Peter as Pastor - 1 Peter 2 (Post 23)

Church.  What comes to mind when you read or hear that word?  Your images, whether positive or negative, come from your own experiences, or from what you have read, or from what you have seen portrayed through media.  Your images also are effected by what country you live in, or, if you are in the United States, what part of this country you live in.  Church.  Rather than take our information from our messed up, fallen world and cultures, why not glean information from Peter, the apostle appointed by Jesus Himself to begin her building?  Peter explains to his readers what the reality of "church" is.  Let's listen.

Read 1 Peter 2: 4 - 12

What can we learn about the church?  

1.  The church is community.  Peter calls it a spiritual house whose foundation and corner stone is Jesus Himself.  It really is not any physical building - not the grand cathedrals or the quaint country houses that have provided meeting places for the people of God.  It is a spiritual house.  And the building blocks are not stones or bricks or wood, but individual believers.  Cranfield writes:

"The free-lance Christian, who would be a Christian but is too superior to belong to the visible church upon earth in one of its forms, is simply a contradiction in terms."

None of us are naive about 'church'.  I know well that our churches made up of humans are messy at best.  I know they fail often.  I know they disappoint.  I know they fall short of the ideal.  I know her members sin and bring reproach on her name.  I know some have been judgmental and practiced exclusivity and exclusion. Yet they are to be the visible form of what is a spiritual reality.  And I also know Christ left this earth physically and left the church to live out His life in their unique places.  I know they matter.  And I know that each of us, as believers, need her. And she needs us.  After all, a brick by itself is pretty useless.  One cannot build a building with a solo brick.  

Church is community.  Are you part of one?

2.  The church is a community of priests.  All of her people are to be priests.  Peter said we are to be a holy priesthood.  Remember that Peter was a Jewish man and as such, would have been schooled in the Mosaic law and history.  His language here echoes back to God's words to Moses about the Israelites.  The Israelites had a purpose ... God-given ... and God described it to Moses atop Mount Sinai with these words:

"Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."   (Exodus 19: 5 - 6)

So what is a priest?  Centuries of church history and denominational differences have created a false sense of the word.  We see it more as a special rank than a universal position.  We see it more as a seminary appointed task than the privileged place of service for all believers.  Our eyesight is skewed.  What is a priest?  

 

          a.  A priest is one with access to God.  And every believer has access to the throne of God.  The Hebrews writer said:

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence ..."  (Hebrews 4:16)

You can do that ... yourself ... because Jesus is your High Priest and has given you, as a priest, access.  He is your mediator.  He opened the door ...

          b.  Not only may we go before God on our own behalf, we can bring others before that very throne as well.  In Latin, the word 'priest' is 'pontifex' - which means bridge-builder.  You can bring all the ones you love and care about before God ... and talk with Him about them ... and trust Him with them.  Do you?  Are you a priest for them?

          c.  A priest presents the offerings before God.  That was his work.  So what are our 'offerings'? Our work - all for God.  Our worship - all about God.  Our self - a living sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:1).  Have you presented offering to God today?

Church is made up of priests.  If you are a believer, you are one.  

Do you do the work of a priest?

3.  The church has a purpose.  Peter said it was "to declare the praises of Him who called you ..." Yes, there will be teaching and caring for the poor.  There will be evangelizing and supporting one another.  There will be training children and caring for her elderly.  But ALL is to the praise of God. ALL is because of His work in each of our lives.  ALL.  

Are you, as a living stone in the church, fulfilling your purpose?  If not, why not?

In spite of the portrayal that most movies give of "Christians", it is the most beautiful way to live a life.  Peter uses picturesque language in these verses to describe exactly what being a Christian means.  He said, 

Being Christian means you have been removed from the place of darkness and placed securely in the place of light.  Living in the light ... 

Being Christian means you have been removed from meaningless, insignificant existence and placed securely in the place of significance.  My life matters ...

Being Christian means you have been removed from having to live without mercy and placed securely in the place of mercy.  Mercy from God ... toward you.  

Church.  The following excerpt came from a blog post from the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ during the Lenten season, 2014:

The greatest buildings on earth will one day crumble to the ground.  Nothing built by man lasts forever.  Because the temple God is building is made of living stones, it will never be destroyed.  It will never crumble and it will never need renovation.  And we who believe are part of it.  Every Christian is part of God's temple.

You can always tell when a new building is being constructed by the massive scaffolding that encircles the new building as it rises from the ground.  As long as you see the scaffolding, you know the building isn't finished.  The scaffolding is the last thing to go.  But when it is removed, you know the building is finished.  Every local church is part of the visible scaffolding around the invisible temple God has been building.  When the final living stone has been placed in the temple, the scaffolding will come tumbling down, the trumpet will sound, the archangel will shout, and we will get the see the grand work God has been doing for the last twenty centuries.

Church ... it is indeed a beautiful word!

Peter as Pastor - 1 Peter 1

We don't have the privilege of knowing anything about Peter's day by day activities once the Biblical narrative turned to Paul and the Gentiles.  We don't know exactly when Peter left Jerusalem, but we know that he did.  Did he ever cross paths with Paul outside of Jerusalem?  We don't know.  Did he spend time in the cities where Paul established churches?  We don't know.  According to early Christian sources, both Peter and Paul were executed within a few years of the Roman fire under Emperor Nero which was in 64 A.D.  People suspected Nero himself as the arsonist, but a scapegoat was found in the unpopular religious sect - the Christians - who were social outcasts and already suspected of wicked practices.  Horrible executions and persecution began to take place.  

So Peter writes.  He writes to believers ... he writes out of the love of a pastor's heart to help people who were experiencing troubled times and for whom worse things lay ahead.  He writes, not to correct theological heresy, but to strengthen men and women who were in danger of losing their lives because of their faith.  Let's listen in ... he offers wisdom for you and I in our lives and for our time as well.

Read 1 Peter 1  

Reflect on these precious things that this pastor wants you to know:

1.  Peter wants you to know that God, Himself, birthed you!  And He birthed you into a hope that is alive - living - never to die.  He also birthed you into an inheritance that is perfect and pure.  

2.  Peter wants you to know that trials and trouble refine you - they test your faith and prove it to be strong and stable.  

3.  Peter gives 5 declarative command statements in verses 13 - 16.  Watch the progression -

          a.  prepare your minds

          b.  discipline yourselves

          c.  set ALL your hope on the grace revealed in Jesus

          d.  don't conform to previous desires

          e.  be holy in all your conduct

          See the way they link together?  Mental preparation leads to personal discipline which effects behaviors.  

4.  Peter wants you to know that holiness in life matters.  Why?  Because God is holy and we have been birthed by Him.  What does that look like, according to Peter?  Consider 3 things:

           First:  A holy life is a life of obedience.  When God speaks, His children obey.  

Jeannette Clift George wrote:  "Our will and God's sovereignty meet at the option of obedience."  

She also wrote:  "I expect from God a far reaching assignment and He says, 'First clean out your desk!'  Sometimes the nearest obedience is the the hardest thing to do."

Obedience is so closely linked to faithfulness.  

            Second:  A holy life is a life of reverence toward God.  It recognizes the presence of God in every moment.  It is an attitude of the mind.  It is the mind that is always in the presence of God.  

            Third:  A holy life is a life of love.  It is visible.  It is active.  It is fervent.  

So, believer, face what is in front of you today.  You can.  Because you are secure in the presence of God.  He walks with you.  His Spirit is in you.  

The Final Snapshot (Post 21)

The final glimpse we get of Peter's life is found in Acts 12.  Let's settle in there for a bit today:

Read Acts 12: 1 - 17

What a story!  There are so many remarkable things in this encounter.  Let's consider a few.  You may see others as well.  Let me know!  

First, Peter is again in prison, in chains - and the promise of harsh persecution loomed right on the horizon.  John's brother, James, had already been killed.  The plan was to put Peter on "trial" right after the Passover Feast.  Does that sound familiar?  His Lord had walked that path before him.  I wonder if that is why he could be asleep while chained between two soldiers.  What kind of peace of heart allows one to sleep in those conditions?  He was so sound asleep that the angel had to thump him to wake him up!  That thought challenges me.  My tendency is to have a hard time sleeping when circumstances are not good.  I can't get my mind to "turn off".  I mentally rehearse all the possibilities and 'what ifs' and details over and over and over again.  

Peter KNEW his LORD ... and could sleep in tough places.

LORD, I want to know you ...

Second, God's sovereign will is far above my limited ability to understand or explain ... and that is OK.  Why was Peter rescued and James killed?  What was the purpose of that?  I don't know.  We can't know.  

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways."    Isaiah 55: 8 - 9 

Peter TRUSTED his LORD ... and could handle whatever came his way.

LORD, I want to trust You ... help me in the struggle.

Third, Peter was willing to obey ... to move ... to do.  Surely the angel who caused Peter's chains to just drop off could have gotten the shoes on his feet and the cloak around him.  But, even in the midst of the miraculous, God's people are participants, not bystanders.  Remember when Jesus brought Lazarus from the grave?  People had to roll the stone from the tomb.  Remember when Jesus healed the lame man who had been let down through a roof?  He was told to roll up his own mat.  Warren Wiersbe writes:  "God alone can do the extraordinary, but His people must do the ordinary."  

Peter OBEYED his LORD ... he has learned.

LORD, I want to be a person of obedience ... today ... I choose it.

One final thought, even while the church was earnestly in prayer for Peter, they were still totally surprised when he appeared at their door.  Was it lack of faith?  I don't think so.  I was in an interesting conversation some years ago with a group of students and we were discussing why believers were so surprised by God's answering some prayers like we asked.  The discussion swirled around our little faith, etc.  Then one woman quietly said, "I don't see it as little faith.  I see it as living on the edge of awe."  That phrase has stuck with me and I love it.  God keeps us on the edge of awe if we will keep our eyes open to Him.  

LORD, You are truly ... AWE-SOME!

This is the last scene that scripture gives us of the man, Peter.  Scripture now turns its attention to the Gentile world.  The man, Paul, is chosen by God to take the lead on that front.  Peter had opened the door.  He gave legitimacy to the entire endeavor.  And now Paul steps up.  We hear no more detail about the life of Peter.  We know he traveled for the sake of the believers and the church.  No doubt, he remained at the helm.

Peter ... such passion.  In him, Jesus saw such promise.  And Peter's love for and commitment to his LORD matured him into a great hero of faith for you and me.  We have observed the transformation of Peter.  No longer full of self-confidence and swagger, he has become God-confident and strong.  He fulfilled the mission laid on him by Jesus - no longer a fisher of fish, but a fisher of men - no longer a self-appointed spokesman for his group, but a pastor for the people of God, Jew and Gentile alike.

And so he writes ... to God's people ... to believers then and now.  We will turn our attention to the two letters that Peter wrote.  

We have watched Peter ... now let's listen to him.

Peter - and the Paradigm Shift: Part 3 (Post 20)

The Spirit of God prepared Cornelius and instructed him to send for a man named Peter.

Cornelius responded and did what the Spirit told him.

The Spirit of God prepared Peter and instructed him to go see Cornelius.

Peter responded and did what the Spirit told him.

And the two men ... the devout Peter - Jewish Christian and leader in the Jerusalem church

                                 the Italian centurion - Gentile soldier and God lover

meet.

Read the story in Acts 10:23 - 11:18

Allow me to remind us of an encounter between Jesus and Peter.  It is recorded in Matthew 16:15 - 19:

"Who do you say that I am?"   Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."     Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; ..."

The "keys of the kingdom of heaven" ... given to our man Peter.  In today's reading, we observe the final of 3 'unlockings' when Peter used those keys to open doors.

First, Peter unlocked the kingdom of heaven for the Jews.  We read about it in Acts 2.  He preached Jesus. He preached salvation to all Jews who believe and accept.

Second, Peter unlocked the kingdom of heaven for the Samaritans - those peoples of mixed blood - some Jewish blood, some Gentile blood.  We read about it in Acts 8.  "Peter and John preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages." (Acts 8:25)

And now ... number 3 ... Peter unlocked the kingdom of heaven for the Gentiles.  Through Cornelius and his household.

Can we "get it"?  Can we understand?  Or do we still long to keep barrier walls between peoples?  As believers, do we want to keep walls up until a person thinks, looks, behaves, etc. just like "me"?

We need to allow Peter, through God's Spirit, to unlock some of our hearts.  To help us remember ...

All peoples have the same Creator -

From one man He made very nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.   (Acts 17:26)

All peoples have the same Savior -

Salvation is found in no one else, [Jesus Christ] for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.   (Acts 4:12)

Why does humanity love walls so much?  What is it about us that relishes exclusivity?   Jesus came to tear the walls down.  Peter responded - not without struggle - not without soul searching and prayer.  But he responded.  I am convinced that we can too!  Don't you want to?

If I learn anything from the story of Peter and Cornelius it is that God is no respecter of persons.  He invites ALL who search for Him to find Him.  When God called Abraham into that special covenant relationship with Himself, He said:

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."  (Genesis 12: 2 - 3)

It is time ... past time ... for some of us to stand up and say, "As far as me and my house ... I will tear the barriers down."

There is a wonderful song, written by Jon Mohr and recorded by Steve Green that expresses better than I can these sentiments.  Hear his lyrics as we close today.

All throughout the spirit realm a fearsome battle rages

The fates of men and nations hang suspended in the fray

Walls designed by satan in the twilight of the ages

Now stand as great divisions all across the world today.

Walls not born of government nor strife amid the nations

But walls within our churches and between denominations

Stones of dry tradition carved in fear and laid in pride

Become a dismal prison to those withering inside.

The body weak and powerless, crippled by division

The victim of a tragic and most cruel civil war

Brother fighting brother over culture and tradition

While countless lost and dying lie as casualties of war

It's time to end the foolishness of warring with each other

And kneel in true repentance that our union be restored

May we then as brothers rally round the cross of Jesus

And carry on with diligence the mission of our Lord.

Oh children of God

Oh soon to be bride

Let us humble ourselves

and crucify pride

Throw off the flesh

and its pious facade

and unite in the name of God

Let the walls come down

Let the walls come down

Let the walls that divide us

and hide us come down

If in Christ we agree

Let us seek unity

Let the walls come down.

It will require a transformation of our minds ... impossible?  Not for those in whom God's Spirit dwells!  The Spirit of God transformed Peter's mind ... and He can transform yours and mine. 

Peter - and the Paradigm Shift: Part 2 (Post 19)

As we continue to explore this remarkable event, today read ...

Acts 10: 9 - 23

Peter was a changed man ... Peter was the same man.  Isn't that true of all of us?  

Peter was still Peter and we see that in the way he responded at first to the vision with the animals.  The voice in the vision told Peter to eat.  His response is very revealing.  He said, "No".  Peter is still correcting God.  Do you remember when Jesus was telling His disciples about His coming death and cross?  Peter's response was, "No way!"  Hmm ... Peter hasn't lost his personality, his style, his markers.  Neither will you.  

However, his language gives us a great wake-up call.  Peter said, "Surely not, Lord!"  I am interested in the name he used for the voice in the vision ... he responded with "Lord".  

In the Enhanced Strong's Lexicon we learn the following about that name, Lord:

"he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. 1A the possessor and disposer of a thing. 1A1 the owner; one who has control of the person, the master. 1A2 in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor. 1B is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants salute their master. 1C this title is given to: God, the Messiah." 

Do you see it?  Peter called him "Master" and then said, "no".  A slave doesn't correct his master and tell him, no.  Peter is still learning what it means to truly be surrendered to his Lord.  It's a process, isn't it.  We surrender to our "Lord" and then we spend a lifetime learning what that means.  Jesus knew that.  That's why we hear Him say in Luke 6:46

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?  

If you and I have chosen to call Jesus, "Lord" ... then we are committed to a lifetime of doing what He says.  Peter is "in process" ... I am "in process" ... what about you?

While Peter is still Peter, we observe the dramatic ways he has changed in these verses.  When the Gentile servants appear at his door, he "invited the men into the house to be his guests." (verse 23)  Unheard of.  Jews didn't do that.  But Peter did.  Why?  Because the Spirit told him to.  And so he did.  He obeyed - even when the behavior was so foreign to his background and training.

Let's close with two general observations from these verses.

First - when God has a work to do, He prepares both sides.  God was communicating with Cornelius - God was communicating with Peter.  And they did not know it about the other.  God can be trusted with His work!

Second - growing into a faithful disciple of our Lord, Jesus Christ, will be marked with times of great success and some dramatic failures.  There will exist a struggle within our own spirits.  And that is good.  So - embrace the struggle!  It means that God is at work in you.

Lord, we worship You. We pray that each of us will be able to truly hear Your voice today.  And as we hear, Lord, strengthen us to obey You.  That is our desire.

Peter - and the Paradigm Shift: Part 1 (Post 18)

One of the most remarkable stories in all of scripture is recorded in Acts 10 - 11.  It is revolutionary.  It presents a paradigm shift of cosmic proportions.  I pray that familiarity with the story will not blind us to the miraculous event that took place in the hearts of two men ... indeed, two cultures.  Let's plan to spend some time here.  Today ...

Read Acts 10: 1 - 8

Caesarea - built on the Mediterranean Sea by Herod the Great in 22 BC.  From the ruins it is not hard to see and imagine the vibrant center of Roman culture that existed in the first century.  The city boasted a beautiful arena and a large, active theater.  Herod built the first ever artificial harbor here and Caesarea became a major seaport on the Mediterranean.  Herod also built his summer palace here. Caesarea was the capital of the Roman government in Palestine and was named n honor of Caesar Augustus.  And Cornelius was stationed in this important city.  He was an important man - a soldier - a commander - in charge of 100.   I wonder if he ever went to the arena to enjoy whatever games or entertainment was provided.  I wonder if his regiment was ever stationed there.  We can't know.  But we can know that this was his city - his station.  And we can know that Cornelius was not a Jew.  We have no indication that he was a proselyte Jew either.  He was a Roman man - a good man - but a Roman man.  

Some observations from these verses:

First, God makes Himself known to all who want to know Him.  Paul reminds us of this fact when he writes to the Romans in Romans 1:19 - 20

"... since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

This passage gives us confirmation that when a heart is God-seeking, God sends a messenger.  There is not a standard operating procedure with God.  His methods of communication with those seeking and honoring Him is as varied as creation itself.  Sometimes, just sometimes, we get the privilege of participating in God's message.  Obviously, we can decline - it's not convenient, I don't have time, I'm not comfortable, someone else is better equipped - yada, yada, yada.  And when we do, the loss is ours.  God will provide a messenger for a heart seeking Him.  So next time God taps your shoulder with an opportunity - don't decline.  With Cornelius?  God first sent an angel in a vision.  

Second, good people come in all shapes and sizes and cultures and religions.  Cornelius was a devout man. He feared God.  He prayed.  He led his household well.  He helped those in need.  He was a good man. Have you ever been tempted to doubt someone's authenticity or devotion to 'goodness' because they were so different from you?  This encounter with God should be a huge wake-up call for us when faced with that temptation!

Third, when God sends you a message ... respond!  Verse 7 tells us "As soon as the angel left ...", Cornelius acted.  He didn't seem to wait and weigh the pros and cons of the action.  He was not foolish.  He sent trusted people to carry out the summons ... but he sent them immediately.  Has God been showing you something to "do" lately?  Why are you waiting?  Are you waiting for it to "make sense" to you?  God told this Roman commander to send for a Jew.  So he did.

Lastly, the angel told Cornelius that his generosity to the poor had been received by God as an offering to God!  Don't miss that phrase!  At its core - his help to those in need was an offering to God.  Did the recipient benefit?  Of course.  Did Cornelius probably feel good about the gift?  I would think so.  But the beauty of the benevolence was that it was as if it was laid on an altar in worship to God.

I am reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 25: 34 - 40

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison and you visited me.'

 Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?  Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality?  Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

 And the King will say, 'I tell you thee truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

An offering to God ...

Peter, the Persecuted (Post 17)

I have loved watching Peter become the "man of the hour"!  He has learned so much from his master, Jesus, and he was living out the life of Jesus among the crowds - the receptive, the skeptical and the openly hostile.  He was teaching - as Jesus had done.  He was healing the sick, the demon-possessed, the lame - as Jesus had done.  He was giving the glory to God - as Jesus has done.  Therefore, we should not be surprised that he began receiving the same kind of opposition and persecution that Jesus had received.

Read Acts 4: 18 - 22 and Acts 5: 17 - 32, 40 - 42

As you formulate your own observations, allow me to make three.  

First, the message about Jesus - His identity, His work, His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection - will not be received joyfully by everyone.  That seems so obvious, but it still is a pill hard for us to swallow.   We so want everyone to like us and think we're terrific!  We still want to "tuck and run" when confronted with hostility and opposition.  Peter didn't.  

There are places in our world today where the Jesus message still garners physical persecution.  Pray for those who must, like Peter, face it with courage and determination and the conviction that "we must obey God rather than men."  (5:29)  There is also the subtle persecution of ridicule, of being made to feel just a bit ignorant and un-enlightened.  And perhaps it is the most difficult when its source is people you dearly love. Will you stand with Peter?  Will I?

Second, persecution is painful.  Again, a ridiculously obvious statement, and yet one we do not like to think about or consider for ourselves.  Peter (with his co-apostles) was put into a public jail. (5:18).  He was required to stand in a trial under the scrutiny of very powerful people.  (5:27).  He was flogged.  Translate - beaten.  (5:40).  All these things were meant of humiliate - to intimidate - to threaten.  Yet Peter did not yield.  Jesus had said to Peter, "Follow me."  And Peter faithfully followed - regardless of where those footprints led.  Are you a "follower" of Jesus?  Am I?

Third, how did Peter stand up under such persecution?  How did he keep going?  Of course, he was filled with God's Spirit.  We read of that miraculous coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.  Jesus had promised the Spirit's coming to live "in" believers.  As Jesus was explaining about the coming Spirit to His apostles, He had said:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  John 14:26

As Peter sat in that public jail ... as Peter felt the brutality of the whip cutting into his skin - I think he must have been reminded by the Holy Spirit in him of the words of Jesus.  I think he must have heard ...

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Bless are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."   Matthew 5: 10 - 12

With those words resonating in his spirit, Peter could leave those horrific circumstances "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."  (5:41)

Where is your place of 'suffering for the Name'?  Is it physical?  Is it in your spirit or in your mind?  Is it psychological warfare from someone you love?  Is it based in your secret places of doubt?  It will come ... it will be painful and often fierce ... it can be overcome!

Faithfulness ... like Peter ... Lord, strengthen us!