“Be Ready,” Text: 1Peter 3:13-17 Jan. 4

INTRODUCTION

Every time her blood was shed, each drop became a man, and each man thus converted stood prepared to pour out the vital current from his veins to defend the cause

—Charles Spurgeon

MAIN IDEA: Begin to prepare today for persecution. This passage gives us a clear road map for doing so.

I. First, ANTICIPATE it so you won’t be surprised (13-14)

John 15:18-19, NIV: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

A. people hate conviction of sin

John 16:7-8, NIV:  But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.

B. they want us to be like them

1 Peter 4:4, NLT: Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things about you.

C. so they threaten or intimidate us to change us

Pr 29:25, NIV: Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Matt 10:33, NIV: 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

II. Second, focus on JESUS now so that doing so

becomes second nature (15-16)“sanctify Christ in heart”

A. fear of man & fear of Jesus cannot cohabitate

Isaiah 8:12-14, NIV: 12 "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy ; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, 14 and he will be a sanctuary;

B. thus we should reverence/focus on Him

Deut 10:12, NIV: And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

1Peter 1:17, NIV: Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

1Peter 3:16: they will be ashamed of their slander

C. and prepare to give answer about our hope (1:3-4)

1. by studying: God’s word, helps

2. by rehearsing: scripture & our testimony &

His present power in our lives

3. by desiring: our future

D. as Jesus would = w/ gentleness & respect