A Field Manual for Warriors in a Hostile Land Part 9: Jesus – Our Anchor in a Sea of Suffering 1 Peter 2:18-25

A Field Manual for A Field Manual for Warriors in a Hostile LandWarriors in a Hostile Land

Part 9: Jesus – Our Anchor in a Sea of SufferingPart 9: Jesus – Our Anchor in a Sea of Suffering

1 Peter 2:18-251 Peter 2:18-25

Have you ever found yourself in one Have you ever found yourself in one or more of the following situationsor more of the following situations

• an employer who is extremely hard to work an employer who is extremely hard to work with and work forwith and work for


• a teacher who seems to play favorites when a teacher who seems to play favorites when it comes to other members of the class.it comes to other members of the class.


• An adult child whose father always seems to An adult child whose father always seems to be interfering in the son's personal affairs; be interfering in the son's personal affairs;


• a wife who is belittled by her husband; a wife who is belittled by her husband;


• a husband who is constantly abandoned by a husband who is constantly abandoned by his wife; his wife;


• These are all pictures of men, women, or These are all pictures of men, women, or children who are suffering under abusive children who are suffering under abusive authority authority

As a As a servantservant

Servants, be subject to your masters… (2:18a)Servants, be subject to your masters… (2:18a)


• Submit to the Submit to the authorityauthority individual. individual.


• Submit with all Submit with all fearfear

Servants, be subject to your masters Servants, be subject to your masters with all with all respect (2:18)respect (2:18)


• If your fear God you will If your fear God you will respectrespect and show and show faithfulnessfaithfulness to your boss. to your boss.


• This means submit to all good bosses right?This means submit to all good bosses right?


• Submit to the good and Submit to the good and hardhard to to dealdeal with with

Servants, be subject to your masters with all Servants, be subject to your masters with all respectrespect not only to the good and gentle but not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.also to the unjust. (2:18) (2:18)



Our submission Our submission then is not then is not contingent on the contingent on the attitudeattitude or or behaviorbehavior of our of our superiors.superiors.

Submit as a Submit as a sufferersufferer

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? and are beaten for it, you endure?


But if when you do good and suffer for it you But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (2:19-21)his steps (2:19-21)


• To show To show gloryglory in the face of in the face of injusticeinjustice is true is true evidence of Christian evidence of Christian charactercharacter..


• Jesus Christ is our Jesus Christ is our modelmodel

because Christ also suffered for you, leaving because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an you an exampleexample, (2:21), (2:21)



• Jesus is our example: Jesus is our example: worthyworthy of being of being copiedcopied..


because Christ also suffered for you, leaving because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, you an example, so that you might follow in so that you might follow in his stepshis steps (2:21) (2:21)


• He is worthy because he He is worthy because he sufferedsuffered and did not and did not sinsin

He committed no sin, neither was deceit He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (2:22)found in his mouth. (2:22)


• Committed Himself to Him who judges Committed Himself to Him who judges righteouslyrighteously

When he was reviled, he did not revile in When he was reviled, he did not revile in return (2:23)return (2:23)


• Do you strike Do you strike back? Do you back? Do you "get even." "get even."


• Jesus simply Jesus simply committedcommitted Himself to His father, Himself to His father, & left the & left the outcomeoutcome with Him. with Him.

When he was reviled, he did not revile in When he was reviled, he did not revile in return, return, when he suffered, he did not when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justlyhim who judges justly.(2:23).(2:23)


He himself bore our sins in his body on the He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (2:24)healed. (2:24)


He himself bore our sins in his body on the He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. righteousness. By his wounds you have been By his wounds you have been healed.healed. (2:24) (2:24)

Is this speaking of a physical healing or a Is this speaking of a physical healing or a spiritual healing?spiritual healing?

Submit as Submit as sheepsheep

For you were straying like sheep, but have For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (2:25)of your souls. (2:25)

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

• Being Jesus-centered means knowing you Being Jesus-centered means knowing you have a “place” and while you are in your have a “place” and while you are in your “place” you will make much of Jesus!“place” you will make much of Jesus!

If you haven’t started the Jesus-If you haven’t started the Jesus-centered lifecentered life

• Jesus – who did no wrong died for you! Jesus – who did no wrong died for you! What are you going to do about that?What are you going to do about that?

If you are living the If you are living the Jesus-centered lifeJesus-centered life

• Live real close to your Live real close to your healinghealing


• He also made possible our He also made possible our transformationtransformation. .


• Getting Getting eveneven is not the Jesus way is not the Jesus way


• Two Minute Party: Try coming up with a few Two Minute Party: Try coming up with a few of your own examples. of your own examples.


• TrustTrust your soul to its your soul to its overseeroverseer

I Must Tell JesusI Must Tell Jesus

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,

I cannot bear these burdens alone;I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He promised to help me,In my distress He promised to help me,

He ever loves me and He cares for His own. He ever loves me and He cares for His own.


Tempted and tried we need a great Savior,Tempted and tried we need a great Savior,

One who can help my burdens to bear;One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus:I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus:

He ever loves me and my burdens will share. He ever loves me and my burdens will share.


I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear these burdens alone;I cannot bear these burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus will help me, Jesus alone.Jesus will help me, Jesus alone.

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A Field Manual for Warriors in a Hostile Land Part 9: Jesus – Our Anchor in a Sea of Suffering 1 Peter 2:18-25