The Ultimate Response to the Pain of Injustice

 
The Power of Authority, and the Ultimate Response to the Pain of Injustice 1 Peter 2:9-3:12 Mother’s Day By Pastor Dan Kennedy © May 12, 2013 www.pastorkennedy.com Mother’s Day is a poignant reminder of our own mother and, for each woman who has given birth to a son or daughter, a reminder of her own victories, trials and unforgettable defeats. Many mothers have been, in their child’s mind, almost saints. Other mothers are, by their children’s own horrible experience, considered to be the incarnation of evil. It is impossible to have a Mother’s Day service without those in the congregation having emotions stirred deeply on both sides of those extremes…while the thoughts of others provoke memories of everything in between! The passage explored and Biblical concepts spoken of today are not typical for a Mother’s Day message, but I believe they are just as appropriate and maybe even more significant than possibly “a typical Mother’s Day theme”. As the title suggests, we will be looking at what I believe is the “Ultimate Response to the Pain of Injustice”. The “pain of injustice” will one day be a reality in selfless motherhood (and honorable fatherhood). How it is dealt with will determine whether or not bitterness, cynicism, vitric anger and vindictiveness, or something far greater will prevail! To begin with, we should establish some additional perimeters on which to further authenticate the bases of the premise of this message. Everything in the Christian life is based on our belief of these two facts: 1. A person who pleases God, must believe that God exists… and 2. A person who pleases God, must believe that God will reward those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. • God Exists o Why should one seek to please a God who does not exist? • God Rewards God has designated a time for just reward and just judgment. Our heartfelt belief in these two Realities of God underlies the Reality of our own Faith. 1. “We believe that God Exists” The Power of Authority When God said, “Let there be light!” There was light! The Creation of Life is an Ultimate Power of Authority There is a Creator God who is All Powerful and who has the ultimate authority in the universe. God the Father, through God the Son, has created positions of authority, visible and invisible, great and small, throughout the universe for His own purposes and Glory (Col. 1:12-16). Colossians 1:12–16 12 …Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Supremacy of Christ 15 He (Jesus Christ, God’s Son) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers (dominions) or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Authorities Created by Jesus Christ: • Thrones (Places of Authority) • Powers (“Dominions” of Authority) • Rulers (Persons of Authority) • Authorities (All other Authority) This passage in Colossians does not focus on specific tangible elements of creation, such as the stars in the universe, or the plants, animals or even people, created in His own Image, on earth. Colossians 1:16 specifically highlights only the visible and invisible realms of authorities: thrones, powers, rulers and authorities…revealing that it is through these authorities created by Christ (and through His continuing sustaining Power), these authorities have power to replicate, maintain and sustain God’s Creation. • Mothers have a huge power of influence and place of authority in the home, before God. • Fathers have an amazing position of authority in the home and accountability to God. • There are many positions of authorities, visible and invisible, throughout the universe and on earth, through which God has ordained life to continue and be blessed as they follow His will. 2. “God will Reward those who earnestly seek Him.” There will come a day when… a. God will call His Children to be with Him and give each of them his or her reward. Ruth 2:12 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Colossians 3:23–25 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. b. This All Powerful God will bring accountability and justice to pass for the angelic host, every created being, and each individual of the entire human race, from the beginning of time to the end of time. 2 Corinthians 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 
1 Timothy 5:24 24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. Justice: We all long for the reality of Justice! The following are but few examples of recent injustices: • The three young women kidnapped, abused and held captive for 10 years in Cleveland. • The Boston bombing, killing and maiming of marathon runners and bystanders. • More than 70,000 citizens killed in Syria…some with possibly sarin or VX gas. • The exile of some 120,000 Syrians now living in tents or mobile homes with an unknown future, in the Jordanian Zaatari refugee camps. • Sex abuse in our Military. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son (in his 20’s) kidnapped by gunmen in the final days of a historic election, which promises to be the first non-military, democratic transfer of power Pakistan has ever seen. Fires and collapse of sweatshop factories in Bangladesh killing over 1,000 people with around 2,500 injured. • The obvious dilemma over the Benghazi murders and embassy uprising. • The Pain of Personal Injustice that we have experienced. There is more than enough reason for anyone’s desire for justice to prevail in this world. Each of Us Needs Mercy Of course, each person must admit that true justice may find his or her own account to be somewhat contemptible, so everyone who calls for justice must also cry out to God for mercy!! We know how most people normally deal with injustice in this corrupt world filled with jealousy, abuse of power, and depraved natures, but how should a Believer in Jesus Christ deal with injustice? This Godly response is found in 1 Peter 2:9–3:12. The Ultimate Response to the Pain of Injustice 1 Peter 2:9–3:12 Who We Are As Believers in Jesus Christ: 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. How are Believers in Jesus Christ to Live? 1. We are to quit doing the things that war against our soul 2. We are to live honorably in the world, even through wrongful accusations…so others will see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. How are Believers in Jesus Christ supposed to respond to those in authority? 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. How are Believers in Jesus Christ supposed to respond when injustice becomes very personal – no matter what their social standing in society? 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. How did Jesus Establish the Example for us when suffering gross injustice? 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Remember the underlying realities of faith? 1. God Exists – He has the Supreme Power of Authority. He is our Creator! 2. God Rewards – God will Justly Reveal, Reward and Judge Everyone! Jesus Himself responded, when He was unjustly treated during the time He was in this world… just as He expects us to respond now: Jesus did not retaliate: He entrusted Himself to His Father who Judges Justly. When it comes to injustice, there are three critical lessons seen in this passage: 1. It is commendable if a person bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 2. Jesus suffered from the grossest of injustices yet He did not retaliate, but responded by yielding those to His Father’s Hand, who hated Him, were intensely jealous of Him, abusively lied about Him, unmercifully beat Him, and cruelly murdered Him. 3. God Exists and the World’s injustices, the Families’ injustices, the Church’s injustices, or any of our Personal injustices, without hesitation, can be given to God for God’s Faithful Judgment! God is the Only Just Judge and He will Judge! It is in this context that 1 Peter 3 continues… Wives and Husbands – There can be plenty of injustice in marriage these days, especially if a Godly wife seeks to honorably respect an unloving husband. 3 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. The Blessing of a Beautiful Spirit This passage applauds the obvious power of influence available to the wife who cultivates a spirit of inner beauty; including an appropriate response of an honorable husband – so there are no spiritual barriers in their prayers before God. It reveals to us that God is far more concerned with a beautiful spirit rather than an outwardly beautiful appearance, especially if that beauty seeks to manipulate a husband’s will to be in line with her own. Sometimes lines are crossed and a stand must be taken (Acts 4:18-21; 16:36-40). In every way, focusing on inward beauty is infinitely more blessed by God. Final Thoughts for a Blessed Life 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days Gracious Speech must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. Godly Actions 11 He must turn from evil and do good; Pursuit of Peace he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Conclusion Mothers – God has given you an amazing authority over your children and the responsibilities you have been given in the home, workplace and areas of ministry throughout the world! When it comes to injustice, there are three critical lessons seen in this passage: It is commendable if a person bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. Jesus suffered from the grossest of injustices yet He did not retaliate, but responded by yielding those to His Father’s Hand, who hated Him, were intensely jealous of Him, abusively lied about Him, unmercifully beat Him, and cruelly murdered Him. God Exists and the World’s injustices, the Families’ injustices, the Church’s injustices, or any of our Personal injustices, without hesitation, can be given to God for God’s Faithful Judgment! God is the Only Just Judge and He will Judge! Additional Thoughts… o It is only in our belief of the premise that “God Rewards” that each person who has been broken and confused by injustice can have the hope of honorable, satisfying and eternal justice. o Injustice can never be righted with trite verbal backlash, or even through “justice” in the human courts of this life. Injustice can never be countered with violent retribution or vengeance. Injustice can only be completely “made right” by God. Nothing else will make you totally “feel right” about what you do to “make it right”. (What if, in retribution, one grossly overcompensates for injustice? Is that person, in turn, now subject to be judged for injustice?) Therefore, only God can totally judge righteously. That is why, in order to please God, we must believe that God Exists and God Rewards. o Our belief in eternal justice by God and a non-hypocritical belief that “God Rewards”, in itself, is a considerable validation of the realness of our faith that God exists and that we truly trust Him to make all things right…whenever He deems the time to be right. o Since each person will face a time of Reward and Justice, each must cry out for mercy for him or herself. It is only through God’s Provision of the Gift of Salvation and Redemption through the Sacrificial Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ, that we can have redeeming Mercy! http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_1_link_0