ResponsiveReiding

A Bite of Newton with your coffee – on Public Prayer

June 17th, 2016

John Newton received a letter from a friend asking for some guidance on how someone should pray in a group setting – like a prayer meeting. His thoughts are so good, I couldn’t help but pass them on – though I’ve edited them down a touch for the sake of space and readability.

In writing his thoughts, Newton strikes on some key issues which make our prayer meetings less then enjoyable, and thus suggests how they might be both sweeter, and be of greater advantage to all who attend.

I think you’ll enjoy this greatly – and I for one – needed to hear some of his correctives for myself.

Thoughts on the Exercise of Social Prayer

I account it a great mercy…at this time, when iniquity so generally abounds, there is a number, I hope a growing number, whose eyes affect their hearts, and who are stirred up to unite in prayer for the spread of Gospel knowledge, and a blessing upon our sinful land…As the Lord has promised, that, when he prepares the heart to pray, he will graciously incline his ear to hear, who can tell but he may yet be entreated for us, and avert the heavy and justly-deserved judgments which seem to hang over us?

[I wish it were the case] that our hearts might be so affected with a sense of Divine things, and so closely engaged when [in prayer], that…little circumstances [had no power] to interrupt and perplex us, and to make us think the service wearisome, and…tedious. But as our infirmities are many and great, and the enemy of our souls is watchful to discompose us, if care is not taken by those who lead in social prayer, [it may actually] become a burden, and an occasion of sin. Complaints of this kind are frequent, and might, perhaps, be easily rectified.

The chief fault of some good prayers is, that they are too long: not that…we should pray by the clock, and limit ourselves…to a certain number of minutes; but it is better…that the hearers should wish the prayer had been longer, than spend half…of the time in wishing it was over. This is frequently owing to an unnecessary enlargement upon every circumstance…as well as to the repetition of the same things. If we have been copious in pleading for spiritual blessings, it may be best to be brief and summary in the article of intercession for others; or if the frame of our spirits, or the circumstances of affairs, lead us to be more large and particular in laying the cases of others before the Lord, respect should be had to this intention in the former part of the prayer. There are, doubtless, seasons when the Lord is pleased to favour those who pray with a peculiar liberty; they speak because they feel; they have a wrestling spirit, and hardly know how to leave off. When this is the case, they who join with them are seldom wearied, though the prayer should be protracted something beyond the usual limits. But I believe it sometimes happens, both in praying and in preaching, that we are apt to spin out our time to the greatest length, when we have in reality the least to say. Long prayers should in general be avoided, especially where several persons are to pray successively; or else even spiritual hearers will be unable to keep up their attention. And here I would just notice an impropriety we sometimes meet with, that, when a person gives expectation that he is just going to conclude his prayer, something not thought of in its proper place occurring that instant to his mind, leads him as it were to begin again. But, unless it is a matter of singular importance, it would be better omitted for that time.

The prayers of some good men are more like preaching than praying. They rather express the Lord’s mind to the people, than the desires of the people to the Lord. Indeed this can hardly be called prayer. It might in another place stand for part of a good sermon; but will afford little help to those who desire to pray with their hearts. Prayer should be sententious, [in the sense of short and pity, not wordy] and made up of breathings to the Lord, either of confession, petition, or praise…,—a simple and unstudied expression of the wants and feelings of the soul.

[T]oo close attention to the method and transitions…gives an air of study and formality, and offends against that simplicity which is so essentially necessary to a good prayer. It is possible to learn to pray mechanically, and by rule; but it is hardly possible to do so with acceptance, and benefit to others. When the several parts of invocation, adoration, confession, petition, &c. follow each other in a stated order, the hearer’s mind generally goes before the speaker’s voice, and we can form a tolerable conjecture what is to come next. On this account we often find, that unlettered people, who have had little or no help from books, or rather have not been fettered by them, can pray with an unction and savour in an unpremeditated way; while the prayers of persons of much superior abilities, perhaps even of ministers themselves, are, though accurate and regular, so dry and starched, that they afford little either of pleasure or profit to a spiritual mind. The spirit of prayer is the fruit and token of the Spirit of adoption. The studied addresses with which some approach the Throne of Grace, remind us of a stranger’s coming to a great man’s door; he knocks and waits, sends in his name, and goes through a course of ceremony, before he gains admittance; while a child of the family uses no ceremony at all, but enters freely when he pleases, because he knows he is at home. It is true, we ought always to draw near the Lord with great humiliation of spirit, and a sense of our unworthiness. But this spirit is not always best expressed or promoted by a pompous enumeration of the names and titles of the God with whom we have to do, or by fixing in our minds beforehand the exact order in which we propose to arrange the several parts of our prayer. Some attention to method may be proper, for the prevention of repetitions; and plain people may be a little defective in it sometimes; but this defect will not be half so tiresome and disagreeable as a studied and artificial exactness.

Many, perhaps most people who pray in public, have some favourite word or expression, which recurs too often in their prayers, and is frequently used as a mere expletive, having no necessary connection with the sense of what they are speaking. The most disagreeable of these is, when the name of the blessed God, with the addition of perhaps one or more epithets, as, Great, Glorious, Holy, Almighty, &c. is introduced so often, and without necessity, as seems neither to indicate a due reverence in the person who uses it, nor suited to excite reverence in those who hear. I will not say, that this is taking the name of God in vain…[but] should be guarded against. It would be well if they who use redundant expressions had a friend to give them a caution, as they might with a little care be retrenched; and hardly any person can be sensible of the little peculiarities he may inadvertently adopt, unless he is told of it.

There are several things likewise respecting the voice and manner of prayer, which a person may with due care correct in himself, and which, if generally corrected, would make meetings for prayer more pleasant than they sometimes are.

Very loud speaking is a fault, when the size of the place, and the number of hearers, do not render it necessary…I do not deny but allowance must be made for constitution…yet such will do well to restrain themselves as much as they can. It may seem indeed to indicate great earnestness, and that the heart is much affected; yet it is often but false tire. It may be thought speaking with power; but a person who is favoured with the Lord’s presence may pray with power in a moderate voice; and there may be very little power of the Spirit, though the voice should be heard in the street and neighbourhood.

The other extreme, of speaking too low, is not so frequent; but, if we are not heard, we might as well altogether hold our peace. It exhausts the spirits, and wearies the attention, to be listening for a length of time to a very low voice. Some words or sentences will be lost, which will render what is heard less intelligible and agreeable. If the speaker can be heard by the person furthest distant from him, the rest will hear of course.

The tone of the voice is likewise to be regarded. Some have a tone in prayer, so very different from their usual way of speaking, that their nearest friends, if not accustomed to them, could hardly know them by their voice…It is pity, that, when we approve what is spoken, we should be so easily disconcerted by an awkwardness of delivery; yet so it often is…It is more to be lamented than wondered at, that sincere Christians are sometimes forced to confess, “He is a good man, and his prayers, as to their substance, are spiritual and judicious; but there is something so displeasing in his manner, that I am always uneasy when I hear him.”

Contrary to this, and still more offensive, is a custom that some have of talking to the Lord in prayer. It is their natural voice, indeed; but it is that expression of it which they use upon the most familiar and trivial occasions…If a man was pleading for his life, or expressing his thanks to the king for a pardon, common sense and decency would teach him a suitableness of manner; and anyone who could not understand his language, might know by the sound of his words that he was not making a bargain, or telling a story. How much more, when we speak to the King of kings.

I shall be glad if these hints may be of any service to those who desire to worship God in spirit and in truth, and who wish that whatever has a tendency to damp the spirit of devotion, either in themselves or in others, might be avoided. It is a point of delicacy and difficulty to tell any one what we wish could be altered in his manner of prayer: but it can give no just offence to ask a friend, if he has read a letter on this subject, in A Collection of Twenty-six Letters, published in 1775.^{^[1]}

^{^[1]} Newton, John, Richard Cecil. 1824. The works of the John Newton. . Vol. 1. London: Hamilton, Adams & Co.
A Eulogy for My Dad – Raymond Ferguson

June 15th, 2016
I just got home from my Dad’s Memorial service. We formally laid him to rest in his 95th year, the vast majority of which he walked with His God.

With 3 sons, all in ministry, you can imagine that a LOT was said. And there were many precious things said by others who came from all parts (the Parkers and Cohens from S. Carolina); the Bergerons – who I didn’t get to see from New Hampshire, and Ferguson extended clan from Canada. And so very many others who made it a wonderful day indeed – so many who I didn’t get to greet and thank personally.

My small part was to compose a brief eulogy which I leave you with here. I trust it is a blessing to those who go on to read it.

The picture above is of Dad snuggling with his great-grandson Jackson.

Eulogy:

The practice of eulogies began around 200 years before Christ with the Greek poet Callimachus.

It was called an “elegy” back then, and was just an outpouring of emotion at the loss of a loved one.

Gradually it shifted to include some facts and memories about the one lost, and I am glad it did – for it paves the way for what I want to say today.

My Dad, our Dad, Ray Ferguson was a great man.

I use that word carefully because greatness in many minds has certain connotations, and Dad’s greatness was different from that.

Dad never wrote a book.

He never broke any of the celebrated records of human achievement.

He never obtained world-wide fame or acclaim.

He never climbed Pike’s Peak or Everest.

He never built anything nor established a school or other institution.

But he was still a very great man.

I could talk about how Dad, having no good father figure of his own, came to be such a devoted family man.

Or how his sense of humor ran the gambit from semi-funny “puny” jokes – to practical jokes.

If I only had a nickel for every time he told the “what’s the difference between a hill, a pill and the Mississippi River?” joke,

Or answered the phone: “City Morgue, you stab’em, we slab’em.”

Or asked someone: “Strictly as an outsider, what is your opinion of the human race?”

I could talk about his being his own car mechanic until he wasn’t able any more, and was always his own electrician and plumber – even when that meant setting Nancy & Ivan’s house on fire sweating a joint.

Or getting censured by the umps at the Church softball league we were in for heckling the other team too much.

How when Kenny and I were younger (I won’t say little) and bought a bunch of firecrackers – and other assorted incendiary devices – when we were on a trip to Canada / we confessed as we drew near the border that we had them.

Dad was not happy, but his solution made Mom even less happy.

After letting us know the bad position we would have put everyone in had they been discovered coming back into New York State – Dad collected our stash. Pried off a hubcap – sealed them up in there, and abetted our mischievous act by helping us smuggle them in.

Or I could wax on how he instructed us on how to stuff a potato up the tailpipe of a victim’s car to harmlessly prevent it from starting – or how to run a wire from the hot terminal on the master cylinder to the positive terminal on the horn so that the victim’s horn would blow continuously while their brake lights were on.

And many, many more antics.

Those were all great things, but not what made him great.

That said, let me note some of true marks of Ray Ferguson’s type of greatness.

While I attempt that, please note, this is not an attempt at hagiography.

The truth is, as it has been noted by others, that great men have great flaws, and that was as true of my Dad as of anyone else.

But he did have significant touches of greatness, some of which I hope may one day be noted of me.

I’ll mention just a few. There were in fact many to choose from.
1. Dad was a great herald of the Gospel and saving grace of Jesus Christ. He loved to preach a great grace for salvation. And he understood himself to be in great need of and a grateful recipient of – that grace.
Herein was one of those mixed realities that afflicts all those who know Jesus Christ savingly – some to greater or lesser degrees.

I do not know anyone who was more pained by his own sinfulness, while at the same time being more awed and grateful at the great grace he had received in Christ Jesus.

Very few sermons of his didn’t include a reference to his own salvation by starting with the words: “I remember the day…”

He ached to sin no more. And he knew that sin’s only answer was in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

Dad loved the Gospel of sovereign grace, because he knew he had been rescued from his own condemnation through no work of merit of his own – but only the sole and sovereign act of God in carrying out His electing love.
1. Dad was a great man of prayer.
By that I do not mean that he spent inordinate amounts of time locked away from life in the prayer closet like a hermit.

Rather that he believed that God met him when he prayed, that Christ had truly opened that door for the Believer through His death, burial and resurrection. And many here can attest to the fact that that WAS our experience when he prayed for us – that Dad entered God’s presence with his prayers, and that God would hear, and answer.

He believed greatly in prayer because he believed in a great God who greatly answered prayer.

And one of the greatest gifts he left us as his children, and me in particular, is that he taught us to pray.

For a number of years, the 6am prayer time at ECF consisted of only Dad and myself. And those were precious moments I will never forget, and be eternally grateful for.

Most mornings after that prayer time, he and I would go for breakfast and invariably that time was spent in discussing the great truths of Scripture and the things we had both been reading or contemplating that had stirred our souls.
1. Dad had a great love of and reverence for The Word of God. This is the second great gift he passed on to us especially as his children – to love God’s Word.
He read it and studied and taught it and preached it as best and as often as he could.

All of us can attest to his repeated phrase when counseling us on debating either doctrine with anyone, or those bound in darkness by the cults: “sew them up to the Bible” he would say.

He believed and knew the truth was to be found there, and he loved it. And wanted others to love it too.
1. He was a man of great conviction. Whether he was right, or whether he was wrong – and there were times on both sides of that ledger – if he was convinced of the truth of his understanding, he was true to it to the end.
In this he always exhibited a very great authenticity.

And sometimes, while he loved to give to and do for others, he could sometimes make it hard to love him in return.

Nevertheless, he stood by his convictions and lived to them as much as he was able.

This particular aspect of his greatness also demonstrated itself in his unbreakable loyalty.

Could he freeze you out at times? Yes. But that never crossed over into abandonment.

Those who were “his” – within his sphere of love and influence, would always be his in his heart and mind – no matter what.
1. He was a great lover of people’s souls.
While Dad dearly desired to be well thought of by others, he never sought to be thought of as other or more than what he was – he never sought to be thought of as occupying some higher social station or having accomplished something he hadn’t.

He never sought fame in the desire for being well thought of by those who knew him.

And seeing himself as kind of everyman in this way – no one was too low or two high to have him care for their souls.

Dad was no stranger to being able to deliver sharp censures and rebukes.

But if you knew him, you always knew that underneath it was a deep commitment to the recipient – that he wanted them to be better for the exchange, and not worse off afterward.

There are any number of other things I could comment on here, but time does not make that practical.

What I will close with, is going back to 2 of the things I’ve mentioned already, since they are the ones which will always guide my memory of Dad most, until we meet again around the throne of Jesus:

Dad taught me to love God’s Word, and to love the God of the Word; and to pray.

And those are bestowals of the richest and most blessed kind.

They are treasures with eternal ramifications and benefits. They are great gifts indeed.

Love you Dad.

I am so glad you are with the Jesus who loved and died for you, and whom you so loved, and lived for.

See you soon.
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.
1 Peter part 19 – Shepherding God’s Flock / 5:1-4

May 15th, 2016
1 Peter Part 19

1 Peter 5:1-4

Shepherding God’s Flock

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

One of the peculiarities of how Holy Scripture is written, is how different groups are addressed in front of other groups.

The Bible does not have secret passages written to women and secret passages written to men which can only be studied in closed enclaves.

Men and women are addressed in the same letters, each hearing what the Lord has to say to the other, as well as to themselves.

It is common today to gather in men’s groups and women’s groups separately, as though there is some body of knowledge which only they can discuss in their respective groups.

There is a certain place for that, but we need to avoid letting those things turn us into discreet, isolated groups as though gender specific references have no meaning or value for everyone.

So then, parents are addressed in front of children and vice versa.

And, as in this passage, Elders or leaders in the Church are addressed in front of the Body of Believers, even as the letter so far has addressed Believers as a whole.

Up until now in our study, Peter has been addressing his comments to these displaced and marginalized Believers as a whole – But in our text today, he singles out one group especially – Elders. I.e. The Leadership in these little groups of Christians.

And one observation we must make at the outset, is that he addresses the Elders as suffering men…

Suffering men in turn, ministering to others who are also suffering.

Just as Paul in 2 Corinthians makes it clear that one of the ways God equips each Christian to minister to one another, is to use the comforts He has comforted each of us with in our distresses, to comfort others.

In this way, our distresses become gifts for the rest of the Church.

Which brings up the point that those in leadership are not exempt from any of the suffering which all Christians endure.

Leadership does not put anyone in a special spiritual class. A class which somehow exempts them from any of the very same temptations, weaknesses, doubts, fears, discouragements, problems or challenges that all the rest of you face.

In fact, sometimes, those in leadership are subject to even more.

Given Peter’s audience, as small, marginalized, groups of Believers, looked down on, misunderstood and mistreated in their society – he takes a few moments to speak to those men who may have a measure of gifting and a burden to see the Church thrive irrespective of the environment – and in it sets out 3 things.

I – vs. 1 / An Exhortation

II – vss. 2 & 3 / An Explanation

III – vs. 4 / An Encouragement

I – vs. 1-2a / An Exhortation
1. 1-2a Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God that is among you.
“Therefore” – Having addressed suffering from the beginning of this epistle, and in light of his own Eldership – “as your fellow elder” – Let me exhort you to have a mind equipped with these three things:
1. Suffering WILL attend us – 2:21, 4:12
2. Our fellow shepherds endure these things too.
3. Glory Awaits Us
1. Suffering WILL Attend Us.

“As a witness of Christ’s suffering”,

Peter knew this persecution & rejection personally in 3 ways.

From Jesus teaching: Matt. 10:23 “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! ALSO: In His simple incarnation.

From observing Jesus’ own persecution, death, burial and resurrection.

From his own experience, as the books of Acts abundantly demonstrates.

2. Our Fellow Shepherds Endure Suffering too.

Feeling isolated or as though you are the only one who has suffered in a particular way or with as much intensity – is one of the ways our sinfulness deceives us.

In it, the Enemy capitalizes on to make us bitter, resentful against those who we perceive as sailing more comfortably, and then detaching from others.

It is a very destructive deception everyone who suffers much be aware of temptation to.

3. Glory Awaits Us. / “As a partaker of the glory to be revealed: – This all culminates in the coming glory:

Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We WILL suffer – We are NOT alone – We WILL be glorified

II – vss. 2b & 3 / An Explanation

“shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
1. Shepherd – ποιμήν To tend, in the whole sense of the word, not simply to feed” – but “to feed sheep, to pasture or to tend while grazing.”
2. Leading, not driving. They will not go, and should ONLY go where we are willing to go first. / “Who having gone before us”.
John Mohr / Steve Green

May all who come behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion light the way

May the footprints that we leave

Lead them to believe

And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

3. Feed – The Word

Mark 6:34 “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”

1. Protect – The Shepherd lays down his life for the lambs

Jesus speaks this way of His own Shepherding in John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Dangers from within – Paul to the Ephesian leadership in Acts 20: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure1 fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

From without – 1 John – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Themselves – James 4: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Ourselves – Misplaced affections (Theirs and ours)

Don’t shepherd in such a way that you make them more dependent upon you, than individually upon Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

One writer on this portion wrote: “The image is so simple and informative. The virgin bride is the church. The husband she is betrothed to is Christ Himself. And Paul? How does he think of himself in this? He is as though a close mutual friend of the Bride and Groom. The one who introduced them. And now the Groom has gone away for a time – committing the care of His virgin bride to this friend, to keep her and protect her until He returns. Thus Paul sees these interlopers who are vying for her affection in Corinth – not as competitors to himself, but as trying to take liberties with the one he is sworn to keep until Christ returns.

I would submit to you that this is the very way that we as preachers and pastors are to consider our own relationship with the church. We may admire her beauty, delight in her company and revel in our usefulness to her – but she is not ours. We are guarding her virtue for Him. We have no right to fondle her, soil her garments or grow overly familiar with her. We are to direct her affections toward her intended, and to labor with all our might to keep her from inordinate affection for us, or anyone else.”

There is a temptation in all of this to grow neglectful of what the believers around us really need.

Temptation: It’s such a small group. Since it is small, no need to prepare much.

Walt Hobson – The myth of the super-leader.

Temptation: I don’t want to add to their burden.

Temptation: I’ve got enough problems of my own.

Temptation: “Practical” – not spiritual. To give what may be desired, above what is truly needed.

Temptation: There must be easier, better, less challenging places to serve.
1. Jointly (v 2) – “the flock of God” / We are co-laborers WITH Christ over His flock, not ours
John 21: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep

FEED FEED FEED – MY MY MY
1. Immediately (v 2) – “among you”, those at hand. Labor where you are.
One must never see ANY ministry in the Church – and especially eldership – as a step to something else.
1. 3 – “allotted to your charge” Given by Providence.
1. Attentively (v 2) – “oversight”, ἐπισκοπέω Watching all around – Prov. 27:23 “Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds” – Sherlock Holmes: Cosmologically, Astronomically, Philosophically, Theologically
1. Voluntarily (v 2) – “not under compulsion”, as a volunteer – Willfully, and not in grudging duty / Service rendered as unto Him!
Why must Peter warn against an Elder serving by “compulsion”? Probably because of the present distress.

One who is gifted and evident as having the qualities of an elder, may himself feel that to add shepherding God’s flock in this foreign place, in this hostile culture, one more burden to add to his own life that he just does not want right now.

Peter says, go ahead and add it.

At the same time, don’t feel forced into it – for if you serve as forced, the service will not bring the heart and mind results Christ is looking for in His saints in this straight and narrow place.

1 Thess. 2:8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
1. Obediently (v 2) – “as God would have you” / This is not about our vision, But His!
God’s program is conforming the saints to the image of His Son (Rom. 8) – Either this is our primary consideration too, or we are loose canons.
1. Freely (v 2) – “not for shameful gain, but with eagerly”
1. Humbly – Not Domineering (v 3) It seems that the examples Elders are to be here is not located in just being good examples in general, but especially examples of how to suffer without either seeking sinful means to ease our suffering, nor in the neglect of spiritual things as tho they might lighten our load, etc.
BOTTOM LINE: Live in such a way that they get to see how to suffer while remaining faithful, looking to Christ and the hope to come.

Not under compulsion: Do not let serving devolve into mere slavish duty.

Do not serve to get earthly gain, set your sights on heavenly gain.

Don’t grow gripey, edgy and short but remain sweet and gentle.

Don’t seek control, learn to submit to His perfect providence.

III – vs. 4 / An Encouragement.

4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Note, that this is the very same reward which all who are in Christ shall obtain.

In other words, fix on the same reward you call others to fix upon.

Crown of life – James 1:12

Crown of righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:8

Crown of glory – 1 Peter 5:4

APPLICATIONS

How the leadership here understand our roles – at least in part. We do our best to understand our job description from these Biblical passages, rather than from a business model or what people may simply be used to or prefer.

In holding us accountable to keep this kind of focus. Once the Word of God and its exposition for your health and safety and walk with God ceases to be the focus – we are to be called into account!

In choosing a church where you might go if not here. Should life move you from fellowship here, we would want to see you planted in another fellowship where these same principles are foundation. This is the kind of Church WE would look for if we were to be moved from here.

In considering ministry yourself should you move in that direction. Some of you young men especially may have an inkling toward wanting to serve in this capacity – and a passage like this goes a long way toward helping you understand what Biblical Pastoral Ministry is al about.

In understanding how Christ Himself continues to minister to each of us as The Great Shepherd.

These are the very ways in which Christ ministered while on earth, and what He continues to provide for through under-shepherds while He is still overseeing His Church from on high.

Never forget that the Great Shepherd takes first responsibility for your soul, and is ALWAYS leading through His Word to lie down in those green pastures. Beside the still waters of trust and rest in Him. And in paths of righteousness – for His own name’s sake.

And what a wonder He is in this role. Having already laid down His life for us, that we might be safely in His eternal fold forever and ever.
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.
My Annual Mother’s Day Poem

May 8th, 2016

A Mother’s Poem

For Mother’s Day 2016

By Reid Ferguson

Written in 8-7-8-9

With apologies to Dr. Seuss

Back before primordial slime

Way back when – time before time

Deep in the heart of God divine

Rose this thought in His infinite mind

Creatures He would make great and small

Some would walk, slither or crawl

Some would be short, and some so tall

He’d make a planet to house them all

Cats and wombats, insects like bees

Scorpions, lemurs and fleas

Flying the skies, scaling the trees

High on mountains or deep in the seas

But one would rise above the rest

In His mind, best of the best

This shining jew’l, must be confessed

Was not what any angel had guessed

Eyes that see before and behind

Strong like bull, but sweet and kind

Soft to the touch, but steely spined

A multi-tasking, pliable mind

Not grossed out by diapers or puke

Able to praise, and rebuke

Savvy to spot what’s false or truth

Willing in play, to act like a kook

Nursing or, formula bottlers

Coach and praise tiny waddlers

Cook for teens, adults and swaddlers

Able too, to stare down all toddlers

Content with work that’s never done

Rising ‘fore the morning sun

Can shift from tired to having fun

Remains composed e’en when shocked and stunned

Will bear a child in awful pain

Doing it once, then again

And acting like that’s sound and sane

God’s most unique, unfath’mable brain

Surely, she is like no other

Woman, friend, comfort, lover

Creation’s crown, not another

She alone, will bear the name – Mother.