Hope, Authority, and Our Christian Response

Devotional

Day 1: Hope as a Present Reality

As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded that the hope brought by the Messiah is not just a historical event but a present reality that fuels our anticipation for Christ's return. The lighting of the Advent candles symbolizes our journey from darkness to light, mirroring our spiritual walk as we await the fulfillment of God's promises. This hope encourages us to live with expectation and joy, knowing that the light of Christ is already shining in our lives and will one day illuminate the entire world. [26:48]

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV): "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."

Reflection: How can you actively cultivate a sense of hope in your daily life, especially during this Advent season, to remind yourself of the light of Christ?

Day 2: Submission as an Act of Worship

In 1 Peter 2, Christians are called to submit to earthly authorities as an act of worship to God, acknowledging His sovereignty over all institutions. This submission is not about blind obedience but about recognizing that God places authorities for His purposes, even when they seem unjust. By submitting, we demonstrate our faith and trust in God's ultimate plan, knowing that His purposes are beyond our understanding. This perspective helps us navigate our roles as citizens with grace and humility. [33:53]

Romans 13:1-2 (ESV): "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

Reflection: In what ways can you view your interactions with authority figures as opportunities to worship God and demonstrate your trust in His sovereignty?

Day 3: Courage to Stand Firm in Conviction

The Bible provides examples of individuals like Daniel and the apostles who chose to obey God over man, even when it meant facing persecution. True obedience sometimes requires the courage to face earthly consequences, trusting that God will honor our faithfulness. As Christians, we are called to stand firm in our convictions, knowing that our ultimate allegiance is to God. This courage is a testament to our faith and a powerful witness to the world. [42:06]

Acts 5:29 (ESV): "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"

Reflection: Identify a situation where you might need to stand firm in your convictions. How can you prepare yourself to act with courage and faithfulness in that situation?

Day 4: Living as Free People

Our freedom in Christ is not a license for wrongdoing but an opportunity to honor God. We are called to live as free people, using our liberty to reflect Christ and honor the authority placed over us. This freedom allows us to serve others selflessly and to live in a way that glorifies God. By embracing this freedom, we can demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives and communities. [47:58]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Reflection: How can you use your freedom in Christ to serve others and reflect His love in your daily interactions?

Day 5: Reflecting Christ in All Circumstances

Whether in victory or disappointment, Christians are called to reflect Christ in everything. Our ultimate allegiance is to God, and our actions should demonstrate our trust in His sovereignty and purposes. By focusing on hope rather than expectations, we can maintain unity and avoid divisiveness, which can hinder our witness and the work of the church. In all things, we are encouraged to trust that God is sovereign and His purposes will prevail. [57:55]

Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: Think of a recent disappointment or challenge. How can you reflect Christ in your response to this situation, trusting in God's sovereignty and purposes?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound themes of hope, authority, and our role as Christians in navigating the complexities of government and societal structures. As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded of the hope that the coming of the Messiah brings. This hope is not just a historical reflection but a present reality that fuels our anticipation for Christ's return. The lighting of the Advent candles symbolizes this journey from darkness to light, a journey that mirrors our own spiritual walk as we await the fulfillment of God's promises.

We delved into 1 Peter 2, where we are called to submit to earthly authorities as an act of worship to God. This submission is not blind obedience but a recognition of God's sovereignty over all institutions. Even in the face of unjust rulers, like Emperor Nero, whom Peter addressed, we are reminded that God places authorities for His purposes, which may be beyond our understanding. Our obedience to these authorities is a testament to our faith and trust in God's ultimate plan.

The sermon also highlighted the importance of discerning when to stand firm in our convictions, even if it means facing persecution. We looked at biblical examples like Daniel and the apostles, who chose to obey God over man, demonstrating that true obedience sometimes requires courage to face earthly consequences. This is a call to live as free people, not using our freedom as a cover for wrongdoing but as an opportunity to honor God and reflect Christ in all we do.

As we navigate our roles as citizens, we are encouraged to focus on hope rather than expectations, understanding that our ultimate allegiance is to God. This perspective helps us maintain unity and avoid divisiveness, which can hinder our witness and the work of the church. In all things, we are called to reflect Christ, whether in victory or disappointment, trusting that God is sovereign and His purposes will prevail.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope in Advent: The Advent season is a time to reflect on the hope brought by the Messiah's coming. This hope is not just historical but a present reality that encourages us to anticipate Christ's return. As we light the Advent candles, we are reminded of the journey from darkness to light, symbolizing our spiritual walk. [26:48]
2. Submission as Worship: Our submission to earthly authorities is an act of worship, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all institutions. Even when faced with unjust rulers, we trust that God has placed them for His purposes, which may be beyond our understanding. [33:53]
3. Courage in Conviction: Biblical examples like Daniel and the apostles show us that true obedience sometimes requires courage to face earthly consequences. We are called to stand firm in our convictions, even if it means facing persecution, trusting that God will honor our faithfulness. [42:06]
4. Living as Free People: Our freedom in Christ is not a license for wrongdoing but an opportunity to honor God. We are called to live as free people, using our liberty to reflect Christ and honor the authority placed over us. [47:58]
5. Reflecting Christ in All Things: Whether in victory or disappointment, we are called to reflect Christ in everything. Our ultimate allegiance is to God, and our actions should demonstrate our trust in His sovereignty and purposes. [57:55]
** [57:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:41] - Thanksgiving Reflections
[26:48] - Advent and the Hope Candle
[28:41] - Old Testament Prophecies
[30:18] - God and Government
[32:43] - Reading from 1 Peter 2
[34:43] - Context of Peter's Audience
[36:49] - Understanding Persecution
[38:31] - Biblical Examples of Conviction
[42:06] - Themes from 1 Peter 2
[43:24] - Submission for the Lord's Sake
[45:58] - Role of Authorities
[47:58] - Living as Free People
[49:48] - Honor Everyone
[57:55] - Reflecting Christ in All Things

Sermon Clips

But I want to remind you that Scripture says in 1 Peter, and this is more than once it tells us this, that we are sojourners and exiles. We are not permanent residents of planet Earth. [00:32:03] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

So when we do take this stand, when we feel like we need to take this stand, we need to understand that we've got to be prepared to take the consequences for it. [00:42:45] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And it's given in four brief statements. It says, honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. That's a sermon unto itself. Disagreeing with people does not give us the right to treat them badly. [00:48:22] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And so I would say this in the first statement is your attitude reflects your altitude. And what do you mean by that? Altitude meaning our, as Chris said last week so well, our koinonia with the Father. [00:52:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Number three life point is focus on hope over expectation. You've heard me say this before, likely, that we sometimes put this expectation, say of our American government, for example, that they're going to behave in a certain way, make decisions based upon certain things, assuming like they all have the same relationship with Christ like I do, and they don't. [00:54:04] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Number five, obedience is a command with consequence. As we said earlier, there may be a time when God stirs your spirit and says, I cannot do that. I cannot do that in good conscience. [00:56:24] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

So sometimes it may not look like you think it should look, but honoring God is always the right thing, always the right thing. [01:03:50] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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