Sermon Tone Analysis

THE HOW IS IN THE WHO

 

September 4, 2005

As Christians, we've got change coming in all areas of our lives.

In our last look at 1 Peter we noted that we are challenged to grow in our reverence, faith and love.

The next 10 verses of the epistle of Peter to the Jewish Christians scattered all over Europe in the first century are focused more closely on how that change can take place in our lives.

Let’s read Chapter 2, verses 1- 10 together:  /Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

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.

As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.

But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

\\ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy./

The world may look skeptically and state that we have "turned religious", "switched crutches", or in psychological terms undertaken a "behavior modification".

But the fact is that the changes which are taking place go far beyond human efforts; instead Christ has introduced a complete inner transformation called the "new birth".

We are given, at conversion, a brand new nature which needs to be nourished and matured.

Peter is virtually telling us to change our diets if we want to grow spiritually.

A.

CHANGE YOUR DIET v. 1-3

 

1.

Put aside -- (throw away from you like a burning coat!)

 

i.

all malice, which is any deep-seated hatred for others (the attitude that says, "I won't be happy until I see them suffer!")

The Spite House

Joseph Richardson, a New York millionaire lived and died in a house only five feet wide.

It was called the "Spite House," and it deserved its name.

Owning the narrow lot of land on which it was built, Mr. Richardson wished to sell it to the neighboring property owners.

They would not pay him what he asked, and so he put up this house, which disfigured the block--and then condemned himself to a life of discomfort in it.

~* Hating people is like burn­ing down your own house to get rid of a rat.

--Harry Emerson Fosdick

        put aside ...

ii.

all guile, which is any and all deception and manipulation for the pur­pose of achieving selfish ends.

put aside...

iii.

hypocrisies, which are words and actions that do not reflect our true identity.

An old country preacher said, "Be what you are and not what you ain't; because if you ain't what you are, then you are what you think you ain't."

The word hypocrite actually got its beginning in the theatre as actors and actresses played the parts of people they weren't anything like in character.

The world is full of people who are pretending they've got their lives all put together when in fact there is a  void inside and underneath that facade is a spiritual vacuum.

put aside...

iv.

envies, which are any and all feelings of discontentment

.

and jealousy.

It is wishing you had her hair, his build, their home, his job, and so on.

put aside...

v. evil speakings (slanderings) which are nothing but gossip.

Gossip is inquiring or divulging information that discredits another indiv­idual or organization.

If you're not part of the problem or part of the solution then close your ears and mouth.

If the Lord is going to be able to bring about the changes in our lives that are becoming of Christians we need to change our diet--put aside or push to the side the platter of the appetizers of the world, the flesh and the devil and start feeding on God's Word.

Push the "off" button on the TV when movies built on these 5 sins of guilt, hypocrisy, malice, envy, and slander are aired.

2.

Desire the Word (2-3)

If you've tasted the kindness of the Lord, then develop a hunger for the Word of God.

There is nothing that transforms bad attitudes like the Word of God.

John McArthur says that “Love for and delight in God's Word always marks the truly saved.

Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32)

He adds: “The believer's delight in God's Word is the dominant theme of the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalms 119.

About midway through the chapter, the psalmist summarizes his delight in and dependence on God's Word:”

“O how I love Your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine.

I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts.

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.

I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.

How sweet are Your words to my taste!

Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalms 119:97-104

 

You've seen babies who are crying because they want their bottle, and you have to touch their lips with the nipple of the bottle in order to get them to stop crying so they can eat.

Sometimes even a drop of milk on their tongue will get their attention and then watch them go after it, right?

Once we taste the kindness of the Lord we go after more and more of the Word of God.

The result of desiring the Word is "growth in respect to salvation" -- That's change!

That's change for the better!

Paul is challenging these hurting, persecuted people with an alternative response to the hardships of life.

You can feed on growing resentments, bitternesses, jealousies, and blame others, or you can feed on Gods WORD.

If we are going to benefit from the trials of life better respond by turning to God not against people!

~* The How of spiritual growth

~* The How of handling life's hardships isn't found in blaming others and it isn't found in ourselves.

The How is in the Who of the Bible!

As we turn to God's Word, the Bible, we discover Who Jesus really is.

B.

DISCOVER WHO HE IS! (4-8)

Verses 4-8 are Peter's researched-conclusion as to who Jesus really is.

Please turn to these verses as I read them again: /As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.

But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

/

He makes a summary statement and quickly quotes three portions of scripture which support his statement.

Peter has learned, the hard way (I can identify with that), not to run off at the mouth with grandiose statements which he hasn't thought through very carefully.

At the time of writing this epistle, were Peter asked, "Who do you say that I am?", he wouldn't have blurted out, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God."

Not now, not this time!

He's grown and matured and sees Jesus more in comparison with his own finiteness, weakness and insignificance.

He says four things about Christ all tied to the idea of a rock or stone.

When we open our Bibles, Peter says we are coming to Jesus as to a:

1.         Living Stone (4-5)

2.         Choice Stone (6a)

3.         Precious Corner Stone (6b-7)

4.         Stumbling Stone (8)

 

1.

A LIVING STONE (4-5) -*) * “/As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”/

This may seem rough and harsh to us, but not to the Jews who had their entire religious perspective focused on a massive structure of stone overlaid with gold and ornately decorated with precious gems! (the temple!)