1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV
13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:15 ESV (This Week)
15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Who is Peter Writing to?
The whole purpose of this letter is to encourage the followers of Christ in the provinces of Rome that were in Asia minor (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia), who were persecuted by both the Jews and the government. So there was certainly suffering among the immediate audience of this letter.
Add a note
Likewise, there is no shortage of suffering for Christ in today’s world.
Last week, we mentioned a little more localized suffering, where maybe you have endured something more personal, perhaps from a family member/co-worker/friend/or even fellow member of the church. Today we are going to address a broader context…that being the suffering and persecution endured by the global church.
No Shortage of Suffering? -2 Hour Plane ride from #1 (North Korea)
There are a couple of great websites that will help us to know how to pray for the needs of the persecuted church.
www.opendoorsusa.org
www.prayercast.com
www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com
We’ll be using some of these today as we pray for the persecuted.
Add a note
1 Peter 3:13-14 ESV
13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
Matthew 26:31-35 ESV
31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
John 13:6-9 ESV
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Add a note
We MUST as brothers and sisters in the faith, be about prayer for our brothers and sisters in intense persecution. Let me give you just one example from India.
This is not something in the very distant past…this article is from 17 October 2019. And it relates a story from a province in East India near West Bengal.
Pastor Beheaded by Radical Communists
[403] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Saisha and her children.
Facebook Twitter
Share this prayer request
Members of India’s Naxalite (Named because of their origins in Naxalbari) political group have killed another evangelist in India’s Odisha state. Pastor Saanvi had shared the gospel in villages near his home for the past six years as a bi-vocational minister, even planting house churches in two of the villages. Though members of the local Naxalite group, who subscribe to a Marxist-Leninist political philosophy, had repeatedly warned him to stop his ministry work, he continued to tell his neighbors about Jesus. Then, one evening, the Naxalites appeared at Saanvi’s door and asked him to accompany them. Sensing something was wrong, his wife, Saisha, followed at a distance, carrying their two children. When she saw her husband tied to a tree, she began pleading with them to let Saanvi go. Instead, however, they beheaded him in front of her and their children. Please pray for this young woman, who is grieving the loss of her husband.
Prayer Points for India
• Pray for the cultural barriers of the caste system and Hinduism to be overcome by the Gospel.
• Pray for the Good News of Jesus Christ to reach every village and town.
• Pray for justice and hope in a nation plagued by oppression, poverty, and disease.
Add a note
1 Peter 3:15-16 ESV
15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Add a note
Voice Of the Martyrs’ 2019 International Day Of Prayer short film, Sang-chul: North Korea, provides a dramatic example of the challenges of following Christ inside the world’s most restricted nation. The film will inspires us the church to pray for persecuted Christians in North Korea and around the world.
Watch video - Sang-chul: North Korea Prayer for North Korea
10 ways to pray for our persecuted brothers & sisters:
1. Sense God’s presence (Heb. 13:5)
2. Know we are praying for them (2 Tim. 1:3)
3. Experience God’s comfort(2 Thess. 2:16–17)
4. See God open doors to evangelism(Col. 4:3)
5. Boldly share the gospel (Acts 4:29)
6. Mature in their faith (Col. 1:28–29)
7. Be granted wisdom in covert ministry work (Acts 9:23–25)
8. Remain joyful amid suffering (Acts 5:41)
9. Forgive and love their persecutors(Matt. 5:44)
10. Be rooted in God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17)
Add a note
1 Peter 3:17 ESV
17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
The word here says that for it is BETTER to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Because this word communicates the rest of the thought related to verses 15 and 16… let me read them all together:
1 Peter 3:15-17 ESV
15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
I am aware of many in Japan who have chosen to become followers of Christ. Because of this, they are under scrutiny from family members who are stuck in cultural traditions and quick to condemn. And in fact, many family members have been isolated because of their faith. This is a very real, and near prayer concern, even for members of this Body. I want to finish up with this prayer for Japan. We’ll let the video begin the prayer and I will finish the prayer with the prayer points for Japan.
https://www.prayercast.com/japan.html
Prayer Points for Japan
• Pray for the Gospel to take root in Japanese culture and no longer be perceived as a western religion.
• Pray for drifting, over-worked, and anxious youth to find freedom in Christ.
• Pray for the unity of God’s Spirit to demolish barriers dividing the 120 different denominations.
Add a note
“Gracefully Broken” – Matt Redman ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Gone” – Elevation Worship
“Build My Life” – Pat Barrett (feat. Chris Tomlin)
“What A Beautiful Name” – Hillsong Worship
Please use the Give Online button on the Home tab.
Every gift helps.
