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Mon, Feb 18, 2024 10AM • 59:36Sermon BY Gene SimcoSUMMARY KEYWORDSgod, peter, people, talks, Christ, word, lord, remember, jump, life, Paul, ship, fish, church, suffer, carried, live, Jesus, give, false teachers
Good morning. Coffees working. If you're new here among us, my name is Gene. I serve here at C3church as your pastor. And we've been talking about fish and chips, and the Bible, not fish and chips. Oh, that sounds really, really good right now. We looked at the accounts of Jonah, right? It's kind of a big fish story. And then we looked at the end of x where Paul was in a shipwreck. So this brings me to a really important theological question about Noah. When Noah was on the ark, why did he not bother fishing? Because he only had two worms. maybe seven or 14 it's going to get worse like just living you know? It's, yeah, so I heard a story write about a granddad and a grandson. And they're fishing. They go fishing and they're looking for bait. So digging around the dirt, the grandson he pulls up something like a millipede one of those things with lots of legs and the grandpa. Well, he says, I'm sorry, son. That's not an earthworm. The grandson looks at him and says, well, then what planets it from? Speaking fish, what kind of music do you listen to when you go fishing? something catchy on the internet. Right? How do you catch a fish? Click bait. Where to fish? She thought that was funny. Where the fish keep their money in the river bank. Oh, it just gets worse and worse. I got more. I got some more here. What do you call a fish with no legs? of fish? It's just simply a finish. Alright, so two fish are in a tank. One fish says to the other fish. I'll drive you shoot the guns. Took a second. All right. Did you hear about the brawl at the fish and chips shop? I hear that many fish were battered? Why did the dog jump off the ship? Because he thought he saw a cat fish. All right, and no fish jokes. I'll scale back. All right, perhaps you heard the phrase, I'm going to stop out of the pan into the fire and your debris out of the pan into the fire. And it kind of goes way back like old Greek kind of fable is about a rabbit on a ship. And so the rabbit is running away from a dog and decides to jump overboard only to be eaten by a sea dog. So a little irony right there. So that's kind of where this idea begins. But then we get to the 1490s and a fabless writes about it. And it's about these fish in a frying pan like boiling oil. And then they jump out there encourage Hey, jump out we'll get out of here only to be burned on like the hot coals below. And like curse the person who came up with this idea. So the fable is concludes this fable warns us that when we are avoiding present dangers, we should not fall into even worse peril. And we'll look at that today. So again, we've been pulled following Paul through the book of Acts as concluded with a shipwreck, right? So he survived the shipwreck. This week, we're going to look at two books written by a fisherman Peter, the apostle, Peter. So we're going to see here, the theme we're going to be looking for what happens if we jump ship if we go out of the pan into the fire. So one thing about these letters, you're going to hear a lot of redundancy. And this is going to be really important. So if you've been here for a long time, you're going to say why didn't you just preach on that? Well, exactly. God's word is really redundant, especially when it's important. So you're going to hear like, echoes of the teachings of Jesus of Paul, right? Because the Bible is consistent. So if we're reading it, right, reading larger sections of it, it confirms itself and it's repetitive. Even within this letter, you're going to say, Wait, didn't you read those verses? Again? It's important, what sort of repetitive because it's important. So let's hop right in. First Peter one. This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm reading the God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Athenian. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago and His Spirit has made you Holly. As a result, you have obeyed Him, and I've been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace, very similar to Paul's openings, grace and Pease really similar here. You see he uses the word, obedience right up front. So that is setting the tone for all of us, as we read it. Now remember last week, what was the theme of Jonah? Obedience. So brings that to mind. He talks about the hope of eternal life and really sets the stage here like this is what you should be focusing on. Then we get to First Peter one, six, so be truly glad. There's wonderful joy ahead. Even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire test and purifies gold though, your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong, through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him, even though you've never seen him, though you do not see him now you trust Him and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy, the reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your soul. So let's put this together with some of the other books in the Bible we've been looking at. We've looked at sufferings in the past, really common theme as Christians, we will suffer we're going to have to deal with it here. We're seeing that Christians are being persecuted a little bit so Peters bringing them encouragement. But here's the thing. Stay on the ship, right? So don't jump overboard. So this is like, what's on Peters mind here, don't give up. Right? Why this, this suffering, it's going to refine you. Alright, so whatever you're going through these trials, they're going to refine, you stick with it, right. So even though the storm can be rough, we need to ride it out to the destination here. So this is what we have hope. And so Peter, then transitions, salvation. That's the big thing. Now, what the good news. So he starts talking about that then says, First Peter 113. So prepare your minds for action, and exercise, self control. Put all your hope, in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world, all your hope, not just like some of it. So we must live as gods. There's that word again, obedient children, don't slip back in your old ways of living and satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better than, but now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you as Holly, for the Scripture, say, you must be holy, because I am holy. And remember that the Heavenly Father to whom you pray, has no favorites, he will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here is temporary residence. So a lot here, self control, and obedience already very big themes. But all your hope and Jesus, as I said, again, don't jump ship, you are temporary residents here, this is not your permanent home, I'd say you are just on a ride, you're just passing through journey to things that you just don't really hear a lot in the mainstream church. Judgment for Christians as Christians, so maybe somebody has told you I'm a Christian, I won't be judged wrong. We're going to see this come up again and again. And again, I'll explain it to you fear.
Bible doesn't say if you're not failing to 65 times, sorry, like 80, something not even close. Right? It's mostly telling you fear the LORD, right? Have fear for him. So things you don't normally hear Peters on it. But we've seen this in other places. So he continues for you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life that you inherited from your ancestors, or you could think of as the empty life you used to live before being saved. Through Christ, you have come to trust in God, and you've placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. So there's the crux of it there. First, Peter 123. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal living Word of God. As the Scriptures say people are like grass. Their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever. And that word is the good news that was preached to you. So Peters begins to give you perspective here, right, this temporary residence type of idea, the brevity of this life, like a flower or a piece of grass is gone, versus your eternal life. That's what you have hope. And so what we may be suffering now is just very temporary in comparison perspective, for Peter to one, so get rid of all evil behavior, be done with all this see hypocrisy, jealousy and unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation, hell for this nourishment. Now that you've had a taste of the Lord's kindness and you'll go into this concept of being like living stones for God's house kind of thinking, we're the body of Christ, we're living stone but not just that. We're part of the Royal priesthood right so he's getting this into you are set apart from this world, your holy. And so he begins to talk about Jesus being the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall on the clarifies they stumble because they do not obey God's word. And so they meet the fate that was planned for them. First Peter to nine. But you are not like that for your chosen people. You are a royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God for He called you out of the darkness and into his wonderful light. He continues, we are royal priests. So he goes on to say once we didn't have an identity as a people, now we have an identity as people that is in Christ, right we received as mercy. First Peter 211. Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors, then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and that will give honor to God when He judges the world. So again, here's this concept temporary residents. Interesting these desires wage war against your very souls, very serious. So here's the thing just to make sure we're clear about this, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. But keep reading Ephesians two, if you keep going past verse eight, you see, we're created and knew in Christ Jesus for good works. Important, right? So we shouldn't be living carefully around unbelievers because we witness best with our deeds. That's how we not with our mouths, with our deeds, that's our best witness. What does it say they will see it didn't say they will hear about your they will see your honorable behavior, right. So we can we can witness against the gospel of Ford, it's our choice, but those deeds matters. And again, you see judgment, again, and won't be the last time. So this sets up the following people don't like these verses, First Peter to 13, for the Lord's sake, submit to all human authority, whether the king is out of state, or the officials he has appointed for the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right. It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people make foolish accusations against you, for your free, get your gods slaves don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone and love the family of bullet believers fear God again, and respect the king. So I'll put a little bit of history on this. So a like I've heard this before, like it's the translation is really low. I've read this in the Greek pretty good. The NLT actually kind of nails this, it means king Basilia. So it's talking about literally not church leaders or anything like that which they're included here, but no government leaders, and back then it's either soon to be Nero, or it is Nero at this time who what burned Christians alive. And this is what theater writes years back them. Why? What is it talking about? Well, we witnessed with our deeds, many people were one over to the faith by observing the actions of the martyrs, the early martyrs. So honorable behavior now you see the verses around it? What's it all about? Right? silence them with what? I arguing with them. Wrong with your deeds. Actions speak louder than words, right, your honorable behavior. So we'll get to this now, especially in this next section, he talks about being a slave of God and your slaves of God. It's not about racism, it's about commerce more back then. But in this context, it's about being completely joined to God right. So you are completely committed to Him. Again, did you notice fear God, that comes up again. So now when I say slaves, and masters you can think in today's context like employers employees, First Peter, two, eight, you who are slaves must submit to your Masters With all respect, do what they tell you to do, not only if they're kind of unreasonable, but even if they are cruel, for God is pleased when conscious of his will you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you're beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you, for God call you to do good even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. Here's your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned nor deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when insulted nor threatened revenge when he suffered, he left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right by his wounds, you are healed. Once you were like sheep wandered away but in Now you've turned to your Shepherd, the guardian of your soul. So again, the slavery Think of it like employees, employers for the context today, for application, you go to Ephesians and Colossians, Paul kind of spends a little more time there and balances that out like masters, you serve the same God to watch out. And so it gives a little warning there, patiently endure unjust treatment. Even when it's not fair. Just like Jesus, were supposed to be like him, right? He is our was a second example. He didn't retaliate, deceive, seek revenge repay insult for insult, none of that. So again, this thing about like, you know, being these last sheep, now we have a shepherd. So it's like that once you had no identity, but now you're a people, your holy priesthood, First Peter three, one in the same way. You wives must accept the authority of your husbands. And even if some of you reviewed refuse to obey the good news, your godly lives will speak to them without any words, they will be won over by observing your pure and reverent life. So now, this makes a lot of sense, right? Actions. Maybe your husband's not a believer, how do you win them over by screaming at him? No, no, no, no, it's telling him what to do? No, just do your behavior. Why is she so nice, right? Even if I'm not, they might ask the question. So again, this is like Ephesians. And Colossians is very, very similar. So it goes in. It goes into some of the verses don't be concerned about outward beauty and fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry and beautiful clothes. And some more stuff. It talks about Sarah obeying her husband, right? So in this is where a lot of guys, especially in really conservative churches, not that we're not concerned but because they would like to stop, right, you know, and like a woman, you know, that kind of thing. That's not what I do. I don't just, it was an example. So but here's the way you got to keep reading guys. Ready? We'll keep going. First Peter three, seven, in the same way. What way? Same way, you husbands must give honor to your wise to your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you. You are but she's your equal partner and God's gift in your life. Treat her as you should. So your prayers will not be hindered. What? You know that one for a second, hold on? Can your prayers be hindered?
Apparently, so. That's right. They can't nudge me I didn't see that. But anyway. So Isaiah one, Amos five. It's all over the Bible. People don't like reading it. It's all over the Bible. There are times when God is not listening to you. In the context of Amos five. And Isaiah says the same type of thing. Take away the noise of your songs. I want justice I want right living. I don't want to hear lip service. And that's what it's all about. Your prayers can be hindered. So it goes in all Christians. Finally all of you should be of one mind sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters, like that sympathize with each other. How often do we criticize other Christians without putting ourselves in their shoes? Hmm. Now if you didn't believe what I said about God not listening, you should read your Bible. Or you can just listen to me first Peter three nine, don't repay evil for evil. don't retaliate with insults. When people insult you? Did we just hear this sounds like it right? Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God called you to do. And he will grant you a blessing. Because the Scriptures say if you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your dog from speaking evil in your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good search for peace and maintain it right work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right and his ears are open to their prayers. For the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. Oh, it's kind of redundant, isn't it? Again, don't retaliate. Bless people or sounds like Romans 12. It's all over the Bible and search for peace, right? So first Peter 313. Again, you're going to hear suffering here. Now who want to harm you if you're eager to do good, but even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry if you afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as the Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope, as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear that if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see Alright, see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it's better to suffer for doing good if that's what God wants than to suffer for doing wrong. So here's the suffering thing but what if that's what God wants? Remember the refining that again? So in this you may have a version that's like talks about be ready to make a defense for what you believe and know this version. Making that easy to understand. So it's apologia, right apologetics to make a difference. That's where this word comes from when we talk about apologetics, but did you notice something? 70 see what you do? Did you notice something else? You prepared to tell people about what you believe what how? Gently? Not like I just said it. Gently, kind be kind and gentle. He was careful to put that in there. Right. And did you read everything he wrote before? Being peaceful, not insulting people, not insulting anyone or being argumentative with gentleness. So I mean, honestly, I see even a lot of like PhDs and all these people they get up. And they're so smart. They're stupid. Like they don't just read this. Right so you start arguing and engaging ever see people the street evangelists like scream and yell, people with picket signs. It's all disobedient to the Word of God. Not how we're supposed to be doing it was just give me a kindly, gently right, not this blanket. You know, you know, whatever. Instagram evangelism to make yourself look holy. No. Right. We're supposed to be humbled by him a cup of coffee, we're going to say sympathize, sympathize with others. Okay, just so we're clear, we'll continue. Christ suffered for our sins once for all time, He never sinned, but he died for sinners. Here's an idea to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but was raised to life in the Spirit. Now, think about Noah was brought to safety in an ark. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison, those who disobeyed God long ago when God patiently waited while know his buildings are only eight people were saved from drowning, that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So you get this picture right, of being saved in an Arca carried away to safety like Noah and his family was right. So don't jump ship. We're going to keep this in mind and we'll get there. First Peter, for one. So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had the same and be ready to suffer too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you're finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your life chasing your own desires, but you'll be anxious to do the will of God. You've had enough in the past of evil things that the godless people enjoy their morality and the lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties and the terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember, they will have to face God who stands ready to judge every one both the living and the dead. That is why the good news was preached to those who are dead. So although they were destined to die, like all people, they live forever with God and spirit. So some people kind of get lost in this textbook. Let's just keep the point in mind, we can talk about more of it a Bible study. So a few things here, right? You're dead to sin. That's a big thing. Philippians two, it sounds a lot like that. Right? Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus or have the same attitude as Jesus be like him. know, we've talked about in the past to these toxic relationships, right? That we might have to jump ship on, right? So you're going to have haters, right? When you enter Christianity, and you decide you want to better yourself, you, whatever it is that you're working on, you get better, you don't want to engage in the stuff that they do anymore. They're going to hate, they're going to slander you, right? But they are on a sinking ship, that you are on something solid. So let them laugh. Whatever, right as they go over that waterfall. Again, judgment. It's kind of redundant in here, isn't it? Alright, so here's a thought the end of the world is coming soon. He says, Therefore be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all continue to show deep love for each other for love covers a multitude of sins. Again, you need to love each other. He talks about a variety of spiritual gifts, much like Romans 12, First Corinthians 12, right, but these gifts are not there. So that you can be puffed up and brag about it. These gifts are there so that you can use them to minister to others. You can serve others effectively with them. What do you just say love? All right. So that's the best thing and that's what he does there in Romans 12 to the Romans 13. The transition talks about all the spiritual gifts, and then he's like, Wait, let me show you something that's greatest of all. Love the chapter you heard it a wedding right? So there we go verse theater for 12 Dear friends, don't be surprised that the fiery trials who you are going through as if something strange were happening to you, instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ and His suffering, so that you have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it's revealed to the whole world. And you're in so Walton, because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into other people's affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called dies name, for the time has come for judgment. And it must begin with God's household and of judgment begins with us. What terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's good news. And also if the righteous are barely saved, will happen to godless sinners. So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. So fiery trials. So here we go with the Nero stuff, but don't jump out of the pan and into the fire. This refines you. This is the refining process. You are to be partners in Christ's sufferings again, sounds a lot like Philippians. To me, interesting concept. God is pleased when you suffer. So it's shot a hole in the boat of the prosperity gospel, didn't it? Yeah, doesn't sound anything like mainstream Christianity, does it? Not really. But mainstream Christianity is adopted a lot of the world, not a whole lot of the word. And so if you're sitting there going, I don't normally hear this many scriptures in church. That's too bad. That's too bad. I'd rather hear more of God, right. My fist jokes are pretty good, though. That's how it softened up a little bit for this. But what makes more sense, like I have a better thing to say than this. No, I don't. Alright, so I'll continue. Oh, did you notice gossips a sin?
Okay. First five. So Peter talks about being a fellow elder, I'd say he's giving some encouragement. He's basically saying, as we get into chapter five, don't run the church grudgingly. Don't run it for money, right? Do and love, love the flock and give some advice to younger people there that they must, you know, accept the authority. But the main thing here, a lot of younger leaders especially, they lack humility, sometimes I think can be prideful. So that's kind of the encouragement he's giving here. And you know, he warns about sin first, Peter, five, eight, stay alert. Watch out for your great enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. stand firm against him and be strong interfaith, remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering, that you are. In his kindness, God call you to share his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you've suffered for a little while, he will restore support and strengthen you. And he will place you on a firm foundation. Maybe you're getting like the end of the Sermon on the Mountain minds here. Right? That solid rock the bedrock of Christ, all power to him forever and ever. Amen. So we get to the close of First Peter, he talks about silence members Sylvanus that traveled with Paul, he's counting the level of the letter, Paul Peters, probably dictating it, right. So Sylvanus is writing. My purpose in writing this, though, is to encourage you, and to assure you that what you're experiencing, is truly a part of God's grace for you stand firm in His grace. So whatever you're going through, it's part of God's grace for you. Interesting, what did Paul get the thorn out of my side and Second Corinthians, because the thorn in My grace is sufficient for you. So here's that thinking it comes up. He makes a mention of Babylon. We're going to get into Revelation in a couple of weeks here a few weeks. Babylon is code for Rome, that that's what that is. So he's probably writing from a PSP with all of you who are in Christ. Let's hop right in Second Peter is much shorter. And then we'll get to the application. Second Peter, one, there's letters from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, I'm writing to you share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. God gives you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus, our Lord. Similar opening, right? What's the tone again? Grace and peace, grace and peace over and over again, the slave thing we talked about it already you understand that? Jesus is God. There are many out there who deny the deity of Jesus as one of the first heresies Arian heresy if you know your history, right, right here, here's your mark this in your Bible, Jesus is God. We talked about this in a lot of different places in Titus as well. It's all over the Bible. Right? So Jesus is God. But there are many trying to deny that even today he's a god or something else. No, he is the god he's got. By His divine power. God has given us everything we need to live a godly life, His promises, they're His promises that enable you to share in His divine nature and escape the worlds Corruption caused by human desire. So now he's building, You're escaping it right? So you are rescued from it you are carried from it. So remember that imagery is going to come up again, Second Peter one, five. And you have all of this make every effort to respond to God's promises, something that your faith or the generous provision of moral excellence, moral excellence with knowledge and knowledge was self control. There's that word again, and self control with patient endurance and patient Durance with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who found to develop in this way are short sighted, or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins, dear brothers and sisters work hard to prove that you are really among those God is called and chosen, do these things and you will never fall away, then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God's promises require a response. God's promises require a response. Now remember the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, five love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self control, goodness, right. So the all those things, it's kind of packed right in here. It's a similar type of thing. Self control, again, work hard to prove what? You're a Christian. That's interesting. So paying attention to Scripture. So Peter gets to something here, I'll always remind you about these things. It's only right that I should keep reminding you, as long as like, I'm still alive, right? The Lord Jesus Christ has shown me as Peter talking, I must leave to leave this earthly life, or his tent there. I'll explain in a second. So work hard that you always remember these things, right. So it's like Second Corinthians five, when Paul talks about packing up the earthly tent number, that temporary residence thing. This is not our home, our home is not here, he refers to the body itself as an earthly tent. So I'm going to pack it up, put it away, we're going to go get those new heavenly bodies. So that's where he's going here. So Peter is probably at the end of his life, and he's about to get crucified upside down. Because that's what history records him as doing because he's not worthy. being crucified, like Jesus was turned me upside out. Wow. So you must pay close attention to what he's talking about the prophets and all the scriptures pay attention. So the words of Scripture are like a lamp in a very dark place. Second Peter, two one, but they're also false prophets in Israel, just that there will be false teachers among you, who will cleverly teach destructive heresies, and even deny the master who brought them in this way. They'll bring sudden destruction on themselves, many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered in their greed, they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money, but God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. So remember this concept in Titus, where you can slander the gospel? With what? Your actions right, so that's important, false teachers, what's the tell tale sign? They're after your money. So if I'm up here saying, I need a new private jet, your question me, why do you have a private jet in the first place? Like what do you need that for? Right? So if I'm being greedy and trying to get a lot of money, not for the church for myself, then I would be a false teacher. So they're automatically disqualified a lot of people like that. Well, when he does this with the money, it's his business, and then that's not what God's Word says. So it's okay. Timothy, what do we see pay the teacher like double honor, right? They're worthy of double honor. Right? Some say okay, double, but not like 100 times what everybody's making, right? And for greedy purposes, Paul says, Tell the rich right to be generous, but you and I were good with food and clothing. So as pastors, we should all be working in ourselves in that direction, getting ready to fold up that tent. That's not, that's the right mindset there. So no highlight again, For God did not even scare the angels who said he threw them in the hill in gloomy pits of darkness, where they're being held until the day of judgment. And God did not spare the ancient world except Noah and the seven others of his family, no one in the world of God's righteous judgment. God protected Noah when he destroyed the world and ungodly people in the flood. So we have that again, but he we know he's carried to safety. Talks about Sodom and Gomorrah, but luck was saved. So all these examples of people being destroyed in judgment, and then some being saved, right? So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the final day of judgment. So theme again, you in Christ will be rescued, carried away whatever the picture is. So he's trying to, like lot create this picture of people who are saved because of their faith, when people who are judged and doomed talks about care characteristics of false teachers, right? So he's especially in this is really interesting. He's especially hard on right? Those who have a twisted sexual desire and there's something else here too interesting and those who despise authority. It's right up there. So verse 10, right up there with that. Careful, right? These people want their proud and arrogant, even daring to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. I'll explain that a little bit later. On false teachers, he likens false teachers remember Balaam’s donkey - I know you do, but bail him in the donkey. So he likens false teachers. To that these people are useless as dried up springs or as missed blown away by the wind, they are doomed to the blackest darkness, for you are a slave to whatever controls you, your slave, whoever controls you, and when people escaped from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved again they're worse off than before. Don't jump ship. Don't jump ship. You have escaped, you are being rescued. But it says and there's a truth to the proverb a dog returns to its own vomit and proverbs and he adds a wash pig returns to the mud.
Don't jump ship. Second Peter three one. He basically saying here most importantly, I want to remind you, in last days, there will be scoffers that will come mocking the truth and following their own desires. Sounds a lot like what Paul wrote to Timothy correct, almost verbatim. It's really close. Right? So they're being kept for the Day of Judgment when on when godly people will be destroyed. And here's the thing that starts coming to mind. Right? Okay, so why does this seem take so long to see the justice I want it now? I want the justice. Now. I want the sufferings to be over now. Why? Why do I have to go through this? What's going on? Why is the Lord being slow question answered, Second Peter, three, eight. But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends, a day is like 1000 years to the Lord. And 1000 years is like a day. Lord isn't really being slow about his promises. Some people think, no, he being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief, then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise and the very elements themselves would disappear in fire and earth and everything on it. Will found we found deserve judgment. And here it is again. So canceled the Earth Day field trip, right? So it's not what we perceive is going very slowly, is like nothing to the Lord. And He wants to give you a chance in case you haven't gotten on board yet. Right. And others too. But again, the earth everything, all our material stuff will be destroyed. The Earth itself will be destroyed. That's the biblical mindset. Right? So you get this prosperity thing they stop my granola, right? Yeah. Oh, you see, Be fruitful and multiply as a result? No. When we didn't just get off an ark and flood the hole. That's everyone's dead. We have to repopulate. This is not what the New Testament says, Paul, First Corinthians seven. If you don't believe me, right? Better. Everybody's like me, and you don't get married. You want to focus all your attention on there's no send me get married. And it's clear there. But if you can be without it, just focus on the Lord. Totally different, right, then the whole prosperity thing. The whole earth will be destroyed. It is not permanent. There's not a permanent home for anyone and all your stuff, too. It's all going to be gone. So where's our focus? Right, so second, Peter 311, since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live looking forward to what the day of God and hurrying along and lunch today that's not in there. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. He wants to make sure you understand this. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth. He's promised a world filled with God's righteousness. I'll pause right there, unlike today's world, so if you're like, I want the righteousness, I want to justice, I want change. It ain't happening now or here. It's not he always advocates for change. And we're going to change the world by whatever electing all these people. No, you're not. Because you're not God. You need to pay attention. God tells us how it's going down. It's not going to happen like that all this stuff is going to be destroyed. What the new heavens, the new earth, Jesus's kingdom and this is not it. He's very clear about that. So important mindset. But we are looking forward to the new heavens, the New Earth the promise, and a world filled with God's righteousness is not here. It's there. And so dear friends while you are waiting, when we do waiting for these things to happen make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that RP You're and blameless in God's sake. Remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him. Speaking of these things, and all of his letters, some of his comments are hard to understand. And those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. So, again, you got the perspective, I hope. All right, this is not our permanent home, our focus? Can we have to have some nice things. Can we enjoy it here while we're waiting on the line for the real ride? Or whatever analogy you want? Yes, yes, we can. Yes, we can have somebody think we can enjoy this right. So I think laughter is a good thing. It says to have joy, all that's fine. But this is really not where your focus should be. The Word of God is very clear about that. Right? So we're focused on a better world. Now. Paul's letters, our scriptures, he's here you see that confirm? And it is confusing. So what should we do oversimplify it? And twist it? No, we should dig in, right? Get yourself a teacher who knows the Greek who can kind of like understand it, and then explain it to you in words that are easy to understand. Don't dismiss it, don't twist it. Don't ever simplify. Right? We're supposed to be knowledgeable and wise as Christians. Peters final words. So you already know these things, dear friends, so be on guard, then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked peoples of false teachers is a really big deal, right? And lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So get that carried away theme again, seeing that picture he's painting for you of us being carried away on this arc to our new heavenly home. And again, false teachers is a really big thing. And we've seen this if you've been with us for a while, again, it talks a lot about false teacher Jean, Jesus even warns about false teachers and the answer. So what, but you don't hear a lot about that in the modern church, do you? Why? I'll tell you why. If you don't call me out, I will call you. There are a lot of unspoken agreements in church world. We don't play nice, you get phone calls, but then I don't really care. likes me or not. But anyway, and don't call me out. I won't call you out. That that's what the false prophets say. All right. So yeah, all glory to Him both now and forever and ever. Amen. So do not be carried away, do not be swept away by this flood. Right by the evil. Stay on board of this arc that we see. Peter paints a picture of. So we saw Paul survived a shipwreck. Remember what was going on there that President ship was going to be destroyed, but it was carrying him to the destination is very interesting, because what did they do? They tried to let down the lifeboat. He's like, No, we all stay on or we die. So even though the storm was rough, he's like, No, we need to ride this out. Because this ship is getting me to my destination. And it doesn't matter how bad it is. This picture here, right? These fiery Trump doesn't matter. Don't jump out of the pan and into the fire. You got to stay with it. It's refining you. So we can apply this to so many things in our lives that we do, right? Like working out as an obvious one, no pain, no gain, that type of thing. And it's the picture we're supposed to get. In contrast, we call Jonah. Throw me overboard. Right? He kind of jumped ship and what was the idea here? Obedience. Obey. That's the theme and Jonah. Now Peter mentions knowing if you don't know the story very quickly to recall it. So again, God Genesis six God's displeased with the whole world. It the angels are sons of God are procreating with the daughters of men. They're corrupt. It says it lets us know they're corrupt. But Noah is walking with God. He's not corrupt. He's blameless, right? So he's called to make this arc. Right. So him and his family Shem ham J fifth, his sons and their wives and his wife, they all get on the boat. That's it, right? And probably like 14 ish of every animal. Read it. Read it.
It doesn't say anything about any fish on the ark. It's interesting. Read it carefully for yourself. Interesting. So anyway, obedience carries him safely on the ship. Think about it. You know, we've seen movies and parodies about this thing. Like you're crazy building his heart, right? And speculation doesn't really say anything. But
really, I want to build this Arctic why I'm going to flood the world. Okay. I'll do obedient. He was a man of obedience. And I got a question. So the movies going to totally wrong about No, he was obedient, wasn't crying about it didn't question. No, he just did it. That's the point of the story. So this image Peter brings to mind through Noah. If you know the story, right? It automatically like an idiom or something we'd use it would make us think caused us to think of being carried away to safety and staying on this vessel. So some questions putting this all together, that we need to ask ourselves
if we boarded the Ark what might cause us to abandon it? What might cause us to jump ship? If we're being carried to safety and we know that
sin would sin cause us to jump ship to see here has consequences. Would that cause us to, to jump ship something sinful? Something we desire that we know just isn't good, but we're just, we're going to jump overboard in Oh. And it's worse, never better out of the paint on the fire. Remember, the devil, prowls around like a lion, looking waiting for you to mess up. He's the tempter. But what does it say about us? We are holy. We're set apart from that is not what we do. Right? It kind of gets interesting here because I see this dynamic a lot in church, you know, and the Bible talks a lot about you if you read the Proverbs like the seductress. The adulterous talks a lot about that kind of thing. You know, there's big concern about women being able to take away even Paul like, you know, concentrate on the Lord, right? So it's interesting. I've seen this being a pastor seen this in church, will you know, a woman or men? Will someone seduce us away from our godly marriage or godly partner? Will that happen? Can we get seduced away from the faith? And I look at also different kinds of marriages, when people get married, like someone will be in the church and be married and all into it. And it's okay if you want to marry someone with a different faith. But if you're already Christian, it's not advisable. Even in the Bible is not advisable. Right. So when he's taught Paul's talking about that, First Corinthians seven, it's like, we weren't Christians. And then we came to court, one of us came to Christ and one didn't, right. So then you can win that spouse over with your godly behavior. But careful, joining yourselves in Union right, your one flesh now someone who's not a Christian, you're going to have problems. And I've seen this happen where people kind of get, like, seduced away from the church. But what have we learned, like a lot people think church is an important. Let's stop, you know, I can just be a Christian like army of one Christian, right? Because I don't need the body of Christ. Okay, you must be awesome. Right? No need that they downplay church. I want you to think about something, Paul? 13 letters, the New Testament 27? Where's letters written to the church? And leaders of the church? Kind of important, isn't it? Most of the context here is the church. It's called the body of Christ, right? So if you're not a part of the body of Christ, you are apart from the body of Christ. It's important. And so I've seen people seduced away from by one body, from the body of Christ. You know, and it starts out slow, like, they start dating and like, yeah, come to your church, that kind of thing. That's always, you know, they start and start slow. But you know, just one Sunday? No, just one hit. Just one hit. Okay. And then they like, come once in a while, and then all of a sudden, well, we have this on Sundays. We have that on Sundays. She likes to do this on Sunday. I know she does. I warned you about that. And now you're apart from the body of Christ. It's important. Being a part of this is literally crucial to Christianity. And by the way, if you've been with us for a while, you know this. It's commanded in the Word of God. Are you Hebrews 10 It's commanded. You're commanded to be a part of a church. What is it? Who do we love? Here's the family of believers, your brothers and sisters in Christ. How do you do that? When you don't? You're not around them ever. What did Jesus say about his body? Matthew 25 the sheep and the goats? What happens to the goat? When did we see you hungry thirsty naked and prisoner and sick wondered that what you did to the least of these my brothers who is that you what happens to the goats that didn't care for Jesus his body? out of the pan into the fire I see a lot of people jump ship on like their godly missions as well. Right, what they're supposed to be doing. And they have other things taking them away from the body of Christ happens all the time. You know, a big question on Sundays is like, does your boss know you're a Christian? Kinda important. Isn't that how you witness was it say about the employers employees? How are you? How are you doing with that? And he doesn't know you're a Christian or she or whatever. You say what do I do? Because I'm a Christian, traditionally forever and ever. This is the Lord's Day. I need to go to church. I can work after church, right? Yeah, yeah. It's important. Well, your friends, right cause you to jump ship. We've talked about toxic relationships as part in my life where I was just like, I cannot hang out with you guys anymore. I don't want to do it. And sure enough, you're a Christian now, right? But, oh, you're a pastor now. Their lives are a wreck. And I'm like, get on. God's being patient with them. And I know that. Come on, come aboard. Right. But are you going to go the other way? Are you going to be like, Yeah, you know, let's party or do whatever it is you're not supposed to be doing. Right? So sometimes that happens, right? There'll be they're drowning. You got to be careful. You throw them a life raft, right? But sometimes when you reach down they'll pull you in.
You have to be careful. This could go two hours if you keep encouraging, just like
you're not new here like Thank you. It's very encouraging. Thank you. I cannot joke I just I can't not joke. I'm so sorry. Right? So they're again, they're laughing at
you from the sinking ship. Right? They're headed for this like waterfall and you're fine and your Ark? Stay in it. Stay in it. Don't engage the fiery trials or the fire does something you're going through right now. Convincing you This is no good. This isn't working. But you're being refined. Think about it. Right? If you're sitting here today you're alive I hope at right and so you've been through stuff right? Everybody? Everybody has been through stuff. And at the time you thought like this is the end? You know what I mean? It's like remember some of the stuff is a kid right? They took your toy away like the end of the world. You made it and then something happened High School somebody broke up with you. Or you ready to kill yourself? You made it you're just fine. Maybe you even found a better spouse you made it okay, don't play it safe. It's anyway. So careful right now anyway. You made it and this too shall pass. Right? So that was different reference that couldn't help it but you can Amen. Your hair and you're going to be there and even if you're not it doesn't matter see in heaven so good. That's and that's believe me a whole lot better in this on its best day. Said they refine us dear friends don't be surprised that the fire trolls are going through and this is the bad thing. Like when pastors don't lead this to their church and people are surprised and you know what happens they fall away from the faith. So by hiding the truth from people you're dooming them that's not good. It's called a bait and switch people fine print there's no fine print in the Word of God unless you have a six point font Bible that's fine that technically is but you know what I'm saying right? Instead be very glad these trials they refine you and they make you partners with Christ. Let's go there good thing when we look at them rightly the false teachings where Peter ends up probably where Island up here will false teachings cause you to jump ship. Think about it. The prosperity gospel I call the perishable gospel. It's without refinement. Where's the refinement? Right it's kind of like going to the gym and not doing anything. So you say you're going into the gym right but doesn't look like it right so but you're not doing anything you're not putting in any work. And there are so many I would dare to say the majority of Christians out there going to the spiritual gym they're saying they're Christians but they're not putting in any work and you can see it and you can see it it's obvious by their behavior when they're slandering others repaying insult for insult what's you're not going to you're not refined. So it's important so there's a gospel out there that tells you this is it man this is it. Like you just want to get as much of this stuff is possible because a man of God what man you should have a lot of stuff. It's not what it says. All right, man, God Elisha gave up the money name and wanted to give him a wicked servant. We looked at this gays I was cursed with name as leprosy because he took the money. That's a man of God. First Timothy, what does it say? Oh man of God fully from these worldly things. That's a man of God. We should be refining ourselves and trying to learn to live with less and prepare ourselves for the new heaven and the new earth. Not this one. There's a gospel that tells you exactly the opposite, the opposite. And I call it the perishable gospel, the half of gospel, God will bless us. But it's not the main concern here, right? It's just a foreshadowing of other blessings. So you hear the truth, I really hope that you've heard the truth today. You've heard what some consider a large portion of God's word but, and the only church isn't nothing. They would just read these letters aloud as they're commanded to do. But I hope it's obvious to you I hope it's causing healing where there was some error and some encouragement. Again, was Peters say about the grass and the flower in the field. it withers. This, we read today, that's the only one and true gospel. That's it, there's not another one. And I just read it to you. Important. Man, remember, we need to be focused on the horizon, on the heavenly things have been with us for a few weeks. That's what we were talking about. Alright. Hebrews, two thing, we need to set our sights on Jesus, or what illustration you want to give, that's what we need to focus on. There's going to be a lot of noise, a lot of mess going on in your lives. I know it's there. That's fine. Right? It's just refining trials, just refining Charles, it's fine. If I were in the gym, right? We don't want to do another rep and other set or whatever, just do it. It's going to pay off. Let's go. That's fine. Bring it, you know, build ourselves up in Christ. I remember something like we are being that illustration of the arcs being carried somewhere. And think about Peter, the human author of these letters, thinking about theater. What happened with Peter, he left an earthly vessel. And why was he being carried on the water with his faith in Christ. Peter walked on the water through his faith in Jesus, when a sink when he started worrying about the things of this world. So as Jesus said, like, look, the wind and the waves are going to batter you, they're going to slam against you, the storms are going to come. But if you are built on the bedrock of Christ, you're fine. You've built on a solid foundation. And so that's my encouragement for you today. I'd like to end with just a couple pieces of Scripture. I'm just going to kind of pray from the scripture for you His words again better than mine. So there's wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine, has been tested as fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong for many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ has revealed to the whole world. In his kindness God called you to share and his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. So after you've suffered for a little while, he will restore, support and strengthen you. And he will place you on a firm foundation, all glory and power to him forever and ever. Amen.
Good morning. Coffees working. If you're new here among us, my name is Gene. I serve here at C3church as your pastor. And we've been talking about fish and chips, and the Bible, not fish and chips. Oh, that sounds really, really good right now. We looked at the accounts of Jonah, right? It's kind of a big fish story. And then we looked at the end of x where Paul was in a shipwreck. So this brings me to a really important theological question about Noah. When Noah was on the ark, why did he not bother fishing? Because he only had two worms. maybe seven or 14 it's going to get worse like just living you know? It's, yeah, so I heard a story write about a granddad and a grandson. And they're fishing. They go fishing and they're looking for bait. So digging around the dirt, the grandson he pulls up something like a millipede one of those things with lots of legs and the grandpa. Well, he says, I'm sorry, son. That's not an earthworm. The grandson looks at him and says, well, then what planets it from? Speaking fish, what kind of music do you listen to when you go fishing? something catchy on the internet. Right? How do you catch a fish? Click bait. Where to fish? She thought that was funny. Where the fish keep their money in the river bank. Oh, it just gets worse and worse. I got more. I got some more here. What do you call a fish with no legs? of fish? It's just simply a finish. Alright, so two fish are in a tank. One fish says to the other fish. I'll drive you shoot the guns. Took a second. All right. Did you hear about the brawl at the fish and chips shop? I hear that many fish were battered? Why did the dog jump off the ship? Because he thought he saw a cat fish. All right, and no fish jokes. I'll scale back. All right, perhaps you heard the phrase, I'm going to stop out of the pan into the fire and your debris out of the pan into the fire. And it kind of goes way back like old Greek kind of fable is about a rabbit on a ship. And so the rabbit is running away from a dog and decides to jump overboard only to be eaten by a sea dog. So a little irony right there. So that's kind of where this idea begins. But then we get to the 1490s and a fabless writes about it. And it's about these fish in a frying pan like boiling oil. And then they jump out there encourage Hey, jump out we'll get out of here only to be burned on like the hot coals below. And like curse the person who came up with this idea. So the fable is concludes this fable warns us that when we are avoiding present dangers, we should not fall into even worse peril. And we'll look at that today. So again, we've been pulled following Paul through the book of Acts as concluded with a shipwreck, right? So he survived the shipwreck. This week, we're going to look at two books written by a fisherman Peter, the apostle, Peter. So we're going to see here, the theme we're going to be looking for what happens if we jump ship if we go out of the pan into the fire. So one thing about these letters, you're going to hear a lot of redundancy. And this is going to be really important. So if you've been here for a long time, you're going to say why didn't you just preach on that? Well, exactly. God's word is really redundant, especially when it's important. So you're going to hear like, echoes of the teachings of Jesus of Paul, right? Because the Bible is consistent. So if we're reading it, right, reading larger sections of it, it confirms itself and it's repetitive. Even within this letter, you're going to say, Wait, didn't you read those verses? Again? It's important, what sort of repetitive because it's important. So let's hop right in. First Peter one. This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm reading the God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Athenian. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago and His Spirit has made you Holly. As a result, you have obeyed Him, and I've been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace, very similar to Paul's openings, grace and Pease really similar here. You see he uses the word, obedience right up front. So that is setting the tone for all of us, as we read it. Now remember last week, what was the theme of Jonah? Obedience. So brings that to mind. He talks about the hope of eternal life and really sets the stage here like this is what you should be focusing on. Then we get to First Peter one, six, so be truly glad. There's wonderful joy ahead. Even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire test and purifies gold though, your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong, through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him, even though you've never seen him, though you do not see him now you trust Him and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy, the reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your soul. So let's put this together with some of the other books in the Bible we've been looking at. We've looked at sufferings in the past, really common theme as Christians, we will suffer we're going to have to deal with it here. We're seeing that Christians are being persecuted a little bit so Peters bringing them encouragement. But here's the thing. Stay on the ship, right? So don't jump overboard. So this is like, what's on Peters mind here, don't give up. Right? Why this, this suffering, it's going to refine you. Alright, so whatever you're going through these trials, they're going to refine, you stick with it, right. So even though the storm can be rough, we need to ride it out to the destination here. So this is what we have hope. And so Peter, then transitions, salvation. That's the big thing. Now, what the good news. So he starts talking about that then says, First Peter 113. So prepare your minds for action, and exercise, self control. Put all your hope, in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world, all your hope, not just like some of it. So we must live as gods. There's that word again, obedient children, don't slip back in your old ways of living and satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better than, but now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you as Holly, for the Scripture, say, you must be holy, because I am holy. And remember that the Heavenly Father to whom you pray, has no favorites, he will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here is temporary residence. So a lot here, self control, and obedience already very big themes. But all your hope and Jesus, as I said, again, don't jump ship, you are temporary residents here, this is not your permanent home, I'd say you are just on a ride, you're just passing through journey to things that you just don't really hear a lot in the mainstream church. Judgment for Christians as Christians, so maybe somebody has told you I'm a Christian, I won't be judged wrong. We're going to see this come up again and again. And again, I'll explain it to you fear.
Bible doesn't say if you're not failing to 65 times, sorry, like 80, something not even close. Right? It's mostly telling you fear the LORD, right? Have fear for him. So things you don't normally hear Peters on it. But we've seen this in other places. So he continues for you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life that you inherited from your ancestors, or you could think of as the empty life you used to live before being saved. Through Christ, you have come to trust in God, and you've placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. So there's the crux of it there. First, Peter 123. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal living Word of God. As the Scriptures say people are like grass. Their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever. And that word is the good news that was preached to you. So Peters begins to give you perspective here, right, this temporary residence type of idea, the brevity of this life, like a flower or a piece of grass is gone, versus your eternal life. That's what you have hope. And so what we may be suffering now is just very temporary in comparison perspective, for Peter to one, so get rid of all evil behavior, be done with all this see hypocrisy, jealousy and unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation, hell for this nourishment. Now that you've had a taste of the Lord's kindness and you'll go into this concept of being like living stones for God's house kind of thinking, we're the body of Christ, we're living stone but not just that. We're part of the Royal priesthood right so he's getting this into you are set apart from this world, your holy. And so he begins to talk about Jesus being the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall on the clarifies they stumble because they do not obey God's word. And so they meet the fate that was planned for them. First Peter to nine. But you are not like that for your chosen people. You are a royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God for He called you out of the darkness and into his wonderful light. He continues, we are royal priests. So he goes on to say once we didn't have an identity as a people, now we have an identity as people that is in Christ, right we received as mercy. First Peter 211. Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors, then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and that will give honor to God when He judges the world. So again, here's this concept temporary residents. Interesting these desires wage war against your very souls, very serious. So here's the thing just to make sure we're clear about this, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. But keep reading Ephesians two, if you keep going past verse eight, you see, we're created and knew in Christ Jesus for good works. Important, right? So we shouldn't be living carefully around unbelievers because we witness best with our deeds. That's how we not with our mouths, with our deeds, that's our best witness. What does it say they will see it didn't say they will hear about your they will see your honorable behavior, right. So we can we can witness against the gospel of Ford, it's our choice, but those deeds matters. And again, you see judgment, again, and won't be the last time. So this sets up the following people don't like these verses, First Peter to 13, for the Lord's sake, submit to all human authority, whether the king is out of state, or the officials he has appointed for the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right. It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people make foolish accusations against you, for your free, get your gods slaves don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone and love the family of bullet believers fear God again, and respect the king. So I'll put a little bit of history on this. So a like I've heard this before, like it's the translation is really low. I've read this in the Greek pretty good. The NLT actually kind of nails this, it means king Basilia. So it's talking about literally not church leaders or anything like that which they're included here, but no government leaders, and back then it's either soon to be Nero, or it is Nero at this time who what burned Christians alive. And this is what theater writes years back them. Why? What is it talking about? Well, we witnessed with our deeds, many people were one over to the faith by observing the actions of the martyrs, the early martyrs. So honorable behavior now you see the verses around it? What's it all about? Right? silence them with what? I arguing with them. Wrong with your deeds. Actions speak louder than words, right, your honorable behavior. So we'll get to this now, especially in this next section, he talks about being a slave of God and your slaves of God. It's not about racism, it's about commerce more back then. But in this context, it's about being completely joined to God right. So you are completely committed to Him. Again, did you notice fear God, that comes up again. So now when I say slaves, and masters you can think in today's context like employers employees, First Peter, two, eight, you who are slaves must submit to your Masters With all respect, do what they tell you to do, not only if they're kind of unreasonable, but even if they are cruel, for God is pleased when conscious of his will you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you're beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you, for God call you to do good even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. Here's your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned nor deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when insulted nor threatened revenge when he suffered, he left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right by his wounds, you are healed. Once you were like sheep wandered away but in Now you've turned to your Shepherd, the guardian of your soul. So again, the slavery Think of it like employees, employers for the context today, for application, you go to Ephesians and Colossians, Paul kind of spends a little more time there and balances that out like masters, you serve the same God to watch out. And so it gives a little warning there, patiently endure unjust treatment. Even when it's not fair. Just like Jesus, were supposed to be like him, right? He is our was a second example. He didn't retaliate, deceive, seek revenge repay insult for insult, none of that. So again, this thing about like, you know, being these last sheep, now we have a shepherd. So it's like that once you had no identity, but now you're a people, your holy priesthood, First Peter three, one in the same way. You wives must accept the authority of your husbands. And even if some of you reviewed refuse to obey the good news, your godly lives will speak to them without any words, they will be won over by observing your pure and reverent life. So now, this makes a lot of sense, right? Actions. Maybe your husband's not a believer, how do you win them over by screaming at him? No, no, no, no, it's telling him what to do? No, just do your behavior. Why is she so nice, right? Even if I'm not, they might ask the question. So again, this is like Ephesians. And Colossians is very, very similar. So it goes in. It goes into some of the verses don't be concerned about outward beauty and fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry and beautiful clothes. And some more stuff. It talks about Sarah obeying her husband, right? So in this is where a lot of guys, especially in really conservative churches, not that we're not concerned but because they would like to stop, right, you know, and like a woman, you know, that kind of thing. That's not what I do. I don't just, it was an example. So but here's the way you got to keep reading guys. Ready? We'll keep going. First Peter three, seven, in the same way. What way? Same way, you husbands must give honor to your wise to your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you. You are but she's your equal partner and God's gift in your life. Treat her as you should. So your prayers will not be hindered. What? You know that one for a second, hold on? Can your prayers be hindered?
Apparently, so. That's right. They can't nudge me I didn't see that. But anyway. So Isaiah one, Amos five. It's all over the Bible. People don't like reading it. It's all over the Bible. There are times when God is not listening to you. In the context of Amos five. And Isaiah says the same type of thing. Take away the noise of your songs. I want justice I want right living. I don't want to hear lip service. And that's what it's all about. Your prayers can be hindered. So it goes in all Christians. Finally all of you should be of one mind sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters, like that sympathize with each other. How often do we criticize other Christians without putting ourselves in their shoes? Hmm. Now if you didn't believe what I said about God not listening, you should read your Bible. Or you can just listen to me first Peter three nine, don't repay evil for evil. don't retaliate with insults. When people insult you? Did we just hear this sounds like it right? Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God called you to do. And he will grant you a blessing. Because the Scriptures say if you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your dog from speaking evil in your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good search for peace and maintain it right work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right and his ears are open to their prayers. For the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. Oh, it's kind of redundant, isn't it? Again, don't retaliate. Bless people or sounds like Romans 12. It's all over the Bible and search for peace, right? So first Peter 313. Again, you're going to hear suffering here. Now who want to harm you if you're eager to do good, but even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry if you afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as the Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope, as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear that if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see Alright, see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it's better to suffer for doing good if that's what God wants than to suffer for doing wrong. So here's the suffering thing but what if that's what God wants? Remember the refining that again? So in this you may have a version that's like talks about be ready to make a defense for what you believe and know this version. Making that easy to understand. So it's apologia, right apologetics to make a difference. That's where this word comes from when we talk about apologetics, but did you notice something? 70 see what you do? Did you notice something else? You prepared to tell people about what you believe what how? Gently? Not like I just said it. Gently, kind be kind and gentle. He was careful to put that in there. Right. And did you read everything he wrote before? Being peaceful, not insulting people, not insulting anyone or being argumentative with gentleness. So I mean, honestly, I see even a lot of like PhDs and all these people they get up. And they're so smart. They're stupid. Like they don't just read this. Right so you start arguing and engaging ever see people the street evangelists like scream and yell, people with picket signs. It's all disobedient to the Word of God. Not how we're supposed to be doing it was just give me a kindly, gently right, not this blanket. You know, you know, whatever. Instagram evangelism to make yourself look holy. No. Right. We're supposed to be humbled by him a cup of coffee, we're going to say sympathize, sympathize with others. Okay, just so we're clear, we'll continue. Christ suffered for our sins once for all time, He never sinned, but he died for sinners. Here's an idea to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but was raised to life in the Spirit. Now, think about Noah was brought to safety in an ark. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison, those who disobeyed God long ago when God patiently waited while know his buildings are only eight people were saved from drowning, that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So you get this picture right, of being saved in an Arca carried away to safety like Noah and his family was right. So don't jump ship. We're going to keep this in mind and we'll get there. First Peter, for one. So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had the same and be ready to suffer too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you're finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your life chasing your own desires, but you'll be anxious to do the will of God. You've had enough in the past of evil things that the godless people enjoy their morality and the lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties and the terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember, they will have to face God who stands ready to judge every one both the living and the dead. That is why the good news was preached to those who are dead. So although they were destined to die, like all people, they live forever with God and spirit. So some people kind of get lost in this textbook. Let's just keep the point in mind, we can talk about more of it a Bible study. So a few things here, right? You're dead to sin. That's a big thing. Philippians two, it sounds a lot like that. Right? Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus or have the same attitude as Jesus be like him. know, we've talked about in the past to these toxic relationships, right? That we might have to jump ship on, right? So you're going to have haters, right? When you enter Christianity, and you decide you want to better yourself, you, whatever it is that you're working on, you get better, you don't want to engage in the stuff that they do anymore. They're going to hate, they're going to slander you, right? But they are on a sinking ship, that you are on something solid. So let them laugh. Whatever, right as they go over that waterfall. Again, judgment. It's kind of redundant in here, isn't it? Alright, so here's a thought the end of the world is coming soon. He says, Therefore be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all continue to show deep love for each other for love covers a multitude of sins. Again, you need to love each other. He talks about a variety of spiritual gifts, much like Romans 12, First Corinthians 12, right, but these gifts are not there. So that you can be puffed up and brag about it. These gifts are there so that you can use them to minister to others. You can serve others effectively with them. What do you just say love? All right. So that's the best thing and that's what he does there in Romans 12 to the Romans 13. The transition talks about all the spiritual gifts, and then he's like, Wait, let me show you something that's greatest of all. Love the chapter you heard it a wedding right? So there we go verse theater for 12 Dear friends, don't be surprised that the fiery trials who you are going through as if something strange were happening to you, instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ and His suffering, so that you have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it's revealed to the whole world. And you're in so Walton, because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into other people's affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called dies name, for the time has come for judgment. And it must begin with God's household and of judgment begins with us. What terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's good news. And also if the righteous are barely saved, will happen to godless sinners. So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. So fiery trials. So here we go with the Nero stuff, but don't jump out of the pan and into the fire. This refines you. This is the refining process. You are to be partners in Christ's sufferings again, sounds a lot like Philippians. To me, interesting concept. God is pleased when you suffer. So it's shot a hole in the boat of the prosperity gospel, didn't it? Yeah, doesn't sound anything like mainstream Christianity, does it? Not really. But mainstream Christianity is adopted a lot of the world, not a whole lot of the word. And so if you're sitting there going, I don't normally hear this many scriptures in church. That's too bad. That's too bad. I'd rather hear more of God, right. My fist jokes are pretty good, though. That's how it softened up a little bit for this. But what makes more sense, like I have a better thing to say than this. No, I don't. Alright, so I'll continue. Oh, did you notice gossips a sin?
Okay. First five. So Peter talks about being a fellow elder, I'd say he's giving some encouragement. He's basically saying, as we get into chapter five, don't run the church grudgingly. Don't run it for money, right? Do and love, love the flock and give some advice to younger people there that they must, you know, accept the authority. But the main thing here, a lot of younger leaders especially, they lack humility, sometimes I think can be prideful. So that's kind of the encouragement he's giving here. And you know, he warns about sin first, Peter, five, eight, stay alert. Watch out for your great enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. stand firm against him and be strong interfaith, remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering, that you are. In his kindness, God call you to share his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you've suffered for a little while, he will restore support and strengthen you. And he will place you on a firm foundation. Maybe you're getting like the end of the Sermon on the Mountain minds here. Right? That solid rock the bedrock of Christ, all power to him forever and ever. Amen. So we get to the close of First Peter, he talks about silence members Sylvanus that traveled with Paul, he's counting the level of the letter, Paul Peters, probably dictating it, right. So Sylvanus is writing. My purpose in writing this, though, is to encourage you, and to assure you that what you're experiencing, is truly a part of God's grace for you stand firm in His grace. So whatever you're going through, it's part of God's grace for you. Interesting, what did Paul get the thorn out of my side and Second Corinthians, because the thorn in My grace is sufficient for you. So here's that thinking it comes up. He makes a mention of Babylon. We're going to get into Revelation in a couple of weeks here a few weeks. Babylon is code for Rome, that that's what that is. So he's probably writing from a PSP with all of you who are in Christ. Let's hop right in Second Peter is much shorter. And then we'll get to the application. Second Peter, one, there's letters from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, I'm writing to you share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. God gives you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus, our Lord. Similar opening, right? What's the tone again? Grace and peace, grace and peace over and over again, the slave thing we talked about it already you understand that? Jesus is God. There are many out there who deny the deity of Jesus as one of the first heresies Arian heresy if you know your history, right, right here, here's your mark this in your Bible, Jesus is God. We talked about this in a lot of different places in Titus as well. It's all over the Bible. Right? So Jesus is God. But there are many trying to deny that even today he's a god or something else. No, he is the god he's got. By His divine power. God has given us everything we need to live a godly life, His promises, they're His promises that enable you to share in His divine nature and escape the worlds Corruption caused by human desire. So now he's building, You're escaping it right? So you are rescued from it you are carried from it. So remember that imagery is going to come up again, Second Peter one, five. And you have all of this make every effort to respond to God's promises, something that your faith or the generous provision of moral excellence, moral excellence with knowledge and knowledge was self control. There's that word again, and self control with patient endurance and patient Durance with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who found to develop in this way are short sighted, or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins, dear brothers and sisters work hard to prove that you are really among those God is called and chosen, do these things and you will never fall away, then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God's promises require a response. God's promises require a response. Now remember the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, five love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self control, goodness, right. So the all those things, it's kind of packed right in here. It's a similar type of thing. Self control, again, work hard to prove what? You're a Christian. That's interesting. So paying attention to Scripture. So Peter gets to something here, I'll always remind you about these things. It's only right that I should keep reminding you, as long as like, I'm still alive, right? The Lord Jesus Christ has shown me as Peter talking, I must leave to leave this earthly life, or his tent there. I'll explain in a second. So work hard that you always remember these things, right. So it's like Second Corinthians five, when Paul talks about packing up the earthly tent number, that temporary residence thing. This is not our home, our home is not here, he refers to the body itself as an earthly tent. So I'm going to pack it up, put it away, we're going to go get those new heavenly bodies. So that's where he's going here. So Peter is probably at the end of his life, and he's about to get crucified upside down. Because that's what history records him as doing because he's not worthy. being crucified, like Jesus was turned me upside out. Wow. So you must pay close attention to what he's talking about the prophets and all the scriptures pay attention. So the words of Scripture are like a lamp in a very dark place. Second Peter, two one, but they're also false prophets in Israel, just that there will be false teachers among you, who will cleverly teach destructive heresies, and even deny the master who brought them in this way. They'll bring sudden destruction on themselves, many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered in their greed, they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money, but God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. So remember this concept in Titus, where you can slander the gospel? With what? Your actions right, so that's important, false teachers, what's the tell tale sign? They're after your money. So if I'm up here saying, I need a new private jet, your question me, why do you have a private jet in the first place? Like what do you need that for? Right? So if I'm being greedy and trying to get a lot of money, not for the church for myself, then I would be a false teacher. So they're automatically disqualified a lot of people like that. Well, when he does this with the money, it's his business, and then that's not what God's Word says. So it's okay. Timothy, what do we see pay the teacher like double honor, right? They're worthy of double honor. Right? Some say okay, double, but not like 100 times what everybody's making, right? And for greedy purposes, Paul says, Tell the rich right to be generous, but you and I were good with food and clothing. So as pastors, we should all be working in ourselves in that direction, getting ready to fold up that tent. That's not, that's the right mindset there. So no highlight again, For God did not even scare the angels who said he threw them in the hill in gloomy pits of darkness, where they're being held until the day of judgment. And God did not spare the ancient world except Noah and the seven others of his family, no one in the world of God's righteous judgment. God protected Noah when he destroyed the world and ungodly people in the flood. So we have that again, but he we know he's carried to safety. Talks about Sodom and Gomorrah, but luck was saved. So all these examples of people being destroyed in judgment, and then some being saved, right? So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the final day of judgment. So theme again, you in Christ will be rescued, carried away whatever the picture is. So he's trying to, like lot create this picture of people who are saved because of their faith, when people who are judged and doomed talks about care characteristics of false teachers, right? So he's especially in this is really interesting. He's especially hard on right? Those who have a twisted sexual desire and there's something else here too interesting and those who despise authority. It's right up there. So verse 10, right up there with that. Careful, right? These people want their proud and arrogant, even daring to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. I'll explain that a little bit later. On false teachers, he likens false teachers remember Balaam’s donkey - I know you do, but bail him in the donkey. So he likens false teachers. To that these people are useless as dried up springs or as missed blown away by the wind, they are doomed to the blackest darkness, for you are a slave to whatever controls you, your slave, whoever controls you, and when people escaped from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved again they're worse off than before. Don't jump ship. Don't jump ship. You have escaped, you are being rescued. But it says and there's a truth to the proverb a dog returns to its own vomit and proverbs and he adds a wash pig returns to the mud.
Don't jump ship. Second Peter three one. He basically saying here most importantly, I want to remind you, in last days, there will be scoffers that will come mocking the truth and following their own desires. Sounds a lot like what Paul wrote to Timothy correct, almost verbatim. It's really close. Right? So they're being kept for the Day of Judgment when on when godly people will be destroyed. And here's the thing that starts coming to mind. Right? Okay, so why does this seem take so long to see the justice I want it now? I want the justice. Now. I want the sufferings to be over now. Why? Why do I have to go through this? What's going on? Why is the Lord being slow question answered, Second Peter, three, eight. But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends, a day is like 1000 years to the Lord. And 1000 years is like a day. Lord isn't really being slow about his promises. Some people think, no, he being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief, then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise and the very elements themselves would disappear in fire and earth and everything on it. Will found we found deserve judgment. And here it is again. So canceled the Earth Day field trip, right? So it's not what we perceive is going very slowly, is like nothing to the Lord. And He wants to give you a chance in case you haven't gotten on board yet. Right. And others too. But again, the earth everything, all our material stuff will be destroyed. The Earth itself will be destroyed. That's the biblical mindset. Right? So you get this prosperity thing they stop my granola, right? Yeah. Oh, you see, Be fruitful and multiply as a result? No. When we didn't just get off an ark and flood the hole. That's everyone's dead. We have to repopulate. This is not what the New Testament says, Paul, First Corinthians seven. If you don't believe me, right? Better. Everybody's like me, and you don't get married. You want to focus all your attention on there's no send me get married. And it's clear there. But if you can be without it, just focus on the Lord. Totally different, right, then the whole prosperity thing. The whole earth will be destroyed. It is not permanent. There's not a permanent home for anyone and all your stuff, too. It's all going to be gone. So where's our focus? Right, so second, Peter 311, since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live looking forward to what the day of God and hurrying along and lunch today that's not in there. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. He wants to make sure you understand this. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth. He's promised a world filled with God's righteousness. I'll pause right there, unlike today's world, so if you're like, I want the righteousness, I want to justice, I want change. It ain't happening now or here. It's not he always advocates for change. And we're going to change the world by whatever electing all these people. No, you're not. Because you're not God. You need to pay attention. God tells us how it's going down. It's not going to happen like that all this stuff is going to be destroyed. What the new heavens, the new earth, Jesus's kingdom and this is not it. He's very clear about that. So important mindset. But we are looking forward to the new heavens, the New Earth the promise, and a world filled with God's righteousness is not here. It's there. And so dear friends while you are waiting, when we do waiting for these things to happen make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that RP You're and blameless in God's sake. Remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him. Speaking of these things, and all of his letters, some of his comments are hard to understand. And those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. So, again, you got the perspective, I hope. All right, this is not our permanent home, our focus? Can we have to have some nice things. Can we enjoy it here while we're waiting on the line for the real ride? Or whatever analogy you want? Yes, yes, we can. Yes, we can have somebody think we can enjoy this right. So I think laughter is a good thing. It says to have joy, all that's fine. But this is really not where your focus should be. The Word of God is very clear about that. Right? So we're focused on a better world. Now. Paul's letters, our scriptures, he's here you see that confirm? And it is confusing. So what should we do oversimplify it? And twist it? No, we should dig in, right? Get yourself a teacher who knows the Greek who can kind of like understand it, and then explain it to you in words that are easy to understand. Don't dismiss it, don't twist it. Don't ever simplify. Right? We're supposed to be knowledgeable and wise as Christians. Peters final words. So you already know these things, dear friends, so be on guard, then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked peoples of false teachers is a really big deal, right? And lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So get that carried away theme again, seeing that picture he's painting for you of us being carried away on this arc to our new heavenly home. And again, false teachers is a really big thing. And we've seen this if you've been with us for a while, again, it talks a lot about false teacher Jean, Jesus even warns about false teachers and the answer. So what, but you don't hear a lot about that in the modern church, do you? Why? I'll tell you why. If you don't call me out, I will call you. There are a lot of unspoken agreements in church world. We don't play nice, you get phone calls, but then I don't really care. likes me or not. But anyway, and don't call me out. I won't call you out. That that's what the false prophets say. All right. So yeah, all glory to Him both now and forever and ever. Amen. So do not be carried away, do not be swept away by this flood. Right by the evil. Stay on board of this arc that we see. Peter paints a picture of. So we saw Paul survived a shipwreck. Remember what was going on there that President ship was going to be destroyed, but it was carrying him to the destination is very interesting, because what did they do? They tried to let down the lifeboat. He's like, No, we all stay on or we die. So even though the storm was rough, he's like, No, we need to ride this out. Because this ship is getting me to my destination. And it doesn't matter how bad it is. This picture here, right? These fiery Trump doesn't matter. Don't jump out of the pan and into the fire. You got to stay with it. It's refining you. So we can apply this to so many things in our lives that we do, right? Like working out as an obvious one, no pain, no gain, that type of thing. And it's the picture we're supposed to get. In contrast, we call Jonah. Throw me overboard. Right? He kind of jumped ship and what was the idea here? Obedience. Obey. That's the theme and Jonah. Now Peter mentions knowing if you don't know the story very quickly to recall it. So again, God Genesis six God's displeased with the whole world. It the angels are sons of God are procreating with the daughters of men. They're corrupt. It says it lets us know they're corrupt. But Noah is walking with God. He's not corrupt. He's blameless, right? So he's called to make this arc. Right. So him and his family Shem ham J fifth, his sons and their wives and his wife, they all get on the boat. That's it, right? And probably like 14 ish of every animal. Read it. Read it.
It doesn't say anything about any fish on the ark. It's interesting. Read it carefully for yourself. Interesting. So anyway, obedience carries him safely on the ship. Think about it. You know, we've seen movies and parodies about this thing. Like you're crazy building his heart, right? And speculation doesn't really say anything. But
really, I want to build this Arctic why I'm going to flood the world. Okay. I'll do obedient. He was a man of obedience. And I got a question. So the movies going to totally wrong about No, he was obedient, wasn't crying about it didn't question. No, he just did it. That's the point of the story. So this image Peter brings to mind through Noah. If you know the story, right? It automatically like an idiom or something we'd use it would make us think caused us to think of being carried away to safety and staying on this vessel. So some questions putting this all together, that we need to ask ourselves
if we boarded the Ark what might cause us to abandon it? What might cause us to jump ship? If we're being carried to safety and we know that
sin would sin cause us to jump ship to see here has consequences. Would that cause us to, to jump ship something sinful? Something we desire that we know just isn't good, but we're just, we're going to jump overboard in Oh. And it's worse, never better out of the paint on the fire. Remember, the devil, prowls around like a lion, looking waiting for you to mess up. He's the tempter. But what does it say about us? We are holy. We're set apart from that is not what we do. Right? It kind of gets interesting here because I see this dynamic a lot in church, you know, and the Bible talks a lot about you if you read the Proverbs like the seductress. The adulterous talks a lot about that kind of thing. You know, there's big concern about women being able to take away even Paul like, you know, concentrate on the Lord, right? So it's interesting. I've seen this being a pastor seen this in church, will you know, a woman or men? Will someone seduce us away from our godly marriage or godly partner? Will that happen? Can we get seduced away from the faith? And I look at also different kinds of marriages, when people get married, like someone will be in the church and be married and all into it. And it's okay if you want to marry someone with a different faith. But if you're already Christian, it's not advisable. Even in the Bible is not advisable. Right. So when he's taught Paul's talking about that, First Corinthians seven, it's like, we weren't Christians. And then we came to court, one of us came to Christ and one didn't, right. So then you can win that spouse over with your godly behavior. But careful, joining yourselves in Union right, your one flesh now someone who's not a Christian, you're going to have problems. And I've seen this happen where people kind of get, like, seduced away from the church. But what have we learned, like a lot people think church is an important. Let's stop, you know, I can just be a Christian like army of one Christian, right? Because I don't need the body of Christ. Okay, you must be awesome. Right? No need that they downplay church. I want you to think about something, Paul? 13 letters, the New Testament 27? Where's letters written to the church? And leaders of the church? Kind of important, isn't it? Most of the context here is the church. It's called the body of Christ, right? So if you're not a part of the body of Christ, you are apart from the body of Christ. It's important. And so I've seen people seduced away from by one body, from the body of Christ. You know, and it starts out slow, like, they start dating and like, yeah, come to your church, that kind of thing. That's always, you know, they start and start slow. But you know, just one Sunday? No, just one hit. Just one hit. Okay. And then they like, come once in a while, and then all of a sudden, well, we have this on Sundays. We have that on Sundays. She likes to do this on Sunday. I know she does. I warned you about that. And now you're apart from the body of Christ. It's important. Being a part of this is literally crucial to Christianity. And by the way, if you've been with us for a while, you know this. It's commanded in the Word of God. Are you Hebrews 10 It's commanded. You're commanded to be a part of a church. What is it? Who do we love? Here's the family of believers, your brothers and sisters in Christ. How do you do that? When you don't? You're not around them ever. What did Jesus say about his body? Matthew 25 the sheep and the goats? What happens to the goat? When did we see you hungry thirsty naked and prisoner and sick wondered that what you did to the least of these my brothers who is that you what happens to the goats that didn't care for Jesus his body? out of the pan into the fire I see a lot of people jump ship on like their godly missions as well. Right, what they're supposed to be doing. And they have other things taking them away from the body of Christ happens all the time. You know, a big question on Sundays is like, does your boss know you're a Christian? Kinda important. Isn't that how you witness was it say about the employers employees? How are you? How are you doing with that? And he doesn't know you're a Christian or she or whatever. You say what do I do? Because I'm a Christian, traditionally forever and ever. This is the Lord's Day. I need to go to church. I can work after church, right? Yeah, yeah. It's important. Well, your friends, right cause you to jump ship. We've talked about toxic relationships as part in my life where I was just like, I cannot hang out with you guys anymore. I don't want to do it. And sure enough, you're a Christian now, right? But, oh, you're a pastor now. Their lives are a wreck. And I'm like, get on. God's being patient with them. And I know that. Come on, come aboard. Right. But are you going to go the other way? Are you going to be like, Yeah, you know, let's party or do whatever it is you're not supposed to be doing. Right? So sometimes that happens, right? There'll be they're drowning. You got to be careful. You throw them a life raft, right? But sometimes when you reach down they'll pull you in.
You have to be careful. This could go two hours if you keep encouraging, just like
you're not new here like Thank you. It's very encouraging. Thank you. I cannot joke I just I can't not joke. I'm so sorry. Right? So they're again, they're laughing at
you from the sinking ship. Right? They're headed for this like waterfall and you're fine and your Ark? Stay in it. Stay in it. Don't engage the fiery trials or the fire does something you're going through right now. Convincing you This is no good. This isn't working. But you're being refined. Think about it. Right? If you're sitting here today you're alive I hope at right and so you've been through stuff right? Everybody? Everybody has been through stuff. And at the time you thought like this is the end? You know what I mean? It's like remember some of the stuff is a kid right? They took your toy away like the end of the world. You made it and then something happened High School somebody broke up with you. Or you ready to kill yourself? You made it you're just fine. Maybe you even found a better spouse you made it okay, don't play it safe. It's anyway. So careful right now anyway. You made it and this too shall pass. Right? So that was different reference that couldn't help it but you can Amen. Your hair and you're going to be there and even if you're not it doesn't matter see in heaven so good. That's and that's believe me a whole lot better in this on its best day. Said they refine us dear friends don't be surprised that the fire trolls are going through and this is the bad thing. Like when pastors don't lead this to their church and people are surprised and you know what happens they fall away from the faith. So by hiding the truth from people you're dooming them that's not good. It's called a bait and switch people fine print there's no fine print in the Word of God unless you have a six point font Bible that's fine that technically is but you know what I'm saying right? Instead be very glad these trials they refine you and they make you partners with Christ. Let's go there good thing when we look at them rightly the false teachings where Peter ends up probably where Island up here will false teachings cause you to jump ship. Think about it. The prosperity gospel I call the perishable gospel. It's without refinement. Where's the refinement? Right it's kind of like going to the gym and not doing anything. So you say you're going into the gym right but doesn't look like it right so but you're not doing anything you're not putting in any work. And there are so many I would dare to say the majority of Christians out there going to the spiritual gym they're saying they're Christians but they're not putting in any work and you can see it and you can see it it's obvious by their behavior when they're slandering others repaying insult for insult what's you're not going to you're not refined. So it's important so there's a gospel out there that tells you this is it man this is it. Like you just want to get as much of this stuff is possible because a man of God what man you should have a lot of stuff. It's not what it says. All right, man, God Elisha gave up the money name and wanted to give him a wicked servant. We looked at this gays I was cursed with name as leprosy because he took the money. That's a man of God. First Timothy, what does it say? Oh man of God fully from these worldly things. That's a man of God. We should be refining ourselves and trying to learn to live with less and prepare ourselves for the new heaven and the new earth. Not this one. There's a gospel that tells you exactly the opposite, the opposite. And I call it the perishable gospel, the half of gospel, God will bless us. But it's not the main concern here, right? It's just a foreshadowing of other blessings. So you hear the truth, I really hope that you've heard the truth today. You've heard what some consider a large portion of God's word but, and the only church isn't nothing. They would just read these letters aloud as they're commanded to do. But I hope it's obvious to you I hope it's causing healing where there was some error and some encouragement. Again, was Peters say about the grass and the flower in the field. it withers. This, we read today, that's the only one and true gospel. That's it, there's not another one. And I just read it to you. Important. Man, remember, we need to be focused on the horizon, on the heavenly things have been with us for a few weeks. That's what we were talking about. Alright. Hebrews, two thing, we need to set our sights on Jesus, or what illustration you want to give, that's what we need to focus on. There's going to be a lot of noise, a lot of mess going on in your lives. I know it's there. That's fine. Right? It's just refining trials, just refining Charles, it's fine. If I were in the gym, right? We don't want to do another rep and other set or whatever, just do it. It's going to pay off. Let's go. That's fine. Bring it, you know, build ourselves up in Christ. I remember something like we are being that illustration of the arcs being carried somewhere. And think about Peter, the human author of these letters, thinking about theater. What happened with Peter, he left an earthly vessel. And why was he being carried on the water with his faith in Christ. Peter walked on the water through his faith in Jesus, when a sink when he started worrying about the things of this world. So as Jesus said, like, look, the wind and the waves are going to batter you, they're going to slam against you, the storms are going to come. But if you are built on the bedrock of Christ, you're fine. You've built on a solid foundation. And so that's my encouragement for you today. I'd like to end with just a couple pieces of Scripture. I'm just going to kind of pray from the scripture for you His words again better than mine. So there's wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine, has been tested as fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong for many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ has revealed to the whole world. In his kindness God called you to share and his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. So after you've suffered for a little while, he will restore, support and strengthen you. And he will place you on a firm foundation, all glory and power to him forever and ever. Amen.