1 Peter: The Third Theme – Service

I Peter 1:2 says, “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood . . . .”  In previous posts, it was noted that as believers 1) our salvation began in the heart of God, 2) we have been saved to be sanctified or made holy (through various trials/persecution) and today we see 3) we have been saved and are being sanctified for the end goal of serving and being obedient to Christ.

Thus our ultimate purpose as human beings, and as the redeemed of God is evident: we were made to serve the Living God.  Our ministers were not the only ones called by God into His service; we too have been drafted into the army of the Lord.  But what does this mean exactly?  The verse specifically says “for obedience to Christ” which involves the thought that all we do, whether by word or deed, we do in accordance with the commands of Christ.  The object of our lives, all that we seek to do and be is ultimately for Christ and His glory.  When we work, we are to be thinking, “how can I do this to serve and obey Jesus,” and when we do housework or exercise, or go about our daily lives, the thought should be constant on bringing our deeds into constant submission of His Lordship.

Remember in the previous post, I mentioned Peter experiencing a trial when Jesus explained to Him that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat?  Peter had been telling Jesus that he was ready to follow Him anywhere and lay down his life for Christ.  And through that trial, Peter learned the same lesson in which he writes about now: service.  This is evidenced in John 21:15-17 (which has been called “the love motivation”).  In these verses, Jesus asks Peter THREE times, “Simon . . .  do you love me?”  Each time, Jesus replies to Him with some form of “tend my lambs, shepherd my sheep, tend my sheep.”

Jesus was reinforcing Peter’s faith after the trial of denying Christ. And, He was emphasizing service. He was saying in essence: do what I have called you to do!  Serve the others, take care of them, shepherd them.  This, friend, is exactly what we have been called to do as well. Serve and obey Christ throughout your life! Your salvation began in His heart from the foundation of the world (a plan so long ago), your faith will be tested to make you holier and more like Him, for the ultimate purpose of obeying and serving Him to the end of this world and throughout eternity!

1 Peter: Salvation, Sanctification, & Serivce (continued)

The remaining two themes to be discussed are sanctification and service.  We see both elements in verse 2.

Sanctification – We see that we have been saved (chosen) “by the sanctifying work of the Spirit.”  Once a person is born again by God’s Spirit, he is made holy (definitive sanctification); however a process begins, which is what is known as the “progressive sanctification” or the act whereby God makes His children pure and holy, more and more throughout their life on earth.  In context with the text, the believers were experiencing persecution, and thus that was the means God used to bring about their holiness.  Therefore it becomes evident to the reader that the means of holiness is suffering in some way, shape, or form.

Peter knew this so well, himself.  Take a look at Luke 22:31-34 where Jesus is speaking to Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”  This is first hand evidence of the work of sanctification in the life of Peter.  God allowed a trial to ultimately bring him to a place where he could serve God more purely and perfectly.

Christians in America by no means endure the type of persecution that these 1st century believers encountered.  God does allow, however, suffering and trials to come our way.  It may be sickness, loss of a job, trouble with children, singleness, dealing with a difficult person(s) in your life, etc.  You fill in the blank.  The point is this: whatever you may be experiencing as a child of the King, know that He is allowing it for your holiness – reflecting the image of God as we were created to do (see Genesis 1:27-28).

Application: Praise the Lord today for whatever circumstance is troubling your heart.  God holds the finer details of your life in His almighty right hand, so that you will serve Him & glorify Him.  Please check back soon for the concluding element of 1 Peter – service!

1 Peter: Salvation, Sanctification, & Service

Over the next month or so, we’ll be looking at the book of 1 Peter and today I wanted to emphasize the first two verses of the first chapter.  The Scriptures say,

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (NAS)

Writer & recipients: The Apostle Peter is the writer of the letter and quickly identifies himself by using the name Jesus gave him in John 1:42.  He then refers to himself as an apostle which means “one who is sent.”  This title, along with the name given him by Christ reveal Peter’s authority.  The recipients are listed next – “aliens” who are “scattered” throughout various places that we would know today as modern Turkey.  These first century Christians were scattered due to persecution from the Roman government and exile from Jerusalem.

Reason: The Apostle discusses three elements in the second verse that illustrate the theme for the entire book.  He is writing to those who have been saved and who will be sanctified – for the purpose of service.

Salvation – “who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”  This reveals to us that salvation begins in the heart of God our Father.  Kistemaker writes regarding the term foreknowledge that it “is much more than the ability to predict future events . . . in includes the meaning that God has had a plan from the beginning of time to save sinful man.”  This is evidenced further in Ephesians 1:4-5 which says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.”

Peter himself had experienced this salvation.  John 6:63-70 tells of Jesus speaking to many followers, explaining the same thought as that above – that our salvation begins with God (see specifically verse 65).  When several of the followers did not agree with this and left, Jesus asked the twelve if they wanted to leave too.  Peter’s proclamation shows us He had truly been born again because he was able to say without a doubt in verse 69, “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Application: If you know without a doubt that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and that this has been wrought in your heart, then praise God today, for your salvation literally, truthfully began in His heart before this world was ever created!

We will continue with the study on sanctification and service next time . . .

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  In the next few days I will begin posting notes from lessons I teach in hopes that they will minister to family and friends.

My favorite verse reveals the heart of the Apostle Paul and my own greatest desire as it says, “it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (ESV).

May this blog be a testimony to His grace and dedicated to His glory!

The Spirit’s Work of Intercession

About a month and a half ago, I visited a friend in the hospital. She had just had surgery and I was able to visit with her for a good while. A few days later, I saw her again, and I could tell that she was feeling down. She had struggled for ten years with pain and difficulty from a wreck ten years earlier. I felt the Spirit nudge me to pray with her. I began to pray, and I can remember standing next to that hospital bed, asking God to heal her, if it was His will, and I asked God by faith, that He would make her well. I prayed this earnestly, never knowing that six days later, my friend would pass from this life into eternity.

It just occurred to me through the reading of God’s Word, that even though I didn’t know how to pray according to God’s will, the Spirit did! Romans 8:26-27 teaches the believer much about prayer when it says, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.”

Notice three things the Spirit does! 1)He helps our weakness, 2)He prays for us, 3)He searches our heart, but knowing God’s mind, prays according to God’s will. This is truly amazing! When we pray, the Holy Spirit is right there, praying according to God’s will. We may pray with a humanistic view of what should happen, when God knows exactly what should take place for HIS glory.

Maybe this was the case with my prayer for my friend. I prayed that she would be physically healed. Maybe the Spirit was praying that day, that God would spiritually heal her to the point of glorification in heaven. What a rest the believer can find – in the Spirit’s work of intercession!

The Certainty of Present Suffering & Future Glory

In my young 28 years, I have not experienced much suffering at all. I have a mother and father who are married and love each other to this day. They both love God and the things of God. I have wonderful grandparents and other family members who are all alive, well, and healthy (all of whom mean the world to me). I have literally received monies and gifts to pay for my schooling. I have a roof over my head, a car to drive, food in the refrigerator, and friends who would be by my side in a moment’s notice of trouble. God is good and may the glorious name of Jesus be exalted!

And yet . . . have you ever had a small taste of lemon on the tip of your tongue? Instantly you can feel the bitterness and the twinge of its tartness? That is what I have experienced this past month. I have had a slight taste of suffering. This world has many things it can offer a human being in regards to category of suffering: pain (whether it be physical or mental), sickness and disease, disappointment, unemployment, poverty, and loneliness. I guess that the death of a loved one, however, is at the foremost of suffering that one can experience in this life.

My childhood friend, a friend I had known all my life, passed away on August 11, 2007. I cry daily, remembering various events throughout our childhood and school days. I long for the months to rewind, just for a moment, so that I could talk to her again and tell her how much she meant to me growing up and how much I admired her. I ache for her mother, father, siblings, and children who are going through the pangs of mourning, pangs and hurt that I simply cannot fathom. The pain from my loss reminds me of the certainty of God, and the comfort of His word.

In Romans 8:18, Paul states, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” It is clear from this verse that we may be assured of two things when we are a follower of Christ. First there is the guarantee of present suffering. Paul was writing the Roman church, which was under persecution at this time. They, of all people, knew the frailty of life and the suffering that accompanies it. So to encourage the church there, Paul wrote a comparison. Basically he says, listen believer! Ponder the sufferings of this life. Think on each one you have encountered. Note them well and each difficulty you have ever experienced. Do you have them listed? Are they easily visited upon by your memory? Now understand this, all your sufferings combined in this life cannot compare to the future glory of the next!

This guarantee means that when Christ returns, we will be caught up with him, and our bodies will be redeemed, glorified. The glory will not be revealed to us, but in us the verse states. I do not claim to understand this. But oh how it makes me long for that day! The redemption of soul and body in the presence of the One Who gave His life so that I might be free from sin.

In his commentary on Romans, Hendriksen explains it much better than I ever could. He states, “the pan in which the glory has been deposited outweighs the other one by so much that the heavier pan drops to the bottom immediately. Our present sufferings, be they ever so many and severe, fade into insignificance when compared with our future glory.”

Revival Hymn

This is one of the most convicting things I have ever seen. It contains clips from various preachers concerning revival. Please take the time to watch it. The second half really changed my viewpoint on missions and life in general (the section about secular humanism).

Jesus: One Sacrifice

In Leviticus 16, one may read the commands set forth by God concerning the sacrifices He required as a part of Old Testament law. Verse two and three in particular stand out, “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.” So it is through this verse and the rest of the chapter that one comes to an understanding of God’s concern and standard for the atonement (payment) for sin.

If you were to read the book of Leviticus, you might begin to feel bogged down. God gave list after list of laws that His people were to follow. But let’s take a look at Hebrews 10. This makes a great difference in our understanding of God’s law. Where the Old Testament seems foreboding and unattainable, the New Testament brings a joyous enlightenment to the follower of God. Hebrews 10:11-14 is amazing in light of the requirements of the law in Leviticus 16.

It states, “11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Notice three things about this Scripture:

1. Christ offered something for you (vs.12). He offered Himself as a sacrifice for your sins. In Leviticus, it was animals that were offered. Jesus, God in human form, offered his literal body as your sacrifice.
2. Christ sat down (vs.12b). The other priests had to continually and constantly offer animal sacrifices. What Jesus did on the cross was final.
3. Christ is sufficient (vs. 14). The work Jesus did on the cross was one offering, for all time, for all those who would believe.

The God-focused Prayer, Part Three

This is the third and last post in a group of three regarding the Lord’s prayer. The design of the prayer draws the Christian to look to God and God’s agenda: the coming of His kingdom on earth – that His name would be considered holy among those on earth, that His dominion and ruling would be ever present in this world, and that His will would be done in all things. Once this is a priority in the mind and heart of the believer, Jesus teaches us that we can then seek God’s heart for His desire for personal needs on earth.

Let’s look at the verse to see how this specifically applies: “Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:11-13 (NAS)

The first request acknowledges a physical need that we are faced with daily. My mother can attest to the fact that since I was a child, I have always enjoyed foods of all kinds, and needed food first thing every morning. The pains of hunger are something since birth that I have experienced every single day…that is roughly 10,195 days of eating! Yet I am reminded that each time I feel the urge or need to eat that I must realize my physical dependence upon the God of the Universe.

The second request acknowledges a spiritual need…one we also face daily. It speaks to our debt that we need forgiveness and release from by God. We need to seek the cross and redemption that Jesus offers for the incredible debt that we owe. The debt we all owe is caused by a lifetime of sinning. Just as I have hungered for food 10,195 days, I have also sinned everyday of my life, multiple times a day. What a horrible crime I’ve committed towards a holy and righteous God. Only Christ can remove the guilt of this sin. The removal of sin comes freely and flows from the love of God in Christ. Just as God’s forgiveness flows freely, so should our forgiveness be towards others – lost or saved.

The third request acknowledges an emotional, physical, and spiritual need. We are daily challenged and tempted to continue in selfish and vain ambitions. God is able to lead us into victory and deliver us from ourselves and Satan! Tell God today how much you need Him!!! I am reminded of some song lyrics by Jill Paquette, “But I can’t wait to be free, from this life of mindless sin that compromises me. I know one day I will be. There is a victory that You’ve won for me.”

The God-focused Prayer, Part Two

In the last post, I wrote about God’s paternity and His position, as evidenced in the Lord’s prayer (the model prayer). When we come to God in prayer, we are to recognize that first of all, God is our Father and He is not of this world – He is totally other.

Yet the model prayer does not stop there. There are three phrases which are based upon verse 10c. The three phrases “hallowed be your name,” “your kingdom come,” and “your will be done” are to be read with the context of the following phrase “on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is a powerful prayer when we read it right. God’s name is hallowed already in heaven. God’s kingdom has come in heaven! God’s will is done in heaven! Now, knowing this, we are to pray that these three things will be accomplished on earth. This is not to say that the Lord’s will is not done on earth, for certainly, God is sovereign and His will is never thwarted. However, as believers in Christ, we are to pray with an earnestness that God’s name be considered holy on earth as it is in heaven; and that God’s kingdom would reign on earth; and that God’s will would be perfectly done on earth!

John Piper said it best: “The coming of God’s kingdom and the doing of his will on earth the way the angels do it in heaven is the victory of God. This is the consummation of the ages. This is what everything is moving toward. And Jesus says, Pray for it. Pray for it! Ask God to hallow his name. Ask him to bring in his kingdom. Ask him to make his will be done.”

Therefore, to have a God focused prayer, we must remember to come to Him knowing that life in this world is not about us. We should not come to the Lord primarily with man focused needs. We should be concerned with who God is, where God is, and what God wants to do.