25-0323a Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(2:37) Good morning, church. (2:40) We are glad that we are here to start another portion of God’s word. (2:48) Because of certain things that have transpired within the past couple of months, and even within the last few weeks, (3:01) I decided to put this lesson together. (3:06) And I’m going to read from 2 Peter, or rather 1 Peter, chapter 2, verses 11 through 17.

(3:23) 11, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, (3:37) having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, (3:42) that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (4:01) Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord’s sake, (4:07) whether to the king and supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, (4:20) and for the praise of those who do good. (4:31) For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, (4:44) as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

(4:55) Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. (5:08) And the title of my lesson is, Being Honorable. (5:18) Now, I’m not going to give a political speech.

(5:28) In Proverbs 11, in verse 11, it says, (5:36) By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. (5:51) Recently, the president spoke to the joint session of Congress. (6:03) The opposing party would not stand and applaud when the president presented people who are enduring struggles in their lives.

(6:21) Real people that he brought before them. (6:28) And he showed that they were going through, enduring different struggles in their lives. (6:42) But the opposing party would not stand and applaud when others did.

(6:56) Some became disruptive and were escorted from the room. (7:08) Others walked out. (7:12) You know, those people that he put forth were real people.

(7:21) Just as the people that we have on our prior list in the bulletin. (7:28) Real people that go through trials and are enduring struggles just as those on our prior list. (7:45) Or different struggles, maybe some of them were going through the same thing.

(7:51) But yet, they’re real. (7:55) At least I know of one that disrupted that session as the president was speaking. (8:09) Jim last week mentioned this one in his lesson.

(8:16) Al Green. (8:18) I know he was escorted. (8:21) I didn’t watch the speech as it happened during his speech.

(8:31) But I did get to see at least portions of the speech. (8:39) And saw the disruption. (8:42) And saw that when those were standing and giving an applause, the opposing party did not.

(8:57) They showed disrespect for those American people that struggled through difficulties. (9:06) They dishonored the president of the United States. (9:12) Now, they didn’t have to support him.

(9:16) They did not have to agree with him. (9:22) But this is the, he is the elected president that the people elected to be president. (9:33) And he is the president.

(9:40) No matter how much they disagree, he should have been honored. (9:50) You know, we should, in our everyday lives, show honor in our everyday living. (10:04) We should have honorable conduct.

(10:09) As 1 Peter 2 and verse 11 says, (10:16) 11, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. (10:28) Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. (10:36) Peter is telling them that they need to live morally right lives.

(10:51) They need to abstain from those fleshly lusts. (10:57) Lusts that war against the soul. (11:02) And they need to conduct themselves in such a way that if they were spoken against as evildoers, (11:18) that they could, by the good works that they performed, glorify God.

(11:29) God would be glorified. (11:36) Abstain from fleshly lusts. (11:39) In 2 Thessalonians 5 and verse 22, we’re told, or in writing to the Thessalonians, (11:54) the apostle Paul said, abstain from every form of evil.

(12:04) Now, I’ve tried to do that. (12:07) There are places that I will not go in because they have alcoholic beverages. (12:19) People, if they see me and then find out that I am trying to live a Christian life, (12:31) Now, Mike went in that place where they sell beer.

(12:40) They, especially a restaurant that was one that was called Two Burgers and a Beer. (12:55) Now, I know that I would not get a beer. (13:01) And God knows that all I would be in there to get would be the burger.

(13:13) But just because it has Two Burgers and a Beer, somebody is going to say, (13:21) My son went in there where he is going to drink beer. (13:32) And then at my work. (13:37) And they would have the Christmas party at the building, place of employment.

(13:47) I would stay for that because there was no alcoholic beverages allowed on the premises. (13:59) But there were times that they would go to places where alcoholic beverages were served. (14:12) And I know on one occasion, one person got malignant and the police had to be called.

(14:26) That’s the reason I would go. (14:29) When they would go there, I would not go. (14:38) And then when he gives these things that pertain to our conduct and our everyday living, (14:58) that we do our best to do those things that are good to people.

(15:07) May it be that God gets the glory for those good things. (15:17) He says then, (15:20) Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, (15:29) whether to the king as supreme. (15:32) That’s what he’s talking about.

(15:35) He’s talking about obeying these rulers and submitting ourselves to these laws that they bring. (15:50) Now you may say, well what about if they bring about a law that conflicts with God? (15:59) Well we are still to be submissive, but yet knowing what they make or admonish us to do (16:17) that comes in conflict with what God says, (16:23) we are to obey God rather than them, as Peter told those religious leaders. (16:33) They could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard.

(16:44) But then there are these rules and laws that are given that in no way conflict with God. (17:01) And these are the ones that we should obey, (17:08) especially if it’s traffic laws or if it’s laws that deal with our conduct (17:28) and the rules and regulations that they lay down. (17:39) Because in Romans 13, the Apostle Paul writes just about the way Peter is writing.

(17:54) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, (17:59) for there is no authority except from God, (18:05) and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (18:12) Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, (18:19) and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (18:27) Yes, when we break a law, there are laws against criminal acts, (18:38) such as murder, robbery, and such, (18:44) that if we violate these laws, we need to be fearful.

(18:53) You know, when robbers rob a bank, they’re ever more looking over their shoulder. (19:05) Why? Because they know that the police are going to be after them. (19:15) And robbing the bank of money, they don’t get to enjoy that money, (19:24) but they will get caught.

(19:30) Sooner or later, the law is going to find them, (19:38) and that money that they took is going to go right back to the bank. (19:46) They’re going to go to jail and to prison, (19:51) and they’re not going to be able to enjoy the money that they took. (20:00) Therefore, rulers are not attired to good works but to evil.

(20:07) Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? (20:12) Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. (20:20) Now, I realize that there’s been some clamor about police brutality in some cases. (20:38) I know that these police officers are as human as everyone else.

(20:48) It could be that the police will go to a place, (20:54) it’s the wrong place, (20:58) and they will go into that place thinking that they’re at the right place, (21:07) and go in, and in spite of the submission of those that are there, (21:14) even wanting to know why, what’s going on, (21:19) these police officers, in their excitement, may shoot and kill that person. (21:31) Those are the things that happen, and yes, but then again, (21:41) they were after criminals, we must realize. (21:46) And it may be the wrong place, (21:50) but they’re going in there thinking that they are going to find criminals that they are after, (22:01) and they’re in haste.

(22:04) They don’t think. (22:06) Sometimes we don’t think, and sometimes when we do wrong, (22:14) maybe we are stopped because we’re going over the speed limit, (22:18) driving the car. (22:22) We don’t like that.

(22:25) So why didn’t we check the speedometer? (22:28) Why don’t we look at how fast we’re going? (22:35) We are to observe the posted speed limit signs, (22:40) but if we’re going 10 miles over the speed limit, (22:46) police are going to stop us. (22:49) If we don’t break the car, go down to where the speed limit is. (23:02) For he is God’s minister to you for good, (23:08) but if you do evil, be afraid.

(23:12) For he does not bear the sword in vain. (23:16) For he is God’s minister and avenger to execute wrath through practices evil. (23:27) Therefore, you must be subject not only because of wrath, (23:34) but also for conscience’s sake.

(23:39) The president is getting slack over deporting our illegal aliens (23:52) that seemingly came over like droves of cattle over into this country, (24:05) and we’ve had opposition. (24:11) And they are being told that those illegal aliens are not guilty, (24:26) but they’re illegal. (24:28) If you’re illegal, you are wrong.

(24:33) You are considered a criminal, (24:38) just the same as if you do something illegal. (24:42) And he’s deported those that seem to be gang members, (24:50) and those that have murdered. (24:56) They seem to not have any conscience.

(25:02) But you know, if they’re not right, (25:09) they’re going to face punishment. (25:13) They’re going to be arrested if they are doing wrong, (25:18) and we must realize that ourselves. (25:22) Our way of living should be that if we do wrong too, (25:32) we better be fearful, (25:34) because whatever it is, we can be judged, and we will.

(25:43) But if we are unafraid, we can be unafraid, (25:51) and that is when we do good, (25:57) recognizing the authority of the government. (26:03) I know some people lash out at the government, (26:09) at the police, (26:11) at those that are in authority. (26:16) But then there are those that seem to defy what is right, (26:28) and they are the ones that, in the end, are going to suffer, (26:34) because they don’t listen to what needs to be listened to.

(26:42) So we need to know that when there are laws that are right, (26:52) that are not in conflict with God’s law, (26:58) then we must comply with those laws, (27:04) just as we comply with our parents (27:09) when they tell us, (27:12) do this or you don’t do that. (27:17) We listen to our parents, (27:19) because they are the first form of authority. (27:24) If we honor Father and Mother, give them honor, (27:34) then it shouldn’t be so hard to recognize authority (27:41) in those that would be in scope, (27:49) and those that are in the civil government.

(27:57) And so we need to then do good, (28:07) and those that observe our good works (28:12) then can glorify God. (28:17) And then, if we are spoken of as doing evil, (28:25) then these people can be put to silence. (28:33) Now, tonight I’m going to have part two of this, (28:39) and now I’m going to offer the invitation, (28:43) if there is anyone that is subject to the gospel invitation in any way, (28:51) you need to make known something that you need to.

(28:59) Why not do so while we stand and while we sing?