again I ask you to turn to Peter's first epistle tonight first Peter and we shall begin our reading at chapter two and verse twenty one and we shall read straight through chapter three and verse nine chapter two verse twenty one says for even here unto where ye call because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth the righteousness, who his own self, there are sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead, The sins should live unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were a sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that, if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation or the manner of life of the wives. while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Who is adorning? Let it not be that of the awkward adorning of plaiting the hair and a wearing of gold or putting on of apparel. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. For after this manner In the old time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel. and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love his brethren, be piteous, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrarywise blessing, knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing. May the Lord bless the reading of his word. Let's pray together. Our Father, we thank you again for the privilege of entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by that new and living way consecrated for us by means of the blood of the everlasting covenant whereby you have raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and as our great high priest has entered in not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with his own blood. And he entered in, having obtained eternal redemption for us. And therefore it's our portion to enter in too. And when we come, we come with that knowledge of acceptance because of who is there as our great high priest and ceaseless intercessor, even thy beloved son. And we pray tonight, our Father, that David may be able to sell his house very quickly there in Pennsylvania, that he'll be able to make this transaction and transition very easily, and that the blessing of the Lord will attend his coming, and that he comes in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel, and that thy name will be glorified through it. Grant our God that we may see thy people develop spiritually. and that we all may have the joy of beholding and continuously in the mirror of thy word the glory of thy dear son and beholding changed even from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. We just thank you tonight for the privilege of asking and receiving in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We've been dealing for a number of Lord's Day evenings on the subject of the motifs and message of First Peter. We noticed that there were five grand themes or motifs in First Peter. And these are the overriding themes that you find in just about every chapter that we study when we study First Peter. We find that there were five motifs. The first was the believer's behavior. God expects us to behave as believers. Furthermore, the second one was the believer's unfair circumstances. While they were the elect of God, according to verse two, and the elect according to the predetermined purpose of God the Father, his divine foreknowledge. They were strangers that were scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bethenia. They were a people scattered because they were a people not wanted. And therefore, they were continuously faced with unfair circumstances. But we have the promise that they who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution and also that God is with us under all circumstances. And then we have the Third motif, the believer's courtesy and respect that he is supposed to show at all times and under all kinds of circumstances. The fourth motif that runs through this is the believer's motivation by Christ's example. And we read that this morning from verses twenty one through twenty five of chapter two. And then you have the believers' anticipation of future glory. In other words, the promise that is burning brightly throughout Peter's first epistle is the coming of the Lord. And the coming of the Lord and the future glory that awaits the people of God. This promise underlies all the motifs in the epistle. Because when he speaks of the sufferings of Christ, He always couples it with a glory that should follow. When he speaks of the resurrection of Christ, God raised him from the dead and gave him glory. He speaks of the glory of Christ at God's right hand. And while these believers were suffering unjustly, their suffering was a precious position and provision of the Almighty. For God permits suffering, for he doesn't want his people. to get the idea that this world is really their home. The home of the child of God is with the Lord himself. David, as he wrote in the twenty-third Psalm, could speak of the Lord's blessing. He could speak of the Lord as his shepherd. And because he was, he wouldn't want the Lord who made him to lie down in green pastures who restored his soul. who led him in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. But he never lost sight of the fact that he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever. It was a house of the Lord that becomes a climax of all the Lord's dealings with his people. The Lord is truly our shepherd, and we need a person to love. Everybody who's been saved by God's grace needs a person to love. You need that. And God provides that in the person of the shepherd of the sheep. The Lord is my shepherd. And what a blessing to realize that the eternal home, what makes a house a home? It's who lives there. And if I were to be in your home and you wouldn't be there, and it would be empty, I wouldn't feel at home at all. I wouldn't have any joy in looking around. But with you there, my, what a privilege to know I'm accepted here. These people love me. They've invited me to their home. And what a privilege to look forward to glory. For God made all the provision for us to be there. And he's the one who in his time, he calls us into his very presence. And because of this, in spite of unfair circumstances, In spite of unfair treatment, you and I are called upon to deal with respect and with courtesy even toward those who may treat us unfairly in this life. Our reading scripture began with verse twenty-one of chapter two. It ended with verse nine of chapter three. And you'll notice that they both carry the same theme. In verse twenty one he says, For even here unto were ye called. In verse nine of chapter three, the end of the verse, knowing that ye are there unto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. When we think of the calling of the child of God, we're talking about that effectual calling to salvation. For whom he calls, according to Romans eight, verse twenty nine, he justifies. And we're talking about effectual call. In other words, the effectual call of God is really, when you boil it down to the bottom line, it's a new birth. It's a new birth. We have been born of God. For we have been effectually called of God. Now, in other words, Peter says in this portion, when encountering unfair circumstances, be courteous. And this runs right through the epistle. And alongside of that, the underlying thought is the coming of the Lord, draw it nigh. The Lord's coming again. And the future glory of the child of God. Now Peter exhorted these believers. while they encountered unfair circumstances to be courteous and manifest the Spirit of Christ. I enjoy the Book of Jonah. There's a lot of good truth in Jonah, but I tell you when I'm finished reading the Book of Jonah, I can pray and say, Lord, please deliver me from the Spirit of Jonah. Give me the Spirit. of the Almighty. You see, I'm of the opinion that Jonah wrote the last chapter first. When I read the book of Jonah. Jonah was a nationalist. He only thought of Israel. He never thought of people. He didn't want God to bless the city of Nineveh. He wanted Nineveh to be destroyed. But you see, That's the spirit of Jonah. But the spirit of Christ was Jonah. There are a lot of people in this city. And a lot of those don't even know the right hand from their left. There were a lot of children in the city of Nineveh. And God says, I've spared them as much cattle to you. There was genuine repentance. Oh, may God give us the privilege of seeing. genuine repentance and genuine turning to himself. And the spirit of Jonah can be the spirit of jealousy. The spirit of Jonah can be manifest in so many different ways. Oh, that we might learn from the book of Jonah. Give us, oh God, a desire to see the world repent. Israel. had the blessing of God. And Jonah didn't want to give it to anybody else. Those of us who have been called by God have the blessing of God too. And we have the privilege of telling others about it and inviting them to get in on the blessing. The blessing of the Lord is make us rich and add up no sorrow. Holy living, beloved. is required for one to be courteous under unfair circumstances. It calls for holy living. It calls for living close to the Lord. This calls for maturity on the part of a believer's relationships. First with the Lord and then with other people. If our relationship isn't right with the Lord, it's not going to be right with other people. It may be right with certain people. that you want to agree with you, but it isn't going to be right with the Lord, and eventually it won't be right with other people either. And as I said this morning, maturity has nothing to do with age or length of how long you've been saved. It doesn't have reference to that at all. And this morning I made the statement that we love Christmas and the doctrine of the incarnation. And I love to sing the Christmas carols, especially a heart to herald angels sing, because it's so scriptural. But beloved, that baby that was born grew up to be a man. And he says to men, if you love me, keep my commandments. Do you want me to reign over you? And the world who makes money over Christmas do not want him to reign over that. That baby born in the manger has been exalted to the right hand of God. So maturity in spiritual things is not measured by length of service or length of life or even the ability to quote verses from the Bible. Maturity as a child of God boils down to one thing, obedience to Christ. Do I obey what the Word of God teaches? Do I submit, even though I don't understand? This is maturity. In the Hebrews chapter five, verses eleven through fourteen, we learn there that there's a people who have been saved a long time. For he said of them, when for the time ye ought to be teachers? You have need that someone teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God. You need a milk and not strong meat. You can't handle meat. And what a shame it is when we find believers who talk about years ago when God saved them. And they can't handle the strong meat of the word of God. They get all upset. when someone introduces something they had never thought about before. Strong need. There are three kinds of believers that need milk according to the Word of God. Number one is babies. Chapter two, verse one. Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings as newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the Word. that you may grow thereby babies need milk there's a second group of people carnal Christians need milk and when I talk about carnal Christians I have reference to carnal believers who are so called in first Corinthians chapter three you have need of milk and not meat he tells them for you're carnal you walk as men Then there's a third group that need milk and can't handle meat. That's a group that we read about from Hebrews chapter five, verses eleven through fourteen. People who have not matured. People who have been saved long enough to have matured. But they haven't. They need to again be taught the first principles of the oracles of God. Now this courtesy that we, as believers, are told by Peter to extend and always have before us, this courtesy is a reflection, beloved, of the expectation that he's ours of future glory. If that expectation of future glory burns brightly in us and through us, then the Spirit of Christ will be manifest by our life and it will be seen in our treatment of others. How we really care for others. You see, this expectation of future glory motivated the believer's desire to follow Christ and to follow his example because he suffered unjustly. So we read in this second chapter. And by the way, this is a normal Christian response. If another response is manifested, it isn't Christian. And I think back in my life and I think of the times when I gave other responses rather than a Christian response. And what a shame when that happened. How should believers behave in the midst of trials? Two words of the answer with excellence. We should behave with excellence in the midst of trials. In chapter two, verse eleven, he tells us, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, for that's what they were, strangers and pilgrims scattered abroad. He says, I beseech you as such, abstain from flesh and lusts which war against the soul. Don't let the flesh which lusts against the spirit, according to Galatians chapter five, where you are abstain from it. Furthermore, he tells them in verse twelve, their excellent behavior would cause their very neighbors to glorify God when Christ returns. look at verse twelve having your manner of life or your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evildoers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation that day of visitation can have a double meaning the day of visitation can be the day you were converted for God has We visited and redeemed His people we read in Scripture. But it also could mean the day of our Lord's return. When we return with Christ in power and great glory, when we return with Him, and we are then manifest as the sons of God. You see, they don't look like it now. They're strangers and pilgrims. But they really are. You see, what we are determines what we do. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. What they are, pure in heart, determines what they do. They see God. And in the day of visitation, Scripture says, Beloved, now are we the sons of God. They were strangers and pilgrims now. And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And you see, in this whole passage, we learn one great lesson. Excellent behavior excludes retribution. You can't have that idea of getting even in excellent behavior. Our Lord, when he was reviled, he reviled not again. He's our example. When he suffered, he threatened not. Courtesy on the part of believers was expected, even in illegal and political affairs. And remember, at this time Nero was on the throne in Rome. And the Roman Empire was opposed to the preaching of Christ. The emperor was to be worshipped. Not Christ, the king of glory. And yet, in the midst of that, Paul or Peter here, as Paul does in Romans chapter thirteen, He tells them to be courteous, to give honor to whom honor is due. Notice they were to be subordinate to every human institution. Verses thirteen through seventeen of chapter two. Submit yourselves, he says, to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, not for your sake, but for the Lord's sake. We are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Submit for the Lord's sake. whether it be to the king or supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that if with well-doing he may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. You see, First Corinthians one tells us that the wisdom of God is stronger than men, and the foolishness of God is wiser than men. And this may seem foolish to man. But God says it's going to work. And since we live in a pragmatic society, what works? Here's what works. God says it will. Let's use it. It's contrary to the thinking in our modern day, but it works. In other words, while they suffered, they were to act like a people who were really free with respect to the state, but as slaves to God, to perform righteous service. There are a lot of things that are legal that are not righteous. And you and I are called to walk righteously before man. In other words, they were to treat all with honor. Love and respect. You have that in verse seventeen. It says, Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Honor and respect for all. That is true courtesy. Then believers were to act with courtesy in domestic affairs. First, in reference to servants verse eighteen through verse twenty five he says in verse eighteen servants be subject to your masters and most of these who were scattered abroad who were treated unfairly were in all probability servants servants in the Roman Empire and many probably had cruel masters and they were told to serve as unto the Lord for the more while they suffered they could rest assured that special favors from God rested upon them if they would follow the example of Christ. And that example is given to us in the beginning of our Bible reading tonight. Verse twenty one of chapter two. For even here unto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us. He left us an example. So what were we called? We were called to suffer. Now, nobody likes to suffer, but we are not exempt as the people of God from suffering, in spite of what Oral Roberts and many of his kind teach. They're just plain wrong. We have been called to suffer. That's exactly what our text says. Why were we called? We were called because Christ also suffered and he left us an example that we should follow his steps. We don't need to follow the steps of TV preachers, but we do need to follow the steps of the person of Christ. That's far more important. In other words, Christ's example is the believer's response to unfair treatment. Christ's example is the very thing that he exhorted believers in his first great sermon recorded in Matthew five six and seven the sermon on the mouth this theme follows through in chapter three to husbands and wives and it even extended to believing wives who had unbelieving husbands And when we read through that, we learned something if we were paying attention in the reading. The wife's most powerful evangelistic tool is not argumentation and showing that this is what the Scripture teaches. It's Christ-like behavior and submission to the husband. That's what the Scripture teaches here. It's not argumentation. When you read verse four, a meek and a quiet spirit is precious in God's eyes. A meek and a quiet spirit. May I ask you a question? Do you know what the highest form of worship is? I'm going to surprise you now. Silence. Silence is the highest form of worship. First time worship is mentioned in Scripture. It was in Genesis twenty-two. Verse five, Abraham said to those with him, tarry ye here with the animals. I and the rab will go yonder and worship and come again to you. I ask you a question. What does Abraham say? That's recorded in Genesis twenty-two. Only three words. Here am I when God called to him out of heaven. And the Here am I of Genesis chapter twenty-two was total obedience on the part of Abraham in relation to that which God had called him to do on Mount Moriah. The highest form of worship in the Word of God is silence and awe in the presence of the Holy One of Israel, in the presence of the Holy God of heaven. Not argumentation, beloved. It's Christ-like behavior. A meek and a quiet spirit. in the sight of God is precious in his eyes. So he tells us in this third chapter that suffering is going to continue. And it's important in the time of trial to strengthen their bond with each other. And in chapter four, verses seven through eleven, he tells us how it should be done. The end of all things is at hand. Again, we have the theme of the coming of the Lord. In verse seven of chapter four, the end of all things is at hand. Be therefore sober and watch unto prayer. In other words, he says, be alert to pray one for another. Then he says, in verse eight, and above all these things, have fervent love among yourselves. for charity or love shall cover the multitude of sins. In other words, be alert, as he says in chapter one, to love one another fervently. In other words, don't let your love cool toward one another. Love one another fervently. And then he moves on and he says, use hospitality one to another without grudging. Show hospitality one to another. And then he says, serve each other with spiritual gifts. And one of the great verses on spiritual gifts here is verse ten. He says, as every man hath received a gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Be good stewards as you manifest the spiritual gift that God has given you to minister to others. And then he speaks in verse eleven. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives. That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To whom? be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. In other words, continue to follow the example of Christ, how he acted and reacted when he was experiencing unfair treatment. And then in verses thirteen and fourteen, it's tremendous. He says, respond with rejoicing. What is your response to unfair treatment? Verses thirteen and fourteen, he says, But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering, that when his glory shall be revealed. Here we have the future glory of the child of God. You see, it's in every chapter in this book. That when his glory shall be revealed, he may be glad also with exceeding joys. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. On their part, he is evil spoken of, but on your part, he is glorified. Respond with rejoicing. Not always easy to do. It's hard for the flesh. But we want to remind ourselves of one thing. The flesh is supposed to be crucified anyway. We're not to live after the flesh. We're to live after the spirit. So I read in that great eighth chapter of the Romans. Well, that brings us to the application of these things. And number one, tonight, and I only have one, but it's a lengthy one. At least I think so. I'm going to try to be brief. the application to it all. When believers encounter unfair circumstances, their behavior should reflect a spirit of courtesy in all relationships as they follow Christ's example and anticipate future glory. We have the example of Christ in one hand, we have the future glory on the other. And according to the scriptures, we are in the valley between the Mount of Calvary and the Mount of Glory. The Spirit of Christ in the prophet testified of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should fall. And you and I are in the valley between the sufferings of Christ and the glory. But how should we react? When we encounter these circumstances, we react with a spirit of genuine courtesy. In other words, this controlling theme is behind all the passages in verse Peter. And this really applies to every believer who desires to apply Peter's principles to their own relationship. You know, a few months or two ago when we were studying the Apostle Peter, I never knew that his first epistle would have such an effect and reaction upon my life. In the life of Peter, how many mistakes he made. But out of the mistakes he made, out of the sufferings that he endured, what do we see we see a beautiful saint who can tell others Christ is your example if you're treated unfairly don't worry about it rejoice the future glory awaits us and with the Apostle Paul we can say using the language of Romans eight verse eighteen I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with a glory which shall be revealed in us. The glory awaits, beloved. And what a day of glory is going to be when we're manifested as the sons of God with the Son of God in the day of his glory and manifestation. It's coming, beloved. And you and I can say with the Apostle John, as he closes the canon of Scripture, even so come, Lord Jesus. Let's pray together. Father, how far short we fall, time and time again. But how wonderful to realize that while we have been called to suffer, And we have been called to courtesy. We have been called to follow the example of God your Son. We may fail, but through it all, we realize that we have that desire to be like Christ, to please him, and to glorify him. Grant our God that this may continue and grow. and that we will be able to see a definite growth in our own lives as we walk with the Lord. Graciously, our Father, we ask you to watch over each one. We pray for our brother Bob Montgomery tonight. We thank you that he's doing well. And even though he scared a few of us this morning, we thank you that he's doing well, and we thank you for those who were able to minister to him. What a precious family we have here. We saw them operate this week in the death of Mr. Morris, and in the way they rallied around the family. Father, we can only say thanks be unto God. for the family of thy people. And we thank you for the joy that we have together as thy people. May it increase and may thy name be glorified in us and through us. For the Lord Jesus' sake, dismiss us with our blessings. And may the name of our blessed Lord continuously be exalted in our lives and by our lives for Jesus' sake. Amen.