WEBVTT - Skip Heitzig - Oct 20 - 7:30 am 0:00:01.320 --> 0:00:04.180 This is Connect with Skip Heitzig Weekend Edition. 0:00:04.710 --> 0:00:07.950 Thanks for joining us today. Here at Connect with Skip, 0:00:08.150 --> 0:00:11.050 we love helping you understand God's Word and apply it 0:00:11.110 --> 0:00:15.390 to your life through clear, practical Bible teaching and real encouragement. 0:00:15.890 --> 0:00:17.950 And if you'd like help to keep growing in your 0:00:17.970 --> 0:00:21.869 walk with Jesus, sign up for Pastor Skip's free weekly devotional. 0:00:22.350 --> 0:00:27.320 You'll receive biblical insight, teaching highlights, and exclusive resources designed 0:00:27.360 --> 0:00:30.140 to help you stay strong in your faith. all delivered 0:00:30.340 --> 0:00:33.600 right to your inbox. Signing up is quick and easy, 0:00:33.770 --> 0:00:36.970 and you'll be glad you did. Go to connectwithskip.com and 0:00:37.010 --> 0:00:42.010 join the list today. That's connectwithskip.com. Now let's dive into 0:00:42.050 --> 0:00:44.490 today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. 0:00:45.350 --> 0:00:47.370 So there was a pastor who was building something in 0:00:47.409 --> 0:00:51.550 his backyard. He was building a wooden trellis, and there's 0:00:51.610 --> 0:00:54.730 a trellis for a flowering vine to crawl up. So 0:00:54.770 --> 0:00:56.350 he's out there with his hammer and nails, and he 0:00:56.410 --> 0:01:01.820 noticed there's a neighbor boy watching, in his yard. He 0:01:01.860 --> 0:01:04.040 had come in to watch him build this trellis and 0:01:04.440 --> 0:01:06.360 he didn't know why he was there. He was uninvited, 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:08.140 but he figured, you know, he would keep working and 0:01:08.160 --> 0:01:10.800 the little boy would go away eventually. Well, the more 0:01:10.819 --> 0:01:12.819 he kept working, the boy just kept staring at him 0:01:12.840 --> 0:01:15.870 and wouldn't go away. Finally, the preacher put his hammer 0:01:15.910 --> 0:01:18.650 down and he said, so are you just trying to 0:01:18.690 --> 0:01:22.970 get some tips on gardening? And the little boy said, nope, 0:01:23.890 --> 0:01:26.009 I'm waiting to hear what a preacher says when he 0:01:26.050 --> 0:01:31.980 hits his thumb with a hammer. What does a preacher 0:01:32.020 --> 0:01:33.760 say when he hits his thumb with a hammer? It's 0:01:33.800 --> 0:01:36.780 a good question. Now that brings up a point, and 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:40.810 that is the world is always watching us. The mic 0:01:40.890 --> 0:01:46.649 is always on. The camera is always rolling. People are 0:01:46.690 --> 0:01:50.529 trying to find out what we're really all about. Sometimes 0:01:50.550 --> 0:01:52.680 when I go to public places around here, I can 0:01:52.800 --> 0:01:57.590 feel the eyes on me. people would recognize and go, oh, 0:01:57.590 --> 0:02:00.090 that's that preacher guy. And I know, I can see 0:02:00.110 --> 0:02:02.070 it because I see him looking and they'll whisper to 0:02:02.090 --> 0:02:08.300 each other. So what the deal is, is that, okay, 0:02:08.340 --> 0:02:11.460 I know he can preach, but how does he practice 0:02:13.000 --> 0:02:16.320 at a restaurant in public? And that's Peter's whole theme. 0:02:17.320 --> 0:02:20.540 Peter's saying you are being watched. in your response to 0:02:20.580 --> 0:02:23.240 the government. You are being watched in your response to 0:02:23.300 --> 0:02:26.300 your boss. You are being watched in your response to 0:02:26.340 --> 0:02:30.280 your husband and your wife. So because you are being watched, 0:02:30.980 --> 0:02:36.420 be tenderhearted, loving, be compassionate, be non-retaliatory, all those attributes 0:02:36.460 --> 0:02:42.380 we talked about last week. Because usually, normally, that's acceptable. 0:02:42.440 --> 0:02:45.980 Those are traits and attributes even the world will accept. 0:02:48.290 --> 0:02:52.660 But what about when they don't? What about when your 0:02:52.720 --> 0:03:01.120 holiness meets their hostility? Your goodness meets their grievances? What 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:04.139 happens when you do good and you're sweet and kind, 0:03:05.700 --> 0:03:10.110 but they marginalize you or even slander you? What do 0:03:10.130 --> 0:03:13.970 you do then? What do you do when God haters 0:03:14.090 --> 0:03:17.720 decide that just because you believe in God you should 0:03:17.760 --> 0:03:22.780 experience some pain because of it. Then what do you do? 0:03:24.139 --> 0:03:28.299 Back in 1999, you may remember the story of a 0:03:28.320 --> 0:03:33.380 man by the name of Graham. That was his first name. 0:03:33.400 --> 0:03:36.920 His last name was Staines. Graham Staines and his two boys, 0:03:37.940 --> 0:03:42.480 an 11-year-old and a 6-year-old, were killed in India by 0:03:42.560 --> 0:03:45.820 militant Hindus. They were burned to death. The story is 0:03:45.880 --> 0:03:49.370 that They were ministering at a camp and Gram Staines 0:03:49.410 --> 0:03:53.510 was teaching at this camp out in the jungle. In 0:03:53.530 --> 0:03:56.890 the middle of the night, around midnight actually, these militant 0:03:56.930 --> 0:04:00.070 Hindus came into the camp and disrupted things and set 0:04:00.150 --> 0:04:03.570 on fire the Jeep where Gram Staines was staying with 0:04:03.610 --> 0:04:06.290 his two children, spending the night for the next morning. 0:04:06.430 --> 0:04:11.550 They were burned to death. When the fire cooled, the 0:04:11.590 --> 0:04:15.830 charred body of Gram Staines was shown with his arms 0:04:16.910 --> 0:04:21.980 clutching his two boys. Reason? Why did that happen? One 0:04:22.020 --> 0:04:28.020 simple reason. They were Christians. That's all. They were there. 0:04:28.060 --> 0:04:30.600 They were doing good. They were loving the people. They 0:04:30.640 --> 0:04:33.460 were pouring their lives into them, but they were Christians 0:04:34.589 --> 0:04:38.710 and they suffered because of it. So in our text, 0:04:38.970 --> 0:04:43.739 our chapter, 1 Peter chapter 3, beginning in verse 13, 0:04:43.740 --> 0:04:48.609 Peter offers two possibilities. Number one, you do good and 0:04:48.650 --> 0:04:52.790 you're not hassled. You do good and they leave you alone, unharmed. 0:04:53.310 --> 0:04:57.909 Second possibility, you do good and you are harmed. Let's 0:04:57.950 --> 0:05:00.680 look at it, verse 13. And who is he who 0:05:00.690 --> 0:05:03.700 will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 0:05:05.240 --> 0:05:10.160 But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you 0:05:10.220 --> 0:05:13.719 are blessed because And do not be afraid of their threats, 0:05:13.800 --> 0:05:17.710 nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, 0:05:18.630 --> 0:05:21.270 and always be ready to give a defense to everyone 0:05:21.310 --> 0:05:23.529 who asks you a reason for the hope that is 0:05:23.610 --> 0:05:28.990 in you with meekness and fear. Having a good conscience, 0:05:29.790 --> 0:05:33.940 that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile 0:05:34.000 --> 0:05:37.500 your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it 0:05:37.580 --> 0:05:40.670 is better if it is the will of God to 0:05:40.750 --> 0:05:46.870 suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Five verses, 0:05:48.310 --> 0:05:56.670 four truths, four things you can expect when holiness meets hostility. 0:05:58.010 --> 0:06:06.220 And here's the first. Normally, goodness is profitable. Normally, usually, typically, 0:06:06.760 --> 0:06:10.250 doing good is a good thing and it's profitable. It'll 0:06:10.300 --> 0:06:14.300 work out for you. That's his thought in verse 13. But, 0:06:14.820 --> 0:06:17.099 you know, with every text there's a context. So I 0:06:17.120 --> 0:06:19.340 just need you to see how thoughts connect. Do you mind? 0:06:19.460 --> 0:06:21.920 Just look back at verse 10. Look what he says. 0:06:22.900 --> 0:06:25.969 For he who would love life and see good days, 0:06:27.070 --> 0:06:29.510 I would raise my hand on that one. I want that. 0:06:30.490 --> 0:06:32.710 If he wants that, then let him refrain his tongue 0:06:32.830 --> 0:06:35.530 from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him 0:06:35.570 --> 0:06:38.970 turn away from evil and do good things. You want 0:06:38.990 --> 0:06:43.270 to see good, do good. And then in verse 13, 0:06:43.270 --> 0:06:46.450 the question, and who is he who will harm you 0:06:46.860 --> 0:06:49.219 if you become followers of what is good? Now that 0:06:49.700 --> 0:06:53.680 is a rhetorical question, meaning the question is asked, there's 0:06:53.720 --> 0:06:57.750 an implied answer that everybody knows. So let me restate 0:06:57.770 --> 0:07:00.510 it for you. Here's Peter writing to his audience and saying, 0:07:00.890 --> 0:07:03.610 if you live the way I just described, if you 0:07:03.650 --> 0:07:08.520 are loving and humble and you are non-retaliatory and you 0:07:08.580 --> 0:07:13.060 are tenderhearted, you are all those things, who's gonna bother you? 0:07:15.370 --> 0:07:21.570 Who's gonna bother you if you live like that? Implied answer, nobody. 0:07:22.680 --> 0:07:27.060 You're gonna get by unscathed. Normally, you will never suffer 0:07:27.560 --> 0:07:30.100 if you're a person who does good to other people 0:07:30.420 --> 0:07:34.080 and you are after benefiting others around you. Even the 0:07:34.140 --> 0:07:38.820 greatest opponents of the gospel are not gonna hinder people 0:07:38.900 --> 0:07:42.930 helping other people. They're gonna leave you alone. That's what 0:07:42.950 --> 0:07:46.210 the question means. Who will harm you if you become 0:07:46.310 --> 0:07:50.910 followers of what is good? Now let me insert something 0:07:50.930 --> 0:07:53.470 here because it brings up something I think is a 0:07:53.510 --> 0:07:59.520 crucial point to be noted. The history of Christianity is 0:07:59.620 --> 0:08:04.280 in part at least the history of societies around the 0:08:04.320 --> 0:08:09.990 world being benefited by the goodness done in them by 0:08:10.080 --> 0:08:15.910 Christian believers who live in them. Example, the whole concept 0:08:15.950 --> 0:08:19.070 of the value of life, the whole concept of human rights, 0:08:19.580 --> 0:08:24.880 is a biblical concept. Those are values that emerged from 0:08:24.900 --> 0:08:28.770 those with a Christian worldview, because we believe all men 0:08:28.810 --> 0:08:33.650 and women were created in the image of God. Women's rights, 0:08:33.929 --> 0:08:38.050 where did it come from? Not Gloria Steinem, not the 0:08:38.090 --> 0:08:41.220 Women's Liberation Movement or the different fronts or break offs, 0:08:41.600 --> 0:08:47.340 it came from the Bible. Because when Paul and Peter 0:08:47.880 --> 0:08:52.150 and Jesus spoke, 2,000 years ago, the culture around them 0:08:52.250 --> 0:08:56.790 did not respect women at all. In fact, in some cases, 0:08:56.870 --> 0:09:00.230 I have seen letters from a Greek soldier written to 0:09:00.270 --> 0:09:03.190 his wife 2,000 years ago who said, if you have 0:09:03.230 --> 0:09:05.010 a little boy, keep it. If it's a girl, throw 0:09:05.030 --> 0:09:09.510 it away. A girl was owned by her father until 0:09:09.530 --> 0:09:12.550 she was passed off to a husband. Then she became 0:09:12.610 --> 0:09:16.949 the property of her husband. In that culture came the 0:09:17.010 --> 0:09:20.110 Bible that said there's neither male nor female, we are 0:09:20.210 --> 0:09:25.100 all one in Christ. That's a Christian worldview. Compassion for 0:09:25.120 --> 0:09:29.059 the sick, compassion for the poor, they come from Christians. 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:32.960 The first hospitals were erected by Christians. The Red Cross 0:09:33.320 --> 0:09:38.140 was originally a Christian organization. The Salvation Army, a Christian organization. 0:09:38.860 --> 0:09:43.660 Cultures where missionaries infiltrate, it has been shown over and 0:09:43.750 --> 0:09:48.010 over again That literacy goes up. They're more educated. They're 0:09:48.030 --> 0:09:52.980 more advanced. They're more compassionate. The force behind eradicating slavery 0:09:53.140 --> 0:09:57.100 in England years ago was by a Christian statesman. Child 0:09:57.140 --> 0:10:00.700 labor laws were enacted by Christian statesmen. men and women. 0:10:01.720 --> 0:10:04.840 And then even in our own country, in the early 1800s, 0:10:05.840 --> 0:10:08.420 when a French statesman by the name of Alexis de 0:10:08.460 --> 0:10:12.310 Tocqueville came to America, one thing that startled him is 0:10:12.350 --> 0:10:17.420 how many volunteers were helping people around them. And these 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:23.620 were volunteers from organizations, associations that had been founded and 0:10:23.660 --> 0:10:28.520 were currently being run by Christians. He saw the impact 0:10:28.640 --> 0:10:33.300 in culture by Christianity. So who's gonna bother you if 0:10:33.340 --> 0:10:39.989 you live that way? Normally, typically, usually, nobody. I think 0:10:40.050 --> 0:10:44.450 it's pretty safe to predict that probably most of you, 0:10:44.510 --> 0:10:46.869 if not all of you, will never be killed in 0:10:46.910 --> 0:10:49.430 this country in your lifetime because you believe in Jesus. 0:10:49.590 --> 0:10:52.860 That's probably not going to happen. You're probably not going 0:10:52.880 --> 0:10:56.600 to get beat up because you just simply say, I 0:10:56.640 --> 0:11:00.300 love Jesus. Probably not going to happen. And if you're 0:11:00.320 --> 0:11:03.880 a good person and you follow these things that Peter outlined, 0:11:04.540 --> 0:11:07.310 we described last week, that's just a good way to live. 0:11:07.330 --> 0:11:08.970 I mean, it's going to keep you out of jail. 0:11:10.570 --> 0:11:12.770 It's going to bring peace with your neighbors. Not going 0:11:12.790 --> 0:11:15.610 to get hassled because you are seeking good. You are 0:11:15.710 --> 0:11:19.990 doing good. So who is he who will harm you 0:11:20.070 --> 0:11:22.630 if you become followers of what is good? That's the 0:11:22.670 --> 0:11:26.550 first expectation. Normally, goodness is profitable. 0:11:27.220 --> 0:11:30.460 You're listening to Connect with Skip Heitzig Weekend Edition. 0:11:31.120 --> 0:11:34.600 Every day, friends like you help bring clear verse-by-verse Bible 0:11:34.640 --> 0:11:37.380 teaching to people searching for truth in a world that 0:11:37.730 --> 0:11:42.310 often feels confused, divided, and uncertain. And this month, we 0:11:42.350 --> 0:11:45.030 want to thank you with a powerful resource designed for 0:11:45.090 --> 0:11:49.320 times like these. When you give, you'll receive City in Shambles, 0:11:49.740 --> 0:11:54.660 Pastor Skip's complete 18-message study through Nehemiah on CD, plus 0:11:54.740 --> 0:11:58.900 digital download. In these messages, you'll discover how God works 0:11:58.980 --> 0:12:02.880 in seasons of spiritual and cultural collapse, how prayer and 0:12:02.950 --> 0:12:06.709 obedience become the starting point for renewal, and how ordinary 0:12:06.770 --> 0:12:10.910 believers can respond with faith instead of fear. We'll send 0:12:10.950 --> 0:12:13.890 this resource as our thanks when you give $ 50 or 0:12:14.090 --> 0:12:20.520 more to support Connect with Skip Heitzig. Call 800-922-1888 or 0:12:20.600 --> 0:12:26.660 visit connectwithskip.com slash offer. Now, here's the special invitation for you. 0:12:27.300 --> 0:12:31.480 Learning your Bible matters. I'm committed to teaching God's Word, 0:12:31.679 --> 0:12:35.000 and I want you to understand the depth of Scripture 0:12:35.390 --> 0:12:38.579 for yourself. That's why I want to invite you to 0:12:38.660 --> 0:12:42.840 join me in a 90-day through the entire Bible reading 0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:47.880 challenge using the YouVersion Bible app. We call it Jesus 0:12:47.960 --> 0:12:51.439 People Grow. So for 90 days, we're going to read 0:12:51.500 --> 0:12:54.370 together God's Word. We're going to learn it, receive it, 0:12:54.990 --> 0:12:57.270 and we're going to let it shape us so that 0:12:57.290 --> 0:13:01.270 we can also be faithful in sharing good teaching with others. 0:13:01.690 --> 0:13:05.730 So join me. Let's learn our Bible's And grow in 0:13:05.770 --> 0:13:06.650 the word of God. 0:13:07.030 --> 0:13:09.310 Now, let's return to today's teaching. 0:13:09.750 --> 0:13:12.580 But there's a second that follows quickly on the heels 0:13:12.640 --> 0:13:19.980 of that is eventually persecution is inevitable. Eventually, persecution is inevitable. 0:13:20.320 --> 0:13:24.520 Verse 14. But, and the old King James says, but 0:13:25.100 --> 0:13:30.260 and even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you 0:13:30.340 --> 0:13:34.449 are blessed. And then quoting Isaiah chapter 8. And do 0:13:34.490 --> 0:13:37.710 not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled, but 0:13:37.830 --> 0:13:41.309 sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, etc. So here's 0:13:41.330 --> 0:13:48.530 the deal. Goodness is good. Righteousness is right. But being 0:13:48.570 --> 0:13:53.480 good and righteous will not make you immune from trouble. Eventually, 0:13:53.550 --> 0:13:55.980 because you are the light of the world and you 0:13:56.050 --> 0:13:59.500 shine your light into a dark world, there's going to 0:13:59.540 --> 0:14:02.990 be some problems. Jesus put it this way, men loved 0:14:03.050 --> 0:14:06.670 their darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 0:14:07.890 --> 0:14:11.040 And Paul made to Timothy a very, very important promise. 0:14:11.080 --> 0:14:14.640 He said, all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall what? 0:14:15.780 --> 0:14:20.420 What will they suffer? Persecution. All who live godly in 0:14:20.480 --> 0:14:25.750 Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Eventually, persecution is inevitable. So 0:14:25.790 --> 0:14:29.450 here's the deal. The world will tolerate you, but not 0:14:29.610 --> 0:14:35.510 for long. Eventually, at some point, at some level, the 0:14:35.550 --> 0:14:38.870 world will persecute you. Why is that? Well, I've used 0:14:38.890 --> 0:14:42.430 this illustration a number of times, but it's like if 0:14:42.470 --> 0:14:44.970 people are in a dark room and their pupils are dilated, 0:14:45.010 --> 0:14:47.350 they're accustomed to the darkness, and you open the blinds 0:14:47.390 --> 0:14:49.130 and let the sunlight in or you turn on a 0:14:49.150 --> 0:14:53.590 bright overhead, they're not happy to see you. They just 0:14:53.630 --> 0:14:56.230 want you gone from their presence. Turn off that light. 0:14:56.370 --> 0:14:59.620 It hurts them. And so it is with the gospel. 0:15:00.600 --> 0:15:03.700 So it is with those who do good. Did you 0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:07.060 know the Bible says Jesus went about doing good? Just 0:15:07.080 --> 0:15:10.660 think about that statement. Jesus Christ went about doing good. 0:15:11.120 --> 0:15:15.890 He healed sick people. That's good. He raised dead people. 0:15:16.630 --> 0:15:20.830 That's good. Their families were really happy. Those are good things. 0:15:21.470 --> 0:15:24.890 But eventually the hostile world around him, what did they 0:15:24.910 --> 0:15:29.080 do to him? They killed him. They wanted to extinguish 0:15:29.120 --> 0:15:34.460 the light. So here's the principle. Persecution is the result 0:15:35.660 --> 0:15:39.040 of obedience. Or I'll put it in a more memorable way. 0:15:39.660 --> 0:15:45.630 Great persecution is the result of the great commission. You 0:15:45.670 --> 0:15:49.530 preach the gospel, not everybody's going to like it. Because 0:15:49.590 --> 0:15:52.390 everybody doesn't like it, there's going to be persecution at 0:15:52.450 --> 0:15:56.100 some level. Because you see, somewhere down the line, you're 0:15:56.120 --> 0:15:58.440 going to be telling the world why you're so sweet 0:15:58.480 --> 0:16:01.240 and why you're so compassionate and why you're so loving 0:16:01.620 --> 0:16:04.760 and why you volunteer for things and help the sick. 0:16:04.800 --> 0:16:07.540 And they're going to ask you why. And when they say, hey, 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:10.870 why do you do that? You're not going to stand 0:16:10.890 --> 0:16:15.630 there and go, I don't know. You're going to say, 0:16:15.650 --> 0:16:20.430 I do that because I love Jesus Christ, who is 0:16:20.470 --> 0:16:24.420 my Savior and died to set you free. When they 0:16:24.460 --> 0:16:30.470 hear that message, the fireworks begin. When they hear that message, 0:16:31.270 --> 0:16:35.090 the sparks will fly and the anger will be developed. 0:16:35.230 --> 0:16:38.050 Jesus said these words in John 15. If the world 0:16:38.100 --> 0:16:41.140 hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. 0:16:41.600 --> 0:16:44.150 And they hated me without a cause. A servant is 0:16:44.190 --> 0:16:47.210 not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they 0:16:47.310 --> 0:16:50.620 will also persecute you. So even when Christians are kind 0:16:50.900 --> 0:16:54.700 and wonderful and helpful and magnanimous, they still represent the 0:16:54.740 --> 0:16:59.960 gospel that is narrow and exclusive. Because our gospel says 0:17:00.000 --> 0:17:02.990 that only those who trust in Jesus Christ will enjoy 0:17:03.050 --> 0:17:06.149 heaven forever. And those who reject Jesus Christ will be 0:17:06.190 --> 0:17:10.690 forever lost. You think that's a popular message? No way. 0:17:12.450 --> 0:17:15.990 I got an email from someone, I'm smiling when I 0:17:16.030 --> 0:17:22.340 say that, who claimed to be a Christian and said 0:17:22.380 --> 0:17:25.860 these words to me. I don't understand why every religion 0:17:25.920 --> 0:17:30.119 thinks they have God's special attention. It appears to me 0:17:30.160 --> 0:17:34.050 that Christians are no better than Muslims. I pondered over 0:17:34.070 --> 0:17:36.290 that little email and I thought, well, you know, I 0:17:36.310 --> 0:17:41.610 gotta say, I agree with them. Christians aren't any better 0:17:41.650 --> 0:17:46.220 than anyone else, but we are better off than everyone else. 0:17:47.800 --> 0:17:50.640 And we have a better message than anyone else because 0:17:50.680 --> 0:17:52.580 our message says no matter who you are, no matter 0:17:52.619 --> 0:17:55.090 what you've done, no matter where you live, you can 0:17:55.109 --> 0:17:57.150 be set free from your sin and you can spend 0:17:57.210 --> 0:18:01.170 forever in heaven with God guaranteed. There's no better message 0:18:01.190 --> 0:18:06.400 than that. So listen, here's the deal. And I say 0:18:06.440 --> 0:18:09.619 this sincerely, if there were 485 different ways to get 0:18:09.660 --> 0:18:11.619 to God, I would stand up here and preach all 0:18:11.619 --> 0:18:15.840 485 ways. But the book that I read and that 0:18:15.880 --> 0:18:18.470 you read and you say you believe in, says there's 0:18:18.550 --> 0:18:22.070 one way. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, 0:18:22.109 --> 0:18:25.170 the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me. 0:18:26.150 --> 0:18:29.050 And when you say that, and that is so narrow 0:18:29.100 --> 0:18:33.710 and so exclusive, this is going to happen. But notice, 0:18:34.070 --> 0:18:36.630 you got to notice this. There's a qualifying phrase. Notice 0:18:36.670 --> 0:18:38.690 it doesn't say, but even if you should suffer. It 0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:42.040 doesn't say that. It says, if you should suffer for what? 0:18:43.140 --> 0:18:47.899 Righteousness sake. Ah, it's a whole different category now. If 0:18:47.940 --> 0:18:50.260 you suffer for righteousness sake, or as it says in 0:18:50.280 --> 0:18:54.560 verse 17, suffer for doing good. You see, Jesus never said, 0:18:54.619 --> 0:18:57.399 blessed are the persecuted. He said, blessed are those who 0:18:57.440 --> 0:19:02.320 are persecuted for righteousness sake. It's no great blessing to 0:19:02.359 --> 0:19:04.689 get beat up. It's no great blessing for people to 0:19:04.770 --> 0:19:07.750 yell at you. You don't walk home after being hassled 0:19:07.770 --> 0:19:09.810 and go, what a great day. Everybody yelled at me 0:19:10.190 --> 0:19:13.109 and I got beat up. You're just a weirdo if 0:19:13.150 --> 0:19:16.390 you think that way. It's like the cannibal who was 0:19:17.119 --> 0:19:21.300 staring at the missionary and made the missionary really queasy 0:19:21.340 --> 0:19:25.300 and uneasy. And he said to the cannibal, why are 0:19:25.340 --> 0:19:28.980 you looking so intently at me? And the cannibal grinned 0:19:29.020 --> 0:19:34.310 and said, I'm the food inspector. There's no blessing in 0:19:34.350 --> 0:19:38.229 being eaten. It all depends what you're being eaten for. 0:19:39.990 --> 0:19:43.600 Is it for righteousness sake? Because you see, you can 0:19:43.660 --> 0:19:50.659 invite persecution on yourself by being an obnoxious person. I 0:19:50.680 --> 0:19:52.520 was going out of Pope Joy Hall one night, it's 0:19:52.560 --> 0:19:54.859 the performing arts center here, and I was going out 0:19:54.920 --> 0:19:56.939 after a play and the whole crowd was going out. 0:19:56.960 --> 0:19:58.919 There was some guy standing on a wall, I think 0:19:58.940 --> 0:20:00.570 he had a Bible in his hands, raised up, and 0:20:01.869 --> 0:20:07.410 he was yelling at us, yelling angrily, his furrowed brow, 0:20:07.470 --> 0:20:11.380 and And he was telling us the good news. You're 0:20:11.420 --> 0:20:15.440 all going to hell. I'm thinking, so what's the bad news? 0:20:17.740 --> 0:20:20.210 And I was watching people as they were watching him. 0:20:20.230 --> 0:20:22.189 I was looking at the looks on their faces. Nobody 0:20:22.230 --> 0:20:24.730 had the look on their face like, this is interesting 0:20:24.770 --> 0:20:27.880 and compelling. Tell me more. They were like, get away 0:20:27.920 --> 0:20:31.649 from the bad man quickly, quickly, quickly. It was a 0:20:31.660 --> 0:20:34.550 complete turn off to them. Jesus said, be wise as 0:20:34.609 --> 0:20:37.110 serpents and harmless as doves. I don't know why some 0:20:37.150 --> 0:20:39.590 Christians think they need to be as wise as doves 0:20:40.770 --> 0:20:45.209 and harmless as a snake. I believe the Lord is 0:20:45.250 --> 0:20:49.389 looking for sharpshooters, not grenade launchers. Somebody who's going to 0:20:49.430 --> 0:20:53.310 be very careful and aim very specifically when they speak 0:20:53.369 --> 0:20:58.190 to unbelievers truth rather than just throwing it out there 0:20:58.210 --> 0:21:01.719 and seeing what happens. But even if you do, you 0:21:01.760 --> 0:21:05.939 do good and you share truth and you might suffer 0:21:06.000 --> 0:21:12.300 for righteousness sake. Notice it says you are blessed, means honored. 0:21:12.580 --> 0:21:15.270 God is honoring you to be in a position where 0:21:15.290 --> 0:21:20.209 you're experiencing what Jesus experienced. You're honored, you're blessed. Then 0:21:20.250 --> 0:21:22.570 he quotes Isaiah 8, which says, and do not be 0:21:22.609 --> 0:21:24.449 afraid of their threats nor be troubled. Let me just 0:21:24.470 --> 0:21:27.629 give you a quick little background on that. In Isaiah 0:21:27.670 --> 0:21:32.250 chapter 8, King Ahaz of Judah felt threatened because the 0:21:32.310 --> 0:21:36.149 king of the north in Israel had a coalition with 0:21:36.190 --> 0:21:38.190 the king of Syria, and they both threatened to come 0:21:38.250 --> 0:21:40.790 down and pounce on him. And he's getting all bent 0:21:40.830 --> 0:21:42.929 out of shape and nervous. And so Isaiah the prophet 0:21:42.950 --> 0:21:46.930 comes to him and says, don't worry about it. Don't 0:21:46.970 --> 0:21:50.540 be alarmed. Don't be frightened. The Lord's going to take 0:21:50.580 --> 0:21:54.870 care of this. Don't be troubled by their threats. So 0:21:55.010 --> 0:21:58.090 Peter's lifting that up and applying that here. You are 0:21:58.270 --> 0:22:02.630 blessed if that happens. It might not happen. It probably 0:22:02.690 --> 0:22:04.690 won't happen. If it does happen, you're blessed. 0:22:07.119 --> 0:22:10.060 Thanks for joining us today on Connect with Skip Heitzig. 0:22:10.640 --> 0:22:14.220 Before we go, remember, your generosity helps share God's Word 0:22:14.240 --> 0:22:17.740 with people around the world, offering biblical truth and hope 0:22:17.960 --> 0:22:21.550 in a time when many feel discouraged or overwhelmed. And 0:22:21.590 --> 0:22:24.010 this month, we'd love to thank you for your gift 0:22:24.050 --> 0:22:27.470 of $ 50 or more by sending you City in Shambles, 0:22:27.890 --> 0:22:32.470 Pastor Skip's complete 18-message study through Nehemiah on CD plus 0:22:32.630 --> 0:22:36.490 digital download. These messages will encourage you to respond to 0:22:36.570 --> 0:22:41.489 brokenness with prayer, repentance, and courageous faith, and remind you 0:22:41.570 --> 0:22:45.450 that God still rebuilds what's been torn down. Give today 0:22:45.710 --> 0:22:48.909 at connectwithskip.com slash offer or call 800-922-9222. 0:22:52.730 --> 0:22:55.580 We'll see you next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of 0:22:55.640 --> 0:22:59.380 God's Word here on Connect with Skip Heitzig Weekend Edition. 0:22:59.840 --> 0:23:07.659 Make a connection. Make a connection at the foot of 0:23:07.700 --> 0:23:10.200 the crossing. 0:23:10.900 --> 0:23:14.350 Cast your burdens on His wood. 0:23:14.450 --> 0:23:15.629 Make a connection. 0:23:21.390 --> 0:23:25.350 Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of Connection Communications, 0:23:25.609 --> 0:23:29.780 connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times. 0:23:30.320 --> 0:23:33.340 Ready to go deeper in your faith and discover your calling? 0:23:33.580 --> 0:23:36.919 The School of Ministry at Calvary Church in Albuquerque is 0:23:36.980 --> 0:23:41.439 designed to equip you with practical Bible teaching, hands-on ministry training, 0:23:41.660 --> 0:23:45.889 and real-world experience. Whether you're called to lead, serve, or grow, 0:23:46.190 --> 0:23:49.540 this is your next step. Classes are forming now. Visit 0:23:49.640 --> 0:23:55.770 calvarysom.org to learn more and apply today. That's calvarysom.org. The 0:23:55.850 --> 0:23:59.770 School of Ministry at Calvary Church. Your calling starts here.