"Following Christ Jesus!" 1Peter 3:8-15

The Fifth Sunday After Trinity                                  30-June-2024

Sermon Text: 1 Peter 3:8-15

Sermon Theme: “Following Christ Jesus!” I. Called By His Word! (Vs.8-9). II. Preserved By His Word!(vs.10-12). III. Strengthened By His Word! (Vs.13-15).

by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Wisdom instructs, “Pro 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Peter, betraying his Teacher on the night of betrayal, was going to go back to his fishing vocation. The Risen Crucified Lord meets him and the disciples with him the next morning with breakfast. Three times He asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter responds, ‘Yes, Lord, You know I love you!” Jesus calls him back to his apostolic office: “Feed My lambs!” “Tend My sheep!” Peter is grieved the third time Jesus asks, “Do you love Me like a friend?” Peter responds, “Lord, You know all things, You know that I love you.” Jesus calls him saying, “Feed My Sheep!” Joh 21:18-19 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." (19) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." A man’s heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.

      Saul, a man of Tarsus, was very zealous for the Word of God. He had been instructed from childhood in the Old Testament Scriptures. He studied under the great Biblical scholar Gamaliel in Jerusalem. He hated all who would soil the Word of God. He joyfully condemned Stephen to death, arrested Christians in Jerusalem, and rejoiced to see them condemned to die. Receiving letters of authorization from the chief priest he traveled to Damascus to arrest followers of “The Way.” His plans were thwarted by a Light! Jesus met him. Stopped his murderous march, blinded him to open his eyes. Saul’s eyes would be opened to see that the Old Testament is all about Jesus - the Messiah for all sinners. Jesus called His follower Ananias to go and baptize Paul, history records, Act 9:13-16 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. (14) And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." (15) But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (16) For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."" A man’s heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.

     Today Jesus is breathing forth His Holy Spirit into your ear through the still small voice of His Word - “Follow Me!” Humbly rejoice: “Following Christ Jesus!” I. Called By His Word! (Vs.8-9). II. Preserved By His Word!(vs.10-12). III. Strengthened By His Word! (Vs.13-15).

I. June 29th the date the Christian Church from its earliest centuries remembered the martyrdoms of St. Peter and St. Paul in Rome. According to tradition both men were martyred for preaching Jesus on June 29th, 64A.D. in Rome under Emperor Nero. Paul, a Roman citizen, would be executed by being beheaded. Peter a Jew was crucified, but he requested to be crucified upside-down, not feeling worthy to die in the same manner His Savior had on Calvary. Both men followed Jesus through death to life eternal.

    God the Holy Spirit writes to Christians who would face persecution for confessing and living the truth in an age of anti-truth. There has never been an age of pristine Christianity since Satan took the world captive through the LIE. He is a murderer and liar from the beginning. He cannot stand the truth. He rallies all his anti-Christian power and propaganda against followers of Jesus - beginning with the martyrdom of Abel.

     Will the Church survive with all evil rallied against it? The great prophet Elijah thought all was lost. Yes, the Lord showed He was the only God on Mount Carmel, and the people confessed Him. 450 prophets of Baal were slaughtered, but wicked Queen Jezebel put a price on the prophet’s head. Elijah runs away - wants to die - no one is left - the church is dead in the prophet’s mind.

     7,000 were kept faithful by God’s Word in evil Israel. Here is our hope living in evil dark days - God’s Word! (Vs.8-9) His still small voice is mightier than any rock shattering wind, mountain splitting earthquake, or fierce fire. Do you believe it? Or has Satan, the world, and your fallen thinking taken you captive into the cave of despair?

      God the Holy Spirit calls us through the pen of St. Peter to remember our calling! You are called by God the Holy Spirit into Christ through His Word! Study 1 Peter! You are here for God the Father elected sinners like us from eternity to be saved in Jesus. We are begotten by God the Father through the resurrection of His Son by the Holy Spirit in baptism to an inheritance that never fades away - reserved for you in heaven. Stand tall! Be holy! You are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Who died for your sins - Who lives for your salvation! Receive His living Word! Like newborn infants! Grow in it! A chosen priesthood tell it to the world around you! Live it before the world! Submit to lawful government authority. Respect employers.

      Don’t just play church on Sunday morning. Live church every day in your home! Wives submit to you husband! Husbands love your wife as the precious treasured vessel of your home. Here is where true evangelism happens...not in a plethora of programs...or if only we get a different pastor...or different elders...leaders..etc.. People can spot phoniness a mile away...if Church isn’t in your heart...if Christ and His Word don’t live in your heart bubbling through your marriage and home into your community...why would anyone want to come with you to church on a Sunday!

    Repent! Be of one mind. Let Christ’s Word, by which you were called, unite you in His teaching. If you don’t know it come to Bible class - read, study, pray, inwardly digest your Small Catechism daily. Live it in compassionate brotherly care for members of Emmanuel. Be tenderhearted - show mercy to fellow sinners inviting them back to Jesus’ Word. Show respect! When you are mocked, gossiped about - bless! Pray as did Jesus - “Father, forgiven them!” Pray as did Stephan, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” Bless them! Daily be in Christ’s Word! Let the Holy Spirit daily convert and regenerate you, then you will rejoice every Sunday to come into Jesus’ House to feast at His Table with your family.

II.   David trusted in his Lord Jesus -the Good Shepherd, but evil arose to crush him. He was called, anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. Still he served humbly and faithfully under King Saul the Lord’s anointed. He would not lift his hand to harm the government God had set in place. For his faithfulness King Saul hunted him to put him to death. David ran away taking refuge among the Achish, the king of Gath. Study 1 Samuel 21. When the Philistines want to capture David for slaying thousands - David pretends to be mad, scratching their doors, letting salvia run down his beard. King Achish doesn’t want to deal with an insane man in his house - so he sends him away.

     David writes this hymn of praise - the Lord preserves His Church by His Word! (VS.10-12) Living in evil dark days - don’t surrender hope! Do you love life - want to see good days - turn off all screens, stop worshiping dancing images - hear Christ’s Word daily at your family table - begin each day with His Word marking you - the Truth of reality being confessed through your lips - praying with Jesus to our Heavenly Father to give you His Holy Spirit to keep you in His Word and the Faith until you die!

     Turn from the evil of our age! Do good! Even to your enemy! Seek peace! Pursue it! David would not lift up his sword against Saul - he sought reconciliation. Dear Christians Christ’s Word is still living and active! Seek peace! Have you hurt someone by your words and deeds - seek them out confess your sin - ask their forgiveness! If they have hurt you - forgive! Let Christ’s love cover all sin. The pagans marveled at early Christian congregation’s saying, “See, how they love one another!” Not as an outward show - it was the pulse beat of Christ’s preserving Word in their breasts.

    Pray! Don’t be ashamed! Ask, “O Lord, open my lips! and my mouth will declare Your praise!” As a pastor my prayer isn’t more powerful than yours as the Father’s beloved child. His eyes are upon you - just as a parent watches an infant or toddler - ready to respond to every coo or cry! Pray! He hears! The evil make a lot of noise - Our God hears none of their nonsense! A few faithful Christians praying, “Thy will be done!” preserves the Church to this day! Pray for! Pray with! All you meet! Let Christ’s powerful Word preserve you and our congregation!

III.   Peter was tired after a fruitless night of work, exhausted as he washed nets of sea weed to hang them to dry before the next night shift began. Jesus calls him to come to church. Sits in his boat as a pulpit, preaches, maybe for hours, as the sun rises high in the sky. Now the preacher instructs the seasoned fisherman to launch out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch. Peter knew that wasn’t the way to catch fish - all their work the night before had brought nothing. “Nevertheless, at Your Word I will let down the nets.” It should never have worked, but soon both boats are filled to overflowing - Peter wants Jesus to go away for he knows he is a sinful man. Jesus calls him, the sinner to fish men, by casting the net of His Word.

      Jesus called you to follow Him and cast the net of His Word into this world in your baptism! (Vs.13-15) Let His Word strengthen you for your daily calling to be fishers of men! Do good! You may suffer! Rejoice - listen to Jesus’ still small voice, Mat 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. (12) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  

       Satan, the world, and especially your lazy fallen flesh will try to shut your lips - don’t let them. Speak the Truth! Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - let His Word fill your thinking, doing, speaking, renewing you daily as a baptized child of your heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit fill you with His hope that never fades away - cast the net of Christ’s Word that others may be gathered from the darkness to the light of life. “Pro 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Amen.