It is the “habitual” coming to Jesus that separates the true Christian life, from the mere “christian” religionist. We live, only in that we seek Him continually.
Category: Atonement
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1 Peter Part 21
1 Peter 5:8-11
The Forgotten Foe
AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE
As the Holy Spirit through Peter has been asking his readers and us to take up our supernatural role in the revealing of Christ in this dark and lost world – and also to serve as portents of God’s coming judgment upon all the world – so He now takes us to one more consideration which is rooted in the supernatural.
Dealing with Satan.
The Devil, Beelzebul, Belial, Diabolos or The Serpent. For all of those names or titles are applied to him in Scripture.
And as 2 Cor. 11:14 notes, he disguises himself as an “angel of light”
When it comes to wrestling with the idea of a living being called “The Devil” – 2 extremes are always a danger for believers in Jesus Christ: 1. Exaggeration: To Exaggerate him and his work and power.
Seeing him behind every bush.
Thinking that he is God’s antithesis, when God has no antithesis.
Or developing a Star Wars theology of the light side and the dark side of the force. As though Satan is truly as powerful and amazing as God Himself is, but evil instead of good.
Satan is NOT God’s antithesis even tho he IS God’s sworn enemy, and thus the enemy of all who are Christ’s.
He is in fact an angel, a mere angel who has gone bad. I won’t go into a full blown study of who he is here – we can save that for another time.
Suffice it to say the Bible teaches he is a real, personal, angelic being.
However: He is not omniscient. He is not omnipresent. He is not omnipotent.
Nor is he simply a mischievous, pesky elf.
He is a powerful and intelligent angelic being, who opposes the work and plan of God as he is able, along with 1/3 of the angelic host who rebelled against God with him. A least that is a common understanding of Rev. 12:4. They, are the demons we read about in the Bible.
The very word “Satan” in Hebrew means to oppose or obstruct or accuse.
With this view, it is easy to slip over into a very superstitious approach and to think in terms of battling forces of darkness by binding or casting out, rebuking etc. Which can all have their place, but can be turned into something very strange and mysterious. When the Bible is much clearer on the subject.
The 2nd error we can slip in to regarding the Devil is: Minimization: To completely ignore him, as though we have nothing at all to do with him, and he is more myth than real.
To ignore any real known danger is a recipe for disaster. But to be willfully blind to a danger can lead to even greater loss and misery.
Proverbs 27:12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
And preparation for God’s people against the wiles of the Devil is Peter’s goal in this portion.
So far Peter has talked about the dangers of falling back into our past sins and passions when under pressure from a hostile culture.
He has talked about the dangers of dividing or neglecting the Church and other Believers under the same pressures.
He has addressed buckling to a corrupt government by compromising, and the danger of retaliating against that same government.
He has warned against making lost people our enemies, even when they may consider themselves ours, or at least treat us like enemies because we serve Christ above the State or the culture.
And he has warned us against allowing ourselves to get bitter against any who misuse us, so that we no longer preserve our ability to shine the light of Christ’s redeeming love, mercy, patience and grace in the darkness.
He has called us to suffer with Christ – for the sake of ministry now – in light of the eternal reward yet before us.
And now, he brings us to one final concern – being aware of and dealing with – The Devil.
A Devil he says, is our “adversary”, and who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
A Devil we are to resist by some very specific means laid out in this passage.
So let’s go back and take this apart.
- We have an ADVERSARY – an opposer.
We have a literal, angelic being who hates Christ, hates His people and tries at every turn to destroy His plans.
He is not stupid, but neither is he omnipotent.
He cannot read our thoughts, though at times he may suggest them.
But to do that, because he is not omnipresent, he must enlist the aid of the other fallen angels, and above all – influence people by means of the culture in constructing alternate worldviews of God, humankind, love, purpose, etc.
It is mainly a campaign of DISINFORMATION.
This was his first tactic in the Garden with Adam and Eve, and it has remained the first arrow in his quiver ever since.
But as Paul notes in 2 Cor. 2:11, we are not ignorant of his designs.
Satan’s chief attack is always upon the truth – “Did God say?”
Either to taint it, twist it, or outright deny it – “you will not surly die”
To deceive by it so as to lead us to serve self rather than God.
And above all, to distort the truth about God Himself.
For if he can get us second guessing God, and especially to suspect some darkness in Him, some form of perversion or sin or twistedness or thinking of Him as self-serving, unloving, or capricious – doing things by whim – he wins the day.
For when we are doubtful of God’s true character, and suspicious of His goals or His methods, we will turn to protect and serve ourselves above everything and ultimately above everyone else.
So the Scripture lays out for us very helpful pictures of how the Enemy does this.
Gen. 3 – Tempting Adam & Eve to believe God wants to withhold something good from them, what is BEST for them, and so baiting them to take things into their own hands, questioning God’s commands, as secretly harmful.
1 Chron. 21 – Inciting David to number Israel, something God had expressly told David NOT to do. The idea here was either to get David to see how great a number of people he had to take comfort in the numbers rather than to depend upon God, and/or, for David to see how few there were, and to fear their enemies rather than depend upon God.
Job – He directly orchestrated disastrous events to turn Job from trusting God.
Zech. 3:1 & Rev. 12:10 – He is the accuser. He accuses Believers before the throne of God, trying to persuade God to turn against us.
Accusing Christians to other Christians – trying to divide the Church.
This is especially evident in how we tend to assume we know other’s motives, and respond to them in powerfully negative ways – often for no other reason than what we “THOUGHT” they thought.
Accusing us to ourselves – to shake us from trusting in Christ’s atoning work alone for our salvation.
Which breeds Pharisees who try to justify themselves by their good works;
Or, breeds discouragement in others – some even to despair that they CAN be saved, as though their sin is so great – greater than Christ’s sacrifice;
Tempting Christ in the wilderness:
- Refuse the humility of the incarnation by making bread for Himself out of stones rather than trusting the Father’s providential care.
- To throw Himself off of the Temple to PROVE who He really was and avoid the misunderstanding and humiliation by the unbelievers.
- To bow down and worship him so as to gain the world without having to go by way of the Cross.
Acts 5:3 – Filling the heart of Ananias and Saphira to lie against the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor. 2 – Inciting unforgiveness so as to divide the Body of Christ.
2 Tim. 2:25-26 – Holds the opponents of the Gospel captive to do his own will.
And in this passage – Peter teases out one of Satan’s most potent tactics – instilling fear.
Note vs. 8 again – what does Satan do? He prowls (or prances as one translator has it) around like a “roaring lion”.
The picture is extremely eloquent, but its message easy to miss.
The Holy Spirit certainly knows, as does Peter, that lions do not roar when hunting prey – because they would scare the prey off.
Lions roar AFTER they have caught their prey and are devouring it, scaring off any others who might want to take advantage of the kill.
Or, to intimidate and corral their pride.
Satan’s roar is a deception to scare us and to make us think he has won! When in fact he is a defeated foe awaiting his final dispatch. He suffered his fatal blow at Calvary.
What does that mean?
Satan goes about roaring, seeking to instill FEAR.
And in this way, when he gets the Believer to live life in fear, rather than in faith in God’s promises, love, care and protection – we are easily “devoured”.
Christians responding to the Culture, the Government or their oppressors out of fear rather than faith – are easily devoured and sent off running in all sorts of directions that have nothing to do with growing in Christ and advancing His Kingdom.
RESIST HIM! Peter says. Resist being driven by fear, no matter how bad it looks.
Trust the purpose, plan and providence of your loving Heavenly Father – and do not live in fear. For those who flee in fear, inevitably trip and fall and become useless for the cause of Christ.
- We have an Adversary.
- We are to RESIST him.
But how?
What does that look like?
And this, Peter teases out in 5 parts in the following verses.
And you will note that it has nothing to do with charms or spells or incantations or smearing oil on things.
No holy water. No silver bullets. No stakes through the heart. No binding of territorial spirits or generational curses.
Watch these tactics and note them carefully for yourselves.
A. Remaining firm in the faith.
Allowing no compromise in the knowledge of Biblical truth.
Not forsaking one iota of it in order to take the pressure off.
Not it should go without saying, but let me say it anyway – WE CANNOT REMAIN FIRM IN A FAITH WE DO NOT KNOW.
We must familiarize ourselves with the Bible, with what it teaches and what it emphasizes and what it calls us to.
Jude saw this need in his letter: Jude 1–3 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Do you know the great doctrines of the Christian faith?
If not, how can you remain firm in it? How can you possibly contend for it?
We have no use for learning our Bibles just to be doctrinal eggheads – but every reason to understand and contend for the revelation God has placed in our hands as stewards of until Christ returns.
If we start re-writing Scripture or those doctrines handed down to us from the early Church and the generations that followed – we will have not remained firm in the faith, but undermined it.
Paul Achtemeier (1996: 341): “The opposition the Christians face from their non-Christian contemporaries is not something they can avoid by modifying their behavior or adapting their beliefs in such a way as to escape such opposition. Only by completely abandoning the gospel and the community shaped by it, only by submitting to the satanic forces that stand in total opposition to God, can they escape the persecutions they otherwise face.”
B. Remembering that our brothers in Christ in others places suffer too.
We are NOT alone.
NOT forgotten.
NOT forsaken.
And if we are not aware of Christians suffering at present, we can run back to portions like Hebrews 11 and remind ourselves of that great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us: Hebrews 11:32–40 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
C. That this suffering is temporary.
“And after you have suffered a little while.”
D. That the God who has called us to this “will Himself”:
– restore, Everything will be put right again – pre-Fall glory.
– confirm, Make absolutely solid and firm all that may quiver a bit now under the pressure.
– strengthen, Your weakness now will give way to no weakness whatever as you are raised up with, and rule and reign with Christ.
– and establish us. See to it you have an everlasting and unshakable security.
Himself: Personally. He delights to minister to His children in person.
E. That He is the One who has dominion over all, not the devil, not the state, not the culture – but Christ.
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1 Peter Part 20
1 Peter 5:5–7
The Power of Humility
AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE
OUTLINE:
- (5a) LIKEWISE
- (5c) CLOTHE YOURSELVES
III. (6-7) HUMBLE YOURSELVES
- (5a) LIKEWISE: As the Elders are to take their proper role even in these extreme circumstances, the rest of the congregation needs to do the same.
If God has commissioned some to shepherd, then He has also commissioned some to be shepherdED.
The term “you who are younger” is somewhat misleading in English – it is more like “you who are NOT-elders”.
The 1st point is, that the pressing issues of their strained circumstances doesn’t give the people leave to abandon the Church and the way God meant it function.
It is up to all of us to: a. re-establish church order it if it has suffered disarray;
- to strengthen it if it is suffering under pressures, neglect or abuse;
- or protect it if it is working well.
The Church is God’s means of preserving His presence, His message and His purposes in the world.
Whether it is wounded or well.
It is incumbent upon all those born again – Elders and NOT-elders, to try and see it established, upheld and strengthened.
- (5c) Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
There may be something here building off of the “LIKEWISE” to draw from vss. 1-4 which we looked at last time.
If the call to the Elders is to Shepherd the flock they find themselves among – the ones through exile and providence they find themselves in the midst of – so – or LIKEWISE, those who are not elders, are be subject to (in Church order) those Elders that through God’s Providence in exile – they now find themselves among.
It is a mutual submission to the hand of God in Providence bringing them together.
There is to be no: “I don’t like these new elders I have to contend with when I liked my former ones so much more – I think I’ll leave” – NOR – “I don’t like this congregation as much as the ones I had before, I think I’ll shop around for something better.”
In both groups accepting the Providence of God in their exile and strained circumstances being the occasion of having brought them together – so now, both of you – advance the Church and your own growth in Christ BY – submitting to His hand.
This is the summing injunction.
And there may be something in the simile Peter uses of “clothing” ourselves in humility. Something like using humility to cover up our sinfulness toward one another – Perhaps like Isa. 61:3 where God promises to give a garment of praise for the faint spirit. It is not being disingenuous; it is being modest. It is covering our defects.
But note Here: Peter finally gives the BIG answer that has been looming in the background for so many from the start of this letter:
1:3-6 / HOW do we keep our eyes on the “living hope” so that we rejoice instead of being overwhelmed?
HOW do we maintain the “joy that is inexpressible” of 1:8?
HOW do we set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ in 1:13?
HOW do we prevent being conformed to the passions of our former ignorance and instead be holy as God is holy as in 1:14-16?
HOW do we keep in mind that we were redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as in 1:18-19?
HOW do we love one another from a pure heart as in 1:22?
HOW do we put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and create longing for the pure spiritual milk that makes us grow up into salvation? 2:1-2
HOW do we fulfill our role as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light? 2:9-10
HOW do we abstain from the passions of the flesh that war against the soul and keep our conduct among the unbelievers honorable under their rejection and persecution? 2:11-12
HOW do we submit ourselves rightly to human institutions and even corrupt secular governments in righteousness without compromise? 2:13-17
HOW do Christians submit to unjust “masters” and remain gracious when suffering unjustly? 2:18-21
HOW do we keep from retaliating but rather bless when abused? 2:22-25
HOW do Believers stay sweet and godly if married to an unsaved spouse? 3:1-6
HOW do we husbands live with our wives in an understanding way showing them honor? 3:7
HOW do we always honor Christ the Lord as holy in our hearts? 3:15
HOW do we live cognizant that the end of all things is at hand, and so live self-controlled and sober-mindedly for the sake of our prayers? 4:7-9
HOW do we best steward our gifts to bless the body of Believers? 4:10-11
There is only one way – we need abundant, supernatural, never ceasing GRACE!
Grace, the gifts of God in His indwelling Spirit.
Grace which He gives – to the humble.
While in contrast – He actively opposes in the proud.
Humility then is key to living out this life of both revealing the glories of Christ in this dark world, and, in bearing up under the reality of our sufferings being precursors to the final judgment to come.
This is only natural in that such humility is absolutely fundamental to salvation itself.
In coming to Christ, I must come to grips with my utter need of Him, rejecting any thoughts of my own goodness or worthiness.
We see this in great clarity in Matthew 9:10–13 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The implication is plain: These Pharisees thought they did not need a Savior. They were righteous in themselves.
And here, Jesus tells them that if they will not acknowledge their need, they can’t be saved!
You here today – if you will not reckon yourself a sinner, sick with that deadly disease and in need of a Savior and that all is lost – you cannot be saved.
If you know you need mercy because you know your own guilt, you are of all men most blessed – for He delights to show it.
No one comes to Christ for salvation but humbly – knowing their own personal guilt and shame and unworthiness, and knowing that Christ owes them nothing – but saves out of His own free grace.
Christians too clothe themselves in humility by receiving God’s Word as it is – God’s Word – and agreeing that IT sits in judgment upon them – not they upon the Word.
We bow to God’s declarations in His Word, to the miracles and those things that the proud in heart want to dismiss as embarrassing or beneath them.
Such basic humility is absolutely fundamental for the one who would know God savingly in Jesus Christ.
Perhaps that is you today.
To believe God’s Word that He spoke the worlds into existence and created all things by the word of His power seems too mythical or fantastic to sign on to.
And those stories in the Bible about a real Adam and Eve and a talking snake and a tree of the knowledge of God and evil. Those are too much for your sophistication.
A global flood and an Ark preserving only 8 human beings – and the necessary animals to preserve the species – may be metaphors, but not actual events. It is beneath you to believe them.
God appearing to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob…
The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt by parting the Red Sea…
Millions of people being sustained in the desert by supernatural food every day, and God giving Moses a literal set of tablets with 10 commandments…
The God/Man Jesus being born of a Virgin, walking on water, feeding 1000’s with a few loaves and fishes and raising the dead…
You want me to believe all that AND, that I am a sinner in rebellion against God and I have nothing I can contribute to process because I am too wicked and deserve an everlasting Hell?…
And that this supposed God/Man died on the Cross as a substitutionary atonement for MY sins, and rose up from the dead 3 days later and is coming yet again to punish all the unbelievers and reward His own in OUR resurrection?
All of it sounds a little foolish doesn’t it?
It’s too much to take literally.
And I’m not so much of a Rube as to believe it, and judge myself THAT unworthy and to cast myself upon the death of this Jesus by faith – who may or may not have died and rose again more than 2000 years ago.
And I tell you on the authority of God’s Word that if you think yourself too good, too intelligent, too sophisticated, to believe all that and get linked up with this bunch of yahoos – then you cannot be saved.
One must humble themselves to the revelation of Gods truths as He has given them, and to His authority to which you are responsible but guilty – and concede that there is no other way to be saved!
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
But for those who already are Christians – all of this begs one more question Peter must address – What does such humility look like?
HOW exactly does one “humble” themselves, so that they may have access to the grace needed to live the way he has been calling us throughout this letter?
And so he goes on to develop the answer to that in a most interesting way.
III. (6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
- HUMBLE YOURSELVES: It is a self-humbling, rather than BEING humbled by and through increasing pressure.
Paul demonstrates it personally in Philippians 3:4–11 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
- UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD: It is recognizing God’s sovereign hand in the circumstances.
It is refusing to chafe against His appointments, but to receive them as from the hand of the most wise, most loving, most wonderful Father who has our best interest at heart – more than we can even possibly know.
- SO THAT AT THE PROPER TIME HE MAY EXALT YOU: Trusting in His revealed plan, that He will bring it to pass and that it is glorious.
- CASTING ALL: And it is looking to Him in conscious, conscious, deliberate dependence upon His indwelling Spirit – as opposed to struggling against the circumstances, or just gritting our teeth and trying to bear up.
The idea here isn’t that we do not have, or shouldn’t have or won’t have anxieties.
The questions is – what do we do with them?
Will we take them to Him with the confidence that He cares for our souls, and that we need to be watchful that the Enemy is not allowed to take advantage of them?
It is a humbling thing to let someone else worry about your problems.
But this is the path to having our anxieties all placed where they belong.
The problems arise when we let anxieties rule, and drive us to poor decisions and to act in ways incompatible with Christ’s nature.
Jesus was in agonizing anxiety in the Garden.
But He neither ran,
refused the cup,
called for angelic deliverance,
nor cursed the Father etc.
In His agony He persevered, committing all to the Father.
And this is our ensample.
So it is Peter reminds us that in anxious times we need to remain sober-minded, and watchful for these are times when the enemy can easily catch us off guard.
It is in these times especially we need to resist Satan and to keep in mind we are not alone in our suffering – and that the end will be glorious in Christ.
As I said, it is a humbling thing to let someone else worry about your problems.
But this is the path to having our anxieties all placed where they belong.
Our Father delights to take the weight of them upon Himself.
He loves instead to have us wrapped up in seeing His great care and concern for us, and delighting in His love.
Oh how far short of the privileges He offers, we fall.
“Into your hands I commend my spirit” – Gasps Jesus, even while enduring the wrath of God.
The Father could still be trusted, even when it seemed there was no smile to be had, no grace to soften the blows, and no relief until the very end.
And as our text teaches – He gives all the grace needed, when we humble ourselves under His gracious hand.
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1 Peter Part 19
1 Peter 5:1-4
Shepherding God’s Flock
AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE
One of the peculiarities of how Holy Scripture is written, is how different groups are addressed in front of other groups.
The Bible does not have secret passages written to women and secret passages written to men which can only be studied in closed enclaves.
Men and women are addressed in the same letters, each hearing what the Lord has to say to the other, as well as to themselves.
It is common today to gather in men’s groups and women’s groups separately, as though there is some body of knowledge which only they can discuss in their respective groups.
There is a certain place for that, but we need to avoid letting those things turn us into discreet, isolated groups as though gender specific references have no meaning or value for everyone.
So then, parents are addressed in front of children and vice versa.
And, as in this passage, Elders or leaders in the Church are addressed in front of the Body of Believers, even as the letter so far has addressed Believers as a whole.
Up until now in our study, Peter has been addressing his comments to these displaced and marginalized Believers as a whole – But in our text today, he singles out one group especially – Elders. I.e. The Leadership in these little groups of Christians.
And one observation we must make at the outset, is that he addresses the Elders as suffering men…
Suffering men in turn, ministering to others who are also suffering.
Just as Paul in 2 Corinthians makes it clear that one of the ways God equips each Christian to minister to one another, is to use the comforts He has comforted each of us with in our distresses, to comfort others.
In this way, our distresses become gifts for the rest of the Church.
Which brings up the point that those in leadership are not exempt from any of the suffering which all Christians endure.
Leadership does not put anyone in a special spiritual class. A class which somehow exempts them from any of the very same temptations, weaknesses, doubts, fears, discouragements, problems or challenges that all the rest of you face.
In fact, sometimes, those in leadership are subject to even more.
Given Peter’s audience, as small, marginalized, groups of Believers, looked down on, misunderstood and mistreated in their society – he takes a few moments to speak to those men who may have a measure of gifting and a burden to see the Church thrive irrespective of the environment – and in it sets out 3 things.
I – vs. 1 / An Exhortation
II – vss. 2 & 3 / An Explanation
III – vs. 4 / An Encouragement
I – vs. 1-2a / An Exhortation
- 1-2a Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God that is among you.
“Therefore” – Having addressed suffering from the beginning of this epistle, and in light of his own Eldership – “as your fellow elder” – Let me exhort you to have a mind equipped with these three things:
- Suffering WILL attend us – 2:21, 4:12
- Our fellow shepherds endure these things too.
- Glory Awaits Us
1. Suffering WILL Attend Us.
“As a witness of Christ’s suffering”,
Peter knew this persecution & rejection personally in 3 ways.
From Jesus teaching: Matt. 10:23 “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! ALSO: In His simple incarnation.
From observing Jesus’ own persecution, death, burial and resurrection.
From his own experience, as the books of Acts abundantly demonstrates.
2. Our Fellow Shepherds Endure Suffering too.
Feeling isolated or as though you are the only one who has suffered in a particular way or with as much intensity – is one of the ways our sinfulness deceives us.
In it, the Enemy capitalizes on to make us bitter, resentful against those who we perceive as sailing more comfortably, and then detaching from others.
It is a very destructive deception everyone who suffers much be aware of temptation to.
3. Glory Awaits Us. / “As a partaker of the glory to be revealed: – This all culminates in the coming glory:
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We WILL suffer – We are NOT alone – We WILL be glorified
II – vss. 2b & 3 / An Explanation
“shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
- Shepherd – ποιμήν To tend, in the whole sense of the word, not simply to feed” – but “to feed sheep, to pasture or to tend while grazing.”
- Leading, not driving. They will not go, and should ONLY go where we are willing to go first. / “Who having gone before us”.
John Mohr / Steve Green
May all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light the way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
3. Feed – The Word
Mark 6:34 “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”
1. Protect – The Shepherd lays down his life for the lambs
Jesus speaks this way of His own Shepherding in John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
Dangers from within – Paul to the Ephesian leadership in Acts 20: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure1 fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
From without – 1 John – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Themselves – James 4: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Ourselves – Misplaced affections (Theirs and ours)
Don’t shepherd in such a way that you make them more dependent upon you, than individually upon Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
One writer on this portion wrote: “The image is so simple and informative. The virgin bride is the church. The husband she is betrothed to is Christ Himself. And Paul? How does he think of himself in this? He is as though a close mutual friend of the Bride and Groom. The one who introduced them. And now the Groom has gone away for a time – committing the care of His virgin bride to this friend, to keep her and protect her until He returns. Thus Paul sees these interlopers who are vying for her affection in Corinth – not as competitors to himself, but as trying to take liberties with the one he is sworn to keep until Christ returns.
I would submit to you that this is the very way that we as preachers and pastors are to consider our own relationship with the church. We may admire her beauty, delight in her company and revel in our usefulness to her – but she is not ours. We are guarding her virtue for Him. We have no right to fondle her, soil her garments or grow overly familiar with her. We are to direct her affections toward her intended, and to labor with all our might to keep her from inordinate affection for us, or anyone else.”
There is a temptation in all of this to grow neglectful of what the believers around us really need.
Temptation: It’s such a small group. Since it is small, no need to prepare much.
Walt Hobson – The myth of the super-leader.
Temptation: I don’t want to add to their burden.
Temptation: I’ve got enough problems of my own.
Temptation: “Practical” – not spiritual. To give what may be desired, above what is truly needed.
Temptation: There must be easier, better, less challenging places to serve.
- Jointly (v 2) – “the flock of God” / We are co-laborers WITH Christ over His flock, not ours
John 21: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep
FEED FEED FEED – MY MY MY
- Immediately (v 2) – “among you”, those at hand. Labor where you are.
One must never see ANY ministry in the Church – and especially eldership – as a step to something else.
- 3 – “allotted to your charge” Given by Providence.
- Attentively (v 2) – “oversight”, ἐπισκοπέω Watching all around – Prov. 27:23 “Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds” – Sherlock Holmes: Cosmologically, Astronomically, Philosophically, Theologically
- Voluntarily (v 2) – “not under compulsion”, as a volunteer – Willfully, and not in grudging duty / Service rendered as unto Him!
Why must Peter warn against an Elder serving by “compulsion”? Probably because of the present distress.
One who is gifted and evident as having the qualities of an elder, may himself feel that to add shepherding God’s flock in this foreign place, in this hostile culture, one more burden to add to his own life that he just does not want right now.
Peter says, go ahead and add it.
At the same time, don’t feel forced into it – for if you serve as forced, the service will not bring the heart and mind results Christ is looking for in His saints in this straight and narrow place.
1 Thess. 2:8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
- Obediently (v 2) – “as God would have you” / This is not about our vision, But His!
God’s program is conforming the saints to the image of His Son (Rom. 8) – Either this is our primary consideration too, or we are loose canons.
- Freely (v 2) – “not for shameful gain, but with eagerly”
- Humbly – Not Domineering (v 3) It seems that the examples Elders are to be here is not located in just being good examples in general, but especially examples of how to suffer without either seeking sinful means to ease our suffering, nor in the neglect of spiritual things as tho they might lighten our load, etc.
BOTTOM LINE: Live in such a way that they get to see how to suffer while remaining faithful, looking to Christ and the hope to come.
Not under compulsion: Do not let serving devolve into mere slavish duty.
Do not serve to get earthly gain, set your sights on heavenly gain.
Don’t grow gripey, edgy and short but remain sweet and gentle.
Don’t seek control, learn to submit to His perfect providence.
III – vs. 4 / An Encouragement.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Note, that this is the very same reward which all who are in Christ shall obtain.
In other words, fix on the same reward you call others to fix upon.
Crown of life – James 1:12
Crown of righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:8
Crown of glory – 1 Peter 5:4
APPLICATIONS
How the leadership here understand our roles – at least in part. We do our best to understand our job description from these Biblical passages, rather than from a business model or what people may simply be used to or prefer.
In holding us accountable to keep this kind of focus. Once the Word of God and its exposition for your health and safety and walk with God ceases to be the focus – we are to be called into account!
In choosing a church where you might go if not here. Should life move you from fellowship here, we would want to see you planted in another fellowship where these same principles are foundation. This is the kind of Church WE would look for if we were to be moved from here.
In considering ministry yourself should you move in that direction. Some of you young men especially may have an inkling toward wanting to serve in this capacity – and a passage like this goes a long way toward helping you understand what Biblical Pastoral Ministry is al about.
In understanding how Christ Himself continues to minister to each of us as The Great Shepherd.
These are the very ways in which Christ ministered while on earth, and what He continues to provide for through under-shepherds while He is still overseeing His Church from on high.
Never forget that the Great Shepherd takes first responsibility for your soul, and is ALWAYS leading through His Word to lie down in those green pastures. Beside the still waters of trust and rest in Him. And in paths of righteousness – for His own name’s sake.
And what a wonder He is in this role. Having already laid down His life for us, that we might be safely in His eternal fold forever and ever.
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1 Peter Part 17
1 Peter 4:7-11
Facing The Apocalypse Part 2
AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE
Last time we saw Peter’s thought process in vs. 7 that: “the end of all things is at hand, THEREFORE”. We noted it is not that the end of the world was about to take place, but rather we have entered into the “end times” – which culminate in the final and complete UNVEILING – REVELATION – APOCALYPSE of the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
And, that those who are in Christ are part of this apocalypse or unveiling now! Philippians 2:14–15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Christians, thinking and living like those genuinely translated out of the kingdom of darkness into Christ glorious kingdom of light, will stand out more and more in stark contrast to this present age.
We are part of God’s “revealing” – His apocalypse.
“the end of all things is at hand – THEREFORE:
- “Be self-controlled and sober-minded, for the sake of your prayers.”
Self-controlled through the indwelling Spirit of Christ;
Sober-minded as informed by the Word;
And this – for the sake of our prayers.
Now we move on to the 2nd part of Peter’s THEREFORE in vss – 8-11
- “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
And then he unpacks what this “loving one another” looks like.
This would be especially applicable to Peter’s first readers.
Experience shows us that when we undergo times of extreme or long term distress – for whatever cause – it is natural to turn inward and to stop thinking in terms of giving to others.
Not only that, but as fallen, yet redeemed creatures, we are prone to think of ourselves in terms only OF ourselves, and forget that God’s plan in His revelation is a plan carried out THROUGH THE CHURCH.
Remember Peter’s great confession in Matthew 16:15–18 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Note what Jesus didn’t say: He didn’t say upon this rock I will build the mass of individual Christians – but “I will build my Church.”
And from that point on as we progress through the NT, the focus is upon individual salvation bringing people into being part of the Family or People of God – which finds its expression in the local Church. We don’t get saved and remain alone or free agents.
We are saved to be a part of His Body, His Church, His people.
It is why Church membership is so important.
Because we are not meant to live the Christian life alone, but committed to a group of God’s people as living and growing WITH God’s people – not in isolation.
Solomon says it well in Proverbs: Proverbs 18:1 “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
Note how the NT is arranged, the letters are all written to gatherings of Believers.
The Church at Rome.
The Church at Corinth.
The Church at Galatia, at Ephesus, at Philippi, at Colosse, Thessalonica, James – to the dispersed tribes – but in a community context, even Timothy and Titus are written to individuals as they organize and build up the Churches where they are.
Philemon, as personal as it is, is written with a greeting which included to the Church which meets in his house.
People gathered in local Churches is the great underlying presupposition of the entire NT – even as the land of Israel in the OT is to the People of God as His people.
No one can read anything in the Word which is not addressed to a group larger than themselves alone – it is for people in the context of the Churches in which they live and function and grow and minister to others.
But as we said above, in times of persecution and marginalization – it is easy to understand how some would say – “you know what? I don’t need the added aggravation of dealing with the tensions of personal disagreements and the sins of other Christians – I’ll just go it alone.”
Peter then warns them that this must be guarded against.
How?
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
In your distress…
In these scattered little house Churches as these most certainly were…
Don’t stop “apocalypting” – by failing to love one another, and not from afar, in theory only – but earnestly – which will necessarily involve – covering a multitude of sins.
The Church is not seen as just that mass of unconnected, individual Christians, but the Church as gathered communities of Believers.
Banded together to work and live as a group who together provide for a place for the public worship of God in society;
For the proclamation of God’s truth in the preaching of His Word in society;
For mutual prayer, counsel, comfort, confrontation and even conflict – so that we might learn how to grow in grace, since Christ’s goal for us is to be conformed to the image of Christ.
This, Peter locates in 2 things, the 2nd of which flows out of the 1st.
- (9) “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
- (10) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Which he then supplies us with several examples of in vs. 11.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
What does it mean for love to “cover” sins here?
What sins is he talking about that love “covers”?
When most of us as Christians for any time think of the “covering” of sin, our minds go back to the imagery God gave us in the Holy of Holies, where the cover of the Ark of the Covenant is referred to as the Mercy Seat. Where the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the day of atonement is sprinkled and the sins of the Jews were “covered” for another year.
The word for “atonement” in the OT comes from a word which means to cover with tar or pitch.
It makes it first appearance in Genesis where Noah is told to seal the Ark with “pitch” – with this covering that allows the Ark to carry them safely through the outpouring of God’s wrath without harm from the flood. It implied making the cracks and the defects invisible behind this pitch.
Then in the Tabernacle & Temple, the word is co-opted as blood is applied to the mercy seat or the cover of the Ark of the Covenant.
Now that covering word itself is not used in the NT, but it does have a counterpart – PROPITIATION – as in Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
And there, it is not a repeated action – but something done once and for all so that the Believer can be permanently reconciled to God the Father through Jesus’ work on the Cross.
But Peter’s word here is not the same. His idea of covering here is not in propitiating for sin the way Christ did.
This word is more common and having to do with covering up other’s failures, so that they are not exposed to others. It is even used of burying, of being completely covered over.
What is Peter after? Karen Jobes in her commentary says it well: What does it mean that love “covers” sins?..love’s covering is put in antithetic parallelism to “hatred stirring up dissension and quarrels”: “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs” (Prov. 10:12 NIV). Since “hatred” is the antonym of “love,” the phrase “covers a multitude of sins” in this antithetic parallel suggests that the sense of “covering” and “stirring up dissension” are also opposites…the love that covers sins is probably best understood as a forbearance that does not let wrongs done within the Christian community come to their fullest and most virulent expression. This was the way Clement of Rome understood 1 Pet. 4:8 in the late first century…The downward spiral is broken when someone in loving forbearance breaks the cycle of acting on hard feelings and doing wrong[1]
Another commentator sums it up this way: [It is]“when a private personal injury has been done to him, [acting] as though nothing had occurred. In this way, by simply ignoring the unkind act or the insulting word, … he brings the evil thing to an end; it dies and leaves no seed…This consideration gives dignity and worth inestimable to the feeble efforts of the most insignificant of us to make love the controlling principle in our daily lives.[2]”
And this kind of covering another’s sins in love, Peter says is to be done “earnestly” – i.e. pursued actively over and over again.
Who can write the long sad tale of how Churches and Christians have been disrupted and divided because Christians have never learned to cover one another’s sins in love?
Because we take slights and careless acts into ourselves and allow them to fester and grow and become malignant and destructive.
Christians are not to be thin-skinned – thrown by every bruise.
No, not EVERY sin can be dealt with this way.
Where there is repeated sin which shows a true pattern or habit, we need to go to our brother or sister’s aide in helping them get free of it.
Or when serious spiritual damage by leading others into sin or false doctrine, or when those things are public and are ACTUAL sins, and not just things we don’t like or aren’t our taste or are uncomfortable with – the Bible spells out courses of action which can be taken.
But this is the FIRST course.
Let it go.
Cover it.
Ignore it.
Move past it and on to more important things.
This is the very nature of love: As per Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Did you catch those “love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”?
They’re not a cast offs. Love’s 1st assumption is that the other person is NOT out to hurt me.
If you are the kind of person who gets angry when someone steps on your toe, rather than just saying ouch – you’re in trouble, and the Church with you. If you bear with nothing – you fail to love.
Be careful, as the writer to the Hebrews warns: 12:15 “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;”
It is not the Spirit of Christ to prosecute every little offense – either formally or in our hearts!
If Jesus had spent His time on earth fencing with everyone who slighted, slandered and poked at Him – He’d have had no time nor the frame of mind to minister so freely to everyone.
And He certainly would have not been prepared – to say “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” on the Cross.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
With everything else we’ve discussed, in these hard times – keep loving one another. Do it earnestly and persistently.
It is seated in the recognition that the Church is comprised of broken people living and working with other broken people.
And do it so as to cover a MULTITUDE of sins, not just one or two.
Which shows itself in the Church in the next verse.
1 Peter 4:9 “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Since these tiny little Churches were forced to exist only in homes – the spill over is evident: Don’t stop doing Church, hosting worship and fellowship in your homes in light of these personal issues.
Invite them still and without a grumbling heart.
For to worship together and hear the Word taught together and to pray together is of the utmost importance.
And in that – 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” – don’t stop using the graces God has given you to bless one another.
How hard our hearts can become – so that over the littlest things we can withdraw and not live to serve the Body of Christ with the gifts He has given us.
I communicated with a pastor not long ago, who found himself surrounded by a core of people who – over disagreements about petty things – decided they would show their displeasure by simply defunding the Church – refusing to give as they formerly had, in order to punish the leadership.
They let bitterness rise up in a situation where I know for a fact after investigating it personally – it was not serious sin which was at the root, but mere disagreements over procedures and preferences and power.
And they covered no one’s sins – but did what they could to expose them – and that, after sometimes even inventing sins!
They stopped receiving others but rather turned people away from the assembly.
And they robbed the Church not only of their monetary gifts, but of any true means of ministering Christ to others – because they were ticked off. And the damage to the Church was horrific. Almost causing them to close their doors.
And this, not as Peter’s readers, spread out in hostile foreign territories, but here in the midst of the relative ease and prosperity and freedom on our nation.
Shameful in every way.
NO! – Peter goes on to instruct – instead, “10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Don’t stop serving one another with the grace God has given you.
Whether it be in word or in deed (as vs. 11 is demonstrating) – continue to gather and to bless so that in EVERYTHING, God may be glorified – revealed, “apocalypted” through Jesus Christ – as you are His servants serving in His Church in this world.
Why?
Because to Him belong glory and dominion, forever and ever.
And if it be forever and ever, NOW, falls right in the middle of that.
Oh, to be truly His lights, shining in this dark place in lives committed to His glory in the Church.
Or as Paul puts it in Ephesians 3:21 “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
[1] Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
[2] Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
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1 Peter Part 16
1 Peter 4:7-11A
Facing The Apocalypse
AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE
I titled this sermon facing the apocalypse for more than one reason.
In the first place, it is due to the fact that in our society today, there is an almost universal misunderstanding of the word itself.
When we think of post-apocalyptic movies for instance like the Mad Max franchise or if you’re a Walking Dead fan – with the “Zombie Apocalypse”, we think of the “apocalypse” as the final or ultimate disaster. The ruination of all things and perhaps some few, brave and odd souls seeking to carve out a new life in the face of nuclear disaster, or an asteroid collision with earth, or some devastating plague nearly wiping out all mankind.
[[IMAGE]] There is big business in that right now- like this kit, available from Amazon among 100’s of others: Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit – $39.99.
[[IMAGE]] But that is not how the Bible uses the word – nor what it means in its first sense at all.
[[IMAGE]] Revelation 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
[[IMAGE]] Romans 8:19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Now there is a sense in which the full revelation of God’s final purposes for this present age also ends in judgment, and the creating of a new heaven and a new earth – but the emphasis isn’t upon destruction, but rather upon the glory of the Lord being revealed in all its strength; Christians being fully revealed in their final conformity to the image of Christ; and the final unveiling of God’s eternal plans and purposes.
[[IMAGE]] 1 Pet. 2:9 But part of this final revelation begins now.
It begins in the deepening contrast between God’s reality, and the darkness of this present age.
This is what Peter is after in is opening statement: “the end of all things is at hand”.
It is not that the end of the world was about to take place, but rather we have entered into the “end times” – which culminate in the final and complete UNVEILING – REVELATION – APOCALYPSE of the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
And all Believers are a part of that now!
[[IMAGE]] Matt. 5:14
[[IMAGE]] Philippians 2:14-15
Christians, thinking and living like those genuinely translated out of the kingdom of darkness into Christ glorious kingdom of light, will stand out more and more in stark contrast to this present age.
We are part of God’s “revealing” – His apocalypse.
As a jeweler presents his finest diamonds against the darkest, light absorbing background of velvet – he or she does so, so that the beauty and true qualities of the diamond are seen in its clearest relief.
This is the way Peter is writing to His brothers and sisters in Christ in their very difficult circumstances.
He writes to them to remind them of what God is doing in them, around them – and especially – THROUGH THEM.
The world is getting blacker and blacker & its sinfulness.
Fallenness & godlessness get increasingly REVEALED when plopped down right in the middle of this darkness, are the Jewels of Christ Jesus – His People.
And in the presence of His people in this darkness – His glory is revealed.
Part of the unveiling of God’s glory is how His people live in the face of opposition, persecution and marginalization.
Peter’s 1st audience is living in the midst of these conditions – and we as Peter’s 2nd audience are beginning to see this advance more and more in our own culture.
[[IMAGE]] “The end of all things is at hand” Peter writes in the 1st part of vs. 7 – “THEREFORE”.
Therefore, this is what we do about it.
In vss. 7-11 Peter sets forth the strategy Christians are to adopt in the face of the coming APOCALYPSE. And it may be a lot different than one would imagine.
There is nothing here about storing up foodstuffs, converting cash into precious metals, withdrawing from the stock market, building a shelter or joining movements. All of which may or may not have some validity given certain external pressures.
Peter’s 1st concern, which ought also to be OUR 1st concern, is seeing that these Holy Spirit breathed-out words for our instruction are to be the focus for Christians as we face such uncertain and troubled times – which have to do with our spiritual state and the continuation of the Church.
[[IMAGE]] “What’s in your wallet? Is the question of credit card marketers.
[[IMAGE]] “What’s in your safe?” Is the question of those in the business of making their money by selling you precious metals.
[[IMAGE]] “What’s in your heart and mind?” Is the question The Holy Spirit poses to bring us into God’s reality in facing this present age.
[[IMAGE]] Therefore:
- “Be self-controlled and sober-minded, for the sake of your prayers.”
- “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
To the 2nd, Peter attaches a number of ways that works out in practical terms.
We’ll concentrate on the 1st instruction today.
[[IMAGE]] THEREFORE:
[[IMAGE]] 1. “Be self-controlled and sober-minded, for the sake of your prayers.”
- Self-controlled
- Sober-minded
- For the sake of your prayers
[[IMAGE]] a. Self-controlled.
The word used here refers to the mind – even as the second one does.
This with “sober-minded” may be a hendiadys – two words meaning the same thing for emphasis – but I think there is enough of a contrast to see them as related, but different.
Self-controlled in this use means – to have control over our own thoughts.
To be in possession of our selves – and especially our thought lives.
To be a people, as God’s people, whose thought process is informed more by God’s Word than mere external influences.
We are not immune to what the world around us says and how it reports what is going on.
But the Spirit-filled Believer, filters these things THROUGH the Word of God – understanding His plans and purposes, and not simply reacting to the data the world throws at us.
News agencies do not get viewership and thus advertisers, unless they continually shock, stir up, titillate, provoke and agitate their audience.
They do not make money unless they upset you enough to keep tuning in.
This is true of blogs and internet sites too – who earn money based on how many clicks their sites get, exposing surfers to the advertisements for products and services that appear on their pages.
And if there is no “hook”, nothing to keep you nervous enough or interested enough to keep you coming back – they are out of business.
The Christian needs to be careful here and to process all of this through a filter – to keep from being dragged around by a reactive brain by everything they throw at us.
Drinking the water will kill you.
Breathing the air will kill you.
Your deodorant will kill you.
Your toothpaste will kill you.
Any of these and a million more, on any given day are either the key to ultimate health and happiness, or absolute horrid destruction.
And Peter says – by the Spirit – STOP! Control your thoughts.
Don’t allow yourself to get sucked in and live in perpetual fear and agitation.
Learn the holy skill of directing your own thoughts.
[[IMAGE]] Like Paul in his letter to the Philippians will write: Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
If you find your own thought life obsessed with fears and doubts and considerations that will not let you go – you need to re-direct your thoughts by refusing to think on those distractions, and to focus upon that which is taught in God’s Word.
True: I cannot always discern what is true in the news, but I know what the Bible says is true.
Honorable: There is precious little that is honorable in politics today – but the Word of God depicts the honor deserving glory of God in Christ Jesus.
Just: Injustice seems to rule the world around us – but God is just and will bring absolute justice in Christ’s return.
Pure: Everything in the world is tainted by sin – but considering the purity and sinlessness of Christ will lead your thoughts to better places.
Lovely: The world specializes in what is twisted, ugly and out of place, while the Bible brings you back over and over again to contemplate the loveliness of the beauty of God and holiness and uprightness.
Commendable: The news focuses our minds upon crime and the brokenness of humankind, while the Bible bids us to ponder what is noble and sweet and good.
THINK ON THESE THINGS. Give your heart and mind time to consider them and to delight in them more and more.
Get self-controlled.
- Sober-minded.
The use of this word is as the opposite of being drunk.
To be under the influence of things which rob your thought process of thinking clearly, cogently, and without distortion.
[[IMAGE]] Andrew Fuller writes: “The mind is in danger of being intoxicated as well as the body. The mind may be intemperately fixed upon things of this life, and we may be drunken with the cares of this life, and so that day [of Christ’s return] come upon us unawares. Be sober. Sober in what? in the pursuits of wealth—in the pursuit of honours; be sober in all your plans and in all your pursuits. There is a kind of chastisedness of spirit that becomes a Christian; it requires that the soul of man in the present state be held in, as it were, with bit and bridle. We are apt to go to extremes in our pursuits, and, when once we have formed our plans, to pursue them with such ardour and eagerness, even plans of a worldly nature, as to intoxicate our minds in them. Beware that we be sober—sober in our plans—sober in our pursuits, and sober while we are viewing the great events that are passing in the world.[1]”
[[IMAGE]] Again, Peter’s concern here is in line with Paul’s: Ephesians 5:18–21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Drunkenness dulls and distorts the senses – whereas the Spirit of Christ sharpens them.
Drunkenness destroys proper inhibitions, where the Spirit of God promotes self-control.
Drunkenness distorts reality – Being filled with the Spirit brings you into reality as God knows it! REAL reality.
Be about the business of constantly being filled with God’s Spirit – being under His influence and control.
Make your interactions with one another occasions for rehearsing God’s goodness and grace and mercy – sparking Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among you.
Bring your mind to think carefully on God’s goodness to you so that thankfulness overflows, and not worry, fretfulness, resentment and fear.
And don’t worry about not having power over life or others. Come to the place where you can joyfully submit to authorities, because personal power means nothing when you are loved and cared for by the One who is Lord over all.
Be sober-minded. Clear. With a thought process that is not overly influenced by the news of the world, as though that is the whole truth.
There are roughly 112 waking hours during each week. One cannot hope to have self-controlled and sober thoughts if only a few of these hours a week are given to the consideration of Biblical and Spiritual things.
[[IMAGE]] c. For the sake of your prayers.
This is a most interesting connection – isn’t it?
- If we are not self-controlled and sober-minded, everything else will take precedence over prayer.
We will let everything else take our time, and little or none will find us before God’s throne – on behalf of one another.
On behalf of the Church as God’s people and as His program in the Church.
- We will not pray according to God’s plans, purposes and agendas, but only according to our own wants and desires. All self-absorbed.
[[IMAGE]] Because we do not know HOW to pray as we ought…Rom. 8:26b
Hallowed be YOUR name
YOUR Kingdom come
YOUR will be done
If we are not self-controlled and sober-minded –
- Prayer will be born of panic and ill conceived, not expressed by faith and thankfulness.
- Prayer will not be a refuge for strength and encouragement, but a heavy duty and disagreeable.
- Prayer may cease to be realistic, and in thinking to bind God to promises He never made, end up undermining our own faith. It will become frustrating.
- Prayer may become little more than a meaningless ritual.
- Prayer will be aimed more at changing adverse and difficult circumstances, than seeking God to use those circumstances to bring about true spiritual change, in myself and others.
- Prayer will cease to be a place if intimate fellowship with God the Father.
How do Christians face the apocalypse?
[[IMAGE]] Being self-controlled by The Holy Spirit
[[IMAGE]] Sober-minded by through the Word
[[IMAGE]] And Constant in Prayer in confidence and trust in the One to Whom we pray, and have access by the grace of God as Christ opened the way for us.
[1] Fuller, Andrew Gunton. 1988. The Complete Works of Andrew Fuller: Memoirs, Sermons, Etc. (Ed.) Joseph Belcher. . Vol. 1. Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications.
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Memorial Service for Maria Jane Canham
April 9, 2016
Proverbs 14:32 “The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.”
This short verse articulates a universe of reality – reality from God’s perspective that is, not necessarily ours.
The writer is most likely Solomon, the son of King David, Israel’s 3rd king and the man whose name has become synonymous with wisdom.
And in it, he sets out 2 very stark contrasts: 1 – Between what he calls “the wicked”, and those he labels “the righteous.”
And the 2nd contrast he notes is that the wicked, meet their final demise, while carrying out their works – as we’ll see in a bit, simply going about their business; while the righteous, find refuge, even in the very end of life itself, in death.
So the verse begs us to ask, what makes one “wicked”, versus one that is “righteous”?
For if the righteous find a refuge in the very last place anyone would normally think to look – what must the difference between these two be?
We will get how the Bible, how God defines who is “wicked” versus who is “righteous” as we consider 3 things about this idea of “refuge”.
- A refuge is a place of safety.
The universe is a hostile place.
Space is a frigid vacuum.
Thus far, we’ve not found a single other planetary orb in all of the universe capable of sustaining life as we know it. At least not in the concrete sense, even though some scientists insist they must be out there somewhere.
And even on this earth – made specifically to be inhabited by humankind, made in the image of God – ever since the Fall in Eden – we’ve had disease, war, human aggression and abuse, poverty, natural disasters and inclemencies of all kinds – famines, plagues and the such like.
And Maria faced some of those head on in her own life and body.
But Maria didn’t put her hope in whether or not these would come her way or impact her – but in the refuge who is Jesus Christ, who died to purchase her eternal redemption.
She found a refuge in death – first and foremost, not in her own impending death, but in the death of her Savior Jesus Christ on her behalf.
She took to heart His Word to her in places like Psalm 27:1–5 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.”
- A refuge is a place of rest or peace.
Interestingly, most of us are unaware what we need rest from – from the reality that we are in the midst of a cosmic battle.
That battle is located in contending with God over who has the right of supremacy over our lives.
We come into this world already locked in this battle.
The God who created us in His image and for His purposes, says He has the rights of a Creator over us – the way we claim rights over anything we make or create.
But we – want to wrest that right from Him and live our lives according to our own plans and purposes, irrespective of His demands and how He has expressed them in His Word to us.
And this is at the very heart of how God defines the wicked and the righteous.
The wicked are those who, in spite of being able to do many noble and upright and loving and honorable things – yet remain locked in this rebellion against the God who made them over who has the right of supremacy over their lives.
They insist that they have the right, while God insists that He does – and they make themselves the enemies of God. They fight against His right to rule over them.
In contrast, the Christian is one who has come to see this battle for what it is, and has surrendered – has laid down their arms and been reconciled to this God they originally resisted, through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. These are whom the Bible calls the “righteous” ones.
For they are right in their relationship with God and have had the righteousness of Jesus Christ put on their account, when they put their faith in His death on Calvary to satisfy the debt they owed to God due to their previous rebellion – and so are counted righteous with His righteousness – not their own.
So it is the Apostle Paul writes: Romans 5:1–6 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul goes on the mention what this “peace” buys the righteous or justified ones:
- Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
- and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
All this – because: 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Maria knew this peace with her Creator through Jesus Christ and it is why she faced death the way she did.
She was counted as a righteous one because of Jesus’ righteousness placed on her account through faith.
So she knew that passing through the veil of her flesh in death, she would come into the welcoming arms of her Lord and Savior – to the very throne of God with whom she was not at war – but at peace, and who would welcome her into His glorious presence to receive her eternal reward at His hands.
- A refuge is a place of comfort.
The hardness of life can be jarring.
No one is spared some suffering in this life, and I am certain each one here could number out an impressive litany of things they’ve suffered – Emotionally
– Physically
– In loss
– Disappointment
– At the hands of others
– Betrayal
– On an on
And finding true comfort can become both an all consuming and frustrating endeavor.
Some seek comfort in escape – Drugs, alcohol, sex.
Some in diversion – Occupation, recreation, involvement in causes or politics or some other pursuit.
Some just retreat and try not to think about it at all.
Maria took none of these routes – she knew that ultimately, true, lasting comfort was only to be had in running to the Refuge of her soul – Christ the Lord.
And what comforts He promises!
The old Puritan Charles Bridges wrote: “But even in death the righteous have a refuge. Their death is full of hope…The righteous dies in God’s grace, and in an assured confidence of the salvation of his soul, and of the glorious resurrection of his body” (Diodati).[1]
Another Puritan, John Flavel writes: The immunities of the [resurrected] body are its freedom from all natural infirmities; which as they come in, so they go out with sin. Thenceforth there shall be no diseases, deformities, pains, flaws, monstrosities; their good physician death hath cured all this, and their vile bodies shall be made like unto Christ’s glorious body, Phil. 3:21. and be made a spiritual body, 1 Cor. 15:44. For agility, like the chariots of Aminadab; for beauty, as the top of Lebanon; for incorruptibility, as if they were pure spirits.
The soul also is discharged and freed from all darkness and ignorance of mind, being now able to discern all truths in God, that chrystal ocean of truth. The leaks of the memory stopt for ever; the roving of the fancy perfectly cured; the stubbornness and reluctancy of the will for ever subdued, and retained in due and full subjection to God. So that the saints in glory shall be free from all that now troubles them; they shall never sin more, nor be once tempted so to do, for no serpent hisses in that paradise; they shall never grieve nor groan more, for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. They shall never be troubled more…and to them that are troubled, rest; they shall never doubt more, for fruition excludes doubting.
The formal happiness is the fulness of satisfaction resulting from the blessed sight and enjoyment of God, by a soul so attempered to him, Psal. 17:15. “When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness.” This sight of God, in glory, called the beatifical vision, must needs yield ineffable satisfaction to the beholding soul, inasmuch as it will be an intuitive vision. The intellectual or mental eye shall see God…The corporeal glorified eye shall see Christ…What a ravishing vision will this be! and how much will it exceed all reports and apprehensions we had here of it! Surely one half was not told us. It will be a transformative vision, it will change the beholder into its own image and likeness. “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is,” 1 John 3:2. As iron put into the fire, becomes all fiery; so the soul, by conversing with God, is changed into his very similitude. It will be an appropriative vision; “Whom I shall see for myself,” Job 19:26, 27. In heaven…fear is castut: no need of marks and signs there; for what a man sees and enjoys, how can he doubt of? It will be a ravishing vision; these we have by faith are so, how much more those in glory? How was Paul transported, when he was in a visional way wrapt up into the third heaven, and heard the unutterable things, though he was not admitted into the blessed society, but was with them, as the angels are in our assemblies, a stander-by, a looker-on….It will also be an eternal vision; (as Augustus said) we shall then be at leisure for this employment, and have no diversions from it for ever. No evening is mentioned to the seventh day’s sabbath; no night in the new Jerusalem. And therefore,
Lastly, It will be a fully satisfying vision: God will then be all in all, “Curiosity itself will be satisfied.” The blessed soul will feel itself blessed, filled, satisfied in every part. Ah, what a happiness is here! to look and love, to drink and sing, and drink again at the fountain head of the highest glory!…
And so also will the accessories of this blessedness be; The place where God is enjoyed, the empyrean heaven, the city of God, whither Christ ascended, where the great assembly are met. Paradise and Canaan were but the types of it; more excelling and transcending the royal palaces of earthly princes, than they do a pigeonhole. The company also with whom he is enjoyed, adds to the glory. A blissful society indeed! store of good neighbours in that city. There we shall have familiar converse with angels, whose appearances now are insupportable by poor mortals: There will be sweet and full closings also betwixt the saints; Luther and Zuinglius are there agreed. Here they could not fully close with one another, and no wonder, for they could not fully close with themselves. But there is perfect harmony and unity; all meeting and closing in God, as lines in the centre. This is a blessed glimpse of your inheritance.[2]
This – is the joy and the hope and the reality of the REFUGE each in Christ has – and that which Maria has entered into already – the moment she passed from this life into the arms of her Savior.
The hope I know for certain she desired each and every one of you she knew and loved – would have in Christ as well.
As she lived in Christ, so she died in Christ, and will be resurrected because of Christ and with all His saints when He returns.
For she made Him – her refuge, and in Him, even death itself became a refuge.
[1] Bridges, Charles. 2001. Proverbs. (Crossway Classic Commentaries). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
[2] Flavel, John. 1820. The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel. . Vol. 1. London; Edinburgh; Dublin: W. Baynes and Son; Waugh and Innes; M. Keene.
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Today we had the privilege of Dr. Michael Canham preaching for us. It is always a joy and a blessing to have him here, and today was no exception. He was in town for his sister Maria’s memorial service which I had the great honor of preaching at. Sit back and prepare for a real feast in God’s Word.
Mike is a longtime friend, holds a PhD from Westminster Seminary and serves as one of the professors at Cornerstone Seminary in Vallejo California.
THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE
The Notes can be seen by clicking on the following link CanhamMatt27
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1 Corinthians 11:23–34 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
There is an old cultural maxim for “good luck” that has survived the years, although not nearly as popular as it once was. It was addressed to brides and went like this:
Something old
Something new
Something borrowed
Something blue
Most of however may not know that there is a closing line that almost never gets mentioned and it is:
And a silver six-pence in her shoe
Borrowing from that simple framework, I would like to modify it as we come to the Lord’s Table this evening. And my version goes like this:
Something blended
Something New
Something Missing
Something True
And all things by Jesus, made brand new.
As is clear from Mark’s Gospel (at least) the Last Supper was in fact a Passover meal. At the end of it however, Jesus co-opts the meal and transforms it in something entirely different than the original, and leaves it for His Church to continue until He returns. It still has ties to the Passover meal, but by virtue of Christ’s fulfilling all that the Passover foreshadowed, it must, by necessity undergo change.
You will remember that the Passover meal was quite specific. An entire roasted lamb, which could have no blemish and no broken bones, to be consumed in its entirety. Unleavened bread – to signify the haste with which the Jews would need to leave Egypt. Naturally there would be wine. And there were to be bitter herbs, to remind them of the bitterness of their captivity. The lamb was slain at twilight, and the blood of the lamb was to be applied to the doorposts and the lintel of each household – so that when the Death Angel visited Egypt that night, those who had complied with these directives would be spared the loss of their firstborn sons. Where as all those not complying – certainly virtually ALL of the Egyptians, would suffer that loss.
But now we come to the Last Supper. The meal ended, Jesus broke bread (the word for common bread is used in the text, not unleavened bread – something to be discussed at a later date) and took the cup and established the pattern the Church was to follow until He comes back.
So let us notice 4 things:
- Something blended / In the Communion meal, there is no lamb to be consumed by us, because on the Cross, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world was completely consumed. The type had been fulfilled. And, Jesus, as the very Bread of Life come down from the Father, not for the Jews only, but for all who would believe in Him – was broken for us. The Lamb and the Bread combine in the person of Christ who fulfills both. It is a magnificent transition signifying all fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
But then too – there is –
- Something New / In vs. 25 Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood”. He inaugurates the New Covenant at this moment. The Old Covenant is no longer the one which the Believer is under – and hence the removal of the Passover meal, and the installation of the Lord’s Supper – perpetuated until His return. A more stunning display of the total transition from one covenant to the other cannot be imagined. No Lamb, for THE lamb has died. And now the cup – not a prospective of an atonement to come – but a retrospective on an atonement accomplished! A, THE, New Covenant indeed.
And then there is something truly astonishing. For sometimes, great truth emerges from what is NOT there, as much (if not more) from what is. IN this case:
- Something Missing / Utterly missing now, are the bitter herbs. Bitter herbs (as we know) symbolized the bitterness of the Israelites’ struggles in Egypt. God instituted that as part of this Passover meal. But in the Lord’s Supper, there is no place found for bitter herbs any more. For the Jews, the Passover meal was all retrospective – and that in remembering former bitterness. We’ll come back to this in a moment. But hear this now – in Christ, all bitterness is taken away in Him! It has no place in our remembrance at the table any more.
Lastly, there is:
- Something True / The death of Christ and the New Covenant He established is a PRO-spective. It looks forward. So when Jesus established is He says: “And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:14–16
This then is the truth of our final state: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:1-4
NO BITTERNESS there! No crying. No mourning. Christ Himself wiping the tears from our eyes. And the Table bids us look there and taste something of that glory in the taking of the elements even now.
Many of you here have drunk a full cup of bitterness in this life. Death of a loved one. Betrayal. Unwanted divorce. Chronic illness. Disappointment. Abuse. Loneliness. Failure. All the effects of sin, of the Fall in the Garden – not to mention the failures and lost battles against sin itself in our own lives. Some have suffered extremes of bitter things in this life, so as to make it a wonder that you still stand today.
But! SO great is our redemption in Christ, that in the New Kingdom when it comes in full – even our memories of all which transpired in this life – will be purged of all of its bitterness. There will be none left even in our most prefect recollections. For looking back we will see His glorious hand in every trial. His divine purposes in perfect wisdom. How He led and kept and sustained and used every bitter sip as part and parcel of preparing our eventual blessedness. So we will not look back on a one with sorrow any more – but only with understanding, joy and grateful worship.
No, that may not be possible now – but it WILL be reality then. This is the redemptive work of Christ. And in these elements tonight, we get to taste it in advance.
So Revelation 21:5 “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
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It is quite common that Puritans get a bad rap. Mencken’s quip above expresses the sentiments of many a poorly informed soul in that regard.
Were there self-righteous, overly pietistic, religionistic blowhards filled with quasi-spiritual smuggery among the Puritans? Yup. Just like there are today (and always have been) in every branch of the Church. But is that a legitimate broad brush with which to paint the entire crowd? Nope. Not even close.
In fact, if you can read the following excerpt from my favorite of the Puritan preachers – John Flavel, and still come away with such a dim view – then I guess I have no means whatever to change your mind. No evidence will suffice.
But for me – God give me the heart that can pour out this kind of worship, whether in public or in private, in preaching or in prayer, and I will die a blessed man. This is what Puritan worship sounds like in the midst of a sermon. And this, is high stuff indeed.
Of Jesus Christ, our Puritan Preacher waxed:
“He is a sun of righteousness; a fountain of life; a bundle of love. Of him it might be said in that day, Here lies lovely Jesus, in whom is treasured up whatsoever an angry God can require for his satisfaction, or an empty creature for his perfection; before him was none like him, and after shall none arise comparable to him. “If every leaf and spire of grass,” (saith* one,) “nay, all the stars, sands and atoms, were so many souls and seraphims, whose love should double in them every moment to all eternity, yet would it fall infinitely short of what is due to his worth and excellency. Suppose a creature composed of all the choice endowments that ever dwelt in the best of men since the creation of the world, in whom you find a meek Moses, a strong Sampson, a faithful Jonathan, a beautiful Absalom, a rich and wise Solomon; nay, and add to this, the understanding, strength, agility, splendour, and holiness of all the angels, it would all amount but to a dark shadow of this incomparable Jesus.”
“Who ever weighed Christ in a pair of balances?” saith another. “Who hath seen the foldings and plaits, the heights and depths of that glory that is in him! O for such a heaven, as but to stand afar off and see, and love, and long for him, while time’s thread be cut, and this great work of creation dissolved!—O, if I could yoke in among the throng of angels and seraphims, and now glorified saints, and could raise a new love-song of Christ before all the world! I am pained with wondering at new opened treasures in Christ. If every finger, member, bone and joint, were a torch burning in the hottest fire in hell, I would they could all send out love-praises, high songs of praise for evermore, to that plant of renown, to that royal and high Prince, Jesus my Lord. But, alas! his love swelleth in me, and finds no vent.—I mar his praises, nay, I know no comparison of what Christ is, and what he is worth. All the angels, and all the glorified, praise him not so much as in halves. Who can advance him, or utter all his praise?—O, if I could praise him, I would rest content to die of love for him. O, I would to God I could send in my praises to my incomparable Well-beloved, or cast my love-songs of that matchless Lord Jesus over the walls, that they might light in his lap before men and angels!—But when I have spoken of him till my head rive, I have said just nothing; I may begin again. A Godhead, a Godhead, is a world’s wonder! Set ten thousand thousand new-made worlds of angels and elect men, and double them in number ten thousand thousand thousand times: let their hearts and tongues be ten thousand times more agile and large than the hearts and tongues of the seraphims, that stand with six wings before him; when they have said all for the glorifying and praising of the Lord Jesus, they have spoken little or nothing. O that I could even wear out this tongue in extolling his highness! But it is my daily admiration, and I am confounded with his incomparable love.”[1]
Search out this wonderful God until you can stand no more visions of His beauty, glory and grace.
[1] Flavel, John. 1820. The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel. . Vol. 1. London; Edinburgh; Dublin: W. Baynes and Son; Waugh and Innes; M. Keene.
ResponsiveReiding 