August 31, 2014

The Way - Aug 31, 2014

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SERMON:

On April 16, 1846, nine covered wagons left from Springfield, Illinois on their way to California. They followed a route that had been recently published in a book called, “The Emigrant’s Guide to Oregon and California” by Landsford W. Hastings. They chose to follow Hasting’s route instead of the regular path because it promised to save them 350-400 miles of travel. The only problem was, Hasting’s shortcut had never actually been tried.

On the way, these poor immigrants discovered their mistake in the hardest way. On the flats wagons were bogged down in deep, moist sand. Hostile natives attacked with poison tipped arrows. As winter closed in they were still in the mountains. Pioneers lost toes to frostbite. They died of infection, starvation, disease, and in violent conflict with one other. As the food ran out some even turned to cannibalism just to survive.

On paper Hasting’s way had promise, but in reality it lead 41 people from the Donner party to horrible suffering, grief, and death. In the end it was clear that Hasting’s way, was the wrong way.

When it comes to crossing 2,500 miles of wild country, you can’t just draw a line on a map and follow your instincts. The same is true when it comes to safely negotiating the wilderness of our lives today.
Today, as we continue our study of the apostle Peter’s first letter, Peter will contrast two different ways. A life lived to self, and a life lived to God. The way of the world, and the way of Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-11 (NASB)

1Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
7The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus once said,

“…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 ESV).

In other words, what you treasure most, you will serve from the heart. What you cherish most, you will love.

Born into this world as sinners, we treasure ourselves most.

As lovers of self, we instinctually avoid suffering at all costs.

Without God to guide us in the right way, we do what our natural urges and desires lead us to do.

This is the human way, both today, and back in Peter’s time. As Peter wrote his letter of encouragement to his fellow Christians, he reminded them of what they were like before they met Jesus. They were just like the rest of the world—lost in love of self.

Many of the Christians in Asia Minor were from Gentile families. They hadn’t grown up knowing the Lord. They had lived sensual lives. They hadn’t cared about doing what was right so much as doing what felt good. If they had a deep desire for something, or someone, they followed that lust. They indulged in alcohol to the point of drunkenness, because that brought a level of happiness into their lives. And it deadened any lingering pangs of conscience, enabling them to follow their lusts more fully.

Peter describes drinking parties that turned into raves. Apparently some of these parties were associated with pagan temples. Drunken, carousing, worship parties. Peter reminds his fellow Christians that they used to participate in such “abominable idolatries.”

But when the Gospel of Christ reached them, they learned what sin is, and what it’s consequences are before God. And they learned that even though they deserved condemnation, God was reaching out to them to save them. He had sent his own Son to suffer in their place, and to earn them salvation from sin and freedom from eternal condemnation.  

When some of these Gentiles came to faith in Christ, they began to stop doing what they used to do. The way they lived their lives began to change. And when this happened, their friends didn’t understand. Their friends and neighbors were surprised, and puzzled. Why the change? And then they grew defensive and began to make fun of those who had “gone Christian.”

But Peter reminds his fellow Christians in Asia Minor that in the end, the pagan party-goers, the idol-worshippers, and the self-worshippers—they would all have to stand before God. And they would have to explain their behavior to their Holy and Almighty Creator.

In the end it would be clear that the way of the world, was the wrong way. Sure, it promised relief and good times, but it would end in judgment, and separation from God forever.
This was the very thing that Jesus had come to prevent. Look at verse 6 again. There Peter writes…

6For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:6 NASB).

This verse may sound a bit odd in the English. It helps if we add the word “now” before the word “dead”:

“For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are [NOW] dead” (1 Peter 4:6 NASB).

Peter isn’t saying that after you die someone appears and preaches the Gospel to you. What he’s saying is that the message of sins forgiven through Jesus was preached to people who then later died. And the purpose of the Gospel being preached was so that when those people stood before God in the end, by faith in the Savior they would be given LIFE instead of the condemnation that they deserved.

We’re all going to be judged one day—BY GOD. According to HIS standards. Only through the gift of Christ’s sin-covering righteousness can any of us hope to obtain a good verdict in GOD’S courtroom.

Like it says in Romans 3,

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 3:23-24 NKJV).
In the book of Acts, we learn about a man named Saul who was hunting Christians in the first century. He would go from place to place and try to gather up anyone who was preaching forgiveness through Christ because he thought it was a lie. In Acts 9 we read…

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest  and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2 NKJV).

Did you catch the interesting way that Saul referes to Christ’s followers? He doesn’t call them “Christians”, he calls them people of “The Way.” This title probably came from the fact that Jesus taught that as the Messiah sent from God, he was “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 NASB). The only way to the Father.

The Christian congregations that Peter wrote to were also people of “The Way.” And as such, their way in life was to be different than the way of the world.

In the second half of our reading for today, Peter gives his fellow Christians a few pointers. This is how you are to live now that you know your Savior.

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NASB)

7The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
No longer are you to live to serve self, now you are to live to serve God.

No longer are you to just follow your sinful instincts. Instead you are called to exercise sound judgment and a sober spirit. You are called to weigh and judge each choice in life according to God’s will for you as revealed in the Bible. Instead of calling on your instincts, you’re to call on God for direction through prayer.

Instead of loving self, love one another deeply, from the heart. And this will lead to an attitude of forgiveness toward those who sin against you. Instead of drawing attention to every slight and sin committed against you, you will cover the sins of others with Christ’s forgiveness and move on.

Instead of serving self, be hospitable to one another. Not because you have to, complaining all the way, but with a genuine and humble desire to simply care for the needs of others.

Instead of using your gifts to serve yourself, use the talents and abilities that you have been given to serve one another. Instead of wasting your time and energy running after new experiences and excessive pleasures, use what you have been given as a good steward—distributing blessing on others in God’s name.

Peter has a word for the spiritual leaders in the Asian congregations too. He says that when they speak, they shouldn’t be telling everyone what THEY think. If they’re speaking as God’s mouthpiece, then they should be saying what GOD has revealed in the Bible, and nothing else.

And anyone who wishes to serve their fellow Christians is to do knowing full well that God is the source of their strength. They are to draw on the strength that God provides.

This is the way that Christians are to follow. Christ’s way. Instead of leading to condemnation at the final judgment, this way leads to God being glorified as the true treasure that every sinner needs.
When it comes to crossing 2,500 miles of wild country, you can’t just draw a line on a map and follow your instincts. The same is true when it comes to safely negotiating the wilderness of life.

Because we’re born into this world as sinners, our natural instincts are faulty. If we follow them we won’t glorify God, we’ll glorify ourselves. And in the end we’ll have to explain our self centered lives to God.

But if we listen instead to the Savior who died to erase the record of our sins, then things will be different. Then the path laid out before us in life will be filled with peace, forgiveness, and safety. And at the end of this path we will find eternal safety in God’s country.

Jesus once said,

“…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 ESV).

Dear Christians, let us not treasure self, but the Savior who washed away our ugly sins by his blood. And may the same Lord who rescued us from a horrible end, continue to guide and teach us on HIS WAY.

Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts, and your minds, in Christ Jesus.

August 24, 2014

Called to Suffer Injustice - Aug 24, 2014

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SERMON:

When Jesus began his ministry, people were drawn to him like he was a magnet. They saw his miracles and heard his preaching and deduced he was a prophet sent from God at the very least. And perhaps he was even more.

Perhaps this prophet from Nazareth was the Messiah that they had been waiting for. The Messiah they expected to bring a new era of political freedom and economic prosperity to the nation of Israel.

It was so ingrained in the minds of the people that the promised Messiah would set up an earthly kingdom for the Jews, that even after years of preaching to the contrary, and after his  death and resurrection, the disciples of Christ still insisted on asking,

Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6 ESV).

Jesus told them that instead of glory, they should expect persecution and suffering in this world. The followers of Christ would be seized, thrown out of synagogues, put in jail, and dragged before civil authorities.

Instead of glory, they would get injustice.  
As human beings we are sensitive to injustice, or perceived injustice, especially when it is directed at us personally.

It’s one thing to have to fix what you broke, or apologize for hurtful words that you said. But when a person blames you for something you didn’t do, or ridicules you for doing something that was actually right and good, that’s harder to take.

In our reading for today, the apostle Peter teaches that in this life Christians are called to suffer injustice in the name of our Savior.

And Peter highlights two things that help us to suffer personal injustice with grace. First of all, when we look to Christ, we see that he experienced great injustice to redeem us. This makes our suffering for him a great honor.

Secondly, when we look to God’s promise of final redemption, we learn to endure injustice in this life as an exercise of faith. An exercise of faith which will ultimately end in glory.

1 Peter 3:17-22 (NASB)

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
This is the eighth sermon in our ongoing study of Peter’s first letter. As we’ve already noted, Peter wrote this letter to a group of churches located in Asia Minor in the first century AD. He wrote to them because he heard that they had been suffering persecution because of their faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and Peter wanted to encourage them in the faith.

In the verses just preceding our reading for today, Peter encouraged his fellow Christians not to retaliate when people told lies about them or ridiculed their godly lives.
When people tell lies about us, or make fun of us, our natural instinct is to respond in the same way. To repay angry words with our own angry words. To repay slander with slander, and insult with insult.

But Peter says that the Christian should take the high road instead. The follower of Christ should note that it is better to suffer for doing right, than to suffer for doing what is wrong.

There is nothing to be admired when a criminal receives what their crimes deserve. But when a righteous person endures under injustice because of they trust God, that is admirable.

If you and I are going to bring this teaching into play in our own lives, we need to start with the small injustices. We need to learn to endure them with grace. Forgiving those who commit them, and looking to God for the strength to respond with gentleness and love.

If we practice repaying the small evils with good, then we’ll grow in spirit. Then we’ll be prepared by God to face greater injustice in a way that brings honor and renown to the name “Christian”—to our Savior’s name.
Peter directs his brothers and sisters in Christ to remember the injustice that Jesus endured on our behalf. Verse 18 says,

18For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).

Every year, during Lent, we remember the injustice that our Savior endured on our behalf. He was arrested without any real charges being cited against him. He was beaten and interrogated. Coached witnesses told lies about him. Men spit on him and slapped him around while his hands were bound.

When Pontius Pilate proclaimed Jesus innocent of all charges, he then had his men scourge Jesus with an iron studded whip. Then, to add more injury and insult, Pilate again pronounced Jesus innocent and sentenced him to be crucified to death.
But greater than this, while Jesus was on the cross, he carried our guilt on his soul. Peter says that Christ, “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust.” That is to say, for all the wickedness that had ever been committed by human hearts and hands, Jesus suffered and died.

Scripture makes it clear that Jesus was even separated from his heavenly Father while securing our salvation. He suffered our hell, when he had only, ever, done what was right and good.

This puts things into perspective for Christians enduring injustice in their own lives. Jesus knows what we’re feeling when injustice happens. And it is the divine forgiveness that comes to us through his sacrifice that enables us to face injustice with courage, gentleness, and love—instead of anger, spite, and harsh words.

Because of what Christ suffered to redeem us from hell, anything we might suffer for his name is now a privilege, and a great honor. Like the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1,

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (Philippians 1:29 NASB).
But to help his fellow Christians in Asia Minor to bear up under injustice, Peter not only directs them to look back to Christ. He also directs them to look forward to the glory which will one day be ours in heaven.

After Jesus humbly gave himself to save the unjust, he was raised from the dead in glory. And after appearing to many, to show them that his sacrifice on their behalf had been accepted, Jesus ascended through the skies to sit enthroned at the Father’s side, above all angels, authorities, and powers.

But before he left his little band of followers on earth, he promised them that one day he would return for them. But this next time he would not come in lowliness to suffer. This next time he would come in glory with all the angels of heaven. And all who looked to him as their Savior and King would be gathered into the Father’s house once and for all.

When we look forward to Christ’s return, and our vindication before the whole world, we again receive perspective. Any indignity or injustice that we suffered in this life will mean absolutely NOTHING. It will be a blip on the radar, a sand on the seashore, a drop in the ocean—compared to the glory we will inherit. Like Paul says in Romans 8,

…I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 NASB).
When we respond to evil with good, and refuse to settle the scores ourselves when faced with personal injustice, we are exercising our faith in Christ’s promise. And with exercise comes greater strength. Greater trust in Christ’s promise, and a firmer grasp on the glory to come.

This explains why the Christian church has so often flourished in the face of persecution. It was when times were easy that Christians were tempted to grow spiritually fat and lazy. But when kings and emperors tried to stamp out Christianity, that’s when the power of Christ flared up and the message of forgiveness through Christ found its way into more and more homes and hearts.

It was during times of persecution and injustice that Christians were forced to look back to the cross, and the empty tomb, up to Christ enthroned at the Father’s side, and forward to the time when he would return in glory.

But we don’t need persecution to do these things do we? Not if we take Peter’s words to heart. We can look back to Christ in faith, and forward to Christ in faith—even if we’re not in chains for our faith. That’s what we’re trying to do here today isn’t it!?
When some personal injustice, small or great, weighs on your heart and mind, bring it to Christ. Don’t let it fester. Bring it to Christ, for the power to forgive. And look forward to the day when all wrongs will be made right in the kingdom of God.
Now before we close our mediation today there are a few more important theological points to talk about in our reading.

Into this portion of his letter, Peter weaves three such points. One is the Christ’s descent into hell. Look again at verses 18-20.

18For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (1 Peter 3:18-20 NASB).

This is the only section in the whole Scripture which specifically refers to Christ’s descent into hell. It states that after Christ was raised from the dead He went, in his new glorified state, to make a proclamation to spirits imprisoned in hell and awaiting the final judgment.

These spirits included, at least, those who rejected God in the days of Noah. While we aren’t told specifically what Christ announced to them, we know from the rest of Scripture that it wasn’t the Gospel. Their opportunity to come to faith in Christ had ended when they had died. So, we conclude that Christ’s message to them was a proclamation of victory over all who had rejected God.

It is notable that the Apostles’ Creed includes a line referring to Christ’s the descent into hell. The Apostles’ Creed evolved in the first five centuries as concise confession of what a Christian believes. While the version we use today is first found in its entirety toward the close of the fifth century, we find bits and pieces of it being used all the way back to the first century. 

Some find it strange that the early Christians would include the descent into hell in the creed. After all, it is only communicated to us by a single passage of Scripture. But rather than strange, it’s educational. It teaches us how early Christians viewed Scripture. It didn’t matter if it was only one verse in Scripture, if the Holy Spirit had it written down, it was solid. It didn’t need to be said five or six times in five or six different books of the Bible to be true. This was the word of God.

In this way, every time we say, “He descended into hell” in the Creed, we’re also saying, “I believe the Bible is the Spirit inspired Word of God in every part.”
The second theological point Peter weaves into our text for today is that Baptism saves a person from sin. Look at verse 21 again.

21Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 3:21 NASB).

To understand what Peter is saying here, let’s break it down a little bit. First of all, let’s take out the phrase in the middle and look at the basic statement Peter is making here. Peter’s basic statement is…

“…baptism now saves you… …through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21 NASB).

Baptism can be said to save a person from sin ONLY because it creates and strengthens faith in Christ. Christ is the one who offered himself as a sinless sacrifice in the place of all sinners. God the Father then raised him from the dead as testimony to the world that his sacrifice on behalf of sinners was accepted.

Baptism saves, but not apart from faith in Christ. It’s not a magic get-to-heaven-free card. It saves because it creates and strengthens faith in the one and only Savior!

Because Baptism creates and strengthens faith in the Savior, it gives us a clean conscience before God.

Peter makes a comparison here between the way God saved Noah and his family through the waters of the flood, and the way God now saves sinners through the waters of Baptism. In the ark, Noah and his family were rescued. In Christ, sinners are rescued.

A lot of churches are confused when it comes to Baptism. They say it doesn’t save, even though the Bible clearly says otherwise. I think they say this because they don’t want people to think Baptism is a magical ticket to heaven. Just get baptized and then you’re all good, no matter what you believe afterwards.

Better to teach them what Baptism really is. It is a tool that God uses to create and strengthen faith in Christ—who is the one way to forgiveness and eternal life.
We’ve already touched on the last theological point Peter weaves into our text for today, and that is the importance of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to suffer and die to save sinners. But he also told them that three days later he’d be raised from the dead.

When the Father raised Jesus from the dead, he was proclaiming to the world that the sacrifice his Son made on the cross was accepted. In other words, if Christ was really raised from the dead, our sins are really forgiven before God. That’s what the resurrection means.
Maybe you don’t feel like you’ve ever faced injustice because of your faith in Christ. But if you believe in the things that the Holy Spirit wrote through Peter in our text for today, the world considers you crazy.

We should bear up under injustice by trusting in God? What? Two thousand years ago a man died for our sins? Really? The flood was real? Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory to the souls of unbelievers? Baptism saves a person from hell? Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead, and now reigns over all powers and authorities?

If you haven’t faced ridicule for your beliefs yet, you will. But as you speak of God’s grace and the truths he reveals in Scripture, you will be blessed. You and those who hear you.

Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

August 17, 2014

Jesus Savior Pilot Me - Aug 17, 2014

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SERMON:

From the very beginning it is drilled into the heads of military sailors that the captain is the supreme authority on a sea going vessel. And with good reason.

When a ship takes to the open ocean, it’s no longer in friendly territory, especially at a time of war. For a ship and all of its occupants to remain safe, decisions must be weighed, and made, by a smart and well informed captain.

The safety of the ship and passengers rests squarely on the shoulders of the captain. If the ship is going down, it is the captain’s duty to make sure that all crew and passengers are safe before seeking his own rescue.

The great responsibility laid on a captain comes with great authority. A captain’s crew are required to carry out the captain’s orders quickly and efficiently—with no questioning or second guessing of the captain’s orders. Sailors who mutiny have faced the serious consequences of court-martial, and in some cases—even execution.

Even though a young sailor may know that he captain has supreme authority, this fact must be drilled into their heads—for their own safety, and the safety of the other souls on board.

A young sailor must learn to put the captain’s order first in every situation.
As we continue our study of the apostle Peter’s first letter today, we’ll see that Christians have a captain too. And even though we know that Christ is our Lord, our Master, our Captain—we too must learn to set him apart as Lord in our hearts. We do this for our own safety and blessing, as well as for the safety and blessing of those around us.

1 Peter 3:8-15 (NASB)

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10For,
The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
            13Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
The theme of our sermon mediation today is “Savior Please Pilot Me.” This theme comes from verse 15.

“…sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who ask you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15 NASB).

To sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts means to set him apart as the supreme commander in our lives. It means to trust that Jesus is the Son of God, and our Savior from all sin. It means to trust that whatever the Son of God directs us to do is the best thing for us to do.

In the first two verses of our sermon reading, Peter directs his fellow Christians to set apart Christ as their Captain when interacting with each other.

Peter has just got done talking about how God wants Christians to submit to human authorities like the government, and other masters. Peter also spoke of how submission plays a role in Christian marriage—with each spouse putting each other first in the way that God directs.

Now Peter turns away from addressing married Christians to talk to the whole congregation. He says…

8To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NASB).

Peter is speaking to Christians about how they should interact with one another. They are to be harmonious. That is, like-minded, united in spirit. They are to be sympathetic—concerned about one another. There is to be a brotherly love among them so that they are not easily separated by disagreements and conflicts. For conflicts will come.

Peter tells his Christian brothers and sisters not to repay evil for evil or insult for insult. Remember, he’s talking primarily about how they should treat each other. Peter knows that they’re sinners just like him. Peter know that in a group of sinners conflicts are going to arise. Feelings are going to get hurt. Harsh words are going to be said. Hurtful things are going to be done.

That’s why the Holy Spirit moved Peter to tell the congregations he was writing to be kindhearted—that is, compassionate toward one another, not cold and uncaringly selfish. That’s why the Holy Spirit has Peter instruct them to be humble.

When a couple puts on wedding rings and lights a unity candle, that doesn’t make a marriage work! It takes compassion, communication, and forgiveness to make a marriage relationship what God intends it to be.

And the same is true when it comes to a Christian fellowship. Just because we profess to believe the same thing doesn’t make a fellowship work! A vibrant Christian fellowship takes individuals who put the Lord’s directives, like the ones we’ve just reviewed, into practice. Repeatedly!

A vibrant Christian fellowship begins with people who sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts, through faith, and then let the Lord determine how to react to others in any given situation.

Truly letting Christ be our Captain is what brings blessing into our lives, and into our Church.

Peter says that we are not to repay bad behavior with our own bad behavior. Instead we are to repay evil and insult with blessing. And the purpose is that we might inherit a blessing from the Lord.
Look at verse 10-12 again. There Peter quotes Psalm 34 saying…

10For,
The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil’” (1 Peter 3:10-12 NASB).

God desires to bless us daily. And his path to blessing follows the way of godly behavior. We’re not to just trust that Jesus died to take away our sins and continue living as we always have. We’re to CHANGE! No longer are we to pass along rumors. No longer are we to badmouth people when they’re not around. No longer are we to use lies and manipulation to get what we want.

We’re to turn away from any of these things, and do good instead. We’re to do what we can to establish peace with our fellow Christians.

Peter says that the blessing that flows from this kind of godly behavior is that the Lord’s eyes are watching over our days. The Lord’s ears are open to our prayers.

These promises are NOT extended to the wicked. On the contrary, Psalm 34 says that the Lord’s face is set AGAINST those who do evil. Instead of protection, they fall into their own traps. Instead of security in God, those who pursue evil find their prayers fall on deaf ears.
Now, if we only look at our personal record of sins, these words would are terrifying. We do wicked things each and every day. But the difference is Christ. Through faith in Christ, his perfect sinless ness covers us.

Peter isn’t saying, “Eliminate all sins in your life, then God’ll watch over you and answer your prayers.” Peter is simply describing the Christian as a person who looks to Christ for the gift of forgiveness, and then seeks to change their life to match Christ’s leading. That’s a righteous person in the sight of God. That’s the Christian that we all seek to be. And the Christian who God watches over.
For a sailor on a ship, it’s easy to follow the captain’s orders when they make sense to the sailor. And when all the rest of the sailors are following orders as well.

What makes it difficult is when the captains orders don’t make sense to us. And when others around us are talking about mutiny. That’s the situation Christians find themselves in when they step out of the church and into the world.

Look at verses 13-15 again. There Peter writes…

13Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:13-15 NASB).

The world admires a lot of Christian virtues. Kindness, love, compassion, generosity. When we put God’s directives into practice, most of the time that leads to safety in this world, and a good reputation. But not always.

The world of sinners doesn’t agree with God in everything. And that’s where suffering comes in for the Christian. But Peter says that even if the Christian is made to suffer because they follow Christ as their Captain, God is still there to bless his children of faith.

Remember, Peter was writing to congregations in Asia Minor who were experiencing persecution because they trusted in Jesus as their Savior from sin. To them he says, Don’t be intimidated by the godless world. Don’t be troubled. The Savior who suffered and died to take away your sins wasn’t accepted by the sinful world either. The Savior who was raised from the dead three days after the cross still lives to watch over your souls, and to bless you in this life. And he will bless you in ways far greater than financial security and large estates.

In Christ Jesus our Savior we stand forgiven of our sins before the Almighty God. And therefore, we have a sure, and eternal hope.

Like Jesus told his disciples on the night before his crucifixion…

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27 ESV).

And…

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3 ESV).

This is the hope that we have in Christ that Peter speaks of when he says,

“…sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who ask you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15 NASB).

Even in the face of persecution for our faith, we who hope in Christ are to be ready to tell others why we trust in him. And we’re to do this with gentleness and reverence. Thinking about the fact that Christ didn’t just die for our sins on that cross, but for the sins of the whole world. And he would invite all sinners, even those who hate Christians, to see Christ Jesus as their Savior, and Captain.
In the early years of Christianity, churches that got built had a similar shape. The floor plan looked like a cross, with one long hall like this, and two little  arms that extended to the left and the right. The arms of the cross, if you will.

The place where the congregation sat was called the “nave”. Which isn’t an insult, it’s the Latin word for “ship.” We get our word “Navy” from this Latin word. This part of the church building was probably called the “nave” because the arched ceiling above looked like a ship turned upside down over the congregation.

But there’s a spiritual connection here also. As a congregation that professes faith in the one Savior sent from heaven, we look to Christ Jesus as the Captain of our ship. Jesus is a captain who took his charge seriously. To ensure our safety in the final judgment, he went down with our ship. He took each and every one of our failures and wicked sins on his shoulders, and washed them clean away when he suffered hell in our place on the cross.

Because of Christ, we have a hope that is as sure as God’s own promise. We are redeemed in Christ.

So then, let us look to our selfless Captain with awe. And let’s drill that lesson into our own heads, for our safety in life, and the eternal safety of those around us. Christ Jesus is the supreme authority in this boat. We will hear his words, and put them into practice. We will trust in his sacrifice for our forgiveness, and we will walk in his ways.

PRAYER: Savior please, Pilot me. Be the Master that sits on the highest throne in my heart. Guide me constantly to bring my sins to you for cleansing. Guide me to walk in your ways as I interact with my fellow Christians, and as I face life in a world that doesn’t know your grace. And in the end Lord, guide me to the place you’ve prepared for me, by your unfathomable mercy. Savior please, Pilot me. Amen.

August 10, 2014

You And Your Spouse - Aug 10, 2014

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SERMON:

I’m going to start off our sermon mediation this morning by reading a blog post from a Christian author by the name of Jonathan Acuff. On his blog “Stuff Christians Like” Acuff pokes fun of some of the inconsistent behaviors that Christians exhibit.

In a post titled, “Getting Caught Off Guard By Divorce”, Acuff writes…

“I’m married and if you are too, then statistically speaking, one of us is getting divorced.
‘Hold up one second!’ you might say. ‘That can’t be true. I’m a Christian. I’ve seen studies that indicate that Christians actually have a lower divorce rate, something like 33 percent instead of a 50 percent divorce rate like the rest of the country. How dare you misinform me!’
Shame on me, but arguing about whether Christians have a 33 percent or a 50 percent divorce rate is ridiculous. Look at it this way: Would it make a huge difference if one out of every three neighbors on your street got mauled to death by a bear or one out of every two? Would you sit around with friends and say, ‘Those bear stats are grossly exaggerated. I read that there are only 33 deadly Grizzly bears in our gated community, not 50. The media is so biased!’
No, regardless of the statistic, you’d be more careful about bears. You’d buy books on how to keep your house safe from bears. You’d carry a gun and bear spray. And when Valentine’s day rolled around, you’d probably buy your wife a hot water heater.
Okay, one of those sentences had nothing to do with the metaphor but was in fact true. In my defense, it was a ‘State Select’ model, which I’ve been assured is one of the sexier hot water heaters available. So don’t worry about us becoming a statistic; we’ll be fine” (Stuff Christians Like, by Jonathan Acuff).

In his thoroughly sarcastic way, Acuff points out a huge problem among Christians—divorce.

We know that God doesn’t like divorce. And we know that it still happens among us. So maybe we Christians aught to spend more time meditating on God’s directives concerning the husband/wife relationship.

In our ongoing study of Peter’s first letter, that’s the subject we find Peter touching on today. You And Your Spouse. We start by reading the first two verses of 1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:1-2 (NASB)

1In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
Just before these verses, Peter was writing to the churches in Asia Minor about submission. He told them that it was God’s will for them to submit to human authorities, such as the government, police, etc. Even when authorities were unreasonable, Christians were to submit to those authorities government, and be good citizens.

As usual, there was a purpose behind this command. When Christians imitate their Savior’s attitude, they bring honor to his name, and blessing into their lives.
In our verses for today, Peter turns his attention toward married Christians and explains how conscious submission fits into their marriage relationship. Putting one another ahead of ourselves is crucial to god-blessed marriage.

To begin with, Peter says, “wives, be submissive to your own husbands” (1 Peter 3:1 NASB). The verb form in the Greek makes it clear that this is a voluntary and on-going attitude, not a one-time-event.

Peter points out one of the purposes of this attitude. Not all of the Christian women in Asia Minor were married to god-fearing husbands. But their daily behavior could effect a change in their husbands.

Ever since the fall into sin, the human race has endured the “battle of the sexes.” Men and women vying for control over each other. This isn’t God’s will for us. Instead God would have us put one another first. He would have us honor each other as he directs.

In the Garden of Eden, God created Eve from the side of Adam to be his most precious companion and helper. Throughout the Bible God reveals that this relationship model wasn’t just meant for Adam and Eve. It was to exist between all married couples.

Peter points out that part of a wife’s godly submission to her husband is to honor him through chastity, or pure behavior. Christian women were to be sexually faithful toward their husbands. One of the most painful insults a husband can endure occurs when a wife invites a different man into their marriage bed.

Another way Peter directs Christian women to honor, or value, their husbands is through simple respect. This directive has application in a wide variety of situations. Almost everything we do in life can be done in either a respectful way, or in a disrespectful way.

Studies have shown that respect is highly valued by men. In his book, “Love and Respect”, author Emerson Eggerichs interviewed men and asked them if they would rather be loved, or respected. While desiring both, men were more prone to place respect on the top of their list.

When the Christian women of Asia Minor submitted to their husbands and honored them through marital faithfulness and simple respect, those husbands saw women who were being changed by their relationship with God. And through the godly conduct of their wives, these men were drawn toward their own relationship with God.

Peter continues to speak to Christian women in verses 3-4.

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NASB)

3Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 
Popular culture has always put high value on outward appearance, especially when it comes to women. Endless lines of clothing, cosmetics, lifestyles, and procedures offer ways  for women to enhance their outward beauty. The majority of female images presented through the media have been airbrushed, or enhanced in some way to present a popular view of what a truly beautiful woman looks like.

But Peter calls Christian women to pursue a beauty that is deeper than corsets, cosmetics, and fine jewelry. Peter says that the beauty of a Christian woman should flow from the inside. From the “hidden person of the heart.”

A Christian woman is directed by God’s Word to be gentle, not forceful. Quiet, not loud. This is at odds with to our current culture’s manifesto.

Culture today encourages women to even the scales for all the abuse that thoughtless and selfish men have heaped on women over the ages. Common culture says “Settle the score women!” Quiet?! Never. Bold? Loud? Forceful? Yes.

Should we be surprised that God values the opposite of what the sinful world around us values? Not at all. Peter describes an attitude of gentleness and quietness as “imperishable” and “precious in the sight of God.”

Peter gives his female readers an example to follow in verses 5-6. They are to follow the example set by women of faith who came before.

1 Peter 3:5-6 (NASB)

5For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 
Think about the people you admire. Do you ever find yourself saying, “I just love being around Tanya. She always wears Prada.” Or, “Doug is a great friend, he’s always in  Armani.” Clothes really don’t make the man, or the woman. The things we cherish about people are the inner qualities that they express through their outward words and actions.

By talking about Abraham’s wife Sarah, Peter directs the modern women of Asia Minor to a simple passage in the Old Testament. The passage Peter appears to be referring to is found in Genesis 18, verse 12.

In this chapter of Genesis, God had just appeared in human form to tell Abraham that he would soon be blessed with a child, even though he and his wife were well past the age of conceiving children. When Sarah overheard the Lord talking to Abraham about this we read…

“…Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” (Genesis 18:12 NIV).

Here God gives us a little glimpse into Sarah’s heart. No one else heard her words. But God reveals them to us. Peter points his readers to one simple word that Sarah used in reference to her husband. She called him “lord”, or in other words, “master.”

Peter calls the Christian women of Asia Minor to take Sarah’s attitude and make it their own. He says,

“you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear” (1 Peter 3:6 NASB).

A life of godly submission is powered by faith in Lord’s protective care. Our attitude is this—I’ll do what God directs me to, knowing that in the end HE is in control, and HE will watch over me with power and love. I am ultimately in the hands of the Almighty God. His Son has taken my sins away  and made me a child of the greatest lord.
Now, Peter spends most of his words here talking to Christian wives. Perhaps this was because there were more Christian women with un-Christian husbands than men in the congregations of Asia Minor. We’re not told. But there are plenty of passages in the Bible directed to Christian husbands. And the final verse of our sermon reading is one of those. To Christian husbands Peter writes…

1 Peter 3:7 (NASB)

7You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
If you want your church to get egged, just put this verse on your church sign. In our modern culture it is taboo to make any reference to women being in anyway inferior to men—no matter what you’re specifically referencing.

But what is Peter actually talking about here? Is he saying that women are intellectually weaker than men? Morally weaker? Emotionally weaker? Not at all.

Let’s think about this for a moment. What do we know about women and how God talks about them in the Bible? First of all, think about why woman was created in the first place. It was because the God looked at Adam in the Garden and said,

It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18 NASB).

Was God’s solution to Adam’s solitude to give him a companion that was intellectually inferior, emotionally unstable, and morally flimsy? I don’t think so! God doesn’t make junk!

God made Eve to complement Adam. Our whole experience in life shows that women are at least man’s equal when it comes to intelligence, just as crippled when it comes to morality, and—dare I say it—generally more endowed with emotional sensitivity than men.

The one area where we see a difference in the strength of men and women is in simple physical strength. You know, brute force. Let’s be clear here, there are plenty of women who are stronger than men, but in general, men are built for the heavy lifting.

This is what Peter has in mind when he calls Christian men to live in an understanding way with their wives. She’s not just another guy that happens to look different than you and has different parts. There are differences! Pay attention to her needs men!

While there are differences between men and women, Peter calls his fellow Christian men to remember that there is no difference when it comes to the grace of Christ. Women are sinners in need of a Savior just as much as men. And through faith in Christ they are heirs of forgiveness and life on the same level as men. Like Paul says in Galatians 3...

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise(Galatians 3:27-29 NKJV).

In our sermon text, Peter directs husbands to be thoughtful and considerate toward their wives. To remember that they are blood bought souls—dearly loved by the Triune God.

Paul is even more to the point with husbands in Colossians 3, where he writes… 

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them” (Colossians 3:19 ESV).

Through Paul, the Holy Spirit sets the bar even higher. In Ephesians 5, Paul writes…

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26 NIV).

In our sermon text Peter tells the Christian husbands of Asia Minor to be considerate toward their wives, because in doing so they will keep the line of prayer open between them and God. Peter says their prayers would be left unanswered if they were to persist in ungodly behaviors like treating their wives harshly.
How many marriages have been torn apart by husbands and wives ignoring God’s clear directives concerning their relationship? Too many to count.

How many marriages have been blessed when spouses took God’s Word to heart and began to practice the Lord’s directives on a daily basis? Too many to count.
I’m not sure who said it first, but recently I saw a quote posted on Facebook. It said…

“The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence, it’s green where you water it” (Unknown).

This is true when it comes to our relationship with God. When we come to his Word regularly, to meditate on the forgiveness we’re given in Christ, our faith is strengthened.

And this is also true when it comes to marriage relationships. When God’s people consciously, and continuously put God’s marriage directives into practice, that relationship is strengthened, blessed, and caused to flower.

May the Lord life bless our families by teaching us his way. His way of forgiveness in Christ, and his way to marriages that are blessed by God himself.

Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts, and your minds, in Christ Jesus.