1 Peter Series #5 Subversive and Submitted

 Series – “True Grace” 1 Peter Sermon #5  “Subversive And Submitted”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are God’s chosen treasure – priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” …  broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.

1 Peter 2:13 (TPT)  “In order to honor the Lord, you must respect and defer to the authority of every human institution, whether it be the highest ruler.”

Pic —  Cuban Mission Trip

Pic —  Ghana International Convention

Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.'”

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Teachings of the early church were a challenge to the authority of Rome.   SUBVERSIVE!!!

Romans sought any excuse to imprison Christians.

 Open challenge to the household code of the day would have exposed the early church to even greater scrutiny.   SUBMITTED

 The pater familias was the oldest living male in a household, and exercised absolute, autocratic authority over his extended family. The term is Latin for “father of the family” or the “owner of the family estate”. The pater familias always had to be a Roman citizen.

“Aristotle wrote that “the smallest and primary parts of the household are master and slave, husband and wife, father and children.” First-century philosophers Philo and Josephus included the household codes in their writings as well,… 

 …arguing that a man’s authority over his household was critical to the success of a society. Many Roman officials believed the household codes to be such an important part of Pax Romana that they passed laws ensuring its protection.” 

PETER MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BODY OF THIS LETTER TODAY.

Bible is “Good News” and “Good Advice” — You have to understand this!!!

1 Peter 2:11-25 (NKJV)  “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,  having your conduct …

 honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,  or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the …

  … for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men

verse 15 (The Message) “It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society.”

… as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood.    Fear God.   Honor the king.

 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience …

… toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer,…

  … if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

 ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’;  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten, …

… but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  (TRUST GOD TO DEAL WITH IT) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for …

 …righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”  (HE GUIDES AND PROTECTS US)

Romans 12:9-10 (ESV) “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour.”

What can we practically draw from this passage today?  Make Honour A Life Principle!!!

Honour:— (tim-ah’-o) to have in honour, to revere, venerate, as of great price, precious, esteemed, especially dear.  

Honour Is Relational  1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone.”

Honour Requires Humility  Proverbs 29:23 (NLT) “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honour.”

Familiarity Quenches Honour  Mark 6:4-6  “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country,  Now He could do no mighty work there, …”

Entitlement – Fruit Of Dishonour  Proverbs 30:11-15   “There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother…leech has two daughters – Give and Give.”

Honour Releases Faith   Matthew 8:5-13 “But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed” – “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’”

Honour Engages Promise  Proverbs 3:8-10 “Honour the Lord with your possessions, …barns will be filled with plenty, …vats will overflow with new wine.”

Honour Secures Your Destiny  Exodus 20:12 “Honour  your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Honour Secures Freedom  Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” When you make honour a lifestyle you are free from control. No bitterness or unforgiveness.

1 Peter 3:9 “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.”

IN CONCLUSION!!!

1 Peter 2:13 “In order to honor the Lord, you must respect and defer to the authority of every human institution,”

What is HONOUR waiting to produce in your life?

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