give an answer to the hope (or the salvation) you have.  When someone questions or attacks your belief on salvation, have an answer.  But when you give that answer do so with gentleness and respect.

D.  Can you tell me what it means to believe in Jesus?  Can you open your Bible and tell your story of salvation?  When people see you having hope when so many around you are living in fear and stress, can you share the good news of what Jesus has taught you without sounding condescending and self-righteous?

Conclusion:

A.  Verse 17 says, “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”  Walk through the hall of faith in Hebrews 11 and see people who suffered for doing good.  Look at the life of people like Stephen, James and others who died simply because people hated their faith.  Consider the suffering of Paul because he would not keep quiet about his devotion to Christ.

B.  What do we face?  Most of us do not know suffering because of our faith.  We are called to live for Christ who died for our sins so that we can live with Christ for all eternity.

C.  Let us be a church that is doing good.  Let us set aside Jesus as Lord of our lives and this church and live it, no matter the cost.  I want it said of us that we are a church that is faithful unto death, not a lukewarm one that God does not want.