Cleaning Up Our House

It has been awhile since my last post.  It may be a while yet before my next.  I am going through a valley right now and covet the prayers of those who know Christ.  Here is a word that was upon my heart today.  May it be food for thought…

For those of us who still long to see a real movement of God, there is a major problem which exists in many churches and amongst Christians in general that is holding back the healing rain of the Spirit we so desire. Sin in the camp. In our present age, we hear people beat the drum within Christian and secular society saying, “We shouldn’t judge!” The problem is that it is almost always taken out of context and is the very thing that has allowed sin to be in our midst amongst churches. In the Old Testament, we are all familiar with how God brought down the walls of Jericho. And some of us may even remember how a man named Achan hid a wedge of gold and a Babylonianish garment under his tent. No one knew except God and Achan. However, when Israel went to defeat the next town, Ai, they lost and many of their men were killed. Joshua began to pray, wondering why God had not been in their midst fighting their battles. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.” (Josua 7:10-12) Notice the Lord says “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

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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

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Followers of God

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Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children…

Introduction

This is the sixth in the ‘Be Ye Therefore’ series. The term Christian means literally, to be like Christ. At Antioch they were first called Christians meaning ‘little Christs’. They were identified with and their way was identical to Christ.

Become As Little Children

Jesus in Matthew 18:3 told His followers that they must be converted and “become as little children”, humble and trusting in the Lord for not only salvation but also the daily providential care of the Father.  Remember when we were children?  I never worried where my next meal was coming from.  I didn’t worry about how the light bill would get paid.  I know my Dad would take care of our family.  That is the same trust God wants from His children.  Paul tells us to follow, some say imitate or strive to be like, our heavenly Father.  When I was a child, I wanted to be like my Dad.  I still do.  I remember when he would take me and my siblings walking in the woods.  He seemed to be able to walk so quietly, hardly disturbing the forest floor.  I would try to walk in his footsteps because I wanted to be able to walk like that.

 

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.

 

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.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Ready

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Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Introduction

This is the fifth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  Christ had just told His followers not to seek after the riches of this world which are temporal but to seek the kingdom first and then says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Then the parable starts with blessed are the servants whom, when their lord returns, he finds them watching or ready for him.  (By the way these two thoughts are related, for earthly treasure often keeps us from watching or even loving His appearing)  He goes on to say that if the good man of a house knew exactly what hour the thief would come, he would have prevented him from breaking into the house.  He would have been waiting in that specific hour to catch the thief.

 

1 Peter – Hope 1 Peter 1:3-5

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Scripture Text

1Pe 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Introduction

Why did Peter go to such lengths in addressing these believers?  In verse 1 Peter addressed the strangers scattered abroad referring to Jews in other countries.  We also see references that cause us to believe he is also addressing Gentiles.  God is not regional, only reigning in Jerusalem.  God is not partial, being only the God of the Jews.  God calls all people everywhere to repent.  Today God is not only worshipped in the church houses, Jesus said “Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

 

What doest thou here?

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And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

Introduction

The question the Lord put to Elijah speaks to me. Elijah had, in the previous couple of weeks leading up to this moment, been used of God to defeat over 400 prophets of Baal but now had fled to Mt. Horeb in fear due to the threats of the wicked queen Jezebel. James said that Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. Too many times we let the devil and this world get us cornered in a cave.  It is so easy to get in the cave and the roaring wind, shaking of the earth, and fires in our lives seem to drown out all else.