Sermon

Being Christian Witnesses

May 6, 2023 Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

Open publisher episode ↗

Publisher transcript

Transcript

View source ↗

We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 96, the Scottish Psalter
version on page 358. We'll take up our singing at verse 7, it's verse 8 on the sheep, we'll take it
up at verse 7 to verse 11. Do ye ascribe unto the Lord of people every tribe, glory do ye unto the
Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord that to his name is due. Come ye into
his courts and bring an offering with you. We'll sing from verse 7 to 11 to God's praise
and we stand to sing.
Glory do ye unto the Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due.
O Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due.
Almighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due. Come ye,
into his force and bring an offering with you. In beauty of his holiness, O dear,
the Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due.
The grace that all the earth drew out, from the earth's face before.
All the earth drew out, from the earth's face before.
れない Omar
Among the heathen sick, O examples the world shall shed fastly,
from moving
he shall judge
the people
righteously.
Let hands be
glad before
the Lord
and let the
earth
rejoice.
Let
cease
and all
that is
said
cry
out
and make
a noise.
Let's come
together to God
in prayer.
Let us pray.
Our Father in
heaven, we thank
you for every
opportunity we have
to come and
worship you
together as a
people.
We thank you
that we have
your word before
us that guides
us, Lord, that
speaks to us of
all our needs.
We thank you
that we are able
to offer up
praise to you
and offer up
prayer to you
and that you
hear and delight
in all of these
things.
And we do pray,
Lord, that you
will bless us
and be with us.
We thank you
that you are a
king over us
and that we come
into the presence
of you as our
king.
And although there
was much joy in
our nation and
excitement yesterday
over the
coronation of a
new king,
King Charles III,
we thank you
above all, Lord,
and pray for him
that he would know
Jesus Christ as his
Lord and King,
that all the
nations of our
world would come
to give glory to
you and that we
would find in you
the one who is
with us.
So, Lord, may you
bless us together.
May you bless us
young and old alike
as we hear of your
truth, of your word
today.
May you bless us in
every home and
family we represent.
May you be with us,
Lord, and guide us
throughout this day.
Help us to be glad
in it, for this is a
day that you have
made.
Help us to rejoice
in that.
So, Lord, continue
with us and go
before us, pardoning
all our sin in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
I'm sure not just
the young folks,
but many of us
would have been
paying attention to
what was happening
in London yesterday
as it was shown
on our screens,
as it was heard
on the radio,
wherever you went
yesterday, there
was signs and
indications that
something important
was happening.
It was the
coronation of the
king.
And as you
watched on, I'm
sure there was
many different
things that maybe
caught your
attention.
Maybe you had
your favorite part
of the day, maybe
you weren't
interested in it
at all, but
whatever situation
we found
ourselves in,
something important
was happening
with the
coronation of
King Charles III.
And when you
watch and see
what was happening,
you see many
things that maybe
catch your
attention.
the amount of
different people
that were coming
from all over the
world to be there,
important people.
The fanfare and
all the parades and
the crowds that
were there, all
there to see what
was taking place.
The way King
Charles was dressed
and all the
different things
that he had to
go through as he
became king and
as the crown was
placed on his
head.
There was lots of
different things
happening.
He is the king
of our nation,
but he's not the
only king in the
world.
There's kings and
queens in other
parts of the
world as well.
If you find a
list of all the
different kings and
queens, you find
that lots of
different countries
around the world
have their own
king or queen.
Norway, Spain,
Sweden, Belgium,
Denmark, even
Cambodia, where
Muriel, who was
here with us
recently, even
where she is,
there's a king
over that nation
as well.
So there may be
lots of different
kings and queens
around the world.
And although all
of these kings and
queens, there's a
lot of fanfare
around them, there's
a lot of things
that are so
important about
their role and
all that's done
when they become
king or queen
and they have
this crown put
on their head,
can they be said
of one of them
that they are the
king or queen
of the whole
world?
It can't.
And can it be
said of anyone
that they are
king of the
whole world?
Yes, it can.
It can be said
of only one
person.
And that's
the Lord.
The Lord is
king of all
nations.
In Psalm 47,
it speaks about
how the Lord
is king.
It says,
how awesome
is the Lord
most high,
great king
who rules
the earth
throughout,
the whole
of the world.
It says that
God has gone
up with shouts
of joy,
the Lord
amidst the
trumpets sound.
So there's
this fanfare
that the Lord
is king.
And it says
in the Psalm,
the leaders
of the nations
come to yield
themselves to
Abraham's God.
He is the
king of all
the world
and of all
people.
So the Lord
is king.
And when we
think of that,
we think of,
well, who is
our king?
Is King Charles
our only king,
our most
important king?
No.
King Jesus
is the most
important king.
And what we
see of King
Jesus is that
he was given
a crown
when he was
in this world.
But it was
very different
to the crown
that was put
on King
Charles'
head yesterday.
It was a
crown of
thorns.
So very
different.
Instead of
people shouting,
God save
the king as
they did
yesterday,
people when
Jesus was
shown to be
king were
shouting,
crucify him.
That means
put him to
death.
So Jesus
came to be
king over us
all.
But in
order to
be king,
he had to
take that
crown,
that crown
of suffering
and die
for us
that we
might know
him as
our true
king forever
for all
eternity.
So as we
think of the
great fanfare
around King
Charles yesterday
and the
great crown,
the beautiful
crown that
was put on
his head,
he cannot
be king of
the whole
world for
all time,
but Jesus
is.
And that's
what we are
to remember
and to
know that
we can
have Jesus
as our
king too.
So may
God bless
his word
and these
thoughts to
us.
We're going
to say the
Lord's
prayer together
now.
Amen.
Amen.
Our Father
which art in
heaven,
hallowed be
thy name.
Thy kingdom
come.
Thy will be
done on
earth as it
is in
heaven.
Give us
this day
our daily
bread and
forgive us
our debts
as we
forgive our
debtors.
And lead us
not into
temptation,
but deliver us
from evil.
For thine is
the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory
forever.
Amen.
We're going
to sing again
to God's
praise this
time in
Psalm 107
in the
Scottish
Psalter.
At the
beginning of
that psalm,
Psalm 107,
we'll sing
from verse
1 to
verse 9.
Psalm 107,
page 382
of the
psalm books.
Singing from
the beginning,
praise God
for he is
good, for
still his
mercy's
lasting be
let God's
redeemed
say so,
whom he
from the
enemy's
hand did
free.
We'll sing
from verse
1 to
verse 9
to God's
praise.
Amen.
Praise God
for he is
good for
self,
his
mercy's
lasting
be.
let God's
let God's
redeemed
say so,
whom he
from the
enemy's
handed free.
and gather
and gather
them
out of
the land
from
north,
south,
east,
and west,
they
strayed
in deserts
pathless
with
with
no
safety
found
to rest.
For
thirst
and
hunger
in
their
soul
whence
it's
empress,
they
cry
out
to
the
Lord
and
he
them
free
from
distress.
Them
also
in
a way
to
walk
that
right
to
see
dead
guide,
that
they
might
to
ascetic
o
wherein
they
might
abide.
O
that
men
to
the
Lord
would
give
grace
for
his
goodness
and
for
his
works
of
wonder
done
unto
the
sons
of
men.
For
he
that
soul
that
longing
is
God
fully
satisfied
with
goodness
he
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
he
that
well
let's
turn to
read
God's
word
together
we're
turning
to
1st
Peter
chapter
2
1st
Peter
chapter
2
it's
been a
bit of
time
since
we
were
studying
this
book
together
but
we're
going
to
return
to
it
today
and
over
the
next
few
weeks
coming
as
well
to
look
continue
our
study
through
1st
Peter
we take
up our
reading
today
in
chapter
2
at
the
beginning
of
that
chapter
reading
from
verse
1
down
to
verse
12
1st
Peter
chapter
2
so
put
away
malice
and
all
deceit
and
hypocrisy
and
envy
and
all
slander
like
newborn
infants
long
for
the
pure
spiritual
milk
that
by
it
you
may
grow
up
to
salvation
if
indeed
you
have
tasted
that
the
Lord
is
good
as
you
come
to
him
a
living
stone
rejected
by
men
but
in
the
sight
of
God
chosen
and
precious
you
yourselves
like
living
stones
are
being
built
up
as
a
spiritual
house
to
be
a
holy
priesthood
to
offer
spiritual
sacrifices
acceptable
to
God
through
Jesus
Christ
for
it
stands
in
scripture
behold
I am
laying
in
Zion
a
stone
a
corner
stone
chosen
and
precious
and
whoever
believes
in
him
will
not
be
put
to
shame
so
the
honor
is
for
you
who
believe
but
for
those
who
do
not
believe
the
stone
that
the
builders
rejected
has
become
the
corner
stone
and
a
stone
of
stumbling
and a
rock
of
offense
they
stumble
because
they
disobey
the word
as
they
were
destined
to
do
but
you
are
a
chosen
race
a
royal
priesthood
a
holy
nation
a
people
for
his
own
possession
that
you
may
proclaim
the
excellencies
of
him
who
called
you
out
of
darkness
into
his
marvelous
light
once
you
were
not
a
people
but
now
you
are
God's
people
once
you
had
not
received
mercy
but
now
you
have
received
mercy
beloved
I
urge
you
as
sojourners
and
exiles
to
abstain
from
the
passions
of
the
flesh
which
wage
war
against
your
soul
keep
your
conduct
among
the
gentiles
honorable
so that
when
they
speak
against
you
as
evildoers
they
may
see
your
good
deeds
and
glorify
God
on
the
day
of
visitation
amen
and may
God
bless
that
reading
from
his
word
we'll
again
unite
our
hearts
in
prayer
let
us
pray
our
father
in
heaven
as
we
continue
to
offer
up
our
worship
to
you
we
thank
you
that
we
come
to
unite
our
hearts
in
that
way
we
come
to
offer
up
praise
and
prayer
to
you
seeking
your
goodness
over
us
seeking
your
blessing
and
your
guidance
and
your
mercy
to
be
upon
us
as
a
people
here
but
also
as
your
people
far
and
wide
we
thank
you
that
your
word
reminds
us
again
and
again
that
you
have
your
people
to
to
all
to
all
to
all
ends
of
the
earth
and
you
are
to
yourself
from
north
south
east
and west
you
seek
to
gather
your
people
to
come
and
worship
you
and
to
return
to
the
one
who
is
our
only
Lord
our
only
God
and
so
we
pray
that
as
your
word
goes
out
today
here
and
far
and
wide
that
your
word
will
be
blessed
by
you
that
it
will
build up
and strengthen
your
people
and encourage
us
Lord
that
you
are
the
one
who
is
building
his
church
and
that
there
is
nothing
that
will
overcome
not
even
the
gates
of
hell
as
your
word
says
as
I'll
conquer
your
church
but
we
thank
you
that
we
have
a
great
corner
stone
that
the
foundation
is
Jesus
Christ
and
as
we
have
him
as
that
corner
stone
the
one
who
was
so
precious
who
was
your
chosen
son
that
he
would
come
into
this
world
to
save
sinners
we
thank
you
that
you
did
not
hold
him
back
but
that
you
sent
him
for
us
and
for
all
who
would
believe
that
we
would
know
the
great
joy
of
salvation
that
we
would
know
that
great
turning
that
we
even
read
of
in
a
word
before
us
that
once
we
were
not
a
people
but
now
we
are
God's
people
once
we
had
not
received
mercy
but
now
we
have
received
mercy
that
we
have
been
brought
from
darkness
into
his
marvelous
light
so
we
pray
Lord
that
that
would
be
taking
place
throughout
the
world
today
that
people
would
receive
mercy
and be
brought
from
darkness
into
light
even
in our
own
midst
here
Lord
that
we
would
be
converted
and
convicted
by
your
word
so
Lord
we
ask
that
in
all
that
we
do
it
would
be
for
your
glory
we
pray
your
encouragement
upon
us
as
a
people
we
pray
Lord
that
you
will
help
us
as
your
people
to
serve
with
all
our
hearts
to
seek
your
glory
in
our
midst
again
as
a
people
throughout
our
islands
throughout
our
communities
here
throughout
our
nation
that
we
keep
praying
to
you
Lord
as
the
one
the
coronation
that
so
much
has
changed
over
these
last
number
of
years
we
think
of
the
coronation
of
a
new
king
and
as
we
pray
for
him
as
he
goes
on
following
the
coronation
we
pray
that
you
will
give
him
wisdom
that
you
will
give
him
strength
that
you
will
give
him
help
and
abundantly
Lord
that
you
will
bless
him
by
your
word
and
by
your
spirit
to
acknowledge
you
we
heard
so
much
of
your
word
and
your
truth
yesterday
and
the
professions
that
he
brought
before
us
Lord
but
may
they
be
true
in
his
heart
and
not
just
on
his
lips
that
he
would
rule
wisely
according
to
the
counsel
of
your
word
so
we
pray
Lord
that
you
will
be
with
him
and
his
family
and
all
who
lead
us
and
guide
us
in
these
days
our
prime
minister
our
to
open
their
hearts
to
open
their
eyes
to
see
and
to
know
you
we
pray
that
throughout
our
world
as we
were
reminded
on
Wednesday
evening
with the
visit of
the
Slavic
Gospel
Association
we are
reminded
of
the
wonder
of
your
gospel
and
the
power
of
it
how
it
is
able
to
bring
people
in
every
land
from
darkness
to
light
we
thank
that
your
name
is
being
praised
in
the
midst
of
times
of
conflict
in
the
times
of
great
need
that
even
when
there
seems
to be
so
little
to
give
thanks
for
yet
oh
Lord
your
people
praise
your
name
and
rejoice
in
your
truth
and
that
reminds
us
Lord
of
our
own
lives
and
how
blessed
we are
to have
so
much
and
yet
we
take
so
much
for
granted
so
help
us
Lord
that
we
will
see
the
wonder
of
your
truth
and
the
privilege
to hear
it
to
have
it
before
us
but
not
just
to
hear
and
see
it
but
to
truly
believe
and
to
trust
on
the
one
who
is
the
word
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
so
we
thank
you
for
the
visit
of
the
Slavic
Gospel
Association
we
pray
your
blessing
on
both
Trevor
and
Derek
as
they
go
round
congregations
in
our
island
and
as
they
return
to
their
own
homes
and
families
and
people
in
the
lands
there
in
Eastern
Europe
into
Russia
and
even
further
afield
Lord
we
pray
that
your
power
of
your
spirit
would
be
upon
our
lands
and
upon
your
people
that
we
would
see
your
power
and
presence
in
our
midst
we
ask
that
even
now
as
we
continue
in
worship
of
you
that
you
would
bless
your
word
to
us
and
hear
our
prayers
remember
us
as
homes
and
families
and
all
our
communities
here
those
in
need
around
us
those
who
are
unwell
those
who
are
mourning
and
grieving
those
who
are
going
through
many
different
trials
so
Lord
we
pray
for
your
goodness
and
mercy
to be
with
us
so
we
ask
all
things
confessing
our
sins
and
pleading
with
you
Lord
help
us
to
be
salt
and
light
in
this
world
help
us
even
as
we
turn
to
your
word
to
learn
from
it
and
help
us
Lord
that
we
would
rejoice
in
your
goodness
to
us
but
also
long
to
see
many
more
come
to
a
saving
knowledge
of
you
so
go
before
us
now
pardoning
our
sin
in
Jesus
name
Amen
we sing
again
to
God's
praise
in
Psalm
135
this
time
it's
in the
sing
Psalms
version
Psalm
135
we
take up
our
reading at
verse 13
of the
psalm
we're
going
to
sing
from
verse 13
down
to
the
end
of
the
psalm
Lord
your
name
endures
forever
your
renown
is
ever
great
for
the
Lord
sustains
his
servants
and
his
folk
will
vindicate
we
sing
from
verse
13
down
to
the
end
of
the
psalm
to
God's
praise
much
March your name endures forever,
during the rest of our great,
for the Lord succincts his servants
and his folk will vindicate.
But the idols of the nations,
made of silver and of gold,
are by human hands created
with a hammer or a moan.
Must have thought speak they cannot,
find they have thought cannot see,
hear they have thought hear they cannot,
in him a still breath can be.
Those who make them will be like them,
those who trust them are the same.
Praise the Lord, O house of Israel,
our own south exalted sin.
Praise the Lord, O house of Levi,
you who fill him,
praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord,
who dwells in Zion,
in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Well, we can turn back to our reading in 1 Peter,

1 Peter 2 chapter mention
chapter 2.
As I say, we're coming back to this study in 1 Peter.
We had come as far as verse 8 in chapter 2.
And we're going to look at verse 9 down to verse 12 today,
under the heading of Being Christian Witnesses.
If I was to give a brief recap of what we've looked at so far
in this letter of Peter to a church that was scattered far and wide,
there are a few things that we would maybe just want to highlight
before we just jump back in at verse 9.
Who was Peter writing to?
Well, we see from the outset of the letter
that there are people who have been scattered far and wide,
but they are God's people,
and they are facing various trials and persecutions
because of their faith.
They are suffering for it.
And that's one of the main reasons why Peter is writing to them.
He's writing to encourage them in the midst of these trials
that they face.
He's writing to a people who are scattered,
but he's writing to them to encourage them
and strengthen them and build them up in the faith.
And what does he say to them to seek to encourage them?
Well, he reminds them of a few different things.
He encourages them in both a positive way
that they have, as we saw in verse 3,
the first part there,
that they have a hope and an inheritance to look forward to.
That as God's people,
they have much to give thanks for
and to be blessed by in the present,
but also much to look forward to in the future.
But he doesn't ignore the issues
that are going on around them either.
He makes it very clear that he knows
that they are suffering
because of their faith,
that they are suffering
and going through all these trials.
It says in verse 6 of chapter 1,
In this you rejoice,
though now for a little while,
if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials.
So there's a rejoicing,
but there's a reality as well
that they will have trials.
But then he goes on to remind them
that they are remembered by God.
It's not just Peter remembering them in this way
by writing to them,
but reminding them that God remembers them too.
And that they,
in the midst of everything that's going on,
are to be a holy people.
In verse 15,
in chapter 1,
he says,
He says,
but as he who called you is holy,
you also be holy
in all your conduct.
He is saying you are set apart
by God.
And so in the midst of
all this suffering that you are facing,
you are to be God's people,
that you are to be a holy people,
set apart,
and that your conduct
is to be holy
in the midst of them.
So all this adds up to Peter
seeking to equip them
to a life of mission together,
being the witnesses of God
in the midst of a very difficult environment,
knowing that such a life is costly.
But it's not just to merely survive
in this setting,
but to thrive.
And so at the end of chapter 1
and into chapter 2,
you have this great reminder
of the foundation of all of it,
and that is God's Word.
It is God's Word.
At the end of chapter 1,
you're reminded that the Word of the Lord
remains forever,
that this is a powerful Word.
And then as you go into chapter 2,
you're reminded that
this Word causes offense,
but it also causes blessing.
It is a powerful Word.
And I use the reminder
of Charles Spurgeon's conversion
when we were last looking at this passage
in chapter 2
to show the power of God's Word,
how Charles Spurgeon's own conversion
was through God's Word
speaking to him
in a very powerful way.
It was almost by mistake
that Charles Spurgeon
ended up in the place
where he heard God's Word
convicting him.
He was on his way
to church
one Sunday morning,
but it was in the midst
of winter
and there was this great
snowstorm going on around him
and he found himself
ducking into a side street
to shelter from
the snow for a time.
But he noticed
that there was
a small Methodist church
in the street there.
And so,
he went in there
instead of carrying on
to the church
that he'd planned
to go to.
The minister of the church
there
hadn't managed
to get to church
because of the snowstorm
and it was a different preacher
who hadn't intended
to be preaching that day.
And so,
everything maybe seemed
to be working against him.
He hadn't got to
where he wanted to be.
He wasn't hearing the preacher
that was planned
in the church he was in.
But yet,
God had appointed
this time for him
to hear words
that transformed his life.
The preacher
who stood to preach
that day,
he said,
didn't have much to say.
And he kept repeating
a verse.
It was from Isaiah 45,

Isaiah 45:22
verse 22.
Look unto me
and be ye saved
all the ends of the earth
for I am God
and there is none else.
This verse was repeated
so often
and yet it spoke
so powerfully
to Charles Spurgeon.
The word of the Lord
remains forever.
It is a powerful word
and it's a word
that is still able
to convict
and to convert.
And so,
as we go on
in this chapter,
as we remember
the power of God's word,
we come into
chapter 2,
verse 9
to verse 12
together today.
And here we see
that this trusting
and unchanging power
of God's truth,
we see that it led
from just looking up
to God
and rejoicing in Him
to looking out
and to looking out
to those around us,
to looking out
around the people
that we have
around us.
And that's what Peter
is directing
the people here to,
to look to God,
to trust in Him,
but also to be aware
of those
who are around them
and the power
that this word has
to transform.
and it's about
being Christian
witnesses to this end.
And so that's what
we're thinking about
together here
this morning
as we continue
our study.
We're going to look
at verse 9
to verse 12
under the heading
of being Christian
witnesses
in a hostile world
but remembering
why we are to be so.
And the first thing
is the mission
of our witness.
The second thing
is the motivation
of our witness.
And the third thing
is the manner
of our witness.
Many of the things
that we're looking
at here today,
they're almost
a reminder of things
that we've looked at
in the past as well.
So first we have
the mission
of our witness.
And he says
in verse 9 here,
you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
a people
of his own possession
that you may proclaim
the excellencies
of him
who called you
out of darkness
into his marvelous light.
If you were watching
the coronation yesterday
or if you saw
any of it afterwards,
did you feel
a part of it?
Did you feel
that you were involved
in it
in a special way?
Did it make you think,
there's my king?
Now the coronation
is past,
do you feel
that you have access
to this king?
In many ways,
we maybe feel
detached from it.
We're only seeing it
on our screens
or reading about it
online
or in newspapers.
We can't just
call around
and ask the king
for advice
or help.
He may be king,
but he's king
at a distance.
But what we have
before us here
and the reminder
that Peter
is giving
to the people
then and to ourselves
today is
that we have a king
who is very different.
a king
whose subjects
we are,
but a king
whose relationship
with us
is very different
and ours
with him.
And what he says
in these verses
are powerful
reminders to us
of what we have
with God.
after the coronation
of the king
yesterday,
do you feel
it's your mission
to proclaim
the excellencies
of him?
Do you feel
that that's in order
for you to proclaim
the excellencies
of King Charles?
Well,
we'll seek
to uphold him
in prayer,
but our prayer
would be that
he,
as king
in this,
over our nation,
would proclaim
the excellencies
of him
who is king
over all nations
and all
the world,
that he would
call him
from darkness
to light
to know the joy
of the salvation
that there is
in the king
who is Christ Jesus.
And if we know
Christ
as king,
then as Peter
is saying here,
as his people,
as his subjects,
as his children,
that we are
to proclaim
the excellencies
of him
who called us
from darkness
to his marvelous
light.
This is the mission
of our witness,
to proclaim
him,
to make
Christ known,
to show him
to the world
in which we live,
knowing for ourselves
the wonder
that is our king,
Christ Jesus.
Jesus.
Peter is writing
to these people
who were scattered,
who were persecuted,
but he's writing
to them,
reminding them,
you are God's
people.
And he reminds
them of this
privilege and
blessing that is
theirs.
Through these
ways he describes
them,
four ways he
describes them
there in verse
nine.
And they're
very much
Old Testament
language here
describing them,
but reminding
us how God
continues to
call his people
through every
generation to
proclaim his
excellencies.
And you see
these four ways
that he describes
them.
When you read
through the Old
Testament,
you see how God
dealt patiently
and graciously
with his people
again and again.
For example,
in Exodus 6,

Exodus 6:7
verse 7,
he says,
I will take
you to be
my people
and I will
be your God
and you shall
know that I am
the Lord your
God who has
brought you out
from under the
burdens of the
Egyptians.
There's this
reminder that we
need God to be
our God,
to be our
king.
We need to be
his people,
to enjoy his
blessings and
the abundant
blessing that is
salvation through
Jesus Christ.
And then he
uses these words
to describe how
they are shown
as a people.
He says first
that you are a
chosen race.
You are a
chosen race.
I remember
from the
beginning of
this letter,
he's writing to
these people,
but he's reminding
them that they
are a people
who are elect,
who are called
by God,
who God has
remembered.
And that's
what he's
reminding them
here again.
You are a
chosen race,
a people God
has chosen for
himself.
Undeserving
sinners that we
are, he has
chosen to call
us his people,
his own.
We are a
distinct people.
And he goes on
to show this as
well by saying
you're a chosen
people, you are
a royal priesthood.
Again, the
Old Testament
language here,
when the priest
was the one
who would come
before God
and offer up
prayers for
the people.
The people
were separated
from God.
And yet,
here he is
reminding us
we have access
to God.
Jesus, our
King, we
don't even have
to make an
appointment to
try and see
him.
We can come
to him at
any time.
We have
access to
him, unrestricted
access, unhindered
access, because
we are a chosen
people, because
we are a royal
priesthood.
We are a
holy nation, he
says.
That is, God
through Jesus
has changed
our lives.
And that
allows us to
be something we
could never be
before, a holy
people.
A people set
apart for
God's glory.
They are a
scattered people,
just as so
often in the
Old Testament,
God's people
were scattered
far and wide,
taken into
exile so
often, but yet
they were to
be a holy
people, God's
representatives,
no matter
where they
were or who
they were
with.
And so is
the same
true for
us.
God's people
are
people for
his own
possession.
It says in
another translation,
a peculiar
people, which
has maybe been
misunderstood as
seen as maybe
Christians as
just being a
strange kind of
people, but
that's not what
it means at
all.
A people for
his possession,
a peculiar
people, is a
people who are
precious to
God.
That's the
real meaning
behind that
word.
It's purchased,
a purchased
possession, a
unique possession,
something of
rare beauty.
That's how
Christians are
to be.
Malachi chapter

Malachi 3:7
3 verse 7
says,
They shall be
mine, says the
Lord of hosts,
in the day when
I make up my
treasured
possession.
It's the same
word, possession,
there as it is
here, a
treasured
possession.
Things of
beauty, bought
at a high
price.
The price was
Jesus giving
his life as
a ransom for
us.
And so, here
is what we
have as his
people, a
chosen race, a
royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
a people who
are a precious
possession to
him.
Our king keeps
a close watch
on us.
He looks
after us with
the greatest
of care.
He protects
us, he
shelters us,
and therefore
he says,
we are to
proclaim the
excellencies of
him who
called us out
of darkness
into his
marvelous light.
The more
we know the
beauty of
Jesus, the
more we know
the grace and
the love that
he has shown
to us to
make us his
people, to
purchase us
as his
people, the
more we are
to proclaim
the excellencies
of him, the
king who has
loved us
with a love
like no
other.
So, the
mission of
our witness
is to
proclaim him
who has done
all of this
for his
people.
people.
The second
thing we want
to see here
is the
motivation of
our witness.
We see this
in verse 10.
Once you
were not a
people, but
now you are
God's people.
Once you
had not
received
mercy, but
now you
have received
mercy.
The mission
of our
witness, it
was to
proclaim.
And if we
need any
more motivation
in all that
Christ has
done for us,
we are
reminded of
it here
in verse
10.
Once you
were not
a people,
but now
you are
God's
people.
Once you
had not
received
mercy, but
now you
have received
mercy.
We were
despised, we
were worthless
people.
We were
sinners who
were lost,
but now we
are God's
prized
possessions.
sins.
We have
mercy shown
to us.
God sent
his Son to
seek and to
save the
lost, and
how precious
we are to
him.
Isn't it a
wonderful thing
that we can
know mercy,
to know
his mercy?
Once we
were just
lost,
worthless
people.
now we
are God's
people.
Do we
see ourselves
as God's
people, or
do we still
see ourselves
as our
own people?
We are
his, we
are purchased
with a
price.
We belong
to him.
When we
know this
then, what
then is
our motivation?
when we
know the
mercy of
God, the
wonder of
all that he
has done
for us,
what is
our
motivation?
Surely that
others would
know this
mercy for
themselves.
Surely that
others would
hear that
this mercy
is there
for them,
that it
is there
for all,
to hear
this message
of the
gospel,
that we
are not a
people when
we are
apart from
God, that
we can
know the
blessing of
being God's
people, knowing
the love that
he has shown
for us, that
we would see
a perishing
people around
us and be
motivated to
show them the
mercy of
God.
A teenager
had once been
out with
their friends
and they
had their
ear pods
in, a set
of headphones,
now you get
these little
things you
put in your
ears, they're
small and
they stick in
but from
time to
time they
can fall
out.
Well this
teenager had
been out with
friends and
lost one of
their ear pods
and with their
friends had been
hunting around
trying to find
it again but
without success
so eventually
he went home to
his mother and
said I've
lost one of
my ear pods,
I've tried to
find it and
I just can't.
And the
mother, as
mothers often
do, said let's
go and have a
look.
Within minutes
the mother had
found it.
It would be no
surprise that the
child couldn't
find it but the
mother could.
And the
child said I
looked so hard.
How did you
manage to find
it?
And the
mother's reply
was this, we
weren't looking
for the same
thing.
You were just
looking for a
bit of plastic.
I was looking
for 200
pounds.
The difference
was there in
the motivation.
There was a
cost to the
mother that
wasn't there
for the son.
And that's the
way that we
should see it.
Every soul
is precious.
Every soul
is priceless.
And that's
the way we
should look
at it.
It's not
just another
person.
It's not
just someone
we maybe
don't get
along with
or don't
even like.
It is a
person made
in the image
of God.
And we
should long
for all
to know
the mercy
of God.
To know
the salvation
that there
is in
Christ Jesus.
That is the
value of a
soul.
it is
priceless.
And the
cost was
paid by
Christ
himself.
And so
therefore
what is
our
motivation
in being
Christ's
witnesses?
It's to
see everyone
as precious.
Precious to
the Lord
and needing
the mercy
of God.
So if we
have received
mercy we
should see
everyone around
us that needs
mercy.
And that
should be
our
motivation
to witness.
The final
thing we
see here
is the
manner
of our
witness.
He speaks
there in
verse 11
and 12
about our
behavior
and our
conduct.
Beloved,
I urge you
as
sojourners
and exiles
to abstain
from the
passions of
the flesh
which wage
war against
your soul.
keep your
conduct
among the
Gentiles
honorable
so that
when they
speak against
you as
evildoers
they may
see your
good deeds
and glorify
God on
the day of
licitation.
Keep
your
conduct
among the
Gentiles
honorable.
Now this
links back
as we said
before
to the
fact of
being
holy in
verse 15.
He who
has called
you is
holy,
you also
be holy
in all
your conduct.
We see
the connection
here again.
Keep
your conduct
holy.
The church,
the people
who Peter
was addressing,
they were
given a
focus of
the glory
of this
gospel.
And their
mission was
there,
their motivation
was there,
but that doesn't
mean it was
going to be
easy.
There was
going to be
many a
challenge as
they were
proclaiming
this goodness
of God.
They lived
among a
hostile people.
They faced
all kinds
of persecution
and could
justifiably,
you might say,
respond in
anger.
To have
the heart
of Jonah,
who as he
was called
to go back
to Nineveh,
say they
don't deserve
to hear
this gospel.
Look at
what they've
done.
Look at
how they
behaved
towards
God's
people.
I'm not
going to
tell them.
In fact,
I'm going
to run
in the
opposite
direction.
But God
brought him
to realize
they needed
mercy as
much as
him or
anyone else.
But his
heart needed
to be
changed.
And so
often it is
the case,
as Peter is
writing to
them here,
as he's
writing to
ourselves
today,
that we
have to
think of
our own
hearts,
our own
manner,
in our
witness
to.
How we
look at
people,
how we
behave with
people,
how we
deal with
people.
So Peter
here addresses
the manner
of their
witness,
how they
conduct
themselves.
We see
as we read
through chapter
two here
that the
gospel,
Christ,
is already
offensive to
people.
You see it
in verse
eight where he's
described as
a stone of
stumbling,
a rock of
offense.
The gospel
message in
and of
itself,
the truth,
it's offensive
in and of
itself.
It'll often
offend
people.
The people
Peter was
writing to
knew that,
we know
that,
ourselves,
that the
gospel offends
people.
But as
God's
people,
as a
chosen race,
a royal
priesthood,
a holy
nation,
a people
of his
own
possession,
we should
not cause
the offense.
The gospel
offends,
but we
should not
be the ones
who cause
offense.
Keep your
conduct among
the Gentiles
honorable.
the word
honorable
there is
good.
We say
to children,
now we're
going somewhere
important.
I want you
to be on
good behavior,
I want to
be on your
best behavior.
Well,
we're saying
the same
thing here.
You're going
to be in a
hostile place,
you're going
to face
persecution,
but I want
your behavior
to represent
me.
and the
goodness
of God,
the love
of Christ.
What is he
getting at
here?
There is a
vocal
and a
visible
side to
words
and actions.
Our
witness,
the impact
it has,
is so often
determined
by the
conduct,
the manner
we use
in showing
the gospel.
When you
look back
at the
coronation
yesterday,
words were
spoken,
scriptures
were read,
oaths were
taken,
all of
these things,
but will
it be seen
in the
life and
rule of
the king?
And we
ourselves,
we can
take our
own oaths
before God
too.
We can
take vows
before God,
and we'll
see more
of these
things as
we go
on in
this letter,
but what
is seen
as the
evidence of
them,
the way
we conduct
ourselves,
the way
we live
our lives.
The scattered
church here,
they were
to live
in light
of the
promises
of scripture
and follow
the commands
that the
scriptures
were giving.
That's what
Peter was
telling them
and what
we ourselves
have to
live by
too.
How do
we conduct
ourselves
among
those
around us?
us?
We will
always
fail and
have
regrets,
and when
we do,
we have
a saviour
to go
to who
is able
to forgive
us.
But the
problem is
when we
don't see
the manner
of our
conduct
as a
problem
or causing
offence.
When people
could say
of Christians,
your conduct
is worse
than those
who aren't
Christians,
that's
when we
are failing.
We are
not being
holy in
our conduct,
set apart,
different in
the ways
that we
behave.
And so
that is
why he
is saying
keep your
conduct
among the
Gentiles
honourable.
What's
at stake?
Well,
what he
says is
so that
when they
speak against
you as
evildoers,
they may
see your
good deeds
and glorify
God on
the day
of
visitation.
Our
conduct
can so
easily
come
between
those we
are behaving
before and
then coming
to Christ.
We are
to show
the love
of Christ
because what's
at stake?
Well,
he's saying
here,
keep your
conduct
honourable,
that they
may glorify
God.
What's on
the flip
side of
that?
They
won't.
They
won't
glorify
God
because
of our
behaviour.
Or,
thanks be
to God,
sometimes
they will
glorify
God
despite
our
behaviour.
We
shouldn't
be on
any
stumbling
block
or an
excuse
for
anyone
to
say,
if
that's
how
Christians
behave,
I want
nothing
to do
with it.
How would
they receive
this letter?
How should
we receive
this letter?
Well,
surely it
should make
us think
of two
things.
One,
how has
my conduct
been?
That's
what they
would have
thought,
that's what
we should
think.
Are there
areas where
I should
go and
apologise
to people
that my
conduct
was not
right
as a
Christian?
And the
second thing
is,
how do
we deal
with this
going forward?
Is it
going to
change me?
Am I
going to
take these
words
seriously?
Let your
conduct
be honourable
before the
Gentiles.
are we
going to
go forward
addressing
our
conduct?
Making
sure our
conduct
is in
line with
the word
of God.
How do
we deal
with fellow
Christians?
Is our
conduct
honourable?
How do
we deal
with others
around us?
Just as they
had to in
Peter's day,
their conduct
was to be
honourable
before those
who were
persecuting
them.
Romans
12 says,
to love
your enemy,
that you
may heap
burning coal
on their
head.
It's very
similar to
what we
have here.
So that
when they
speak against
you as
evildoers,
they may
see your
good deeds
and glorify
God.
Is that
what our
conduct
leads to?
People
seeing our
good deeds
and glorifying
God.
Do we
lambast
or do we
love?
There's a
testimony of
one who
is now a
preacher,
but he
was in a
world that
was lost.
In his
life he
was lost.
But he
says this,
when I
was lost,
I certainly
criticized my
fair share of
Christians.
I argued
with them.
I despised
them for being
against the
things I
did.
However,
I never
could get
past their
love and
their devotion
to the
Bible.
the truth
and honesty
of their
lives made
a statement
for God
that none
of my
arguments
could ever
overcome.
It was the
faithful witness
of a few
sincere,
dedicated
believers
that helped
bring me
to Jesus.
Would
that that
be said
of us?
We see
here a
Christian
witness from
a people
who were
persecuted,
a people
who were
scattered,
but who
knew God
with them.
We long
to see
people coming
to Christ.
It is the
mission of
our witness
to proclaim
the excellencies
of him who
called us
from darkness
to light.
Our
motivation
is there.
We have
mercy.
We long
for others
to know
this mercy.
And let's
make sure
the manner
of our
witness
is blessed
by God
to see
others
proclaim
the goodness
of God
and give
him praise.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
help us
if we need
to repent,
to repent
to you as
the one who
is able
to forgive.
And teach
us,
O Lord,
to walk
in your
ways,
to heed
your word,
and to
live lives
that are
honourable in
your sight
and honourable
before others.
Help us to
love and
to obey
and to honour
you in all
that we do,
that we would
see many more
come to glorify
God in the
day of
visitation
when he
returns.
As we ask
it all in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
Amen.
We're going
to sing
in conclusion
to God's
praise in
Psalm 34
and sing
Psalm's
version on
page 40
of the
psalm book.
We'll sing
verse 11
to 14.
Psalm 34
at verse
11.
Come hear
my children,
gather round
and listen
to my word
and I will
help you
understand
how you
may fear
the Lord.
We'll sing
from verse
11 to 14
to God's
praise.
Amen.
Come hear
my children,
come hear
my children,
God, the road,
and listen
to my word
and I will help
you understand
construing his time
by hue
and是這樣 did
your die.
You may fear
the Lord,
does anyone
delight in life
and long
to sing
if
the Lord
unto
Long to sacred days, then keep your tongue from evil speech,
pure lips from lying ways. Depart and turn from evil past,
and practice what is right.
Tis thine to know the way of peace.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.
Amen.
Posh, whoとか, nochmal diadem,ALIZAD literal strangers are the permission of the second
example of this beer.
entrust into the living room.
We are finally left here, and we have Mother, Son, and God, I caught the manner of faith from
God, my pig with your condiciones.
To argue in fact it is He will be right if he is this man?
To address the pile of faith, there will be another man who uw welcomeающian
andفrooted.
And знать the duration was the one who Fe grew.
Thank you.
Thank you.