Lance Witt • You’ve Got To Be Kidding! • June 23, 2024
A Mandate For Countercultural Living

1.

submit to authority.

”For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.” (1 Peter 2:13-14, NLT)

The path to maturity runs through

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to authority.

Submission to authority is rooted in the belief that God is

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.

“All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:35, NLT)

2. Silence the critics by living

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.

“It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.” (1 Peter 2:15, NLT)

Portrait of an honorable life…
• Submit even when those in authority are

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. - “You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.” (1 Peter 2:18, NLT)
• Wear your mistreatment as a

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. - “For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.” (1 Peter 2:19, NLT)

“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him”. (Philippians 1:29, NLT)

• You get zero credit if you get mistreated for being a

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. - “Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.” (1 Peter 2:20, NLT)

3. Embrace being a

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of Jesus.

“For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.”(1 Peter 2:16, NLT)

4. Check your

.

“Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.” (1 Peter 2:17, NLT)

Look to Jesus as your example when being mistreated.“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21, NLT)