Peter as Pastor - Resist - 1 Peter 5 (P 28)

Resistance ...

According to Mirriam-Webster dictionary, the word resist means: 1) to fight against; 2) to try to stop or prevent; 3) to remain strong against the force or effect of; 4) to not be affected or harmed by

In the world of physical exercise, we are encouraged to utilize resistance exercise to increase strength and overall well-being. According to the online site "Fit Day", resistance exercise is ... "any form of exercise that forces your skeletal muscles (not the involuntary muscles of your heart, lungs, etc) to contract.  An external resistance (such as heavy weights) is used to cause the contractions, and those contractions lead to increases in muscular mass, strength, endurance and tone."

Resistance.

After encouraging the elders of Christ's Church in the first 4 verses of chapter 5, Peter turned his attention to "all of us" ... all believers.  Let's listen ...

Read 1 Peter 5: 5 - 14

Peter, our Pastor, wants each of us to "resist"!  And as we "resist", our strength grows.  Our spiritual muscles increase in "mass, strength, endurance and tone."  Resisting is active.  Resisting requires determination, dedication and discipline.

I see four areas of resistance in Peter's words.

First, we are to resist our natural bend toward pride.  It was pride that led to Satan's fall from heaven. It was pride that lured Eve and Adam to step outside of God's wisdom.  At the root of pride is the desire to be God.  It is idolatry. That cannot, must not, be our position - ever!  So Peter, in wisdom, tells us to "humble ourselves under God's mighty hand."  Scripture is filled with instruction and warning about pride.  Just a few ...

John 13: 3 - 16:  Jesus, Himself, models a servant heart, a servant's behaviors, a servant life for us. And then He tells us to "do as He did".  Will you?

Romans 12: 3  "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."

Romans 12:16  "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited."

Proverbs 8:13  The writer personifies God and says, "I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."

Proverbs 16:18  "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

A humble spirit knows full well that God is God ... and I am not.

We must resist pride.  Deliberately.  Moment by moment.  Circumstance by circumstance.

Second, we are to resist anxiety.  Anxiety eats away at your peace of mind and heart.  Anxiety is physically harmful.  Anxiety is prevalent in a heart that believes it is in control.  Anxiety belies trust in God.  Anxiety feels isolated and alone.  Peter tells us to "cast our anxiety on God.  Why?  Because He cares for you!

Proverbs 12:25  "An anxious heart weighs a man down ..."  Isn't it the truth!

But how do we do that?  How do we "cast our anxiety on God"?  Paul tells us how to do what Peter is saying.

Philippians 4:6 - 7  "Do not be anxious about about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We must resist anxiety ... trust prayer ... trust God.

Third, Peter tells us to resist careless living.  We do that through self-control.  No excesses.  Not busy-ness, not food, not alcohol, not anything.  Remember that self-control is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us.  God can and will grow that grace in you.  Will you resist so that those 'muscles are strengthened'?  Another way we resist living carelessly is by staying alert.  We stay in tune with God through His Word ... through prayer ... through awareness of God's life in us and in others.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12  "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything."

We must resist the temptation to live life like a pool ball - just bouncing off every circumstance that hits us.  No carelessness - self-controlled and alert.

Last, we are to resist Satan.  We do that by refusing to listen to his voice in our head but by listening to the Word of God.  We do that by standing firm in our faith ... standing firm in God.  Knowing and reminding ourselves of what God has promised.  Be alert to the ways you see Satan luring you away from your God.

We must resist Satan ... every day ... in every circumstance.

As we resist, God does some amazing things.  Notice the way Peter closes this passage ...

God will ...

restore you (NASB uses the word, 'perfect you')

make you strong

make you firm

make you steadfast

And that, my friends, is a worthy goal!  Resist ... so that God, Himself, will strengthen your spiritual muscles in ways we cannot fully grasp or understand.  I want to be strong - don't you?  

Peter as Pastor - Suffering - 1 Peter 4: 12 - 19 (P 27)

Immediately after Peter described what it means to live well as a believer, he began to write about suffering - suffering because of identification with Jesus.

Read 1 Peter 4: 12 - 19

Notice, as we begin, the distinction Peter makes between suffering because of Christ and suffering that may come because of criminal or bad behaviors. If you steal or murder or engage in criminal activity ... even if you just meddle in other people's business ... and suffer ...then so be it - it's called consequences.  Instead, Peter wrote about suffering because of your faith.

William Barclay wrote:  

It is never easy to be a Christian.  The Christian life brings its own loneliness, its own unpopularity, its own problems, its own sacrifices and its own persecutions.

Is that your experience?  Would you agree with Barclay?  If so ... it is important to make note of the principles surrounding this kind of suffering as cataloged by Peter.  

First, Peter expected suffering.  To him, it was an inevitable outflow of walking with Christ.  Why? Most likely because human nature abhors anything different.  Human nature wants everyone to be exactly like "me".  Human nature tends to hold anyone different as "suspicious".  And the Christian is to live a life that differs from the world's standards and norms. Also, when we live out the model set by Jesus, we become something of a conscience to the society in which we live and function.  Consciences can be troublesome.  And many want to silence a troublesome conscience!  So Peter said, "Expect it.  Don't be surprised."

The second principle Peter established is that suffering is a test.  Will you persevere?  Will you be faithful?  Are you truly devoted to the Lord even when the going gets rough?  

Third, suffering puts us in company with Christ Himself.  And that is the best company possible!  Let me remind you of some things Paul said along these lines as well:

Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  (Philippians 3:10)

Peter's fourth principle was that suffering is the way to glory.  Jesus Himself bore the cross before He wore the crown.  It is yet another way we walk in His steps.  

Do you ever wonder what this "glory" means?  What does it look like?  In the Old Testament, there was this idea of luminosity that occurred around the presence of God.  The Hebrews called it "shekinah".  We know that the glory of the Lord enveloped Mt. Sinai - and it was a luminosity, a light.  Moses wore it on his own face when he had been with God.  It was this luminous cloud that led the children of Israel in the wilderness - the presence of God.  It settled on and in the Tabernacle ... then the Temple.  One of the saddest phrases in scripture is when we are told that the "glory" (the luminosity, the light, the glow) of God left the Temple.  Then it was just a building.  

We read of Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 6 - 7.  As he was condemned to a death sentence, scripture tells us in Acts 6:15 "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."  Luminosity - glory.

Barclay writes:  "It is Peter's conviction that something of that glow of glory rests on those who suffer for Christ."

So what do you do when the suffering comes?  Peter does not leave us hanging.  He tells us what to do.  He states it succinctly and clearly.  "Entrust yourself to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good." (4:19)   NIV translates it as "commit yourselves".  The Greek word used for "entrust" is the word "paratithesthai".  It is a technical term for depositing money with a trusted friend - a custom used before banks were available.  It means this is a safe place.  It means you will not lose yourself.  It is the exact word that our Lord used when He said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

This Pastor's advice is solid ... it was wisdom for those first century believers ... and it is still wisdom for us today.  

Trust yourself to God ... and continue to do good. 

 Enough said.  

Peter as Pastor - Living Well - 1 Peter 4:1-11 (P 26)

How do we live well in this chaotic, messy, frightening world?  How do we live well when faced with crises and loss and crime and wars and violence and economic collapse?  How do we live well when insults and ridicule mark nearly every aspect of life in our culture?  Peter has a message about just that - living well as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read 1 Peter 4: 1 - 11

Let's notice a few of Peter's instructions. As we identify them, remember to examine your own life place right now and do a personal inventory.  Are you "living well"?

 First, he writes that we no longer live a life of "dissipation".  Eugene Peterson states is this way:

"... you are weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.  Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want."  (The Message Translation)

"Self" can indeed be a tyrannical master.  The "me", "my", "I" can take such a hold on us that we are unable to seek God, to pursue His life in us, to be still and quiet to hear His voice and to know His will.  I also appreciate the image Peterson employs when he compares it to a "weaning".  That indicates process - movement - steadiness - gradual.  So my question ... Am I less enslaved to "me" than I was a year ago?  Do I invest more time seeking God than I did a year ago?  

The second instruction I notice is that we are to be sober minded and self-controlled.  Being clear minded has to do with sanity.  It has to do with seeing things in proper perspective.  It has to do with knowing what matters and what really does not.   It has nothing to do with joyless, morose, somber attitudes.  Self-control.  Well, you know that one.  It says that NOTHING masters me except the Lord.  Not alcohol, not food, not chocolate, not caffeine, not laziness, not busy-ness, not excess of any kind.  Did you notice that there is a reason for this?  It is so that you can pray!  It helps keep our minds clear so that we can focus.  That is a worthy goal.  So my question ... Have I been sober minded today?  Am I refusing to allow anything today take me captive?  

Third, living well means loving well.  We are to love each other - carefully, deeply, always.  Peter is not writing about sentimentality.  He is writing about the decision we make to practice love - in attitude and behavior.  If that language is not specific enough for you, remember how Paul described "love" in 1 Corinthians 13.  He told us that to practice love means being patient with people and kind. It means dealing with my tendency toward jealousy and envy so that I don't let those things spill out over others.  It means I don't boast and brag.  Love is not rude.  It does not focus on "self".  Love doesn't easily get mad.  And it absolutely keeps no record book of every hurt and slight that comes my way.  So the question ... Am I a more loving person today than I was a year ago?  Do I pay attention to practicing love with my biological family?  with my church family?

A fourth instruction about living well as a believer is to practice hospitality and service.  That's just the kind of people we are to be.  Hospitable means welcoming.  Into your home ... into your life.  We serve other people because Christ gave us the model, the example.  Then Peter throws down a gauntlet ... he said we are to be this kind of people without grumbling about it!  Without complaining.  Paul said the same thing in Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing."  Why does grumbling and complaining feel so good?  Are we afraid no one will notice us? Are we so consumed with "self" that we can't bear to put ourselves out in the least?   It is destructive to our spirit.  It shows a disrespect for God and His activity in our lives.  In his Bible Study, "Lord, Change My Attitude", James MacDonald writes:  "In the short term complaining separates us from God; in the long term it becomes a lifestyle that sends us to the wilderness."  Here is the question: What have I complained about today?  When was the last time I actually had someone in my home other than my family?  Has "grumbling" become a sort of lifestyle habit for me?

To close this section, our Pastor, Peter, reminds us what it means to live well.  He wrote that a life "well lived" is important so that "in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."  That's the goal.  That's the purpose.  That's the vision.

So ... today ...

LIVE WELL!!!

Peter as Pastor - Marks of a Believer (Post 25)

Being a native Texan and growing up saturated in the state lore and mythology, I know about ranching.  Well, not really.  I'm a city girl - Ft. Worth, Dallas and Houston.  I have absolutely no first hand experience with cattle or sheep or hogs or any other ranch animal.  My uncle and cousins do have some cows on their property.  And I have observed them - from a distance.  One thing I do know ... each animal carries the brand of its owner. We had dogs and guinea pigs and hamsters - didn't brand them. But on a ranch, each animal is marked so that ownership cannot be disputed.  The animal wears the mark of the ranch.

As believers in Christ ... as 'Christians' ... we belong to a particular owner.  And we are to carry His 'mark'.  Today, I want you to consider what that mark look likes through Peter's eyes.  Are you branded?  Would someone know to whom you belong?  Let's see what Peter says ...

1 Peter 3: 8 - 22

The first thing I would have you notice is to whom this information is written.  Peter has been writing to specific groups of people - slaves, citizens, wives, husbands - as he wrote about submission.
(1 Peter 2:13 - 3:7)   He now turns to the readers in general.  He addresses these words to "all of you". All believers.  What follows is a description of the marks that we are to wear if we belong to Christ - our brand!  Notice a few with me:

          We are to live in harmony with each other.  Harmony in an orchestra or a chorus means that the sounds blend together.  They are not all the same sounds.  Each instrument is playing its own part - but when all of these individual parts are played together, the result is beautiful and full and melodious and so much grander than any one part played alone.  That is harmony.  Believers, we are to live in harmony with one another.  That is one of our marks.  And it definitely sets us apart from our world.  There is so little harmony among peoples in our world. It's a mark that shows to whom we belong.  We live in harmony.  Forgive us, Lord, when we fight to be 'first chair' or when we intentionally screech a strident sound to disrupt the piece.

          We extend sympathy to each other.  Paul explained it in Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn."  Sympathy and selfishness cannot coexist.  One of the marks of a believer is the way he/she walks with others.

          We love "as brothers".  That's familial.  Even when your siblings irritate you ... they are still your siblings.  They are still your family ... and that raises the stakes.  Believers, we love as brothers.  Even when we disagree.  Jesus communicated just how important this 'mark' is when He said:

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another ... By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  John 13: 14 - 15

"By this everyone will know ..."  Do you see it?  The "brand"?  The "mark"?

          We are compassionate people.  The Greek word Peter used is also used for 'tender-hearted'. This is not sentimentalism.  It means we never loose our sensitivity toward broken people. We pray to never become cynical and calloused to the pain, the hardships of others.   It's easier to ignore.  It's easier to pass judgment.  It's easier to think 'they must be getting what they deserve'.

          We are humble people.  There is absolutely no place in a believer's life for arrogance and "better than" thinking.  After all, we are fully aware of our "creature" status.  We are fully aware of our complete dependence on God.  On top of that, we are fully aware that our standard is Christ Himself.  Compare yourself there and check your "better than" status!  We don't compare ourselves to other people - but to Christ.  So humility is the 'normal' state of mind.

          We do good - wherever and whenever we can.  We do good in the way we talk and the way we behave.  Sometimes that "doing good" is appreciated - and sometimes it is not.   In fact, Peter lets us know that sometimes it will result in pain and persecution.  But we do good anyway.

          All these characteristics - these identifiers.  What if I like some of them and disagree with others?  What if some are easier and more natural for me than others?   We must remember, it is the owner that decides the brand.  It is the owner that puts together the mark that identifies things as belonging to His ranch.  Peter reminds his readers that it was Jesus who died "in order to bring them to God".  Therefore when we come ... we wear the mark of God ... it's non-negotiable.

          As we close our thoughts on this passage today, go back and look at the identifiers.  Put your name in the blank.  Is it true of you?  The reality can lead us directly into prayer ...

______ lives in harmony with other believers.  _______ extends sympathy to others - not just sentimentality, but care and concern and help when appropriate and possible.  ______ loves.  _____ loves even those who can be 'unlovely' ... even those who don't love him/her back ... he/she loves as if her fellow-believers were her family, her siblings - which, indeed, they are.  _____ is full of compassion.  He/she refuses to grow cynical and calloused to pain in another life.  ______ is humble.  He/she realizes that at the foot of the cross, all ground is level.  ______ knows that without her owner, she is and has nothing.  ______ does good.  His/her behaviors reflect the owner.  

God ... help us!