We Worship God as We Long for Our Eternal City

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21-22

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Insights:  Sunday I went into a brief summary about baptism and how it is a picture of salvation.  There is nothing in the baptismal waters that saves a person.  All that water does is what Peter is describing it here as doing—removing dirt from the flesh.  True spiritual baptism is of the heart and is a picture of our resurrected life in Jesus.  Even though I briefly mentioned this aspect regarding these verses, it was not my main focus.  My emphasis dealt with the last part of the verse in which we are informed about the type of reign Jesus will have in eternity.  It will be perfect and all angels, authorities, and powers will be under His rule.  From this view point heaven is perfect.  It ought to be a place that we long to be because it is our true home and true citizenship.  So, the point I was making was that we ought to worship the Lord as we anxiously await our arrival in His eternal city.  There are so much music that has been driven by this theme that it can literally overwhelm us at times, in a good way.  These songs help us to be mindful of our true destination and it helps us be upward focused on Jesus.  Beloved, take time even today and ponder your eternity.  If you are born again because you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then this ought to be to be very enjoyable exercise for you.  If you do not have such a relationship, then this ought to be a sobering time in which you evaluate your future.  If you come to the realization, because the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart, that you don’t have this saving relationship, then all you have to do is repent and receive Jesus into your heart and you will be saved.  May your future bring you a great deal of confidence as you worship Jesus.

Questions:

1.  Do you eagerly anticipate the return of Jesus?

2.  What do you think will be the most enjoyable part of spending eternity with Jesus?

Prayer: Father, I say with the New Testament authors, “Come Lord Jesus!”  May His return be soon and may we be found worshipfully serving You.  Amen.

We Worship God as We Let People Know about Christ

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:19-20

in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

Insights:  The theological implications regarding these two verses is numerous.  There are those who take these verses to mean that Jesus actually went to Hades after His death on the cross and that He preached to the damned of ages past.  Others think this preaching is actually in reference to the work of Noah and his proclamation before the flood about God’s judgment on the world.  There are even a few other lesser opinions that do not carry much weight, but here is all I desire to say about this aspect of today’s Thoughts by Scott: whatever you believe regarding this subject is okay with me.  I may have an opinion about this passage, but it is not one of those dogmas that must be defended to the bitter end.  There is no reason to divide the church on this particular subject because either position you hold to has a singular impacting point and that is on what I desire to focus the remainder of this blog.  Whether it is Jesus or Noah preaching in this passage the point is that someone was declaring resolutely that salvation was needed.  People were in desperate need for a Savior.  So, if we are going to have confidence in our relationship with Jesus, then we need to learn to worship God as we let people know about His Son.  Evangelism ought to be a very important part of our lives.  We ought to have a list of about five people that we have asked the Lord to lay on our heart and to pray for them to come to a saving relationship with Jesus.  We then need to pray that the Lord would open up opportunities for us to share the love of Jesus with these individuals.  Finally we need to pray for the individual to respond favorably to the gospel.  It is possible there is someone out there reading this blog that does not have a relationship with Jesus.  All you have to do is admit to God that you are a sinner and believe that God rose Jesus from the dead to purchase your salvation from the grave.  Finally you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior and faithfully follow Him from here on out.  If you have never done that, then I encourage you to do so right now.  May God be glorified as you share Jesus and as many come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Questions:

1.  When was the last time you had an opportunity to share the gospel with a lost individual?

2.  Are you one who does not have a relationship with Jesus, but you know you need to have one?

Prayer: Father, thank You for saving me.  Because of the immense mercy I have received from You, please embolden me to share the gospel with those who do not have a relationship with You.  Amen.

We Worship God as We Learn about Conversion

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Insights:  The third thing that helps us develop confidence in our relationship with Jesus is our worship as we learn about our salvation.  Think about the very first part of this verse.  Peter wrote, “For Christ also died for sins once for all.”  This part of the verse is powerful in and of itself.  One of the reason we baptist hold to the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, which is more familiarly stated as, once saved always saved is because of verses like this one.  In Hebrews chapter six we find these words, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame (4-6).”  The point is that if one could actually lose the salvation with which they were purchased and then desired to be reconciled to Christ, it would be the same as putting Jesus on the cross a second time.  Yet our verse today tells us that Jesus died once for all.  His work was sufficient for all sin.  The second thing to notice as we worship the Lord as we learn about our conversion is the personality involved.  In other words, Jesus is the central figure.  He is the One and the only one who is just.  We are the unjust and He had to die for us because we needed a perfect substitute to pay the penalty God’s wrath required for sin.  I am so grateful God is willing to take a substitute because if it were dependent on me and my goodness, then I, like everyone else, would fall terribly short of the mark.  There is a third thing to think about regarding our salvation and that is the spiritual life that is born within us.  When Adam and Eve sinned they died spiritually.  Christ Jesus died for us in the flesh so that we might be raised from our spiritual death to newness of life.  In other words, He did the exact opposite of Adam.  Let me encourage you to worship the Lord as you learn more and more about the beauty of the cross.

Questions:

1.  Is your relationship with Jesus getting stronger each day?

2.  Do you ever ponder the extensive cost the cross really exacted on our Lord?

Prayer: Father, forgive me when I take the cross for granted.  You paid a price too great for me to comprehend and I all too often do not express my gratitude for such a generous gift.  Thank You, Lord, for my salvation.  Amen.

We Worship God as We Let Go of the Corruptible

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-17

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

Insights:  The second part of our ability to live with confidence in Jesus is our submission to His authoritative power.  When I write this sentence I am really describing our ability to worship God as He takes us through the sanctifying process.  In today’s verses Peter starts off with the phrase, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart.”  As we keep reading we see Peter gets more specific with regards to the areas we need to purge and the character traits we need to exhibit.  Now, Beloved, if you are like me, you probably don’t like the sanctifying process very much.  I like my sin and resist the Lord’s rebukes.  I know that His will is best.  I know that He has my best interest at heart.  In fact, when I am truly close to Him and experiencing true intimacy with Him, I also desire to obey Him.  The problem is me and my self-rule.  I do not always wish to be led.  I want to be the leader.  I want to be the boss.  Beloved, let me encourage you to seek the Lord.  Let Him truly purge you.  As I indicated, when I have done this and when I am in a right relationship with my Savior, I fully and completely know His will is best.  In those moments I feel His satisfaction and my life is filled with joy.  So, let us all cast off anything that might hinder us from running with Jesus well; and indeed, be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks us for the reason of our hope.  Jesus is the One who empowers and strengthens us to go through the persecution for being obedient to Him.  It is my prayer that as we cast off all our corruptible iniquity that the Lord’s light might shine in our lives and that many may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus as their Lord.

Questions:

1.  Is there an area of your life that keeps pulling you down and away from Jesus?

2.  Have you come to realize that will power alone is not going to save you from this particular area?

Prayer: Father, purge my life of its selfish and self-centered desires of temporary pleasures.  Let Your Spirit guide and direct my life to such an extent that I humble myself to Your correcting hand and allow You to cleanse every part of me.  Amen.

We Worship God as We Live Courageously

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-14

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,

Insights:  This week we will be examining how our worship gives us confidence in Jesus and the first part of our confidence is found in our courageous lifestyle of worship.  Notice with me in today’s verses how Peter asks a simple question regarding harm.  Is it really possible for someone to harm a Christ-follower?  To answer this question that Peter is posing, let us examine the apostle Paul’s life for just a moment.  If Paul faces prison, what is his response?  He would say, “Prison, I like prison, there are some men there I have been witnessing to and I am needing to follow up with them.”  If Paul is stoned, what is his response?  He would say, “Stoning, I like stoning, the last time I actually died and the Lord rose me again and I walked right back into that town and continue preaching that Christ Jesus is Lord.  You ought to have seen the faces of those men that threw the stones when I walked back into town.”  If Paul is ship wrecked, what is his response?  He would say, “Ship wrecks, I like ship wrecks, it gives me more time with the sailors I have been telling about Jesus.”  If Paul were to be put to death, what would his response have been?  He would say, “You want to kill me, I would like to die, because if I were to die I would be present with Jesus and oh how I long for that day.”  Beloved, do you understand the point I am making with these fictional responses (though based on the Scriptures) of Paul.  He courageously lived life because he knew where His strength was found.  It was found in Christ Jesus who lived inside of him.  Because his focus was heavenward he was not intimidated by the pressures of this world.  He really did understand that he suffered for righteousness sake and was blessed of the Lord.  It is my prayer that we all grow in the grace of the Lord and face the coming persecution well.  The days of Christian oppression are coming and in those days we will all need to be like Peter and Paul.  May the strength of the Lord give us courage to stand for Jesus and bear witness to His name.

Questions:

1.  Has something happened in your past that has developed a pattern that is less than courageous for the Lord?

2.  What is the Lord currently calling you to that will require courage?

Prayer: Father, in and of myself I am cowardly.  I know, however, in You I am more than a conqueror.  Strengthen me to walk courageously with You.  Amen.

Relevant Worship in the Home is the Most Important Arena of Worship

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-12

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.  “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.  “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Insights:  These final verses pull it all together regarding how worship is relevant in our homes.  Peter gives us a summary statement with a fairly lengthy list of character traits that are true of people who are deeply in love with the Lord and their family.  The reason I can say these traits are worshipful traits is because apart from the Holy Spirit enabling us to live these characteristics out in our lives, we are only going to be successful a very small portion of the time.  Let me take the first characteristic as an example.  In our own power we might be harmonious on occasion, but if we are left to our devises and self,  we will become self-centered and combative for our “rights”.  We soon measure all actions of our spouses and children through the vantage point of what will “I” get out of it.  If “I” can’t get anything out of it, then I will fight for my “rights” and not live at harmony with my family.  Christ in us, however, changes our position and we become one who seeks peace because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  We seek to build our family members up and not tear them down because we no longer wish to return evil for evil, but rather be a source of blessing for the family.  The reason this blog is titled Relevant Worship in the Home is the Most Important Arena of Worship is because the way we worship the Lord in our love and respect for our spouses has a major impact on our children who are watching us and learning how to treat a future spouse.  What they see will have major impact on whether they actually develop a faith that is their own or just something generic that is not real.  Beloved, give your whole heart to worship the Lord as you love and respect your family and allow this worship to impact your children and grandchildren.

Questions:

1.  Do you understand that the way you treat your spouse has major impacts on your children and grandchildren?

2.  Have you come to the place your recognize how your attitude in the home reflects your worship of the Lord?

Prayer: Father, help me to be the spouse You have called me to be.  Let my life reflect Your love and impact my children and grandchildren.  Let me honor You in my marriage and family.  Amen.

Husbands Worship God as You Love Your Wives, Part 2

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Insights:  Yesterday we learned that we need to be physically present in our marriages, but that we also need to be intellectually engaged as well.  Remember, the entire purpose of our current sermon series is to understand how REAL worship is relevant to our lives.  Our worship to the Lord is relevant in our marriages because of the major impact it has on our spouses and children.  So, as we are physically present and as we are intellectually engaged in the marriage, we are actually worshipping the Lord if we are focused on His ability at work in us to do these tasks well.  Today, we will focus on the last two areas in which a husband worships the Lord as he loves his wife.  The third area is in our emotional connectedness.  Peter wrote, “…and show her honor….”  She is a princess in the kingdom of God, if she is born again.  If she is not born again, then it is your job to show her how much of a princess she can be, and hopefully, she will receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  So, how does one show honor to their spouse?  It is a concept that has gone out of fashion, but is still vital to real worship and that is to be chivalrous.  Go the extra mile to take care of the little details of life that shows your wife that she is the most valuable person to you.  Open her car door and the doors into buildings.  When you are up getting a drink ask her if there is anything you can get her while you are up.  If there is a task you know she just does not like to do, then do it for her.  Look after your princess in the way a princess of the King out to be treated.  The final area in which you worship the Lord as you love you wife is in the spiritual area.  Peter wrote, “… so that your prayers will not be hindered.”  Peter assumes that the husband and wife are praying together.  He assumes the husband is worshipping the Lord as he loves his wife, but he also understands that if the man fails to worship the Lord in this realm, then his intimacy with the Lord is going to be affected.  Therefore, Peter gives his warning about the husbands spiritual life.  Don’t let anything happen to your spiritual power because you have failed to love your wife the way God intended for you to love her.

Questions:

1.  Husbands, are you emotionally connected with your spouse?

2.  How do you spiritually lead your wife to a deeper and richer relationship with Jesus?

Prayer: Father, help me to not miss the emotional well being of my wife because of my lack of emotional sensitivity.  Let me lead her well into the grace found in Jesus and let me present her to You as a bride unblemished ready for marriage.  Amen.