Rule of Engagement 1Peter 3:13-17
We live in a world that is hostile to the worship of and obedience to Jesus (not god necessarily, but Jesus Christ). Secular humanism has beaten down the life principles of submission to the Word of God and recognition of the only Way of God, Jesus. The process has killed values and knowledge / meaning. The result has been a degenerated society, promoted decadence, celebrated depravity, and a love affair with violence for the sake of violence.
Francis Schaeffer warned in his book, How Should We then Live? , that the result of modern man's loss of meaning and values would have a result that many will overlook – that result: “...that the elite will exist. Society cannot stand chaos. Some group or some person will fill the vacuum. An elite will offer us arbitrary absolutes, and who will stand in its way?” (published by Crossway, 1976) Christians will face more and more hostility from civil authorities and from unbelievers in the increasingly ungodly culture.
What is the strategy laid out in 1Peter?
HAVE A PASSION FOR GOODNESS. “...zealous for what is good” (ESV)
l Good – agathos = goodly, benefactor, kind, kindly
l Psalm37:3 “Trust in the LORD, and do good,”; 2Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”; Galatians 5:22 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
l It is not self-righteousness. It is a God-enabled zeal / intentionality and intensity which produces a godly life – the aim of all believers and which results in loss of appetite for the world's ungodly attractions.
- Like CT Studd and the Cambridge Seven to China Inland Missions, then speaking then Central Africa http://www.traveltheroad.com/missions/missionaries/studd.php
= Lottie Moon from Virgina Plantation to North China died 50 pounds in harbor of Kobe, Japan 24 December 1912 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottie_Moon
HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER FOR RIGHT OR WRONG. “...if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.”
Some examples of willingness to suffer for right or wrong:
l John Gibson Paton (1824-1907) Missionary to the New Hebrides:
Mr. Dixon, an elder in the church, told Paton, “Cannibals will eat you!”
(This was only nineteen years after two missionaries to the New Hebrides Islands were clubbed to death and eaten as soon as they landed, still within sight of the ship they disembarked from.)
To which Paton replied, “Mr Dixon, you are advanced in years now and your prospects are to soon be laid in the grave and there to be eaten by worms. I confess to you, if I but live and die by serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I be eaten by cannibals or by worms And in the Great Day, my resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer” http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1482_You_Will_be_Eaten_by_Cannibals_Lessons_from_the_Life_of_John_G_Paton/
l Shonnie Moore's dad... heard to pray in the waiting area of the emergency room where Shonnie was taken paralyzed from her shoulders down... “Lord, we thank you for the events of this day...knowing that you are a loving Father and you will get glory from this...”
“ ...Have no fear of them, nor be troubled...”
HAVE A DEVOTION TO CHRIST “...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy...”
Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, and Ed McCully, three college friends working as missionaries in Ecuador, had a burning desire to follow Jesus' command to take the gospel message into all the world. They had prayed for years for this primitive group that had never heard the redemption story of peace with God through the death of Christ. Now the men began to feel they should act soon or perhaps lose the opportunity for peaceful contact. The three men rounded out their team with two more: Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian.
Here were five common young men whose unifying distinction was less their inherited abilities or acquired skills than their commitment to seek God's will and to carry out his purposes for their lives. They were aware of the risk they were taking but felt it was justified, though they could have had no idea of the impact their martyrdom would someday have. www.atanycost.org/DidTheyHaveToDie.htm
Rachel Saint (Nate's sister) and Elizabeth Elliott (Jim's wife) stayed in Ecuador and lived among those who killed their loved ones and led those killers to Jesus.
HAVE A READINESS TO DEFEND THE FAITH “... prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
l Ready (convinced and standing by) Luke 22:33 (Peter);
l A defense – apologia, - an answer; and an account – logos -word
gentleness and respect – reverence for God and regard for His truth
You be ready God will do it.
- Don and Carol Richardson --- warring tribes give sons to enemy http://www.traveltheroad.com/missions/missionaries/richardson.php
HAVE A PURE CONSCIENCE “... having a good conscience” A pure conscience is possible when your actions and attitudes line up with God's Word. 1Timothy 1:5,19
l The only purifier of conscience - Hebrews 9:14; 10:19-22
