Submitting Part 2 - because Christ did!

1 Peter 2:21-25 Verse 21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” Why do we submit to all authority??? Because Christ did as an example for us. Matt. 26:50-54

“But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus tretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Mark 15:29-32

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.”

Isn’t it interesting that Christ submitted to the earthly authority even though it was wrongly sending Him to His death when He had all authority to do save Himself??? We submit to authority because Christ submitted to authority! Verse 22 “who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.” Jesus Christ is our example. He is the perfect example! What does vs. 22 say? He committed no sin! Not once in His entire life did He sin! Not when He was 4 years old, not when He was 30 years old. How many of us could truly say that we had committed no sin??? None. How about just in the last month? Last week? NONE! Matt 12:34

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

So what does that tell us about Jesus’ heart? What does that tell us about our hearts? What we say comes from what we put into our minds and into our hearts! It is going to be tough to speak and act the way Jesus did when all we put into our lives is worthless trash that our flesh, some of our friends and the world tells us we should want! The music we listen to, the movies we watch, the things we look at on the internet, the people we hang out with….all these things are going to affect you and me. What we fill our hearts up with is what our lives are going to be like! Jesus filled His life with following God and knowing Him intimately! He pursued other people, loved and served them even when He didn’t have to. He spent time alone with God daily and that was where He got His strength and encouragement from. Where does your strength and encouragement come from? Does it come from God or from something else? Verse 23 “while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;” So how do we endure life when it gets hard…especially when it isn’t deserved? What did Jesus do? He kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously! If you want to have peace, if you want to be close to God then you have keep intrusting yourself every day to Him who judges righteously! What you pour your life into is what you are hoping will satisfy you and make you happy… What/Who will never disappoint? Jesus…everything else will be disappointing in the end. (1 Peter 2:6; Romans 10:11) Verse 24 “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Jesus Christ Himself was dead to sin. That was why He could live His entire life without sinning. That is the reason that we can do the same thing! But we have to keep killing ourselves each and every day to be resurrected in righteousness. Each morning when you wake up (not literally!), you have to kill yourself, your desires, your flesh and be alive to Christ and His work in you! Verse 25 “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” We say we want to follow God but then we get distracted and start sinning and stop following God! We must return when we sin as quickly as possible! We must remain in Him every single day!

1 Peter 2:13-20

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. So how many human institutions are we supposed to submit to? ALL Why? God has given authority to men, and we are to respect His decisions. (Rom 13:1-2) What if they are bad/evil people? Are they still God’s servants? Is it possible for God to use bad people for His glory? Yes, think about how God used Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 43:9) and Pharoah (Exodus) Submitting to authority is not the same as agreeing with that authority. It is not ok for us to take matters into our own hands like some people do that are against abortion (who blow up abortion clinics). We have ways to overturn those decisions but most of us aren’t involved enough to know how…there are many ways and they are done by people much more knowledgeable than me. (www.bound4life.com and www.abort73.com) and by voting. Who was emperor at the time Peter wrote this letter? Nero! Arguably, the most cruel and evil emperor Rome ever had...but what does Peter say? Submit. Peter knew from first hand experience what it was like to submit and even the time when he didn’t agree with the authority…but he did submit. Acts 4:18-20

"So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Acts 5:17-20

"Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

Acts 5:27-29

"And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."

The apostles accepted their punishment from the authority for disobeying to laws that God disagreed with, and yet were still submissive to the authority. They obeyed God by telling people about Him and what He had done, but they also accepted the penalty for disobeying man's laws...they didn't fight the punishment or try to hide...they went right back into the temple and preaching again! How to respect those in authority over you…especially when you disagree! 1. Look at the person and listen carefully to be sure you understand. (without making faces, rolling eyes, sighing, etc) 2. Remain calm (especially when they say something you disagree with or know is not true) 3. Use a pleasant or neutral tone of voice. (Pr. 15:1, 16:21) 4. Acknowledge the person's decision verbally. It shows you were listening! 5. Possibly disagree at a later time. (go back later, especially after you have done what they asked you to do….that way they see you are willing to submit, listen and respect them 6. Avoid arguing, pouting or becoming angry. 15For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. One part of the will of God is to obey those who are in authority over you…who does that include? Police, Teachers, Parents, President, bosses, etc. You and I will always have authority in our lives because we will always be responsible to God! Freedom from sin not to sin! Your freedom doesn’t mean complete freedom to do whatever you want…it means responsible for your actions! Just because we are saved doesn’t mean we are free to continue sinning constantly! Rom 6:1-2, 11-15 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Honor – “a showing of usually merited respect” Why should we honor all people? They were all created by God and in His image! (Gen 1:27) How? By being respectful, not judging, giving up our own selfishness, loving, serving, not killing the defenseless! I found it interesting that for a reason I don’t know, Peter put fear God after he said to honor all people and love the brotherhood. If we don’t fear God then we aren’t going to honor all people and love the brotherhood…but if we do fear God…we will! 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. Do you think people will notice you being different if you show respect for someone who hasn’t earned it in your eyes and the eyes of your friends? Is that different or normal? Are we supposed to stand out from the crowd as Christians? Phil 2:14-16

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."

Light stands out in darkness...even the smallest light is very noticeable in complete darkness. In order stand out as lights, we must hold fast the word of life and if we do that then we will be blameless children of God!

Not gossiping about a person or teacher that everyone else is talking about is going to stand out and people will notice. It doesn’t mean you agree with the person or teacher….it does means you respect the person that God has put over you in authority by not arguing with or gossiping about. 19For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. We are rewarded by God in heaven for obeying Him and those He put in authority. We don’t get rewarded for sinning and suffering for it. If we want to find favor with God then we need to submit to all authority in our lives and honor all people. If we want to find favor with God we need to fear and love Him. He has given us everything…why do we hold back from Him?

Republicans & Sarah Palin

I'll post something more personal hopefully later today or this week... ...but this video (3 1/2 mins) was very interesting and helpful to me to understand a bit more about Sarah Palin, who she is and what she's done. Her speech at the convention was amazing!!! I was also happy to hear Newt Gingrich answer a question so emphatically...even though the media decided not to air this interview...you'll understand when you watch why! :)