Week 5 | Stand Firm | In your identity | March 1
Well, good morning, Grace Fellowship. How are you guys doing today? How’s the vibe this morning? I need it to be strong because we’re gonna wander into some serious territory here this morning. The series that we’re in is called Stand Firm.
Stand Firm, it’s a biblical imperative. It’s an encouragement to continue to hold on to your faith. And we said it in week one, a stand firm faith is Predeciding to have an even-if kind of faith. even if things get difficult, even if we suffer loss, even if things are challenging,
Because oftentimes newsflash, being a Christ follower is not always going to be sunshine and roses.
There’s going to be difficult things that we go through and we’re called to stand firm in the middle of that. In fact, we need to pre-decide that. We need to kind of think about that and let it seep down into our bones.
And the thing is, the New Testament authors knew this is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to Christianity. And so they wrote to us about this over and over again, stand firm.
How do we do that? What does that look like?
And what we’re gonna talk about today is really a conversation that I find myself having in different forms, with my kids, with my friends, with myself. And it’s this question, is how do I stand firm when I’m being mistreated? How do I stand firm when things are unfair? How do I stand firm when it seems like I’m the one that’s absorbing things? I’m absorbing the hurt. I’m the one that’s doing it right and yet I’m the one that’s being wronged.
•So maybe that would show up in your workplace. They’re ungodly. They’re that toxic boss.
•How do I deal with this in my marriage?
•What if it’s my parents and I’m being mistreated?
And that’s actually what Peter goes into as he’s talking to these Christians? And so let’s just pause. Let’s ask the spirit of God to help us here today.
PRAYER –
Prayer for what’s going on in the world today. Pray for the peace of Israel, pray for men and women warriors who are following orders. Pray for those who are making decisions to have tremendous wisdom and humility. Pray for God’s kingdom to come.
Turn with me to 1 Peter 2:11 (Page 829- near the end of the bible)
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,
So before Peter ever tells them what to do, he reminds them who they are. He calls them foreigners and exiles. This should sound familiar, because it’s how he opened the letter. As scattered exiles.
•Some english translations use the word – aliens. (paroikos)
In the Roman world, citizenship was everything. Your primary identity wasn’t just your ethnicity; it was your city. And if you were a citizen of Rome, that status traveled with you. It shaped your privileges, your protections, your obligations.
And there are not gradations of citizenship- You either had it, or you didn’t. It was a matter of status.
And that’s exactly what Peter is getting at when he calls believers foreigners. He’s saying this is not your ultimate home. This world is not your primary citizenship. You belong to another kingdom, and that changes everything about how you live here.
•He calls them Exiles/Strangers (parepidēmos)
Peter is preparing us for that reality. Christians should expect to be misunderstood—, but because our allegiance is different. Our citizenship is elsewhere. We’re the foreign nationals here.
So don’t be surprised. If people don’t understand what you believe—even if they’re offended—that’s not a failure of faith. It may be confirmation of it.
Because, man, if you forget and you start to think that this world is your ultimate home— then every injustice starts to feel very final. But if you remember your citizenship is secure, you can endure misunderstanding without collapsing into bitterness or retaliation.
So that’s where peter starts- your exiles and strangers here— then he gives the first of two commands—
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
Now that is fascinating to me. Because before Peter ever tells them how to deal with Nero, before he tells them how to deal with harsh masters, before he talks about husbands or wives or governments, he says the first battlefield is not out there — it’s in here.
He says there are desires inside of you that wage war against your soul. Not the world is waging war against your soul— but what’s happening inside you is.
He’s using military language- there are forces trying to take control of you. He calls them “sinful desires” -and when we hear that— we tend to think— yup this is the bible telling me not to do sinful bad stuff; Don’t drink so much, don’t sleep around, don’t be immoral— and sure that’s part of it. Because every one of God’s commands are there for the flourishing of humanity because he loves us.
But the word Peter uses there is bigger than that. It’s the Greek word epithumia. And it literally means over-desires.
Peter is not simply saying, “Don’t break the rules.” the Bible’s diagnosis of the human heart is far more profound. Because sin doesn’t just make us want bad things— It takes good things and turns them into ultimate things. It takes normal desires and makes them controlling desires. That’s the real issue.
So an over-desire is when something good becomes something you feel like you have to have. It moves from “this would bless my life” to “I cannot live without this.” And that’s how we lose so much in life — not because we chased evil, but because we clung too tightly to something good.
•So if you’re terrified of losing your spouse; isn’t wanting your marriage to thrive a good thing? Yes of course. But what can happen is your fear becomes so consuming that you grow suspicious and controlling and anxious all the time. And you try so hard to hold on to your spouse that you end up pushing them away. The desire to keep your marriage quietly becomes your identity. It becomes ultimate and it becomes an over-desire.
•Think about a student who wants friends so badly that every interaction is loaded with desperation. There’s nothing wrong with wanting community. But when the desire becomes, “I have to be liked,” that pressure itself drives people away.
•Or think about health. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be well. But when health becomes an obsession, when every symptom spirals into fear- Your anxiety rises, and you actually get less healthy.
So anything that whispers, “If I don’t have this, I’m nothing,” – your marriage, your ministry, your grandchildren, anything that whispers that is waging war against your soul.
And the moment something moves into that place where you have to have it, it grabs your soul by the throat. It begins to dominate you. It begins to function like a savior. It starts to sit where only God belongs.
So what does Peter say to do with that? Abstain. Not because good things are evil, but because your soul matters more. And Peter says if you are going to stand firm under pressure, the war starts on the inside. And then peter says this:
1 Pe 2:12.
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.
This is actually a major guiding phrase in this whole passage- in this relationship that’s under stress- with my jerk of a neighbor; with my husband or wife; with my coworker— are they accusing me of doing wrong because I’m actually doing wrong? Or if they look closely- be the kind of person who is above reproach.
In other words, you cannot control them and their response. But your response is your responsibility.
Because Most people are not lining up to hear sermons. They’re not scanning the internet for theological arguments. They’re not waiting for you to win a debate. They’re watching your life. They want to know wha works.
You say you’re a Christian- wonderful- are you more gracious and more kind? Does following jesus make you treat people of other races better? Does it actually help you face difficulty better? How has Jesus actually changed you?
And if you claim to follow Jesus, they’re going to look at you. They’re going to watch how you respond when you’re wronged. They’re going to watch how you handle power. They’re going to watch how you speak about those you disagree with.
In other words, your quiet faithfulness in strained relationships might be the very thing God uses to open someone’s eyes.
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.
Pay attention to the tensions inside you — and the war of control for your heart. And when you engage with the world around you- don’t play into the world of power and control… live such good lives. Abstain from over-desires.
So what’s the inoculation against the over-desires of the heart? What’s the spiritual discipline that frees us from the illusion of ultimate control? Peter uses a word that’s super significant in the New Testament- which caused almost as much fuss then as it does now—and it’s possibly the most offensive word I could possibly use: you ready for this? This is huge— here it is—
SUBMIT
Submit. He says
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:
The greek word is Hupotasso- it’s got two parts; Hupo- which means “under”. And “tasso” which means “to arrange” or “to order”. So literally it means “to arrange under” or “to place yourself under.”
This was a military word that became a relational word. And this is important— it does not mean inferior. It does not mean less valuable, capable, intelligent. And it does not mean voiceless.
The word is about order, not worth. It describes a VOLUNTARY positioning of yourself under an authority structure.
In this passage the verb carries a reflexive sense. So when peter says “submit yourselves” it does not mean “be submitted” – it’s closer to submit yourself. In other words it’s not “be crushed or forced under.” It’s “place yourselves under.” This is a chosen posture of humility.
And this was massive in the ancient times – because submission wasn’t chosen, it was forced. As a slave you didn’t have a choice. Peter is saying “ you are free…. now use that freedom as a servant— not to have power over— don’t give into the battles that wage war against your soul for control. That’s what the world does— don’t have power over- have power under. You choose to submit.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:
Not because your president or governor is flawless. Because they are not. But the motivation is that Christ is Lord. You’re not ultimately submitting because the authority deserves it. You’re submitting because you belong to Someone higher.
Now we need to clear some fog, because submission has been distorted — both in culture and sometimes in church. Submission does not mean agreeing that the authority is morally right. It does not mean endorsing injustice. It does not mean staying in abuse without wisdom or safety. It does not mean silence in the face of sin. And it does not mean absolute obedience without limits.
Scripture makes that clear. The apostles say in Acts, “We must obey God rather than men.” Daniel refuses ungodly commands. Peter himself disobeys when ordered to stop preaching Christ. So this cannot mean blind compliance. It means structured humility under God’s ultimate authority. I order myself under this structure because I am ultimately ordered under Him.
And notice something else in 1 Peter. Submission is not aimed at one vulnerable group.
Peter applies it to governing authorities. He applies it to servants under masters. He applies it to wives in marriage. Later he applies it to younger believers under elders. And then he widens it even further and says, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility.”
So this isn’t about subjugation of one group of powerless people. This is the culture of humility for the Christian community.
Peter brings it into application— he says most broadly – submit to the government.
1 Pe 2:13–14.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, 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.
But what peter tells us is that authority itself is instituted by God for our flourishing.
And think about it — you cannot live without authority. One of the best pictures of this is an orchestra. I am a classically trained musician. I played timpani in the orchestra at the college level and I taught middle school band. Let’s contrast those two environments shall we? One enraptures your soul… the other will make you lose your sanctification. Jr. higher orchestras don’t submit. They play whenever they want to.
Imagine an orchestra ignoring the conductor. Imagine a family where no one recognizes any leadership. It collapses. Order is not oppression; it is what makes life livable.
Because when you submit “for the Lord’s sake,” you are not saying the human authority is ultimate.
You are saying God is.
And I want to remind us who was the emperor at this point: this was Nero. Not exactly a part of the moral majority. This was Nero – who would eventually blame Christians for the burning of rome and impale them on stakes.
So Peter is not saying submit because your leader reflects your values. He is saying submit even when he does not. That removes the condition most of us instinctively attach to the word.
Because if we’re honest, our version of submission is usually conditional. I’ll respect authority when I agree with it. I’ll honor leadership when it honors me.
But Peter says, “for the Lord’s sake.” So that means – your posture toward authority is not ultimately about them. It is about trusting God is the one who sees and holds every form of authority accountable in the end.
No matter which political party sits in the Capitol or the White House, our calling doesn’t change. As followers of Jesus, we walk in humble submission to governing authorities—not because they’re perfect, but because Christ is Lord.
Unless the government commands you to directly disobey God, civil disobedience against local law enforcement or federal immigration and customs enforcement isn’t submission—it’s resistance and rebellion.
But Christians understand something deeper. Behind every office — whether the person in it is good or bad — stands the reality that God is the ultimate authority. Behind parents. Behind civil government. Behind church leadership. Not that they are perfect — but that authority itself flows from Him.
He goes to the next category –
1 Pe 2:18–19.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,
So i’d put this in the contemporary category of in your workplace. First in the government, then in the workplace.
not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
That word “harsh” is a vivid one. It means crooked. Here’s the language we’d put on it today— we’d use the term “toxic”. This is someone who uses power selfishly, and is unfair.
And Peter doesn’t say, “If your boss is toxic, then you’re off the hook.”
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
That phrase “conscious of God” is so important. It means you are living with a steady awareness that God sees and knows. That he is present and is there in the email where someone threw you under the bus. God is there when you did the right thing and still got punished for it.
And Peter says when you endure unjust suffering with an awareness of God, heaven calls that commendable. Not because suffering is good, but because what it reveals is trust.
And here’s the thread that ties it all together — government, workplace, — every one of these arenas tempts you to seize control when you feel mistreated. That’s the war that rages inside us. And Peter keeps saying the same thing: don’t let the war for control take over your soul. Entrust yourself to the Shepherd. Live such good lives. Submit for the Lord’s sake.
Ok, so how do you actually do that? How do you absorb injustice without exploding or shutting down? Listen, the answer is never TRY HARDER. That’s just gonna make you defeated or self-righteous. He says “Look at Jesus”
Chapter 2 :21-23
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
That word “example” is fascinating. In the Greek world, it was used for a writing template that children would trace over in school. The teacher would write the letters, place thin tracing paper over it, and the student would carefully trace the lines.
You were given paper on the way in
That’s the image. Jesus is not just your inspiration. He is your tracing paper. When you are mistreated, you lay your life over His and you trace the pattern.
So when I don’t know how to respond — I trace him.
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.
Retaliation feels natural. Retaliation feels powerful. Retaliation feels justified. And Peter says when Jesus was verbally attacked, He did not clap back. He did not escalate. He did not weaponize His words.
How did he do that? How can we do that? How do we move from the battle in our souls for control to the kind of self-control Jesus had? Here it is:
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
That’s the secret. That’s the engine. That’s the power underneath submission.
Jesus could endure mistreatment because He trusted the Father with the outcome. He trusted that God sees. He trusted that God judges. He trusted that ultimate justice was not His to secure in that moment.
Romans 12- don’t repay evil for evil but with blessing leave room for God’s vengeance.
He trusted the Father to be the Shepherd and Overseer of His soul. And that means above every emperor, above every master, above every spouse, above every leader, there is One who oversees your soul. You are not unprotected. You are not unseen. You are not alone. You have a Shepherd.
And when you are mistreated, instead of retaliating, you trace Him.
So here’s the real question underneath all of this: Do you actually trust God to bring justice? Like do you really truly believe that he’s gonna bring what’s fair and right in the end? Do you lean on that? Because if you don’t trust God with justice, you will always feel pressure to secure it yourself.
That’s why verse 23 is everything: I will not let my over-desires rule me… instead I will entrust myself to him to judges justly.
I will hand this over to my heavenly father. God, you are the judge and the defender. You will make this right in this life or the next and I do not have to let my over-desires rule me.
That’s the freedom. That’s the power. And that’s how you stand firm.
Let me give you a few questions to sit with, and then we’ll pray.
1. Who is the “crooked” person in your world right now—the toxic authority, the unreasonable voice, the person who has power over you and uses it unfairly?
2. What is the over-desire that rises in you when you’re mistreated—respect, control, being right, being seen, being vindicated?
3. What would it look like for you to entrust yourself to God in one specific moment this week—one email, one conversation, one tense interaction—where you choose not to retaliate and you choose to trace Jesus instead? And is there any place where you need to be honest and say, “God, I don’t actually trust You to bring justice, and that’s why I’ve been carrying this like it’s on me”?