Practicing submission 5 – Submission snapshot
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-17
Title: Practicing submission 5 – 1 Peter 3:13-17 – Submission snapshot
Introduction: Submission is a vital action of the willing heart of the servant of the Lord. Lisa gave me a quote that I believe is how we all feel sometimes, ladies in the Ladies Bible study have already seen this it comes from the Breaking Free Study of Beth Moore she says, “Submission and subservience are to me as easy as cuddling a litter of baby porcupines.” You ever feel like?? I love that quote
Submission is a prickly proposition even for believers. What we have learned so far helps us understand the need, but the practice is still difficult. As is often the case in Bible study, the receiving of information is not nearly as hard as the application of it.
Central Idea: The submission servant of the Lord stands firm against the trials and sufferings of this evil world.
Main Transition: This morning we return to our study on submission and perhaps there is no more important day to our study then this one. This morning we take a snapshot of the action of submission in the servant of God. We have covered much ground in our study but today is a day to apply to our lives, each and every believer must be engaged in this kind of submission. We begin with submission with respect, and then an understanding that our submission rests on a firm foundation, and finally submission resists disobedience.
I. Submission with respect (13-14)
A. Respect from the ungodly (13)
1. Peter takes these believers that have been scattered by those that oppose them because they make a likely target and asks a question “who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
a. The way he words the question is in a way that indicates that it is the rare person who seeks to harm those that do good.
b. Even in a hostile world and even the ungodly of that world are slow to harm those that contribute beneficially to the society.
2. Peter reveals that those that he is referring to are zealous to do right, this word means that they burn with desire to do right.
a. The submissive servant of the Lord is zealous in their pursuit of obedience.
b. Peter is continuing with his exhortation of earlier, if you want to reach your friends and neighbors for Christ they must not only hear the message, but see the difference, practicing submission by zealously pursuing right is one way of accomplishing this.
Illustration: I share this to remind you of those times were you have the opportunity to do good and either took it or failed and the effect that your response has. A few years ago I had made a purchase at a gas station and paid with a $10 bill, the teller thought that I had given her a $20 and was stunned when I gave her back the extra money. Her comment was, I would have kept it and everyone else would have too. To this woman she saw a difference.
B. Resentment from some (14a)
1. However few they may be there are those that are still going to punish believers who pursuer righteousness.
2. Peter says that if you encounter those and they cause you to suffer for righteousness sake you are blessed.
a. You are probably thinking what I did, how is that a blessing, do good and suffer for it.
b. The word for blessing refers to being honored and again we thinks how is this being honored? This is the same word Jesus used in the beatitudes of Matthew 5
c. verse 10 of Matt. 5 says, Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. You are Privileged and honored because of your standing before God.
C. Remain without fear (14b)
1. When those times of persecution come no doubt fear and worry come as well, But Peter who had been there and would soon be there again says that there is nothing to fear.
2. He quotes Isaiah 8 where God tells Isaiah that Israel should not fear even against their enemies.
3. Believer, you are safe and secure in the wings of almighty God, whatever trouble persecution brings it does not change or remove your eternal position. We can remain without fear because we are protected eternally by God.
Transition: Many times in our submission to the Lord we stop short because of what others may say, or do. But believer, you have a special position and protection from the Lord. Peter’s challenge is that the world will see the obedient submissive servant and know that there is something different about them. Let them see Christ in you.
II. Submission rests on a firm foundation (15)
A. Submission requires sanctification
1. Peter’s telling aspect of submission kicks into high gear as he begins a list of actions of the practice of submission.
2. The top of the list is sanctification – this word means to set apart - It’s use at the time of writing was from the pagan people who would construct a building and set it apart as a religious building, temple, or house.
3. Peter is instructing that believers are to set apart their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Jehovah, Very God, in their hearts, giving first place to Him in obedience of Life.
a. Jesus Christ is to Lord and Master of our lives.
Illustration: Many say I am a follower of Jesus Christ, no doubt Judas did, Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts said that they were. But they do not make Jesus Christ their Lord and Master. May be you desire fame and glory, you are not serving Christ you are serving self. Last week I really started to dwell on this subject in the back of mind and I realized that people desire the glory of being a leader, but they don’t want the work and the sacrifice, the tears and the heart aches. What it boils down to is this, they don’t want to practice submission. Set Christ apart, He should have first place in our lives and in our hearts and minds.
B. Submission is based on sound doctrine
1. Once you have set Christ apart you must be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you.
a. This is a legal term used of defense lawyers speaking on behalf of their clients.
b. The client is reliant upon his lawyer to say what is right and defend their case.
2. This means that you are the representative of Christ and His Word.
a. You show Christ in your life and people wonder, you have the obligation and the privilege of defending the faith.
b. You are to give a defense of the hope that is in you. Hope is not the futile desire to see something happen, as we tend to think of it today. Hope is the assurance of things to come, As a believer you know that you will spend eternity in heaven, you know that you are an heir and receive an inheritance. That gives you something others want, share it with them.
C. Submission speaks the gospel
1. Knowing where your hope is based, and having set Christ apart in your life give you the opportunity to respond to the questions with gentleness and reverence.
2. Sometimes the defense will be a joyous testimony, other times it may be in response to an action that you will not partake in and the criticism flow.
3. As a testimony for the sake of Christ share the gospel gently and with reverence, the point of pushing you is to see if you are truly different, let them see through you and to Christ.
Transition: Peter has put us in the porcupines den this morning. He is not saying pastor’s defend the faith, or Christian workers, he is looking at all of us, you included and saying you as a believer who must be practicing submission to God are to set Christ apart in your life defend that you are anxiously awaiting that you know is to come, and use those opportunities to share the gospel, with gentleness and reverence.
III. Submission resists disobedience (16-17)
A. Submit with a pure heart (16)
1. As a believer you belong to a group that the world hates and Satan works to defeat.
Illustration: The further we get from the terrible events of 9/11 the more True believers are being lumped together with radical Islam. Many, especially more liberal minded people say that there is really no difference between the two groups. Lies and rumors are spread and soon we will be avoided and ridiculed and rejected.
2. But you are keep a conscience – this means that we are we are to be pure in our actions. Don’t let what is said about you be true. If you want to reveal what a Christian is to your lost friend prove it by you obedient life to Christ.
B. Shame awaits those who practice evil (16)
1. There are many reasons to practice submission and to live with a pure conscience but one of them is that those who start the ugly rumors about Christians will be put to shame.
Illustration: Kenneth Wuest says this about this verse, “In the matter of Christianity and one’s testimony to it by life and word, these critics of the Bible may be put to shame in that their misrepresentations of Christians and of Christianity will be shown to be wrong.
2. You can whine that we as Christians are getting a raw deal or you can prove by your life that the rumors are wrong and that the critics are wrong and by doing so you prove that Christ is real and you are changed because of Him.
C. Practice submission even while suffering (17)
1. Peter returns to part of the argument he started earlier, if you do wrong and are punished for it,, there is no good in that, but if you do good and still you are punished, God finds favor, in other words God is pleased that you are a servant of His willing to practice submission even while you suffer.
2. Suffering may come, but Peter is clear that God is still in control over it and you are to do good to show Christ to a dark heart that needs the light of Christ to be shown in you to open it for the sake of the Gospel.
Conclusion: The practice of Submission is hard work, its active work, but the reward of watching one come to know the Lord by observing Christ in you is worth the cost. You can go sit in the porcupine den, but all you get is stuck with a million tiny barbed quills, to practice submission is to hear the words, well done good and faithful servant. When I was a kid we had show and tell in school. All of us would bring something to show the rest of the class. Peter has done that same thing throughout this series, He has shown us what submission looks like to our bosses, to the government, to our spouse, and to the body of Christ. But today He told us what we are to be like, next week he will once again show it, but he only does so after we understand that we are to practice submission in a very specific way.