Rolling stones to living stones -1 Peter Part 4

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on August 27th 2023  by Lasya. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

Rolling stones to living stones- Discovering Identity and Purpose in Christ

We have been going through the book of 1 Peter. The letter is written by the apostle Peter to a scattered group of Christians undergoing severe persecution in present-day Turkey. We don't read this word simply as a historic text but as the word of God - breathed by the Holy Spirit- sharper than a double-edged sword. The word of God is inerrant and our ultimate authority. There are descriptive and prescriptive passages in scripture. Today we will look at a prescriptive passage. 

1 Peter 2:1- 12 (Read) 

In light of the previous passage(1 Peter 1: 23-25 “23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”)- Peter urges the exiles to do 3 things - an internal work(v.1-3), embrace their identity (v-4-10) and an external work (v11 onwards). 

The Internal Work:

1. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 

Example of cleaning house. Matthew Henry’s commentary defines these words 

1. Malice- settled overgrown anger

2. Deceit- flattery, falsehood, and delusion, 

3. Hypocrisies. counterfeit piety, counterfeit friendship or pretend friendship when mischief lies in their hearts.

4.  All envies - grieving at the good and welfare of another, at their abilities, prosperity, fame, or successful labours. 

5. Slander - speaking against another, or defaming him; backbiting 

Action Point - Identify and throw it out clean house, and have nothing to do with it. 

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Once you clean the house, you need to fill it with good things. Illustration of a crying child in the plane. Peter commands the people to long/ crave for pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk i.e. the Word of God. So craving is not a natural thing that happens, but something we can do. Illustration of craving for Bamboo Shoot Chicken. How do we crave pure spiritual milk - if we have tasted that he is good. Have you tasted the goodness of God in his word? (Psalm 34:8) Write it down. Reading Psalm 91 when we were sick. (Action Point). We are commanded to crave because he can satisfy us. He sets a table before us, in the presence of our enemies - even in the valley(Psalm 23). 

Embracing our Identity:

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 

Our understanding of who we are always starts with knowing who Jesus is. When Peter describes Jesus as a stone, the image is not of something harsh and rough - the image is of something strong and foundational. It is a fortress, a place of refuge and safety. They would go to the temple to meet with God, and the temple was made of stones. As refugees in a foreign land, these people would have been longing for the temple at Jerusalem. But Peter is saying, he has come to you. He is a LIVING stone. 

5 You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Think about who is saying this- Peter (meaning rock) and his prophetic call was to be the rock on which Jesus would build the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 As He is, so are we in Him. As he is chosen and precious, so are we. Don’t fall into the trap of self-identifying. He gives us identity. 

Being built up: Like a stone Mason first gathers other stones for the building to the cornerstone, we are gathered to Jesus. But the gathering itself is not the end - it is to be built up as a house. 

Illustration of a group project. If you see yourself as an attendee, you will think that it doesn't matter if you go to this local church or that. Or if you stay in this city or another. But when we realise that we ARE the church, we understand that when you take one stone out of the wall, it affects the entire wall. We cannot build with rolling stones. So would you commit to a local church and give yourself to be built up and united? 

Spiritual house: The Jews had the temple, a physical building where they would gather to offer their sacrifices. In the same way, today Christians also have a temple, but this is not a physical house, but a spiritual one. That is why, we can meet in any building, any house, any format and it is the house of God - it is the church. Our GYM meetings are a church, our prayer meetings are a church, and you having meals with your family and sharing about God’s goodness around the table is the church. It is NOT a physical building, it is a spiritual one! 

To be a holy priesthood: The purpose of this gathering is to be a holy priesthood. It is a community of priests who have been set apart. So we are not gathering to a priest/ pastor so he can bridge the gap between you and God. We are gathering as a community of priests, to encourage each other, so that we can go out there and bridge the gap between the unbeliever and Jesus. Your 9-5 job, your classroom, our reach out Sundays is church scattered like salt in the community- it is the work of the priesthood in the world. 

What is the work of this holy priesthood when we gather together - it is to minister to God. 

To offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God: Romans 12: 1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” It is not your wealth or your gifts - you are the treasure - can you give of yourself - not under compulsion or reluctance, but cheerfully (2 Cor 9 :6-7). 

Action Point: How can you present your bodies as a living sacrifice? 

6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Is 28:16) 

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,” (Psalm 118:22)

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.” (Is 8:14)

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

The cross is offensive. The gospel is offensive, but by the grace of God, we were able to respond in repentance and receive his mercy. 

Summary: 

9 But you are a chosen race(Hebrew word Segulla meaning a special treasure), a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

This is the summarization of what he was establishing in the last 5 verses. Peter is saying that since it is true that believers have a new life principle (chosen generation), a new access to God (royal priesthood), a new government (holy nation), and a new owner (His own special people), it will affect the way the believer lives life. 

The External Work:

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

We may never get the glory for our good works, but the object is that God gets glory from it in the end. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

How to live in terrible times

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on August 20th 2023  by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

How to live in terrible times?

 These days, every time we read news, we get depressed. There’s so much going on. So many terrible things are going around us. When we see these, we wonder how to live with these things going on. In the west, there are terrible things going on which are different from what’s going on here in India.

How do we, as followers of Christ live?

2 Tim 3:1-5 - But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Paul was writing to Timothy. Whatever is happening now is not new. It was written long back.

2 Tim 3: 12-13 - 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

So, how do we live?

2 Tim 3:14-17 - 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Even when terrible things are going on all around us, we are called to continue living our lives by reading God’s Word and equipping us.

2 Tim 4:1-5 - In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Let us look into the questions – Who was writing this letter? To whom was this letter being written? At what time was it written?

1.      Paul writing to his spiritual son Timothy

Paul was writing this letter to Timothy when he was close to death. Paul was in the prison and was close to death.

2 Tim 4:6 - 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.

Who was Paul to Timothy? Paul was the spiritual father to Timothy and Timothy was his spiritual son.

1 Tim 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Tim 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Church, we have 5 kinds of people –

                           i.          Unbelievers – who do not know Jesus

                          ii.          Spiritual Infants – Accepted Jesus but haven’t grown spiritually

                         iii.          Spiritual Children – Do a few things to help themselves grow and also serve others

                         iv.          Spiritual Young Adults – Manage themselves and also serve in many ways in a greater way

                          v.          Spiritual Fathers and Mothers – Produce new Christians or disciple the Christians and help them grow spiritually

This is the progression of a Christian life. It is not automatic but a progression. The question is are you a spiritual father/mother? One way is to give birth where you meet an unbeliever and help them come to faith in Jesus and the other is to adopt a new believer and help them grow spiritually.

The Kingdom advances in our nation and other nations. As it happens, more and more spiritual parents are producing spiritual children, not in 9 months but in just a few months. They produce not just 1 spiritual child but many.

2.      Know your teacher / Be a teacher who is known

2 Tim 3:14 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 

It is very important who we are getting our teaching from. Timothy had a godly background.

2 Tim 1:5 - I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2 Tim 1:10 - but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

As we’re learning from people, we need to know them and their lives.

1 Thess 2:8 -  so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

The way to progress is to demonstrate love, sharing lives, joys, sorrows, victories etc.

3.      The Scripture has great power

2 Tim 3:15 -  and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

As you read God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures are making you wise for salvation.

God’s Word is the most powerful thing which is living and active.

1 Cor 1:9 -  God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we proclaim God’s Word, we can change the destiny of people.

1 Pet 1:23 - For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 

When we look at people who do evil things, we wonder if they could ever change. Gospel is the only through which they can change.

4.      All Scripture is God-breathed

2 Tim 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

The Bible is not an ordinary book. It is God-breathed. There’s power behind the words written in it.

These scriptures are used for –

·        Teaching and rebuking (content)

These are for what you need to understand and believe and where you are going wrong in your doing.

·        Correcting and training (conduct)

These are to conduct yourselves according to the Word

As we read the scriptures, we realize what is right and what is wrong. Be a people who are immersed in the scriptures. It is a battle. We have time for everything but when it comes to reading the Word of God, we don’t have time. Let us be consistent in reading God’s Word every day.

5.      Scriptures will help is get equipped to serve God

2 Tim 4:13 - When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

The scriptures are so important that Paul gave special instruction to Timothy to bring the scrolls and parchments.

The scriptures equip us to serve God

2 Tim 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As we read the scriptures, God equips us to serve Him in a greater way and also to do good works which we are called to do.

6.      A Solemn Charge – from God, before God

2 Tim 4:1-2a - In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; 

Why is it written, “who will judge the living and the dead” ?

When Jesus returns, He’s going to come as a judge and judge everyone. It is very important to share the gospel, and preach the Word.

In the olden days, when the King made a law, it was taken to the people of the kingdom through a messenger. He goes and reads out the law. Harold – Messenger.

We’re called to be messengers. We go out and tell people about what God has done so that they can be saved.

How do we do that?

When you invite people for a meal, that’s an opportunity. We share the gospel and we fast and pray for them. We must do it sensitively and pray that God would touch their hearts.

Show love to people. Spend time with people who need Jesus. That’s how Kingdom advances.

2 Tim 4:2 - Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 

We must always be ready to preach in every season.

7.      How should we do it?

                           i.          Be prepared. Get equipped

                          ii.          Careful instruction

                         iii.          With great patience (process)

                         iv.          In season and out of season (when times are favourable and when they are not)

                          v.          Correct, rebuke and encourage – different strokes for different folks

8.      Why should we do it?

2 Tim 4:8 - Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

As we share the gospel, there’s a crown of righteousness in store for us. God is going to reward us for all the good works.

Paul could endure all kinds of suffering, persecution and difficulties because he could see ahead of his life. He could see Jesus.

Moses was able to turn his back on all the treasures of Egypt because he saw God ahead of his life.

Stephen was able to face death because he saw heaven ahead of him.

Our life on earth is short. One day, we will all die. Only what we do for Jesus remains.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

1 Peter Part 3

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 30th 2023  by Navaz D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

PART 3

1Pet 1:13-25 - Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

From verses 1 to 12 we saw that the Inheritance we have in Jesus is certain because it has been preserved by the power of God, proven pure those the trials we face and was predicted by the prophets of old.

Since they are such a privileged people it requires that they must live in a certain way.

The “Therefore” comes in the light of the above context. All this requires an appropriate response because there is something to look forward to in a future inheritance.

1.   THE MINDSET OF THE SAVED

V13 We now come to the meat of the letter. Peter is encouraging the reader to have a mind that is alert.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  (1Pet 5:8). He repeats this warning.

Having an alert mind means being discerning, wise, and able to distinguish between good and evil. It allows you to be prepared for action and not caught off guard.

What are some of the attacks on the mind?

You doubt God’s goodness, His love, and His faithfulness. You start questioning “Why is this happening to me?”. Rather ask yourself this question, “Lord what do you want me to learn in exercising my authority as a son and what aspect of your Character do you want me to understand more deeply?”

We can get attacked with the temptation to try and fulfil legitimate needs in an illegitimate way.

 A sober mind What is the opposite of sober? Drunk. A drunk person is not in his senses, can be tricked, and has no control over their body, emotions, thoughts etc. Sometimes we are so drunk with the pleasures of this world that clouds are thinking, and we cannot see right from wrong. You can be drunk on offence, self-pity, or defend yourself.

V14. Peter reminds them to be obedient and not to go back to their old ways of living, old patterns, and habits leading to sin. This was their lifestyle before they knew Jesus.

V15. He reminds them that a call to holiness is not new. V16 (Lev11:44-45, 19:2) God always wanted a people set apart from Himself who would live by different standards – they were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles.

The Apostles taught a lot from the Old Testament. That was the only scripture they had, and they applied it in conjunction with the teachings of Jesus which is largely the Sermon on the Mount and the parables. The difference is in the New Covenant we have the Holy Spirit to empower us to live this life energizing us from within. So it’s not external rules that we are forced to obey, but rather internal convictions that we want to follow.

Be Holy -Holy has become an old-fashioned word but this is what we are called to: to live at a standard above and beyond what the world lives by. It must be recognizably different and attractive.

V17 -Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 

V17. Once again, Peter reminds them that they are strangers on the planet. We are in the world but not in it. Therefore, we need to live with a degree of detachment.

We have made God in our image giving grace, mercy love truth etc. our definitions. Here Peter talks of God as a judge. Peter is talking to Christians. There is a judgement that we Christ followers will have to face. Not about heaven and hell but how we have lived. Our works will be judged. (Rewards vs inheritance).

1 Cor 3:13-15 We are saved by faith and not works. But we will be judged for our work, not faith.

2.   THE MOTIVATION OF THE SAVED.

1Pet 1:18-21 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ²⁰ He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

V18 – Our Salvation. Peter keeps circling back to this point: how we have been saved. He wanted the believer to have an eternity perspective given that they were being persecuted. He is reminding them that their salvation was bought by the precious blood of Jesus.

He is making a strong statement – “empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors”. What he is saying is that the law cannot save you. The Law must drive you to Jesus.

V20 Chosen - He reminds them that just as they were chosen according to the foreknowledge (v2) of the Father so also the Salvation plan was not an afterthought but was planned even before the creation of the world but has now come to pass in their lifetime and for their sakes so that they could come to faith.

We have not been redeemed by physical things that will perish, but by the costly blood of Jesus, therefore it requires a fitting response.

V21 Response How do we make ourselves pure or holy? Obedience is the key. When we obey the truth, we get rid of everything that is sinful, corrupt, and immoral in our lives.

What is my obedience quotient? How pure my life is, is directly proportional to my obedience.

What does this result in?

3.   THE MANNER OF THE SAVED

²² Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.^[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, ²⁵     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”^[cAnd this is the word that was preached to you.

The understanding of our salvation, the testing of our faith, and the trials must result in a transformed life that is expressed in love for one another!! Amazing. Your obedience will get you a promotion, power, position etc. It will result in love for each other! I am reminded of John 15 where Jesus says “If you love me, you will obey my commands” – This is my command- love one another.

Obeying the truth. Only the Word of God can purify us when we put it into effect i.e., Obedience. Sometimes we wonder how a person who comes to church can still fall into grievous sin. The question to ask is how much they were putting into practice. And this is a warning for all of us too. Obedience is something Peter refers to again (Obedience that comes through faith v2).

V22b – Peter goes on to qualify this love – love one another deeply from the heart. (Pure heart). Without hypocrisy, falsehood, or pretense.

V23 WHY? Because we are now new creations (born-again) from an indestructible seed (Jesus) through the living enduring word of God.

V24.Peter now quotes the Old Testament to compare. Our world, our life temporal, here today and gone tomorrow. But the Word of God will never perish. It is immortal (Is 40:6-8)

CONCLUSION

Peter closes this section by reminding his readers that this is the true gospel. This was what was preached to you and don’t forget it, don’t allow it to be diluted or corrupted.

Don’t we all need this reminder as well? We constantly need to be reminded to stick close to the truth because straying away from it is so easy.

We need to be reminded of who we are, how we obtained our salvation, what we believe in and therefore how then we should live.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.