ALong Obedience

In theSame Direction

ALong Obedience

In theSame Direction

1 Peter 3

TheInfluence of the Bible in American History

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James

Madison proposed the

plan to divide the central

government into three branches.

He discovered this model of

government ashe read

Isaiah 33:22

“For the Lord is our Judge, the

Lord is our Lawgiver, the

Lord is our King; He will save

us.”

“Perhaps the most amazing

thing about Thomas Paine’s

‘Common Sense’, which is credited

with being the catalyst…

…for the American

Revolution, is how much Bible

is in it!

He argues against the Rule of Kings and for the abolition of slavery, using

vast amounts of scripture.

Abraham Lincolns’ famous words found in the ‘Gettysburg

Address’

While Lincoln is often credited

with creating the phrase

‘government of the people, by the people, for the people,’…

…it is actually centuries older than America.

An Introduction to an English

translation of the Bible by John

Wycliffe in 1384

“This Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People.”John Wycliffe, 1384

The phrase also turns up in the 1850s in a book of sermons by

abolitionist preacher Theodore Parker…

…a book which Lincoln received as a gift in the first months of the Civil War.

Nothing has fundamentally changed in the last few days,

weeks, months, years, decades or

centuries!

Our primary allegiance is first

to our God!

He still calls us to a ‘Long

Obedience in the Same Direction!’

1 Peter 3:14-17 “But even if you should suffer for

righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.

‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor

be troubled.’

…but sanctify the Lord God in your

hearts, and always be ready to give a

defense to everyone who asks you a

reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

…having a good conscience, that

when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile

your good conduct in Christ may be

ashamed.

For it is better, if it isthe will of God, to

suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

1 Peter 3:14-17

ExperienceToday’s

Blessing!

“...even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are

blessed.”

The day is clay,fully ready to be

redeemed!

Do NotLet Fear Win!

“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be

troubled.”

Yoursis the Choice;

Fear orConsecrated

Love!

Strengthen God in Your Heart!

“...sanctify the Lord God in

your hearts...”

That God May Rule and that the Enemy be turned away!

Be Ready to Give a Christ-

Centered Answer!

“...always be ready to give a

defense to everyone who

asks you a reason for the hope that is in

you...”

The Seekerwill always be

Seeking!

Faithfulness Leads to

Vindication!

“...those who revile your good

conduct in Christ may be

ashamed.”

A Long Obedience in

the Same Direction!

Ephesians 5:15-17

“See then that you walk

circumspectly, not as fools but

as wise, redeeming the time, because

the days are evil.

Therefore do not be unwise, but

understand what the will of the

Lord is.”

ALong Obedience

In theSame Direction

ALong Obedience

In theSame Direction

1 Peter 3