1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,360 We’ve been seeing, as we’ve studied, First Peter, that becoming a Christian involves a whole lot 2 00:00:05,360 –> 00:00:11,360 more than a decision to believe in Jesus. In fact, when you became a Christian, you experienced a new 3 00:00:11,360 –> 00:00:16,959 birth—a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 00:00:16,959 –> 00:00:22,080 And the new birth was the beginning of a new life in which God calls us to pursue the path 5 00:00:22,080 –> 00:00:29,040 of holiness. We’ve been given a new ministry. God has made us all priests to serve him and to 6 00:00:29,040 –> 00:00:35,279 worship him together. And we saw that God has given us a new purpose. The objective is stated 7 00:00:35,279 –> 00:00:41,279 clearly in 1 Peter, chapter 2 and verse 12. And we’ve been learning it together. Our objective 8 00:00:41,279 –> 00:00:46,720 is to live in such a way that people who are deeply resistant to the good news of Jesus Christ 9 00:00:46,720 –> 00:00:54,080 will come to glorify God. That’s 1 Peter 2.12. Now this is a huge task because we live in a world 10 00:00:54,160 –> 00:00:59,759 that is deeply resistant to the good news of Jesus Christ. How are we to do that? 11 00:01:01,520 –> 00:01:07,360 And Peter has been giving us three answers. We’ve covered two so far. The first you remember from 12 00:01:07,360 –> 00:01:14,639 chapter 2 verses 13 to 25 was that we must learn to act redemptively. He gives us the example of 13 00:01:14,639 –> 00:01:20,879 Jesus. When they hurled insults at him, he didn’t retaliate. When he suffered, he made no threats. 14 00:01:20,879 –> 00:01:26,639 Instead, he trusted himself to God who judges justly. He bore our sins in his body on the tree. 15 00:01:26,639 –> 00:01:33,680 And by his wounds, we are healed. Jesus acted in such a way that he brought the grace of God 16 00:01:33,680 –> 00:01:41,120 into utter darkness. Now, says Peter, this is an example for you. Verse 21 of chapter 2. To 17 00:01:41,120 –> 00:01:47,519 this you were called, Christ suffered, leaving an example that you should follow in his steps. 18 00:01:47,519 –> 00:01:52,800 So, if highly resistant people are going to come to glorify God, the first step must be 19 00:01:52,800 –> 00:01:59,919 for us to learn to act redemptively. This may mean open confrontation, it may be quiet forgiveness, 20 00:01:59,919 –> 00:02:08,000 but the objective in what I do and say is to open up access to the grace of God into hardened and 21 00:02:08,000 –> 00:02:14,639 dark situations. Secondly, last time, we saw that if highly resistant people are going to 22 00:02:14,639 –> 00:02:22,479 come to glorify God, we must pray effectively. Chapter 3 verses 1 to 12, and remember last 23 00:02:22,479 –> 00:02:30,240 time we learned the principle that there is no effective praying without right living, 24 00:02:30,240 –> 00:02:36,559 and that’s why Peter gives encouragement to all of us who are husbands or wives about the way in 25 00:02:36,559 –> 00:02:42,720 which we share our lives together, chapter 3 verse 7, so that nothing will hinder our prayers. 26 00:02:43,679 –> 00:02:50,320 That’s why he calls all of us, whether married or not, to turn from evil and pursue peace in 27 00:02:50,320 –> 00:02:56,160 our relationships together, because verse 12, the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 28 00:02:56,960 –> 00:03:01,600 and his ears are attentive to their prayers. And if we want God to be attentive to our prayers, 29 00:03:01,600 –> 00:03:05,440 then there is a path of right living that we are to pursue. 30 00:03:06,160 –> 00:03:11,679 Now, this morning, we’re coming to the third part of Peter’s answer as to how it is 31 00:03:12,399 –> 00:03:17,520 that highly resistant people will come to glorify God. It is very simply this, 32 00:03:18,160 –> 00:03:24,479 that God’s people must speak courageously. Speak courageously. 33 00:03:24,479 –> 00:03:31,759 Verses 14 and 15 of chapter 3. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened, 34 00:03:31,919 –> 00:03:40,479 but in your heart, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer 35 00:03:41,279 –> 00:03:46,000 to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. 36 00:03:46,800 –> 00:03:51,839 You see what he’s saying? If highly resistant people are to come to glorify God, 37 00:03:51,839 –> 00:03:58,000 they must at some point hear the good news of Jesus Christ. 38 00:03:58,320 –> 00:04:00,240 Acting redemptively 39 00:04:00,880 –> 00:04:08,160 and praying effectively may open the door for God’s truth into a person’s life. 40 00:04:09,199 –> 00:04:11,440 But somewhere along the line, 41 00:04:11,440 –> 00:04:18,799 if they are to be saved, somebody needs to put the good news of Jesus into words. 42 00:04:19,600 –> 00:04:23,760 So Peter says, always be ready for your opportunity to give 43 00:04:24,559 –> 00:04:29,279 a reason, an explanation for the living hope that you have. 44 00:04:30,880 –> 00:04:36,239 Now, our culture doesn’t think too much about words. 45 00:04:37,359 –> 00:04:44,959 You know the phrase, a picture is worth more than a thousand words. 46 00:04:44,959 –> 00:04:48,320 You see words are rubbish is what the culture is saying. 47 00:04:48,320 –> 00:04:50,799 Pictures, that’s what we need. 48 00:04:51,359 –> 00:04:53,679 Now let’s think about that just for a few moments. 49 00:04:53,679 –> 00:04:56,559 Because it’s a huge issue in our culture. 50 00:04:57,359 –> 00:05:01,040 And it goes to the very heart of the issue of communicating the gospel. 51 00:05:02,559 –> 00:05:05,600 When Gutenberg invented his printing press, 52 00:05:05,600 –> 00:05:10,720 a whole culture was formed around written words. 53 00:05:12,079 –> 00:05:15,119 We live though in the age of video, 54 00:05:15,119 –> 00:05:20,079 and our culture is formed not around the power of words, 55 00:05:20,079 –> 00:05:21,679 but around the power of images. 56 00:05:22,239 –> 00:05:25,359 Remember the great debate about Kennedy and Nixon, 57 00:05:26,239 –> 00:05:30,399 and those who heard it on radio thought one person won? 58 00:05:30,399 –> 00:05:33,359 Those who saw it on television thought the other person won. 59 00:05:33,359 –> 00:05:34,000 Why? 60 00:05:34,000 –> 00:05:37,040 Because on television one person looked sharper than the other. 61 00:05:37,679 –> 00:05:39,359 Turning point of American history. 62 00:05:40,320 –> 00:05:43,279 The power of the image over the word. 63 00:05:44,239 –> 00:05:49,119 How a person looks becomes more important than what they actually say. 64 00:05:49,119 –> 00:05:51,920 Huge issue, huge transformation in our culture! 65 00:05:54,320 –> 00:06:00,480 Now, words and pictures are both powerful means of communication, that is obvious. 66 00:06:01,519 –> 00:06:04,559 Pictures have the power of impact. 67 00:06:05,119 –> 00:06:07,440 That’s why we use them in advertising, 68 00:06:07,440 –> 00:06:09,279 that’s why we have visual aides to help us. 69 00:06:09,279 –> 00:06:10,720 They’re very, very useful. 70 00:06:11,440 –> 00:06:19,519 But while pictures have the power of impact, words have the power of content. 71 00:06:20,640 –> 00:06:25,600 And that is why words are so important in communicating the Gospel, 72 00:06:25,600 –> 00:06:31,839 because our aim is not just to make a general impression about God. 73 00:06:33,279 –> 00:06:40,160 Our purpose is to communicate a specific message about Jesus. 74 00:06:41,679 –> 00:06:48,559 Now, pictures can tell a story. Pictures can establish a mood. But they cannot present 75 00:06:48,559 –> 00:06:56,720 a case, nor can they make an argument. For that, you need words. 76 00:06:58,480 –> 00:07:04,160 And one communications expert, I think, has demonstrated rather helpfully the power of words 77 00:07:04,160 –> 00:07:10,559 by asking his students to communicate the following by pictures. And I’m going to 78 00:07:10,559 –> 00:07:16,480 give you just seven simple statements. And you could draw the first, but you’re going to get 79 00:07:16,480 –> 00:07:24,720 stuck after that. First statement, the cat sat on the mat. This is not rocket science this morning, 80 00:07:24,720 –> 00:07:28,959 I promise. I think you could just about communicate that one in pictures, right? 81 00:07:29,920 –> 00:07:38,160 Number two, the cat is not on the mat. Number three, the cat was on the mat. 82 00:07:39,600 –> 00:07:47,600 Number four, the cat likes to be on the mat. Number five, the cat should not be on the mat. 83 00:07:48,480 –> 00:07:54,559 Number six, get off the mat cat. Number seven, 84 00:07:54,559 –> 00:08:04,959 if the cat doesn’t get off the mat, I shall kick it. Now, take that and apply it to the gospel. 85 00:08:04,959 –> 00:08:09,600 Which of these could you communicate in pictures? Number one, Jesus 86 00:08:09,600 –> 00:08:20,160 died on the cross. You could do that. Number two, Jesus died on the cross for your sins. 87 00:08:20,559 –> 00:08:28,959 Number three, the Jesus who died on the cross for your sins calls you to repent. 88 00:08:31,040 –> 00:08:36,080 Now, you cannot communicate that by pictures, you can only communicate that by words, 89 00:08:36,080 –> 00:08:42,400 you can’t communicate that by deeds. See, compassion ministries are so important 90 00:08:42,400 –> 00:08:47,359 because they open the door for a readiness to receive the gospel, 91 00:08:48,080 –> 00:08:52,960 the gospel. They are an expression of the love of Jesus Christ and, therefore, 92 00:08:52,960 –> 00:08:58,000 are glorifying to God in their own right. But if we want to see people come to glorify God, 93 00:08:58,000 –> 00:09:06,080 the message must in some point, in some way, be put into words. It’s not enough to say my 94 00:09:06,080 –> 00:09:13,520 life speaks of Jesus. If somebody is to be saved, the message must be put into words. 95 00:09:13,760 –> 00:09:18,000 Now, I find it very significant that when God chose to communicate with us, 96 00:09:18,000 –> 00:09:28,960 He used both words and pictures. He speaks to us visually in the creation, 97 00:09:30,559 –> 00:09:37,679 and he speaks to us verbally in the scriptures. Think about this. God speaks to us visually 98 00:09:37,760 –> 00:09:41,200 God speaks to us visually in the creation. 99 00:09:42,000 –> 00:09:46,960 Psalm 19 and verse 1 reminds us that the heavens declare the glory of the Lord, 100 00:09:46,960 –> 00:09:53,440 day after day they pour forth speech. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, 101 00:09:53,440 –> 00:09:57,840 and hear the bird sing sweetly in the trees, when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, 102 00:09:57,840 –> 00:10:04,080 and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee, 103 00:10:04,080 –> 00:10:13,919 how great thou art.” God speaks to us visually in the splendor and glory of His creation. 104 00:10:13,919 –> 00:10:20,159 And Paul says in Romans 1 that God’s eternal power is clearly seen from what He has made. 105 00:10:20,159 –> 00:10:24,080 And so anyone who walks through this world and does not perceive that there must be a God of 106 00:10:24,080 –> 00:10:28,000 great and eternal power must be going through this world with their eyes closed. 107 00:10:28,900 –> 00:10:34,900 Now, the creation tells me that God is great. The visual communication tells me that God is 108 00:10:34,900 –> 00:10:41,700 powerful. It gives me a general impression of the greatness of God. But the creation—the 109 00:10:41,700 –> 00:10:48,719 visual communication—cannot tell me that God loves me. I cannot tell from looking at the mountains 110 00:10:49,539 –> 00:10:54,739 that He sent His Son to die for me. I cannot tell from looking at the rivers 111 00:10:55,440 –> 00:11:02,280 that He rose from the dead on the third day. I cannot tell from walking in the countryside 112 00:11:02,280 –> 00:11:09,520 that He’s coming back to judge the living and the dead. No, for that we need words, 113 00:11:09,520 –> 00:11:18,940 and that is why God speaks to us verbally in the Scriptures. John Calvin, the great theologist, 114 00:11:18,940 –> 00:11:25,859 put it like this—he said, the Bible is like a pair of spectacles. And if you need glasses 115 00:11:25,859 –> 00:11:30,520 or contact lenses you know what it’s like when you don’t have them on or in—whichever 116 00:11:30,520 –> 00:11:35,400 it is. Everything’s a little bit fuzzy. You put the spectacles on, you put the contact 117 00:11:35,400 –> 00:11:43,119 lenses in. Well, you see, the visual revelation of God leaves us with a hazy, general impression 118 00:11:43,719 –> 00:11:50,200 of one who is great, but when you read the Bible, it’s like putting on the glasses, the 119 00:11:50,200 –> 00:11:55,619 spectacles. Because God speaks to us directly in Jesus Christ, and that is how we see more 120 00:11:55,619 –> 00:12:02,619 clearly who he is. And God’s words are powerful. Powerful. And 121 00:12:04,200 –> 00:12:11,200 we saw in chapter 1 in verse 23 that we were born again—chapter 1 verse 23, how?—through 122 00:12:11,200 –> 00:12:18,200 the living and enduring Word of God. See, new birth—this inner transformation in a 123 00:12:20,900 –> 00:12:27,900 person happens when the living seed of the Word of God is planted in the soil of your 124 00:12:29,580 –> 00:12:33,799 soul and is watered by the work of the Holy Spirit. 125 00:12:33,799 –> 00:12:40,799 Now, of course, some people’s souls are like hard ground, and there’s no point in tossing 126 00:12:40,919 –> 00:12:46,039 seed on hard ground, really, is there? The hard ground needs to be opened up, and the 127 00:12:46,039 –> 00:12:53,039 hard ground of people’s hearts is opened up as Christians act redemptively and as we pray 128 00:12:53,940 –> 00:12:59,739 effectively. That’s why these things are so critical, but when the hard ground begins 129 00:12:59,739 –> 00:13:04,799 to be broken up in God’s goodness, there must come a time when the living seed of the 130 00:13:04,799 –> 00:13:11,799 word of God is planted in a person’s soul. And Peter says, when that moment comes, you 131 00:13:12,599 –> 00:13:19,599 make sure you are ready, because—and he’s writing to every believer—your ability to 132 00:13:20,159 –> 00:13:24,859 express the reason for the hope that is within you is one of the great means that God will 133 00:13:24,859 –> 00:13:31,859 use to bring transformation in the life of another person. 134 00:13:32,020 –> 00:13:39,020 Now, that’s not easy. That’s really not easy. And so, what I want to do in the time this 135 00:13:40,659 –> 00:13:47,659 morning is to share with you some encouragement that will help us in this whole matter of 136 00:13:48,599 –> 00:13:55,599 speaking about Jesus. We all know it’s one thing to speak about Jesus in church. It’s 137 00:13:55,599 –> 00:14:00,340 another thing to speak about Jesus in high school. It’s another thing to speak about 138 00:14:00,340 –> 00:14:05,479 Jesus in the office. And I want therefore to share this encouragement 139 00:14:05,479 –> 00:14:10,919 this morning. I have found what Peter tells us in the next few verses of 1 Peter 3 to 140 00:14:10,919 –> 00:14:17,919 be a wonderful help in my own life. And I have to tell you it also happens to be one 141 00:14:18,419 –> 00:14:22,799 of the most difficult passages in the whole of the New Testament. So, we’re gonna need 142 00:14:22,799 –> 00:14:28,080 to do a little bit of work. All right, please give me a little latitude here, those of you 143 00:14:28,080 –> 00:14:32,760 who come saying after three minutes, give me the application. Give me the bottom line. 144 00:14:32,760 –> 00:14:37,020 You know, what does this got to do with… give me 10 minutes, okay? I’m gonna have to 145 00:14:37,020 –> 00:14:43,700 do a little bit of work, but I promise you, the payoff is worth it. Let’s look at what 146 00:14:43,700 –> 00:14:49,039 Peter says together. Verse 18 of chapter 3, he brings us back to the center of our faith 147 00:14:49,039 –> 00:14:54,119 and he speaks about the death of Jesus. Christ died for your sins, once for all, the righteous 148 00:14:54,140 –> 00:14:58,760 for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. Then he says, hope you have it open in front 149 00:14:58,760 –> 00:15:08,039 of you, verse 19, Jesus was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit, through 150 00:15:08,039 –> 00:15:14,159 whom also he went and preached to the Spirits in prison, who disobeyed long ago when God 151 00:15:14,159 –> 00:15:22,640 waited patiently in the time of Noah. Now, what is that all about? 152 00:15:22,640 –> 00:15:30,940 Some people think that after Jesus died and before he rose again, he went down into hell 153 00:15:30,940 –> 00:15:38,280 and he preached the gospel to people who had died in Old Testament times. Now, if that 154 00:15:38,280 –> 00:15:46,700 were true, it would mean that at least some people got a second chance to be saved after 155 00:15:46,700 –> 00:15:52,440 they died. Now, this is important because there are a growing number of theologians 156 00:15:52,440 –> 00:15:59,679 today who are teaching that some people may have the opportunity to decide for Christ 157 00:15:59,679 –> 00:16:07,419 after death, and that some, and maybe even many, may finally be translated beyond death 158 00:16:07,500 –> 00:16:15,039 from hell into heaven. And when theologians argue this, they often use this passage in 159 00:16:15,039 –> 00:16:23,099 1 Peter as their basis. Here’s what they say. If Jesus went and preached the gospel in hell, 160 00:16:24,659 –> 00:16:29,599 why should we not believe that even in hell there will be other opportunities for people 161 00:16:29,599 –> 00:16:36,599 to be saved? So they say, those who did not receive Christ in this life will get another 162 00:16:37,020 –> 00:16:43,260 chance to receive him later on. Now, I wouldn’t waste your time with this 163 00:16:43,260 –> 00:16:50,260 except for the fact that it is a huge issue. If this were true, we as a church today should 164 00:16:55,880 –> 00:17:02,880 recall at least half of our missionaries and bring them home, because we have folks who 165 00:17:03,640 –> 00:17:10,640 are putting their lives on the line, and I don’t exaggerate. We have folks who we have 166 00:17:11,900 –> 00:17:18,900 sent who are putting their lives on the line today in the Middle East and in Indonesia, 167 00:17:20,880 –> 00:17:27,880 and they have one reason for doing this—to win highly resistant people to Jesus. And 168 00:17:28,640 –> 00:17:35,640 honestly, if it is the case that these folks will have another chance after death, then 169 00:17:38,680 –> 00:17:45,680 it really isn’t worth it. This idea that Jesus went on a disembodied 170 00:17:47,920 –> 00:17:52,359 journey to hell between his death and his resurrection to preach to people who had died 171 00:17:52,359 –> 00:17:58,119 in earlier times has many, many problems. Let me just mention three. Number one, 172 00:17:59,079 –> 00:18:03,000 notice that Peter never says Jesus descended into hell. 173 00:18:03,800 –> 00:18:06,760 Look at the passage, look at it for the rest of the morning, you won’t find the word 174 00:18:06,760 –> 00:18:12,920 hell there at all. There is no reference to hell anywhere in 1 Peter and chapter 3, 175 00:18:12,920 –> 00:18:20,359 and that should make us think twice. Second, if Jesus did go into hell to 176 00:18:20,359 –> 00:18:25,239 preach the gospel, why did he only preach to the spirits who disobeyed 177 00:18:25,239 –> 00:18:31,079 in the time of Noah? What was so special about them? Why not the people who were 178 00:18:31,079 –> 00:18:37,000 condemned in Sodom and Gomorrah? Why not any other sinners who had disobeyed at 179 00:18:37,000 –> 00:18:40,920 any other time in history? Why just the people in the day of Noah? 180 00:18:41,000 –> 00:18:48,680 Third, the idea that some would be given a second chance to repent after death 181 00:18:48,680 –> 00:18:55,359 goes against the plain teaching of Scripture. It is, the writer to the 182 00:18:55,359 –> 00:19:01,859 Hebrews says, appointed for each person to die and after that, the judgment. There 183 00:19:01,859 –> 00:19:07,500 is a great chasm that is fixed at death, there is the opportunity to respond to 184 00:19:07,819 –> 00:19:16,660 grace in life, not beyond death. Now, those who believe that Jesus preached in 185 00:19:16,660 –> 00:19:21,680 hell, between his death and his resurrection, often quote the statement 186 00:19:21,680 –> 00:19:25,939 from the Apostles’ Creed. Do you remember that great statement, the Apostles’ 187 00:19:25,939 –> 00:19:30,140 Creed? The great statement of the Christian faith, and it says about Jesus, 188 00:19:30,819 –> 00:19:38,540 he suffered under Pontius Pilate, he was crucified, dead, and buried, and the next 189 00:19:38,540 –> 00:19:43,579 line it says he descended into hell. He descended into hell. That’s what the 190 00:19:43,579 –> 00:19:50,260 Apostles’ Creed says. The best way to understand the Apostles’ Creed is to 191 00:19:50,260 –> 00:19:59,739 remember that Jesus experienced all the dimensions of hell on the cross. During 192 00:19:59,739 –> 00:20:07,099 the three hours of darkness, he bore our sins. Think with me about this. During the 193 00:20:07,099 –> 00:20:16,099 hours of darkness on the cross, when he was conscious—that’s very significant—he 194 00:20:16,099 –> 00:20:23,540 bore the wrath of God poured out on him, he was forsaken utterly by the Father, 195 00:20:24,140 –> 00:20:30,099 alone and alienated from God—.” My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 196 00:20:30,099 –> 00:20:36,400 He carried the weight of our accumulated guilt and shame in the utter darkness. He was in 197 00:20:36,400 –> 00:20:43,400 conscious agony of body and of soul. That is hell. 198 00:20:47,880 –> 00:20:51,839 And we can gladly confess the Apostles’ Creed, though you’ll be interested to know 199 00:20:51,839 –> 00:20:56,319 that the phrase, “‘he descended into hell’,” was not included in the Apostles’ Creed until 200 00:20:56,319 –> 00:21:02,199 about the year 700. That’s a matter of history. But we can gladly confess the Apostles’ Creed, 201 00:21:02,199 –> 00:21:08,180 “‘Christ descended into hell,’ he experienced all its horrors, he tasted every dimension 202 00:21:08,180 –> 00:21:15,180 of its pain, he did that on the cross.” In other words, the descent into hell that Jesus 203 00:21:15,640 –> 00:21:22,140 experienced is in 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 18, not 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 19. Jesus’ 204 00:21:26,300 –> 00:21:32,300 descent into hell was not a disembodied preaching visit that took place between his death and 205 00:21:32,300 –> 00:21:38,880 his resurrection. It was, in fact, the heart of his suffering on the cross, and when he 206 00:21:39,119 –> 00:21:50,880 Well, now then, what does Peter mean in chapter 19 when he speaks about Noah? 207 00:21:52,880 –> 00:21:56,160 Let’s come back to verse 19 and look at it. Let us read it this way. 208 00:21:58,079 –> 00:22:01,280 This same Jesus, he’s saying, 209 00:22:02,079 –> 00:22:09,339 The Jesus who, as you know, was put to death in the body and made alive by the Spirit in his resurrection. 210 00:22:10,780 –> 00:22:13,800 This same Jesus who died and who rose again 211 00:22:14,719 –> 00:22:17,439 spoke by the Holy Spirit 212 00:22:18,359 –> 00:22:20,359 through Noah. 213 00:22:20,479 –> 00:22:26,959 By the Holy Spirit, when Noah spoke, Jesus spoke through him. 214 00:22:27,959 –> 00:22:32,540 The highly resistant people to whom Noah ministered didn’t listen 215 00:22:33,160 –> 00:22:36,739 that is, of course, why their spirits are in prison today, 216 00:22:37,880 –> 00:22:41,479 but you do need to know that Jesus spoke to them. 217 00:22:42,180 –> 00:22:46,520 Jesus spoke to them during their lifetime through 218 00:22:46,939 –> 00:22:48,239 Noah. 219 00:22:48,239 –> 00:22:54,479 When Noah spoke, his words were as the words of God to the highly resistant people around him. 220 00:22:55,000 –> 00:22:57,619 Jesus spoke through him. 221 00:22:59,319 –> 00:23:04,839 Now this is teaching us something very, very wonderful and powerful for us today. 222 00:23:06,079 –> 00:23:08,079 Peter is reminding us 223 00:23:08,280 –> 00:23:14,979 that those who hear the voice of Jesus are not just those who happen to live in the time of Jesus, 224 00:23:15,619 –> 00:23:19,839 but that by the Holy Spirit, the Jesus who died and rose at one point in history 225 00:23:20,540 –> 00:23:27,280 also has spoken to people in every generation. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks in every age 226 00:23:27,859 –> 00:23:30,859 by his spirit and he does it through 227 00:23:31,239 –> 00:23:33,239 his people. 228 00:23:33,380 –> 00:23:38,479 When Noah spoke God’s truth to highly resistant people in his generation, 229 00:23:39,119 –> 00:23:42,280 Jesus by the Spirit spoke through him. 230 00:23:43,280 –> 00:23:49,680 Now, I have found this principle to be a tremendous encouragement because what it’s saying is simply this, 231 00:23:50,680 –> 00:23:53,119 when you speak about 232 00:23:53,920 –> 00:23:55,920 Jesus, 233 00:23:56,380 –> 00:23:58,459 Jesus speaks through you. 234 00:24:01,140 –> 00:24:03,660 That’s so important. We don’t do this often. 235 00:24:03,660 –> 00:24:09,540 I’m gonna suggest that we say that together because I want to get it into our minds. When you speak about 236 00:24:10,300 –> 00:24:11,579 Jesus, 237 00:24:11,579 –> 00:24:14,219 Jesus speaks through you. 238 00:24:15,199 –> 00:24:19,979 Now, you see, that is why, of course, we believe in preaching. But that is why we believe in witnessing. 239 00:24:20,739 –> 00:24:28,660 When you sit down and draw the bridge diagram in McDonald’s with a friend, that is how God speaks into their life. 240 00:24:30,520 –> 00:24:32,579 You start thinking about that, it will almost blow your mind. 241 00:24:32,579 –> 00:24:39,920 How does Jesus speak in John Hersey High School? 242 00:24:42,020 –> 00:24:44,219 How will Jesus speak in 243 00:24:45,979 –> 00:24:48,839 Motorola or United Airlines? 244 00:24:51,660 –> 00:24:59,560 When you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through you. 245 00:24:59,560 –> 00:25:08,819 So, how are highly resistant people in Rolling Meadows or Buffalo Grove or one of our high schools 246 00:25:08,819 –> 00:25:13,880 or one of our great businesses in the city, how are these highly resistant people going to come 247 00:25:13,880 –> 00:25:22,239 to glorify God? Answer, as we learn to act redemptively, to pray effectively, and to 248 00:25:22,239 –> 00:25:26,959 speak courageously in the places where God has put us. 249 00:25:26,979 –> 00:25:34,680 Now, I think it is a wonderful thing, having learned that principle, that Peter chooses 250 00:25:34,680 –> 00:25:45,479 Noah as his model for Christian witness and testimony. Let me just point out three very 251 00:25:45,479 –> 00:25:52,400 important facts about Noah’s ministry in order to bring direct encouragement, by way of application, 252 00:25:52,660 –> 00:26:04,239 to us. You see, Noah is the model of ministry here first because Noah spoke to highly resistant 253 00:26:04,239 –> 00:26:08,040 people, and that’s what Peter is on about in speaking to his first readers, and what we 254 00:26:08,040 –> 00:26:14,880 need to hear in ministry today. If you think it’s tough to witness to Jesus where God’s placed you, 255 00:26:14,880 –> 00:26:20,040 remember that Noah had to share the gospel to the most resistant generation who have ever 256 00:26:20,160 –> 00:26:27,839 lived in human history. The people who were around him, God described as people whose thoughts 257 00:26:27,839 –> 00:26:35,719 were only evil all the time—only evil all the time. Corruption and violence were everywhere 258 00:26:35,719 –> 00:26:42,520 in the days of Noah. This was a highly resistant audience. And notice from verse 20, that Noah 259 00:26:42,520 –> 00:26:49,160 did not see massive numbers of conversions. In fact, at the end of his entire life of 260 00:26:49,280 –> 00:26:56,520 ministry, there were only eight people who were saved. And so I want to draw this application. 261 00:26:56,520 –> 00:27:09,979 Don’t get discouraged by small results. If God has put you in a highly resistant place—remember 262 00:27:09,979 –> 00:27:16,560 that you’re following the example and the model of Noah—don’t get discouraged. I know sometimes 263 00:27:16,800 –> 00:27:20,699 you know I’ve been in this office for 10 years now, you know, I haven’t really seen anyone come 264 00:27:20,699 –> 00:27:28,599 to faith in Christ. There’s no real openness here. It’s such a dark place. Listen. Christ spoke 265 00:27:28,599 –> 00:27:34,439 through Noah. That didn’t mean that the people who heard Noah suddenly fell on their knees and said, 266 00:27:34,439 –> 00:27:39,099 oh my, what must we do to be saved? They didn’t do that. But nor did the Pharisees who heard Jesus 267 00:27:39,380 –> 00:27:47,500 speak. Ministry among highly resistant people isn’t easy. What matters is not the number of 268 00:27:47,500 –> 00:27:51,459 people in your school or your office that you lead to Christ, but your faithfulness 269 00:27:51,459 –> 00:28:00,160 to Christ in the place he has put you. And if he puts you in a tough place, take a lesson from Noah. 270 00:28:00,160 –> 00:28:08,579 And don’t get discouraged by small results. Second, Noah knew that God’s judgment was coming. 271 00:28:08,619 –> 00:28:12,819 Boy, if ever there was a preacher who knew that judgment was coming, it was Noah, right? 272 00:28:14,020 –> 00:28:20,300 There are, of course, only two occasions in world history when a judgment from God will fall on the whole world. 273 00:28:20,300 –> 00:28:26,880 The first was in the time of Noah through the flood, the second, of course, will be when Jesus 274 00:28:26,880 –> 00:28:33,619 Christ comes again in power and glory and winds up world history as we know it. Now think about this, 275 00:28:34,540 –> 00:28:41,680 the task of declaring God’s truth before the first judgment was given to Noah. 276 00:28:42,739 –> 00:28:48,219 The task of declaring God’s truth before the final judgment is given to 277 00:28:49,719 –> 00:28:51,540 us. 278 00:28:51,540 –> 00:28:53,339 Us. 279 00:28:53,339 –> 00:28:55,319 You’re Noah. 280 00:28:55,579 –> 00:28:57,579 We’re Noah. 281 00:28:58,020 –> 00:29:00,359 That’s the ministry that God has given to us. 282 00:29:01,260 –> 00:29:03,260 So, don’t 283 00:29:03,459 –> 00:29:07,699 underestimate by way of application the importance of the message. 284 00:29:08,119 –> 00:29:09,739 You see, there are some folks will be saying, 285 00:29:09,739 –> 00:29:15,359 well does it really matter if I say something about Jesus at school or in the office? You bet it does! 286 00:29:17,140 –> 00:29:19,140 Of course it does! 287 00:29:21,199 –> 00:29:28,280 Your ministry in the light of the coming judgment of God is as critical as the ministry of Noah 288 00:29:29,219 –> 00:29:35,680 As he built the ark and people laughed at him, but he knew the judgment was coming 289 00:29:38,219 –> 00:29:41,739 Don’t underestimate the importance of the message. We’re Noah 290 00:29:45,760 –> 00:29:47,319 Thirdly 291 00:29:47,319 –> 00:29:49,099 Noah believed 292 00:29:49,099 –> 00:29:52,000 That God would bring him safely to a new world 293 00:29:52,979 –> 00:29:55,900 Verse 20, in the ark a few people, eight in all, were 294 00:29:56,500 –> 00:29:58,219 saved 295 00:29:58,300 –> 00:29:59,880 through water 296 00:29:59,880 –> 00:30:03,359 God waited patiently. You remember the story while the ark was being built 297 00:30:03,380 –> 00:30:06,119 But when the ark was ready God told Noah to get inside 298 00:30:06,199 –> 00:30:11,060 Of course, Noah must have felt very foolish indeed loading the ark with all these animals and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky 299 00:30:12,180 –> 00:30:16,819 What are you doing, Noah? Oh, well, a great judgment from God is coming. God has told me to build the ark 300 00:30:16,819 –> 00:30:20,000 I’m gonna get in there with my family. Will you come too? I wish you would 301 00:30:21,760 –> 00:30:23,839 Doesn’t seem like it’s gonna rain today Noah 302 00:30:24,319 –> 00:30:26,920 So Noah got in the ark and then God closed the door 303 00:30:26,959 –> 00:30:34,160 it was an act of faith for him to get in there without a cloud in the sky, but then the rains came and 304 00:30:35,119 –> 00:30:36,760 not just rain from the sky 305 00:30:36,760 –> 00:30:42,540 but springs of water coming up from the earth and the ship that was built in the desert rose and 306 00:30:44,319 –> 00:30:51,680 Noah and his family were lifted in the ark. They were brought safely through the judgment and carried into 307 00:30:51,780 –> 00:30:54,380 carried into a new world 308 00:30:56,000 –> 00:31:01,339 Now that ark, of course is a wonderful picture of Jesus. The Bible describes 309 00:31:01,819 –> 00:31:05,119 Christians as people who are in Jesus Christ 310 00:31:05,119 –> 00:31:07,239 Just like Noah was in the arc 311 00:31:07,239 –> 00:31:11,599 So a Christian is someone who is in Jesus and just as by being in the ark 312 00:31:11,599 –> 00:31:17,020 Noah was lifted through the judgment and safely brought into the new world those who are in 313 00:31:17,420 –> 00:31:24,760 Jesus by faith will when God’s final judgment comes be lifted safely through that and brought into the 314 00:31:24,780 –> 00:31:28,699 New Heaven and the new earth, which is the home of righteousness 315 00:31:30,780 –> 00:31:32,800 We are saved 316 00:31:33,819 –> 00:31:36,760 because we are in Christ and 317 00:31:37,660 –> 00:31:40,500 That by the way is why Peter here speaks about baptism 318 00:31:40,520 –> 00:31:47,140 Notice that there’s 21 because baptism is the sign of a person identifying fully with Jesus Christ 319 00:31:47,199 –> 00:31:50,619 It is the mark of a person who is in Christ 320 00:31:50,819 –> 00:31:55,500 But notice he does make very clear that it is not the act of being baptized that saves you 321 00:31:56,219 –> 00:32:02,439 baptism as a sign of being in Christ and being in Christ saves you because 322 00:32:03,339 –> 00:32:06,339 Verse 22 he has risen and he 323 00:32:06,540 –> 00:32:12,800 He has gone into heaven and he is at the right hand of God with Angels and authorities and powers and submission to him 324 00:32:12,819 –> 00:32:15,660 So if you’re in him, that is your safety 325 00:32:17,800 –> 00:32:21,560 That is why as we come to our final application 326 00:32:22,359 –> 00:32:25,599 Peter says therefore don’t be 327 00:32:26,619 –> 00:32:27,859 afraid 328 00:32:27,859 –> 00:32:29,800 verse 14 329 00:32:29,800 –> 00:32:34,500 Do not fear what they fear 330 00:32:37,040 –> 00:32:39,040 What do they fear? 331 00:32:40,300 –> 00:32:42,780 Of course for Peter’s first audience 332 00:32:44,020 –> 00:32:46,640 They were living in the Roman Empire and increasingly 333 00:32:47,500 –> 00:32:51,859 Totalitarian regime and it wouldn’t be too long before they would force everyone to 334 00:32:52,819 –> 00:32:55,839 Worship the emperor. I mean my goodness living in a 335 00:32:56,359 –> 00:33:01,140 totalitarian regime like that is fearful for any people in any generation and 336 00:33:01,319 –> 00:33:02,520 And 337 00:33:02,520 –> 00:33:09,000 Christians were terribly persecuted in the later times in the Roman Empire and Peter says don’t fear what they fear 338 00:33:10,599 –> 00:33:12,260 Now, I 339 00:33:12,260 –> 00:33:16,579 Don’t think that there are too many people in the Woodfield shopping mall this week 340 00:33:17,060 –> 00:33:21,099 Who are afraid of the growing power of a totalitarian regime? 341 00:33:21,500 –> 00:33:24,459 There’s probably a few eccentrics who are afraid of that but not many 342 00:33:25,060 –> 00:33:30,560 God has given us the wonderful blessing of freedom, and we are deeply thankful for it 343 00:33:31,140 –> 00:33:33,140 But let me ask you this question 344 00:33:34,040 –> 00:33:38,359 What do people in the Woodfield shopping mall fear today? 345 00:33:40,219 –> 00:33:42,219 And what do you think? 346 00:33:42,439 –> 00:33:45,699 What are people in the Woodfield shopping mall fear today someone tell me? 347 00:33:47,520 –> 00:33:49,520 Terrorism 348 00:33:49,699 –> 00:33:51,699 Number one fear 349 00:33:51,839 –> 00:33:55,020 Terrorism, that’s what our culture is afraid of 350 00:33:57,099 –> 00:33:59,099 Cancer 351 00:33:59,839 –> 00:34:01,839 Economy 352 00:34:01,979 –> 00:34:03,260 And 353 00:34:03,260 –> 00:34:10,500 Peter says do not fear what they fear and he says that to people who are living under a totalitarian regime 354 00:34:12,699 –> 00:34:15,840 Well, if that’s true for them think how powerfully it speaks to us, I 355 00:34:17,739 –> 00:34:24,780 Am convinced that this is one of the most powerful statements in the whole of the Bible for Christian witness to Jesus Christ in 356 00:34:24,780 –> 00:34:26,540 America today 357 00:34:26,540 –> 00:34:29,340 Do not fear what they fear 358 00:34:30,620 –> 00:34:34,199 for the distinguishing mark of a Christian is 359 00:34:35,300 –> 00:34:37,139 That we know 360 00:34:37,139 –> 00:34:43,500 That we have everlasting life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 361 00:34:43,800 –> 00:34:46,300 He has set us free to live 362 00:34:47,219 –> 00:34:48,320 and 363 00:34:48,320 –> 00:34:50,320 when the unbelieving world 364 00:34:51,100 –> 00:34:56,320 Sees a group of people living with confidence. They will want to ask a question 365 00:34:56,979 –> 00:34:58,780 They will want to say now 366 00:34:58,780 –> 00:35:00,780 Where do you get this confidence? 367 00:35:00,979 –> 00:35:03,600 When you went to hospital for all those tests 368 00:35:04,120 –> 00:35:07,399 How is it that you come through these difficulties that you’ve faced? 369 00:35:08,199 –> 00:35:14,399 What is it that gives you the peace that you have when everyone else is so worried Peter says do not fear? 370 00:35:14,959 –> 00:35:16,959 What they fear 371 00:35:18,379 –> 00:35:20,800 Then your life will raise questions 372 00:35:22,939 –> 00:35:25,459 Highly resistant people will want to know why 373 00:35:26,659 –> 00:35:29,100 And when that happens be ready to give them an answer 374 00:35:30,179 –> 00:35:32,179 tell them about Jesus and 375 00:35:32,939 –> 00:35:34,939 When you do 376 00:35:35,419 –> 00:35:37,459 Jesus will speak 377 00:35:38,879 –> 00:35:40,879 Through you 378 00:35:41,199 –> 00:35:43,199 Let’s pray together shall we 379 00:35:47,979 –> 00:35:51,939 Father it’s overwhelming to us that you should give us the ministry of Noah 380 00:35:52,360 –> 00:35:57,459 Mind-blowing to us that when we speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks to others through us 381 00:36:00,780 –> 00:36:05,520 And we see how often we live below the level of the gospel 382 00:36:07,100 –> 00:36:09,100 sharing the same sense of panic 383 00:36:09,939 –> 00:36:11,939 That characterizes our culture 384 00:36:13,219 –> 00:36:19,199 As if we did not know a Savior who holds us eternally safe in his hand 385 00:36:22,919 –> 00:36:25,399 And so father as we renew in these 386 00:36:25,899 –> 00:36:31,939 Weeks are esolved to live in such a way that highly resistant people will come to glorify you we ask 387 00:36:33,419 –> 00:36:39,399 That you will help us not only to be those who act redemptively and pray effectively, but those who speak courageously 388 00:36:40,540 –> 00:36:43,560 That you will take us we take our words 389 00:36:44,419 –> 00:36:46,419 And take our lives 390 00:36:46,959 –> 00:36:49,540 That we may see for the glory of Jesus 391 00:36:50,520 –> 00:36:54,320 You’re saving good news communicated effectively to many 392 00:36:55,040 –> 00:36:57,120 In this time in which you’ve called us 393 00:36:57,760 –> 00:36:59,760 this window of opportunity 394 00:37:00,939 –> 00:37:02,939 Till Christ shall come 395 00:37:03,280 –> 00:37:05,560 For these things we ask in Jesus name 396 00:37:06,479 –> 00:37:08,479 Amen