"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15-16
When we are dealing with the world we should be ready to defend our faith.
Provide evidence-based defense.
What is stopping us from us being ready?
A. Fear of Confrontation. There is so much fear of offense and tolerance accepted (accept for Truth) that no one says anything. We can speak with truth with gentlness, respect and compassion. People need to hear the truth.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
B. Fear of Inadequacy. Be ready. Know the Word -- just like Jesus, use the Word of God.
"He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?" Matthew 12:3
"Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?" Matthew 12:5
"Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?" Matthew 21:42
Jesus used Scripture to defend His position, His choices, His faith.
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
We hav been given much. We need to use it rightly.
C. Vulnerability of Ignorance.
"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many." Matthew 24:5
D. Be Doers.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." James 1:22-25
E. Read The Word.
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.' Joshua 1:8
"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." Revelation 1:3
It's not enough to just hear. You need to meditate on it and do it, put it into practice. Let it become a part of you. If there's no depth to your faith, it will fail.
"They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell." Psalm 115:6
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:22-23
F. Be Ready
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
"Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13
Be ready. Know what's in the Word!!
When we are dealing with the world we should be ready to defend our faith.
Provide evidence-based defense.
What is stopping us from us being ready?
A. Fear of Confrontation. There is so much fear of offense and tolerance accepted (accept for Truth) that no one says anything. We can speak with truth with gentlness, respect and compassion. People need to hear the truth.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
B. Fear of Inadequacy. Be ready. Know the Word -- just like Jesus, use the Word of God.
"He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?" Matthew 12:3
"Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?" Matthew 12:5
"Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?" Matthew 21:42
Jesus used Scripture to defend His position, His choices, His faith.
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
We hav been given much. We need to use it rightly.
C. Vulnerability of Ignorance.
"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many." Matthew 24:5
D. Be Doers.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." James 1:22-25
E. Read The Word.
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.' Joshua 1:8
"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." Revelation 1:3
It's not enough to just hear. You need to meditate on it and do it, put it into practice. Let it become a part of you. If there's no depth to your faith, it will fail.
"They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell." Psalm 115:6
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:22-23
F. Be Ready
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
"Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13
Be ready. Know what's in the Word!!
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