08-22-2021 – Humility: An Attitude of Gratitude

Bible Text: 1Peter 5:5-14 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:

Bulletin (pdf)

(AM insert) – Sermon Notes (pdf)

August Calendar (pdf)

YouTube Video Sermons

Upcoming Events

FBCW Website Calendar

08-22-2021 – Humility: An Attitude of Gratitude
1Peter 5:5-14
Pastor Mike Hale

Last week, in 1Peter 5:1-4, we studied Peter’s exhortation to the elders of the Church to submit to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, as they themselves live as examples among the members of the Family of God, of whom they have the responsibility to lead, teach, manage, protect, and care for.

Read 1Peter 5:5…

Now Peter turns his attention to the congregation of believers and followers of Christ, who he has already instructed (1Peter 2:13-20) to submit to governmental authorities, and (1Peter 3:1-7) to submit to civil authorities, employers, and also within the marriage relationship.

Peter speaks to the need for church members to submit to the elders who have been appointed into that office. Peter singles out the young men (1Peter 5:5 a) exhorting them to respect the elders (probably because the biggest push back to the authority of the elders would most likely come from the young adult men in the congregation). The phrase “to be subject to” is a military term meaning, “to line up under,” or next to, according to rank, i.e., they are to willfully place themselves under the leadership of the shepherds.

1Thessalonians 5:12-13,

“We request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”

Christians submit to governmental and civilian authorities, but also to the leadership of the Church

(Ephesians 4:11-12),

“And He [Christ] gave some… as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

Peter goes on to say in 1Peter 5:5 b, that all believers should have the proper attitude of humility, and it should be evident to those around us, just as the clothing we wear can be seen. We are to have and to express humility toward one another. Why? Because (1Peter 5:5 c), “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble [pp. Psalm 138:6].”

Read 1Peter 5:6-7…

“Therefore” refers to the last statement, i.e., because that is true, we all need to have the attitude of one who willingly serves, even doing the lowliest, most mundane, tasks.

In John 13 Jesus removed His outer garment, tied a towel around his waist, and began to wash the feet of His disciples, after which, He explained to the importance of what He had done

(see John 13:3-17).

Mark 10:45

expresses the biblical standard for humble service, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Why did Jesus come to pay for our sins, and how did He accomplished it (See Philippians 2:3-11).

Pride, not humility, sets you against God

(1Peter 5:6),

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”

Our last few times together in 1Peter we have studied how trials and hardships and persecutions come upon those who

(2Timothy 3:12),

“desire to live godly [lives] in Christ Jesus.”

God will indeed lift you up at the proper time, but until then we must

(1Peter 5:7)

“cast all [our] anxiety on Him, because He cares for [us].

Read 1Peter 5:8-9…

In the midst of trials and persecutions we must “Be of sober spirit,” i.e., remain self-controlled in our mind, body, and spirit; because the devil (God’s enemy, our enemy) is seeking to destroy our witness for Christ. Satan is prowling around looking for weaknesses among God’s people, like a lion hunting for the young or injured among a herd of antelopes.

Satan and his demons want to separate and silence us, to disable and destroy the lives of those who are serving God. The devil uses the perverted world system to attack and undermine God-ordained sexual relationships, marriage, family, and the Church

(1John 2:15-17),

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

We must remain on the alert, sober minded, so that we don’t fall victim to the devil’s schemes and temptations, like most of the world that is captive by godless thinking because they reject the Word of God and the gospel of Christ.

2Corinthians 4:3-6,

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Look again at 1Peter 5:9.

We must take a stand, draw a line in the sand, not give in or be pushed back; we do that by holding firm to our faith, all that we know is true according to God’s Word

(Jude 3),

“the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints,”

(2Timothy 3:16)

“All Scripture is inspired by God [Godbreathed, i.e., its origin and authority are from God] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”

Christian throughout the world are suffering and struggling amidst the flood of godlessness, and the attacks of the devil and those who serve him. Our faith must be in God and in His eternally sovereign Word.

Colossians 2:8-10,

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”

Read 1Peter 5:10…

God does allow us to suffer, at times, in fact God has allowed some of His children to be put to death for the sake of Christ; Stephen was the first Martyr mentioned in the Book of Acts (chapter 7); many Christians in the past were put to death, just as many today are killed because of their professed belief in Christ.

The truth is, the world system hates us because of Christ, and therefore we can expect to be persecuted. But we can also trust God to see us through whatever troubles and sufferings we may experience; we know He is faithful to comfort us, so that we also may comfort others

(2Corinthians 1:3-5),

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ,”

(Hebrews 10:23b-25)

“For He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

What do we have to fear? Nothing!

John 10:11,

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 10:27-30,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Romans 8:35-39,

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love, because through Christ we have God’s Spirit living in us, we belong to God

(1John 3:2),

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

2Corinthians 4:7-11, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

2Corinthians 4:16-18,

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

God alone deserves ultimate praise, honor, glory and worship. He is eternally all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, no wonder Peter declares in

1Peter 5:11,

“To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 7:11-12,

“All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’”

Read 1Peter 5:12-14…

Peter closes this letter by mentioning his loyal friend, faithful brother in the Lord, and servant of God, Silvanus [Silas] who had previously traveled with Paul (cf. Acts 15:40; 16:25; 1Thessalonians 1:1; 2Thessalonians 1:1), but now was assisting Peter by delivering this letter to the believers throughout the Roman Empire (1Peter 1:1), “To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”

Peter exhorts the believers to hold firm to the living and enduring grace of God and to “Stand firm in it!” Then speaking specifically to those believers in Rome he says

(1Peter 5:13),

“She [the church] who is in Babylon [Rome].” Peter uses an alias, so as not to put the church in Rome in any more danger than it already is; for it was being heavily persecuted at that time.

Peter wrote this letter from Rome, and he sends greetings from the believers there to those who are scattered throughput the Roman Empire. Peter sends special greetings also from his son in the faith Mark (John Mark, cf. Acts 12:12), who was also the author of the Gospel According to Mark. Mark had earlier traveled with Paul to Antioch and Cypress, and later came to help Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome (cf. 2Timothy 4:11).

Peter signs off by encouraging the believers to greet one another with a holy kiss (this was customary in the early church, just as handshakes, hugs and pats on the back are customary in the church today).

Peter then says (1Peter 5:14),

“Peace be to all of you who are in Christ,”

meaning of course, those who are genuine believers and followers of God’s Son, Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

In Peter’s early years he was anything but humble; he was strong-willed, outspoken, and impetuous to a fault; but during his 3+ years traveling with Jesus, he, as the designated leader of the Twelve, found himself being humbled on several occasions by the Lord Himself.

Peter writes under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit, as one who has personally experienced being humbled.

(1Peter 5:5-6),

“clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”

Godly humility should be experienced, expressed, and exalted by all those who are in Christ; those who have repented of their sins, confessing Christ as Lord, and believing in Him as Savior; those who read and study God’s Word, allowing it to change their hearts and minds so that they become more and more like Jesus, as they now live for Him on this earth, looking forward to living with Him in heaven, for eternity.

When we consider all the blessings we have been given by God, in and through Christ, both for our present life on earth, and our eternal life in heaven; even though what we deserve is God’s wrath; He chose to forgive us and took love us as His own children, that should cause us to become and to remain humble, constantly showing our gratitude to God in heaven, through our humble service here on earth.

Next week we’ll begin studying the second Letter, written by Peter, to the Church. But today, I want to close our time with

1Peter 5:14 and 2Peter 3:18, where Peter writes,
“Peace be to all of you who are in Christ.”
[And may you]
“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory for now and forever, Amen.”
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

08-15-2021 – Shepherding the Flock

Bible Text: 1Peter 5:1-4 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |
Links from Our Website:

Bulletin (pdf)

Sermon Notes (pdf)

August Calendar (pdf)

YouTube Video Sermons

Upcoming Events

FBCW Website Calendar

August 15, 2021
1Peter 5:1-4
Shepherding the Flock

Read 1Peter 5:1-4…

“Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

“Therefore” refers back to Peter’s encouragement and exhortation to the believers, in 1Peter 4:12-19, concerning their suffering on behalf of Christ. These believers are, in a sense being tested, as they share in the sufferings of Christ because of their witness for Christ and testimony of the gospel of salvation through Christ.

Peter now (1Peter 5) turns his attention to exhort [strongly encourage] the elders to be examples to the flock [the Family of God]; for the elders are the leadership God has given to the believers and followers of Christ.

Paul says (Ephesians 4:11-13),

“And He [Christ] gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

There are three specific terms used in the NT that refer to the men God has appointed to serve His Church. These terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same man, describing: who he is, what he does, how he does it. Elder [presbuteros] speaks to who the man is: he is spiritually mature, a man of integrity.

Overseer [episkopos] speaks to what the man does: he guards and manages the church.

Shepherd/Pastor [poimen] speaks to how the man serves: he feeds [teaches], leads, and protects

Peter tells us this man is to watch over and care for God’s people.

1Peter 5:1-3,

1Timothy 5:17,

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Acts 20:17,

“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church,”

Acts 20:28,

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Clearly there is to be a plurality of elders in each church, and the elders are to be overseers, as they shepherd the flock of God [the Church], which has been purchased for God by the shed blood of God’s Son.

These men who are to servant-lead the church (not lording over those under their care), are (1Peter 5:3), “to be examples to the flock,” by the way they live out their life for Christ. This is why there are specific qualifications (character traits that are displayed in both attitude and action) given in the Scriptures (1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

Elders are to care for the flock Look again at 1Peter 5:1-3…

There are some very clear “do’s and don’ts” given here:

Elders are to care for the flock of God as Shepherds/Pastors, while exercising oversight.

Elders are not to serve under compulsion (from external pressure or coercion), nor out of greed.

Elders are not to serve as domineering or autocratic dictators.

Elders are to serve willingly and eagerly, being compelled from the heart, out of a love from God for those who belong to God.

The two main areas of duty and responsibility, given to the elders, come under the headings of

Teaching

(Ephesians 4:11; 1Timothy 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9)

and Governing

(Acts 20:28; 1Timothy 3:4-5; 5:17; 1Thessalonians 5:12; Hebrews 13:17; 1Peter 5:2); elders also have the responsibility to acknowledge, affirm, and appoint other elders to the Church (Acts 14:23; 2Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5).

Jesus Christ is the example of how all Christians are to live

(1John 2:4-6),

“By this we know that we have come to know Him [Christ], if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk [live] in the same manner [according to the same priorities and practices] as He walked.”

Jesus also exemplifies and sets the standard for leadership in the Church

(Matthew 20:25-28),

“Jesus called them [His disciples] to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”

Look again at 1Peter 5:4…

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

We are reminded that the model, the pattern, the attributes of shepherding the flock are exemplified in Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd.

David, the King of Israel, declares in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd.” David himself was repeatedly exhorted to shepherd Israel (2Samuel 5:2; 1Chronicles 11:2). In Psalm 80:1, the writer implores the LORD God, “Oh Shepherd of Israel,” and in verses 18-19 the writer pleads, “Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. O Lord God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is not only Lord and Savior, He is

(John 10:11)

“The Good Shepherd” who “lays down His life for the sheep.”

He also is the one who 2 saves us

(John 10:27-28),

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

Hebrews 13:20-21,

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

1Peter 2:25 declares Jesus to be

“the Shepherd and Guardian of [our] souls.”

1Peter 5:4 says,

“When the Chief Shepherd appears, you [the under-shepherds, the men who served as elders/overseers/shepherds] will receive the unfading crown of [that is] glory.”

What does Peter mean by “when Christ appears?” The Bible tells us that the next appearance [Greek lit. means revealing, manifestation] of our Lord will be at the end of the Seven-Year Tribulation, at Christ’s Second Coming, His return to the earth, this is

(1Peter 5:1),

“the glory that is to be revealed.”

What does Peter mean by “the unfading crown of glory.” In Peter’s day, during the time of Greco-Roman dominion and their favored Olympic Games, instead of trophies being given to the winning contestants, crowns were awarded to the victors.

1Corinthians 9:24-25,

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

The wreath talked about in that passage was a crown made from flowers, notice Peter uses the word “unfading” to describe the award of the glory of God in Christ. The main flower used to make the victor’s crowns was amaranth. Amaranth (scientifically known as Amaranthus, meaning “does not fade”) is a perennial plant that can grow up to 3 feet tall with flowers that come in shades ranging from purple, pink, red, white, and yellow. Amaranth is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops and was widely eaten in Central America, ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and China.

The flowering plant is a favorite for wreath making because the flowers hold their color and shape for many years once they have fully dried, and so they do not deteriorate or crumble but seem to live forever.

Peter is saying here (1Peter 5:4), that the elders who faithfully serve Christ by caring for and watching over God’s people, will be rewarded when Christ returns in His glory, the glory that is yet to be revealed

(see Revelation 19:11-16).

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.””

Serving others can be tiring, frustrating, even painful; but it can also be invigorating, rewarding, and joyful. Truth be told, all Christians are to be servants, and in fact, we have been equipped and provisioned in and through God’s Word so that we can serve others as we ourselves would want to be treated.

Our priority as God’s children, is to serve the Lord, and we do that best by lovingly serving others on God’s behalf.

Matthew 7:12,

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Luke 6:31,

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”

James 2:8,

“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”

One of the Pharisees, a lawyer, asked Jesus

(Matthew 22:37-40),

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Paul simplified how we all are to live our lives in honorable and praise worthy service to the Lord

(Colossians 3:17, 23-24),

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

The “reward of the inheritance,” what is that?

Revelation 22:12,

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

What could be better than to hear the glorious welcome from our Lord, as we enter heaven

(Matthew 25:23),

“Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master,”

(Revelation 21:3-5),

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the [dwelling] of God is among men, and He will dwell [with] them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be [with] them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”

No wonder the Apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, closed the Book of Revelation with the following

(Revelation 22:20-21),

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [you] all. Amen.”

Pastor Mike Hale

08-08-2021 – Suffering for Christ

Bible Text: 1Peter 4:12-19 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:

Bulletin (pdf)

Sermon Notes (pdf)

August Calendar (pdf)

YouTube Video Sermons

Upcoming Events

FBCW Website Calendar

August 8, 2021
1Peter 4:12-19
Suffering for Christ

Read 1Peter 1:3-9…

Born-again, born from above, having received God’s Spirit, made effectual through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we belong to God; therefore, the world [all that opposes or rejects God] hates us, because we don’t belong to it and we don’t engage in its depraved and corrupt lifestyles.

John 15:19,
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

Read 1Peter 4:12-19…

When you come to God through Christ, you will begin to turn away from sinful attitudes and actions, as you turn from a self-centered life to one that is God-centered, seeking to please and exemplify the Lord. Leaving your old life behind, you begin to walk in the new life you have in Christ (cf. 2Corinthians 5:17).

Water baptism serves as a model of this change that takes place in the lives of those who are genuinely born-again into the family of God (see Romans 6:3-7). In a sense, we have died and are buried in Christ (as symbolized when we are lowered into the water); we are also resurrected in Christ to new life (as is symbolized when we are raised up out of the water).

We are to live for Christ who died for us

(Galatians 2:20),
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

We struggle to put the old life behind us, in order to live our new life in Christ.

Because we are in Christ and we seek to live for Him, we are hated by the world, by those who reject the authority and sovereignty of God

(1John 3:13),
“Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.”

(2Timothy 3:12)
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly [lives] in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Peter says (1Peter 4:12) believers who are living for Christ should expect to be persecuted by those who reject Christ; we shouldn’t consider it strange that we suffer through trials and tribulations because of the gospel of Christ. We suffer on behalf of Christ, because the majority of the world’s people are offended by what God’s Word says about gender, sexuality, marriage, sin, salvation, and judgment.

When the church suffers for Christ’s sake, false believers leave the church; but true believers are refined, purified, and strengthened. When we are discriminated against and repudiated by the world (those who oppose and reject Jesus Christ as God’s Son, Lord, and Savior), it serves to prove the genuineness of our faith and give evidence of our salvation (see James 1:2-3).

Read 1Peter 4:13-14…

Although it is not pleasant to consider that we will suffer on behalf of Christ; there is indeed a relationship between our suffering for Christ’s sake and the glory we will experience in heaven.

Luke 6:22-23,
“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven ”

Jesus suffered on our account, it is only right that we be willing to suffer as we seek to honor and glorify the Lord; but, as we are insulted and scorned we should consider ourselves blessed, and even though we are persecuted for His name, we should be rejoicing.

When you are reviled [insulted, mistreated, slandered, even hated] you should remember that they also hated Jesus

(John 15:20),
“They persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.”

But when you are insulted, mistreated, and persecuted, remember that you have God’s Spirit, the Spirit of Glory, resting on you, giving you relief, refreshing you, encouraging and strengthening you. At the very moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes and takes up residence in you.

Ephesians 1:13-14,
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

1Corinthians 6:15,
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” 19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” [HS, Spirit of God, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Christ]

1Corinthians 12:12-13,
“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

At the very moment of genuine repentance for sin, believing in Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit marks us and indwells us, and places us into the body of Christ

1Corinthians 12:14,
“For the body is not one member, but many.” 18, “God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Colossians 1:18,
“He [Christ] is also head of the body, the church.”

The Holy Spirit also provides us with godly attributes so that we can serve the Lord and love one another in a manner that is honoring to God

(Galatians 5:22-23),
“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, against such things there is no law.”

When we suffer for Christ, God’s Spirit gives us peace and strength, like provided to Stephen (the first Martyr) whose enemies stoned him to death, after he pointed out their rejection of God’s plan through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David >> Christ (see Acts 7:51-60)

Read 1Peter 4:15-16…

Peter is telling us that we should expect to suffer in a world that is opposed to Christ and the message of salvation by grace; but he is also telling us that so-called Christians who live like unbelievers in lawlessness, committing crimes like murder and theft [in Christ’s time these offenses were considered capital crimes, punishable by death], should not expect to receive relief, rest and restoration from God’s Spirit.

But not only capital crimes are mentioned here, also evil doers (those who commit any unlawful crime), and troublesome meddlers (busybodies who stir up trouble by meddling in the affairs of others).

Christians are to be exemplary citizens, abiding by the laws, unless of course the laws demand that we do that which is not pleasing to God, or don’t do that which God commands us to do. Christians are to be peace makers and models who influence others to honor God! We are to live out and to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to expose others to the kingdom of God.

If we meddle in the affairs of the godless world we may very well suffer, and we should not expect the Spirit of God to bless us. Our service is to God through Christ, not through the attitudes and activities of this world, e.g., political activism, social disobedience, and civil disturbance; for these may bring us into conflict with the governing authorities (see Romans 13:1-2).

It is God who is sovereign, not the President, not the Supreme Court, not the Attorney General, not the Governor nor the Mayor. If by doing what God commands we should suffer, we are not to be ashamed, or afraid, or discouraged; instead, we are to glorify God in the midst of our suffering by trusting in God to help us.

Suffering and struggling is part of our life experience and we will have times of distress and tribulation, sometimes we bring this upon ourselves, and sometimes it comes because of our witness for Christ. Read
1Peter 4:17-18…

What does that mean? God loves His people, but when we sin, if we aren’t repentant, God may very well punish us as His children. This is not talking about eternal condemnation (Romans 8:1), “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”

(1Corinthians 11:32),
“But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”

Peter makes a powerful statement here in the form of a question: If God in His righteousness is going to discipline [punish] His people, who are saved by the shed blood of Christ, what will happen to those who reject Christ, those whose sins have not been forgiven because they have rejected the only means of forgiveness, the only salvation provided by God (see Romans 3:10-12, 23; 6:23; 5;8; 8:1-2; 10:9-10, 13).

See Daniel 12:1-2; Revelation 20:11-15. Book of Life?

See Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27.

Read 1Peter 4:19…

We must completely trust God in and through all the suffering and persecution we will experience in this life.

2Timothy 3:12-13 tells us,
“all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” while “evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Look, as you live for Christ, serving God, you are going to suffer at the hands of evil men, false religions, organizations, institutions, and governments who reject the authority of God in Christ. Our response must be to entrust our souls, now and forever, to our faithful God, who is the Creator, Sustainer, Lord, Savior, and Judge over all. He will do what is right, for He alone is Righteous, He alone is Faithful, and He will see us through this life and bring us into the next, where we will spend eternity with God and with all those who believe in and belong to, Him.

Paul’s words to the believers in Thessalonica, who were suffering persecution for Christ’s sake, could just as well be written to us here in Waldport, or any other village, town, or city, where God’s people are willing to suffer on account of Christ

2Thessalonians 1:5-12,
“This [persecution] is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed —for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1Thessalonians 5:15-18,
“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

2Thessalonians 3:16,
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” 18, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Pastor Mike

07-25-2021 – Serving Christ in the Last Days (part 2)

Bible Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter | YouTube recordings are ending today.
The administrative council will determine if to
invest in a camera and equipment in the future.
Until then you can enjoy the audio recording of our Sunday Services.

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
July Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

July 25, 2021
“Serving Christ in the Last Days (part 2)”
1Peter 4:7-11

Read 1Peter 4:7-11…
The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Following Christ is costly! For you are immediately set at odds with the rest of the world; the world is not your friend, because the world serves Satan and cannot do anything that is pleasing to God.

All people are sinners, whether believers in Christ or those who reject Christ; but true believers will hate sin and love righteousness, while unbelievers are controlled by sin and they cannot exhibit or experience righteousness.

See 1Peter 4:7-8 a…
The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

With sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (i.e., coming before God reverently and expectantly), we are to then to earnestly love one another.

The love mentioned here is agape love, this is the love of God, the love that comes from God, and if you are God’s child you have this love for God, and for all those who belong to God (cf 1Peter 1:22-25).

1Peter 1:22-25
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.

1John 5:1-2,
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.”

1Peter 4:8 b says,
“love covers a multitude of sins.”

How does that work?

Well, first of all, God’s love covers our sins, as expressed in

Hebrews 10:16-18,
“‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them,’ He then says, ‘And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering [or covering]for sin.”

God doesn’t hold our sins against us, because Jesus has already paid the full redemption price for our sins
(cf. Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:1).

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:1
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Because God’s love covers our sins, we ought also to forgive those who sin against us, as we are taught to pray

(Matthew 6:12),
“‘Forgive us our debts [transgressions, sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors” [those who have sinned or transgressed against us].

Ephesians 4:32,
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

See 1Peter 4:9…
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

This is not talking about having some of your Christian friends over for dinner and games. The phrase, “to be hospitable” literally means, “to love strangers.” This is talking about loving people you don’t really know, people you may not like when you get to know them, or perhaps people who don’t like you.

The kind of love being referenced here is agape, the: unconditional, willful, sacrificial love of God; love of action not feeling, intentionally doing what is needed for someone to have what they require.

Matthew 25:35-40,
“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

But look again at

1Peter 4:9,
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

this is not just about the physical act of supplying what someone needs; this is also very much about the attitude with which the act is done, notice, “without complaint,” i.e., without any sense of being forced to do what is unpleasant, or a burden, without any external coercion or internal guilt; the agape love of God should move us to love others on God’s behalf.

You see, we are all sinners, but God’s love covers over a multitude of sins, ineptitudes, ethnic differences, biases, pet peeves, personal preferences, etc.

John 13:34-35,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

See 1Peter 4:10…
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Every Christian, every child of God, every true believer and follower of Jesus Christ, has received a special gift from God that is to be used for building up the family of God, for serving one another; in the same way that each of our body parts, although quite different, are important for the proper functioning of our body
(see 1Corinthians 12:1, 1Corinthians 12:4-7, 1Corinthians 12:11, 1Corinthians 12:14-21)

1Corinthians 12:1,
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

1Corinthians 12:4-7,
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1Corinthians 12:11,
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

1Corinthians 12:14-21
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

The truth is, each believer is a unique gift from God to the Family of Believers, having been equipped in some special way; and we each are to “employ” [meaning to live out] our gift, as a “good steward” or manager of this gift, i.e., obediently serving with sound judgment and sober spirit, prayerfully (see 1Peter 4:7).

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

The spiritual gifts of God are expressions of the manifold [multi-faceted, diverse, bountiful] grace of God; these gifts are not given for the personal use or personal edification of any individual

(1Corinthians 12:7),
“to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good,”

for the whole Family of God

(1Corinthians 12:12),
“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ,”

1Corinthians 12:27,
“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

See 1Peter 4:11…
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

There are two major groups of spiritual gifts given here:

1Peter 4:11 a
cites “speaking gifts,”

and

1Peter 4:11 b
cites “serving gifts.”

Speaking gifts [preaching and teaching], are to be employed in alignment with, and by the authority of, God’s Word

(Ephesians 4:11-12),
“And He gave some… as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Serving gifts are to be employed by the strength, wisdom, power, and leading of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:9
“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you,”

(Colossians 3:17, 23),
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.”

2Timothy 3:16-17,
“All Scripture is inspired by God [God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man [woman, and child] of God may be [completely], equipped for every good work” [i.e., every word or deed that brings honor and glory to God].

See 1Peter 4:11 c…
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peter tells us the reason we are to actively and earnestly be using our gifts, as we serve one another, is to glorify God. Our major purpose, as Christians, is to bring honor, glory, and praise, to God the Father, through God the Son in Jesus Christ, and this is made effectual by the power of God the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

Romans 16:25-27,
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21,
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

1Timothy 1:17,
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Jude 1:24-25,
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Look again at 1Peter 4:11 c…
Everything we do is, “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The Christian’s responsibility in all things God, is to glorify God through Jesus Christ, but notice then it says, “to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

So, is it God or Jesus Christ to whom belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever?

What do the Scriptures tell us?

1Timothy 1:1,
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope.”

1Timothy 2:4-5,
God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

1Timothy 4:10,
“We have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”

Titus 1:4,
“Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”

2Corinthians 13:14,
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”

Clearly, all glory and dominion belongs to both, God in Christ, and Christ in God.

John 1:14,
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:18,
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

The people cried out to Him

(John 6:28-29),
“‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”

John 10:30,
“I and the Father are one.”

John 14:6-7,
“Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

So, how are we serve God the Father, through God the Son, by the power of God the Holy Spirit living in us, during the Last Days?

By telling others about Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

1John 5:11-13,
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Romans 10:13-15,
“‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’”

Matthew 28:19-20,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

07-18-2021 – Serving Christ in the Last Days (part 1)

Bible Text: 1Peter 4:7-11 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
July Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

07-18-2021
1Peter 4:7-11
Serving Christ in the Last Days: Part One

Many of us grew up in the 1950’s and 1960s; during which a godless cultural climate began to rise. From a society where heterosexual romantic relationships and monogamous marriages were the norm, we experienced a society that openly proclaimed and practiced sexual liberation and freedom, known as “free love.”

What were some of the consequences of throwing off Biblical principles and practices? In the 1960’s and 1970’s, divorce rates began to rise, as did the promotion and practice of sexual immorality, fornication, and adultery. What a surprise, right? But interestingly enough, in the late 1960’s through the 1970’s, there was growth in the evangelical church in America through what was called the Jesus movement; bringing with it, a renewed effort in evangelism and discipleship,. along with renewed interest in groups studying the Bible, especially on college and university campuses where organizations like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, The Navigators, and Campus Crusade for Christ began to flourish.

This also brought to fruition new translations and paraphrases of the Bible, e.g., The Good News Bible, The Living Bible, The New International Version.

Many new independent non-denominational churches were established during this time, bringing numerical growth in church attendance across America.

But, that was then, and here we are in 2021 when church attendance is diminishing, the number of those who have no religious affiliation and say they do not believe in God is increasing, along with a growing number of those who are very confused about gender, sexuality, and marriage; which should be so simple

(Genesis 1:27),
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them,”

(Genesis 2:24),
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

We are indeed living in trying times, we are getting closer to the return of Christ, the Rapture of the Church, as we studied last Wednesday night together.

We live at a time when secular religion demands a message that is more accepting of the social, cultural, and sexual climate in which we find ourselves; a message that seeks to condone and promote a more sensory, emotional and psychological response to the issues of law, sin, judgement, salvation, and eternity.

Read 1Peter 4:7-11…

Today we are only going to get through verse 7, but next week we’ll work through the rest of this passage.

When Peter says (1Peter 4:7a),
“The end of all things is near,”

he is speaking about eschatology: the theology of what the Bible teaches about the eternity of humankind and all of creation, i.e., death, judgment, salvation, condemnation, exultation, eternity, i.e.,. the fulfillment or consummation of all things future for all of creation: beginning with the Rapture of the Church, the Rise of the Anti-christ, the Tribulation Period, the Return of Christ to the Earth, the Millennial Kingdom, the Great White Throne Judgment, the New Heavens and New Earth.

If you are interested in learning more about these end-time events, please join us in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday nights, at 6:30PM.

In Matthew 24:3,
the followers of Christ asked Him what it will be like before His return, and He said to them

(Matthew 24:5-10)
“many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, those things must take place. For nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, …there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

After Jesus ascended back into heaven, ten days later (at Pentecost) the church was birthed (around 32 AD); it began to grow and spread from Jerusalem throughout Judea, up through Samaria, and to the outer parts of the earth.

Near the end of the 1st century, Christians had an expectation that they were living in the last days and Christ could return at any time. The truth is, the “last days” began when Christ came the first time, and they will end when He returns.

James 5:7-8,
“be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord is near.”

Hebrews 1:1-2,
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.”

1John 2:18,
“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”

Along with wars, famines, earthquakes, and chaos, Paul tells us what people will be like during the time before the Lord’s return

(2Timothy 3:1-4),
“in the last days difficult times will come.For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

Peter concurs with Paul about the lifestyles and attitudes of those who reject God’s Son

(2Peter 3:3-7),
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Matthew 24:37-39,
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

In 1Peter 4:7a, we read,
“The end of all things is near,”

Peter then exhorts his readers (1Peter 4:7b),
“therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

In Matthew 24:42-44, Jesus told His disciples, concerning the time of His return,
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be 2 sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”

Christ’s return should not surprise you like a thief breaking into your home. Think about that! If you are awakened at night to the sound of what you think is a thief breaking into your home, it might cause you to become fearful; however, if you are awakened at night to the sound of what you think is a loved one returning home from a long trip, you will most likely become joyful.

As we await the time when we will be raptured to meet Christ in the air — we should be living for Christ, sharing the good news of salvation with all who will listen.

The writer of Hebrews declares God’s fulfillment through Christ in these last days
(Hebrews 9:26-28),
“but now once at the consummation of the ages [at the completion, the fulfillment of all things God] He [Christ] has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Once we are taken to heaven, it will be too late for us to witness to those who are left behind. So, while we still have the opportunity, we must spread the truth of the Gospel of Christ, through the testimony of our words and our life, to every one who will listen.

True believers and followers of Christ have been forgiven all their sins, granted eternal life, and are waiting expectantly for the time of the return of the Lord to take us to be in heaven with Him. Peter says

(1Peter 4:7b)
we are to be of “sound judgment,”

the Greek word here [sōphroneō] literally means, “be in right mind,” “be of sound mind,”
i.e., to be under control, thinking clearly, everything being in subjection to the Word of God and Christ.

Colossians 2:8,
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

Ephesians 4:17-18,
“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles [unbelievers] also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.”

Ephesians 5:6,
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Living during the trying times of these last days (1Peter 4:7b), we are to have a “sober spirit,” the Greek word used here is closely related to the word translated “sound judgment,” but here with the emphasis being on spiritual discernment, alertness, being watchful. Jesus expressed this to His disciples in

Matthew 24:22,
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”

Using the Word of God as our authority in all things, while being spiritually alert and aware of what is going on, we can pray in a manner that reflects the mind of Christ, and an understanding of the deep truths of God.

1Corinthians 2:9-16,
“‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Romans 8:26-27,
“We do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Ephesians 6:18,
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

We are closer to the Lord’s Return, than we have ever been. We must not let our guard down

(1Corinthians 15:58),
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord,”

(Galatians 6:9-10),
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith,”

(Colossians 3:17),
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

The closer we get to the return of Christ, the more important it is for all of God’s people

(1Thessalonians 5:16-18), to
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

07-11-2021 – Armed With the Gospel

Bible Text: 1Peter 4:1-6 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
July Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

07-11-21
1Peter 4:1-6
Armed With the Gospel…

Two weeks ago in 1Peter 3:18-22, we learned about the Victory we have in and through Jesus Christ! Everyone who repents of their sins, trusting in God’s Son to save them, is granted forgiveness for all their sins and eternal life.

God’s Word tells us that we are all sinners, and because of sin, we are unacceptable to God. The Book of Romans states the problem, describes its severity, and then declares the cure:

Romans 3:10,
“There is none righteous, not even none.”

Romans 3:12,
“There is none who does good, there is not even one.”

Romans 3:23-24,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:8,
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 6:23,
“The wages of sin [what we deserve for being sinners] is death, [however] the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:1,
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

We must be saved from our sinful nature, this salvation comes from outside of ourselves , as Paul tells us

(Ephesians 1:13) that in Christ,
“you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

God’s Spirit helps believers be conformed to the character of Christ, seeking to please God

(Galatians 5:16-17),
“I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another.”

Those who reject Christ

(Romans 8:8)
“those who are in the flesh,” i.e., without the Spirit of God, can do nothing to please God, for they are enemies of God.

Read 1Peter 4:1-6… In the human body of Jesus, God the Son took our suffering and paid the ultimate penalty for our sins, dying in our place. Jesus Christ is the ultimate proof that suffering can lead to victory.

See again 1Peter 4:1a…
“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh,” what does that mean? Jesus bled and He died for us; but He did much more than that (Galatians 3:13), “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written [Deuteronomy 21:23], ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’”

See again 1Peter 4:1b… We all bleed and we will all die, just as Jesus did, therefore we are to “arm ourselves with the same purpose” [motive, attitude] as that of Christ. What was His purpose? Jesus knew that death produces the greatest victory; from mortality to immortality

(see Philippians 2:1-8).

We must be willing to suffer for Christ, even to the point of death, if necessary.

2Timothy 1:8-10,
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the 1 power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Think about it, Jesus conquered death, His spirit went into the deepest hell to proclaim His victory, and then He rose from the tomb in a glorified body on Sunday morning; just like all those who trust in Him by faith have already defeated death

(John 11:25-26,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life; and that everyone who lives and believes in Him will live even after they die, for everyone who lives and believes in Christ will live forever. If you don’t believe that, you are not going to be able to suffer for the name of Christ.

See again 1Peter 4:1c…

But if you were to suffer to the point of death because you are a Christian, you will be perfected, never able to sin again “because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Dead men can’t sin!

As a Christian, to be physically dead, at the moment your spirit leaves your fleshly body, you are present with the Lord, never again able to do anything dishonoring or displeasing to God, but only that which honors Him.

1Corinthians 15:54-57,
“When this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

See again 1Peter 4:2…

Christ died to set us free from sin’s control, corruption, and condemnation, and so, we ought to be seeking to know and do God’s Will, allowing God’s Spirit to conform us to God’s character.

Romans 12:1,
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

God desires living servants who are dead to sin, not dead sacrifices burning on an alter.

Romans 12:2,
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

If we are genuinely born again by God’s Spirit, as children of God, we will seek to do that which pleases God

(Galatians 2:20),
“ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

We cannot continue to live like unbelievers if we confess Christ as Lord, 2 believing in Him for salvation
(cf. 2Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-5; Romans 6:8-12).

See again 1Peter 4:3…

All of us were dead in our sins, living like fools (cf. Psalm 14:1), before we came to God through Christ (cf. John 1:12-13). We should not continue to live like unbelievers while confessing Christ and believing in Him for salvation (cf. 2Corinthians 5:17).

See Ephesians 2:1-3;

Romans 6:8-15.

1Corinthians 6:9-11,
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

Christians are sinners who have come out of every kind of sinful lifestyle; we must put on Christ and put away our sinful way of life.

Ephesians 4:20-25,
“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

See again 1Peter 4:4-5…

Sinning was a way of life for us before we came to Christ, but now we are to live for Him, and those we associated with before we we’re saved are going to be surprised [astonished, shocked] we don’t do these things anymore, and this will cause some of those unbelieving friends to speak evil of us, because we aren’t joining in their godlessness; but we can rest assured that they will have to give an account to God, because of Christ.

2Thessalonians 1:6,
“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you.”

See again 1Peter 4:6…

We must arm ourselves with the hope of the saving and affirming gospel of forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Christ the Lord. All those who have heard the gospel of salvation and believed, even though they may have physically died, they are eternally alive in the presence of God.

John 11:23-25,
Jesus said to [Martha], “Your brother will rise again.” she said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus is talking about eternal life. For those of us who believe in God’s Son, even physical death is victorious, for dead men cannot sin, i.e., when we physically die, our spirit is brought into everlasting life in heaven with God, to see, hear, and experience things that cannot be understood.

1Corinthians 2:9,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

2Corinthians 5:6-8,
“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”

Romans 8:31-39,
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2Corinthians 4:16-18,
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man [our flesh] is decaying, yet our inner man [our spirit] is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Jesus told His followers they would be hated on account of Him; but He also told them

(John 14:1-3),
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Just as Jesus was persecuted by God’s enemies, even to the point of death on a cross; He was then made alive in the spirit and raised from the dead; and although God’s enemies may insult us and unjustly persecute us, even to the point of death, nothing can take away the victory we have in Christ; for we shall live in the presence and the glory of God forever!
Pastor Mike
>’(((><
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

06-27-2021 – Victory In Jesus

Bible Text: 1Peter 3:18-22 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
June Calendar (pdf)
July Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

6-27-2021
1Peter 3:18-22
Victory in Jesus!

Last week we studied about the reality that obedient Christians are going to suffer on account of Christ in this world. Jesus told His own disciples that, 2000 years ago, and the persecution of Christians in this world is all too well known and documented; in fact, according to the World Watch List maintained by Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors Ministries, last year: About 4800 Christians were killed for their faith (13 every day). About 9500 churches and other Christian buildings were attacked and/or destroyed. About 4300 believers were held without trial to be punished and/or imprisoned.

2Timothy 3:12,
“all who desire to live godly [lives] in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

John 16:33,
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

1John 5:4-5,
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

The Good News is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, paid the full penalty for our sins (past, present, future); and therefore, everyone who repents and believes in Him will be saved to live a life of faith in, and obedience to, God’s Word.

Read 1Peter 3:13-22…

Peter tells us how God sovereignly accomplished, through one divine act of sacrifice, the supernatural granting of forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord, to all those who genuinely believe.

Paul declares in Romans 10:9-10,
“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:13,
“Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Hebrews 7:27, “This He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

Hebrews 9:27-28,
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Christ died for everyone, but only those who confess their sins and trust in Him for forgiveness will be saved.

Look again at 1Peter 3:18 a…

Christ gave up His life as payment for our sins, and He did this “once for all” [meaning – perpetually valid, not requiring repetition, fulfilling completely and forever], “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God”

(see Hebrews 10:1-7, 10, 14-18).

God’s forgiveness was costly, e.g., God the Father was separated from God the Son, who had put on flesh and took upon Himself the punishment for our sins, as the Father poured out His wrath upon Him, on the cross

(2Corinthians 5:21),
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,”

(Romans 5:8),
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”

(Romans 5:10)
“…we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.”

Look again at 1Peter 3:18 b…

God’s Son was put to death “in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,” i.e., Jesus Christ was fully God (Who cannot bleed or die); but He was also fully man (who bleeds and dies). The body of Jesus died on the cross and was then buried; but Jesus’ spirit (His eternal inner person) remained alive

(1Peter 3:19-20),
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.”

So, while Jesus’ physical body laid in the tomb, His living spirit went to proclaim His victory over sin, death and judgment to the spirits [demon angels] who haver been imprisoned since the Flood.

Read Genesis 6:1-4…

Genesis 6:2 says,
“the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose,”

(Genesis 6:4)
“and the women bore children to them.” These “sons of God” are identified as angels

(cf. Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4-7),

who came to earth and cohabitated with women through the bodies of mortal men.

In fact Jude 6 tells us these angels are bound and kept in gloomy prisons, awaiting their final judgment and sentencing to the “lake of fire,” which God prepared for all the angels who rebelled

(cf. Matthew 25:41).

In Genesis 6:5-8 we read,
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

So, some of the angels who had been kicked out of heaven when Satan rebelled against God, came to earth and cohabited with women by indwelling human male bodies; this unnatural union violated God’s order and plan in reference to human marriage, sexual relationships, and procreation

(cf. Genesis 2:24);

these angels brought God’s judgment upon themselves and are being held in the deepest hell.

2Peter 2:4-5,
“God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell [tartarus- the deepest hell for the worst offenders] and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.”

Look at 1Peter 3:20 again,
“the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.”

Noah and his family were saved through the flood by being in the ark; they were in the ark because God had told Noah that judgment was coming and he needed to build and then get in the ark. If Noah and his family had not believed and obeyed God there would have been no survivors from the flood.

Look again at 1Peter 3:21,
“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you— not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

You see, it is a good conscience [one without guilt, one cleansed of sin through forgiveness], one that trusts in Christ’s death and resurrection for salvation. Water baptism [baptizo, lit. to be immersed] doesn’t save anyone, it is merely an outward identification with Christ for those who are indwelled by God’s Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13,
“In Him [Christ], you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

2Corinthians 5:17,
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

You must be in Christ to be saved from judgment, just as Noah and his family had to be in the ark in order to be saved from the flood.

Romans 8:1-2,
“There is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

John 5:21-24,
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

John 6:28-29,
“‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”

John 8:24,
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

In John 10:30, Jesus said,
“I and the Father are one.”

In John 14:6-7,
He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

John 16:8-9,
“When He [the Holy Spirit] comes, [He] will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”

Look again at 1Peter 3:22…

Jesus “is at the right hand of God he Father, having gone [back] into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”

John 1:1-5,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [overpower] it.” John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:18,
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” Jesus completed all the Father had sent Him to accomplish, the finished work of redeeming for Himself

(1Peter 2:9-10),
“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy,”

(Titus 2:14),
He “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

The only way to be saved from God’s judgment is to hear and believe the message of God’s Son, confessing your sins and trusting Him to save you. Our victory is in Jesus Christ, He is the Ark of Salvation, don’t miss the boat.

1John 1:8-9,
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

As Peter began to preach his first sermon

(Acts 2:21) he said,
“And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,”

(Philippians 2:9-10),
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

6-20-2021 – Living in a Godless Culture

Bible Text: 1Peter 3:13-17 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
June Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

6-20-2021

“Living in a Godless Culture”
1Peter 3:13-17

Living on a planet is risky, but the longer it is until the Lord returns, the more dangerous it becomes for those living in a troubled world that has become hostile toward families, marriages, and children, especially those who are trying to live for Christ.

Christians are becoming one of the top enemies of this godless world.

In John 16:33,
Jesus told His followers, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

The closer it gets to the Lord’s return, the more corrupt God’s enemies become: moral perversion, crime, terrorism, disease, adverse weather, and a news media that is opposed to God and to those who want to serve Him. This world is in big trouble!

NASA seeks to find life on other planets because humans are destroying this one; global warning is the catch phrase being used, as if this planet is going to be destroyed by the irresponsible and greedy actions of its inhabitants.

But it is not going to be destroyed by mankind, it will last until God is through with it.

Genesis 8:22,
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease,”

(see Ecclesiastes 3:1-13).

Look, when God is done with this earth, it will be burned up

(2Peter 3:10),
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”

2Peter 3:13,
“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

We, God’s people have nothing to fear and everything to gain, even though genuine Christianity (based on the gospel of Christ) is an endangered species in a world that hates God and those who genuinely belong to Him.

In John 15:18-20,
Jesus declared, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you… …If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. In this world you will have trouble, but I’ve overcome the world.”

Jesus goes on to say

(John 16:33),
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

1Peter 1:3-4 says,
“[We are] born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for [us].”

1Peter 2:9-12 says,
“We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” We are set apart as “a people for God’s own possession,” for He “called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light,” making us His own children; and that clearly distinguishes us from everybody else own this planet. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom in heaven, while living on this earth for His glory.

So, how should we respond to the tribulation, persecution and trouble we will experience in this world?

Read 1Peter 3:13-17…

We are to live for the purpose of proclaiming the excellencies of the One who saved us, while realizing that the world opposed to God is going to resent us, seek to marginalize us, and try to silence us. Because of Christ we are at war with the godless world around us, a world full of unbelievers needing to be saved. And who has been tasked with sharing the good news with those who oppose Christ? You and me, and all those who belong to God through Christ by faith.

In Matthew 5:44
Jesus tells us to “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us].”

In Romans 12:14, we are commanded to
“Bless those who persecute [us]; bless and do not curse.”

2Corinthians 5:20,
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We are here to be witnesses of the good news of the marvelous message of forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ. And we are to do that in a world that is hostile toward Jesus Christ and those who follow Him.

Look, we don’t like the world the way it is now, and it is only going to get worse, much worse. The world that is opposed to God and those in it who reject Christ, are going to continue to attack God’s Word, God’s character, and God’s Church.

Honesty, dignity, integrity, morality, love, kindness, compassion, these are words of a past time and yet also of a future time, when God will make everything new; until then,

(Romans 12:9)

we are to hate what is evil in God’s eyes, and we are to cling to what is good by God’s standard; all the while, we are not to become anxious, fearful, angry, disabled, or vengeful.

Look again at 1Peter 3:13…

This is not some profound teaching, it is just “rubber meets the road” theology, i.e., people have a harder time hurting those who are doing good things, as opposed to those who do bad things. It’s not as common even for hostile people to persecute those who are devoted to being a benefit to our society.

But we must not get bitter or defensive or angry just because this world is infringing upon our freedoms and our comforts; instead, we are to continue doing that which is good

(1Thessalonians 5:15),
“See that no one repays evil with evil.”

We aren’t to let the persecution and hostility, of this anti-Christian culture, lead us to become resentful, bitter or vindictive

(Colossians 4:6),
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person,”

(Luke 6:31),
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”

Look again at 1Peter 3:14…

Even if you’re doing what is good, even if you’re a kind, unselfish, benevolent person, it could still happen that you will suffer for Christ’s sake.

Look back at 1Peter 2:21-24,
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”

The probability that you will suffer for the sake of Christ is pretty high; and in fact, it really is a privilege, and therefore you need to expect and to be willing to suffer.

Jesus not only died in our place on the cross, bearing the punishment of God for all our sins, but He also served as an example for us to follow. We aren’t to get angry or become vengeful, but instead, to commit ourselves to God, as those who are greatly blessed.

What does it mean “to are blessed?” Well, this does not mean to merely be happy, but instead, that you are very privileged, having received heavenly honor. We are blessed to suffer for the sake of Christ

(Matthew 5:10-11),
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great. In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We are privileged to receive persecution that is directed at Christ, leading to an eternal reward, like the prophets who suffered before us. We are to face this godless and hostile world by staying devoted to doing that which is good, making it more difficult for people to want to persecute us. But when it happens, we are not to fear them. We must be courageous and bold, as well as righteous and holy, and we are always to be zealous for doing good

(2Thessalonians 3:13),
“do not grow weary of doing good.

Look again at 1Peter 3:15…

To sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart, means you don’t fear what the world fears. Rather than fearing those who persecute you, or fearing the Devil himself who is behind the persecution, we are to honor Christ, adore Christ, to give Christ the awe and the reverence He deserves.

With the knowledge of Christ set apart in your heart through the presence of the Holy Spirit, you are to serve as an ambassador of Christ, always ready to defend the gospel and the hope we have been given now and forever in Christ.

2Colossians 2:8,
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

When people say to you, “Why do you keep on proclaiming this message? Why don’t you just go along with the culture? Why are you speaking out against abortion? against gay marriage? against premarital sex and adultery? Why not just go with the flow? I’ll tell you why, because the cultural “flow” is sewage full of immorality, pornography, profanity, degenerate sexual behavior, the murder of babies, and a hatred for God.

Look again at 1Peter 3:16…

Peter says, “Whenever you defend what you believe, or why you behave in such a manner, by following the Word of God and submitting to the Lordship of Christ, you are giving testimony to the power of God!

As Christians, we have the propensity and the provision to do that which pleases our Lord, even if those who do not like us because of Christ slander us and condemn us, our own consciences will defend us. We are not here to please this godless world, we are here to serve God, and we should do so with a clear conscience and with willful intent.

Look, we all know right from wrong

(Genesis 3:22),
“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil.’”

When we do what we know is wrong, we are convicted in our heart of the wrong doing

(Romans 2:15),
“their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”

We are sinners saved by grace, and even Paul struggled with knowingly doing that which went against his own conscience, just like we do

(Romans 7:18-19),
“I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

Romans 7:21-25,
“I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

2Corinthians 5:17,
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Galatians 5:16-18,
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”

Galatians 5:25,
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

When people say to me, “Why do you live the way you live?” I should respond with, because I know there is life after death and that God has prepared a place for me in heaven that will be so glorious it is incomprehensible. Isaiah 65:17, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.“

Revelation 21:1,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away,”

Revelation 21:4,
“and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Look again at 1Peter 3:17…

It is much better that we suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong; and as aliens [strangers] in this world.

(1Peter 1:1),

We must remain devoted to that which is good, that which pleases God, living out and proclaiming the message of salvation, while also being willing to suffer for Christ’s sake

06-13-2021 – “Life, Love, Good Days”

Bible Text: 1Peter 3:10-12 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
June Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

6-13-2021
1Peter 3:10–12
Life, Love, and Good Days…

Today we will be studying 1Peter 3:10–12, but for context let’s go back and read from verse 8.

Read 1Peter 3:8–12…

Notice the connecting word “For,” at the beginning of verse 10; this connects Peter’s instruction in verses 8-9 to his summation in verses 10-12, where Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16, in order to show that even before Christ, as written in the Old Testament, mankind desired to love life and to experience good days.

Ecclesiastes 2:24,
“There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.”

Ecclesiastes 3:10,
“I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.”

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13,
“I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:19,
”Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.”

If we are to truly love life and see good days, as God intended, we will do so according to the authority, the provision, and the purpose of God. Let’s look more closely at the

first part of 1Peter 3:10 :
“The one who desires life, to love and see good days.” Peter doesn’t use the Greek word bios [biological, mortal life] here for the word “life,” but instead he uses the Greek word zoen [the fullest life, i.e., spiritual, eternal, pleasing to God life]. Unbelievers are physically alive but spiritually dead!

For the word “love,” Peter uses the Greek word agapan, the noun form of the Greek word agape [this is selfless, sacrificial, Godly love, like God the Father has for us], it is a love that is an action of the will, the intentional doing what is necessary, not just having feelings about it

(see John 15:13),
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

There are two main Greek words translated love in the New Testament: Agape, the highest form of love [Godly love, divine love], the love that only children of God can know and share; and Phileo, the love of kind feelings and affection [brotherly love], the love of close friendship.

Now let’s add the

second part of 1Peter 3:10,
to the first part: “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” If you really want to love life and see good days, you must keep control of your tongue and the words that come out of your mouth; this is not an easy task all the time, for most of us.

James 3:3-10,
“Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”

Now, look again at

1Peter 3:11,
“He (The one who desires life, to love and see good days) must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” God commands His people to turn completely away from all evil, to do only what is good, to seek after peace like one aggressively hunting after the most valuable treasure, making an intense effort to be a peacemaker.

This is the message Peter has been proclaiming since

1Peter 2:11-12,
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

It is not only important because we are brothers and sisters in Christ; but because we are ambassadors of Christ, urging unbelievers to be reconciled to God through Christ’s death and resurrection

(2Corinthians 5:17-21),
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In 1Peter 3:9,
we are commanded not to respond to insult with insult or evil with evil, but we are to be, “giving a blessing instead.”

We should be a blessing to both believers and unbelievers; for we are called to be peacemakers, in a world that doesn’t have and cannot know peace, because it rejects Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Please turn to Matthew 5:1-9…

As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we must be the peacemakers here on earth, even though the world is against us (see Matthew 5:10-11).

Paul says (Romans 12:18),
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men,”

(Romans 14:19),
“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

We are to be peacemakers.

We are to do everything possible to maintain peace in family of God, but also in the chaotic, confused and corrupt culture around us.

1Peter 3:12
[quoting Psalm 34:15-16],
tells us why we are to live like those who desire life, to love and see good days; those who keep their tongues from speaking evil and deceit, trying to do good while seeking peace: “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Look again at the first two phrases of 1Peter 3:12. God is watching over us, listening to our prayers, like a loving Father.

Some Christian parents have said to their children, at one time or another, “God is watching everything you do. I may not see it, your mother may not see it, but God sees it.”

That is not the focus of what Peter means here. This is not about putting fear in your heart concerning the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God; but instead, that God is looking out for and listening to the prayers of His children; God is watchful so that He might provide for and protect us.

God knows our every need, and yet He wants us to come to Him in prayer, asking for His help. God even tells us what to pray for (see Matthew 6:7-13).

But look at the last part of 1Peter 3:12,
“But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

How is “the face of the Lord” different from “The eyes and ears of the Lord?” In the Old Testament, “The eyes of the Lord” has to do with God’s watchfulness, whereas, “The face of the Lord” is most often used to refer to God’s anger and His judgment.

Leviticus 17:10,
“Any man from the house of Israel or from the aliens who sojourn among them, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person.”

Leviticus 20:6,
“As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”

Psalm 34:16,
“The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

We are to live in such a way that the eyes of the Lord are on us as He listens to our prayers and meets our needs; rather than to live in wickedness and evil, so that God’s face is set against us in anger.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray

(Matthew 6:13),
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Does God lead us into temptation? Does God tempt us? No! But He does allow us to be tested.

1Corinthians 10:13,
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

James 1:13-15,
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

How does God deliver us from evil? He protects and provides for us, and He has given us everything we need so that we will not be deceived or corrupted by sin, but instead will be victorious in Christ.

Romans 12:2,
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2Timothy 3:16-17,
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man (woman and child) of God may be adequate [complete], [fully] equipped for every good work.”

2Peter 1:2-4,
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

Paul exclaims

(1Corinthians 15:57),
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The truth is, those who desire life, to love and see good days, as children of God, ambassadors of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit, should exemplify what is commanded in

1Thessalonians 5:16-18,
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ we have everything now and forever; without Christ we have nothing.
No wonder Paul writes
(2Corinthians 9:15),
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” That Gift is Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

06-06-2021 – Recap from 1Peter: How Are We To Live For God?

Bible Text: various | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
June Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar

6-6-2021
Recap from 1Peter: How Are We To Live For God?

In 1Peter 2:13-17,
Peter exhorts us to submit to authorities and institutions, both civil (kings and governors) and societal (supervisors and employers); he then gives attention

(cf. 1Peter 3:1-7)
to the institution of marriage. Here he instructs believing husbands and believing wives to live with their unbelieving spouses in such a manner, so as to influence them for Christ, that they might be saved.

In 1Peter 3:8, Peter sums up how we are to live and behave with others, instructing us to be: harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit. God’s Word cites the attitudes we are to have and to display through our lives, as members of the Body of Christ, the Family of Believers.

To be harmonious means to be ‘like-minded,’ of ‘one-mind,’ i.e., having the same commitment to the Truth of God

(Ephesians 4:1-6),
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all,”

(Philippians 1:27),
“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… …standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

To be sympathetic means to ‘share the same feeling’ that someone else is experiencing, whether it be sorrow or joy. We are to show empathy by coming alongside those who have spiritual, physical, and emotional needs; in order to help them on God’s behalf, sharing God’s message of love, hope, and peace with them

(2Corinthians 1:3-4),
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

To be brotherly speaks of the loving affection expressed among those who are closely related, the sacrificial serving of one another, as should be displayed among those who are in the Family of God

(Ephesians 4:32),
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you,” as we reach out to the unbelieving world around us.

To be kindhearted is to deeply feel the pain of others, and to express tenderhearted compassion toward lost sinners, just as God has already done toward us through Christ

(Romans 5:8),
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

In John 11:35,

Jesus is approaching the grave of Lazarus, and He is aware of the pain that Mary and Martha and the rest of Lazarus’s family are feeling, it says, “Jesus wept.” Jesus’s tears are the result of a very deep sense of compassion for those who loved Lazarus and were grieving his loss.

To be humble in spirit is to be ‘humble-minded’; this should be the most important virtue in the life of those who are genuinely seeking to follow the example of Jesus Christ

(Mark 10:45),
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,”

(Philippians 2:3-11),
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In 1Peter 3:9 a,
we are instructed “not to return evil for evil or insult for insult.”

Please turn to Matthew 5:39…
Jesus said, “I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” This is one of those verses that is misinterpreted much more than it is correctly interpreted. This verse is not inferring or even implying, that you should allow some evil person to attack to you, or those with you. This verse does not mean that you are to give in to evil people.

God’s Word records that very early in Jesus’ ministry, during Passover, He drove evil men out of the Temple (cf. John 2:13-16) using a whip that He had made, saying “stop making My Father’s house a place of business”; and again, near the end of His ministry, during Passover (cf. Matthew 21:10-13), Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling in the temple, overturning the tables of the money changers, saying “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

We are not to be pacifists when it comes to evil

(Romans 12:9),
“Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

As Christians (cf. Ephesians 5:6-13) we are children of Light and we are to expose and rebuke the deeds of darkness done by those who reject Christ; even so, we are not to seek retaliation

(Romans 12:21),
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

But, what about being slapped in the face (cf. Matthew 5:39)? In the Jewish culture, as in ours, being slapped in the face is an act of contempt or disdain; even a slave during Bible times would have preferred to be whipped on the back rather than slapped in the face by his master.

I do not believe God’s Word is advocating that we allow evil men to beat us up, I do believe however, that Matthew 5:39 is talking about putting up with insults and humiliation, not physical attacks.

Most Jews are right handed (about 90%) along with most of the people on this planet; and so, to strike the right cheek of a person’s face, with your right hand, is to hit with the back of the hand, this is clearly an act of expressing contempt, it is about demeaning and devaluing someone.

As Christians we are not to return insult for insult; we are not to use words in a vengeful way, nor are we to curse anyone, not even those who harm us.

As God’s child, I can expect to be minimized, insulted, and treated with contempt, because of my relationship with the Lord; but I am not to retaliate when that happens, I am not to seek retribution; for vengeance belongs to God.

In 1Peter 3:9 b
we are told, that instead of giving insult, we are to be “giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”

Believers should be a blessing to both believers and unbelievers. How can we do that? We can pray for the salvation of an unbeliever. We can pray for the sanctification of a believer. We should always express gratitude for someone’s kindness toward us or toward others. We should forgive those who sin against us, seek forgiveness from those we sin against, and pray for those who persecute us.

1Corinthians 1:18,
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

2Corinthians 5:14-21,
“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Mark 1:14-15,
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:17,
“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

As Christians, we have received God’s forgiveness for all our sins (past-present-future) and eternal life in heaven; all because of God’s great love for us.

If you have not yet received God’s salvation: forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ who is both Lord and Savior: Repent of your sins, we are all sinners! Believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, for there is no other way to be saved; He turns no one away. Follow Christ by demonstrating your new life in Him, seeking to know, obey, and proclaim God’s Word.

1John 5:11-13,
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Pastor Mike
>’(((><