Christmas Day: Amazed By The Christ

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Last Week: The unparalleled act of love by the ‘God of All Creation’, being born a human…the enormity of the sacrifice, limiting HIS BEING… What HE did: Conception! Gestating for 10 months, then being birthed in those conditions… The LOVE it took to do all that…to be incarnated!

This Christmas morning is about: What are we to do in response to this LOVE? How do we live our lives because of The Savior / The Messiah / The Christ / The Incarnation of The Triune God ???

Are we amazed? Are we curious? Are we driven to know and experience MORE of this Incarnation of GOD? Last week the Scripture was our guide to understanding the Love it took to be BORN as a human. This week The Scripture guides us in our response to the Christ Child. Might we let the fullness of what God has done move us to action that glorifies God!

LUKE 2:13-20 (NCV)

13 Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: 14 “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.”

  • A single angel had announced the birth of the Messiah…
  • Then the one angel is joined by a heavenly host to give us the significance
  • This is a look ahead to what God / Christ would ultimately accomplish:
  • #1: Max Glory (Heaven & Earth)
  • #2: Peace with our creator based on HIS Grace (Redemption)
  • Perhaps this short message was repeated between ‘Hallelujahs’!

15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.”

  • It is recorded the angels went back to heaven, why did they go?
  • Did the shepherds now realize: ‘This will be the only announcement’
  • They do not wait for more information… There is no debate about what to do…
  • What they have just witnessed moves them to action…
  • They get revelation from God and they become ‘Curious’… and they act!

How curious are you about Scripture? About ‘Real Christian Discipleship’?

16 So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding trough. 17 When they had seen Him, they told what the angels had said about this child.

  • They get there and find exactly what the angel said:
    • Stable / Wrapped in Pieces of Cloth / Feeding Trough
  • They shared the account of the visitation by The Angels (Very Intense Story)
  • The response of the Shepherds was to share what they knew! (let that sink in)

18 Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

  • Everyone who were blessed to hear this were ‘Amazed’

Amazed ~ To regard with admiration, to be filled with wonder, to reverence, to adore, to be astonished. The other two places Luke used the word translated here as ‘Amazed’:

~ Lk. 7:9: How Jesus responded to the faith of the Roman Centurion

~ Acts 7:31: How Moses responded when HE encountered ‘The Burning Bush’

When you are truly amazed by something it changes the way you think and act.

19 Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.

  • She held this revelation in very high regard (She valued it)
  • Mary was to spend the rest of her life thinking about this night!
  • She most likely was very curious to learn more…

20 Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them.

  • This night would forever change the way they though and acted
  • They continued being shepherds, they worshiped & gave thanks while they did

SUMMARY:

Angelic Announcement / Revelation: The most important thing about ‘This Child’ was that He would glorify God by providing access to peace with God. This could only be The Messiah of Scripture! Once the message was declared to the shepherds, they were curious to know EVERYTHING they could about ‘This Child’. Their amazement became action! Once the Shepherds put it all together they told others what they knew and believed. The amazement of the shepherds became the amazement of others! THIS KIND OF AMAZEMENT = BIBLICAL SALVATION!!!

How have you and will you respond to the Birth of Christ?

Application:

What does peace look like in YOUR life?

When God reveals Himself to YOU, how can YOU be more curious to pursue Him?

When YOU gain biblical understanding about The Gospel, how do YOU communicate it to others?

In YOUR daily life, how do YOU live with worship and thanks because of the Biblical Gospel?

How can YOU specifically be like the shepherds (and Mary) this Christmas and in the new year?

John 1:14

So the word of God became a human being and lived among us. We saw His splendor (the splendor as of a Father’s only Son), full of grace and truth. (PHILLIPS)

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)

The Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on His glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father’s uniquely existing Son, who is full of grace and truth. (ISV)

The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw His true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From Him the complete gifts of undeserved grace and truth have come down to us. (CEV)
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. (MSG)

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Advent 4: LOVE BORN

Christ born as one of us is the ultimate act of love!

What is Love? How do we know it, how do we live it?

To understand love we must understand the incarnation. In this act we can find everything we need to know about what real, pure, perfect, unconditional love is

God created love! God is love! God defines love! The Scripture is the story of the definition and demonstration of God’s love. From Adam to Jesus we see the length and depth, and height and width and girth of God’s love

The story of the nation of Israel… this process of God demonstrating what Love is… AND what Loves is NOT… (Kings of Israel)

The fullness of God revealing His love, defining what true love is, happens in the Incarnation, the Messiah, The Christ…Jesus of Nazareth.

We rightly focus on how it was the ultimate sacrifice for God Himself to die on the cross for those He loved. But I am here to tell you this morning, being BORN was just as big a demonstration of love…perhaps a more intense sacrifice for the all powerful Lord of the Universe! The Length of God’s Love In Christ: He was BORN as a human.It took at least as much love to be born into this world as it took to die on the cross. And that kind of love is for us to experience and copy as Christ’s followers.

I hope this look at love gives us encouragement and challenges us to love like Christ.

Let’s start from where Christ was prior to being BORN as a human being.

John 1:1-4 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

  • John using the term ‘The Word’ to depict Jesus Christ
  • Biblical Christology: correct understanding of who the 2nd person of the trinity is
  • Christ has always existed in community with the Father & Spirit as the triune God
  • He was totally involved in every aspect of Creation
  • He has always had the special role of the one who would give eternal life
  • He has always been the One who would show the way to God for all humanity
  • This is what makes Him ‘The Light’: He is going to illuminate God’s Love for us

Philippians 2:6-7 (NLT)

Though He (Christ Jesus) was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

  • Being God Himself, Christ did not hesitate to become subordinate to the Father
  • He limited His being to become a human
  • The ultimate act of humility…the ultimate act of love
  • He gave up being God for a 33 years! That is a big deal!
  • In love for us He was humbled to be BORN as a human…

Being born as a human God choses to lays down His outside of space & time life. His pre-existant life, His all sovereign life. He laid aside His divinity and was still The Son of God while also The Son of man. This is a profound mystery…something worth spending a lifetime understanding and acting on…we call it Discipleship!

Christ defined love for His disciples on the night before He was crucified

John 15:11-14 (NKJV)

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

  • The things he has spoken of:
    • Productive discipleship takes connectivity
    • God will guide the process of our growth as disciples
    • Experiencing God’s love involves keeping His commands
  • The point of this connected, growing obedience to God is that we learn to love
  • Christ commands us to love like He loves: sacrificially living for others

To understand the vastness of God’s love we need to understand the lengths that He went to to save those He calls. To begin to know His love we have to see what He laid down to be BORN as a human. To be ‘All-Everything’ and then choose to limit your limitless being so you can save your creation… that has consistently taken advantage of your love… THAT IS LOVE!

Let’s look at the event: Luke chapter 2 begins with a road trip. Luke 1 was big on baby announcements

Luke 2:1-3

At That Time… Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register. (This is projection of power & control). This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (Scripture Cemented in Time) And all went to their own towns to be registered.

Luke 2:4-7 (NCV)

So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was now pregnant. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough.

  • It’s a four day walk to Bethlehem form Nazareth, pregnant wife on donkey
  • They had to register in the location where their family was from
  • This fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah (Son of David)
  • They were engaged, not married and pregnant… not cool socially
  • We sanitize this scene… it was a cave…the feeding trough was cut out of the wall

God being born as one of us…He could have just gone ‘poof’ & become an adult… God personally experiencing being born: Yikes!

Childhood = Dependence. He allowed himself to be dependent on beings that HE created out of His mind & dirt!

But not just the trauma of childbirth, a poor hard situation (travel & accommodations). Total lack of status, essentials and honor from the creation HE entered into…Why did He make it so hard?

So He would be relatable to all mankind.

If He was willing to do that for us, what are we willing to do for HIM?

1st John 3:16 (NIV)
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

  • As followers of Christ we look to Him for everything, HE defines love for us
  • He gave us an example in laying down His life on the cross
  • But He also gave us an example laying down His divinity and being BORN a man
  • So as HIS disciples we do what He did… and we start with our church body

SUMMARY: The Christ BORN is God’s biggest demonstration of His love for humanity, HE is the Light that defines love! Christ BORN as a human is the ultimate condescension, an act of pure love. ~ Condescension is bad human to human… it is a good thing when it’s God to humans! Being BORN, Christ laid down His divinity, His all-everything, His operating outside of space and time as we know it out of love for US! So we can know real love! The completeness of Joy is found in loving like Christ: laying down what you have for others.

APPLICATION:

How would you explain God’s Love to someone who was curious about it?

How can someone follow a sacrificial God without being sacrificial?

What can you ‘lay down’ this Christmas season to demonstrate love to others?

Colossians 1:15-19 (ESV)

He is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…

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Advent 3: JOY!

John 15: Joy To The World

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)

What things?

I am the true vine (John 15:1)

Abide in Me, and I in you (v.4)

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (v.5)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (v.7)

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (v.8)

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (v.10)

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…..(Gal 5:22)

Joy is settled satisfaction and contentment with who the Lord is, what He is doing, has done, and will do.

Summary Points:

-No one can deprive you of joy, nor take it from you. Remember David? Psalm 51:12.

-While it is a gift of God and fruit of His Spirit, do not take it for granted.

-If you abide in Him and His Word, His joy will be in you, and with you, and will carry you victoriously through all of life’s disappointments, hardships, and losses.

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Advent 2: HOPE!

2nd Samuel 7:8-16: The Promised Hope

8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.

9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me Your throne shall be established forever.’”

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Advent 1: Peace

Peace Is A Person

Advent proclaims the arrival of the incarnation of the ‘Self-Existent Creator of ALL.’ As in: THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST! Advent literally means ‘The Arrival’…The arrival of salvation in the person of Christ. The arrival of forgiveness, redemption, atonement, justification and grace.

Durning the next 4 weeks we will celebrate the themes of Peace, Hope, Joy & Love as they relate to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we begin with Peace.

What is peace to you? Peace between countries? Between ethnic groups? There is no peace more important than peace with your Creator. The God of Scripture / Jesus Christ. There is no lasting peace except peace with your Creator, no one but God / Jesus Christ has the power to permanently maintain total peace. All other peace is fleeting because of sin… your sin, my sin, the sin of leaders.

At the heart of the Gospel message of the scriptures is the reality of peace with God. Permanent, everlasting peace because God originates it and God sustains it! There is a reason the whole world changed 2020 years ago. So this morning I bring you The Message of Peace! The Incarnation of Peace: Jesus Christ…

Peace Announced: Luke 2:13 & 14 NIV

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

  • The angels make two things clear about the arrival of the Messiah
  • #1. It will glorify God
  • #2. It will provide peace to people who on whom God’s favor rests!

Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

  • Paul is addressing the spiritual condition of Jews and gentiles alike: US
  • All of us start out apart from Peace (Christ)
  • No place amongst God’s people / Aliens
  • Unfamiliar with God’s promises
  • Separated from any Hope…zero chance of redemption
  • Estranged from The Creator (No Relationship)

All of this amounts to a place of enmity and disconnection from The Creator. It is not how it was meant to be…’Shalom’. We were at peace with God, sin wrecked that.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, Who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

  • We can all now be ‘In Christ’ / end of separation because of HIS sacrifice
  • ‘Far Away’ signifies a lack of any relationship (gentiles)
  • The God-man Jesus Christ is OUR peace W/ God, the only peace that matters!
  • Christ’s Sacrifice breaks down the walls between peoples
  • He is addressing the enmity that existed between Jews and non-Jews

15 by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.

  • Christ’s redemption is for all mankind, uniting us in Him
  • A New Humanity… one that is at Peace with their creator
  • The two are Jew & Gentile, this means everyone
  • God ended the hostility, on the cross!

17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ is an offer of Peace to Jew & Gentile
  • It is the same deal for both groups
  • And it is the same Spirit that by living in us makes us one with the Father
  • Christ’s death pays the price of our sin so we can be united with God

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

  • Because OUR Peace (Jesus The Christ) has come the estrangement is over!
  • We are not ‘Aliens’ but now become citizens
  • We are part of a ‘Spiritual Fellowship’
  • We are part of a structure God built on others and is building in you and I
  • The Peace holding it all together and what everything else rests upon is Christ!
  • This is what we are so excited to celebrate, all of this gives us True Peace!

21 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

  • In Him (OUR PEACE) we join together to become a structure of worship (Body)
  • It is by HIS grace and power that He ‘peaces’ it all together
  • He makes us a dwelling place for His Spirit / Shalom

The Peace Beyond Understanding… that comes from the Indwelling Spirit of God. I started with the angels announcing Christ’s birth, I also want to share with you something Jesus said. The Holy Spirit via Paul wrote this passage in part because Jesus The Christ said this:

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for life without Him…

John 14:27 ESV

“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.”

Application Questions:

Can you recognize a lack of Peace in your life? Can you ask Jesus Christ to be your Peace?

Do you believe true Peace can only come from being indwelt with God’s Holy Spirit?

What ideas, practices, habits or lifestyles disrupt your Peace In Christ?

How are you going to make the most of this Advent Season?

Colossians 1:19-20 NLT

For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

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Christ @ Work in The D.R.

The Harvest
John 4:27-38

27 Just then His disciples returned and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward Him.

31 Meanwhile His disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then His disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought Him food?”

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

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1st Peter Pt. 8: Servanthood Throughout The Body

Everyone is a servant and leaders aspire to be slaves in Christ’s Body!

This has been an challenging book to study. There are some clear directives and controversial ideas (Marriage / Authority). Overall it is crucial instruction in how we build biblical culture here at Midtown.

At the conclusion of his letter to the ‘Saints’ Peter does the following things:

1st He calls out leadership in Christ’s church to follow Christ’s ways.

2nd He addresses the body in regards to operating under the authority God has put in place.

3rd He sets humility as the relational standard for the the Body of Christ.

4th He advises everyone about the spiritual battle that is a constant for Christians.

5th He encourages us to stand firm through the struggles and suffering that we all share in Christ’s Body and he reminds us that eternity with God awaits us because of what Christ did.

Last Weeks passage ends: 4:19: Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Ch 5 NLT

1 And now, a word to you who are Elders in the churches. I, too, am an Elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in His glory when He is revealed to the whole world.

  • This is addressed to those who have been ordained by God to lead His people
  • Peter has been in this role for a number of years by the time this was written
  • He knows what Christ went through for US so we can share in His glory

As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

  • He is speaking peer to peer… I know the challenges you face
  • Care for the people God has entrusted to you. Focus on the ‘Saints’ God gives
  • Treat this responsibility as a privilege, not a burden
  • Don’t do it for selfish reasons but because you have been called to it

3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

  • Don’t think of yourself as better than the rest of the body (domineering)
  • Hold yourself accountable to the same standards as everyone else (scripture)
  • ‘The Great Shepherd’ told HIS people how leadership in HIS church will work

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.” ~ Jesus @ Mark 10:42-44

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the Elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”[Prov 3:34]

  • This is a brief aside from the comments directed to Elders
  • ‘In the same way’ = what will bring you honor because of your obedience
  • God is a deity of authority, structure and order
  • Better translation for ‘younger’ here would be: recent, new or fresh
  • Immature believers are commanded to accept authority because mature believer already do (it is a sign of maturity)
  • Then there is a general exportation to ‘wrap your relationships in humility’
  • God favor for doing it HIS way VS God’s opposition for doing it Your way

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

  • In humility, trust God and place yourself willingly under HIS control (you are)
  • God knows the right timing for when you will be honored (sheep may not do it)
  • Because you know you are under HIS care, prayerfully put everything on HIM
  • You have to lead God’s people HIS way & in HIS power ‘cuz they are HIS!

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

  • Elders: Responsible for the spiritual condition of their flock (stay focused)
  • We are to ‘look out’ for the activity of the enemy (Elders and everyone else)
  • The devil is persistent like hunting lions, always hungry
  • The devil uses tactics of isolation, just like lions do
  • As your Pastor I know how important is for you to be here amongst the body
  • Pastors & Elders are changed to confront the activity of Satan when we see it
  • I’ve suffered for confronting Satan in this body (not popular, not seen as kind)
  • But I do it because God wants it done, not because everyone will understand

10 In his kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

  • Those who God has chosen all share in God’s glory (eternity) through Christ
  • For those who have surrendered their life to Christ, suffering will end one day
  • There will be restoration and new strength founded on HIM (Christ)
  • A quick declaration of Christ’s Omnipotence! (breaking into worship)

12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

  • Peter is expressing partnership in leadership, affirming Silas’ servanthood
  • The hope is that we would all be encouraged in our suffering knowing the end
  • That we would be encouraged because we trust God is forming us by grace
  • Standing firm in this grace means we are unwavering in our belief in God’s love

13 Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.

  • He refers to Rome as ‘Babylon’ because of the rampant evil
  • Mark is believed to have written his Gospel with oversight from Peter
  • It is believed mark was in Rome with Paul during His imprisonment there
  • A kiss of ‘agape’… This is about fellowship / non sexual love
  • Those who are ‘In Christ’ live in the reality of being at peace with their creator

APPLICATION:

For Elders and those called to be Elders in the future:

What is your motivation to lead God’s people? Are you good with being a servant and ultimately a slave to Christ’s Body?

As a member of this Body are you totally accepting of the authority of Greg, Wood and Todd? If not, what needs to change?

How does your complete trust in God specifically express itself in humility?

What are some life habits that enable you to be alert regarding Satan’s actively and oppose him?

After reading this book, what is your attitude toward suffering in your life?

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1st Peter Pt. 7: Entrust Your Life To The Will Of God

Say Yes to God & No to Self

As Christ followers we are meant to be on a regular program of growth and refinement. Having surrendered our lives to Christ we now are committed to learn how to think, feel and act like Jesus as revealed in Scripture. This involves discomfort, inconvenience, insults…suffering!

Here is the deal: we live in a fallen world and the sin of other people as well as our own sin causes suffering. But in this fallen world we get to share in what our Lord experienced: suffering The most worthy thing I can do as your shepherd is to encourage you to entrust your entire life to the will of God…live for HIM , not your comfort.

Ch 4:1-19 ESV

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,[a] 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

  • Christ is our example, He is our Lord, so we desire to think like he does
  • WDA Discipleship Vision: ‘To think, act and feel like Jesus’
  • V. 1b: We must realize that to be dead to sin inevitably means pain
  • It is not pleasurable to our flesh to live for the will of God
  • When we surrender our lives to Christ, we begin to no longer live for our ‘wants’
  • Our wants / passions are replaced by passion for the will of God!
  • I encourage you: be anxious to do the will of God, not the will of _______!

3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

  • You have had enough of living for your self…time life is over
  • The time referred to is pre-salvation…That is when you lived apart from God
  • Without Christ as Lord of your life you live for… YOUR PHYSICAL PLEASURE
  • Sex, lust, intoxication, unbridled consumption, alcohol focus, worshiping things
  • The ‘world’ cant understand why you would not want to live like they do
  • Our culture will reject and despise you when you don’t join their sin games

5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

  • They don’t acknowledge it but they will have to account to God for their lives
  • .All humans start off spiritually dead, the Gospel is the means to change that
  • All who surrender to the Gospel of Jesus Christ will not be judged for sin
  • They will be awarded eternal life in the Spirit, as God is eternal / pre-existent

7 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.

  • The end will come ‘like a thief in the night’
  • We are to live in light of eternity so we stay spiritually connected to God
  • We are to honor God with our thoughts, and actions so we pray properly
  • Even more important is to love our brothers & sisters in the Body of Christ
  • Living out love for each other is all we can do to offset our inbred siN
  • Caring for each others basic needs = showing hospitality
  • Do it with a joyous attitude

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

  • We have gifts that God gave us to serve in unique ways
  • What does it mean to be a good steward of specific grace God has given you?
  • (In this Body) Is your role speaking? Do so based on God’s Word
  • (In this Body) Is your role service? Do it with God supplied resources
  • The whole point…The ONLY point is to glorify God by serving Christ’s Body!
  • Because He owns and deserves all credit, worth, control and service! Always!
  • This is a life of meaning & purpose: glorifying God by serving based on His will

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. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[b]

  • We are to be expectant of tests and trials that come in this life
  • As one who ‘Belongs to Christ’ we find joy in sharing everything with Christ
  • We experience the bad in this life but also the good for eternity
  • If the ‘World’ insults us for bearing Christ’s name it proves God’s Spirit is in us!
  • Variant rendering: ‘The glorious Spirit of God rest 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.

  • In Christ’s body we don’t view suffering for bad the same as suffering for Christ
  • If our living for Christ brings suffering we enjoy being called on of HIS
  • We glorify God by holding to our association with Christ no matter what

The Scripture is telling us we are to discern what is proper conduct for a member of Christ’s Body… we are to use proper judgement… because it matters

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? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” [c]

  • This judgement is not regarding eternal life, this letter is to ‘Saints’
  • In eternity with Christ we to answer for what we did with this life post salvation

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. ~ 2 Cor. 5:10

  • God holds us to account… We will have to answer at ‘The Bema Seat’
  • Are you living for Christ regardless of the consequences?

[c] Proverbs 11:31: If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

  • This is our charge as Jesus Christ’s Body: Live for God’s will & trust HIM
  • We do what God in the Holy Scriptures has called us to do…
  • And let the chips fall where they may!
  • If you have entrusted your soul to Christ, will you not entrust this life, this body?

If you don’t want to trust Christ with this life and your well being, maybe you have not entrusted Him with your soul…

We are called to honor God, live this life for Christ and trust HIM to care for us

We grow in this as ‘Disciples’ of Christ… it is a process that requires intentionality

APPLICATION:

What are things you want to do, things you used to do, but don’t do anymore because they lead to sin?

In the past year, what have you chosen to do or not to do anymore that has caused you discomfort / suffering?

Which are you better at: being self controlled & sober minded OR being hospital & earnestly loving?

What parts of your life do you have difficulty entrusting to Christ? Why?

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1st Peter Pt. 6: A Life Declaring Christ’s Lordship

Lordship Salvation & Baptism

This book and this passage are such wonderful guidance and motivation and love God has given us. If we take the time to know it and meditate on it we will see our lives transformed for God’s glory.

Last Week: V.9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.

I found this the most challenging part of last week’s passage… I do the not retaliate part but the response of a blessing… I believe he has called us to this so He will enable us to do this. It is about God making US more like Jesus, less like US! Peter the Shepherd is drawing our attention to our relational health / spiritual health. This letter is a blueprint for how we are to grow as disciples. The foundation of our discipleship is what we believe about Jesus Christ, specifically our belief He is the Lord of our lives. This letter is written to ‘The Saints’ AKA the Biblically saved members of Christ’s body.

This part of the letter really hits at two big ideas:

We are to live lives that honor God (‘Do Good’) without fear of living dependent on Christ, or explaining the motivation behind your lifestyle.

We are saved by Christ’s death and Resurrection. Our response as Christ’s Body, to The Biblical Gospel, is absolute sincerity regarding Christ’s Lordship of our lives! Baptism is such a response.

Ch 3:13-22 NLT

13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.

  • Rhetorical question: Answer is the enemies of God, led by Satan
  • Lesson from Job: God allows Satan to do things to HIS people for HIS reasons
  • Reasons beyond our comprehension… ‘Where were you…??’
  • You may suffer while doing right…Job did!
  • The endgame is where we are to focus, that is the reward: eternity with God!
  • Satan can only threaten your eternal standing, he cannot change it!

There is One you should fear… “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell.Yes, he’s the one to fear.” Jesus @ Luke 12:4&5

Christ commands us to ‘fear God’… what specifically does that mean?

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.

  • Biblical Christian Life = Worship Christ as Lord of your life!
  • When you worship Christ as Lord of your life it re-aligns your priorities
  • You do things that confuse those who do not follow Christ [‘give up your life’]
  • You do stuff that makes someone ask you about your hope as a Christian
  • If no one has ever asked you this question it should trouble you
  • What is your conversion story? How do you tell it? Who is the star of the story?
  • Is humility featured in the story? (playing a support role to Christ)
  • Is there respect for others perspective? Christ was never a bully…
  • This is a command, not an option: Worship Christ as Lord / Be ready to share it
  • If we love Christ, we share what we have, somehow, someway

Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

  • A clear conscience flows from a repentant heart / sincere ‘Lordship Salvation’
  • There is a wise recognition of conflict / spiritual warfare
  • ‘Belong to Christ’
  • When you are His you have an intimate relationship W/ God that blesses others
  • Do you belong to Christ and live like it? What is this life based on?
  • What drives your behavior more: comfort or Christ?
  • Can’t I have comfort while I follow Christ? Not according to the Bible

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers from them all… ~ Psalm 34:19

Doing Good is being a righteous person, only way to be righteous is to belong to Christ and live humbly under HIS Lordship.

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.

  • To Suffer: To be affected by a thing, whether good or bad (bigger picture)
  • Christ didn’t suffer for wrong He did
  • Christ died to save sinners = bring them to eternal safety
  • The physical body died and was reanimated by the activity of the Holy Spirit
  • Life in The Spirit = Resurrection Life

19 He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. [saved through the water]

  • Variant reading: Christ traveled & proclaimed Truth, in the Spirit, to prisoners
  • Another translation: …in the Spirit He went and preached… time doesn’t need to be sequential
  • God’s spiritual activity as ‘Triunity’: separate roles / persons, but ONE essence
  • God’s Spirt preached for 50-60 years through Noah as he built the Ark
  • Noah: the most unsuccessful preacher of all time! Only 8 converts in 60 yrs??
  • God in HIS unique wisdom and sovereignty chose to save just EIGHT people

So what is Peter saying? He is perhaps declaring that Christ’s sacrificial death was in essence ‘Spiritual Preaching’ to all humanity (each of us) who are born separated from their Creator. He is connecting this to Noah’s story. In Noah’s day, out of everyone who was preached to by God’s spiritual activity (Noah building the ark & preaching) only EIGHT were saved… from what destroyed the rest of humanity.

21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience.

  • Being saved through water is what baptism is compared to
  • A Representation / A Corresponding Form / A Prefigure
  • Which now ‘signifies’ the salvation of YOU (members of Christ’s Body)
  • It is a response to your salvation, not the origination of your salvation
  • God initiates, we respond (HE loved us first)
  • The word translated ‘response’ can also be rendered pledge or profession
  • Baptism is the profession / confession of The Lordship of Christ in YOUR life!
  • Understanding what Christ has done, we respond in obedience

It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

  • Christ’s Resurrection gives the ‘Representation’ that is baptism authenticity
  • Christ’s resurrection (Spiritual Activity) is what does the saving!
  • Christ rose from the dead & we mimic Him by rising from the waters of baptism
  • The Biblical Ordinance of Baptism (There from day 1 in Christ’s Church)
  • It is our personal declaration that Christ has raised us to eternal life!
  • He conquers sin and death to take the place of power and authority due him
  • In Biblical Baptism I declared Christ the ‘Eternal Lord of my Life’ (Lord of All)
  • All angels and authorities accept Christ’s authority… only humans do not

APPLICATION:

What specifics of your faith in Christ get you through hard situations and seasons?

What are the lifestyle choices you make to ‘worship Christ as Lord of your life’?

Are you ready to answer why you live for Christ in a winsome, accessible way?

Why is Baptism connected with being ready to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ?

Extra Credit:

Do you connect the exclusive privilege you have, known as salvation, to how only EIGHT people were saved from the flood?

/by

1st Peter Pt. 5: Different and The Same

Biblical Marriage Roles

Peter’s Audience: I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. ~ 1st Peter 1:1-&2

God used Peter to shepherd His people, through this letter… (‘feed my Lambs’). In the previous chapter we are given the motivation for the lifestyle we are called to.

Start of the previous passage: 13 For the Lord’s sake… Why we embrace spiritual & relational transformation. The end of the passage speaks of where we are: 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. Today we look at relational roles that are different for men and women in Christian Marriage as well as relational guidance for all of us; married, single, male & female.

This Scripture is for all who have surrendered their life to Jesus The Christ.

3:1-12 NLT

1 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. 2 They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.

  • Submission to authority based on God’s Sovereignty & Christ’s Sacrifice
  • Gen. 3:16 ‘You will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.’
  • Sin caused corruption of the relationship… In our fallen state this is the setup
  • Your obedience to ‘The Guardian of your soul’ is not based on your husband’s
  • Your life, not your words are to be your witness to your relationship with Christ
  • God wants you to join Him in the spiritual formation of your husband
  • Trusting that God is the authority you submit to, enacted through your husband

3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is SO precious to God.

  • This is to married women…
  • The command is: Do not focus on your physical appearance and adornments
  • Wives in the Body are to instead focus on what is ‘precious to God’
  • God wants you to have ‘Inner / Spiritual Beauty’
  • This kind of beauty is ultra low maintenance…unfading!
  • This kind of beauty is not flashy but rather shown in a gentle & quite spirit
  • This is how ‘Wives’ are to be…because women are different than men!
  • So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. ~ Gen 1:27 NIV

5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

  • God points us to an examples of Godly wives from His Word
  • What made these women ‘holy women’ is they put their trust in God first!
  • They knew God was in control so they accepted HIS authority structure Gen 3:16
  • This guides female members of Christ’s Body as to your role in marriage
  • You are spiritual descendants of Sara, submitting to your husband…Why?
  • If you know God controls your husband, then you trust HIM not your spouse
  • It is a hard place to be as a wife when your husband is not following Christ

7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

  • Married men in Christ’s Body… In the same way = 4 The Lord’s Sake
  • Give Honor… What Honors your Wife? What do you use as a standard?
  • Treat your wife as though she is pinnacle of God’s creation; because She Is!
  • Not physically as strong but your equal spiritually… at least!
  • Anything short of the treatment described here hinders your intimacy with God

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

  • Finally: To close out this appeal for relational health: ‘For The Lord’s Sake’
  • These are for men & women…everyone!

So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. ~ Gen 1:27 NIV

  • Called to the same mind… what mind is that? What should our worldview be?
  • How are we to come to this ‘one mind’???

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2 NLT

  • From this God changed mind comes…Sympathy, Brotherly & Sisterly Love, A Tenderhearted & Humble attitude
  • As much as God made men & women different, He also gave us commonality
  • In Christ, we recognize our sameness and our uniqueness at the same time

9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.

  • We are made in God’s image, He never responds to evil with evil (cross)

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

  • When insulted, we are to respond with grace and a blessing.
  • God has this expectation of us
  • Living like this we have more intimacy with God; that is the blessing He grants you!

10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” [Psalm 34:12-16a]

  • The previous verse says: Come my children, listen to me and I will teach you to fear the Lord…
  • These are commands for God’s surrendered people (Israel / Body)
  • In this Psalm’s context ‘enjoy life and see many happy days = eternity
  • But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. ~ Psalm 34:2 NLT
  • Evil = Depraved & Corrupt…Speaking Evil = saying things that inflict destruction
  • Lies = words of fraud and deceit (deceit here is same word used in 2:1 & 2:22)
  • You have to turn away from evil before you can do good (can’t mix in a little bit)
  • We are called to go out of our way to be at peace within this Body (V. 8)
  • We are called to ‘keep the peace’ through strong relationships (being present)
  • The integrity of doing what God considers ‘right’ is protection & blessing
  • Truth, constructive words, peace seeking & keeping…they all enhance and deepen our relationship with God!! Real prayer life…
  • To ‘Do’ evil is practice and lifestyle, it involves the embrace of an activity
  • If we embrace evil, falsehood and conflict God cannot be related to us
  • The sin of any evil is enough to separate us from God forever (Turn His Face)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s solution! David wrote of the redemption of those who surrender their life to God. That redemption was won at the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ, God Incarnate! He was born supernaturally and lived in perfect obedience to God’s Word & Will. He laid down His life to buy us out of Hell! And He conquered Hell and sin, rising from death to eternal life… as those who are His will too, If we surrender our life to His Lordship He gives us eternal life! As a downpayment on eternity God puts His Holy Spirit in us! That is the only way we can live as this scripture calls us to live. Will be still mess up? Absolutely! Will we help each other be more obedient? By God’s Spirit within us, Absolutely!

Scripture Application:

Current and Future Christian Wives: Do you fully accept your husband’s biblical authority in your marriage? Partial Obedience = Disobedience

Current and Future Christian Husbands: Do you biblically honor your wife, treating her with understanding and as an equal partner in your marriage? Partial Obedience = Disobedience

Why doesn’t God’s word give the same commands and marital standards to wives as to husbands?

Rate yourself 1-10

How one-minded are you with this Body?

What are your actions of love and sympathy to members of this Body?

How tenderhearted are you?

How humble is your attitude?

What is the impact of your active discipleship on your relationships? ~ Don’t know? Maybe you should try ‘Active Discipleship’ and find out!

/by