Going on a Walkabout

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My title is an Austrailian saying, It simply means I’m going to take a break and change the scenery.

I have been running on empty for quite a few weeks, not on material, but on the passion I want to have when posting.  I want my posts to burn inside me as I prepare them; I do not expect anyone to want to read my posts without it.

In order to give out one must take in. As a result I will be concentrating on my devotions with God, bible study, time with the family, serving at my local church and my Rest Home ministry.  I should also mention my day job, I have to pay the bills.

I am extremely grateful for those who have faithfully followed my posts.  The support is truly a blessing to me.  You will notice, if I set it up correctly, that likes and comments are disabled for this post. This is no plea for sympathy or support, I just need a break.

Our site will continue; the Fellow Servant will be posting here.  In fact he is the one who started the site in August of 2012.  I hope you will be supportive of him during my absence.

My return?  As soon as the passion to post returns. I am sure I will miss you before you miss me.

Until the Fire Burns Again,

A Servant

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1 Peter – Be Ye Holy II 1 Peter 1:15-16

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Introduction

Last time we were examining the command in God’s word to be holy. As we ended I said “We see holiness as unattainable. Why? Is it possible that we don’t fully understand what is being said here?” We need to also be reminded; this is a command from God.

Word Study

Interestingly the root of the Greek word for holy describes an “awful thing”. We have this type of thing in our language as well; let’s use the word “died”. We all know what that means. Now add three letters to it and you get “studied”.

Back to the word holy: as in English add a couple of letters and now an awful thing is made pure. How cool is that, contained within the word holy is our original state and the work that God performs when we are saved.  If you have a Greek dictionary here is what you will see: Sacred-set apart, Morally/Physically Pure, Consecrated-dedicated.

Okay, here goes, our works do not make us holy. We were made holy when we received Christ. The command we received is “be ye holy”. We have been transformed; we must show the world what God has done for us. We have the freedom now to say no to sin; project that changed life for the world to see.

Word of Caution

When we make holy unattainable then we make excuse for sin. God would never command us to do something out of our reach so when He tells us to be holy, we can obey. We have learned that God is the one who made us holy, consecrated and separated; we are to show that transformation.

Someone might think… “Nobody’s perfect”. First of all I’d invite them to make sure they understand what holy means and then my response would be “Are you doing your best to show the holiness God invested in you?” (this is the command we were given)

Closing Thoughts

So what is our conclusion here? Peter is challenging us to use what God has given us.  We have been set apart and dedicated to God’s service. Because of our salvation we have been purified by the blood of Jesus. We were consecrated; we were made holy. Stand up and act like it, show the world what holiness is, a gift from our Heavenly Father.

Until Night,

A Servant

 

1 Peter – Be Ye Holy 1 Peter 1:15-16

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Introduction

What do you think of when you hear the word “holy”? Most would say “I think of God”. That would be a logical response; God is holy. Our next two verses charge us as Christians to be holy. Now, what is your first reaction to that bit of news? It is likely we would say “not possible”. God’s word says it is, in fact, it is a command.

 

Words Have Meaning!!!

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This was my week to go to the doctor for a checkup / blood work. This visit will be a little different; the good doctor has a new nurse to assist him.

Bright and early yesterday morning I am off for a fun filled hour or so at the XXX Medical Building. The good doctor, I really do like him, talked to me about the normal things: diet, exercise and so on. All and all a good visit with the exception of… possible embellishment ahead… the Countess Dracucilla siphoning off a quart or so of A positive for testing purposes.

Today is the bigger day; the day when my test results arrive. This is usually when the nurse gives me a lecture about this level is too high or that level is too low. As I stated earlier I have a new nurse now.

My phone rings this afternoon and the Caller ID informs me the doctor’s office is on the line. Let me remind you of my title “Words Have Meaning”.

Nurse: “Mr. X this is nurse Y from XXX Medical Building. I have your test results.” There is a short pause and papers rattling.

Nurse: “We see the early signs of kidney disease.” I’ll have to admit, that wasn’t what I was expecting so a brief pause was in order.

Me: “This is new”. She had my full attention now.

Nurse: “It is common in people your age.” Okay now I am still curious with a dash of annoyed.

Me: “So this is just an age thing?”

Nurse: “Yes but there is another factor. The guideline for measuring kidney function has recently changed and the scale has been narrowed.”

Me: “So my age coupled with a change in the way you evaluate kidney effectiveness is why you brought this up.”

Nurse: ‘That is correct.”

Me: “How far over am I?”

Nurse: “You are not actually over the number but you are getting close.”

Me: “So I am still in the normal range but getting close to the top.”

Nurse: “That is correct.”

Me: “Is there anything I need to be doing different?”

Nurse: “Make sure you drink plenty of fluids.”

Me: “Thanks for calling.”

Words have meaning! Let me offer a different approach to this whole conversation. “Kidney function will degrade as we get older so you need to be even more mindful of hydration. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids.”

Note to the blogging community: If you are in your 50s and up, and go in for a check-up soon, don’t overreact if you hear a nurse say “We see the early signs of kidney disease.”

Until My Kidneys Fail,

A Servant

 

1 Peter – Starting Over 1 Peter 1:14

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Scripture Text

1 Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Introduction

What if we were given a chance to start over?  Knowing everything we know now we get the chance to start again; would we do it?  This isn’t some fairytale, it is our post today. We can start over.  So are you interested?  Okay, hang on then.

 

1 Peter – Hope to the End 1 Peter 1:13b

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Introduction

Last time we heard Peter’s call “it is time to get to work”.  We discussed what our mindset and demeanor should be while working for our Lord.  It is time now to see the big picture.

 

1 Peter – Call to Action 1 Peter 1:13a

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Introduction – Wherefore (As a Result of)

Peter has told us thus far that all our hope rests on the finished work of Jesus. (The shedding of blood, death & resurrection) Only through Christ can we have access to God.  As a result of being saved from destruction we should honor God by our obedience.

To start Peter uses a phrase they would be very familiar with “girding up the loins”; this was a practice of preparing to go to work.  A person would take their long garment, gather it together and tie or bind it so they could move more freely.  Today we might say “get your work clothes on”.  Peter is saying now that Jesus has saved you it is time to get to work.

 

1 Peter – Back in the Old Testament 1 Peter 1:10-12

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Introduction

Last time we talked about “Back in the Old Days” with an earthly meaning.  Now it is time to transition that thought to spiritual matters.  In 1 Peter 1:10-12 Peter talks about the old days when God’s children were still waiting on the coming of Messiah.

Better Than the Prophets

Ever considered the time we live in compared to other times?  What would it be like to live in mid-evil times?  How about the American Revolution?  In the revolution there were many prominent people, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson to name a few. Many of the signers of the declaration of independence lost their fortunes in the war.  They believed so fervently in the cause of freedom that they gave everything to see the colonies become a nation.  Most of these men never enjoyed the fruit of their labor like we do today.

 

1 Peter – Back in the Old Days 1 Peter 1:10-12

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Scripture Text

1Pe 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Introduction

If there is a phrase that makes the younger generation roll their eyes it would be this: “Back in the old days…” With a start like that you can imagine hearing something like this… we used to walk 5 miles, uphill, to school barefooted.  We used to have to go outside to go to the bathroom.  We used to carry water into the house to cook with.  We used to have one set of cloths.  You get the idea; they mean to say it used to be a much harder life.

In our text Peter is going to use this same thought to describe what it was like for God’s children before Jesus died on the cross.

That brings up a serious question; how did things work before Jesus?  Today we confess and forsake our sin believing in Jesus.  What did people do before Jesus came and died on the cross?  This topic is not in our text but we should answer it before we go on.

Old Testament Faith

The best place to go for an answer is Hebrews chapter 11.  This chapter is commonly referred to as the roll call of faith chapter.  It is a roll call record of many well-known Old Testament believers and the faith they showed in God.

We have clearly established before in our studies that salvation comes through faith believing in Christ.  So how did Abraham, Moses and Daniel become believers? 

The answer might surprise you, they came the same way we did, by faith.  They believed forward to the time of Jesus, so their faith was in the promise of the coming Messiah.

Hebrews 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Closing Thoughts

We believe in Jesus, they believed in the promise of Jesus.  Both took faith, both requires trusting in God to keep His promises. Both methods require that we turn our back on the world and follow God.  One God, one Savior, one way to heaven.

Until Night,

A Servant

 

 

1 Peter – Times of Trouble 1 Peter 1:6-9

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Times of Trouble – v.6-9

Peter talks about heaviness, temptations and trials, it’s going to happen. Times of trouble are also part of the Christian life. In this life we decide whom we will serve; will we serve the evil one or will we serve God?  For those who choose God there is a reward waiting, but what about now? Why did God allow…?