Category: New Covenant Theology

A bite of Newton with your morning coffee.

June 14th, 2016
1 Peter part 22: Sermon Notes – The Conclusions

June 12th, 2016
1 PETER Part 22

CONCLUSIONS

1 Peter 5:12-14

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

We now come to the final portion of this very provocative and insightful letter, penned by the Apostle Peter to Christians exiled from Rome because of their beliefs – and scattered throughout a broad region nearly the size of California.

These are places where Paganism and local gods, deities and superstitions run wild – and where Christianity has made very few inroads.

The culture is overwhelmingly hostile to the Christian worldview, and especially its morality and values.

And for the most part, these Christians are in isolated little pockets with few other Christians to turn to for support or even prayer.

They are misunderstood, discriminated against, and looked upon with suspicion and disdain. Relocated here against their will as if they were enemies of the State.

It is to Christians under these circumstances that Peter writes to give them a reminder and digest of just what it means to BE a Christian, and to live the Christian life under these extreme pressures.

So when we come to these closing words, Peter takes the time to summarize all he has said so far, but condensing it into this compact phrase: 1 Peter 5:12 “this is the true grace of God.”

In other words – THIS – what he has written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – is what TRUE Christianity looks like lived out in this present world.

However else some may characterize the Christian life –
- A pathway to power
- A means of achieving respectability, or success or financial stability
- A way to get the ideal family, job or life situation
- Or perhaps in our case, the way to grasp the American dream of freedom, personal happiness and security…
Christianity is NOT some method of getting the universe to give us what we want, nor to bend God’s arm to our way of doing things to accomplish our dreams.

Instead, Christianity restores us to living lives committed to God’s plans and purposes in the World through His Church.

Back to being what we were made to be – His image bearers.

To serve as His representatives in this World, displaying His excellencies and accomplishing His will.

This, Peter contends, is the “TRUE” grace of God – not what men want to make it out to be.

And we’ll come back to unpack that in a fly-by survey of the letter’s key themes in a moment.

So his closing is both simple and profound: It breaks down into 6 statements.
1. ¹² By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you,
Silvanus is the Latinized version of the name of someone most of us are already familiar with from Acts 15.

In that passage: Paul & Barnabas had been at Antioch in Syria, revisiting some places where they had previously preached the Gospel.

While they were there, some Jewish men came down from Jerusalem, telling the Gentile Christians they had to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses in able to be saved.

Acts 15:1 “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

This created quite an uproar as you might imagine – Paul seeing this as a direct attack upon the Gospel of grace: Salvation through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone.

So off went Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to put the matter before the Church leadership there.

And when the Leadership discussed and debated it all – it is Peter who summarized the issue saying: Acts 15:7–11 “And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Acts 15:19–21 “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

They then sent a letter conveying these things back to those Gentile Believers in Antioch, and with the letter, sent some of their own so that Paul & Barnabas would not be looked upon with suspicion as though they did this on their own.

And so Acts 15:22 notes: “They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.” Along with them. Vs. 32 there notes that these 2 men were “prophets.”

This same Silas later in the chapter becomes Paul’s chief ministry companion taking the place of Barnabas.

Silas then would have been quite well known in Christian circles, and if Peter not only used Silas as his amanuensis, but also was the one who actually delivered this letter – it would have great confirmation attached to it.
1. Peter says that in his letter he was doing 2 things: “exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God.”
In other words, he wasn’t just giving them some advice, he sent the letter to goad them into accepting its contents and living out its principles with Apostolic authority.
1. And what is that charge? Since this is the “true grace of God” – Stand firm in it.
That is his final call. Don’t abandon these things or let them slip – this is Christianity as God has given it – what it looks like to live as having obtained God’s highest favor in Jesus Christ – DON’T LET IT GO!
1. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.
The reference here to Babylon is somewhat disputed, but most take it as a reference to Rome where Peter now was, and as a symbol of his unity with them that even there, he too was in “exile” – even as the Jews in the OT were during their Babylonian captivity.

ALL Christians are in a sense in exile, until we come to our true home, the New Jerusalem which will come down out of Heaven at the end of all things. As per: Rev. 3:12 and Ch. 21.

Being in Rome was no less being in exile than being thrown out of Rome and into the regions where they were.

Because this is a spiritual reality, not a spatial or geographical one.
1. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Keep your hearts tender toward one another even in this distress.
2. For in fact – there is “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” Peace that truly passes understanding – even in the midst of the most harrowing trials.
Which leads us back them to Peter’s Conclusions: It is his 2^nd statement which is so pregnant with meaning – This is the TRUE grace of God – that they, and we – need to stand firm in.

If what he has written is to be understood as “the true grace of God” – what IS that true grace that we are to stand firm in?

And for this, we go back to survey Peter’s key themes in the letter.

Christians are:
1. (1:1-2) Elect Exiles. Exiled, but God’s still. 1 Peter 1:1–2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
2. According to His foreknowledge. NO Surprise.
3. As part of His setting us apart from the rest of the world for Himself.
4. As leading us to obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord above all earthly powers.
5. For being purified in Him, not through religion.
Christians are to have:
1. A fixed hope in Christ’s return and resurrection. Anticipating the living inheritance, undefiled, preserved for us Who are being preserved.
1 Peter 1:3–5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Christians are to:
1. Endure Suffering & Persecution as normative. 1 Peter 1:6–7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Christians respond to these things:
1. With non-Retaliation & Gracious responses to all authorities and persecutors: 3:9; 13-17. Firm but winsome.
1 Peter 2:13–17 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

1 Peter 3:13–16 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Christians are not to be distracted from :
1. Preserving & Perpetuating Christ’s Church. 1 Peter 4:7–10 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 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:
Both Elders and Non-Elders.

Christians must remember our:
1. Eschatological Calling:
a. Revealing in Christ’s Character Holiness as opposed to the passions of the flesh and the values of this world.

1 Peter 2:9–12 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

b. Prefiguring of God’s final judgment. 1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Christians are facing:
1. Supernatural opposition but with supernatural equipping in humble dependence upon The Spirit.
1 Peter 5:6–9 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

What he has written to them, regarding how to live as strangers and exiles in this present hostile world, IS what the true faith looks like. This is Christianity at its core.

This then dispels a very pervasive, but unspoken myth about being a Christian that persists among many today.

That is, that simply BEING a Christian is the key goal – we might call it a biological mindset of Christianity.

I AM all Christian, that’s all there is.

But God in His creation shows us quite a different picture.

Yes, when a human egg is fertilized, at that very moment, that fertilized egg is as truly and biologically human as he or she will ever be.

They aren’t some other species which then grows into becoming a human being – that ARE a human being.

But, they are not meant to simply BE a human being, they are never meant to remain a zygote.

They are meant to grow up into the fullness of their humanity and all that that implies.

This then is the very same reality with the Christian.

To become one, but never to grow more into Christ’s likeness,

Never to take on walking like a Christian, thinking like a Christian, feeding yourself and taking on spiritual responsibility is a sad and tragic anomaly – it is anything BUT the Christian life.

Peter is telling his readers AND us, the TRUE grace of God takes on a certain appearance and does not stop at being simply a “biological” child of God – but a one who lives out that life in the real aspects of life in this fallen world.

The true grace of God is our knowing His favor in Jesus Christ, irrespective of external trials and tribulations. And knowing that as we stand in this favor, we are not to retaliate sinfully against those who sin against us – but putting all of our hope in what will be ours at Christ’s return, depend upon His indwelling Spirit to respond in gentleness and right submission, while protecting and growing His people and His Church, resting in His sovereign hand, and living as eschatological lights in the world, and as indicators of God’s coming wrath on sin. Knowing all the while that we will be opposed spiritually, but remaining steadfast by the strength He imparts.

This, is what Christ has purchased for us by His blood. Not a bare salvation – but a glorious one – growing more and more into His own image by the presence and power of His indwelling Spirit.
As I was reading today: In Andrew Fuller

June 1st, 2016

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.
1 Peter Part 21 – Sermon Notes: The Forgotten Foe

May 29th, 2016
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 2^nd 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.
1. 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:
1. Refuse the humility of the incarnation by making bread for Himself out of stones rather than trusting the Father’s providential care.
2. To throw Himself off of the Temple to PROVE who He really was and avoid the misunderstanding and humiliation by the unbelievers.
3. 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.
1. We have an Adversary.
2. 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.
1 Peter Part 20 – Sermon Notes / The Power of Humility

May 22nd, 2016
1 Peter Part 20

1 Peter 5:5–7

The Power of Humility

^{AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE}

OUTLINE:
1. (5a) LIKEWISE
2. (5c) CLOTHE YOURSELVES
III. (6-7) HUMBLE YOURSELVES
1. (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 1^st 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;
1. to strengthen it if it is suffering under pressures, neglect or abuse;
2. 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.
1. (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.
1. 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.
1. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
Sermon Notes for 1 Peter Part 18 – Pain, Perseverance and Living Prophetically

May 8th, 2016
1 PETER PART 18

1 PETER 4:12-19

Pain, Perseverance and Living Prophetically

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS CHAPTER, WE COME TO PETER’S SUMMARY ON ALL THAT HAS COME BEFORE.

IN CH. 5 – HE’LL GIVE BUT 1 MORE EXHORTATION IN 5:1-11 STARTING WITH THE ELDERS, AND THEN HIS FINAL GREETINGS OR GOODBYE.

SO THIS PORTION SERVES TO TIE UP ALL THE LOOSE ENDS FROM WHAT HE HAS ALREADY SAID, AND IS WONDERFULLY SUCCINCT.

IT IS BUILT AROUND 3 COUPLETS:
1. ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you…¹³ But rejoice…
2. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed…¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer…
3. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God…¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls…
BEFORE WE UNPACK THESE COUPLETS, LET ME ASK YOU TO TAKE AN IMAGINARY JOURNEY WITH ME.

IMAGINE YOU WERE BORN ABOARD A HUGE SHIP.

ALL YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN IS BEING AT SEA.

YOU HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH WHOM YOU INTERACT, BUT YOUR ENTIRE CONCEPT OF LIFE IS YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTEXT – YOU ARE IN THIS CLOSED SPACE WITH A FINITE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND A VAST EXPANSE OF SEA EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.

AS YOU GROW, YOU BEGIN TO WONDER IF THIS IS ALL THERE IS.

YOU ASK – WHERE DID THIS SHIP COME FROM?

AND SOMEONE STARTS TO LET YOU IN ON SOME INFORMATION THAT TO THIS POINT YOU HAD NEVER CONSIDERED BEFORE.

SHIPS, HAVE TO BE BUILT. THEY DON’T JUST APPEAR.

NOT ONLY THAT, THEY MUST BE BUILT SOMEWHERE, WHERE THEY WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SINK, UNTIL THEY ARE SEA WORTHY.

MORE – SHIPS AREN’T MADE TO JUST FLOAT AND KEEP YOU ALIVE WHILE FLOATING, SHIPS HAVE A PORT THEY ORIGINATED FROM, AND WILDEST OF ALL – THEY ARE SAILING TO SOMEPLACE. THERE IS A DESTINATION.

HOW THAT INFORMATION WOULD ENTIRELY CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF, LIFE AND ALL OF REALITY.

THIS IS WHAT PETER IS DOING FOR HIS READERS – AND BY EXTENSION – FOR US.

NEITHER RELIGION, CHRISTIANITY, NOR LIFE, IS JUST SOME FLOATING VESSEL, KEEPING US ALIVE UNTIL WE FINALLY DIE.

THE SHIP COULD BE A METAPHOR FOR ALL THREE.

BUT REALITY IS BIGGER THAN OUR SHIP.

AND OUR SHIP CAME FROM SOMEWHERE, WAS BUILT BY SOMEONE, AND IT IS GOING SOMEWHERE.

IF YOUR VIEW OF RELIGION, AND CHRISTIANTY IN PARTICULAR IS MERELY AN ELABORATE FLOTATION DEVICE, ENABLING YOU TO LIVE WHERE OTHERWISE YOU WOULD PERISH, UNTIL YOU DO JUST FINALLY DIE – YOU ARE LIVING IN UN-REALITY. IN A FABLE.

COMING TO THE SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST OPENS THE EYES TO A REALITY WHICH IS VASTLY MORE COMPREHENSIVE.

GOD BUILT THE SHIP EARTH, AND THE INHABITANTS, BOTH THE PEOPLE AND THE BELIEF SYSTEM OF TRUTH ABOUT IT ALL.

HUMANITY BEGAN AT A POINT IN TIME BY GOD’S DESIGN.

AND IT APPEARS TO JUST BE FLOATING ALONG AIMLESSLY.

BUT IT ISN’T!

IT IS ALL GOING SOMEWHERE. THERE IS A DESTINATION – A DESIGNED END.

AND NO ONE TRULY LIVES IN REAL-REALITY – TO QUOTE FRANCIS SCHAEFFER, UNTIL WE COME TO GRIPS WITH THE ONE WHO MADE US, AND WHAT HIS INTENTS AND PURPOSES ARE.

IT IS GRASPING THIS REALITY, AND LIVING INTENTIONALLY IN IT, THAT PETER IS AFTER IN ADDRESSING THE DISTRESS OF HIS READERS – AND WE IN OURS.

NOTHING JUST HAPPENS. EVERYTHING HAPPENS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WHERE GOD IS TAKING US AND WHAT IT IS HE IS AFTER.

AND WE WILL NEVER DEAL RIGHTLY WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES UNTIL WE LIVE THEM OUT INTENTIONALLY IN THE LIGHT OF WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHY WE ARE HERE AND WHERE EVERYTHING IS GOING.

ONCE WE GET THOSE THINGS STRAIGHT, HOW TO LOOK AT AND LIVE THROUGH SUFFERING FINALLY MAKES SENSE.

UNTIL THEN, WE ARE LIVING BLIND.

FLOATING IN OUR VAST OCEAN, AIMLESSLY. AND JUST DOING THE BEST WE CAN UNTIL WE DIE.

TRUTH, THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, FREES US FROM THAT PRISON OF OBLIVION – AND LEADS US TO LIFE IN THE ONE WHO GAVE US LIFE – JESUS CHRIST.

SO IT IS ON THAT CONTEXT PETER CAN SAY IN THIS PORTION OF HIS LETTER:
1. ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you…¹³ But rejoice…
CHRISTIANS FACING SUFFERING HAS BEEN A MAIN THEME FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS LETTER.

MUCH LIKE THE THEME OF THE BOOK OF JOB – WHY THOSE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS, AND ESPECIALLY WE WHO HAVE COME TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST JESUS AS OUR SUBSTITUTE AND ARE COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS IN HIM – SUFFER? IS A PERENNIAL QUESTION.

IT SEEMS OFF. UNJUST. NOT RIGHT AND PROPER. IT MAKES NO SENSE.

YET PETER, UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BIDS US TO RECKON WITH SUFFERING – NOT ONLY AS TO BE EXPECTED, BUT EVEN TO BE EMBRACED BY THE BELIEVER AS A BADGE OF HONOR.

AND MOST ESPECIALLY THE SUFFERING WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE CHRIST’S IN A CULTURE OR SOCIETY THAT HAS AN INCREASING BIAS AGAINST CHRISTIANITY, ITS TRUTH CLAIMS AND ITS MORALITY.

HONOR IN GOD’S EYES, NOT PEOPLE’S.

SO IN WRAPPING UP, IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT HE WOULD SAY “DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE FIERY TRIAL WHEN IT COMES UPON YOU TO TEST YOU.”

2 THINGS:
1. TRIAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS ABNORMAL, BUT NORMAL.
WE DO NOT LIVE ASSUMING LIFE OWES US OR IS SUPPOSED TO BE TROUBLE FREE AND FILLED WITH EASE.

IT IS THE SOLDIER’S MINDSET.

NO ONE GOES TO WAR THINKING IT WILL BE ALL HAMMOCKS, SIGHT-SEEING AND A CHANCE TO TRY NEW FOODS.

AND THE CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO HAS SWITCHED SIDES IN THE COSMIC WAR BETWEEN SERVING GOD AND SERVING SELF, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL.

SO WE ARE TO EXPECT ATTACK, DIS-EASE AND CHALLENGE AT EVERY TURN.

AND LIVING AS THOUGH THESE THINGS ARE FOREIGN AND SOMEHOW TO BE ELIMINATED WILL LEAVE US PERPETUALLY FRUSTRATED AND DEFEATED.

IF WE THINK THAT VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING IS LIVING WITHOUT PAIN AND OPPOSITION – OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE WILL BE ENDLESSLY NON-SENSICAL. WE’LL LIVE CONSTANTLY CHAFED AT ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1. SUCH ADVERSITY IS SENT TO TEST US. TO TEST US IN OUR GENUINENESS. NOT WITH THE HOPE OF FINDING US FAILING, BUT WITH THE HOPE OF FINDING US TRUE!
JESUS’ PARABLE IN Matthew 13:3–9 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”

NOTE HOW THE VERY SAME BEATING SUN AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ADVERSITY OVERCAME SOME, WHILE OTHERS PERSEVERED AND BECAME FRUITFUL.

THIS IS PART OF GOD’S TESTING PROCESS TO SEE WHAT IS GENUINE AND WHAT IS NOT. TO DISCOVER IT FOR US!

MANY IS THE MAN OR WOMAN WHO PROFESSES TO KNOW AND SERVE CHRIST, WHO WHEN TESTED, PROVES NOT TO HAVE BEEN WELL ROOTED OR HEALTHY OR SOLID AT ALL.

AND HAVING REALIZED THAT THEY HAVE NO REAL ROOT – OUGHT TO BE THE OCCASION TO RUN TO CHRIST FOR TRUE TRANSFORMATION – TO BE BORN AGAIN AS GENUINE “SEED”.

IF TRIALS PUT YOU OFF CHRIST, PUT YOU OFF THE CHURCH, DRIVE YOU BACK TO SINFUL AND GODLESS PLACES – WHATEVER YOUR PROFESSION OF FAITH OR RELIGION – YOU STILL NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN.

IT ISN’T A SCRIPTURAL SAYING, BUT IT IS A SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLE THAT “THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.” THOSE WHO ARE GENUINELY CHRIST’S PERSEVERE TO THE END. AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT, FALL AWAY.

JESUS COULD NOT MAKE IT ANY CLEARER THAN HE DID IN Mark 13:13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

IT IS THOSE WHO ENDURE TO THE END WHO WILL BE SAVED – AND NONE OTHER.

MANY HAVE PUT A FALSE HOPE IN A ONE TIME EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO CHRIST WHO IN REALITY ARE NOT ENDURING AND PERSEVERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, AND LET NO ONE IN THAT CONDITION IMAGINE THEMSELVES TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD AND AMONG THE REDEEMED: Ephesians 5:5–6 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

1 Timothy 1:9–11 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

ONE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THOSE THINGS CHRIST DIED TO SAVE US FROM, AND IMAGINE THEMSELVES TO BE IN CHRIST.

HE DID NOT DIE TO SAVE US IN OUR SINS, BUT FROM OUR SINS.

AND SO IT IS ADVERSITY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN EXPOSING THE TRUTH – SO THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED, AND NOT REMAIN UNDER HIS WRATH.

IN FACT, NOT ONLY OUGHT WE NOT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS SENT TO TEST US – INSTEAD, WE OUGHT TO 1 Peter 4:13 rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

It is a wonder of grace, that we ARE ALLOWED TO glimpse the glory of Christ and of the age to come, and by it, see how truly broken and sin-wracked this world is, and we in it.

It is a peculiar privilege of the Believer to groan in this present world – groaning with Jesus “how long?” must we live where sin still abounds and ravages the souls of those made in Christ’s image?

IT IS A HIGH HONOR To feel the pain of the fallen present against the backdrop of the world to come.

A PRIVILEGE ONLY THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST PARTAKE OF.

DON’T BE surprised, BUT REJOICE.
1. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed…¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer…
COMING BACK TO THE EXACT SITUATION OF HIS READERS – PETER GOES ON TO REMIND THEM THAT NOT ALL SUFFERING IS SUFFERING FOR CHRIST.

THAT WHICH IS DUE TO BEING LINKED WITH JESUS AND THE PRINCIPLES AND VALUES OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY – IS A BLESSING WHICH WE ARE TO VALUE HIGHLY.

ONE CANNOT BUT IMMEDIATELY REMEMBER THE EVENTS IN ACTS 5 WHEN PETER AND JOHN WERE ARRESTED AND TOLD NOT TO PREACH IN THE NAME OF JESUS ANY MORE.

NOTE – IT WASN’T THAT THEY PREACHED – IT WAS THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WAS SO UPSETTING. Acts 5:40–41 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

MANY A CHAPLAIN AND OTHERS ARE BEING PRESSURED THESE DAYS NOT TO PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME.

ITS OK TO PRAY – JUST NOT IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

AND I’M OF THE OPINION WE WILL SEE THIS TREND INCREASE CONSIDERABLY IN A SHORT TIME.

THAT SAID, PETER’S CONCERN HERE IS THAT WHILE IT IS A BLESSING TO SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN FOR HOLDING TO BIBLICAL TRUTH AND STANDARDS IN AN INCREASINGLY HOSTILE CULTURE – ONE CANNOT, MUST NOT LUMP SUFFERING DUE TO THEIR OWN SIN INTO THE SAME CATEGORY.

NOT EVERYTHING WE SUFFER IS DUE TO FOLLOWING CHRIST AND SO 1 Peter 4:14–16 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

DON’T TRY TO BAPTIZE YOUR SUFFERING FOR SIN AS LAUDABLE OR IN SOME WAY GLORIFYING TO CHRIST.

IN FACT – “LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER, THIEF, EVILDOER OR MEDDLER” – J. H. Elliott (2000: 788) describes what such meddling may have involved in the social context of the original readers: “Censuring the behavior of outsiders on the basis of claims to a higher morality, interfering with family relationships, fomenting domestic discontent and discord, or tactless attempts at conversion.”^{^[1]}

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED THIS LAST WEEK ON A MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF “PHILLY JESUS”.

MICHAEL GRANT IS A STREET PREACHER IN PHILADELPHIA, HE DRESSES UP LIKE JESUS, CARRIES A LARGE CROSS AND – POSES FOR PICTURES – AND RECENTLY HE WOULDN’T LEAVE AN APPLE STORE AFTER BEING ASKED TO DO SO SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE HIS CROSS WAS BLOCKING AN AISLE.

HE WAS EVENTUALLY ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT – AND AFTER BEING RELEASED SIMPLY SAID “FREE AT LAST!”

THIS IS NOT SUFFERING FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST – IT IS FOOLISHNESS.

IF YOU ARE INSULTED FOR CHRIST – YOU ARE BLESSED, BUT NOT IF YOU SUFFER FOR SIN AND FOOLISHNESS.
1. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God…¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls…
AND IT IS IN THIS LAST COUPLET THAT PETER TIES THE IDEAS WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS TOGETHER WITH THIS – THIS ESCHATOLOGICAL REALITY THAT BELIEVERS ARE EVEN NOW PART OF THE APOCALYPSE – THE REVEALING OF CHRIST –

AND AS THIS IS SO – SO IT IS “TIME FOR JUDGMENT TO BEGIN AT THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD.”

The Believer sees all suffering at least in part, as portents of God’s final judgment poured out upon all. We still experience that, even tho we are justified, and will ultimately be delivered.

This was the experience of Noah, who went through God’s judgment in the flood, even as he was being preserved from it.

So every time God disciplined Israel, the prophets who bore God’s Word to the people suffered in those same judgments, tho preserved. Think TOO of Elijah and the famine IN HIS DAY.

THUS, if we understand our suffering as the leading edge of God’s coming wrath, and understand that we still endure some of it – THEN CONSIDER what the real outpouring WILL look like upon those who do not know Christ at all!

It is a terror too great to contemplate.

AND HERE, ONCE MORE WE ARE BROUGHT RIGHT back TO ONE OF THE MOST STARTLING REALITIES OF THE GOSPEL –

IF we WHO TRUST IN CHRIST scarcely make it out alive – all owing to grace and grace alone, and absolutely nothing owing to our own goodness, righteousness or works – WHAT Praise OUGHT We OFFER to God for His marvelous deliverance of the unworthy thru faith in Jesus Christ.

LET NO ONE THINK SALVATION IS AN EASY THING.

IT COST JESUS HIS HUMILIATION AND HIS LIFE.

IT COST HEAVEN THE TEMPORARY SUFFERING OF ITS CROWN JEWEL, THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD.

IT COST THE FATHER TO GIVE HIS SON AND POUR OUT THE WRATH DUE US UPON HIM.

IT COST THE SON EVERY FORM OF DEGRADATION, INSULT, BETRAYAL, INJURY AND PAIN.
1. ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you…¹³ But rejoice…
2. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed…¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer…
3. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God…¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls…
FOR WE ARE REVEALING BOTH THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST IN REDEMPTION – BUT ALSO SERVING AS A MARKER TO THE WORLD OF THE SOON COMING JUDGMENT OF GOD.

WE HAVE A HIGH AND HOLY CALLING IN ALL OF THIS.

THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, OUT OF A MEANINGLESS, AIMLESS LIFE – INTO MEANING AND PURPOSE, DIVINELY BESTOWED UPON US, AS LIGHTS SHINING IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS PRESENT AGE – AS CHRIST’S AGENTS IN REVELATION.

THIS IS WHAT SCRIPTURE MEANS WHEN IT SAYS THAT CHRIST GIVES US LIFE, AND THAT – MORE ABUNDANTLY.

^{^[1]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Facing the Apocalypse Part 2 – 1 Peter 4:8-11

April 24th, 2016
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:
1. “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 2^nd part of Peter’s THEREFORE in vss – 8-11
1. “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 2^nd of which flows out of the 1^st.
1. (9) “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
2. (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 1^st 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.
Facing The Apocalypse – Sermon Notes on 1 Peter pt. 16

April 17th, 2016
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 1^st audience is living in the midst of these conditions – and we as Peter’s 2^nd 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 1^st 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 1^st concern, which ought also to be OUR 1^st 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:
1. “Be self-controlled and sober-minded, for the sake of your prayers.”
2. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
To the 2^nd, Peter attaches a number of ways that works out in practical terms.

We’ll concentrate on the 1^st instruction today.

[[IMAGE]] THEREFORE:

[[IMAGE]] 1. “Be self-controlled and sober-minded, for the sake of your prayers.”
1. Self-controlled
2. Sober-minded
3. 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.
1. 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?
1. 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.
1. 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 –
1. Prayer will be born of panic and ill conceived, not expressed by faith and thankfulness.
1. Prayer will not be a refuge for strength and encouragement, but a heavy duty and disagreeable.
1. 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.
1. Prayer may become little more than a meaningless ritual.
1. 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.
1. 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.
As I was reading today – Proverbs 16:4

April 17th, 2016

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Bad eyes? Constant struggle with weight? Abandoned? Hurt? Poor? Wealthy? Too short? Bald? Too attractive to be taken seriously? No pedigree? Wrong ethnicity? Birth defect? Challenged? Poor hearing? Diabetic? Lack ambition? Lonely? Only liked for your money or influence? Dumped at the altar? Bullied? Abused? Betrayed? Uneducated? Handicapped?

God has graciously & wisely given us each and every circumstance – from our physical strengths and weaknesses, to our positive and negative circumstantial environments – that we might be brought face to face with the conditions best suited to maximize the exposure of the sin within us that needs dealt with, as it hinders Christ’s likeness within us.

On one side, it takes very penetrating hurts to go deep enough to uncover and expose the most buried and protected sins. On the other side, it takes very great privileges and pleasures to expose other of the deepest sins buried in our hearts.

How then, will we respond?

Will we use His “gifts” – to grow?

Or will they serve as our chief excuses to remain as we are?
A Brief Meditation for the Lord’s Supper

April 4th, 2016
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:
1. 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 –
1. 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:
1. 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:
1. 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.”