Bearing Christ’s Name
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Point: Those whose identity is in Christ bear Christ’s name. Bearing Christ’s name means willingly suffering for the glory of God. It means carrying the weight of His expectation and favor, living with the same intent that Christ had as he served and loved both His Father and the world He was called to set free.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
When we bear Christ’s name …expect suffering. It is not a shame or disgrace, but part of the deal. That is part of being a good steward of Christ. One expects suffering for bearing His name. To bear somehting, is to hold something, or to carry it’s weight. There is weight to being identified as a follower of Crhist. If I am not carrying any weight as a follower of Christ, am I following Christ? There is an expectation when we bear His name. We are to bear the grace of God. How difficult is it to bear the grace of God? It cannot be can it? Another word for grace is favor. We bear the favor of God and we are expected to be stewards of that favor. We are expected to dispense the favor of God upon others, even in the face of suffering. Now that’s difficult but expected.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
We are to arm ourselves with the same intention as Christ. To live with suffering is to live as Christ, it is to bear His name, it is to bear the weight of His name. Do I bear the weight of Christ’s name? I carry the authority fo Christ, yes, but do I bear also the intention of Christ? With great power comes great responsibility or with great authority comes great responsibility (the great theologian Uncle Ben from Spider-Man).
Part of being favored by God is bearing the glory of God, which is facilitated by suffering for God. If I want to be great for God, then I will suffer for God. This is part of bearing His glory. Bearing God’s glory means you are done with sin, the apostle Peter writes (v.1). It is not longer your goal, it is no longer your aim (v.3-4). To bear God’s glory is to be “disciplined and serious” (v.7). What does that mean, to be “disciplined and serious”? Why? for the sake of your prayers (v.7). Again, what does this mean? If we lack discipline, and seriousness, about God’s glory, about God’s favor, we will be lacking in prayer. Thus, prayer is a matter of discipline and seriousness. Seriousness is what?
A follower of Christ without discipline, is a prayerless Christian. A Christian without prayer, is not a serious Christian, for prayer is an essential element of a relationship with God. It is God’s communication with us, it is our acknowledgment that He is the One through whom we have our being, our purpose, our direction.
Prayer is through which we bear the weight of Christ’s name, the bearing of His will and purpose. Prayer is our anchor to God.
We are to bear His name, bearing His glory, bearing the same suffering; being stewards of His grace, His favor. We are to serve, to love, to be hospitable with whatever gift God graces us with. WE are to do all thins so that God may be glorified in all things, through Christ in whom we bear the weight of His name. Let it be so! Amen!
Arm yourself with the same intent, the same thinkng as of Christ (v.1-2)
A. No longer for human passions but for the will of God.
This means no longer living for the weekend. We all endure the week so we can live freely during the weekend. Our mindset could also be working all year so that I can get my two weeks holidays were I get to do what I want to do, not what I have to do.
This means no longer living for myself. Being interested and invested in the lives of others - brothers and sisters, children, work mates, your church, your community, your neighbor, etc… Instead of seeking my personal benefit, I should seek the benefit of another, or others.
[Illustration] A good example of this is the church camp out. We have individuals that will pay for others to come that may not necessarily be able to come or afford. We have individuals that fix things, cut things, build things, teach and serve others simply because it is not about them. They have learned to live for God and His glory, not their own.
[Illustration] - Warburg Alliance & Pastor Cody’s 10 Year Anniversary - You want to know why Pastor Cody’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebration is important? Because his 10 year anniversary is a reminder of what could have been, instead of what the future of Warburg Alliance Church is today. Warburg was on the verge of closing 10 years ago. A dying community, an aging population, a church with a reputation of being a place where a young pastor could get some experience and then move on to bigger and better things. Or a church where a pastor coming to the end of his time or retirement could be put out to pasture. The thing is nobody wanted to stay, serve, and love the community of Warburg and the surrounding area.
This church, Leduc Alliance, invested in Warburg Alliance by partnering with them to have a pastor, Pastor Cody. Pastor Cody was finishing his studies up at Vanguard College and was actively looking for a small country church. I heard he had some interest somewhere in Saskatchewan. I approached him about the possibility of Warburg Alliance. I approached our District Coach, Don Neufeld about the idea of a transitioning ministry or our intern to F/T Pastor at Warburg. He loved the idea. Our Elders Board approached their Board and proposed the idea of Pastor Cody as an interim pastor, that we would support financially for three years, and by the end of year 3 would become their pastor full-time. Pastor Cody was their full-time pastor by the end of year 2!
If our church, our elders board, had not thought bigger than ourselves, Warburg would not be here today, and Pastor Cody would not be celebrating his 10 year anniversary. We in no way claim the credit for Pastor Cody and his 10 years of fantastic ministry. But what we give glory to God for, is that Leduc Alliance could be used by God, that we had the courage and love to look past our own needs and wants at the time, and help fellow brothers and sisters have a future and a hope. That the Devil would not be able to put another nail in the coffin of a church of God. Next Sunday they celebrate 10 years with Pastor Cody because brothers and sisters of another city, another congregation, cared about someone other than themselves. That to me is what living for the will and glory of God is all about! Good job Leduc Alliance! You have helped push back the darkness and added people to the Kingdom by your sacrifice of love. To God by the glory!
Do we have the same intent, the same thinking as Christ? If all I am focused upon is myself, my needs, my wants, my desires, how can God get any glory in that? That’s not the way that God looks at things, nor are we to look at things. The Apostle Paul reminds us to look at our lives and the way we spend them as,
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Jesus’ Biblical principle of love is this: do not insist on having your own way if it seeks to satisfy your selfish desire. If you were to have a drink and it would cause a stumbling block for your best friend, because he has an alcohal problem, do not drink to satisfy your desire, but honor your friend, love your friend by not doing so.
If going to a movie and you want to go to the rated “R” but your spouse prefers not to, don’t go in honor of your spouse. Think about them before yourself. The difficult thing about this principle today is that everybody can seemingly be offended about anything and everything. They can simply be offended by the color of your skin, or the type of jeans you wear. The key is: would your actions glorify God? What is the motivation of the supposed ‘offended’? Are they really offended or are they picking a fight? Looking for an excuse to cause a disagreement, a scene, enforce an ideology? Jesus says to wise as serpents and gentle as doves (Mt 10:16).
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
In other words, be discerning, be wise…but loving in your conduct. You have been favored by God with Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, wisdom, and understanding…with love (Jn 16:13). Simple question for discernment: Is this something Jesus would have me say or do? What would Jesus do? Is it God honoring? Does it lead me to do something that is wrong in God’s eyes? Against His will? His design? Is it detrimental to me, my family, or my testimony? Does it put God to the test?
B. Whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
What does the Apostle Peter mean by this: ‘he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin’?
He or she who has chosen to identify with Christ, the closer I come to Him, the more the desires of the flesh and sin lose their appeal and power over my person. It will be a battle at first, but the more effort I put in to honor Christ, removing that which entices, avoiding that which ensnares AND pursue God with His practices and discipline “the enemy will flee from” (James 4:7).
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Am I pursuing God and putting to death the passions of my flesh, my earthly person? Have I nailed them to the cross and left them in the graveyard?
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Easier said than done pastor. I agree. That is why you have brothers and sisters to confide in, to intercede for you, to encourage you, to keep you accountable, and to walk with you in our relationship with Christ, in the disciplines of His way. Do you have a core of men or women you can confide in? Be encouraged? Walk with? To support you? A pride is only as strong as it’s weakest lion. If you are a lion walking alone, you are just going for a walk. The Enemy will not fear you, but definately work to weaken you, catch you, and then ultimately destroy you because you choose to walk the road of faith on your own. Impossible.
That is to live the worldly way, believing you can do it all on your own. It’s the selfish, childish way to live. It’s the self-deceptive way. It’s to ignore the authority and power of God whom established the church, through twelve men, then the seventy to push back the darkness and bring about the Kingdom. Jesus had twelve He was invested in. Who are you investing in? Who is investing in you? And your spouse does not count men. Your spouse does not count women. Who knows you? Who knows if your suffering or if you are joyful? Who knows when you are in sorrow? Who knows the struggles in your marriage marrieds? Who will hold you up men, with the temptations of porn and the Jezebel spirit today? Who will pray for you and claim Jesus’ authority over you and remind you of your position and power in Christ?
Times have past, put aside Gentile pursuits and desires childish things of the world) (v.3-4).
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things.
Have you put aside the childish things? Are you a responsible, accountable, reliable, selfliss follower of Christ?
Human passions are the like: licentioiusness, passions, sensuality, drunkeness, orgies, drinking parties and lawless idolatries. What are lawless idolatries? Anything that takes the place of God being number one. Anything that takes the place of God being in control of your life, your purpose. Anything that takes the place of His authority in your life.
Plain and simple: Am I willing to pay the cost of bearing Christ’s name? Am I willing to suffer disparage, disrespect, and abandonment because I refuse to live and follow any other authority in my life other than Christ? Is it about me or about Christ? When is an infant, or a child, or a young person an adult? Or a fully developing follower of Christ? When it is no longer about me. It’s about God; it’s about others. That’s the only way you and I will ever survive testing, trial, and suffering. When this world is not about me, but about God, about others. When I give up my childish ways. Have I given up my childish ways? Or am I still living the life of a victim?
Yup stuff happens…we are guaranteed that by Christ (1 Peter 5:10). The question: is are we ready to bear Christ’s name for His glory and honor?
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
All is equal, all will be judged, all have equal opportunity to respond to God, because the Gospel ha been preached to all… even the dead! (v.5-6).
All will be judged by Christ.
All will give account for what they did and did not do to glorify God.
each has a chance to live in the flesh and be judged or live like God trhough the Son of Man, Jesus.
Gospel - preached to both the living and the dead.
Be serious and disciplined for your prayers (v.7).
What does it mean ‘for your prayers”?
Be good stewards of God’s grace (v.8-11)
Serve one another with your gifts. Serve in God’s strength, not on your own. What does this mean?
Love constantly, love one another.
Be hospitaible without complaint.
So that in all things God may be glorified.
Rejoice and do not be surprised by Christ’s sufferings (Bearing His name is weighty) (v.12-16)
It’s normal!
You are favored if you are reviled for the name of Christ.
it is no disgrace to suffer as a Christian.
Come to expect it! It is the mark of a Christian.
Judgement begins at home! (v.17-19)
Am I disciplined? Am I obedient? Am I suffering? Am I bearing the name of Christ?
The time is now! There is no delay.
If you think salvation and sanctification is hard for the church, the Holy, the people of God, what about the unsaved?
Are we sure of our standing? When we come face to face with the LORD, what will be His judgment?
Bearing Christ’s name is a weight we each must carry. Am I ready, willing, able to bear His name? Have I put the childish things away? I cannot live as a victim and follow Christ. I have to accept the truth that I will suffer, my family will suffer, my friends will suffer just being in a fallen world, with fallen men and women. But what counts is how I handle the fallenness. Do I have the mindset of trust and belief that Jesus is for me and that He will see me through it all as He promises in John 17?
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Am I living bearing the name of Christ?
