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.AMBASSADORS:
When visiting another country we are serving as representatives of our own country. Or even as we visit another church or a conference perhaps as a youth group recently did in preparation for the soon coming missions trip - we were acting as ambassadors or representatives of Morningside Baptist Church. As children we were acting as representatives of our families and our parents. If in another country the citizens there discerning we are from the USA may make a generalization from our behaviour that all of USA must be like us either for good or for bad.
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN:
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Seeing we are citizens from heaven, as such citizens we also represent heaven to those around us.
OUR TEXT TODAY:
1Peter 2:11-12
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Abstain from fleshly lusts.
Q. What is meant by fleshly lusts.
A. My will be done and be done however and whatever it may take to be so.
John Owen: "Be killing sin or it will be killing you."
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The flsh and the spirit banging against one another all the day long.
MAKE WAR:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
We are in a WAR -- we need to take this killing sin and abstaining from fleshly lusts very seriously -- THIS IS WAR -- MAKE WAR.
ABSTAIN -- Avoid altogether.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Make no compromise for sin in the heart. Our goal should be: NOT TO SIN AT ALL.
Consider the life of a soldrier: Is his goal: Not to be shot too many times -- or not to be shot AT ALL.
Consider your own child borrowing the family car: Should his goal be not to have too many crashes or to have NONE AT ALL.
How much more seriously should we take the war of sin against our soul.
ABstain Completely --- for the well-being of your eternal soul.
HYMN: Illustrsating the WAR.
O Great God - A Puritan Prayer Put to Music
Words and music by Bob KauflinAs recorded on Valley of Vision
Lyrics
O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore
I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace
Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me
© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Our Status: Strangers and Pilgrims. This is the third already in this epistle Peter has brought up this truth and we are only beginning chapter two.
Paraphrasing Dr. John Piper:
- We must cultivate the mindset of exiles -- sober us up and wake us up so that we don't drift with the world.
- Don't assume what is on TV is helpful to the soul.
- Don't assume that any of this is gloryfying to God.
- We got our bearings from God's word.
- Ponder what is good for the sould and honours God.
- Be aliens who get their cue from God and not the world.
1Pe 2:12 We learn that: The Christian life is a witness to the world.
What does it mean to glorify God?
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Jerry Bridges paraphrased:
- The Glory of God is the sum of all his infinite excellencies.
- Ascribe the honour and adoration due him - which is worship - worth-ship
- So that you may proclaim his excellencies and praise-worthiness.
- Reflecting his glory to those around us by our actions.
- We are to be mirrors that reflect God's excellencies to those around us.
They speak falsehoods.
But this is to be expected:
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Bad mouthing the Christians for no good reason.
Does our Culture portray Christians in a positive light????? or as Hypocrites, intolerants, weird. And the CULTURAL TREND SAYS GET READY FOR MORE.
TWO-FOLD Approach to this SLANDER:
1) Keep your behaviour above reproach. Sometimes christians are hypocrites, unloving, silling, obnoxious and abraisive. Live so that no one will believe the slander leveled against you.
Remember in the movie fire proof - it was said of the promonient christian in the fire house: "He is the real deal."
SEEK TO HAVE THIS KIND OF REPUTATION:
Dan 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Dan 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
It's hard to find anybody in this category. think of the nominations and political offices currently inhabited and how hard it is to find men of integrity with a Daniel-like reputation. As soon as they are nominated out come all the ghosts of their past and present.
THE GOAL is not just to avoid slander. THE GOAL is to CALL ATTENTION TO GOD. When seeing you -- they then glorify God.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
DAY OF VISITATION:
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Similiar to Phil 2:11:
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
But when does this or will this happen?
1) In mercy maybe in this life - when they come to Christ.
2) or in the day of judgement when people must acknowledge god and God's work.
Let your light shine.
Do your deeds give God the Glory?
GOOD DEEDS:
The American view - everybody goes to heaven and especially those that do good deeds are more likely to go to heaven as a REWARD for their own good deeds.
But:
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Good works have nothing to do with entering into a right relaltionship with god. But one in -- good works are the fruit salvation.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
FOR BELIEVERS: you are representative of God all week long and whatever you do keep your behaviour excellent.
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