Suffering Injustice - 1 Peter 2:18-23
Posted by Calvary Chapel Fremont at 10/11/2009 5:18 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Suffering Injustice Peter
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Suffering Injustice Peter
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday October 11, 2009
Suffering injustice
1 Peter 2:18-23
Vengeance in the workplace is often in the news. From 1994-2003, there were 164 workplace shootings in America - a total of 290 people killed/161 wounded. Workplace violence is the fastest growing type of homicide in the U.S.
Peter’s counsel is not being followed – someone didn’t get memo.
18 Peter takes his understanding of submission to government and applies it to other relationships in society. Here, servant to master. In ancient times, the master (Gr. despot) had the power/servant was powerless. We have come a long way since then in terms of protection for the worker from autocratic bosses/unsafe working conditions. But I think many is this room would say they work for bosses who are unfair/abuse their power.
At one time or another, probably the majority of you have been unfairly treated/unjustly penalized – anywhere from public criticism to being fired. Some of you have really messed up and deserved the criticism/consequences you received, but others of you have had to suffer the abuse of power by those over you.
Master = despot. If a man had a despot, he was in a permanent relationship of servitude to him, his will altogether swallowed up in the will of the other. th. So, the servant doesn’t have a whole lot of options open to him. He’s stuck where he’s at. Many feel like that.
“I know I’m not a slave, but what else can I do? Where else can I go? Better just to stay and submit and put up w/ all the garbage.”
Peter says to not only submit, but to submit w/ respect. Your employer is to be respected, and not only because he can impact your life. W/ respect, you can impact his life for Christ. Disrespect from you will minimize the witness of your life/marginalize the message of Jesus – cf. 2:12,15. Your heart is 2B in a right attitude toward your boss. This is hard when your boss is unfair/unreasonable.
Unreasonable = skoliois – warped/twisted – scoliosis of the heart. This is one who demands too much and you can’t perform/expects unrighteousness and you can’t comply/is arbitrary in his use of authority. UR2 have a straight heart toward a crooked boss.
“Well, I just can’t do that. You don’t know my boss – he is the biggest bozo in the world. I despise him. I’ll submit and I’ll do a good job because I need a paycheck and because I respect myself, but why do I have to respect him? Why does my heart have to be straight towards him when his heart is crooked toward me?”
Jesus had a straight heart toward you when your heart was crooked toward Him. Your boss sees you as his servant. God sees you as His servant. Will you see yourself as your boss sees you or will you see yourself as God sees you? Who will shape your soul? Ill. – grumpy people at gas station/I would give back what I got. I had to repent.
19-20 How can I respect one who doesn’t deserve it? One theme of Peter: you have received the grace of God and the grace of God in you is powerful - reshape your thinking/character. 1:2; 3:7; 4:10; 5:9.
Grace is the subject of v19: Grace bears up under the sorrow of unjust suffering. But it will endure if one condition is met – you have a godly conscience. Godly conscience = one in tune w/ the Spirit and the Scriptures and doesn’t accuse you of sin. A godly conscience is one that works the way God intended it to work.
“Well, I have grace in my life, why can’t I bear up under sorrow more sturdily? Why do I think that God has abandoned me. Why do I lash out at the one oppressing me?” Because your heart is bent/crooked/scoliosis. God’s grace doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a straight heart/godly conscience. God’s grace doesn’t guarantee that you’ll respect your boss/authority in your life.
What does guarantee a godly conscience/straight heart/respect for unreasonable authority? 23b – moment by moment trust in God.
21-23 Here’s why UR2 have a straight heart/godly conscience – to walk as Jesus did. When Jesus was on the cross, His heart was straight toward those whose hearts were crooked toward Him. Sometimes you can feel like you’re getting nailed at work. If I were getting crucified, I would probably have a crooked heart.
I would be cussing/swearing/yelling/threatening/reviling. If you have a crooked heart, it’s going to show up and instead of revealing the love of God, you’ll be showing the hatred of man.
How could He not threaten/revile? Describe scene. He kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously. Verb – continuous/kept on doing it. Each moment He surrendered to His Father. Trusting in God, each moment, will keep your heart straight/your conscience godly. You don’t surrender once in the morning and it carries you through the day. At each moment of temptation/put down – surrender. When the boss doesn’t recognize your achievement/ someone else praised - promoted/treated w/ disrespect – trust.
How could He suffer as He did? He knew the character of God. He knew His Father had His back. He knew that His suffering wasn’t the end. He knew that unrighteousness would not have the final word. Your unfair/unjust boss will not have the final word. “Then why am I out of work?” The gospels tell us that unrighteousness will triumph for a while (and Jesus was dead for a while), but the stone rolled away – as it will do in your life.
Jesus trusted in Him who judges righteously – you keep doing so. Isaiah: trust in nations v God. Lean on God/when props pulled out/you’re OK
1948/Soon-chun, 38th parallel, Korea - Communists had taken control of this town for a brief period and had executed the two sons of Pastor Yangwon Son for preaching to them about Jesus. They died as martyrs. When the Communists had been driven out, Chai-sun, a young man of the village, was identified as the one who had fired the shots. His execution was ordered. Pastor Son requested that the charges be dropped and that Chai-sun be released into his custody for adoption. His 13 year old daughter, Rachel, supported her father. Only then did the court agree to release Chai-sun. He became the son of the pastor and a believer in the grace of Jesus. “I thank God that He has given me the love to seek to convert and to adopt as my son the enemy who killed my dear boys.”
Where vengeance would have perpetuated the cycle of violence, faith/love restored a son to Pastor Yangwon Son. His heart remained straight/brought rescue/life. Is your heart straight?
Jesus has a straight heart toward you, even when w/ your crooked heart you hurt other people/denied Him/ignored Him. Vv24-25.
Respect = PHOBOS. “Expressions containing the words of the phobos group always describe a reaction to man’s encounter w/ force… ” tdnt. If I am ironing and the grandkids are there, I will make sure an adult watches the iron/kids, or I’ll unplug it/place it on kitchen counter. I respect it, it’s a force to recognize.
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Suffering injustice
1 Peter 2:18-23
Vengeance in the workplace is often in the news. From 1994-2003, there were 164 workplace shootings in America - a total of 290 people killed/161 wounded. Workplace violence is the fastest growing type of homicide in the U.S.
Peter’s counsel is not being followed – someone didn’t get memo.
18 Peter takes his understanding of submission to government and applies it to other relationships in society. Here, servant to master. In ancient times, the master (Gr. despot) had the power/servant was powerless. We have come a long way since then in terms of protection for the worker from autocratic bosses/unsafe working conditions. But I think many is this room would say they work for bosses who are unfair/abuse their power.
At one time or another, probably the majority of you have been unfairly treated/unjustly penalized – anywhere from public criticism to being fired. Some of you have really messed up and deserved the criticism/consequences you received, but others of you have had to suffer the abuse of power by those over you.
Master = despot. If a man had a despot, he was in a permanent relationship of servitude to him, his will altogether swallowed up in the will of the other. th. So, the servant doesn’t have a whole lot of options open to him. He’s stuck where he’s at. Many feel like that.
“I know I’m not a slave, but what else can I do? Where else can I go? Better just to stay and submit and put up w/ all the garbage.”
Peter says to not only submit, but to submit w/ respect. Your employer is to be respected, and not only because he can impact your life. W/ respect, you can impact his life for Christ. Disrespect from you will minimize the witness of your life/marginalize the message of Jesus – cf. 2:12,15. Your heart is 2B in a right attitude toward your boss. This is hard when your boss is unfair/unreasonable.
Unreasonable = skoliois – warped/twisted – scoliosis of the heart. This is one who demands too much and you can’t perform/expects unrighteousness and you can’t comply/is arbitrary in his use of authority. UR2 have a straight heart toward a crooked boss.
“Well, I just can’t do that. You don’t know my boss – he is the biggest bozo in the world. I despise him. I’ll submit and I’ll do a good job because I need a paycheck and because I respect myself, but why do I have to respect him? Why does my heart have to be straight towards him when his heart is crooked toward me?”
Jesus had a straight heart toward you when your heart was crooked toward Him. Your boss sees you as his servant. God sees you as His servant. Will you see yourself as your boss sees you or will you see yourself as God sees you? Who will shape your soul? Ill. – grumpy people at gas station/I would give back what I got. I had to repent.
19-20 How can I respect one who doesn’t deserve it? One theme of Peter: you have received the grace of God and the grace of God in you is powerful - reshape your thinking/character. 1:2; 3:7; 4:10; 5:9.
Grace is the subject of v19: Grace bears up under the sorrow of unjust suffering. But it will endure if one condition is met – you have a godly conscience. Godly conscience = one in tune w/ the Spirit and the Scriptures and doesn’t accuse you of sin. A godly conscience is one that works the way God intended it to work.
“Well, I have grace in my life, why can’t I bear up under sorrow more sturdily? Why do I think that God has abandoned me. Why do I lash out at the one oppressing me?” Because your heart is bent/crooked/scoliosis. God’s grace doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a straight heart/godly conscience. God’s grace doesn’t guarantee that you’ll respect your boss/authority in your life.
What does guarantee a godly conscience/straight heart/respect for unreasonable authority? 23b – moment by moment trust in God.
21-23 Here’s why UR2 have a straight heart/godly conscience – to walk as Jesus did. When Jesus was on the cross, His heart was straight toward those whose hearts were crooked toward Him. Sometimes you can feel like you’re getting nailed at work. If I were getting crucified, I would probably have a crooked heart.
I would be cussing/swearing/yelling/threatening/reviling. If you have a crooked heart, it’s going to show up and instead of revealing the love of God, you’ll be showing the hatred of man.
How could He not threaten/revile? Describe scene. He kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously. Verb – continuous/kept on doing it. Each moment He surrendered to His Father. Trusting in God, each moment, will keep your heart straight/your conscience godly. You don’t surrender once in the morning and it carries you through the day. At each moment of temptation/put down – surrender. When the boss doesn’t recognize your achievement/ someone else praised - promoted/treated w/ disrespect – trust.
How could He suffer as He did? He knew the character of God. He knew His Father had His back. He knew that His suffering wasn’t the end. He knew that unrighteousness would not have the final word. Your unfair/unjust boss will not have the final word. “Then why am I out of work?” The gospels tell us that unrighteousness will triumph for a while (and Jesus was dead for a while), but the stone rolled away – as it will do in your life.
Jesus trusted in Him who judges righteously – you keep doing so. Isaiah: trust in nations v God. Lean on God/when props pulled out/you’re OK
1948/Soon-chun, 38th parallel, Korea - Communists had taken control of this town for a brief period and had executed the two sons of Pastor Yangwon Son for preaching to them about Jesus. They died as martyrs. When the Communists had been driven out, Chai-sun, a young man of the village, was identified as the one who had fired the shots. His execution was ordered. Pastor Son requested that the charges be dropped and that Chai-sun be released into his custody for adoption. His 13 year old daughter, Rachel, supported her father. Only then did the court agree to release Chai-sun. He became the son of the pastor and a believer in the grace of Jesus. “I thank God that He has given me the love to seek to convert and to adopt as my son the enemy who killed my dear boys.”
Where vengeance would have perpetuated the cycle of violence, faith/love restored a son to Pastor Yangwon Son. His heart remained straight/brought rescue/life. Is your heart straight?
Jesus has a straight heart toward you, even when w/ your crooked heart you hurt other people/denied Him/ignored Him. Vv24-25.
Respect = PHOBOS. “Expressions containing the words of the phobos group always describe a reaction to man’s encounter w/ force… ” tdnt. If I am ironing and the grandkids are there, I will make sure an adult watches the iron/kids, or I’ll unplug it/place it on kitchen counter. I respect it, it’s a force to recognize.
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