Alien Behavior

1 Peter 2:11-12

Introduction:

1 Peter = hope. in the first division of the book we see that hope is diplayed in our salvation.

(1:1-2) In Our Calling

(1:3-5) In the New Birth

(1:6-9) By Trials

(1:10-12) Through the Prophets

(1:13-16) By Obedience

(1:17-21) By Fear of the Lord

(1:22-25) In Love

(2:1-3) In Growth

(2:4-8) as Living stones

(2:9-10) As Royal Priests

And today we will see that hope is diplayed to a lost world by our behavior. Peter Exhorts us in two ways to keep our behavior alien.

I. Behavior to Avoid (11)

A. Avoid Lust

• Urge = exhort, encourage. He is speaking the truth in love. Notice the term "Beloved". He loves these people.
• Lust is anything thing that we desire more than God. It could be power, pleasure, acceptance, being liked by other people, sex, looking good, drugs, exercise, food, being thin... you name it.
• Abstain = like keeping a ship from shore. We must keep a safe distance between the two.

B. Because it has declared War against you.

• the soul—The regenerated soul is besieged by sinful lusts. Like Samson in the lap of Delilah, the believer, the moment that he gives way to fleshly lusts, has the locks of his strength shorn, and ceases to maintain that spiritual separation from the world and the flesh of which the Nazarite vow was the type.
  A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments

It is not waging war against your body, it is waging war against your soul. It is primarily a spiritual battle. These lusts through temptation want to destroy your relationship with God by promising a momentary benefit that never really satisfies.

C. Because it is no longer your War to fight.

You are aliens and strangers. This is not your world and it is not your war. If you enter into it, it will be a quagmire like the Vietnam conflict. Leave it alone! Get away! Run! 2 Timothy 2:22.

What are the fleshly lust that easily entangle you? Whatever they are, they are out to kill you spiritually speaking. Peter says to avoid them. Like the ship, put as much ocean between you and your lust as you can. Ships run free the deeper the water.

II. Behavior to Promote (12)

A. Beautiful Behavior

This is beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life. We are to be winsome and apealing to the lost world. They will not be morally attracted to our Savior if we are as morally ugly as they are! God has made us beautiful by cleansing us with blood of Jesus, so let's be beautiful! Let's turn some heads and have them salivating over us because of our holy lives. Let the world see the kindness of Jesus in our being nice to the "undesireable" people of this world. Let the world see the patience of Jesus when we hold our tongue and not lash out someone who has hurt us. Let the world see the peace of Jesus when we face tragedy in our lives with a calm assurance. Let them see goodness of Jesus as we overcome the moral defects in our lives.

B. Glorifying Behavior

• You will be slandered
  What do you think of Canadian or out-of-state drivers? If they drive slow or tailgate you, what do you blame it on?
  What does the world think of pro-lifers? "It is so evil not to allow a woman to choose what happenes to her own body." How about what the world thinks about those who believe marriage is between one man and one woman only? "It is evil to not let 2 people who love each other get married, and it is a hate crime to say anything against homosexuality." The world thinks that we are evil!
• You will be observed
  Good deeds are not for gaining favor with God, they are for gaining favor with a lost world.
  In the summer of 1805, a number of Indian chiefs and warriors met in council at Buffalo Creek, New York to hear a presentation of the Christian message by a Mr. Cram from the Boston Missionary Society. After the sermon, a response was given by Red Jacket, one of the leading chiefs. Among other things, the chief said:

“Brother, you say that there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the Book?

“Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.”

Wiersbe, W. W.

As unbelievers stand before God in judgment, may they glorify God on account of you by saying, "God you loved me enough to send ___________. I could tell by the way that they lived that they belonged to you. They were different and they showed what You are like, but I rejected you anyway."

Every day this week when you wake up, say to yourself, "I am an alien and a stranger here on earth; I am an alien here in the United States, I am an alien here in the State of Vermont. I commit my self today to be different by abstaining from my fleshly lusts which are... and I also commit today to having my behavior be beautiful to a lost world."