How do you handle extreme pressure? What kind of person are you under pressure?

How do you respond under suffering and pressure?

Peter gives practical instruction for suffering believers...

1 Peter 3:8-17
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling [insult for insult], but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

(NOTE: this sermon ends abruptly due to a recording error. The final idea is that Moral Therapeutic Deism is very much acceptable in our culture while faith in Jesus is not accepted, generally. Those are two different ideas: moralism and faith in Jesus. Biblical Christianity does not teach moralism (being a good person) but does teach faith in Jesus and a life lived with Him as Lord of your life. Under pressure you may be tempted to live a moral life while denying Jesus' deity and Lordship over your life. Peter would have never intended to offer a list of actions, such as those listed in our text, that were divorced from Jesus' deity and lordship.)