Sermon Nuggets Mon June 15
Theme- Effects of the Word
Verses- 1 Peter 1:18-2:3
Effects of the Word
It was a great time, yesterday, to be part of Trade Lake Baptist’s 140th celebration. I was the pastor there from 1978-1984. Anniversary times are for celebration and reflection. As is true in many churches there are high points and low points. At anniversary times the high points are highlighted and the low points ignored. But to come together to see what God has done and is going is also a means to continue the call. It becomes a service of hope.
What was encouraging to me is the breath of fresh air given by the Holy Spirit to revive and renew the church. The people were unified. They were optimistic of the future. They loved their new pastor and he loved them. He knew God had sent him there and they knew it too. He has been through tough times in his life and as I visited many of the people they also experienced many heartaches and trials. Yet in the midst of difficult there is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. They saw people come to Christ, clean up their lives, change, and worship. The theme around which many of us spoke was the enduring work of God that is founded on continual teaching, training and preaching from the Word of God. As we remain faithful the Word of God and seek to put it into practice and obey it, we can believe it will not return void. God is doing something by his Spirit through the Word that is to produce love.
As we continue to look at Peter’s encouragement to the suffering church they knew Pastor Peter experienced the hard times of life. They knew he did not always get it right. He wanted them to keep looking to the Lord. He knew the only practical way to do that was to keep diligent in the word of God. It is not just for the purpose of study and learning truth. It is for the purpose of living out that truth and changing our hearts and our relationships.
The truth of the word points to the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not only the author of truth, but of life and love. Hope comes, as we looked at last week, to focus on the works of Jesus who died for our sin and is coming again. Accepting Christ in our lives and seeking to follow up is the key for our eternal hope and life everlasting.
Peter 1:21 “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”
As we look ahead this week we will see encouragement founded on the word of God and two thoughts about it. First, the Bible is to be a living book. That is a present tense verb. It talks about continuingly living out the truths that affect us in life and in suffering. But likewise it is an enduring book. It will last forever. In a world where everything is dying around us there is one thing that endures. It is the word of God.
When we start to replace the teachings of the Bible with thoughts of mankind we will endanger the church. When we speak the truth without love we have hardened the church. When we speak love without truth we move to a man made religion. The anchor holds. It is the basis of not only our faith, but our life. If it doesn’t affect how we live then we haven’t understood it well enough yet.
Can you think of a practical way to carry out one of its principles today? How has it encourage you? How has it affected you? How has it affected others through you? It is the change agent through which God works.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 16
Verses- 1 Pet 1:18-21 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Effects of the Word- Salvation
The word of God in the Old Testament was God’s story of redemption toward the nation of Israel. Of course difficult periods of their history were the occupation of Palestine by pagan forces since the fall of Judah by Babylon. Prior to that Assyria had captured and destroyed the Northern tribes of Israel and divided up the people and intermarried so they were forever destroyed.
Daniel predicted there would come nations whose domination resulted in great persecution. They saw that happened with Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Like the days of Moses the people were praying for the coming promised Messiah.
Peter was part of the select group chosen by God to be instrumental of revealing Jesus Christ to the world as the Messiah of Old who fulfilled the requirements laid down in Scriptures. There were more to be fulfilled when He comes again in glory.
Peter was pointing the readers once again to the tremendous work of God and the marvelous salvation that is ours by his grace. We are not redeemed with things that pass away and are temporary, but rather with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. Christ indeed is sinless. There was no need for him to die for any crime or wrong doing.
The Word of God pointed the Jewish readers to the implication of the sacrificial lamb killed in the temples for their sins so that blood covered their personal wrong doing. The picture was vivid now that God took that place in the person of his own son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:9-10 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love; not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
The Gideon’s International are committed to the ministry of passing out Bibles because it is powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. They have seen how many people who read the Bible get convicted of their sins. They see the story of Jesus who died for their sins. They come to see it is by faith in the death burial and resurrection Jesus that salvation is given as a gift by a loving God. When they commit themselves to Jesus by faith they are born again.
The love of God is directed to each one of you as well. Love is initiated by God through the death of Jesus for you. He loved you. He redeemed you. He bought you. It was for you sakes that Jesus came from Heaven. It was love that initiates from God, not from us. That is what we reverence Him. That is why we worship Him.
But that love from God it to be responded to by his followers. We receive His love and love Him back. The greatest of all commandments is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.
The story of the Word is that it became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1). John and Peter and the other 10 behold the glory of the Son of God. The lives of those who believe and follow have never been the same since.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds June 17, 2009
Verses: 1 Pet 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
Effects of the Word- Sanctification
The Psalmist said it millenniums before “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Ps 119:11
The way the Word works on us is through the power of the Holy Spirit who brings truth to light and prompts us to put it into practice.
I was reading this morning on internet news how our President is pushing the agenda for gay pride. This month has been declared gay pride month. He now is proposing federal benefits for gay partners. He wants to nationally remove any bans against gay marriages. The more you read and are bombarded with the agenda of promoting a sinful lifestyle the more it is accepted and believed to be a God given and blessed option for sexual immorality. Why I say something so politically incorrect? Because of the Word of God.
When the word “homophobic” is used enough in propaganda the more hatred, prejudice and oppression are labels given to anyone objecting to the gay agenda. No Christian wants to be declared unloving.
Yet, in Peter’s passage we find the purifying agent of the Word of God produces sincere love. The greatest command is to first love God. His love is then directed to the brothers and sisters in the faith, and then to others-even our enemies. The response of love is truth also to protect people from all types of consequences that result from living in disobedience to God’s laws which man cannot change. Sin destroys people.
We recognize that because people live in rebellion the proper response is not attack and hatred, but love that is godly and sincere. When Jesus meets a woman at the well and in conversations reveals her sexual impurities, He revealed the need of her heart for the living water. She was looking for sustaining love but had no idea it was found in Him. She knew the prejudice against Samaritans; she knew the rejection by priests; she experienced racial rejection; she was aware of her sinful lifestyle. But to be given an alternative to be made whole by faith in Jesus caused her to run and tell her neighbors in that Samaritan town. I wonder what types of people would listen to her? Would they be the religious crowd or the friends of one who is a sinner?
The Spirit of God does something within us that allows us to be the vessels through which His love now flows. We are new creatures in which the Spirit of God lives. That is spiritual love. It is not something that comes and goes. It is permanent. It is holy it is living and active.
Edward Rogers, in his book, That they might have Life says, "I began to feel that there was something subtly and tragically wrong in any emphasis on the agony of the cross which dimmed the brightness of the resurrection, any suggestion that it was endured pain rather than overcoming love which secured man's salvation. Is it the darkness that covered the earth at noon, swirling round the pain and anguish of the cross? Or is it the dazzling, mysterious early-morning brightness that shone from the empty tomb?" The cross was a means to an end. The end was the glorious life of love planned for us in Jesus.
Salvation begins with us as a decisive act but has ongoing response. It is an imperishable seed. The word of God takes root within responsive soil. We want to be Holy because He is Holy and Holy love is spiritual love. It is reflecting the character of our creator.
We can only understand love if we begin to understand it as a gift from God received and desire to share it to others. Unless we know the author of love, all other expressions are mere imitations and temporary.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs June 18
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 23-25 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
Effects of the Word- Security
Peter is telling them they have been born again through the word of God. That word does not pass away. It lasts forever. Everything else of mankind passes away.
Security comes by knowing our salvation and our sanctification is based on something that is not fleeting and faddish. It is based on solid truth from the word of God. It is not faltering. It is secure.
The Psalmist often referred to the word like a rock, or anchor that holds in storms or in troubling times. The security of the believer is based on the promise of God not on the actions or emotions of mankind.
When it comes to this commitment to love one another that is also provided by the God who loves through us. God never asks you to do anything that He is unwilling to do first. When it comes to love, the Apostle John offers a definitive word on this rule: “We love because He loved us first” (1 John 4:19).
Peter’s words illustrate God’s love in Christ. He reminds us what it cost God for us to become His children. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1:18-19). Therefore, God’s command is reasonable. His expectation—that we love one another—comes to us at His own great expense.
What God commands you to do, He empowers you to do. Practically speaking, when we heard the Gospel and received it, confessing our sins, God forgave us and instantaneously sent His Spirit regenerate us into new spiritual beings. In other words, you and I were “born again.” This tandem work of the Spirit and the Word is imperishable. Our dead sin nature was made righteous and alive in Christ. Therefore, it is now possible for us to love one another deeply. The Spirit of God has awakened our mind, soul, and spirit to God’s love. It also enables us to love God, each other—even those who are most difficult to love. Think about it—what greater testimony of our God than the love we show one another. It is possible to love like God because He is now living in us. Without His Spirit, Christ’s command to love one another would be unreasonable because fulfilling it would be impossible. The call to love one another with a sincere heart comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God keeps us reminded to depend on Him and not ourselves. It is the spiritual family, involving the church and believers of all nations and all colors.
Brother James Brown used to be the pastor of Philippi Baptist church and we supported that African-American work. Jim and I had taken a class together on cross cultural ministries. There were things brought up in the class that bothered me regarding race relations and the cultural communication of the Gospel. Is there such a thing as a white Gospel and a black gospel? I know there can be prejudice on my part against people of other races and be blind to it.
Jim and I talked after class on more than one occasion and I felt had significant agreement. He and I had more in common than I do with many white folks and he did with many black folks who do not know Jesus Christ. We have a unity in Jesus that is deeper and a communication that we are one together in the Lord that breaks down the racial barriers. Yes we can each recognize our upbringing and the culture.
Although there might be many cultural differences in how our churches may express worship, the gospel, the truth of the Bible does not change based on our color or even language. San there be love? Absolutely. Love for the Indians on the Reservation, love for the fellows believers in our conference, love for our brothers and sisters in Christ at Philippi. Love for the world that isn't based on external concerns, but internal ones.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri June 19
Verses 1 Peter 2:1-3
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Effects of the Word- Sweetness
“now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” The figure Peter uses is food. The quality of a Christian is love.
Jesus uses food to point to his death and suffering for our sin when he met with the disciples at the last supper before his death. God uses food to celebrate the release of the Jews from Egypt. Jesus calls himself the “Bread of Life”. It was food that became the downfall in the garden of Eden as the forbidden fruit was taken. A picture of heaven shows a banqueting table where Jesus is our host.
The word of God is used as milk in this passage. It is spiritual milk. It is the basics of the teaching of God about Himself, about salvation. It is like a baby who keeps drinking milk until she can mature enough to start taking other foods that are solid.
But before a Christian matures there are other habits that get in the way for the sweetness of God to be realized. The first verse shows qualities that are opposite of love. It reveals heart issues where we think we are gaining when we hold people in contempt. We think it is to our advantage to be deceptive. We pretend to be people we are not and act in different ways around different people. We want what others have. We put down other people. We are like people eating on self which in contrast to the spiritual milk is like eating garbage.
If you want to kill love then be selfish. If you want to grow in love and in the character of our Lord then feed yourself on the Word of God.
Since we cannot purify ourselves and that is done by the Holy Spirit then why does Peter put this teaching in this way? As we discussed last week the call to holiness is both positional and practical. We are already made holy by the Holy Spirit in our standing before God, however we are now to act holy in our actions. We have the practical application of holiness. We purify ourselves by getting rid of selfish attitudes.
If you want to grow in your walk with the Lord then put to death these traits. Let me use the word death as an acrostic helping to identify the problem.
D-deceit; It is lying while thinking you are not really lying. It happened often when people sell items and find that is not what is advertised in quality. The word is similar to a lure. Fishermen are deceptive in catching fish. They pretend to have good food, only it has a hook in it to trap them.
We can be anger with a company and claim false advertising, but what about you? Are you showing deceit against others in your business, in your home, in your marriage? Put deceit to death.
E-Envy, is what happens when we look at other apparent successes or material gains and think ill of them because we think we deserve it. We think we are better than the other are deserve ________ (fill in the blank)- health, grades, money, houses, larger church attendance, more conversions.
Envy is not love it is selfishness against another.
A- Anger, Malice includes anger, it includes all evil that seeks to do wrong against another, harboring feelings of negativism. Who do you hate? Can you take that person and pray for him or her regularly? Can you pray for the saints in Christ that cause you angry feelings? Can you let God love them through you even if it means you must forgive them of their sins, or worse yet let God work on them rather than you?
T- Tongue. Sins of the tongue include slander, lies, put down about others, rumors against people that we may not like or have hurt us in some way. Someone said, “Nobody like to gossip but everyone loves to listen to it. Slander is seldom spoken in front of the person who is the subject of our statements.
James says the tongue is so hard to control. How easy it is to slip unkind words about someone instead of talking directly to the person who offends us. How often do you degrade someone hoping the listener will agree with you to make you feel better?
H- Hypocrisy. Being deceitful will cause us to live in ways that are full of pretense That is what the word means. Play acting is the way people pretend. Pretending to love is that way too. God sees the heart and knows.
If these things bring death to love, then what will allows us to give live? It is the word of God. We have indeed tasted and sensed that the Lord is good. He teaches and empowers us as we determine to obey and follow his ways. We become lover of God and others, when we realize our rights are given over to Him and He is now in charge of letting us resort priorities.
Fall in love with the Word of God and realize it is powerful and active and living, and touches our lives at most important needs.
Pastor Dale
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Be Prepared 1 Peter 1:13-21
Sermon Nuggets Week of June 8, 2009
Sermon Nuggets Mon June 8, 2009
Theme -Be Prepared
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
BE PREPARED
June-Allyson Ieron wrote a story in the older conference magazine, The Standard. It was entitled "One Shot and I Blew It". As a seventh grader who was a chubby, freckle-faced kid she was like most Jr. Highers, wanting so much to be accepted by the in crowd at school. Because she did not feel accepted she sought acceptance by the teachers and worked hard to be given the title by others as teacher's pet. This brought her punches, pebbles thrown at her, classmates pushing her down, and name calling. But when you are in seventh grade you want more than anything to fit in. What if it meant no longer trying to get the all A report card? Would that make her more acceptable to others with feathered pretty blonde classmates?
June writes of Heather who was the envy of the class. She was shocked to have the unexpected happen. Heather invited her to a sleep- over for her Birthday with 12 others friends. Almost all of them were in the in crowd. Now she had a shot of being accepted. How great it is to be accepted by the important kids at school. They ate pizza, drank Coke, ran around the neighborhood on a scavenger hunt. But when she went to the room the girls decided to hold a séance. The idea of contacting other spirits wasn't right to June who accepted Jesus as a young girl. She crawled into her sleeping bag and pretended to sleep while all the time praying for the blood of Jesus to protect her.
When she returned to school the girls still wanted to be friends, but June writes she had changed. She started sitting with the social rejects at the lunch table, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. Some of those kids were mentally and physically handicapped, some were slow. Many were not good looking. She was one of the few students who would talk to them. These new found friends may not have worn the right clothes nor had the right combs sticking out of their pockets of their designer jeans, nor mood rings on their fingers. But she no longer had to pretend to be different than what she was. June was no longer in the in crowd. She was willing to befriend those who needed friends. She blew it. Or did she?
We are often faced with decisions in our lives who are we going to impress. Whose values do we live by?
Peter was writing to people who were not part of the in crowd in school or in their community. They were made fun of for going to a Christian church and razed because they wouldn't participate in some of the activities the others wanted them to. They instead looked at their commitment to Jesus as reaching all areas of their lives, even if it meant blowing their shot of being important.
When things get hard and lonely, some people want to quit. The principles that Peter gave this early church are for us as well. He reminded them of the plan of the Father to save us, the cost of Christ on the cross to purchase us, and the conviction, and work of the Holy Spirit that is ever with us. He encouraged them by pointing them to Jesus’ second coming and the glory and reward that will be worth it all.
As we discussed last week, there are some things to remember regarding suffering- it is temporary and means of building character, a means of proving our faith. The prophets and angels themselves wished they could see our great salvation.
How can we as Christians be prepared to endure hardship? Are we in it for the long haul? Indeed, Peter tells us, it is worth it.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 9, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Be Prepared for Action. v. 13
To encourage his readers Peter instructs the suffering church to be prepared by preparing your minds for action. How do we do that? By studying, planning, and praying. We prepare minds by what we read and watch and think about. We go to school to prepare our minds. Peter wanted us to recognize right doctrine so we are not misled by every fanciful interpretation that comes along, and there are many. We are ready for hardship when we study the lives of the saints of the Bible. In other words, make the Bible part of your life. Study it. Meditate on it. Pray about it. Plan to put it in to practice.
I was encouraged as a younger pastor when Irv Bjelland joined our team as Stanchfield. He was one of the first Conference missionaries to Philippians. In addition to other responsibilities he was assigned to train pastors in Christian Education. He was semi-retired when we asked him to work with seniors, missions and C.E.
Irv would also pass books on to me he had just read so we could also discuss them. He kept bringing up seminars and classes that were offered that we should go to. When we do so, I was taking notes while he was sitting and listening. He commented that most of the material he already knew, but his goal was to leave each seminar with something new, different or applicable. He did not stop learning even as a senior adult. He wanted to keep reading and learning and preparing his mind for service to the Lord. I hope I will continue to do that in my retirement years.
What type of things feed your mind? Romance novels, and TV soap opera? Pornography? Gossip magazines? Would Jesus join you in your internet surfing and your favorite web pages?
In addition to preparing your mind is learning self-control. It is one thing to know the truth and another to practice it. Act on your knowledge. With most of our destructive behaviors the problem isn’t knowing what to do, it is the power to do it. Our emotions or inertia too often get in the way for productive Christian living.
There was a woman named Sonya with whom I worked in my nursing home days. Her husband left her. Her world caved in. It wasn't long before Sonja was in deep depression. She not only missed several days of work, but when she did come in she walked around like a zombie. Before, Sonya was outgoing and fun loving.
I visited her after she admitted herself to a psych ward and underwent treatment. When she returned to work she was on heavy doses of anti-depressive drugs. She continued holding bitterness against her husband. She wanted him to know how much he was wrecking her life.
One day I was surprised to find the old fun loving and outgoing Sonja. Her personality seemed to change overnight. I asked her what happened. She said, "It was time to grow up. I can't change what happened, and I can't change how I feel about it, but I can change what I'm going to do about it. I decided to stop having a pity party and I was time to get on with my life.”
Self control begins by not letting our circumstances control us. It is not denying the truth, but drawing upon a greater truth that Christ is in you. He is our hope. Self control involves acting according to the word of God and recognizes the Holy Spirit empowers us to move ahead.
The third way we can be prepared for action is looking at the longer picture. God has more to do and we are still being made into holiness. The hope on grace is the confidence in the second coming of Jesus. Yet God’s grace is brought to you day by day. How has God demonstrated His grace to you yesterday? What blessings have you ignored? Remember, greater grace is yet to come.
There is a saying in India, "The world is merely a bridge; Ye are to pass over it, not build your dwelling upon it." Suffering and loneliness, hardships and difficulties prepare us for heaven. If we seek satisfaction in this life we will be sadly disappointed. Setting our minds on truth, putting to action through self control and obedience, and focusing on the long picture is preparing for righteous action.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds, July 10
Verses- 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Prepared for Holiness
Literally the word holy means set apart. Sabbath is holy because it is a different day than other six. A tithe is holy because it is God's not ours. God is holy He separated himself from all sin into righteousness. The trait most like God is holiness. He is completely set apart from sin. Peter wants us to be like our Heavenly Father by being holy, for God is holy.
Some think to be holy is to pray all night in a church prayer meeting. Or every time the church doors are open to be there, or to memorize the Bible. Others will define holiness by the things we do not do. “We don't gamble, we don't' chew we don't go with girls that do. We don't drink and we don't smoke, and we don't dance with any bloke."
Holiness must be looked upon in two ways. It is a fact that we have been set apart for Him in Christ. We have been forgiven of all our sin. As such holiness is a positional state making us acceptable to the Father based on our trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins and the now we are ones in whom God's Spirit lives. Such holiness is bestowed on us at conversion.
But it is also true that sin still shows its ugly face in Christian. A holy life is different than a life given over to our desires and wants. Before people knew God and gave Him control they lived in ignorance of a personal relationship with Him. Ignorance is guessing about God, not knowing for sure who and where he is. Plato said it, "It is hard to investigate and find the father and farmer of the universe, and if one did find Him it would be impossible to express Him in terms that everyone could understand."
Jesus was that expression. Jesus became fully man in terms we can fully understand. We can know. Don't be conformed to a former lifestyle that does not fit the Christian lifestyle. Peter tells us not to fashion ourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. Self gratification is the great problem of the Christian lifestyle today. Doing what we want to do because we want to do it is our greatest struggle.
The call for His children is to resemblance the Father. Peter wanted the suffering saints to know they had a Father who loved them dearly and whose care was given to them daily. The term "children" conjures all this up before our minds, and it is well for us. Remember that no matter what may distinguish us individually we are all God's children as followers of Jesus. We are to reflect the traits and characteristics of our Father. People may look like, but how much do we act alike? I would see some children and immediately know whose kids they are because the resemblance is so clear.
Peter is contrasting the children of disobedience, with the children of God. Whose child are you? Who do you resemble the most? Do you enjoy the things of God or not?
Such holiness is a practical call which relates to our conduct and not only to our position in Christ. It is never assumed in the Bible that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should lead anything but a holy life. If we do not have any desire to walk in holiness then this is clearly evidence that we do not belong to the Lord.
Jesus sought to do the will of the Father and was completely possessed by God. Christ not only wanted us to do the things he does, but have the relationship with His Father that is possible for us to have. He wanted us to be changed from the inside out because it is impossible to be changed from the outside in. It is only possible when we continue to let him be the ruler over us. Holiness then is not a pious look, or set standard of actions but living with God in charge.
Be holy or become holy. It is like a blossom of a flower opening up and becoming in the process. How much do you resemble God’s holy traits?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thur June 11, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 1: 16,17 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Prepared for Judgment.
Just like holiness is living for God’s glory, to be set apart for Him and not our selfish wants and desires, so is our work and life to be for the goal of pleasing our Heavenly Father. Peter reminds his readers that their works will be judged fairly.
But even in our work and responsibilities we need an attitude of awe and respect toward God. This comes from sense of knowing who we are and who God is. I do get bothered when people treat the Lord as a chummy buddy. Nor is God aloof and unattached. Peter recognized that fear reverence needed to have a proper relationship with God of glory and God of holiness.
To be holy with our work is more than how we act on just our job. It is in all our responsibilities. When I think of my role as a father and my position as a son to my parents there was love but respect was important. We were not equals. Many times my children obey, not because they want to, but because of the consequence that is to fall upon them. Being a father means seeking to be a loving disciplinarian. As a father I didn’t always do it right.
I remember my Dad more than once judging me guilty when I was disrespectful to him or my mother. I experienced the consequences of my actions. He often asked, "Do you think I'm another kid in the street? I'm your father."
Although I resented that, I was more surprised by how some of my friends spoke to their parents. Rudeness, disrespect, lack of honor was displayed around me. You see it in school, on buses, in the playgrounds, with teachers. People who do not learn to respect authority always have problems. They have problems in the marriage not respecting their spouse. They have problems at work not respecting their employer or fellow employees. They have problems in the world not respecting law officers, or judges, and the consequences are many.
It is more so with my heavenly Father. He will not compromise with sin. He is merciful and forgiving, but He is also the loving disciplinarian who cannot permit his children to enjoy sin. After all it was sin that sent His Son to the cross. If we call God our Father then we should reflect His nature and give him respect.
But Peter states that our works will be judged. Respect is more than what we say and how we respond to another. If my father gave me a task to do it was also to be done in a way that demonstrated his desires not mine. Now that I am saved the Lord gives you and me gifts to be used for Him in holiness and love. I will be judged for my works based on the responsibilities and gifts given to me. I will not be comparing myself to others. I will not be held accountable for what someone else did or did not do.
We are to conduct ourselves as strangers in this life. So much of what this world thinks is important is not important to the Lord. What this world rewards in this world are not the rewards of the heavenly Father. What He rewards and deems important are the works that reflect His glory now and achieve for us a blessing when our tasks are viewed with the eyes of eternity. Being prepared is to live in the power, love, and obedience of God in the things we say and do.
Peter’s work changed when he saw who Jesus was. He even looked at fishing differently, but had a new calling to be a fisher of men. If at the end of his life all he had to show the Lord was a pile of fish, he missed out on so much more that was missed. But while a fisherman he had a far greater task to point people to the living God.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri June 12
Verses 1 Peter 1:18-21 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Be Prepared in Hope
C.S. Lewis said, "The work of a Beethoven, and the work a charwoman, become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God of being done humbly as to the Lord. This does not of course, mean that it is for anyone- a mere toss-up whether he should sweep rooms or compose symphonies. A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow."
Jesus was called to the task of redemption of the elect for the glory of the Father. As redeemed people Peter challenges the suffering church to be prepared by remembering their redemption. It is from that redemption that we live for the glory of God in whatever gift tasks and responsibilties that come our way. Be not concerned with material things, for it was not silver or gold that redeemed them but the blood of Jesus Christ. We are set free by the payment of a ransom. Jesus laid down his life.
It is with wonder that God would send His Son to redeem us as sinners. When we grasp what it cost God to free us from sin, we all respond with reverential awe and renewed commitment to live a holy life. Think about what He did.
There were some 50 million slaves in that society. A slave if he was able to accumulate enough money could buy his freedom. Or if he had a loving master who would purchase him and grant him freedom that was the prerogative of that master. But the price of the slave had to be paid to the slave owner. The figure of redemption is one who is bought back. A slave could be freed with the payment of money, but no amount of money can set a lost sinner free. Only the blood Jesus Christ can redeem us. He gave his life as payment for us and then set us from the bondage of Satan.
One writer said, "God gave Him glory. Man had handed to Him hurt and shame, and gave Him up on a cruel tree to die the death of a criminal. God took Him from the tomb and gave Him glory. Then One Whom men crowned with thorns, God has crowned with glory and honor; the One Whom men crucified God has raised up and made Him both Lord and Christ. Peter says that God "raised him up and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
So we are to look to Jesus, the author of your faith. He was chosen before the creation of world revealed now for your sake. The fact that Jesus lived and died and rose again was no after thought with God. He was foreordained before the foundation of the world. This brings us to the place of reverence of respect and worship. This gives us hope in an unsettled world. Faith and hope is in God who went to the extreme to redeem us. Faith and hope is not on our works, our religion, or human relationships. The works of Jesus become the anchor that holds us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Mon June 8, 2009
Theme -Be Prepared
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
BE PREPARED
June-Allyson Ieron wrote a story in the older conference magazine, The Standard. It was entitled "One Shot and I Blew It". As a seventh grader who was a chubby, freckle-faced kid she was like most Jr. Highers, wanting so much to be accepted by the in crowd at school. Because she did not feel accepted she sought acceptance by the teachers and worked hard to be given the title by others as teacher's pet. This brought her punches, pebbles thrown at her, classmates pushing her down, and name calling. But when you are in seventh grade you want more than anything to fit in. What if it meant no longer trying to get the all A report card? Would that make her more acceptable to others with feathered pretty blonde classmates?
June writes of Heather who was the envy of the class. She was shocked to have the unexpected happen. Heather invited her to a sleep- over for her Birthday with 12 others friends. Almost all of them were in the in crowd. Now she had a shot of being accepted. How great it is to be accepted by the important kids at school. They ate pizza, drank Coke, ran around the neighborhood on a scavenger hunt. But when she went to the room the girls decided to hold a séance. The idea of contacting other spirits wasn't right to June who accepted Jesus as a young girl. She crawled into her sleeping bag and pretended to sleep while all the time praying for the blood of Jesus to protect her.
When she returned to school the girls still wanted to be friends, but June writes she had changed. She started sitting with the social rejects at the lunch table, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. Some of those kids were mentally and physically handicapped, some were slow. Many were not good looking. She was one of the few students who would talk to them. These new found friends may not have worn the right clothes nor had the right combs sticking out of their pockets of their designer jeans, nor mood rings on their fingers. But she no longer had to pretend to be different than what she was. June was no longer in the in crowd. She was willing to befriend those who needed friends. She blew it. Or did she?
We are often faced with decisions in our lives who are we going to impress. Whose values do we live by?
Peter was writing to people who were not part of the in crowd in school or in their community. They were made fun of for going to a Christian church and razed because they wouldn't participate in some of the activities the others wanted them to. They instead looked at their commitment to Jesus as reaching all areas of their lives, even if it meant blowing their shot of being important.
When things get hard and lonely, some people want to quit. The principles that Peter gave this early church are for us as well. He reminded them of the plan of the Father to save us, the cost of Christ on the cross to purchase us, and the conviction, and work of the Holy Spirit that is ever with us. He encouraged them by pointing them to Jesus’ second coming and the glory and reward that will be worth it all.
As we discussed last week, there are some things to remember regarding suffering- it is temporary and means of building character, a means of proving our faith. The prophets and angels themselves wished they could see our great salvation.
How can we as Christians be prepared to endure hardship? Are we in it for the long haul? Indeed, Peter tells us, it is worth it.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 9, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Be Prepared for Action. v. 13
To encourage his readers Peter instructs the suffering church to be prepared by preparing your minds for action. How do we do that? By studying, planning, and praying. We prepare minds by what we read and watch and think about. We go to school to prepare our minds. Peter wanted us to recognize right doctrine so we are not misled by every fanciful interpretation that comes along, and there are many. We are ready for hardship when we study the lives of the saints of the Bible. In other words, make the Bible part of your life. Study it. Meditate on it. Pray about it. Plan to put it in to practice.
I was encouraged as a younger pastor when Irv Bjelland joined our team as Stanchfield. He was one of the first Conference missionaries to Philippians. In addition to other responsibilities he was assigned to train pastors in Christian Education. He was semi-retired when we asked him to work with seniors, missions and C.E.
Irv would also pass books on to me he had just read so we could also discuss them. He kept bringing up seminars and classes that were offered that we should go to. When we do so, I was taking notes while he was sitting and listening. He commented that most of the material he already knew, but his goal was to leave each seminar with something new, different or applicable. He did not stop learning even as a senior adult. He wanted to keep reading and learning and preparing his mind for service to the Lord. I hope I will continue to do that in my retirement years.
What type of things feed your mind? Romance novels, and TV soap opera? Pornography? Gossip magazines? Would Jesus join you in your internet surfing and your favorite web pages?
In addition to preparing your mind is learning self-control. It is one thing to know the truth and another to practice it. Act on your knowledge. With most of our destructive behaviors the problem isn’t knowing what to do, it is the power to do it. Our emotions or inertia too often get in the way for productive Christian living.
There was a woman named Sonya with whom I worked in my nursing home days. Her husband left her. Her world caved in. It wasn't long before Sonja was in deep depression. She not only missed several days of work, but when she did come in she walked around like a zombie. Before, Sonya was outgoing and fun loving.
I visited her after she admitted herself to a psych ward and underwent treatment. When she returned to work she was on heavy doses of anti-depressive drugs. She continued holding bitterness against her husband. She wanted him to know how much he was wrecking her life.
One day I was surprised to find the old fun loving and outgoing Sonja. Her personality seemed to change overnight. I asked her what happened. She said, "It was time to grow up. I can't change what happened, and I can't change how I feel about it, but I can change what I'm going to do about it. I decided to stop having a pity party and I was time to get on with my life.”
Self control begins by not letting our circumstances control us. It is not denying the truth, but drawing upon a greater truth that Christ is in you. He is our hope. Self control involves acting according to the word of God and recognizes the Holy Spirit empowers us to move ahead.
The third way we can be prepared for action is looking at the longer picture. God has more to do and we are still being made into holiness. The hope on grace is the confidence in the second coming of Jesus. Yet God’s grace is brought to you day by day. How has God demonstrated His grace to you yesterday? What blessings have you ignored? Remember, greater grace is yet to come.
There is a saying in India, "The world is merely a bridge; Ye are to pass over it, not build your dwelling upon it." Suffering and loneliness, hardships and difficulties prepare us for heaven. If we seek satisfaction in this life we will be sadly disappointed. Setting our minds on truth, putting to action through self control and obedience, and focusing on the long picture is preparing for righteous action.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds, July 10
Verses- 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Prepared for Holiness
Literally the word holy means set apart. Sabbath is holy because it is a different day than other six. A tithe is holy because it is God's not ours. God is holy He separated himself from all sin into righteousness. The trait most like God is holiness. He is completely set apart from sin. Peter wants us to be like our Heavenly Father by being holy, for God is holy.
Some think to be holy is to pray all night in a church prayer meeting. Or every time the church doors are open to be there, or to memorize the Bible. Others will define holiness by the things we do not do. “We don't gamble, we don't' chew we don't go with girls that do. We don't drink and we don't smoke, and we don't dance with any bloke."
Holiness must be looked upon in two ways. It is a fact that we have been set apart for Him in Christ. We have been forgiven of all our sin. As such holiness is a positional state making us acceptable to the Father based on our trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins and the now we are ones in whom God's Spirit lives. Such holiness is bestowed on us at conversion.
But it is also true that sin still shows its ugly face in Christian. A holy life is different than a life given over to our desires and wants. Before people knew God and gave Him control they lived in ignorance of a personal relationship with Him. Ignorance is guessing about God, not knowing for sure who and where he is. Plato said it, "It is hard to investigate and find the father and farmer of the universe, and if one did find Him it would be impossible to express Him in terms that everyone could understand."
Jesus was that expression. Jesus became fully man in terms we can fully understand. We can know. Don't be conformed to a former lifestyle that does not fit the Christian lifestyle. Peter tells us not to fashion ourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. Self gratification is the great problem of the Christian lifestyle today. Doing what we want to do because we want to do it is our greatest struggle.
The call for His children is to resemblance the Father. Peter wanted the suffering saints to know they had a Father who loved them dearly and whose care was given to them daily. The term "children" conjures all this up before our minds, and it is well for us. Remember that no matter what may distinguish us individually we are all God's children as followers of Jesus. We are to reflect the traits and characteristics of our Father. People may look like, but how much do we act alike? I would see some children and immediately know whose kids they are because the resemblance is so clear.
Peter is contrasting the children of disobedience, with the children of God. Whose child are you? Who do you resemble the most? Do you enjoy the things of God or not?
Such holiness is a practical call which relates to our conduct and not only to our position in Christ. It is never assumed in the Bible that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should lead anything but a holy life. If we do not have any desire to walk in holiness then this is clearly evidence that we do not belong to the Lord.
Jesus sought to do the will of the Father and was completely possessed by God. Christ not only wanted us to do the things he does, but have the relationship with His Father that is possible for us to have. He wanted us to be changed from the inside out because it is impossible to be changed from the outside in. It is only possible when we continue to let him be the ruler over us. Holiness then is not a pious look, or set standard of actions but living with God in charge.
Be holy or become holy. It is like a blossom of a flower opening up and becoming in the process. How much do you resemble God’s holy traits?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thur June 11, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 1: 16,17 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Prepared for Judgment.
Just like holiness is living for God’s glory, to be set apart for Him and not our selfish wants and desires, so is our work and life to be for the goal of pleasing our Heavenly Father. Peter reminds his readers that their works will be judged fairly.
But even in our work and responsibilities we need an attitude of awe and respect toward God. This comes from sense of knowing who we are and who God is. I do get bothered when people treat the Lord as a chummy buddy. Nor is God aloof and unattached. Peter recognized that fear reverence needed to have a proper relationship with God of glory and God of holiness.
To be holy with our work is more than how we act on just our job. It is in all our responsibilities. When I think of my role as a father and my position as a son to my parents there was love but respect was important. We were not equals. Many times my children obey, not because they want to, but because of the consequence that is to fall upon them. Being a father means seeking to be a loving disciplinarian. As a father I didn’t always do it right.
I remember my Dad more than once judging me guilty when I was disrespectful to him or my mother. I experienced the consequences of my actions. He often asked, "Do you think I'm another kid in the street? I'm your father."
Although I resented that, I was more surprised by how some of my friends spoke to their parents. Rudeness, disrespect, lack of honor was displayed around me. You see it in school, on buses, in the playgrounds, with teachers. People who do not learn to respect authority always have problems. They have problems in the marriage not respecting their spouse. They have problems at work not respecting their employer or fellow employees. They have problems in the world not respecting law officers, or judges, and the consequences are many.
It is more so with my heavenly Father. He will not compromise with sin. He is merciful and forgiving, but He is also the loving disciplinarian who cannot permit his children to enjoy sin. After all it was sin that sent His Son to the cross. If we call God our Father then we should reflect His nature and give him respect.
But Peter states that our works will be judged. Respect is more than what we say and how we respond to another. If my father gave me a task to do it was also to be done in a way that demonstrated his desires not mine. Now that I am saved the Lord gives you and me gifts to be used for Him in holiness and love. I will be judged for my works based on the responsibilities and gifts given to me. I will not be comparing myself to others. I will not be held accountable for what someone else did or did not do.
We are to conduct ourselves as strangers in this life. So much of what this world thinks is important is not important to the Lord. What this world rewards in this world are not the rewards of the heavenly Father. What He rewards and deems important are the works that reflect His glory now and achieve for us a blessing when our tasks are viewed with the eyes of eternity. Being prepared is to live in the power, love, and obedience of God in the things we say and do.
Peter’s work changed when he saw who Jesus was. He even looked at fishing differently, but had a new calling to be a fisher of men. If at the end of his life all he had to show the Lord was a pile of fish, he missed out on so much more that was missed. But while a fisherman he had a far greater task to point people to the living God.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri June 12
Verses 1 Peter 1:18-21 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Be Prepared in Hope
C.S. Lewis said, "The work of a Beethoven, and the work a charwoman, become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God of being done humbly as to the Lord. This does not of course, mean that it is for anyone- a mere toss-up whether he should sweep rooms or compose symphonies. A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow."
Jesus was called to the task of redemption of the elect for the glory of the Father. As redeemed people Peter challenges the suffering church to be prepared by remembering their redemption. It is from that redemption that we live for the glory of God in whatever gift tasks and responsibilties that come our way. Be not concerned with material things, for it was not silver or gold that redeemed them but the blood of Jesus Christ. We are set free by the payment of a ransom. Jesus laid down his life.
It is with wonder that God would send His Son to redeem us as sinners. When we grasp what it cost God to free us from sin, we all respond with reverential awe and renewed commitment to live a holy life. Think about what He did.
There were some 50 million slaves in that society. A slave if he was able to accumulate enough money could buy his freedom. Or if he had a loving master who would purchase him and grant him freedom that was the prerogative of that master. But the price of the slave had to be paid to the slave owner. The figure of redemption is one who is bought back. A slave could be freed with the payment of money, but no amount of money can set a lost sinner free. Only the blood Jesus Christ can redeem us. He gave his life as payment for us and then set us from the bondage of Satan.
One writer said, "God gave Him glory. Man had handed to Him hurt and shame, and gave Him up on a cruel tree to die the death of a criminal. God took Him from the tomb and gave Him glory. Then One Whom men crowned with thorns, God has crowned with glory and honor; the One Whom men crucified God has raised up and made Him both Lord and Christ. Peter says that God "raised him up and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
So we are to look to Jesus, the author of your faith. He was chosen before the creation of world revealed now for your sake. The fact that Jesus lived and died and rose again was no after thought with God. He was foreordained before the foundation of the world. This brings us to the place of reverence of respect and worship. This gives us hope in an unsettled world. Faith and hope is in God who went to the extreme to redeem us. Faith and hope is not on our works, our religion, or human relationships. The works of Jesus become the anchor that holds us.
Pastor Dale
Friday, June 5, 2009
Through it All -1 Peter 1:6-12
Sermon Nuggets Mon June 1, 2009
Theme: Through it All
Verses I Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Scenario of Security
It was a little blurb in the Reader's Digest. A man was sentenced to death and he obtained a reprieve by assuring the king he would teach his majesty's horse to fly within the year- on the condition that if he didn't succeed, he would be put to death.
"Within a year" the man explained later, "the king may die, or I may die, or the horse may die. Furthermore, in a year, who knows? Maybe the horse will learn to fly."
The man was taking the long-range view. What is your view?
Some people live so much in the past they never face their present. Others live only in the present that they have no preparation for the future. Others may live only for the future they fail to appreciate the present. How then out we to live?
Peter declared the recognition of the past, the strength of the present and the hope of the future is what sustains us in our faith.
Last week we looked at the Triune God who planned and executed our salvation. God the Father, who is timeless, saw from the beginning of tim the working out of redemption. 2000 years ago Jesus died on the cross to take our punishment and rose for the grave to win for us the victory. The Holy Spirit takes the truth of Christ and applies to our hearts now and calls us to live in faithfulness and in holiness and we grow in the character of Jesus. Then our goal and direction comes as we place our hope in the return of Christ and the glory that is ours as promised by God. That future goal sustains us.
We began a new series from the letter of Peter to a persecuted people. He wrote reminding them they are chosen of God, the Father who planned their salvation; They have been redeemed by Jesus Christ who purchased their salvation. And they have within them the Holy Spirit who purifies them and protects them until Christ returns. It is important to ponder the wonder of God's love and the reminder that when he brought you this far he is not going to drop you and leave you. You are loved of God. He is to be praised.
This week Peter takes that foundation of hope and shares it with a different perspective to help a suffering and afflicted people. He gives them meaning and purpose in persecution as he shares how to go through hard times.
This week there was much made of the man who won the greatest lottery. He had the winning ticket. But he had not received the check yet. He is living in that which he will receive.
Rejoice in that which has already been sealed for you. We live in the already but not yet time of life. We already have received the promise of God, but not yet realized it and brought into the fulfillment of it.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 2, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1:6,7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The Scenario of Suffering: v.6-7
Peter wanted to remind his people of some things when they go through suffering. First he wants them to recognizing suffering is temporary. This message is important to remember for both the attractions of this world and the difficulties of it. It is all temporary.
Of course this was a main theme of Ecclesiasts which we had looked at the last few months. Life like a vapor, a mist, steam from a tea pot. You see it and then it is gone into the air. From God's perspective it is hard to imagine why we give so much attention to the things of this world which is short lived both its pleasure and its pain. But this is all we know.
That does not mean we ought not to enjoy things here. Nor does it mean ought to live lives accepting discomforts and difficulties. It means we ought not to loose perspective of eternity when we are wrapped around the temporary. We can face suffering by looking forward to life and joy with God forever.
Why do people have surgery when they know it's going to hurt? Because they know that for a little while there will be pain and suffering with the hope that it will take care of a problem. In the longer run the disease will cause them more difficulty if not taken care of. Sometimes the pain is so bad that they will endure more pain to correct the pain. Bryan, our son, just had appendix surgery when the pain got too bad it needed attention. Had it not been done he would have died. Further pain was worth it in the long run.
Secondly, suffering is a means of proving faith and is a tool for character building. I think of the training that many of our service men and women go through in order to prepare for the military. Some of the exercises they go through seem senseless. Except when one learns obedience without question in boot camp, they don't have to sit and analyze every movement when their commanding officer gives them an order in battle or warfare. There were many strategies that were not discussed during the Dessert Storm Operation. There would be no victory if each person debated the wisdom of the plans. Each carried out a task that was part of a greater strategic plan unbeknown to some of the Navy, some of the Air Force and Army and Marines, but called to accomplish a total task together that when each did their part out of obedience with the training they have already gone through.
We are called to a much more important conflict than Afghanistan, Iraq or the United States. We are called to a spiritual battle. God knows what He is doing and doesn’t have to reveal the strategies to us. Satan and his evil forces, principalities, and powers use all types of deception, discouragement, disease. Many times we do not even know we are under spiritual attack. But even the trails which are different than temptations are either allowed by God or brought by God to make us stronger in our faith. The advantage is that God is the one in whom our victory and strength is placed even through it is hard. We are victorious as we continue in Him. It is a promise.
There is no question as to who will win, but in the midst of the battles we do not always understand the reason for some of our training and we do not understand where we always fit in the bigger picture. That is where being obedient and trusting in the one who called us into his service is all we need to keep going when success and victory is already promised.
Peter wants them to know that they can stand anything if they remember it is a test. Gold has to be tried and tested and purified with fire so it can be stronger and cleaner and firmer than even before. Fire draws away the crud and impurities; so do trials in this life. When the heart is too attached to the reputation to success, to riches, to health, to family, to jobs, to positions, to possessions, then there needs to be fire to resort our priorities. That is so we can see Jesus only. It has been said that the eastern goldsmith kept the metal in the furnace until he could see his face reflected in it. So our Lord keeps us in the furnace of suffering until we reflect the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ.
It is probable that we will be forcefully separated form many people and things that are precious to us and this separation will involve sorrow and pain. The blessings and gifts that are eternally valid, however, will never be taken from us. The gift of God's Son, the eternal hope renewed in His resurrection, the presence of His Spirit, the salvation which is already ours--these gifts are ours forever, and ought to fill our lives with perpetual praise.
Too many professing Christians have a false faith which is revealed in the trails of the life. This is the story of the wise man and foolish man building their houses one on rock the other on sand. We see their true faith when storms came. One fell the other overcame the storm. The seed that fell on shallow soil produced rootless plant and the plants die when the sun came up. When the person abandons his faith when the going gets tough he is only proving that his attention for faith was on the wrong object.
These are some important things suffering teaches us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds June 3, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1:8,9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The Scenario of our Savior
Hope in suffering comes from focusing on the work and life of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds the persecuted people they will see Him when He returns and rewards their faithfulness. All rights will be righted when Jesus returns. That is a cause for hope and Paul defines it as a living hope. The important point is that the glory is not fully revealed until Jesus return for His church. Our situations today are preparation for us glory tomorrow.
Peter focused on the life of Christ, His Death, burial and resurrection. But the next event on God’s agenda beyond spreading the victory news is He is coming again. But we are not left alone in this present life. He is with you, though you don't see Him.
Napoleon Bonaparte referred to the mystery of Christian’s affection to an unseen Christ. He recounted how his soldiers fought bravely as long as they saw him in the field, but as soon as he was unseen, their courage flogged and met with defeat. Yet l,000s of Christians in this world have not seen Jesus, but are devoted with passionate zeal to their savior.
Peter did see Jesus. He had the privilege to walk with Him and hear his voice and see his miracles and witness the resurrection as he with his eyes and ears and touch witnesses the living Son of God.
But now people do not see Jesus in his physical form. Yet they love and believe in him and that brings joy. Peter recognizes their love and faith. This was based on a relationship with living Christ, not on that which is seen, but unseen. Jesus promised that very thing when He was standing with Thomas in the upper room following his resurrection. He would not believe in the resurrection without seeing it with his own eyes. Jesus was frank, “You believe because you have seen me, Blessed are those who do not see me yet believe.”
When one commits Himself to Jesus in obedience there is a blessing and awareness of God in ways that science does not understand. Power of faith is stronger than any other power in the world.
The more you love Jesus the more you are aware of His love in your lives through thick and thin. Love and faith go together when you love someone you believe in them when you believe in someone you learn to love them, in holy sense.
How do we grow in the faith? Romans 10:17 reminds us faith come from hearing and hearing from the word of God." We become people of stronger faith by feeding on the Word of God. Trials bring us to the Bible and it sustains us. The key to strength and courage, the ability to endure, and the grace to find beauty and joy even within the crucible experience of our lives is faith. Rejoice in your Salvation.
Likewise, our confidence in what Jesus did, is doing, and will do leads us to joy. That gives encouragement to people who are down. Let God work. Trust His love, His promises and His power.
Abraham discovered new truths about the Lord on the mount where he offered Isaac. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego discovered His nearness when they went through the fiery furnace. Paul learned the sufficiency of God grace when he suffered the thorn in the flesh. The people of faith, Peter are full of joy unspeakable and full of glory. This inner joy is deep and wonderful it is hard to put it into words.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs June 4, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 10,11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
The Scenario of the Scriptures
Prophets of old spoke things for our benefit, not theirs. The believers could find it easy to give up because of problems, persecutions and prejudice against them. Who wants to be ostracized by friends and family? It is not easy being a Christian today in our world, but can you imagine what is was like being a Christian in USSR when it was illegal, or Yugoslavia, or Albania? Can you imagine what it is like today for the believers of Jesus in some of the strict Muslim countries like Iraq, Lybia, Iran? What do you think it was like for first century believer in Jesus? They were ostracized from synagogue, from worship, from their Jewish traditions.
Now, keep this in context. Paul is reminding his readers of their Jewish heritage which they love so much. He is pointing to the prophets of the Scriptures whom they love and have been part of their faith- teaching in the Old Testament. Then Peter masterfully reminds them that these prophets, even whom they Rabbis and Jewish teacher and quoting and following today were pointing to the very gospel which you have received. All of the Old Testament writings were pointing to the one who had been revealed to Peter James and John. They did not want to live in the past and they wished they could have what you have. Do you catch that argument? Prophets of old longed for the revelation of the Messiah and now Jesus came. They worked for your benefit.
The words of salvation to you and me are a result of those men and women who met the Lord many centuries before and wrote and thought about that which is to come, the coming of the Messiah. They wrote of the suffering of the Messiah. They were told of the redemption that must be paid for people to be released from bondages. Sure someday God was going to come and free his people and dwell in them. Oh won't that be wonderful? Peter tells them “You are that people.”
Moses promised the land but was not able to go in. For him he worked on a promise that he was not able to see, but wished he could it was for the joy of the Israelites and obedience to God that Moses did what he did. King David dreamed about the temple and wanted so badly to build this magnificent structure of worship to Almighty God but it was not to be, he had shed too much blood. So David did all he could with the energy that he had in peace time to prepare plan and provide for the building but he never saw it. He worked for others to witness the majesty of worship in the grandeur of the building. He worked for others as he was obedient to God. We even see the greatest of prophets, John the Baptist, pointing people to get prepared for the coming Messiah. He longed for the deliverance and peace which he knew Jesus was to provide, but what happened to John? He died before he realized the full implication of his message.
But now the people were recipients of all that which Moses David John and Isaiah, Daniel Ezekiel longed to see and witness and it is ours. We know Christ came, died on the cross for our sins, and was buried and rose again. We know the Holy Spirit comes into the lives of followers of Jesus who commit their lives to Him. We know that God speaks to us and uses and gives us gifts and strength that we can encourage one another to glorify God and bring others to the point in their lives when they hear the call of God in their lives. Are you praying working and helping others to see what great God we have?
Preachers filled with the Holy Spirit speak for your benefit. The message of the preacher was to announce salvation, the good news. They were filled by the Holy Spirit from heaven and proclaimed truth as the Spirit took those words and directed that truth to the hearts of people prepared to receive them.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri June 5, 2009
Verse I Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
The Scenario of Salvation.
As Peter writes to encourage a persecuted people the plan of salvation itself is a privilege to behold. The fact that we are saved is a wonder. How God came to each of us is reason to change our moping to praise.
Angels marvel at God's plan. Even the heavenly beings become observers and not participants in the great Salvation that is ours. How God marvelously calls us, planned our salvation, prepared us, purchased us through the works of the Son and purifies us through the works of the Holy Spirit. Angels long to look into the wondrous works of God that is for our rejoicing.
Dr. Criswall has an interesting illustration regarding the angels. “If I were to say to you, ‘Here is door that opens into heaven, let us look in that door.’ Would we not all eagerly gather around it to look at the vista of glory? Just imagine what you would see. Look and see those gates made out of solid pearl. Look at those foundations-- all the pure gems. Look at that jasper wall. Would you not like to see something like that and would you not be amazed as you look at the golden streets? Gold so valued here will be so plentiful in heaven that you can use it for road material. That is the implication of trying to compare our world to Heaven. And look at that throne-look at the water of life--look at the tree of life--and look at God's redeemed. When I think of standing there, I can hardly take it in.”
But the apostle says the angels crowd around the windows of heaven and look down at us. They are amazed and filled with desire to understand as they see Christ dying for our sins, raised for our justification, and the Spirit of God wooing and convicting the human heart. They are looking down on us, and they are filled with wonder and amazement at what they see. The Bible tells us that there is joy in the presence of angels of God because of one sinner who repents. They look down and are overwhelmed by the grace they see flowing from the wounds of Christ, the salvation that pours from His heart, the blessedness of the cross and the winning of a soul. It is ours for the taking.
What do you say to a persecuted people?
When I had the privilege of teaching pastors in Russia I was told stories of how believers were denied upper education, professional jobs and benefits from the communist regime. They showed pictures to me of their parents and grandparents who were arrested and killed for their faith. The family saw the purpose behind many who died for their faith so that their perseverance would light the nation with the truth of Christ. Now the stories were coming out, the lies of atheistic communism were being challenged.
Joseph Ton was an active Baptist in Rumania. I heard him speak a few years ago in Minneapolis. He ran away from his country to study theology. When he was ready to go back to Rumania some of his friends told him he would not have much chance being a Christian pastor and preacher in that country. He asked God about it and God brought to mind Matt. 10:16 I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves - and seemed to say, "Tell me, what chance does sheep surrounded by wolves have of surviving 5 minutes, let alone of converting the wolves? Joseph, that's how I send you; Totally defenseless and without a reasonable hope of success. If you are willing to go like that go, If you are not willing to be in that position, don't go."
He went. He preached uninhibitedly. Harassment and arrest and persecutions came. One day during interrogation an officer threatened to kill him. Then Joseph Ton said, "Sir, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Sir, you know my sermons are all over the country on tapes now. If you kill me I will be sprinkling them with my blood. Whoever listens to them after that will say, "I'd better listen. This man sealed it with his blood." They will speak 10 times louder than before. So go on and kill me. I win the supreme victory then."
The officer sent him home. "That gave me pause. For years I was a Christian who was cautious because I wanted to survive. I had accepted all the restriction the authorities put on me because I wanted to live. Now I wanted to die, and they wouldn't oblige. Now I could do whatever I wanted in Rumania. For years I wanted to save my life, and I was losing it. Now that I wanted to lose it, I was winning it."
Peter knew that. He was trying to convince the followers of Jesus of that. Think of God, your life here is temporary. We are being changed and tested, but think of the joy of your reward. Think of the love of Christ the strength of faith and be filled with the joy of being heaven bound. Many have gone on before you so you might know this wonderful God. Now play your part that others might know too.
Pastor Dale
Theme: Through it All
Verses I Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Scenario of Security
It was a little blurb in the Reader's Digest. A man was sentenced to death and he obtained a reprieve by assuring the king he would teach his majesty's horse to fly within the year- on the condition that if he didn't succeed, he would be put to death.
"Within a year" the man explained later, "the king may die, or I may die, or the horse may die. Furthermore, in a year, who knows? Maybe the horse will learn to fly."
The man was taking the long-range view. What is your view?
Some people live so much in the past they never face their present. Others live only in the present that they have no preparation for the future. Others may live only for the future they fail to appreciate the present. How then out we to live?
Peter declared the recognition of the past, the strength of the present and the hope of the future is what sustains us in our faith.
Last week we looked at the Triune God who planned and executed our salvation. God the Father, who is timeless, saw from the beginning of tim the working out of redemption. 2000 years ago Jesus died on the cross to take our punishment and rose for the grave to win for us the victory. The Holy Spirit takes the truth of Christ and applies to our hearts now and calls us to live in faithfulness and in holiness and we grow in the character of Jesus. Then our goal and direction comes as we place our hope in the return of Christ and the glory that is ours as promised by God. That future goal sustains us.
We began a new series from the letter of Peter to a persecuted people. He wrote reminding them they are chosen of God, the Father who planned their salvation; They have been redeemed by Jesus Christ who purchased their salvation. And they have within them the Holy Spirit who purifies them and protects them until Christ returns. It is important to ponder the wonder of God's love and the reminder that when he brought you this far he is not going to drop you and leave you. You are loved of God. He is to be praised.
This week Peter takes that foundation of hope and shares it with a different perspective to help a suffering and afflicted people. He gives them meaning and purpose in persecution as he shares how to go through hard times.
This week there was much made of the man who won the greatest lottery. He had the winning ticket. But he had not received the check yet. He is living in that which he will receive.
Rejoice in that which has already been sealed for you. We live in the already but not yet time of life. We already have received the promise of God, but not yet realized it and brought into the fulfillment of it.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 2, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1:6,7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The Scenario of Suffering: v.6-7
Peter wanted to remind his people of some things when they go through suffering. First he wants them to recognizing suffering is temporary. This message is important to remember for both the attractions of this world and the difficulties of it. It is all temporary.
Of course this was a main theme of Ecclesiasts which we had looked at the last few months. Life like a vapor, a mist, steam from a tea pot. You see it and then it is gone into the air. From God's perspective it is hard to imagine why we give so much attention to the things of this world which is short lived both its pleasure and its pain. But this is all we know.
That does not mean we ought not to enjoy things here. Nor does it mean ought to live lives accepting discomforts and difficulties. It means we ought not to loose perspective of eternity when we are wrapped around the temporary. We can face suffering by looking forward to life and joy with God forever.
Why do people have surgery when they know it's going to hurt? Because they know that for a little while there will be pain and suffering with the hope that it will take care of a problem. In the longer run the disease will cause them more difficulty if not taken care of. Sometimes the pain is so bad that they will endure more pain to correct the pain. Bryan, our son, just had appendix surgery when the pain got too bad it needed attention. Had it not been done he would have died. Further pain was worth it in the long run.
Secondly, suffering is a means of proving faith and is a tool for character building. I think of the training that many of our service men and women go through in order to prepare for the military. Some of the exercises they go through seem senseless. Except when one learns obedience without question in boot camp, they don't have to sit and analyze every movement when their commanding officer gives them an order in battle or warfare. There were many strategies that were not discussed during the Dessert Storm Operation. There would be no victory if each person debated the wisdom of the plans. Each carried out a task that was part of a greater strategic plan unbeknown to some of the Navy, some of the Air Force and Army and Marines, but called to accomplish a total task together that when each did their part out of obedience with the training they have already gone through.
We are called to a much more important conflict than Afghanistan, Iraq or the United States. We are called to a spiritual battle. God knows what He is doing and doesn’t have to reveal the strategies to us. Satan and his evil forces, principalities, and powers use all types of deception, discouragement, disease. Many times we do not even know we are under spiritual attack. But even the trails which are different than temptations are either allowed by God or brought by God to make us stronger in our faith. The advantage is that God is the one in whom our victory and strength is placed even through it is hard. We are victorious as we continue in Him. It is a promise.
There is no question as to who will win, but in the midst of the battles we do not always understand the reason for some of our training and we do not understand where we always fit in the bigger picture. That is where being obedient and trusting in the one who called us into his service is all we need to keep going when success and victory is already promised.
Peter wants them to know that they can stand anything if they remember it is a test. Gold has to be tried and tested and purified with fire so it can be stronger and cleaner and firmer than even before. Fire draws away the crud and impurities; so do trials in this life. When the heart is too attached to the reputation to success, to riches, to health, to family, to jobs, to positions, to possessions, then there needs to be fire to resort our priorities. That is so we can see Jesus only. It has been said that the eastern goldsmith kept the metal in the furnace until he could see his face reflected in it. So our Lord keeps us in the furnace of suffering until we reflect the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ.
It is probable that we will be forcefully separated form many people and things that are precious to us and this separation will involve sorrow and pain. The blessings and gifts that are eternally valid, however, will never be taken from us. The gift of God's Son, the eternal hope renewed in His resurrection, the presence of His Spirit, the salvation which is already ours--these gifts are ours forever, and ought to fill our lives with perpetual praise.
Too many professing Christians have a false faith which is revealed in the trails of the life. This is the story of the wise man and foolish man building their houses one on rock the other on sand. We see their true faith when storms came. One fell the other overcame the storm. The seed that fell on shallow soil produced rootless plant and the plants die when the sun came up. When the person abandons his faith when the going gets tough he is only proving that his attention for faith was on the wrong object.
These are some important things suffering teaches us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds June 3, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1:8,9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The Scenario of our Savior
Hope in suffering comes from focusing on the work and life of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds the persecuted people they will see Him when He returns and rewards their faithfulness. All rights will be righted when Jesus returns. That is a cause for hope and Paul defines it as a living hope. The important point is that the glory is not fully revealed until Jesus return for His church. Our situations today are preparation for us glory tomorrow.
Peter focused on the life of Christ, His Death, burial and resurrection. But the next event on God’s agenda beyond spreading the victory news is He is coming again. But we are not left alone in this present life. He is with you, though you don't see Him.
Napoleon Bonaparte referred to the mystery of Christian’s affection to an unseen Christ. He recounted how his soldiers fought bravely as long as they saw him in the field, but as soon as he was unseen, their courage flogged and met with defeat. Yet l,000s of Christians in this world have not seen Jesus, but are devoted with passionate zeal to their savior.
Peter did see Jesus. He had the privilege to walk with Him and hear his voice and see his miracles and witness the resurrection as he with his eyes and ears and touch witnesses the living Son of God.
But now people do not see Jesus in his physical form. Yet they love and believe in him and that brings joy. Peter recognizes their love and faith. This was based on a relationship with living Christ, not on that which is seen, but unseen. Jesus promised that very thing when He was standing with Thomas in the upper room following his resurrection. He would not believe in the resurrection without seeing it with his own eyes. Jesus was frank, “You believe because you have seen me, Blessed are those who do not see me yet believe.”
When one commits Himself to Jesus in obedience there is a blessing and awareness of God in ways that science does not understand. Power of faith is stronger than any other power in the world.
The more you love Jesus the more you are aware of His love in your lives through thick and thin. Love and faith go together when you love someone you believe in them when you believe in someone you learn to love them, in holy sense.
How do we grow in the faith? Romans 10:17 reminds us faith come from hearing and hearing from the word of God." We become people of stronger faith by feeding on the Word of God. Trials bring us to the Bible and it sustains us. The key to strength and courage, the ability to endure, and the grace to find beauty and joy even within the crucible experience of our lives is faith. Rejoice in your Salvation.
Likewise, our confidence in what Jesus did, is doing, and will do leads us to joy. That gives encouragement to people who are down. Let God work. Trust His love, His promises and His power.
Abraham discovered new truths about the Lord on the mount where he offered Isaac. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego discovered His nearness when they went through the fiery furnace. Paul learned the sufficiency of God grace when he suffered the thorn in the flesh. The people of faith, Peter are full of joy unspeakable and full of glory. This inner joy is deep and wonderful it is hard to put it into words.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs June 4, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1: 10,11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
The Scenario of the Scriptures
Prophets of old spoke things for our benefit, not theirs. The believers could find it easy to give up because of problems, persecutions and prejudice against them. Who wants to be ostracized by friends and family? It is not easy being a Christian today in our world, but can you imagine what is was like being a Christian in USSR when it was illegal, or Yugoslavia, or Albania? Can you imagine what it is like today for the believers of Jesus in some of the strict Muslim countries like Iraq, Lybia, Iran? What do you think it was like for first century believer in Jesus? They were ostracized from synagogue, from worship, from their Jewish traditions.
Now, keep this in context. Paul is reminding his readers of their Jewish heritage which they love so much. He is pointing to the prophets of the Scriptures whom they love and have been part of their faith- teaching in the Old Testament. Then Peter masterfully reminds them that these prophets, even whom they Rabbis and Jewish teacher and quoting and following today were pointing to the very gospel which you have received. All of the Old Testament writings were pointing to the one who had been revealed to Peter James and John. They did not want to live in the past and they wished they could have what you have. Do you catch that argument? Prophets of old longed for the revelation of the Messiah and now Jesus came. They worked for your benefit.
The words of salvation to you and me are a result of those men and women who met the Lord many centuries before and wrote and thought about that which is to come, the coming of the Messiah. They wrote of the suffering of the Messiah. They were told of the redemption that must be paid for people to be released from bondages. Sure someday God was going to come and free his people and dwell in them. Oh won't that be wonderful? Peter tells them “You are that people.”
Moses promised the land but was not able to go in. For him he worked on a promise that he was not able to see, but wished he could it was for the joy of the Israelites and obedience to God that Moses did what he did. King David dreamed about the temple and wanted so badly to build this magnificent structure of worship to Almighty God but it was not to be, he had shed too much blood. So David did all he could with the energy that he had in peace time to prepare plan and provide for the building but he never saw it. He worked for others to witness the majesty of worship in the grandeur of the building. He worked for others as he was obedient to God. We even see the greatest of prophets, John the Baptist, pointing people to get prepared for the coming Messiah. He longed for the deliverance and peace which he knew Jesus was to provide, but what happened to John? He died before he realized the full implication of his message.
But now the people were recipients of all that which Moses David John and Isaiah, Daniel Ezekiel longed to see and witness and it is ours. We know Christ came, died on the cross for our sins, and was buried and rose again. We know the Holy Spirit comes into the lives of followers of Jesus who commit their lives to Him. We know that God speaks to us and uses and gives us gifts and strength that we can encourage one another to glorify God and bring others to the point in their lives when they hear the call of God in their lives. Are you praying working and helping others to see what great God we have?
Preachers filled with the Holy Spirit speak for your benefit. The message of the preacher was to announce salvation, the good news. They were filled by the Holy Spirit from heaven and proclaimed truth as the Spirit took those words and directed that truth to the hearts of people prepared to receive them.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri June 5, 2009
Verse I Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
The Scenario of Salvation.
As Peter writes to encourage a persecuted people the plan of salvation itself is a privilege to behold. The fact that we are saved is a wonder. How God came to each of us is reason to change our moping to praise.
Angels marvel at God's plan. Even the heavenly beings become observers and not participants in the great Salvation that is ours. How God marvelously calls us, planned our salvation, prepared us, purchased us through the works of the Son and purifies us through the works of the Holy Spirit. Angels long to look into the wondrous works of God that is for our rejoicing.
Dr. Criswall has an interesting illustration regarding the angels. “If I were to say to you, ‘Here is door that opens into heaven, let us look in that door.’ Would we not all eagerly gather around it to look at the vista of glory? Just imagine what you would see. Look and see those gates made out of solid pearl. Look at those foundations-- all the pure gems. Look at that jasper wall. Would you not like to see something like that and would you not be amazed as you look at the golden streets? Gold so valued here will be so plentiful in heaven that you can use it for road material. That is the implication of trying to compare our world to Heaven. And look at that throne-look at the water of life--look at the tree of life--and look at God's redeemed. When I think of standing there, I can hardly take it in.”
But the apostle says the angels crowd around the windows of heaven and look down at us. They are amazed and filled with desire to understand as they see Christ dying for our sins, raised for our justification, and the Spirit of God wooing and convicting the human heart. They are looking down on us, and they are filled with wonder and amazement at what they see. The Bible tells us that there is joy in the presence of angels of God because of one sinner who repents. They look down and are overwhelmed by the grace they see flowing from the wounds of Christ, the salvation that pours from His heart, the blessedness of the cross and the winning of a soul. It is ours for the taking.
What do you say to a persecuted people?
When I had the privilege of teaching pastors in Russia I was told stories of how believers were denied upper education, professional jobs and benefits from the communist regime. They showed pictures to me of their parents and grandparents who were arrested and killed for their faith. The family saw the purpose behind many who died for their faith so that their perseverance would light the nation with the truth of Christ. Now the stories were coming out, the lies of atheistic communism were being challenged.
Joseph Ton was an active Baptist in Rumania. I heard him speak a few years ago in Minneapolis. He ran away from his country to study theology. When he was ready to go back to Rumania some of his friends told him he would not have much chance being a Christian pastor and preacher in that country. He asked God about it and God brought to mind Matt. 10:16 I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves - and seemed to say, "Tell me, what chance does sheep surrounded by wolves have of surviving 5 minutes, let alone of converting the wolves? Joseph, that's how I send you; Totally defenseless and without a reasonable hope of success. If you are willing to go like that go, If you are not willing to be in that position, don't go."
He went. He preached uninhibitedly. Harassment and arrest and persecutions came. One day during interrogation an officer threatened to kill him. Then Joseph Ton said, "Sir, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Sir, you know my sermons are all over the country on tapes now. If you kill me I will be sprinkling them with my blood. Whoever listens to them after that will say, "I'd better listen. This man sealed it with his blood." They will speak 10 times louder than before. So go on and kill me. I win the supreme victory then."
The officer sent him home. "That gave me pause. For years I was a Christian who was cautious because I wanted to survive. I had accepted all the restriction the authorities put on me because I wanted to live. Now I wanted to die, and they wouldn't oblige. Now I could do whatever I wanted in Rumania. For years I wanted to save my life, and I was losing it. Now that I wanted to lose it, I was winning it."
Peter knew that. He was trying to convince the followers of Jesus of that. Think of God, your life here is temporary. We are being changed and tested, but think of the joy of your reward. Think of the love of Christ the strength of faith and be filled with the joy of being heaven bound. Many have gone on before you so you might know this wonderful God. Now play your part that others might know too.
Pastor Dale
Friday, May 29, 2009
Peter's Principles 1 Peter 1:1-5
Sermon Nuggets week of May 25 2009
1 Pet 1:1-5
Sermon Nuggets Mon May 25
Theme Peter’s Principles
Verses: 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
Peter's Introduction
We begin a new series today from the epistles of Peter. As Jesus’ chosen spokesman and leader of the 12 apostles we are inspired as this eyewitness to the 3 years of being with Jesus helps us understand things of how his heart and priorities were changed.
When I was visiting relatives I listened and watched my two young nephews. They are brothers. Each admired what the other one was like and wanted to be like his brother. One is social and the quiet. He wished he could have things to say in groups and feel comfortable in front of people. He wished he could be more like his sibling and make other feel good and laugh and joke around. The gregarious brother wished he was more like the first- studious, and solid, and stable. The first had abilities to accomplish his goals and dreams without being distracted. He was more organized, and disciplined. Each wished they could be more like the other. I admired their individual qualities that made them unique.
When God works with men and women he does not make us carbon copies. Isn't that great? There is only one of you. Maybe one is all we can take. But God uses us with the personalities and idiosyncrasies. We have different temperaments, abilities, likes and dislikes. Some of those we develop but much of that is the way God made us. Not all of us are extroverts, most are introverts. Not all are socially comfortable people; many prefer quiet activities and spend time by themselves. Some are more verbal than others. Some have higher energy than others. Some are more creative than others, or athletic, or musical. What seems odd to me is most seem unhappy with the way they are and want to be like someone else.
I wouldn't be surprised if that's the way it was between the brothers Andrew and Peter. They were so different, but special each in their own ways. We know a lot of Peter because he was clearly an extrovert. He was a leader. He was vocal. He was the one who demonstrated impulsive behavior. But Andrew was portrayed in the Gospels as quieter. He worked more behind the scenes. He was impressed with Jesus and went on got his brother, Peter and brought him to Christ.
Peter introduces himself and his letter by acknowledging his calling. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”. The calling did not come because Peter filled out an application form and submitted it with a deposit the school or apostleship. It did not come from degrees. It did not come from some blood line. It was given to him by Jesus’ will.
This letter is from the big fisherman. He was part of Jesus inner circle. Think back on this man. Peter was mending his nets and discussing the events of the day on the sea when his brother comes to him and tells him, "Simon, you should come and hear this guy. This is the one John the Baptist was talking about. I met him today with our friend John. He speaks like no one else I've ever heard. I want you to meet him. I am convinced he is the Messiah, from God. He is going to redeem our people."
Peter, who is called Simon grunts finishes his task and wonders what Andrew his brother is up to now. Because of the trust and love he has for his brother he follows him and meets Jesus. Do you know what Jesus tells him? "You are called Simon. I am going to call you Peter." Jesus has plans for the brothers. After meeting Jesus the next stop was to listen to the command of the Master to “follow me.”
The first days the invitation was simply to come and see. Then after they were convinced he was a great prophet they were challenged to “follow me.” In obedience they did. When they went where Jesus went and did what Jesus said the time came when they needed to “go”. They were sent out but never alone. Following Jesus time on earth He gave them the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I think the elements of true discipleship begin with hearing about Jesus; seeing who He is; recognizing the call He has on your life. Obey to follow Him and then go and do his will in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit and the unique calling on your life with the gifts, talents and personality God gave you by his grace.
Being with Jesus will affect your life and your relationship. It will affect your priorities and your purpose. Have you taken the time to be with Jesus?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues May 26, 2009
Verses- Verses: 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
A Willing Worker
I had a Christian boss who was a doer. He was impulsive. When I was called to be a Chaplain in the nursing homes, I thought it might be wise to think and pray about it for a few days. If he could have found someone else he would have hired that person on the spot. The audacity of thinking and praying for a few days was beyond his way of operating. But by God’s grace I took on the ministry and it was of God for those next four years. After he got to know me he chided me by saying, If God can create the world in 6 days he can tell you in 6 minutes if you should take the job or not. What are you waiting for?
My boss had little time for waiting. He was a doer.
As I thought of Peter I realize he was a doer. His impulsiveness sometime got him into trouble. But God created him with the gifts and abilities that allowed him to be used in his unique and different way. He learned to be a willing worker after he chose to follow Jesus’ command on his life. Knowing Christ completely changed him. He still had the same personality, and natural abilities, but given to the Lord those were used in addition to His Spiritual gifts to allow God to change the world through him. Peter had the characteristic of being zealous in what he did.
He was involved with life in zealous ways. Peter had zeal unlike most of his fellow apostles. He was the first and only one out of the boat in the Lake of Galilee. He was the first and only one to draw a sword to protect Jesus. He was the first one to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of the Living God. He was the only one to swim to shore when he recognized it was Jesus speaking to them after His resurrection. He was beaten and jailed for his preaching the good news.
God used Peter in great ways. But let’s face it- most of us aren't like Peter. He was confronting, extroverted, impulsive, a guy whom God wanted to give great leadership to the church. He was a doer. He was a mover and shaker. He did not need lots of time to ponder his actions.
When the Bible tells us that the Lord called Peter, he immediately forsook everything and followed Jesus. He was confident. You knew what he thought and why. At one point he promised faithfulness and next he denied know Jesus. He had zeal but was weak. He could go to Jesus and say it straight. "Depart form me; for I am a sinful man." He could admit his sin instead of trying to cover it up like most folks do.
Think of Peter's life. He was called by Jesus, picked to be a spokesman. He was told that he would be a witness, and be empowered with the Holy Spirit. Was it any wonder that Peter did not spend his time talking about himself but God who chose him? Now he reminds those who were suffering for their faith, to stop thinking of themselves and remember what God did. That's Peter's principle.
When word came to him about 65 AD while he was in Rome that many of the believers were suffering for their faith he wrote them this letter. They were rejected by their families, and leaving their homes. Peter knew what that was like. What do you say to someone who is going through hard times? How do you encourage them? Some people were hiding literally for their lives since they were being sought by people wanting to kill them because they are Christians.
In his letter Peter starts to teach them about Election, Separation, Foreknowledge of God ,Sanctification, Salvation, the work of the Trinity, Mercy of God, Assurance of Heaven, Security of the believers, the Second Coming of Jesus, Faith, and Divine Protection.
It is good theology that becomes the foundation of our faith. And good doctrine allows us to live out a faithful life. One of the best encouragers when we are going through tough times is someone who's been through it all and tells us how. Peter’s life becomes the badge of authority by calling and experience that his helpful to Christians who are living under pressure. He has the right to speak to the persecuted church. We want to learn from him and the words given to him by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds May 27
Verses: 1 Peter 1:1,2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
God Knows All About what You are Going Through.
Why is it when we go through tough times we immediately think God must be shirking his responsibilities to bless us and give us a good life? Many preachers repeatedly leave us understanding that God's job is to make life easy for you. Having God at the center of your life may lead to difficult days.
I think of many Christians today who suffer hardship, beatings, tortures at the hands of Communist governments, Muslim extremists, Hindu fundamentalists, as well as subtle ways of discrimination by secular and post-Christian societies. Even in America now we see church services and Christian gatherings disrupted for political reasons and agendas.
What people need to remember is that God began the work in you and he will see it through. He has a plan. Think of your salvation and what a great God we have.
I could have been born a Hottintot in the heart of Africa. Why was I not born an Australian aborigine? I could have been born in the heart of communism of that last decade without the gospel preached and brought up to believe in nothing- No God, no supreme power, only man is the highest being. How is it that I was born in a Christian home, or surrounded by the good news of God's love? How is it that I heard the gospel of Christ and that I was saved? I praised His name because he has shown mercy to me. It is not my doing it is God's plan and purpose carried out.
Doctrine of election and foreknowledge of God are important principles to understand especially when people are thinking God is not caring that they are suffering and going through hard times. Before the world began God chose us in Christ (Eph 1:4) All whom the Father gave to Christ come unto Him. (John 6:37) How is it that two people hear about Jesus one is interested and the other could care less? One is eager to know more about God and Christ, His Son the other can't wait to get away from discussing Spiritual things?
To the unbelieving world the gospel is a proclamation to repent and exercise faith in Christ and it is to “whosoever will may come.” To the believer in Christ the truth is then made known that he was elected by sovereign grace according to God's foreknowledge. We are elected to obedience not merely that we should escape the penalty due to sin. We are elected to obey which sometimes means we suffer at the hands of evil people who are threatened by the truth. It was suffering of Christians that provided the spread of the gospel and Peter experienced beatings tortures and death and is writing to the persecuted church to look beyond to see something greater than cannot be taken away.
While it is a great honor to be among God's favorite, we must remember that Gods' purpose in election is to set apart a people to fulfill His purposes, not ours. This always involves responsibility and accountability. We are saved to serve His purposes not our pleasures in this world. Many Christians still haven't caught that.
It is exciting to realize that long before you were born God had you in His mind. He is not going to forget you now. He made you the way He wanted that you might obey Him and honor Him in your life, in the good times and in the bad times.
That's the way God is. He is not against man. He is for him. He knew all about Peter. He knows all about me and he knows all about you. He knows all about the people who were suffering for Christ’s sake. And Peter reminds them they are special. Do not think for a moment that just because you are going through hard times you are forgotten. You are special. Peter's knew.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs May 28, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
The Work of the Triune God
If God's work is to draw us to Himself because He as a plan for you and me then how does He do that?
Peter presents the work of the Father by also mentioning the work of the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are familiar with the Trinity. The people in Peter's days were just getting used to God working in three ways. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all engaged in the work of Salvation. God chose us; the Spirit sanctifies us; and Jesus Christ bought us.
The plan of salvation includes more than the Father's electing love; it also includes the work of the Spirit in convicting the sinner and bringing him to faith in Christ. Sanctification is setting apart. The root idea of the word is just separation from common uses to the service of God. God's Spirit is actively engaged in setting people apart to a totally different kind of life. He awakens our hearts to respond to God and his goodness. He makes us aware how really how damaging sin is in our lives and in our relations. We find that we are not fulfilled and at peace by living any old way we want. We become well aware that there is little purpose in living making money and looking for fun. What's it all for and where does it all lead to? God made us for Himself and has plans for us now and forever. It is God's spirit makes us holy before God.
It was the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had to die on the cross for our sin, or there could be no salvation. That is were the sprinkling of the blood comes in. In the Old Testament the Jews used to sacrifice animals and kill them. It was a horrible way to approach God. Because they were unholy God said in order to have a relationship me some animal has to die because that is how much I hate sin. That blood is a reminder to you that do not take sin lightly. When Aaron was sprinkled with blood as one set apart for God's service in the Old Testament it was put on the right ear on their thumbs and one the big toes of their right feet. What did that symbolize? That the servant was to hear, do, and go according to the command of God. When the blood was applied to the doorposts in the Old Testament it was so the judgment of death would not be applied to that household. In Jesus Christ we are saved for the judgment of death for our sins fell on Jesus Christ Himself and now the blood has been applied and we are to listen to God, to do what he wants and go where he wants us to go. We are obedient.
God the Father chose me in Christ before the foundations of the world. God the Son paid the price at Calvary. God the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin one night in 1956 when I saw the need for Jesus to save me from sin. Then it all came together God in his Triune person carried out His work.
Because of that, God calls us strangers in this world. When Sarah died in the land Abraham confessed he was a sojourner among the people. We are just passing through. We have a citizenship elsewhere. A sojourner has no intention of settling down away from home. This pictures the believer with his true citizenship in heaven while temporarily away from home on earth.
Now remember the people to whom he is addressed were Jewish brethren who had embraced Christianity. There were strangers for they were not really gentiles and they were being rejected by their Jewish friends and family. They were like without a home literally and figuratively, only Peter was telling them they do have a home. They do have friends. We are a new Kingdom together.
When we are in Christ we are enemies with the world. We are not at home. We are looked upon differently and we look on it differently.
Peter wanted the suffering brothers and sisters to look beyond our temporary journey and exercise faith in the one who loved them.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri May 29, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (NIV)
Peter wants us to know God's Wonder
We have a wonderful God. Centering our attention on the problems of this life, on other people, of what we can do and what we can’t will bring us down. Peter's principle is to be filled with the wonder of God, by recognizing his work for our salvation, how he carried out his plan by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and then think of the wonder of the benefits we have received.
Part of the greeting of Peter addressed his readers with both Greek and Hebrew salutations. The Greek word is charis- grace. The word Shalom is Hebrew word for peace. Grace is getting what we do not desire, Peace is obtaining God's gift and having things right with our creator.
Mercy is demonstrated by not getting punished, but instead giving a gift of hope because Jesus not only died on the cross he got up again. Peter is doing more than that. It isn't only that Jesus arose and the good guys win, but we receive an inheritance. How do we describe it? Peter tells us what it isn't. It isn't going to decay and pass away. All around them the Christians lost homes, and money and property. They were living in a very changing world, but that's not going to be the way it is with God. The inheritance will never perish.
Your inheritance will also never be impure. So much of what we get has something wrong with it. It breaks, doesn't work, and is quickly gone, it is obsolete. The inheritance God has for you will never fade away. In fact it is reserved in heaven for you, protected by the power of God through faith ready to be revealed when Jesus Christ comes again.
The inheritance of the New Testament Christian is infinitely more than Mid-eastern real estate. It is full and final deliverance from the curse of sin and all its debilitating effect. It is the state of perfect holiness which follows the final removal of sin and Satan. It is the perfect inheritance beyond the reach of change and decay.
It is not only kept in heaven but faithful believers are living out their lives here on earth, shielded by God's power. God has not left the church without protection in the midst of hostile world. He continuously guards his own. We can be absolutely confident that God will see us through until the day we receive our inheritance. Yet is through faith that we are kept. When Jesus returns the church will experience the great deliverance.
The greatest part of the inheritance is God Himself- not the golden harps, not the sea of glass mingled with light, not rest from pain and immunity from sorrow. But far greater than all these is God himself and these other things are added as well. Which would you rather have you Father or the things that your Father gives you?
How do you know you are saved? Do you have to just hope that some day you've done more good than bad? Do you have any confidence that it might be? Suppose we don't make it?
Peter reminds them all believers are being kept by the power of God. We means guarded and shielded. We are constantly being guarded by God assured that we shall safely arrive in heaven. We are not kept by our strength but by His faithfulness, and he will do that until Jesus returns.
One of the ways to inspire us is to personalize the pronouns to recognize the great work of God. Try reading it with your name-
“To Dale, stranger to the world, I have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God for obedience to Jesus. In his great mercy God has given to Dale Cope new birth and an inheritance than can never perish kept in heaven for me. Through faith I am shielded by God's power until Jesus comes.”
That’s good news.
Pastor Dale
1 Pet 1:1-5
Sermon Nuggets Mon May 25
Theme Peter’s Principles
Verses: 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
Peter's Introduction
We begin a new series today from the epistles of Peter. As Jesus’ chosen spokesman and leader of the 12 apostles we are inspired as this eyewitness to the 3 years of being with Jesus helps us understand things of how his heart and priorities were changed.
When I was visiting relatives I listened and watched my two young nephews. They are brothers. Each admired what the other one was like and wanted to be like his brother. One is social and the quiet. He wished he could have things to say in groups and feel comfortable in front of people. He wished he could be more like his sibling and make other feel good and laugh and joke around. The gregarious brother wished he was more like the first- studious, and solid, and stable. The first had abilities to accomplish his goals and dreams without being distracted. He was more organized, and disciplined. Each wished they could be more like the other. I admired their individual qualities that made them unique.
When God works with men and women he does not make us carbon copies. Isn't that great? There is only one of you. Maybe one is all we can take. But God uses us with the personalities and idiosyncrasies. We have different temperaments, abilities, likes and dislikes. Some of those we develop but much of that is the way God made us. Not all of us are extroverts, most are introverts. Not all are socially comfortable people; many prefer quiet activities and spend time by themselves. Some are more verbal than others. Some have higher energy than others. Some are more creative than others, or athletic, or musical. What seems odd to me is most seem unhappy with the way they are and want to be like someone else.
I wouldn't be surprised if that's the way it was between the brothers Andrew and Peter. They were so different, but special each in their own ways. We know a lot of Peter because he was clearly an extrovert. He was a leader. He was vocal. He was the one who demonstrated impulsive behavior. But Andrew was portrayed in the Gospels as quieter. He worked more behind the scenes. He was impressed with Jesus and went on got his brother, Peter and brought him to Christ.
Peter introduces himself and his letter by acknowledging his calling. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”. The calling did not come because Peter filled out an application form and submitted it with a deposit the school or apostleship. It did not come from degrees. It did not come from some blood line. It was given to him by Jesus’ will.
This letter is from the big fisherman. He was part of Jesus inner circle. Think back on this man. Peter was mending his nets and discussing the events of the day on the sea when his brother comes to him and tells him, "Simon, you should come and hear this guy. This is the one John the Baptist was talking about. I met him today with our friend John. He speaks like no one else I've ever heard. I want you to meet him. I am convinced he is the Messiah, from God. He is going to redeem our people."
Peter, who is called Simon grunts finishes his task and wonders what Andrew his brother is up to now. Because of the trust and love he has for his brother he follows him and meets Jesus. Do you know what Jesus tells him? "You are called Simon. I am going to call you Peter." Jesus has plans for the brothers. After meeting Jesus the next stop was to listen to the command of the Master to “follow me.”
The first days the invitation was simply to come and see. Then after they were convinced he was a great prophet they were challenged to “follow me.” In obedience they did. When they went where Jesus went and did what Jesus said the time came when they needed to “go”. They were sent out but never alone. Following Jesus time on earth He gave them the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I think the elements of true discipleship begin with hearing about Jesus; seeing who He is; recognizing the call He has on your life. Obey to follow Him and then go and do his will in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit and the unique calling on your life with the gifts, talents and personality God gave you by his grace.
Being with Jesus will affect your life and your relationship. It will affect your priorities and your purpose. Have you taken the time to be with Jesus?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues May 26, 2009
Verses- Verses: 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
A Willing Worker
I had a Christian boss who was a doer. He was impulsive. When I was called to be a Chaplain in the nursing homes, I thought it might be wise to think and pray about it for a few days. If he could have found someone else he would have hired that person on the spot. The audacity of thinking and praying for a few days was beyond his way of operating. But by God’s grace I took on the ministry and it was of God for those next four years. After he got to know me he chided me by saying, If God can create the world in 6 days he can tell you in 6 minutes if you should take the job or not. What are you waiting for?
My boss had little time for waiting. He was a doer.
As I thought of Peter I realize he was a doer. His impulsiveness sometime got him into trouble. But God created him with the gifts and abilities that allowed him to be used in his unique and different way. He learned to be a willing worker after he chose to follow Jesus’ command on his life. Knowing Christ completely changed him. He still had the same personality, and natural abilities, but given to the Lord those were used in addition to His Spiritual gifts to allow God to change the world through him. Peter had the characteristic of being zealous in what he did.
He was involved with life in zealous ways. Peter had zeal unlike most of his fellow apostles. He was the first and only one out of the boat in the Lake of Galilee. He was the first and only one to draw a sword to protect Jesus. He was the first one to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of the Living God. He was the only one to swim to shore when he recognized it was Jesus speaking to them after His resurrection. He was beaten and jailed for his preaching the good news.
God used Peter in great ways. But let’s face it- most of us aren't like Peter. He was confronting, extroverted, impulsive, a guy whom God wanted to give great leadership to the church. He was a doer. He was a mover and shaker. He did not need lots of time to ponder his actions.
When the Bible tells us that the Lord called Peter, he immediately forsook everything and followed Jesus. He was confident. You knew what he thought and why. At one point he promised faithfulness and next he denied know Jesus. He had zeal but was weak. He could go to Jesus and say it straight. "Depart form me; for I am a sinful man." He could admit his sin instead of trying to cover it up like most folks do.
Think of Peter's life. He was called by Jesus, picked to be a spokesman. He was told that he would be a witness, and be empowered with the Holy Spirit. Was it any wonder that Peter did not spend his time talking about himself but God who chose him? Now he reminds those who were suffering for their faith, to stop thinking of themselves and remember what God did. That's Peter's principle.
When word came to him about 65 AD while he was in Rome that many of the believers were suffering for their faith he wrote them this letter. They were rejected by their families, and leaving their homes. Peter knew what that was like. What do you say to someone who is going through hard times? How do you encourage them? Some people were hiding literally for their lives since they were being sought by people wanting to kill them because they are Christians.
In his letter Peter starts to teach them about Election, Separation, Foreknowledge of God ,Sanctification, Salvation, the work of the Trinity, Mercy of God, Assurance of Heaven, Security of the believers, the Second Coming of Jesus, Faith, and Divine Protection.
It is good theology that becomes the foundation of our faith. And good doctrine allows us to live out a faithful life. One of the best encouragers when we are going through tough times is someone who's been through it all and tells us how. Peter’s life becomes the badge of authority by calling and experience that his helpful to Christians who are living under pressure. He has the right to speak to the persecuted church. We want to learn from him and the words given to him by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds May 27
Verses: 1 Peter 1:1,2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
God Knows All About what You are Going Through.
Why is it when we go through tough times we immediately think God must be shirking his responsibilities to bless us and give us a good life? Many preachers repeatedly leave us understanding that God's job is to make life easy for you. Having God at the center of your life may lead to difficult days.
I think of many Christians today who suffer hardship, beatings, tortures at the hands of Communist governments, Muslim extremists, Hindu fundamentalists, as well as subtle ways of discrimination by secular and post-Christian societies. Even in America now we see church services and Christian gatherings disrupted for political reasons and agendas.
What people need to remember is that God began the work in you and he will see it through. He has a plan. Think of your salvation and what a great God we have.
I could have been born a Hottintot in the heart of Africa. Why was I not born an Australian aborigine? I could have been born in the heart of communism of that last decade without the gospel preached and brought up to believe in nothing- No God, no supreme power, only man is the highest being. How is it that I was born in a Christian home, or surrounded by the good news of God's love? How is it that I heard the gospel of Christ and that I was saved? I praised His name because he has shown mercy to me. It is not my doing it is God's plan and purpose carried out.
Doctrine of election and foreknowledge of God are important principles to understand especially when people are thinking God is not caring that they are suffering and going through hard times. Before the world began God chose us in Christ (Eph 1:4) All whom the Father gave to Christ come unto Him. (John 6:37) How is it that two people hear about Jesus one is interested and the other could care less? One is eager to know more about God and Christ, His Son the other can't wait to get away from discussing Spiritual things?
To the unbelieving world the gospel is a proclamation to repent and exercise faith in Christ and it is to “whosoever will may come.” To the believer in Christ the truth is then made known that he was elected by sovereign grace according to God's foreknowledge. We are elected to obedience not merely that we should escape the penalty due to sin. We are elected to obey which sometimes means we suffer at the hands of evil people who are threatened by the truth. It was suffering of Christians that provided the spread of the gospel and Peter experienced beatings tortures and death and is writing to the persecuted church to look beyond to see something greater than cannot be taken away.
While it is a great honor to be among God's favorite, we must remember that Gods' purpose in election is to set apart a people to fulfill His purposes, not ours. This always involves responsibility and accountability. We are saved to serve His purposes not our pleasures in this world. Many Christians still haven't caught that.
It is exciting to realize that long before you were born God had you in His mind. He is not going to forget you now. He made you the way He wanted that you might obey Him and honor Him in your life, in the good times and in the bad times.
That's the way God is. He is not against man. He is for him. He knew all about Peter. He knows all about me and he knows all about you. He knows all about the people who were suffering for Christ’s sake. And Peter reminds them they are special. Do not think for a moment that just because you are going through hard times you are forgotten. You are special. Peter's knew.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs May 28, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
The Work of the Triune God
If God's work is to draw us to Himself because He as a plan for you and me then how does He do that?
Peter presents the work of the Father by also mentioning the work of the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are familiar with the Trinity. The people in Peter's days were just getting used to God working in three ways. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all engaged in the work of Salvation. God chose us; the Spirit sanctifies us; and Jesus Christ bought us.
The plan of salvation includes more than the Father's electing love; it also includes the work of the Spirit in convicting the sinner and bringing him to faith in Christ. Sanctification is setting apart. The root idea of the word is just separation from common uses to the service of God. God's Spirit is actively engaged in setting people apart to a totally different kind of life. He awakens our hearts to respond to God and his goodness. He makes us aware how really how damaging sin is in our lives and in our relations. We find that we are not fulfilled and at peace by living any old way we want. We become well aware that there is little purpose in living making money and looking for fun. What's it all for and where does it all lead to? God made us for Himself and has plans for us now and forever. It is God's spirit makes us holy before God.
It was the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had to die on the cross for our sin, or there could be no salvation. That is were the sprinkling of the blood comes in. In the Old Testament the Jews used to sacrifice animals and kill them. It was a horrible way to approach God. Because they were unholy God said in order to have a relationship me some animal has to die because that is how much I hate sin. That blood is a reminder to you that do not take sin lightly. When Aaron was sprinkled with blood as one set apart for God's service in the Old Testament it was put on the right ear on their thumbs and one the big toes of their right feet. What did that symbolize? That the servant was to hear, do, and go according to the command of God. When the blood was applied to the doorposts in the Old Testament it was so the judgment of death would not be applied to that household. In Jesus Christ we are saved for the judgment of death for our sins fell on Jesus Christ Himself and now the blood has been applied and we are to listen to God, to do what he wants and go where he wants us to go. We are obedient.
God the Father chose me in Christ before the foundations of the world. God the Son paid the price at Calvary. God the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin one night in 1956 when I saw the need for Jesus to save me from sin. Then it all came together God in his Triune person carried out His work.
Because of that, God calls us strangers in this world. When Sarah died in the land Abraham confessed he was a sojourner among the people. We are just passing through. We have a citizenship elsewhere. A sojourner has no intention of settling down away from home. This pictures the believer with his true citizenship in heaven while temporarily away from home on earth.
Now remember the people to whom he is addressed were Jewish brethren who had embraced Christianity. There were strangers for they were not really gentiles and they were being rejected by their Jewish friends and family. They were like without a home literally and figuratively, only Peter was telling them they do have a home. They do have friends. We are a new Kingdom together.
When we are in Christ we are enemies with the world. We are not at home. We are looked upon differently and we look on it differently.
Peter wanted the suffering brothers and sisters to look beyond our temporary journey and exercise faith in the one who loved them.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri May 29, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (NIV)
Peter wants us to know God's Wonder
We have a wonderful God. Centering our attention on the problems of this life, on other people, of what we can do and what we can’t will bring us down. Peter's principle is to be filled with the wonder of God, by recognizing his work for our salvation, how he carried out his plan by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and then think of the wonder of the benefits we have received.
Part of the greeting of Peter addressed his readers with both Greek and Hebrew salutations. The Greek word is charis- grace. The word Shalom is Hebrew word for peace. Grace is getting what we do not desire, Peace is obtaining God's gift and having things right with our creator.
Mercy is demonstrated by not getting punished, but instead giving a gift of hope because Jesus not only died on the cross he got up again. Peter is doing more than that. It isn't only that Jesus arose and the good guys win, but we receive an inheritance. How do we describe it? Peter tells us what it isn't. It isn't going to decay and pass away. All around them the Christians lost homes, and money and property. They were living in a very changing world, but that's not going to be the way it is with God. The inheritance will never perish.
Your inheritance will also never be impure. So much of what we get has something wrong with it. It breaks, doesn't work, and is quickly gone, it is obsolete. The inheritance God has for you will never fade away. In fact it is reserved in heaven for you, protected by the power of God through faith ready to be revealed when Jesus Christ comes again.
The inheritance of the New Testament Christian is infinitely more than Mid-eastern real estate. It is full and final deliverance from the curse of sin and all its debilitating effect. It is the state of perfect holiness which follows the final removal of sin and Satan. It is the perfect inheritance beyond the reach of change and decay.
It is not only kept in heaven but faithful believers are living out their lives here on earth, shielded by God's power. God has not left the church without protection in the midst of hostile world. He continuously guards his own. We can be absolutely confident that God will see us through until the day we receive our inheritance. Yet is through faith that we are kept. When Jesus returns the church will experience the great deliverance.
The greatest part of the inheritance is God Himself- not the golden harps, not the sea of glass mingled with light, not rest from pain and immunity from sorrow. But far greater than all these is God himself and these other things are added as well. Which would you rather have you Father or the things that your Father gives you?
How do you know you are saved? Do you have to just hope that some day you've done more good than bad? Do you have any confidence that it might be? Suppose we don't make it?
Peter reminds them all believers are being kept by the power of God. We means guarded and shielded. We are constantly being guarded by God assured that we shall safely arrive in heaven. We are not kept by our strength but by His faithfulness, and he will do that until Jesus returns.
One of the ways to inspire us is to personalize the pronouns to recognize the great work of God. Try reading it with your name-
“To Dale, stranger to the world, I have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God for obedience to Jesus. In his great mercy God has given to Dale Cope new birth and an inheritance than can never perish kept in heaven for me. Through faith I am shielded by God's power until Jesus comes.”
That’s good news.
Pastor Dale
Friday, May 22, 2009
Remember Your Creator Ecclesiastes 12
Sermon Nuggets Mon May 18
Theme- Remember your Creator
Verses-Ecc 12: 1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--
Roses or Wilted Flowers
Gary Chapman in his book on Love Languages identifies 5 ways we express love to another. He claims people have a love language that speaks to them more clearly than other ways. How you express your love may not have the same affect on the receiver because of different love languages. The concept of the book is that people give and receive love messages in different ways.
I switched his words around to make it into a devotional. Five ways to express love might include-Telling, Touching, Togetherness, Tasks, and Treasures. (Sounds like a sermon, huh?)
Some people appreciate being told they are loved by words, by notes, by outward expressions. Some prefer touch like hand holding, hugging, snuggling, kissing, back-rubs. Others find just doing things together makes them feel close whether it is going for a walk, reading a book, going out to eat, or even cleaning a house.
A fourth way to express love is tasks. Doing something for another is important for some. A husband might know his wife loves him by the fact she makes him a special dinner, or she might appreciate his filling her car up with gas.
Lastly, gift giving is a way some express love. Roses, or cologne, a special apparel or surprise trip might be treasures that have great meaning to another.
The goal of a relationship, according to Chapman, is finding your loved one’s love language and use it more often. What they respond to best, may not be your priority of communicating love. All of them are important, but some are favored.
I am not much of a gift giver. That would not be my prime expression. When I worked in the nursing home we'd get funeral bouquets from a service and divide up the flowers into smaller bouquets. I'd bring home a bunch to Judi thinking they were pretty and she might appreciate them. She didn’t.
If I was going to give her a gift (which she enjoyed) flowers were an expression of love when they were fresh, not used. It was more meaningful if I bought them, not got them as throwaways. To me a flower is a flower. Isn’t it the thought that counts? Buying fresh flowers doesn’t’ do it for me. But it is something she enjoys. I would be just as pleased with a gift from Tusen Tak than Sacs on Fifth Avenue.
I thought of that as Solomon concluded his thoughts from this sermon. All of life seems meaningless. There is one purpose and that is to remember your Creator. The sooner the better. The best life is not when the flowers are wilted or spend, but when they are fresh and young, so to speak. Serve God while you are young. Don't wait.
Solomon is older and realed he has not given God the priority He deserved. Certainly we can come to Him and serve Him at any time in life. But this message was meant for the young, not for the elderly. Give of your best to your master. Too many are diluted into thinking they will come to Christ when they are old and their life is almost gone. Of course, we never know at what age we are going to die. One reason older people might be more religious is they have seen life and found it to be empty without the Lord. If they realized that sooner they wouldn’t have wasted most their lives in meaningless pursuits. That is Solomon’s message.
Many young people are determined to give to God wilted flowers. They think, "When I'm older then I'll live for God; when I'm older I'll turn to the Lord and accept Jesus as my Savior, but not now. Lord, I don't want to give you roses, or buds that are in their prime. I'll give you wilted flowers once my life is spent."
The final theme from Solomon is the call to make the Lord the Center of your life and affection. To some of you senior citizens I ask, if you had it to do all over again what would you change in your life in your spiritual life? Some of Solomon’s thoughts to that question will be discussed this week.
Maybe this week think of different ways to use love language toward God by telling (praying), tasks (service), togetherness (devotions reading and enjoying His presence) Treasures (gift giving); and touching (giving that up of cold water in Jesus name-social concerns for others)
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nugget Tues May 19, 2009
Verses- Ecc 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him-- before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"
Serve God while you're Able
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth...It is a message from an older Solomon that started on the right track but veered from it. He is wishing he could relive some of those days when the lusts of this world were unfortunately more important than making God center of his life. As people grow older there are many regrets. One is the regret of not accepted Christ as Savior earlier in life. Many have told me that life was wasted without the Lord. Others recognize later in life the misplaced priorities and sin that caused heartache from which they were blind at the time.
Young people, remember your Creator. Keep God first. We so easily forget Him in the excitement of youth. God is our creator. He made us. That is the most important reason to remember Him. He made us for Himself, for his pleasure and we find purpose in our life when we fulfill the reason for His creating us in the first place.
Now the rest of these verses are biographical. Solomon is cursing his inability to do what he really wanted to do. The curse of old age is preventing him from that. One older saint said to me, “This business of old age is much over rating. There is nothing golden about it.”
Solomon says, Serve God while you are young, while you are able.
One big problem with dreams at my age is that my body doesn’t cooperate. Simple tasks that I watch other do with envy, now hurt! My energy doesn’t last as long. So Solomon wrote before the winter of our lives, when things are almost gone, serve the Lord.
Look at how graphic and almost humorous Solomon portrays the aging process. The keepers of the house tremble and strong men stoop. Our hands get shaky and weak and we can't take care of this old house or body anymore. I think of the song by Stuart Hamblin "This Ol house is getting Shaky this ol house has gotten worn, This ol' house is running down. I'm getting ready to meet the Lord.”
The back stoops, grinders cease because they are few. Teeth dropping out and can't eat like used to. It's like one economic advisor said, "things are getting so tough the older folks just have to gum the bullet."
Other graphic pictures include the windows grow dim; your eyes are going and things are getting fuzzy and faint. Door are closed. Opportunity and jobs aren’t available any more. Certain doors are closed to you, and even the strength of getting up stairs or going places has waned. One of the most difficult things for older people is the day they have to give up their driver’s license.
Older people have more difficulty time sleeping. They get up early in the morning, voice faint, fears multiply. Have you ever notice how some older people are such worry warts? Three days before an outing tghey start worrying about it. They get ready hours before time.
When I worked in the nursing home people would line up 1 hour before a meal, but if the doors to the dining room opened 5 minutes late, they would be so impatient. They did not want to wait. What were they doing the hour before? It's not like they are going anywhere. I've never understood that.
Almond tree blossoms by turning white and grasshoppers drag themselves along. Things aren't as appealing as they once were. Just sitting and doing nothing takes effort. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Death is just around the corner.
The Bible says, "Remember God before death while you are vigorous and full of energy and have a sharp sense and quick mind. Remember God when you can enjoy Him to your fullest and enjoy the life He has planned for you. Remember you creation before the evil days come and we can't do what we want to do for God any longer.
Medical and technical advances have helped prolong useful years. We have wheelchairs, and elevators and cars to get around. We have eyeglasses, contacts, and cataract operations to improve sight. We have dentists and orthodontist that charge an arm and leg for a tooth. There are plastic gizmos that go into your ear to improve your hearing. Through surgery we can get new parts. We even have bottles of color which allow you to make your almond blossom hair any color you want. But you can't stop the aging process, only some of the symptoms.
I believe Erma Bombeck wrote, "You know you are getting older when the gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting the bifocals. When you feel like the night before and you haven't been anywhere; When your little black book contains only names ending in MD. You are telling your age when you know all the answers but nobody is asking you the questions, when you look forward to a dull evening, when your knees buckle and your belt won't; when you have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet. You sink teeth into a steak and they stay there.
Youth is great. It is the time to give now to the Lord fully. But even if you are older eventually you won’t be able to do what you can do now. So whatever you can do, do it now before it is too late. Do it now while you are able, for one day soon you will not be able to do it. Instead of coming up with excuses ask God for opportunities and do it now.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds May 20, 2009
Eccl 12: 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-- given by one Shepherd.
Study God's Word while you're Open
Solomon was the wise teacher, trying to teach knowledge through parables and memorable sayings. The Book of proverbs is the example of many teachable words that come from his mouth and pen under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is why his sermon is part of Scripture. Parables and wisdom statements are meant as lines on a highway. They guide us on our path and show us the boundaries. Wisdom that includes words of warning, words like goads- those sticks that prodded an ox or mule.
As we look back on his sermon we see the futility of a life void of God. In that context study can be a burden. We are reminded that pleasure, wine women and song can be entertaining for a short while, but it passes very quickly and is nothing. Work and vocational opportunities are important, but serve a short term purpose. It does not fulfill life in the long run. People who put all the labor into something find it is disappointing later in life if that has lost its meaning.
Throughout the book Solomon reminds us of the problems of wealth. It is quickly spent and you can't take it with you. Honor and achievement is fleeting only a moment of glory and it is gone. People can't even remember your name after a little while. There are principles that we need to apply in our lives that make it easier on this earth, but when it all comes down to the basics.
As I've sat with couples in broken marriages and unhappy people that couldn't wait with sex until marriage. I find that the wisdom of the Bible is just the same now as it was then. Solomon you are so right this world doesn't have anything compared to having the Lord in the center of your life. If He is at the center you can enjoy hobbies and discern entertainment. You put your cars and houses in a different perspective. The Lord leads us in college, in relationships and friendship, and in marriage, but without Him it is all vanity.
Make Christ center of your life. Make his Word the purpose of your study while you are open. The wisest man looked for all the life would bring meaning and only found satisfaction on God after he and fallen in sin and veered form his relationship with God.
Maybe you are one that isn't a young person any longer. Maybe you are older or young adult. There is a time in your life when you are learning new things, and developing a philosophy of life. You leave your parents home and develop your own lifestyle. Major changes cause you to adjust and change your thinking about many things. Getting married does that. Having children does that. Changing jobs and getting new jobs does that; making moves in your life, or new responsibilities in your church does that. But there are times when our faith or our manner of thinking and beliefs are challenged. Before you make too many major mistakes in your life, stop thinking that this life has to offer more excitement than God. Let the Word of God and His wisdom be the foundation of your life for truth.
Seek it with all intensity, ponder His word realize in it is truth study it, read it. In fact you are blessed in your spiritual faith journey if you spend some times and read God's word every day. Make it a regular habit. God will use a verse, a thought, a principle in your life when you have the resources because you have studied and prayed.
I am overwhelmed how much God has for the individual who spends times in prayer and in God's word. Even if you have a few minutes in the morning in your chair, or in the car with a Bible tape, or before going to bed, expose your mind to the word of God. Read it. You will never be sorry. It becomes the authority for us to follow.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs May 21, 2009
Verse- Eccl 12: 11,12 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-- given by one Shepherd.
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
Be Discerning in your Resources
All reading, media, internet, music, TV programs and multitude of input needs to be filtered through the truth of the Bible and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. I emphasize HOLY. We are bombarded with all kinds of images, and messages throughout the day. What we see and read does affect us.
I, for one, am not opposed to non religious writings and readings. There are times a discerning Christians also needs to know what is being said and taught, not to be enticed by lusts to the flesh. But how much time should we waste to every new and popular book on the market? Just because a new movie is out or a new TV program is on the air doesn’t mean we have to take time to watch it. How much of that time is given to input from God’s word?
Since the rise of internet I have done lots more study and reading off the screen than through books and magazine. I have stopped most of my subscriptions seeing I can access and highlight articles posted on their websites. I realize newspapers are not able to make it in our competitive world anymore, yet almost all editions are available for free online. I can read version of the Bible. I can hear or read sermons from the greatest and worst of preachers and teachers. My problem is how to discern and limit the resources and not be taken captive to the amount of material readily available.
When I was in college I was shocked how much the professors wanted us to read. My library is full of books. Obviously, study is needed to prepare for sermons and articles in the pastorate. It is one of my addictions. I have a shelf of books that I want to read this year and doubt it will happen. Yet, for recreational reading I still go to the library for a novel. Right now I have been going through Bodie Thoene’s AD Chronicles, and just completed one of Ted Dekker’s novels.
But there is sadness when you read so much that is foolishness. In the Universities of today to be politically correct is the trend that causes people to question their values. There was a first grade teacher complaining to a family because their little girl was playing princess. She was playing games that were not liberating to females. The first grader wanted to wear a pretty dress and be a princess and let some boy come and rescue her from a dragon. The teacher objected.
John Leo wrote in Reader’s Digest how he went to the Biennial Exhibition of New York's' Whitney Museum of Art. A large section was devoted to women's rage against men. Another glamorized homosexual relationships. There was also a display against oppression of established religion. He said “in two numbing hours at this organized shambles, I learned that the world is neatly divided into good and bad. The good includes women, nonwhites, homosexuals, transvestites, gang members, and people with AIDS. The bad include the United States, straight white males, family, religion and authority.
Instead of trying to adapt and change to conform to this world we need to get back to the word of God and acknowledge there is divine authority; there is divine truth. The Bible will be here until Jesus returns and it will not change. By it we can be discerning.
Remember God before you are sucked into the falsehood of the world's lies. This past Sunday I preached on Romans 12, not to be molded and conformed by the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. What we choose to read, watch, and listen to is part of what molds us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri May 22, 2009
Verses: Eccl 12:13,14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Obey God's Commands before it's too late.
Well maybe you are not young any more, and maybe like the prodigal son, you've already fallen and are discovering the things that you wish you had done, or not done, earlier in life. Maybe you wonder if it is too late. Friend, it is not too late. Make Christ center of you life before the final days. Put Christ on the throne of your life before your days on earth have ended.
After all is said and done, Solomon explains all of life in this one sentence. "Fear God and keep his commands. For it is the whole duty of man.” What is life but to know God and be obedient to Him?
One who fears God need never fear death. For He alone is the conqueror of death. Death is so uncertain. We never know when it comes. Many younger people are planning to give God wilted flowers, but then never reach that stage before the life is taken by tragedy or disease. Now is the time to make the creator your master and Lord. Doing God's will means obedience to follow Him and confession of sin.
Are you willing to turn the management of your life to the one who is your creator and knows how you best function anyway? He knows the vocation that you are best suited for and the mate who is best for you, the experience of life that each the important lessons. He does not promise rose gardens, but there is the promise He is willing to be with us through the gardens of life when we let Him take the lead.
Maybe you've made many mistakes; maybe you learned the hard way like Solomon. In youth perhaps you have made comment to him that you have not kept and now you have felt like you've failed miserably. Maybe you've lived outside of God's plan for your life and in disobedience and you know it because the Spirit is now even reminding you of that fact.
I don't care how old you are. Make God center of you life before the evil days come; before your best years are over; before you are taken in death; before the Lord’s return; before it is too late. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
The story is told of Sam who made an unusual agreement with death. He told the grim reaper that he would willing accompany him when it came time to die, but only one condition that Death would send a messenger well in advance to warn him. The young man thought that was the best time to set the priorities of his life right. The agreement was made. Weeks winged away into months and months in to years.
Then one bitter winter evening as he sat all alone thinking of all his material possessions, Death suddenly enter the room and tapped him on the shoulder. The man was startled and cried out in despair. "You're here so soon and without warning. I thought we had an agreement."
Death replied, "I've more than kept my part. I've sent you many messengers. Look at your self in the mirror and you'll see some of them." As the man complied, Death whispered, "Notice your hair. Once it was full and black, now it is the thin and white. Look at the way you cock your head to listen to my voice because you can't hear very well, Observe how close you must get to the mirror in order to see yourself clearly. Yes, I've sent many messengers through the years, I've kept my part. I'm sorry you're not ready for me, but the time has come to leave."
Friend, you've had many similar warnings but you too may have disregarded them. While there is still time heed the loving voice of the Spirit of God who urges you to repent. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Seek Him now before you are called upon to keep that inevitable date with death. Salvation deferred too long spells the tragedy of too late.
Someone said your dying is His business. His will is our business. I don't care how old you are, or how young you are. Solomon’s closing message is to make Christ the center of your life. While you are able, make His word the most important book in your life; learn it; study it; and know it while you’re open and before you've followed other paths. But above all make Christ Lord of your life before it's too late when the final judgment comes. For one growing older in the Lord life is blessed even with its inconveniences II Cor 4:12 “Though I am wasting away my inner life is being renewed each day."
Pastor Dale
Theme- Remember your Creator
Verses-Ecc 12: 1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--
Roses or Wilted Flowers
Gary Chapman in his book on Love Languages identifies 5 ways we express love to another. He claims people have a love language that speaks to them more clearly than other ways. How you express your love may not have the same affect on the receiver because of different love languages. The concept of the book is that people give and receive love messages in different ways.
I switched his words around to make it into a devotional. Five ways to express love might include-Telling, Touching, Togetherness, Tasks, and Treasures. (Sounds like a sermon, huh?)
Some people appreciate being told they are loved by words, by notes, by outward expressions. Some prefer touch like hand holding, hugging, snuggling, kissing, back-rubs. Others find just doing things together makes them feel close whether it is going for a walk, reading a book, going out to eat, or even cleaning a house.
A fourth way to express love is tasks. Doing something for another is important for some. A husband might know his wife loves him by the fact she makes him a special dinner, or she might appreciate his filling her car up with gas.
Lastly, gift giving is a way some express love. Roses, or cologne, a special apparel or surprise trip might be treasures that have great meaning to another.
The goal of a relationship, according to Chapman, is finding your loved one’s love language and use it more often. What they respond to best, may not be your priority of communicating love. All of them are important, but some are favored.
I am not much of a gift giver. That would not be my prime expression. When I worked in the nursing home we'd get funeral bouquets from a service and divide up the flowers into smaller bouquets. I'd bring home a bunch to Judi thinking they were pretty and she might appreciate them. She didn’t.
If I was going to give her a gift (which she enjoyed) flowers were an expression of love when they were fresh, not used. It was more meaningful if I bought them, not got them as throwaways. To me a flower is a flower. Isn’t it the thought that counts? Buying fresh flowers doesn’t’ do it for me. But it is something she enjoys. I would be just as pleased with a gift from Tusen Tak than Sacs on Fifth Avenue.
I thought of that as Solomon concluded his thoughts from this sermon. All of life seems meaningless. There is one purpose and that is to remember your Creator. The sooner the better. The best life is not when the flowers are wilted or spend, but when they are fresh and young, so to speak. Serve God while you are young. Don't wait.
Solomon is older and realed he has not given God the priority He deserved. Certainly we can come to Him and serve Him at any time in life. But this message was meant for the young, not for the elderly. Give of your best to your master. Too many are diluted into thinking they will come to Christ when they are old and their life is almost gone. Of course, we never know at what age we are going to die. One reason older people might be more religious is they have seen life and found it to be empty without the Lord. If they realized that sooner they wouldn’t have wasted most their lives in meaningless pursuits. That is Solomon’s message.
Many young people are determined to give to God wilted flowers. They think, "When I'm older then I'll live for God; when I'm older I'll turn to the Lord and accept Jesus as my Savior, but not now. Lord, I don't want to give you roses, or buds that are in their prime. I'll give you wilted flowers once my life is spent."
The final theme from Solomon is the call to make the Lord the Center of your life and affection. To some of you senior citizens I ask, if you had it to do all over again what would you change in your life in your spiritual life? Some of Solomon’s thoughts to that question will be discussed this week.
Maybe this week think of different ways to use love language toward God by telling (praying), tasks (service), togetherness (devotions reading and enjoying His presence) Treasures (gift giving); and touching (giving that up of cold water in Jesus name-social concerns for others)
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nugget Tues May 19, 2009
Verses- Ecc 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him-- before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"
Serve God while you're Able
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth...It is a message from an older Solomon that started on the right track but veered from it. He is wishing he could relive some of those days when the lusts of this world were unfortunately more important than making God center of his life. As people grow older there are many regrets. One is the regret of not accepted Christ as Savior earlier in life. Many have told me that life was wasted without the Lord. Others recognize later in life the misplaced priorities and sin that caused heartache from which they were blind at the time.
Young people, remember your Creator. Keep God first. We so easily forget Him in the excitement of youth. God is our creator. He made us. That is the most important reason to remember Him. He made us for Himself, for his pleasure and we find purpose in our life when we fulfill the reason for His creating us in the first place.
Now the rest of these verses are biographical. Solomon is cursing his inability to do what he really wanted to do. The curse of old age is preventing him from that. One older saint said to me, “This business of old age is much over rating. There is nothing golden about it.”
Solomon says, Serve God while you are young, while you are able.
One big problem with dreams at my age is that my body doesn’t cooperate. Simple tasks that I watch other do with envy, now hurt! My energy doesn’t last as long. So Solomon wrote before the winter of our lives, when things are almost gone, serve the Lord.
Look at how graphic and almost humorous Solomon portrays the aging process. The keepers of the house tremble and strong men stoop. Our hands get shaky and weak and we can't take care of this old house or body anymore. I think of the song by Stuart Hamblin "This Ol house is getting Shaky this ol house has gotten worn, This ol' house is running down. I'm getting ready to meet the Lord.”
The back stoops, grinders cease because they are few. Teeth dropping out and can't eat like used to. It's like one economic advisor said, "things are getting so tough the older folks just have to gum the bullet."
Other graphic pictures include the windows grow dim; your eyes are going and things are getting fuzzy and faint. Door are closed. Opportunity and jobs aren’t available any more. Certain doors are closed to you, and even the strength of getting up stairs or going places has waned. One of the most difficult things for older people is the day they have to give up their driver’s license.
Older people have more difficulty time sleeping. They get up early in the morning, voice faint, fears multiply. Have you ever notice how some older people are such worry warts? Three days before an outing tghey start worrying about it. They get ready hours before time.
When I worked in the nursing home people would line up 1 hour before a meal, but if the doors to the dining room opened 5 minutes late, they would be so impatient. They did not want to wait. What were they doing the hour before? It's not like they are going anywhere. I've never understood that.
Almond tree blossoms by turning white and grasshoppers drag themselves along. Things aren't as appealing as they once were. Just sitting and doing nothing takes effort. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Death is just around the corner.
The Bible says, "Remember God before death while you are vigorous and full of energy and have a sharp sense and quick mind. Remember God when you can enjoy Him to your fullest and enjoy the life He has planned for you. Remember you creation before the evil days come and we can't do what we want to do for God any longer.
Medical and technical advances have helped prolong useful years. We have wheelchairs, and elevators and cars to get around. We have eyeglasses, contacts, and cataract operations to improve sight. We have dentists and orthodontist that charge an arm and leg for a tooth. There are plastic gizmos that go into your ear to improve your hearing. Through surgery we can get new parts. We even have bottles of color which allow you to make your almond blossom hair any color you want. But you can't stop the aging process, only some of the symptoms.
I believe Erma Bombeck wrote, "You know you are getting older when the gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting the bifocals. When you feel like the night before and you haven't been anywhere; When your little black book contains only names ending in MD. You are telling your age when you know all the answers but nobody is asking you the questions, when you look forward to a dull evening, when your knees buckle and your belt won't; when you have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet. You sink teeth into a steak and they stay there.
Youth is great. It is the time to give now to the Lord fully. But even if you are older eventually you won’t be able to do what you can do now. So whatever you can do, do it now before it is too late. Do it now while you are able, for one day soon you will not be able to do it. Instead of coming up with excuses ask God for opportunities and do it now.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds May 20, 2009
Eccl 12: 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-- given by one Shepherd.
Study God's Word while you're Open
Solomon was the wise teacher, trying to teach knowledge through parables and memorable sayings. The Book of proverbs is the example of many teachable words that come from his mouth and pen under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is why his sermon is part of Scripture. Parables and wisdom statements are meant as lines on a highway. They guide us on our path and show us the boundaries. Wisdom that includes words of warning, words like goads- those sticks that prodded an ox or mule.
As we look back on his sermon we see the futility of a life void of God. In that context study can be a burden. We are reminded that pleasure, wine women and song can be entertaining for a short while, but it passes very quickly and is nothing. Work and vocational opportunities are important, but serve a short term purpose. It does not fulfill life in the long run. People who put all the labor into something find it is disappointing later in life if that has lost its meaning.
Throughout the book Solomon reminds us of the problems of wealth. It is quickly spent and you can't take it with you. Honor and achievement is fleeting only a moment of glory and it is gone. People can't even remember your name after a little while. There are principles that we need to apply in our lives that make it easier on this earth, but when it all comes down to the basics.
As I've sat with couples in broken marriages and unhappy people that couldn't wait with sex until marriage. I find that the wisdom of the Bible is just the same now as it was then. Solomon you are so right this world doesn't have anything compared to having the Lord in the center of your life. If He is at the center you can enjoy hobbies and discern entertainment. You put your cars and houses in a different perspective. The Lord leads us in college, in relationships and friendship, and in marriage, but without Him it is all vanity.
Make Christ center of your life. Make his Word the purpose of your study while you are open. The wisest man looked for all the life would bring meaning and only found satisfaction on God after he and fallen in sin and veered form his relationship with God.
Maybe you are one that isn't a young person any longer. Maybe you are older or young adult. There is a time in your life when you are learning new things, and developing a philosophy of life. You leave your parents home and develop your own lifestyle. Major changes cause you to adjust and change your thinking about many things. Getting married does that. Having children does that. Changing jobs and getting new jobs does that; making moves in your life, or new responsibilities in your church does that. But there are times when our faith or our manner of thinking and beliefs are challenged. Before you make too many major mistakes in your life, stop thinking that this life has to offer more excitement than God. Let the Word of God and His wisdom be the foundation of your life for truth.
Seek it with all intensity, ponder His word realize in it is truth study it, read it. In fact you are blessed in your spiritual faith journey if you spend some times and read God's word every day. Make it a regular habit. God will use a verse, a thought, a principle in your life when you have the resources because you have studied and prayed.
I am overwhelmed how much God has for the individual who spends times in prayer and in God's word. Even if you have a few minutes in the morning in your chair, or in the car with a Bible tape, or before going to bed, expose your mind to the word of God. Read it. You will never be sorry. It becomes the authority for us to follow.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs May 21, 2009
Verse- Eccl 12: 11,12 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-- given by one Shepherd.
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
Be Discerning in your Resources
All reading, media, internet, music, TV programs and multitude of input needs to be filtered through the truth of the Bible and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. I emphasize HOLY. We are bombarded with all kinds of images, and messages throughout the day. What we see and read does affect us.
I, for one, am not opposed to non religious writings and readings. There are times a discerning Christians also needs to know what is being said and taught, not to be enticed by lusts to the flesh. But how much time should we waste to every new and popular book on the market? Just because a new movie is out or a new TV program is on the air doesn’t mean we have to take time to watch it. How much of that time is given to input from God’s word?
Since the rise of internet I have done lots more study and reading off the screen than through books and magazine. I have stopped most of my subscriptions seeing I can access and highlight articles posted on their websites. I realize newspapers are not able to make it in our competitive world anymore, yet almost all editions are available for free online. I can read version of the Bible. I can hear or read sermons from the greatest and worst of preachers and teachers. My problem is how to discern and limit the resources and not be taken captive to the amount of material readily available.
When I was in college I was shocked how much the professors wanted us to read. My library is full of books. Obviously, study is needed to prepare for sermons and articles in the pastorate. It is one of my addictions. I have a shelf of books that I want to read this year and doubt it will happen. Yet, for recreational reading I still go to the library for a novel. Right now I have been going through Bodie Thoene’s AD Chronicles, and just completed one of Ted Dekker’s novels.
But there is sadness when you read so much that is foolishness. In the Universities of today to be politically correct is the trend that causes people to question their values. There was a first grade teacher complaining to a family because their little girl was playing princess. She was playing games that were not liberating to females. The first grader wanted to wear a pretty dress and be a princess and let some boy come and rescue her from a dragon. The teacher objected.
John Leo wrote in Reader’s Digest how he went to the Biennial Exhibition of New York's' Whitney Museum of Art. A large section was devoted to women's rage against men. Another glamorized homosexual relationships. There was also a display against oppression of established religion. He said “in two numbing hours at this organized shambles, I learned that the world is neatly divided into good and bad. The good includes women, nonwhites, homosexuals, transvestites, gang members, and people with AIDS. The bad include the United States, straight white males, family, religion and authority.
Instead of trying to adapt and change to conform to this world we need to get back to the word of God and acknowledge there is divine authority; there is divine truth. The Bible will be here until Jesus returns and it will not change. By it we can be discerning.
Remember God before you are sucked into the falsehood of the world's lies. This past Sunday I preached on Romans 12, not to be molded and conformed by the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. What we choose to read, watch, and listen to is part of what molds us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri May 22, 2009
Verses: Eccl 12:13,14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Obey God's Commands before it's too late.
Well maybe you are not young any more, and maybe like the prodigal son, you've already fallen and are discovering the things that you wish you had done, or not done, earlier in life. Maybe you wonder if it is too late. Friend, it is not too late. Make Christ center of you life before the final days. Put Christ on the throne of your life before your days on earth have ended.
After all is said and done, Solomon explains all of life in this one sentence. "Fear God and keep his commands. For it is the whole duty of man.” What is life but to know God and be obedient to Him?
One who fears God need never fear death. For He alone is the conqueror of death. Death is so uncertain. We never know when it comes. Many younger people are planning to give God wilted flowers, but then never reach that stage before the life is taken by tragedy or disease. Now is the time to make the creator your master and Lord. Doing God's will means obedience to follow Him and confession of sin.
Are you willing to turn the management of your life to the one who is your creator and knows how you best function anyway? He knows the vocation that you are best suited for and the mate who is best for you, the experience of life that each the important lessons. He does not promise rose gardens, but there is the promise He is willing to be with us through the gardens of life when we let Him take the lead.
Maybe you've made many mistakes; maybe you learned the hard way like Solomon. In youth perhaps you have made comment to him that you have not kept and now you have felt like you've failed miserably. Maybe you've lived outside of God's plan for your life and in disobedience and you know it because the Spirit is now even reminding you of that fact.
I don't care how old you are. Make God center of you life before the evil days come; before your best years are over; before you are taken in death; before the Lord’s return; before it is too late. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
The story is told of Sam who made an unusual agreement with death. He told the grim reaper that he would willing accompany him when it came time to die, but only one condition that Death would send a messenger well in advance to warn him. The young man thought that was the best time to set the priorities of his life right. The agreement was made. Weeks winged away into months and months in to years.
Then one bitter winter evening as he sat all alone thinking of all his material possessions, Death suddenly enter the room and tapped him on the shoulder. The man was startled and cried out in despair. "You're here so soon and without warning. I thought we had an agreement."
Death replied, "I've more than kept my part. I've sent you many messengers. Look at your self in the mirror and you'll see some of them." As the man complied, Death whispered, "Notice your hair. Once it was full and black, now it is the thin and white. Look at the way you cock your head to listen to my voice because you can't hear very well, Observe how close you must get to the mirror in order to see yourself clearly. Yes, I've sent many messengers through the years, I've kept my part. I'm sorry you're not ready for me, but the time has come to leave."
Friend, you've had many similar warnings but you too may have disregarded them. While there is still time heed the loving voice of the Spirit of God who urges you to repent. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Seek Him now before you are called upon to keep that inevitable date with death. Salvation deferred too long spells the tragedy of too late.
Someone said your dying is His business. His will is our business. I don't care how old you are, or how young you are. Solomon’s closing message is to make Christ the center of your life. While you are able, make His word the most important book in your life; learn it; study it; and know it while you’re open and before you've followed other paths. But above all make Christ Lord of your life before it's too late when the final judgment comes. For one growing older in the Lord life is blessed even with its inconveniences II Cor 4:12 “Though I am wasting away my inner life is being renewed each day."
Pastor Dale
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