Continuing our series from First Peter, this post is a summary of the most recent sermon preached at Morningside Baptist Church (MBC) by Pastor Dave Sowers. The audio of the sermon can be found at the "Sermon Audio Podcast" link of the website http://www.morningsidebaptist.us/. Pastor Sowers pictured to the left. As much as is possible it is hoped that these notes honor both the intent and the content of Pastor Sowers' original message. Please compare to the sermon audio podcast.Remember the old GERITOL ad: "If you got your health youv'e got everything." This thought is engrained in us. When sick ourselves, or our loved ones being sick, we will at any cost we do what we can to become healthy or to have our loved ones healed.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH: How serious should we be regarding our spiritual health and the spiritual health of our loved ones. More so than our physical health the necessity of spiritual health should be ENGRAINED within us.
New Living Translation: NLT 1 Timothy 4:7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
We should be concerned to feed your souls as well as your body.
Our hearts need to be fed by Grace.
OUR TEXT TODAY: 1Pe 2:1-3
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
WHEREFORE: note the connection to the previous passage. In light of the fact that we have been born again: 1Pe 1:22-25
IF you have been born by the word of God -- NOW DESIRE that word.
FIVE DESTRUCTIVE THINGS TO BE PUT AWAY:
Harmless Things - toxic to our own soul.
1) MALICE: which is to desire harm to others. Malice stirred up when someone harms us. Put away All malice not just some. It is the opposite of "Love covers a multitude of sins." 1PE 4:8
2) Put away GUILE: Eph 2:22-24
3) Put away all hypocrisy
4) Envy - resentful awareness of an advantage others have.
Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
5) Slander see 1Pe 2:12
We are not to be the backbiter - evil speakers.
AVOID THESE FIVE HARMFUL THINGS LIKE THE PLAGUE
1Pet 2:2
Pursue the goal of your spiritual growth.
Learn from Jerry Bridges example to GROW IN YOUR FAITH.
He says he grew little the first three years of his christian life. He didn't know how. He didn't know that he should be INTENTIONAL about spiritual growth.
In general, growth is a normal expression of life. Something that is alive is something that should be growing.
IF you are not growing spiritually something is wrong. "It's a bad sign" in the case of a believer who is not growing. It is a bad sign physically for the individual or the child that is not growing. So also true spiritually.
God expects his children to grown.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Eph 4:11-16
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Phil 3:12-15
Col 1:28-29
Heb 6:1-2
HOW DOES GROWTH HAPPEN?
It doesn't just happen by osmosis -- by itself. But occurs as a result of INTENTIONAL and APPROPRIATE effort.
APPROPRIATE: in that it is biblical effort. Effort governed by the word of God.
INTENTIONAL: in that it is purposeful effort.
1Pet 2:2 DESIRING the sincere milk of the word. Growth is not apart from the word.
Not just reading the word but desiring "like new born babies desire milk."
1) INTENSE DESIRE: babies are serious about milk.
PSA 119 -- we should read this psalm all week long.
Psa 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
2) REGULAR INTAKE: babies need milk on a regular basis, roughly every three hours.
Do we have regular intake of the bible?
PSA 1
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
3) BABIES are UNHAPPY WITHOUT MILK
They are unhappy until the get some milk. Nothing else will help: pacifier, finger, etc. Babies act like their life depends on getting milk.
Do we?????
We can't live without the bible.
Psa 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
You don't have to mow dead grass or feed dead goldfish. You have to feed your pets. You can't tell a baby "I don't have time to feed you."
God's word is as important as spiritual life. It is more than necessary food.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Most of us work our schedule around eating every day. Do we work our schedule around eating God's word every day.
4) Babies are very content when they get milk
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Is there any resemblance between my DESIRE for the bible and a babies for MILK?
Why do we have to be prompted to dig into the bible? -- You have to be in the word!
Pray: God give me a holy hunger for your word.
Pray: God incline my heart.
Pray: I'm not what I should be God, make me hunger for your word.
1Pet 2:3
Have you personally, first hand tasted the word of God?
Taste it to Know it.
Matthew Poole:
If so be; this doth not imply a doubting, but a supposition, as was before observed, 1Pe 1:17.
Ye have tasted; not lightly tasted by a bare ineffectual knowledge, as Heb 6:4; but experienced and perceived by the taste of your spiritual palate; your spiritual sense, and ability to judge of spiritual things, being restored to you, with your new birth. He refers to Psa 34:8, and possibly to Isa 66:11.
The Lord; the Lord Jesus Christ, as appears by the next verse.
Is gracious; good, kind, or rather, sweet: the same word is applied to wine, Luk 5:39. The sense of the whole is: If ye have by faith received the gospel as glad tidings, and worthy of all acceptation, 1Ti 1:15, and therein perceived and experienced the sweetness of those consolations which are in Christ Jesus, Phi 2:1; or, which is the same, how sweet he is, who, in the preaching of the gospel, exhibits himself to your spiritual senses, to be fed upon and tasted by you.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
COME TASTE!
Glory to God, By His Grace and For His Glory
