Rafael Manzanares: Christ Our Example (1 Peter 2:11-25) - Message from the 2024 CGN International Conference

[00:00:00] Welcome to the CGN Podcast. My name is Nick Cady and on this episode we have another message for you from the CGN International Conference which took place this past summer in Southern California.

[00:00:11] The theme of this year's conference was Hope, Suffering and Glory, Studies in the Book of 1 Peter. This next message was taught by Pastor Rafael Manzanares.

[00:00:20] Pastor Rafael is the pastor of Santa Ponza Community Church in Mallorca, Spain. He has been involved in leadership with Calvary Chapel in Western Europe for many years and he is also a member of the CGN executive team.

[00:00:33] This episode is available as video for those of you watching or listening on a podcast app that supports video. We hope you'll be blessed by this message. Here's Pastor Rafael Manzanares.

[00:01:30] Pastor Rafael Manzanares moment

[00:01:33] always eating with this person and eating with that person. And this guy goes, that's funny.

[00:01:41] When I read the Bible, all I see is structure. Jesus sending them by twos and reporting back to

[00:01:48] them. And I just thought it's amazing how the Bible can be so, we can see it so differently

[00:01:56] and yet communicate the same thing. You know, so today you're going to see more relationship

[00:02:01] and structure in any way, shape or form. But let's pray together. Father, we thank you so much,

[00:02:07] Lord, for your goodness. We thank you so much for your love. We thank you so much that we have the

[00:02:15] privilege of knowing you. We are the most privileged people in all creation. You've been so good to us.

[00:02:25] And I pray, Father, you would take this time and that you would speak to our hearts. In Jesus' name,

[00:02:30] Amen. So if you turn to 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 11 through the end of the chapter, it says,

[00:02:39] Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul,

[00:02:47] having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers,

[00:02:55] they may by your good works, which they observe glorify God in the day of visitation.

[00:03:02] Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme

[00:03:11] or to governors as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of

[00:03:20] those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance

[00:03:28] of foolish men as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God,

[00:03:38] honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your

[00:03:48] masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable.

[00:03:58] If because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully, for what credit is it

[00:04:06] if when you are beaten for your faults you take it patiently?

[00:04:12] But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

[00:04:21] For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you

[00:04:28] should follow in his steps, who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth,

[00:04:36] who when he was reviled, did not revile in return, and when he suffered, he did not threaten,

[00:04:44] but committed himself to him who judges righteously, who himself bore our sins in his own body on the

[00:04:53] tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.

[00:05:02] For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

[00:05:13] I love Peter. I love the apostle Paul.

[00:05:20] But with Peter, I could really identify. You know, I can identify when he didn't know what to say,

[00:05:30] so he spoke. I can identify with the emotional moment and the transfiguration.

[00:05:40] Should we, let's build three tabernacles.

[00:05:43] I can identify with telling Jesus, no, you're not going to go through that.

[00:05:50] I can identify with doing all the wrong things and yet being able to stand

[00:05:57] in the love of God, in the love of Jesus.

[00:06:00] But here in this letter, what we have is a man that has been transformed by Jesus.

[00:06:08] It is filled from chapter, from verse 1 to the end, it is filled with the impact of the experience

[00:06:15] that he had in those three and a half years with Jesus.

[00:06:20] And I really believe this letter could literally,

[00:06:25] it's the product of when Jesus said,

[00:06:29] Simon, Simon, indeed Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

[00:06:34] But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail.

[00:06:37] And when you have returned, strengthen your brothers.

[00:06:42] This is a man that has been tried.

[00:06:45] This is a man who has been sifted.

[00:06:48] And after he comes through those difficulties,

[00:06:52] he writes this letter to strengthen the church.

[00:07:00] And in this section that we are looking through,

[00:07:05] and Jesus is our example,

[00:07:08] Peter reminds them, first and foremost,

[00:07:12] the first thing he reminds them of is that they are citizens of a new country.

[00:07:19] He says,

[00:07:20] Beloved, I beg you,

[00:07:23] as sojourners and pilgrims,

[00:07:25] abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul.

[00:07:31] As pilgrims, as sojourners.

[00:07:38] Wiersbe Road,

[00:07:39] a vagabond is someone who has no home.

[00:07:44] A fugitive is someone who is running from home.

[00:07:48] A stranger is someone who is away from home.

[00:07:52] But a pilgrim is someone that is going home.

[00:07:59] And Peter reminds them,

[00:08:02] the moment we were born again,

[00:08:05] the moment we became believers,

[00:08:07] we have an inheritance reserved in heaven for us.

[00:08:13] He reminds them,

[00:08:15] you are citizens of a different country.

[00:08:20] No doubt he got that from Jesus and with Pilate.

[00:08:24] Jesus said to Pilate,

[00:08:26] my kingdom is not of this world.

[00:08:28] If it were,

[00:08:30] my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.

[00:08:34] But now my kingdom is from another place.

[00:08:44] A different citizenship.

[00:08:46] I remember a few years ago,

[00:08:48] I moved to the United States when I was 13 years old.

[00:08:52] But for some reason,

[00:08:53] I didn't want to become a U.S. citizen.

[00:08:55] And then I served in the U.S. Army with a green card,

[00:09:00] without actually being a citizen.

[00:09:02] And then I left the military.

[00:09:06] I became a Christian.

[00:09:07] And then I moved to be a missionary in Europe.

[00:09:10] And I actually lost my green card.

[00:09:12] When I was coming through security,

[00:09:14] they said,

[00:09:15] you cannot be out of the country for this long.

[00:09:17] And I said,

[00:09:18] here,

[00:09:18] you can have it.

[00:09:22] And some years later,

[00:09:23] I regretted that.

[00:09:25] I just thought,

[00:09:25] what was I thinking?

[00:09:26] You know,

[00:09:27] just kind of like,

[00:09:27] just young zeal.

[00:09:30] You know,

[00:09:30] just,

[00:09:30] I don't need it.

[00:09:31] You know,

[00:09:31] just take it.

[00:09:33] And then I thought,

[00:09:34] my goodness,

[00:09:34] if my mother gets sick,

[00:09:35] how am I going to visit her?

[00:09:37] For longer than three months.

[00:09:39] And then I was talking to Pancho Juarez,

[00:09:42] and he just said,

[00:09:42] you know what,

[00:09:43] Rafi,

[00:09:43] as a veteran,

[00:09:44] you can get your citizenship.

[00:09:45] And I found out that I could apply for citizenship.

[00:09:51] And having served,

[00:09:52] Bush passed a law that if you served one day during time of war in the military,

[00:09:56] that you were entitled to citizenship without actually living in the country.

[00:10:02] And so my wife,

[00:10:04] who's Italian,

[00:10:06] she,

[00:10:06] when she was in university,

[00:10:07] she was a communist.

[00:10:10] And she was not very fond of the United States of America.

[00:10:16] And so we flew over to become,

[00:10:18] for me to become a citizen of the United States.

[00:10:21] And I don't know what the Lakers stadium,

[00:10:23] I think it's over there.

[00:10:24] I think that's where I became a citizen.

[00:10:26] And my goodness,

[00:10:27] my wife and I went there,

[00:10:29] and I became a citizen of the United States.

[00:10:34] And,

[00:10:35] you know,

[00:10:35] whether it was the anthem,

[00:10:37] whether it was the flag,

[00:10:38] whether it was the testimonies,

[00:10:39] it was just an event.

[00:10:41] And in that moment,

[00:10:43] I realized I belong to a different country.

[00:10:46] country with different laws,

[00:10:51] with different freedoms.

[00:10:57] And even my wife said,

[00:10:59] my goodness,

[00:11:00] that was amazing.

[00:11:02] It is a big thing to become a citizen of a different country.

[00:11:07] And Peter reminds them that they are pilgrims.

[00:11:12] They are sojourners on earth.

[00:11:14] And they are heading towards the city whose builder and maker is God.

[00:11:19] But when we become citizens of a new heaven,

[00:11:21] he also reminds them that there's a new way of life.

[00:11:25] He says,

[00:11:26] I beg you,

[00:11:27] don't yield to the desires warring against you.

[00:11:32] But have your conduct honorable among the Gentiles.

[00:11:36] You see,

[00:11:37] obviously here we see in the text that they were being reviled.

[00:11:41] They were being insulted.

[00:11:42] They were being punished.

[00:11:44] There was evildoers slandering them and poisoning them.

[00:11:49] And you know,

[00:11:50] when that happens to us,

[00:11:51] what's the first thing that happens?

[00:11:53] Especially when it happens to someone we love.

[00:11:57] Sometimes we can take it for ourselves.

[00:11:59] But if we find out that it's going on to someone we love,

[00:12:02] what happens?

[00:12:02] The flesh.

[00:12:07] You want to give it to them.

[00:12:10] You want to retaliate.

[00:12:12] I wonder when Perpetua was martyred.

[00:12:15] I wonder when Blandina was polycarp.

[00:12:17] I wonder the battle within.

[00:12:19] This is not right.

[00:12:23] And the temptation to stoop to the same level.

[00:12:35] And Peter says,

[00:12:37] I beg you.

[00:12:38] And isn't it interesting that it's Peter that says it.

[00:12:40] Who in the garden of Gethsemane,

[00:12:42] when they arrested Jesus unjustly,

[00:12:45] he took a sword and he cut the guy's ear off.

[00:12:51] And Jesus says,

[00:12:53] get rid of the sword.

[00:12:56] That's not the way we deal with it in the kingdom.

[00:13:03] These lusts,

[00:13:04] these desires are warring within you.

[00:13:08] But you are citizens of heaven.

[00:13:14] Conduct yourself in a way that is honorable.

[00:13:23] Verse 13 says,

[00:13:25] Submit yourselves to the ordinance of man.

[00:13:28] For the Lord's sake.

[00:13:29] For this is the will of God.

[00:13:33] Listen.

[00:13:35] When I was in Bible college,

[00:13:37] I remember being taught that

[00:13:41] submission and obedience are two different things.

[00:13:46] Submission is an attitude.

[00:13:50] Obedience is an act.

[00:13:54] You can actually be submissive and not obey.

[00:14:01] It is the attitude of our hearts towards the people around us.

[00:14:05] I think we can see it when Peter was told to stop speaking in the name of Jesus.

[00:14:12] Peter was submissive.

[00:14:14] He's like,

[00:14:15] his attitude is,

[00:14:17] I wish we could,

[00:14:18] but judge for yourselves.

[00:14:20] Should we obey you or God?

[00:14:25] But Peter goes on in verse 15.

[00:14:27] For this is the will of God,

[00:14:29] that by doing good,

[00:14:30] you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

[00:14:38] Peter says,

[00:14:40] live such good lives

[00:14:41] that you will muzzle,

[00:14:45] that you will gag those that are opposing you.

[00:14:51] Shut them up

[00:14:53] by doing good.

[00:14:59] That's Jesus.

[00:15:02] It says in Luke 13,

[00:15:04] verse 10 through 17,

[00:15:06] now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,

[00:15:09] and behold,

[00:15:10] there was a woman who had the spirit of infirmity eight years,

[00:15:13] and was bent over,

[00:15:14] and could in no way raise herself up.

[00:15:17] But when Jesus saw her,

[00:15:18] he called her to him and said to her,

[00:15:20] the woman,

[00:15:22] woman,

[00:15:23] you are loose from your infirmity.

[00:15:25] He laid his hands on her,

[00:15:27] those good hands,

[00:15:27] and immediately she was made straight

[00:15:31] and glorified God.

[00:15:34] But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation,

[00:15:37] because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath

[00:15:40] and said to the crowd,

[00:15:42] there are six days on which men ought to work,

[00:15:45] therefore come and be healed on them,

[00:15:48] and not on the Sabbath day.

[00:15:51] And the Lord answered and said,

[00:15:52] hypocrite,

[00:15:53] does not each one of you on the Sabbath

[00:15:56] lose his ox and donkey from the stall

[00:15:59] and lead it away to water?

[00:16:02] So ought not this woman,

[00:16:04] being a daughter of Abraham,

[00:16:05] whom Satan has bound,

[00:16:07] think of it,

[00:16:08] for 18 years,

[00:16:11] be loose from this bond on the Sabbath.

[00:16:17] And when he said these things,

[00:16:20] all his adversaries were put to shame.

[00:16:24] And all the multitude rejoice

[00:16:27] for all the glorious things that were done by him.

[00:16:36] He muzzled them,

[00:16:38] not by reviling,

[00:16:41] not by stooping to the same level,

[00:16:43] but by doing good.

[00:16:49] Peter, in preaching to Cornelius,

[00:16:51] when he was met with the first group of Gentiles,

[00:16:54] he said,

[00:16:55] he said about Jesus,

[00:16:56] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

[00:17:00] with the Holy Spirit and with power

[00:17:02] and went about doing good.

[00:17:10] And Paul told Timothy,

[00:17:13] in 1 Timothy 2, 1 and 2,

[00:17:15] I exhort first of all,

[00:17:17] first of all,

[00:17:18] supplications, prayers,

[00:17:20] intercessions,

[00:17:21] and giving of thanks be made for all men,

[00:17:23] for kings,

[00:17:24] and for all who are in authority,

[00:17:26] that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives.

[00:17:31] In godliness and reverence,

[00:17:34] for this is good.

[00:17:41] And Peter says,

[00:17:42] as free,

[00:17:45] but not using your freedom,

[00:17:48] but using the freedom

[00:17:50] as an opportunity to do good.

[00:17:57] Side note,

[00:17:59] I don't know,

[00:18:00] I mean,

[00:18:00] I know a little bit about politics

[00:18:01] in the United States,

[00:18:03] but in Europe,

[00:18:03] it's horrible.

[00:18:05] But you know what bothers me the most?

[00:18:09] First,

[00:18:09] it's not so much the ideas

[00:18:11] in politics,

[00:18:12] whether it's the left,

[00:18:13] whether it's the right,

[00:18:14] whether it's extreme left,

[00:18:15] the extreme right.

[00:18:16] What bothers me

[00:18:17] is that no matter who comes into power,

[00:18:20] those that are there

[00:18:21] just seem to erode the other.

[00:18:26] There's no sense of,

[00:18:27] okay,

[00:18:28] you won the elections,

[00:18:29] how can we

[00:18:30] be better together

[00:18:32] for the country?

[00:18:36] And I think

[00:18:37] we've completely dismissed

[00:18:39] these exhortations

[00:18:41] to first of all,

[00:18:43] pray for the leadership.

[00:18:47] And somebody might say,

[00:18:49] hey,

[00:18:49] but you don't know

[00:18:50] what it's like

[00:18:51] in the United States.

[00:18:52] Well,

[00:18:53] you know,

[00:18:53] I can't think of them

[00:18:54] being worse than Nero

[00:19:06] doing good.

[00:19:10] Verse 17,

[00:19:11] honor all people.

[00:19:12] It's amazing,

[00:19:13] huh?

[00:19:13] Everywhere that Jesus went,

[00:19:15] he dignified people.

[00:19:18] He valued people.

[00:19:24] Whether it was

[00:19:24] the woman at the well,

[00:19:26] whether it was Nicodemus,

[00:19:26] he was no respecter of person.

[00:19:28] He honored everyone.

[00:19:30] He went,

[00:19:30] when he crossed the lake of,

[00:19:32] you know,

[00:19:33] the,

[00:19:33] the,

[00:19:33] the,

[00:19:34] oh my goodness,

[00:19:36] the Galilee,

[00:19:42] and he found himself

[00:19:43] with this man

[00:19:44] possessed by legion,

[00:19:46] he set him free

[00:19:48] and the man was found

[00:19:50] clothed in his right mind.

[00:19:52] The demons degrade.

[00:19:53] Jesus dignifies.

[00:19:57] Honoring people.

[00:20:03] I have a,

[00:20:03] if you guys could put it up,

[00:20:05] I have a letter

[00:20:06] by,

[00:20:06] uh,

[00:20:07] Bush,

[00:20:08] senior,

[00:20:12] after a brutally,

[00:20:13] uh,

[00:20:14] a campaign

[00:20:14] in the United States.

[00:20:18] Bush,

[00:20:18] senior,

[00:20:19] lost against Clinton.

[00:20:24] Dear Bill,

[00:20:25] when I walked into this office

[00:20:27] just now,

[00:20:27] I felt the same sense

[00:20:29] of wonder and respect

[00:20:30] that I felt four years ago.

[00:20:32] I know you will feel that too.

[00:20:34] I wish you great

[00:20:35] and happiness here.

[00:20:37] Great happiness here.

[00:20:39] I,

[00:20:39] I,

[00:20:39] I never felt the loneliness

[00:20:40] some presidents have described.

[00:20:44] There will be very rough,

[00:20:45] tough times

[00:20:46] made even more difficult

[00:20:48] by criticism

[00:20:48] you may not find this fair.

[00:20:51] I'm not a very good one

[00:20:53] to give advice,

[00:20:54] but just don't let the critics

[00:20:55] discourage you

[00:20:56] or push you off course.

[00:21:00] You will be our president

[00:21:02] when you read this note.

[00:21:04] I wish you well.

[00:21:06] I wish your family well.

[00:21:08] Your success now

[00:21:10] is our country's success.

[00:21:11] I am rooting hard for you.

[00:21:16] Honoring,

[00:21:19] honoring people

[00:21:20] although fundamentally

[00:21:22] disagreeing with them.

[00:21:29] Fear God.

[00:21:32] Honor the king.

[00:21:34] The question is,

[00:21:37] who do we do good to?

[00:21:38] I mean,

[00:21:39] doing good to those

[00:21:41] who respond well,

[00:21:42] doing good

[00:21:43] and sort of

[00:21:44] we will get success.

[00:21:46] But look at verse 18.

[00:21:47] It's crazy.

[00:21:48] This is the one

[00:21:49] that bothers me the most.

[00:21:50] Servants,

[00:21:51] be submissive to your masters

[00:21:53] with all fear,

[00:21:54] not only to the good

[00:21:55] and gentle,

[00:21:56] but also to the harsh.

[00:21:58] For this is commendable.

[00:22:00] If because of conscience

[00:22:02] toward God,

[00:22:03] one endures grief,

[00:22:04] suffering wrongfully.

[00:22:11] For what credit

[00:22:13] is it

[00:22:14] when you are beaten

[00:22:16] for your faults

[00:22:17] if you take it patiently?

[00:22:20] But when you do good

[00:22:22] and suffer,

[00:22:23] if you take it patiently,

[00:22:25] this is commendable

[00:22:26] before God.

[00:22:29] It's amazing

[00:22:30] that it's Peter

[00:22:31] saying this,

[00:22:32] isn't it?

[00:22:33] It's amazing

[00:22:34] that it's Peter

[00:22:34] that cut the ear off.

[00:22:36] It's amazing

[00:22:37] that it's the impulsive

[00:22:38] or even

[00:22:39] the friends

[00:22:40] of the sons of thunder

[00:22:44] with a tremendous

[00:22:45] sense of justice.

[00:22:46] It's an amazing,

[00:22:48] it's amazing for me

[00:22:49] to hear these words

[00:22:49] from him

[00:22:50] because you see

[00:22:51] a true work of grace

[00:22:52] in Peter.

[00:22:54] You see a man

[00:22:56] that has been changed,

[00:22:57] transformed,

[00:23:01] but you see a man

[00:23:03] that is imitating

[00:23:04] the very things

[00:23:05] that Jesus was

[00:23:06] or is

[00:23:07] and Jesus taught.

[00:23:10] In Luke 6,

[00:23:12] 32 through 33,

[00:23:13] it says,

[00:23:13] but if you love

[00:23:14] those who love you,

[00:23:15] what credit

[00:23:16] is that to you?

[00:23:18] For even sinners

[00:23:20] love those who love them.

[00:23:21] And if you do good

[00:23:22] to those who do good

[00:23:24] to you,

[00:23:24] what credit

[00:23:25] is that to you?

[00:23:26] For even sinners

[00:23:27] do the same.

[00:23:30] But love your enemies,

[00:23:32] verse 35 says,

[00:23:33] do good,

[00:23:34] hoping for nothing

[00:23:35] in return

[00:23:38] and your reward

[00:23:39] will be great

[00:23:40] and you will be

[00:23:41] sons of the most high

[00:23:43] for he is,

[00:23:44] listen to this,

[00:23:45] for he is kind

[00:23:47] to the unthankful

[00:23:49] and evil.

[00:23:54] Do you have room

[00:23:55] to grow?

[00:23:57] I got room

[00:23:58] to grow.

[00:24:07] J.C. Ryle

[00:24:08] in his commentary

[00:24:10] of Luke,

[00:24:12] speaking about

[00:24:13] Peter cutting

[00:24:14] the ear off

[00:24:15] of the high

[00:24:15] priest's servant,

[00:24:17] he said these words,

[00:24:18] it is much easier

[00:24:19] to fight a little

[00:24:20] for Christ

[00:24:21] than to endure

[00:24:21] hardness

[00:24:22] and go to prison

[00:24:24] and death

[00:24:24] for his sake.

[00:24:26] To suffer

[00:24:27] patiently

[00:24:28] for Christ

[00:24:29] is far more

[00:24:30] difficult

[00:24:30] than to work

[00:24:31] actively

[00:24:32] and fight.

[00:24:39] I am about

[00:24:39] as laid back

[00:24:40] as they come,

[00:24:41] but if you push

[00:24:41] me

[00:24:42] and if you

[00:24:43] manipulate

[00:24:43] and stuff,

[00:24:44] I lock down

[00:24:45] and I can fight.

[00:24:49] But what I don't

[00:24:50] do so well

[00:24:53] is suffer

[00:24:55] because of

[00:24:56] consciousness

[00:24:56] towards God.

[00:25:00] Suffering wrongfully.

[00:25:04] I have had

[00:25:05] a couple

[00:25:06] success stories.

[00:25:07] When I became

[00:25:08] the pastor

[00:25:09] of the church,

[00:25:10] the pastor

[00:25:10] had begged me

[00:25:11] to become

[00:25:11] the pastor

[00:25:12] of that church

[00:25:12] and I turned

[00:25:14] it down from London

[00:25:14] and then we moved

[00:25:15] to Mallorca

[00:25:16] and it was evident

[00:25:17] that I had to do this

[00:25:18] and shortly

[00:25:19] after I became

[00:25:21] the pastor,

[00:25:21] he regretted

[00:25:23] making me

[00:25:23] the pastor

[00:25:26] and he

[00:25:27] had a meeting

[00:25:28] to kick me out.

[00:25:32] I called Dave Shirley.

[00:25:33] He was a Mariette

[00:25:34] at the time

[00:25:34] and I said,

[00:25:35] listen,

[00:25:35] I don't want to fight

[00:25:36] over a church.

[00:25:37] I'm ready to leave

[00:25:38] and he said,

[00:25:42] Raf,

[00:25:43] stand

[00:25:44] and after you've

[00:25:45] done all

[00:25:46] to stand,

[00:25:46] stand

[00:25:47] and he says,

[00:25:48] I know you've

[00:25:48] done some

[00:25:49] and I know

[00:25:50] you've done most

[00:25:51] but have you

[00:25:51] done all?

[00:25:52] And I was like,

[00:25:53] no,

[00:25:53] I haven't done all.

[00:25:55] So I remained

[00:25:56] and then

[00:25:57] I got

[00:25:59] the guy,

[00:26:00] he started a church

[00:26:01] in his own house

[00:26:02] and he was competing

[00:26:03] with it

[00:26:03] and then I got

[00:26:04] a message from him,

[00:26:05] a text message

[00:26:06] from him saying,

[00:26:07] hey,

[00:26:08] I'm in room

[00:26:08] such and such

[00:26:09] in the hospital,

[00:26:10] will you come

[00:26:10] visit me?

[00:26:13] I'm like,

[00:26:14] Lord,

[00:26:14] I don't want to go

[00:26:17] but I'll go

[00:26:19] and I went

[00:26:21] and as soon

[00:26:22] as I walked

[00:26:22] through those doors,

[00:26:25] he saw me,

[00:26:26] his eyes grew big

[00:26:27] and he says,

[00:26:28] what are you doing here?

[00:26:29] You're a disgrace.

[00:26:32] Get out of here.

[00:26:35] He said,

[00:26:36] you texted me.

[00:26:38] He tried to text

[00:26:39] Rosemary,

[00:26:40] not Raphael.

[00:26:50] I went away

[00:26:51] humiliated

[00:26:52] and as I was

[00:26:53] driving home,

[00:26:54] I still know

[00:26:54] the part of the road

[00:26:55] I was on,

[00:26:56] it was right before

[00:26:57] a tunnel,

[00:26:57] I'm going through

[00:26:58] this tunnel,

[00:26:58] I'm like,

[00:26:59] Lord,

[00:26:59] what was that all about?

[00:27:03] And he said,

[00:27:04] I just had this sense,

[00:27:06] you did

[00:27:07] what I asked you

[00:27:08] to do.

[00:27:13] Years went by,

[00:27:14] he slandered me

[00:27:16] continuously

[00:27:20] and then

[00:27:21] he showed up

[00:27:22] at church

[00:27:24] and I thought,

[00:27:25] no.

[00:27:28] My friend,

[00:27:29] Mark Jasper,

[00:27:30] was there,

[00:27:30] he was assisting

[00:27:32] in the pastorate

[00:27:33] and I said to him,

[00:27:35] I don't trust this guy

[00:27:36] and he said,

[00:27:37] Raph,

[00:27:38] he's an old man.

[00:27:42] I'm like,

[00:27:42] okay.

[00:27:42] I didn't talk to him

[00:27:43] for a year and a half.

[00:27:45] He was coming to church

[00:27:46] for a year and a half

[00:27:47] and I didn't talk to him

[00:27:49] and then finally

[00:27:50] one said,

[00:27:51] okay,

[00:27:51] I'll greet him.

[00:27:52] Hi,

[00:27:53] how you doing?

[00:27:54] And then we went

[00:27:55] for a coffee

[00:27:56] and he said,

[00:27:57] I'm so grateful

[00:27:58] to see what God

[00:27:58] is doing.

[00:28:01] Then the next Sunday

[00:28:02] I said,

[00:28:02] love you

[00:28:03] and he goes,

[00:28:03] I love you too.

[00:28:05] And then he was

[00:28:06] taken into hospital

[00:28:07] and I went to visit him

[00:28:09] with a friend of his

[00:28:10] and I'm telling you,

[00:28:12] I mean,

[00:28:12] this is a lot of years

[00:28:13] but I went to the hospital

[00:28:17] and by this time

[00:28:18] he had dementia

[00:28:19] and his friend was there

[00:28:21] and he could not remember him

[00:28:22] or even remember

[00:28:23] where he was

[00:28:24] or what he was doing

[00:28:25] and then the guy

[00:28:26] went to the toilet

[00:28:28] and the ex-pastor

[00:28:30] of the church,

[00:28:30] he looks at me

[00:28:31] and he's like,

[00:28:31] he came to himself

[00:28:32] and he says,

[00:28:33] Raph,

[00:28:33] I don't know why

[00:28:34] I did it.

[00:28:35] Maybe I was just jealous

[00:28:38] and I gave him a hug

[00:28:40] and I said,

[00:28:40] I don't care

[00:28:42] and I gave,

[00:28:43] you know,

[00:28:44] and then

[00:28:45] a couple of years later

[00:28:46] he passed away

[00:28:47] and he had left

[00:28:48] in his will

[00:28:48] that he wanted me

[00:28:49] to do his funeral.

[00:29:01] That's 1%

[00:29:02] of the success.

[00:29:03] There's not,

[00:29:03] there's everything else,

[00:29:05] everything else is messed up,

[00:29:07] you know.

[00:29:12] But listen,

[00:29:13] Jeremiah 9, 23 and 24,

[00:29:15] let not the rich man

[00:29:17] boast in his riches,

[00:29:18] let not the strong man

[00:29:20] boast in his strength,

[00:29:21] let not the wise man

[00:29:23] boast in his wisdom,

[00:29:24] but let him who boasts

[00:29:25] boast in this,

[00:29:27] that he knows

[00:29:27] and understands me,

[00:29:29] that I am the Lord

[00:29:30] exercising loving kindness,

[00:29:32] judgment and righteousness

[00:29:34] in the earth,

[00:29:35] for in these I delight,

[00:29:36] says the Lord.

[00:29:41] That's what Peter's saying.

[00:29:46] Peter's saying,

[00:29:47] don't yield to the lust,

[00:29:49] the war against your soul.

[00:29:52] We have a loving kind,

[00:29:54] I mean,

[00:29:54] Justin Thomas

[00:29:58] did such an amazing job

[00:29:59] at communicating that with us.

[00:30:03] The character of God,

[00:30:05] the righteousness,

[00:30:06] holiness is to demonstrate

[00:30:08] the very character

[00:30:09] of God on earth.

[00:30:10] You are the light of the earth.

[00:30:12] The disciples must have been,

[00:30:14] must have thought to themselves,

[00:30:15] who?

[00:30:16] Us?

[00:30:20] But why?

[00:30:22] Why are we to be like that?

[00:30:24] Because that is how he conquered.

[00:30:29] You and I

[00:30:30] might fight against this.

[00:30:32] We might say,

[00:30:33] no,

[00:30:33] I don't want to live this way.

[00:30:35] As Peter fought against this.

[00:30:39] But in his growth and maturity,

[00:30:42] while inspired by the Holy Spirit,

[00:30:44] in verse 21,

[00:30:45] it says,

[00:30:46] for to this you were called,

[00:30:48] because Christ suffered for us,

[00:30:51] leaving us an example

[00:30:52] that we should follow,

[00:30:53] that you should follow in his steps.

[00:30:56] Who committed no sin,

[00:30:59] nor was deceit found in his mouth.

[00:31:02] Who,

[00:31:02] when he was reviled,

[00:31:03] he did not revile

[00:31:05] in return.

[00:31:07] When he suffered,

[00:31:08] he did not threaten,

[00:31:09] but committed himself to him

[00:31:11] who judges righteously.

[00:31:11] who himself bore our sins

[00:31:15] in his own body on the tree.

[00:31:19] That we,

[00:31:20] having died to sins,

[00:31:22] might live for righteousness,

[00:31:24] by whose stripes you were healed.

[00:31:30] Jesus suffering unjustly,

[00:31:38] and suffering unjustly for us,

[00:31:40] is the reality of believers.

[00:31:42] Throughout the Bible,

[00:31:44] and Jesus is the top example of this.

[00:31:50] We,

[00:31:51] yes,

[00:31:51] Peter,

[00:31:52] don't like that reality.

[00:31:54] I don't like that reality.

[00:32:00] But it's where Jesus has taken us.

[00:32:03] I think of John and James.

[00:32:06] Oh,

[00:32:06] actually,

[00:32:07] yeah,

[00:32:07] I think it was the two of them.

[00:32:08] They get to Samaria,

[00:32:10] and they don't receive Jesus.

[00:32:17] Jesus,

[00:32:19] should we call fire down from heaven,

[00:32:21] and consume them?

[00:32:23] If I was Jesus,

[00:32:24] I would have said,

[00:32:24] go ahead.

[00:32:30] But Jesus replies to him,

[00:32:31] and says,

[00:32:31] you don't know what spirit you're of.

[00:32:34] I didn't come to destroy men's lives.

[00:32:36] I came to save them.

[00:32:43] And you would think,

[00:32:44] if I was Jesus,

[00:32:46] I was like,

[00:32:47] your attitude sucks.

[00:32:49] You're off the team.

[00:32:54] But you know what's crazy?

[00:32:57] That when Philip was with the Samaritans,

[00:32:59] it's almost as if Jesus said,

[00:33:03] Philip,

[00:33:04] you can't do this.

[00:33:06] I have a guy

[00:33:08] who a couple years ago

[00:33:09] wanted to call fire down

[00:33:12] on the Samaritans.

[00:33:13] I want him to call

[00:33:15] a different fire down.

[00:33:17] I want him to call

[00:33:17] the Holy Spirit upon them.

[00:33:19] So Peter and John show up,

[00:33:22] and they prayed for the Samaritans,

[00:33:25] the very blessing of God,

[00:33:28] the Holy Spirit of God.

[00:33:31] It's amazing, huh?

[00:33:32] He failed in Samaria,

[00:33:34] but it's not like he says,

[00:33:35] I need somebody else.

[00:33:36] No, he gives John

[00:33:37] another opportunity.

[00:33:45] But suffering unjustly

[00:33:46] is not fun to watch

[00:33:48] or fun to experience.

[00:33:49] I have a dear friend

[00:33:51] who pastored a church

[00:33:52] for 20 years,

[00:33:55] started a school,

[00:33:57] was involved in missions,

[00:33:59] and after 20 years,

[00:34:02] I sat in a board meeting

[00:34:03] as a new Christian,

[00:34:17] and I told him,

[00:34:20] and this man just walked.

[00:34:22] He goes,

[00:34:22] I don't understand

[00:34:23] what is happening,

[00:34:27] but God one day

[00:34:28] will use this situation

[00:34:29] for me to strengthen

[00:34:31] other people.

[00:34:34] And within a month,

[00:34:36] a door opened

[00:34:37] to this man

[00:34:39] for the next 25 years

[00:34:41] of his life

[00:34:42] to have the most fruitful

[00:34:43] ministry you could ever imagine.

[00:34:46] impact in thousands of lives.

[00:34:52] But he was able to suffer

[00:34:55] consciously before God

[00:34:57] and on justice.

[00:34:59] And after all,

[00:35:01] isn't that what Jesus

[00:35:02] exemplified for us?

[00:35:04] Is it easy?

[00:35:06] Absolutely not.

[00:35:08] In the Garden of Gethsemane,

[00:35:11] Matthew writes,

[00:35:12] he began to be sorrowful

[00:35:14] and deeply distressed.

[00:35:16] And Jesus said,

[00:35:17] my soul is exceedingly

[00:35:19] sorrowful,

[00:35:20] even unto death.

[00:35:23] And he even asked for prayer,

[00:35:25] can you stay here

[00:35:26] and watch with me?

[00:35:31] Luke says,

[00:35:35] agony,

[00:35:36] great drops of blood.

[00:35:39] Sorrow is mental distress

[00:35:41] caused by suffering.

[00:35:44] Distress is severe pressure

[00:35:46] of trouble,

[00:35:47] pain,

[00:35:48] sickness,

[00:35:48] or sorrow,

[00:35:49] anguish,

[00:35:50] affliction,

[00:35:50] hardship.

[00:35:52] Deeply,

[00:35:53] it's like a,

[00:35:53] and heavy,

[00:35:55] gravely,

[00:35:56] like a deep wound.

[00:35:58] Trouble,

[00:35:59] showing,

[00:36:00] experiencing,

[00:36:01] or affected

[00:36:02] by disturbance,

[00:36:04] agony,

[00:36:05] extreme mental suffering.

[00:36:08] And Jesus says,

[00:36:09] my soul is exceedingly

[00:36:11] sorrowful,

[00:36:12] even unto death.

[00:36:13] I mean,

[00:36:14] the greatest injustice

[00:36:15] was about to be committed.

[00:36:21] About the drops

[00:36:22] falling to the ground

[00:36:23] of blood,

[00:36:24] the chief medical examiner

[00:36:25] stated,

[00:36:26] it is well known

[00:36:27] that there have been

[00:36:28] many cases of it.

[00:36:29] The clinical term

[00:36:30] is hematohydrosis.

[00:36:33] Around the sweat glands,

[00:36:35] there are multitude

[00:36:35] blood vessels

[00:36:36] in the net-like form.

[00:36:38] Under pressure

[00:36:39] of great stress,

[00:36:40] the vessels constrict.

[00:36:42] Then,

[00:36:42] as the anxiety passes,

[00:36:44] the blood vessels

[00:36:45] dilate

[00:36:45] to the point of rupture,

[00:36:47] and the blood

[00:36:47] goes into the sweat glands,

[00:36:49] and the glands

[00:36:51] are producing

[00:36:52] a lot of sweat,

[00:36:54] it pushes the blood

[00:36:55] to the surface,

[00:36:56] coming out as

[00:36:57] droplets of blood

[00:36:58] mixed with sweat

[00:37:04] under great stress

[00:37:06] or pressure.

[00:37:09] From what?

[00:37:10] In Luke 23,

[00:37:12] 35,

[00:37:12] it says,

[00:37:12] and the people

[00:37:13] stood looking on,

[00:37:14] but even the rulers

[00:37:16] with them sneered,

[00:37:17] saying,

[00:37:18] he saved others,

[00:37:19] let him save himself,

[00:37:20] if he is the Christ,

[00:37:22] the chosen of God.

[00:37:24] The soldiers mocked him.

[00:37:26] In Matthew 27,

[00:37:27] 27,

[00:37:27] then the soldiers

[00:37:28] of the governor

[00:37:30] took Jesus

[00:37:31] into the praetorium

[00:37:33] and gathered

[00:37:33] the whole garrison

[00:37:34] around him,

[00:37:36] and they stripped him

[00:37:37] and put a scarlet robe

[00:37:39] on him.

[00:37:41] He had only done good,

[00:37:46] and yet you see

[00:37:48] no reviling,

[00:37:51] you see no threats.

[00:37:55] On the contrary,

[00:37:58] you see,

[00:37:59] forgive them,

[00:37:59] for they know not

[00:38:00] what they do.

[00:38:03] And to the man

[00:38:04] that had been scorning him

[00:38:05] and mocking him

[00:38:06] just minutes before,

[00:38:08] he says,

[00:38:09] today you will be

[00:38:10] with me in paradise.

[00:38:16] And he entrusted himself

[00:38:18] to the Father.

[00:38:25] I am so proud

[00:38:26] to be a Christian.

[00:38:31] We have the greatest leader

[00:38:33] in the universe.

[00:38:40] I am so glad

[00:38:42] that we don't have

[00:38:43] to go into the world

[00:38:45] with a message of hate,

[00:38:49] but that we can go

[00:38:50] into a world

[00:38:53] that even if they are

[00:38:55] against us

[00:38:56] or against him,

[00:38:59] that we can tell him

[00:39:01] of the loving kindness

[00:39:04] of our creator.

[00:39:06] And I want to say

[00:39:07] three things

[00:39:08] as we close

[00:39:11] that I think

[00:39:12] are very important.

[00:39:12] Number one,

[00:39:14] you see Jesus

[00:39:15] in this passage

[00:39:16] is our sin bearer.

[00:39:19] We don't do this

[00:39:20] to be better than others

[00:39:23] as Justin Thomas

[00:39:25] said yesterday.

[00:39:29] We have been justified.

[00:39:31] We have been imputed

[00:39:33] the very righteousness

[00:39:34] of Jesus in us.

[00:39:35] Like Alan Redpath

[00:39:36] used to say,

[00:39:37] don't try to be

[00:39:38] a good Christian.

[00:39:38] You already have

[00:39:39] the perfect one

[00:39:40] living in you.

[00:39:40] We have been washed

[00:39:44] as white as snow.

[00:39:45] We are clean.

[00:39:46] We are as if we had

[00:39:47] never sinned before God.

[00:39:50] We don't do this

[00:39:51] for merit.

[00:39:52] We do this from forgiveness,

[00:39:55] from security.

[00:39:56] We have received

[00:39:58] so much love.

[00:39:59] The love of God

[00:40:00] has been shed

[00:40:00] upon our hearts.

[00:40:01] And as we overflow

[00:40:03] with that love,

[00:40:04] we are able to impart

[00:40:05] that to other people.

[00:40:09] Number two,

[00:40:11] from that place of victory,

[00:40:13] we have Jesus

[00:40:14] as our great example.

[00:40:15] Listen,

[00:40:16] the greatest regret

[00:40:18] I have as a Christian

[00:40:20] is how often

[00:40:21] I've tried to imitate

[00:40:22] other people

[00:40:23] other than Jesus.

[00:40:30] Maybe because it worked.

[00:40:36] I want to be a student

[00:40:37] of the life of Jesus.

[00:40:39] Hebrews says,

[00:40:40] fix your eyes on Jesus,

[00:40:42] the author

[00:40:42] and the finisher

[00:40:43] of your faith.

[00:40:44] And that does not mean

[00:40:45] to fix your eyes

[00:40:46] on Jesus in heaven.

[00:40:47] It means,

[00:40:48] fix your eyes on Jesus

[00:40:51] as He walked on earth.

[00:40:53] Let Him be our teacher.

[00:40:55] Let Him be our example.

[00:40:58] He wants us to walk

[00:40:59] as He walked.

[00:41:02] But the third thing

[00:41:03] that we see here,

[00:41:05] and it's in the last verse,

[00:41:08] but we were like sheep

[00:41:09] going astray,

[00:41:10] but have now returned

[00:41:12] to the shepherd

[00:41:13] and overseer of our souls.

[00:41:16] Jesus is our shepherd.

[00:41:18] Listen,

[00:41:18] it is for me

[00:41:20] to suffer unjustly,

[00:41:22] to go through

[00:41:23] any kind of trial

[00:41:24] is a scary thing.

[00:41:34] I don't like

[00:41:35] to lose battles.

[00:41:40] In my mind,

[00:41:45] I know at times

[00:41:47] that losing a battle

[00:41:48] might be winning a battle,

[00:41:53] but I'd rather win the battle

[00:41:55] to lose the battle

[00:41:57] because of my unbelief.

[00:42:05] But when we see

[00:42:07] the Lord as our shepherd,

[00:42:08] that as we do good,

[00:42:13] even to those

[00:42:15] that are doing bad to us,

[00:42:19] we entrust ourselves

[00:42:20] to our shepherd.

[00:42:23] I mean,

[00:42:24] isn't it David that said,

[00:42:26] the Lord is my shepherd.

[00:42:27] You prepare a table

[00:42:29] before me

[00:42:30] in the presence

[00:42:30] of my enemies.

[00:42:34] And then he says,

[00:42:35] though I walk through

[00:42:36] the valley of the shadow

[00:42:37] of death,

[00:42:38] I will fear no evil.

[00:42:40] Why?

[00:42:41] Because you,

[00:42:42] you are with me.

[00:42:53] John Stott wrote

[00:42:54] in An Incomparable Christ,

[00:42:55] he says,

[00:42:56] in Jesus of Nazareth,

[00:42:58] we do not see one day

[00:43:00] a loving and kind teacher

[00:43:02] and the next day

[00:43:04] an aloof and detached philosopher.

[00:43:08] Instead,

[00:43:09] we see a perfect harmony

[00:43:10] of all the virtues

[00:43:11] in one person.

[00:43:14] We are never surprised

[00:43:16] by an inconsistency

[00:43:17] in his behavior

[00:43:18] or character.

[00:43:20] His strength

[00:43:21] and tenderness,

[00:43:22] his authority,

[00:43:23] his humility,

[00:43:24] his majesty

[00:43:25] and meekness

[00:43:26] all blend perfectly together.

[00:43:30] He walked the higher planes

[00:43:32] consistently

[00:43:33] with no trace

[00:43:35] of human frailty

[00:43:37] to mar

[00:43:38] his divine greatness.

[00:43:46] And it was F.B. Meyer

[00:43:49] that as a little boy

[00:43:50] prayed,

[00:43:52] Lord,

[00:43:52] make me good

[00:43:54] as Jesus was good.

[00:44:02] I just want to close

[00:44:03] with one scripture.

[00:44:06] Chapter 3,

[00:44:07] verses 17.

[00:44:08] I think it's chapter 3,

[00:44:15] no,

[00:44:15] verses 13 through 17.

[00:44:19] Peter says,

[00:44:20] and who is he

[00:44:21] who will harm you

[00:44:22] if you become followers

[00:44:24] of what is good?

[00:44:27] But even if you should suffer

[00:44:29] for righteousness' sake,

[00:44:30] you are blessed.

[00:44:33] And do not be afraid

[00:44:34] of their threats

[00:44:35] nor be troubled,

[00:44:37] but sanctify

[00:44:38] the Lord God

[00:44:40] in your hearts

[00:44:42] and always be ready

[00:44:44] to give a defense

[00:44:45] to everyone

[00:44:47] who asks you

[00:44:48] for the reason

[00:44:49] of the hope

[00:44:49] that is in you

[00:44:50] with meekness

[00:44:52] and fear,

[00:44:53] having a good conscience

[00:44:54] that when they defame you

[00:44:57] as evildoers,

[00:44:58] those who revile

[00:45:00] your good conduct

[00:45:02] in Christ

[00:45:03] may be ashamed.

[00:45:09] You might feel like

[00:45:10] Peter here today,

[00:45:11] feisty,

[00:45:14] speaking when you don't know

[00:45:15] what to say,

[00:45:17] but be encouraged.

[00:45:19] God is determined

[00:45:20] that we grow

[00:45:25] and even Peter

[00:45:26] in 2 Peter says,

[00:45:28] beware and grow

[00:45:29] in the grace

[00:45:31] and knowledge

[00:45:31] of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[00:45:32] As we mature,

[00:45:36] as we mature,

[00:45:37] as John matured,

[00:45:38] as Peter matured,

[00:45:39] we would realize

[00:45:43] how wonderful it is

[00:45:45] to walk the path

[00:45:46] that Jesus set before us.

[00:45:47] May God bless you.

[00:45:56] Thanks for listening

[00:45:57] to this season

[00:45:58] of the CGN Podcast.

[00:46:00] Episodes are released

[00:46:00] every two weeks,

[00:46:01] so make sure to subscribe

[00:46:03] to the podcast

[00:46:03] so you'll be notified

[00:46:05] when new episodes

[00:46:06] are released.

[00:46:07] In upcoming episodes,

[00:46:08] we'll have more messages

[00:46:09] from the conference

[00:46:10] as well as interviews

[00:46:11] to encourage you

[00:46:12] and equip you.

[00:46:13] We'd love to hear

[00:46:14] feedback from you

[00:46:15] on these episodes.

[00:46:16] You can email us

[00:46:17] at cgn at calvarychapel.com.

[00:46:20] Until next time,

[00:46:21] God bless you.