10-03-2021 – “God-Honoring Prayer”

Bible Text: Matthew 6:5-13 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale |
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10-03-2021
“God-Honoring Prayer”

Matthew 6:5-13

Read Matthew 6:5-8…

This prayer focuses on who God is and how God wants His children to pray to Him, not in order to impress men or to try and convince God, like pagans who babble on with many words, reciting and repeating themselves thoughtlessly; for nowhere in the NT is a prayer ever repeated or used in a repetitious or ritualistic manner, as if we need to bring something to God’s attention concerning a need we have. God knows what we need, even before we ask Him!

See Matthew 6:9, “Pray, then, in this way:”

This prayer is a guide, telling us to Whom, for What, and How we are to pray.

See Matthew 6:9b, “Our Father who is in heaven,”

God is the Creator of all but the Father only of those who come into the Family of God, through Jesus Christ.

John 1:12-13,

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Galatians 3:26,

“For you are all [children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

See Matthew 6:9c, “Hallowed [Holy, consecrated, revered] be Your name:”

God’s name is Holy and we are to honor and glorify Him, by acknowledging Him in every detail of our thoughts, our words, and our actions, i.e., our life.

Mark 12:30,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

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.”

1Corinthians 10:31,

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

See Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

God’s sovereign rule in heaven is not being exemplified on earth. Men sin, men die, and men go to hell; although this is not what God wants.

God commands us to pray for His will to be done on earth, that everyone would repent of sin, believe in Christ, and be saved.

1Timothy 2:3-4,

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2Peter 3:9,

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

God wants His children (believers and followers of Christ) to know and willfully obey His Word in all we do

(Romans 12:1-2),

“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. 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.”

We are to live out God’s word in our lives, so that others might see Christ in us and come to Him for salvation, even if we have to suffer for it.

1Peter 3:14-15,

“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

God is allowing for sin to run its course and for Satan to reign over all those who oppose God, for a time; but sin and Satan will end just as God has determined, and all who reject Jesus Christ will go to Hell.

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.”

2Peter 3:11-13,

“Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

See Matthew 6:11, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Bread is symbolic of the food we require for our physical needs; in Israel, if you didn’t have bread you would be hungry. But this is speaking of both our physical and spiritual needs, of which, God provides everything we need, in Christ.

John 4:14,

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:33-35,

“‘For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.’ Then they said to Him, ‘Lord, always give us this bread.’

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.’”

2Peter 1:2-3,

“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.”

Jesus is the Bread of Life who came down from the Father in heaven; He is also the Living Water who spiritually hydrates us; in fact, everything we need for life on earth and life in heaven, has come through Christ.

The Provider is the Father, the Provision is the Son. And so, we come to God for all our needs through Jesus Christ daily, not weekly, monthly, or yearly, but daily; and at times, moment by moment.

See Matthew 6:12, “And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

This is not talking about financial or any other form of physical human debt, it is talking about sin, our spiritual debt to God which was paid in full by Christ.

Sin separates us from God and is our greatest enemy; therefore, our greatest need is forgiveness, that is what God the Father provides to those who believe in His Son

(Romans 3:23; 6:23, 5:8; 8:1; 10:9-10, 13; pp Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21)..

1John 1:8-10,

“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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Having received God’s forgiveness we forgive others; in fact, an unforgiving heart is unbecoming of anyone who has received God’s forgiveness.

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks,

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Because the Father is forgiving, His children are also to be forgiving.

Ephesians 4:32,

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

Ephesians 5:1-2,

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

See Matthew 6:13a… “And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”

This has to do with temptations, trials and testing, through which we are enticed to sin by seeking to please our flesh instead of honoring God. God tempts no one, but He does allow us to be tested

(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.”

We appeal to God to place a guard over and around our heart, mind, eyes, ears, mouth, feet, and hands — so that, whatever we do, where ever we are, we will not give in to sin

(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.”

We are all weak at times, and we need God’s help to avoid the traps and snares of the devil, the world, and the flesh; God has provided all we need to succeed

(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 [complete], [thoroughly] equipped for every good work.”

Ephesians 2:10,

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

We live in a cursed world and evil is all around us. Our flesh is weak and we are not equipped in our human resources to combat sin. Therefore, we confess our need for the protection and deliverance that only God can give.

See Matthew 6:13b [For Yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

*This addition to verse 13 is not found in the earliest manuscripts, but it is in total harmony with what is Scriptures teach.

1Chronicles 29:11-13,

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.”

Revelation 5:13,

“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’”

Our prayers should magnify and praise God’s Name, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Will; at the same time, our prayers should clearly express thanksgiving toward God for His unconditional love, forgiveness, and eternal life, but also for His daily provision of peace, protection, guidance, comfort, strength, nourishment, and care.

God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good; and for that reason, we, as God’s children, should be thankful and hopeful, now and forever, in Christ.

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

09-26-2021 – “The Prophetic Word”

Bible Text: 2Peter 1:16-21 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 2peter |
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09-26-2021
“The Prophetic Word”

2Peter 1:16-21

Read 2Peter 1:16-18…

Peter reassures his listeners that what he and the other apostles proclaim through the spoken and written Word has been received by them through supernatural revelation, as John wrote

(1John 1:1-3),

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life —and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

What Peter and the other apostles preached was the absolute truth of God, unlike the many false teachers of their time, who taught deceitful doctrines, disguised as divine truth.

The apostles taught God’s sovereign truth concerning the divine nature of Jesus Christ at His first coming [lit. arrival, appearing] to earth, but also the divine power and majesty to be displayed at His second coming

(cf. Revelation 1:7-8),

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

Peter and the other apostles were personal eyewitnesses of the Majestic glory [lit. supernatural splendor] of Christ, which was confirmed by God the Father as He spoke from heaven on several occasions, concerning His Son.

The first time, John the baptizer was present with Jesus at the Jordan River

(Matthew 3:16-17),

“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’”

The second time, Peter, James, and John were with Jesus up on a mountain (most likely this was Mt. Hermon, near Caesarea Philippi).

Matthew 17:1-9,

“Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, ‘Get up, and do not be afraid.’ And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’”

1Peter 1:25b,

“And this is the word which was preached to you.”

Jude 3b,

it is “the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Read 2Peter 1:19-21…

Peter, James, John, “and the other apostles had experiences with Jesus, some of those are written down in the Word of God, but many are not recorded.

Peter’s point here is that we should not so much pay attention to our own experiences as we should to the prophetic word of Scripture, as Paul writes

(2Timothy 3:16a),

“All Scripture is inspired by God” [God-breathed, originates from God], both the Old and New Testaments are “the prophetic word made more sure,” for it is infallible, inerrant, sovereignly authoritative, and eternal; therefore, we ought to pay attention to it, so as to be able to expose false teachings and deceptive doctrines, while also declaring God’s Truth!

Peter says (2Peter 1:19), God’s Word is like “a lamp shining in a dark place,” (meaning the godless blackness of the world where God’s light does not shine).

Genesis 1:1-4,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”

The Psalmist writes (Psalm 43:3), “

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places.”

God’s light leads us to the presence and holiness of God. God’s light guides us in the darkness, i.e., the corruption and confusion of this world

(Psalm 119:105),

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,”

(Psalm 119:130),

“The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

Jesus (speaking to His true followers) said

(Matthew 5:14-16),

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

The world without God’s Light is in utter spiritual darkness; we have God’s Light in us and that Light can set people free from captivity. Spiritual darkness keeps people from seeing [understanding] the truth of God; for the darkness keeps them captive, blinding them so they are unable [or unwilling] to believe in Christ.

2Corinthians 4:3-4, 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 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.”

Hebrews 1:3a,

“He [Christ] is the radiance [lit. brightness] of His [God’s] glory.”

Jesus is the Light of God, sent to mankind. “Light” is the revelation that brings “Life from God” to all who believe and are being saved.

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.”

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.”

1John 5:5,

“Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

The Light of God in Christ overpowers the world; therefore all those who are in Christ have overcome the world [and its darkness] and will walk in the Light of Christ.

Jesus said (John 8:12),

“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

1John 1:5,

“This is the message we have heard from Him [Christ] and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

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 5:6-12,

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [unbelievers]. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”

Back to 2Peter 1:19…

We are to read and heed God’s Word, for it will keep us from the demonic deception of false teachings and heresies; and we are to do this “until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”

What does that mean? I believe the “day” being referenced here is Christ’s return to the earth; also in

Hebrews 10:24-25, where we are exhorted to,

“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 day? This has to be the day of the Lord’s return. We are to hold to the Word of God until Christ’s return, until that day. Now, think about this, when a day “dawns,” night is over and the darkness is overcome by the light of day. Light cuts through the darkness: as you walk through a dark forest at night, with good strong flashlight in your hand, it seems to push away the darkness, wherever you point it, this is because the light overcomes the darkness.

When Christ returns for us at the Rapture (all godlessness and darkness is gone from us forever); and when Christ returns to the earth at His second coming (we with Him,

Revelation 19:11-16),

He will overcome all godlessness, all darkness, for He is the Morning Star [phosphoros, lit. light bringer].

Speaking of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior,

John 1:4-5 says,

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [overcome] it.”

John isn’t talking about external/physical light in that passage, like that of the sun or a flashlight; and neither is Peter in

2Peter 1:19, where he says,

“until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”

Christ is the Light of God that has come into the world, and He is the Morning Star the Light Bringer.

When the Light of Christ arises in your heart you are transformed, for He takes up residence in your heart through the Holy Spirit. This is the message that has been “made more sure” through the prophetic word (of both the Old and New Testaments), the mystery that has been revealed to God’s apostles and prophets, a mystery that had been hidden but is now made known.

Look again at 2Peter 1:20-21…

Nothing that is recorded, proclaimed, or foretold in the Scriptures originates from any man, whether apostle or prophet of God, for the origin of Scripture is God

(2Timothy 3:16),

“All Scripture is inspired by God God breathed, i.e., it originates from God and is revealed to us, not the result of human thinking, reasoning, or knowledge; but it is the result of God’s Spirit speaking through men chosen by God who are empowered by God and moved along [continually carried or transported] by the Holy Spirit of God according to God’s plan, purpose, and provision.

The only one who knows the mind of God is God, and those to whom He has revealed it by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit; the prophets and apostles of God spoke and wrote down the very words of God, which are recorded in the 66 Books of Scripture, and are now revealed to us by God’s Spirit.

1Corinthians 2:9-16,

“but just as it is written, ‘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 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.”

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

09-19-2021 – Peter’s Legacy

Bible Text: 2Peter 1:12-15 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 2peter |
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09-19-2021 – Peter’s Legacy

2Peter 1:12-15

Read 2Peter 1:12-15… Peter repeatedly makes known the truths of God to his listeners, in order that even after he is dead and gone they will be able to call to mind the important teachings and doctrines of God’s Word.

See 2Peter 1:12… “Therefore” applies to the previous teachings Peter has given to the recipients of his letter: that we have been given the great and marvelous gift of salvation; but also that we have received the assurance of salvation.

Peter then says he will forever be reminding them [us] of all we have received from God, in Christ, and even though we have bee established in the truth which is present in each and every true believer and follower of Christ.

We have received (2Peter 1:1-4) saving faith through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, bringing us grace and peace in our knowledge of (through intimate relationship with) God. Everything we need for mortal life on earth and eternal life in heaven, we have been given.

And we experience our salvation (2Peter 1:5-11), when we apply God’s Word to our life, because it changes us (how we live, what we do, what we say); it sovereignly and eternally changes us into a new creation, for we are born-again (John 1:13), “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God,” and we become God’s own personal possession (Ephesians 1:13-14), “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, 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.”

See 2Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 12:1-2.

If God’s Spirit is in you, you will become more and more like Christ. Is God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, in you? Not sure? Take the test!

2Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

As we grow in in our knowledge of God’s Word, in our relationship to God the Father through God the Son, made effectual by the Holy Spirit, we become more fruitful in living out our faith and belief; for we have become “partakers of the divine nature,” and we are, therefore, able to live in a manner that brings glory, honor, and praise to God.

See 1Peter 1:3-9… Peter began his first letter by reminding believers of all they have in Christ, and also that we may very well suffer on Christ’s behalf, but in the end our faith will bring us into the inheritance that is reserved in heaven for us.

All of this is absolutely true and we are sovereignly secure, and yet Peter says (2Peter 1:12), “I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.”

I find that above statement very interesting! Peter writing in A.D. 67-68, is reminding the believers and followers of Christ (throughout the Roman Empire) of the precious and magnificent promises they have received from God.

And yet, here it is A.D. 2021, and Peter’s words of exhortation are just as relevant and powerful as they were when Peter first wrote this letter almost 2,000 years ago. How many millions, even billions, of Christians have read these words throughout the centuries, receiving encouragement and instruction, in order not to grow weary or give up; but instead, as Paul writes (1Corinthians 15:58) to remain “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Repetition is a very important element in the learning process. Paul also, like Peter, knew and applied repetition in his letters (2Thessalonians 2:5), “Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?”

In 2Peter 1:12 we are reminded of the sacred and eternal truths that are contained in the Scriptures. There are no new revelations from God, only a better understanding of what has already been spoken, written, pasted down, and revealed (Jude 3), “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Hebrews 1:1-3, “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, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Revelation 22:18-19, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

See 2Peter 1:13… Peter was a shepherd in the flock of God and he considered it his responsibility to stimulate believers toward righteousness, for he served the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and in so doing (1Peter 5:3-4) was to be an example to the flock of God.

As long as Peter lived in his earthly dwelling [tent, temporary house, i.e., physical body] as a faithful servant of God, he would consistently, repeatedly, and tirelessly continue teaching and expounding the major doctrines and precepts of Scripture; stirring up [thoroughly awakening and exhorting] the believers to remain sober minded, spiritually alert, so as not to succumb to apathy or deception (cf. 1Peter 5:8), “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

2Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

See 2Peter 1:14. Peter now expresses the reason for his urgency and diligence in reminding the believers of the sacred truths that all Christians hold dear; for he knows that his earthly life is coming to an end, “knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling [tent, temporary house] is imminent [soon, swift], as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.”

Peter had the hope of heaven, just as Paul wrote:

2Corinthians 5:1-2, “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,” 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.”

Peter was in his 70’s when he wrote his two letters; some 40 years earlier Jesus had told him how he would die (John 21:18-19), “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands [symbolic of crucifixion] and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.’ Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’”

Peter would be martyred for his faith, just as Jesus was. Eusebius of Caesarea, lived during the 4th century A.D. He was a bishop, exegete, polemicist, and historian whose account of the first centuries of Christianity is a landmark in Christian historiography. Eusebius wrote [Ecclesiastical History 3:1, 30] that tradition tells us Peter was crucified upside down (at his own request), for he felt unworthy to be put to death in the very same manner as Christ.

See 2Peter 1:15… Peter knew his life on earth was coming to an end, and therefore he is diligent to remind his readers that all he has taught them when with them and through his two letters to them, should be continually called to mind after his departure [exodus] from his temporary life on earth to his eternal life in heaven.

1Corinthians 15:50-57, “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But 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.”

God’s Word is eternal (See 1Peter 1:22-25), and therefore, because God’s Word is in us, we have inherited eternal life and we are protected by the power of God through our faith in Christ.

Peter’s priority and purpose was that the Word of God be made manifest through his own life and in the lives of all of God’s people (See 1Peter 2:12-16; 3:10-16).

Peter’s Legacy is the life he lived as a witness for Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior. Peter served God by living out and proclaiming the truth of God, while loving others on God’s behalf, trusting God completely.

Paul writes (Philippians 4:12-13), “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” 19-20, “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

May we all seek to leave a legacy like that of Peter, who’s example was Jesus Christ: Crucified, resurrected, and coming again to take us to be with Him forever.

Pastor Mike

09-12-2021 – Essential Virtues of Our Faith

Bible Text: 2Peter1:5-11 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 2peter |
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09-12-2021 – Essential Virtues of Our Faith

2Peter1:5-11

Last week (2Peter 1:1-4) we studied how, through faith in Christ, we have been granted God’s face and peace; in fact, we have been given everything we need for life, on earth, and in heaven. This has been accomplished through the righteousness of God our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today’s passage records Peter’s instruction concerning the faith we have been granted as “partakers of the divine nature,” in reference to our diligence in applying effort toward working out our faith in our lives.

Read 2Peter 1:5-7… Peter says, that because of God’s “precious and magnificent promises,” we must make diligent [eager, zealous, urgent] effort to live obediently and honorably for Christ, “supplying moral excellence [virtue]” because our faith sets us apart as God’s children and bondservants of Christ.

But what does that mean? This means we are to give fully of ourselves, as new

creations in Christ, to exemplify all the virtues (character traits) of one who has

been born-again by God’s Spirit (John 1:13), as those “who were born, not of

blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

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 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.”

Back in 2Peter 1:5-7, we are to give to the pursuit of the virtues mentioned here. Firstly, to moral excellence [virtue], i.e., we are to exhibit virtue by the way we live: our thoughts, our words, our actions.

Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Colossians 3:15a, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” 16a, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” 17a, “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 next virtue to pursue is knowledge, referring to the true knowledge of God applied to our lives through spiritual discernment.

2Corinthians 4:6, “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.”

The next virtue is self-control, because of our knowledge of God and of our own sinful nature, we must earnestly seek to keep our flesh under the control of God’s Word and God’s Spirit.

1Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were

yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Galatians 5:16-17, “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.”

The next virtue to pursue is perseverance, this means to patiently endure during times of trials, temptations, and hardships, just like our Lord did.

Philippians 2:8, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Hebrews 12:3, “Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

1Peter 2:21-23, “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, 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.”

The next virtue to pursue is godliness, this could be translated “true religion” or “true worship,” and it means to express reverence for God. There are several passages that help illuminate the meaning of this virtue for a better understanding:

John 4:23, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

1Timothy 4:8b-10, “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life [physical/mortal] and also for the life to come [spiritual/eternal]. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”

James 1:26-27, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Out or our heartfelt and expressed reverence for God will flow the next virtue we are to pursue, brotherly kindness. Love for God will invariably be demonstrated by our love for others.

1John 4:20-21, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

For a person to say that they love God and yet, hold hatred in their heart toward a brother or sister in Christ, is totally antithetical to the teaching of God’s Word.

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.”

The highest virtue of all is love [agape]. This is the uncompromising, sacrificial, willful, and selfless love of intent. This is not about feelings, but is the actual doing of what is required, even at great cost to ourselves.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

1John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Read 2Peter 1:8-9… God’s desire is for us to grow increasingly more Christlike, so that through our lives we might be Christ’s witnesses in this world. In 2Peter 1:4, we were told that all of the “precious and magnificent promises” of God, allow us to “become partakers of the divine nature,” so that we would show Christ in us.

We are not to be useless [inactive, idle, inoperative] or unfruitful [barren], for we have the Word of God in us.

Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

1Peter 1:25, “‘The word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.”

As Christians, we are to pursue those virtues that lead to productive spiritual lives. If you have received “the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” you have what you need to live honorably for God; but according to 2Peter 1:9, if a (so-called) Christian is not growing in their relationship with Christ, he/she is “blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”

Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

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.”

When a believer ceases to live in a manner that is pleasing to God, in obedience to God’s Word, that person may become unsure, causing them to doubt that they are genuinely saved..

2Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”

Read 2Peter 1:10-11… Because of all that God has done to save us and provide for us, we should be eager and zealous to demonstrate that we genuinely belong to God through Christ, made effectual by His Spirit, as we display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Peter says (2Peter 1:10b), “as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” Practice makes perfect! Well, not really, because nobody is perfect; but practice does often lead to better performance and control, so that we don’t forget or lack the assurance that we have been saved and we will be victorious.

Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

James 1:22-25, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

See again 2Peter 1:11… The assurance of forgiveness and eternal life will be continually and increasingly provided to those who belong to God, to those who serve God and pursue holiness.

Romans 12:1-2, “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. 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.”

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.”

1Thessalonians 3:11-13, “Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

Pastor Mike Hale

09-05-2021 – Partakers of the Divine Nature…

Bible Text: 2Peter 1:1-4 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 2peter | Above is
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09-05-2021 – Partakers of the Divine Nature…

2Peter 1:1-4

2Peter 1:1-4

1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 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.
4 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

Peter’s first letter

Peter’s first letter (cf 1Peter 1:1) was sent out to bring comfort and instruction to the believers who were suffering persecution on behalf of Christ, those who were scattered throughout “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”

(cf 1Peter 1:1)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

Peter’s second letter is sent to these same believers, but now he is exhorting them to be on guard against false teachers who have arisen from within the church and are now teaching heresies, leading people away from the true gospel of Christ.

Read 2Peter 1:1a…

1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Peter identifies himself as a bondservant [doulos, lit. slave]

and an apostle [apostolos, lit. one sent, i.e., one divinely commissioned as a witness of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ].

This second letter is written to “those” same believers who received the first letter; the recipients are mostly Gentile converts to Christianity, but also Jewish converts who are living in A.D. 67-68, about a year after Peter’s first letter. See 2Peter 1:1b… Notice that Peter says they “have received a faith of the same kind as ours,” this has everything to do with their response to the Gospel.

Ephesians 2:8-9,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

This grace is granted to both Jews and Gentiles, even though the centuries of conflict between Jews and Gentiles had driven a wedge and put up a wall of separation that made it very difficult for them to trust each other, let alone to accept one another as equals in Christ, which is the way God sees us.

Galatians 3:26-29,

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

God made it clear to Peter that the gospel was sovereignly effectual to both Jew and Gentile, to anyone who would hear and believe the message of Christ. Acts 10-11 recap the story of when Peter was in Joppa, in a trance; 3 times he a large table cloth lowered form heaven with all kinds of unclean animals on it. And God said, “Get up, kill and eat.” After this, 3 men from Caesarea came to Peter’s door, on behalf of a Gentile Centurion named Cornelius, asking Peter to come and tell them what God wants them to know. He told them about Jesus and they believed and were saved, the whole household.

Peter would later (see Acts 15) reiterate this story at the Jerusalem Council, to the Apostles and the Elders of the Church of God. Peter’s clear message is that God shows no favoritism concerning the Message of Christ, the same Gospel brings salvation to both Jew and Gentile alike.

2Peter 1:1c…

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:”

True salvation is made possible “by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” it is to be shared with all people.

Acts 13:47,

“For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”

It was always God’s plan to bring salvation to the whole world, beginning with the Jews, s Paul writes

(Romans 1:16),

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Read 2Corinthians 5:17-21…

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 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.
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.
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.

The righteousness of God the Father is able to reach every believer through God the Son

(cf. John 14:6),

“Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” It was Jesus [God the Son] who asked God the Father to send God the Holy Spirit to take up residence in us, so that the Father and the Son would come and live in us through the Spirit

(John 14:23),

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Read 2Peter 1:2…

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

Peter encourages the believers concerning the “Grace and peace” we have in Christ, as Paul reiterated in the prayer we looked at last week

(Ephesians 3:17-19),

“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

That expresses how God’s grace is “multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” As believers and followers of Christ we receive God’s grace that forgives all our sins (past-present-future), and gives us the eternal peace of God to get through every trial and struggle we will experience on this earth.

All of this is made effectual through our personal knowledge of God, and the fact that God knows us as His very own children.

Read 2Peter 1:3a…

3 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.

God’s divine power has granted us everything we need for

life [bio = physical, mortal], as we serve Him on earth;

while also providing everything we need for

godliness [zoe = spiritual, eternal life], in order to live with Him in heaven for eternity.

John 6:37-40,

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

In John 10:11,

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

Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep

(John 10:27-29),

“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.”

Romans 8:28-35,

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 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?”

Romans 8:37-39,

“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.”

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.”

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are equally glorified in and through God’s plan, purpose and provision of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin and the granting of eternal life

2Peter 1:4a…

4 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.

Jesus Christ accomplished everything concerning our salvation, and He has provided all we need, now and forever.

God’s promises to us fill the Old and New Testaments, declaring what we have received: a personal relationship with God, His forgiveness for all our sins (past, present, future), eternal life (the indwelling of God’s Spirit), the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, patience, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), the wisdom of God, the mind of Christ, the power of God, the eternal reward of living with God in the new heavens and new earth.

Read 2Peter 1:4b…

4 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.

Through Him we “become partners of the divine nature,” we are able to enjoy deep fellowship with God like God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have had since eternity past.

What we won’t share in is the corruption [decay and death] that is in this world because of the curse of sin, caused by evil desires. We have escaped all judgement and condemnation through Jesus Christ

(Romans 8:1-2),

“Therefore there is now no condemnation 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 17:22-26,

“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Revelation 21:1-4,

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among 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.”

Revelation 22:3,

“There will no longer be any curse…”

Revelation 22:5,

“And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

Genesis 1:1,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26-31

26 Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28 God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’

29 Then God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food’; and it was so.

31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

We are going to live forever in a perfected world (like the Garden of Eden was before sin entered creation), with perpetual joy, because of the gracious, merciful, lovingkindness of God, just as He sovereignly determined, before anything was created, that we should live in His presence, according to His purpose, as “Partakers of [His] Divine (and Eternal) Nature.”

Revelation 4:11,

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Revelation 5:13,

“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Amen!

Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

08-29-2021 – Cultivate or Stagnate !

Bible Text: various passages | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Above is the YouTube video recording and the audio only recording.

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08-29-2021 – Cultivate or Stagnate !
Ephesians 3:14-21

The Body of Christ is made up of all true believers and followers of Jesus, no matter what ethnicity, gender, socio-economic or educational level, we are all part of God’s family

(see 1Corinthians 12:12-18; 26-27; Galatians 3:28).

1Corinthians 12:12-18

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.
13 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.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 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.
16 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.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

1Corinthians 12:26-27

26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Galatians 3:28

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Read Ephesians 3:14-15…

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

Paul prays for believers, proclaiming that we have been given God’s name [Christians], having been born-again by God’s Spirit at the moment we trusted in Jesus Christ (see John 1:12-13; Ephesians 1:13).

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 1:13

13 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,

The Bible doesn’t teach a One World/One People theology; nor does it teach a Universal Fatherhood of God/Brotherhood of Man theology. God is the Creator of all, but He is only the Father of those who trust in Christ by faith; those belonging to God are called Christians in the Bible.

Neither does the Bible teach that it takes a Village to raise a Child; it takes a family.

And God’s design for a family, is one man and one woman, committed to God and to each other, in order to raise children in the love and knowledge of God.

God wants every member of His family to realize that our most important distant relative isn’t a mortal man, but God Himself.

Have you ever researched your ancestral heritage?

Your father’s surname?

Your mother’s maiden name?

It can be quite interesting, but what Paul says in

Ephesians 3:14-15, is that Christians derive their name and their family heritage from God!

Ephesians 3:14-15

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

Christian means “adherent [follower & believer] of Christ,”

and it is used three times in the New Testament:

In Acts 26:28, it speaks of becoming a Christian.

Acts 26:28

28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

In Acts 11:26, it speaks of living as a Christian.

Acts 11:26

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

In 1Peter 4:16, it speaks of suffering as a Christian.

1Peter 4:16

16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Read Ephesians 3:16-21…

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 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,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Paul prays for us to take hold of, understand, and apply to our lives all that we have been given by our merciful and gracious heavenly Father. God not only provides a special name for those who are born into His eternal family, He also expresses His love for us and graciously equips us with everything we need to enjoy this life and trust Him for the next (cf. 2Peter 1:2-4).

2Peter 1:2-4

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 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.
4 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 reminds us of “all” that we have been given in Christ, and this is a great mystery. God purposed to have an eternal relationship with us, NOT because of our good looks, intrinsic nature, intelligence, special abilities, or human ancestral heritage. He has done this, just because He loves us.

Paul prays for us to be strengthened in our hearts, for it is only God who can reach into and heal the inner soul of a person, to bring eternal spiritual life to us through the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

Paul encourages us to have confidence in God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine,” and this is “according to His power that is at work within us,” through God’s Holy Spirit.

Paul makes it clear that everything to be done “in God’s church” [God’s Family], is to be done for God’s glory, “throughout all generations, forever and ever!”

As God’s children we are to imitate Him

(Ephesians 5:1-2),

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

How can we imitate God the Father whom no man has seen? By following the example of Christ

(1John 2:4-6),

“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 in the same manner as He walked.”

Jesus said (John 14:6-7),

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

Jesus Christ is God’s sovereign plan, purpose and provision for salvation and eternal life in God’s Family.

We are to (1Peter 2:12),

12 “Keep [our] behavior excellent among [unbelievers], so that…

…they may because of [our] good deeds, as they observe them,

glorify God in the day of visitation.”

We are to live in a manner that is excellent before unbelievers so they can see our good deeds, and many unbelievers will come to Christ because of our behavior, our good works, our witness to them, they will glorify God because they have have believed in His Son and come to Him for forgiveness.

We must allow Christ to show in and through our lives

(1Peter 3:14-16),

14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Sanctify means to be set apart by the love of God for the purpose of loving others on His behalf through Christ.

Jesus is the living God, He is the Word of God (see John 1:1).

John 1:1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is God and yet He died for us in the body of Jesus, so that we can live for Him. We need to encourage one another toward love and good deeds. We need to come and fellowship with our believers in Christ. The world needs to see the good deeds God has prepared for us to complete (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

We are born-again (created) for good (anything that pleases God) works. We are born from above

(John 1:13),

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

We must read and study God’s Word, then apply it to our life (see 1Peter 3:15), only then can we be obedient witnesses for Christ. We must set Christ as Lord in our heart, remaining sober minded (clear headed) and ready to be used by God; so that when someones asks us why we do what we do, why we are the way we are, wee can tell them we are trying to do what pleases God.

We just remain ready to share the gospel with gentleness to unbelievers (horizontal), out of reverence for God (vertical).

We were all unbelievers at one time, but God in His merciful love for us reached down and saved us in Christ (see Ephesians 2:1-7).

Ephesians 2:1-7

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

This world is angry, confused, chaotic, and corrupt. The world needs peace, the world needs Christ. We are to be peace makers, we have God’s peace in us through Christ, and we must share it with those in need.

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 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.

Hebrews 10:19-25 commands us to come together with other Christians in order to stimulate one another toward love and good deeds. We are not to abandon the practice of meeting together, getting to know each other and encouraging each other in the things of God.

If we don’t consistently come together, in person, around the Word of God, for the purpose of encouraging one another toward love and good deeds, the Body of Christ will suffer spiritual apathy, becoming weak, leading to atrophy, a lack of appropriation of God’s Word, and therefore, a diminished witness for Christ.

This should not be! When family members don’t pray, study, serve and play and together, they lose their intimacy and their sense of connectedness; their relationships stagnate [becoming apathetic], if this is left unchanged those relationships may grow cold, causing everyone to look out only for their own personal interests, instead of what is good for the whole family of God.

When concern for personal freedoms and comforts rise above our witness as Christians, and coming together for the purpose of praising, honoring, and worshipping the Lord, then we need to seek God’s forgiveness.

We must be diligent and determined in building up one another: in our homes, in our Church, in our Community, as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds; living more willfully and proactively as believers and followers of Christ, applying the whole counsel God’s Word to our lives where others will see.

The world needs Jesus, and if you are a Christian, God’s Spirit (the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Christ) is in you; and you are to live for Him.

Galatians 2:20,

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.

Read Romans 10:8-15…

8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 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;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
14 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?
15 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!”

Your birth into God’s family occurs when “you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, at that moment, you are saved; for with your heart you believe, resulting in righteousness, and with your mouth you confess, resulting in salvation, “for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

As Christians, we will experience pleasure and pain, victory and defeat, sorrow and joy, but God has promised and provided all we need to know Him, serve Him, and enjoy life on this earth, while trusting Him for our eternity in heaven.

As Christians, we are new creations, brothers and sisters in Christ, children of Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in them.

As Christians we are called to serve God together, in His Church, His Body [of which Christ is the head and every Christian is a member of that body].

God’s Word is clear that as Christians

(Ephesians 4:4-6),

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

we are members of one Body, and there is only one Lord, one Faith, one Spirit, one Baptism, one God and Father over all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord.

It is my sincere prayer today, that God’s Spirit will encourage and exhort and convict each one of us, to become and to remain more deliberate about cultivating our relationship with God, God’s Word, and God’s people; so that we might influence this godless world for Christ.

May God be praised now and forever, Amen!

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

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

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

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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,

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 |
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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 |

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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

08-01-2021 – “The LORD’S Supper: 1Corinthians 11:23-26”

Bible Text: 1Corinthians 11:23-26 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale |

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08-01-2021 – (full sermon notes)
The LORD’S Supper:
1Corinthians 11:23-26
The Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover has been celebrated by Jews since about 1500 B.C., when God rescued His people (the Hebrews) from Egypt after 400 years of captivity. Passover is named for the event of the Death Angel Passing Over Egypt. God commanded that the door frames of the houses be smeared with the blood of a year-old lamb, that had been sacrificed to God, as a sin offering. In all the houses that did not obey God, the firstborn males, human and animal died.

Throughout Israel’s history Passover has been celebrated in remembrance of God sovereignly delivering them out of Egypt. The Jewish Passover celebrates the physical deliverance of the Hebrews from their slavery under Pharaoh, to their covenant with God under the Law.

The Lord’s Supper remembers the deliverance of all true Believers from the penalty of sin under God’s Law, to their covenant with God under Grace. Jesus transformed the Passover meal into the Lord’s Supper; He fulfilled the Law of God. The Lord’s Supper proclaims forgiveness for our sins and eternal life with God through Christ’s once for all sacrifice for all sins.

The Lord’s Supper [Lord’s Table, Communion] is a special occasion for every true Christian individually, and a sacred time for the Church of God corporately, to reflect back on and remember all that the Lord has done for us, but also it is a time of looking to the future, when we will be with the Lord forever.

Three of the Gospels (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-23) give a narrative account of the Passover meal when the Lord presented a New Covenant, payment for our sins, through His own death.

Read 1Corinthians 11:23-25…

The unleavened [leaven = deceit, evil] bread originally eaten during the first Passover meal when God freed the Jews from their bondage in Egypt, now represents the sinless and sacrificial body of Jesus Christ, through whom we have received freedom from the condemnation of sin, i.e., forgiveness and eternal life through Christ’s sacrifice.

No wonder Jesus says, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

The cup was filled with grape juice or diluted wine, this represented the lamb’s blood that was originally smeared on the doorposts of each house in Egypt; now it represents the sacrificial blood of the Lamb of God, shed for the salvation of the whole world (John 1:29).

No wonder Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

God’s Word declares that apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sins; only through the shed blood of God’s Son could the eternal payment for all sins be made; our punishment was put upon Christ, in Him God’s eternal forgiveness is given to all men, women, and children of age who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation (Hebrews 8:8-10, 13; 9:15, 22, 27-28; 10:5-10, 15-18)

The old covenant (before Christ) was under the Law, continual sacrifices and offerings for sin were given, but God says those sins (before Christ) were left unpunished.

The new covenant (through Christ) is under Grace, only one sacrifice for all sins: past, present, future.

Christ’s shed blood is God’s fulfilled payment for sin, and so it takes away the penalty of sin from every person who trusts in Christ’s forgiveness for sins, having received Christ’s payment on the cross, we are saved.

What had been celebrated as Passover for centuries before the coming of God’s Son, is now celebrated as the Lord’s Supper, until such a time as Christ returns to gather all true Christians to Himself.

The bread and the cup are taken in remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross through which He made the full and final payment for all sin.

When Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of Me,” we are to remember His birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and sovereign resurrection from the tomb.

When we partake of the Lord’s Supper we celebrate the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ: the Lamb of God; and this is to be observed by everyone who personally and genuinely trusts in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and the salvation of their soul.

But why did Jesus have to die for us?

Romans 3:10-12,
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

In fact, (Romans 3:23-24) says,
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [i.e., everyone is a sinner, no one is acceptable to God], being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus”

Therefore (Romans 6:23) says,
“the wages of sin is death [our payment for sin, what we deserve, is the death penalty], but the verse goes on to say, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” [eternity in heaven with God, and all those who belong to Him].

Have you believed and received this “free gift” from God?

Romans 10:9-10 states:
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

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

We are forgiven all our sins (past-present-future), and we are granted eternal life. How should we respond to this?

Romans 12:1-2,
“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. 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.”

The Bible teaches clearly that God changes people. You can come to God “Just as you are,” but you will not remain that way if you have truly been born of God. When you repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are a new creation, you belong to God, and your purpose is to bring honor and glory and praise to God.

Ephesians 2:10,
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

The Holy Spirit works to transform our life day by day, as we obey God’s Word

(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 (or woman or child] of God may be [complete] adequately equipped for every good work.”

You and I make choices daily, we must

(Ephesians 4:22-24),
“lay aside [take off, remove] the old self, which is being corrupted [like dirty clothing] in accordance with the lusts of deceit, [as we are being] renewed in the spirit of [our] mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

James 1:25,
“But the man [or woman or child of age] who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.”

God’s greatest demonstration of LOVE is Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 puts it this way,
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

John 10:11,
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

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.”

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

1John 3:16,
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Man’s greatest demonstration of love for God is to obey God’s Word and to tell others about God’s Son.

2Corinthians 13:5,
”Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”

Are you a Christian? How can you tell whether or not Christ is in you?

John 14:21,
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

John 14:23,
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

John 14:24
He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” LOVE = OBEDIENCE

If the Spirit of God lives in you, you will desire to serve the Lord.

Read 1Corinthians 11:26…

The Lord’s Supper is a celebration for all believers and followers of Christ, remembering that we have been freed from the penalty of sin forever, by God’s grace, through the sacrifice of God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

When Jesus began His ministry, He commanded His listeners

(Mark 1:15-17), “Repent, Believe, and Follow Me!”

Have you repented of your sins, believing in Jesus Christ as Savior, and are you willing to follow Him, to obey God’s Word?

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

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

Acts 4:12,
“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

If you are not sure that you have received forgiveness for your sins and eternal life, through God’s Son, why not settle that issue right now?

Confess to Christ that you are a sinner. We all are!
Ask Him to forgive you. He turns no one away!
Believe in Him for salvation. He is the only Savior!
1John 5:11-13,
“And this is the testimony:
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life;
he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write this to you who believe so that
you may know that you have eternal life.”

Pastor Mike
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