It was reported on Friday that the track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson, who was set for a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Tokyo Olympics, could miss the Games after testing positive for marijuana. Sha’Carri, 21, won the women’s 100-meter race at the U.S. track and field trials in Oregon last month, but her positive test automatically invalidated her result in that marquee event. The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced the positive test result Friday morning, and said Ms. Richardson had accepted a suspension of one month, starting on June 28. She may be able to run in the relay races that take place later in the Games — that is, if she is even named to the U.S. team. In a TV interview on Friday, Ms. Richardson said that she used marijuana as a way to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother while she was in Oregon for the Olympic trials. The news struck a cord within Lady Sharon and I because of the struggles we see with drug and alcohol use in our local Christian community. And just as the Bible teaches that alcohol is a mocker I believe that marijuana is a liar. The world has accepted the fact that alcohol, cocaine, heroine and even caffeine are addictive substances but continues to spread the lie that somehow cannabis is not addictive. As my wife and I listened to the young lady’s remorse we noted that she used the same words that we have heard over and over in our counseling sessions. She said that she used this drug “to deal with the pain” of her bereavement. But I need to share with you all that there is better way to deal with pain! There is better way to deal with sadness! There is better way to deal with loss! And it’s not the way of the world! Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Sha’Carri posted on social media “I am human” and she is right! We all need something that goes beyond our human weakness to help us deal with all the pain this world throws at us! You cannot do this alone! You are only human! You need Jesus! Peter says, Have No Fear!
In our text today, Peter has moved to the issue that dominants the remainder of his letter: the issue of Christians who suffer. Despite our best efforts, the fact is that Christians contract Covid, cancer and heart disease, Christians become deaf and blind, and Yes Christians get depressed and sometimes even use substances knowing that the results could be devastating to their careers. The Bible makes no attempt to whitewash the anguish of God’s people when it comes to suffering. All through Scripture, we see believers facing suffering who argue with God, complain to God, and weep before God. Yet Peter offers the only solution to the reality of suffering that is as true today as when he wrote it 2000 years ago, “Have No Fear of them, nor be troubled.”
# Someone asked C.S. Lewis, “Why do the righteous suffer?” “Why not?” he replied. “They’re the only ones who should be able to take it.”
Peter has just told us in verse 12 that God is watching our actions and His eyes are upon the righteous and His ears hear their prayer. So in verse 13, Peter asks a rhetorical question, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” While suffering stalks the believer until Jesus Christ returns, the pain inflicted upon the Christian is temporary. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” The Bible records for us “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12. Peter tells to, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy…” In other words, sanctifying Christ as Lord in your heart is the alternative to fearing man. Don’t fear man, honor Jesus as Lord. To break the grip of fear we must confess the lordship of Jesus Christ not just in our minds but in our hearts. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be your name” Matthew 6:7. This means, “Father, cause your name to be blessed and revered among all people in the church and all over the world” Paul asks us, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. The enemies of Christ may hurt us but they cannot ultimately harm us. Peter teaches that God is blessed and honored when we show that our hope is unshakable. Christian hope isn’t optimism that things will get better. Hope is a conviction in the LORD Jesus Christ. Hope is the visible reminder of an invisible authority. So, because Jesus is Lord, we have no fear! This lesson teaches us that we must be…
1. A Visual Witness
Peter asks, Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Peter says even when we do good there will be times when we will still suffer. However, even if we do suffer we are still blessed. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Peter says BUT “in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” He teaches that the opposite of fear is faith! Don’t fear but have faith that Christ is Lord! Verse 14 is a quote from Isaiah 8:12 … do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread… The context in Isaiah describes how Ahaz, who was king of Judah, faced a crisis when the armies of Assyrian were about to attack. The kings of Israel and Syria invited Ahaz to join them in an alliance so they could oppose Assyria, but he refused and Israel and Syria make plans to attack Judah also. Now, Ahaz decides to align himself with their enemy the king of Assyria because he is so afraid. But the prophet Isaiah warned him against this ungodly partnership and urged him to trust God for deliverance. Peter quotes this passage from Isaiah to remind us that when we are faced with a crisis we may be tempted to give in to our fears and make wrong decisions. The bottom line is that the fear of the Lord conquers every other fear. “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” Being a witness for God is who we are, not what we do. Billy Graham said, “It could be that one of the great hindrances to evangelism today is the poverty of our own experience.” We must constantly apply the antidote for fear: consistent Christian living, the most effective way to point others to Christ! Because when we share His word, our lives will back it up!
2. A Verbal Witness
Peter said, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. The second challenge is to explain what we believe. We are called to not only visualize Christianity by living it but also verbalize our faith by expressing it in a way others can understand. Non-Christians will hear what we have say and some of them will ask us about our faith. We need to be ready. The word ALWAYS means that we are to be ready at all times, to be on a constant state of readiness. Paul taught Timothy to “Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season!” We’re challenged to give an ANSWER. This is the Greek word, APOLOGIA which means a “verbal defense.” We are charged with the responsibility of giving a reason for our faith. The greatest and easiest defense we can give is our own testimony. While you may argue my points of theology, you cannot argue with my transformed life. I was once drowning in a sea of despair, but Love lifted me! One of the greatest things we can offer the world is hope because hopelessness is everywhere. When people see us living with hope, they want to know how to get it for themselves. We are to give an answer to everyone who “asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have.” People want answers. They know they don’t have what we have – and you must share “Christ in You, the Hope of Glory!” Colossians 1:27
3. A Virtuous Witness
Peter said, But do this with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience… Lastly, verse 15 tells us we are not called to win arguments, but to make disciples. I wish I had learned this when I was a young father. I remember being on the way to daycare with Rachel & Candice and I had made a promise to take them to the donut shop… I remember when a Jehovah’s Witnesses came to talk and I was running late and had no time to deal with them and I attacked them with the truth. I said with arrogance “The problem with you Jehovah Witnesses is that you don’t know the God who you claim to be a witness to! You change every verse in your Bible that does not agree with your backward doctrine and you don’t even realize that you can still prove that Jesus is God without John 1:1! So take your “Hell on Earth” theology to a weaker man who is ignorant of the things of God and I’ll pray that the Holy Ghost causes you to put your trust in Jesus, because Hell is real!” I and got in my truck and my 6 year old Rachel asked, “Daddy, Did you win?” Oh, the shame I felt by an innocent question! We are not called to win arguments, but to make disciples. Thomas Paine said, “Character is much better kept than recovered.” We’re to be “GENTLE.” It’s an inner attitude that affects the way we interact with others. Gentleness means strength under control. 2 Corinthians 10:1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you … We’re to “RESPECT.” It’s a holy moment when eternity hangs in the balance. We have to keep ourselves from becoming cynical. The reality is that some people will reject the truth, but we have to not allow that to keep us from sharing the Good News of Jesus. To be respectful means that we need to be more sympathetic to the weakness of people and the reality of their pain. When our attitude is gracious and gentle, verse 16 helps us see that those who oppose Christianity will be disarmed! “…those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” As we demonstrate Christ to people by making sure He is Lord of our lives, as we defend the reason for the hope that we have, and as we disarm people by our attitude of gentleness and respect, God will use us to clear the way for people to see the central message of the Cross of Christ.
"This is a collection of multiple sermons and outlines found in the archives; I could not include all the research in my original points or outline but it conforms well to a 30 minute structure."
