A Good Name
Notes
Transcript
v.11:
Peter addresses his readers as “beloved.”
Everything that Peter did and wrote was done of love, because he followed the model of Christ.
Likewise, we need to treat people the same.
Regardless of the circumstances, our tone when we address people can either be positive or negative.
Here, Peter is addressing a negative, but he is doing it in a positive manner.
If we mind our tongue, we can kindly and gently rebuke people when necessary.
The problem for many, is that we don’t love the way that we should.
Too often, we tend to do things out of anger and frustration, rather than love and compassion.
Correction would be much better received, if given in a loving manner. Peter even begs them to listen.
Rather than provoke people to wrath, we should stir them to change.
The key to this is to show genuine love and concern.
It won’t take people long to figure out whether our concerns are genuine, and if they are not, they simply won’t listen.
We need to pray that we have God’s heart for people, and practice a loving attitude, regardless of the circumstances.
In fact, our actions can train our minds and emotions.
By loving the unlovable, our attitude toward them will eventually change.
Jesus said to love your enemies.
Jesus said to love your enemies.
Luke 6:27
Luke 6:27
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
He didn’t say to do it if you feel like it, or if you want to. He says to do it.
Sadly, our society has a very messed up view of love.
Love is not the pitter-patter of the heart, or a warm fuzzy feeling. Love is something you do!
Love is something people can see in the way you act.
Practice love and your relationships will improve, and you will be a better witness for Christ.
In giving this admonition, Peter reminds us that we are foreigners in this world.
We are in the world, but our true citizenship is in Heaven.
It is such a blessing and a hope to know that our time here, and thus our temptations, are only temporary.
Because these temptations won’t last forever, we can abstain, we know that there is hope and that the battle will one day end.
Note that Peter doesn’t say to take temptations in moderation, he says to abstain.
Moderation is one of the great lies of satan.
Satan tells you that you can handle a little bit of sin, “don’t worry about it, you can stop anytime you want.”
How many times have you heard that? “I can stop anytime I want”, yet they never do.
When it comes to sin, moderation cannot be an option.
How much alcohol is ok? I will quit before I get drunk. Really?!?!
How much alcohol does it take to begin to affect your mind and body? Tests have proven that it is such a small amount that you might as well not drink at all.
The same is true of any illicit drugs.
If it affects your mind in the smallest way, you have lost some control of your faculties, and God wants you to be sober minded.
It doesn’t stop there, it applies to all sin… sexual, financial, idolatry…every sin.
You can’t just sin a little and think you can control it. You can’t, it will control you.
You cant just sin a little and think it won’t affect you. You can’t, it will mar you.
Moderation in our society has turned into excess, and it always does.
Once you let loose the reigns of sin, it will take you farther than you ever intended or wanted to go.
Before you know it, families are destroyed, lives are ruined, and you are no longer an effective servant of Christ.
When sin takes over, not only are you alienated from God, you can no longer love the we we are commanded.
Every part of our service to God is hindered, and our reputation is tarnished.
When this happens, people will no longer trust you.
You can preach the Gospel all you want, but without a good reputation, people won’t pay any attention to you.
We should guard our reputation.
We should guard our reputation.
Proverbs 22:1
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Romans 12:17
Romans 12:17
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
Titus 2:7-8
Titus 2:7-8
in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
This means we need to avoid sin.
The best way to not sin, is to avoid it altogether. Peter knew this, that’s why he said to abstain.
Don’t willingly place yourself in the path of temptation!
It sounds simple but we do it all the time.
If we open the door to temptation, sin will come in.
v.12:
Our conduct should be such that we leave no room for accusations.
Be aware that people are always watching.
Part of being a foreigner is being different from everyone else.
We know that in any society, foreigners tend to be watched more closely.
People are quick to point fingers and make accusations, whether true or not.
Well. . . We are the foreigners, We are the ones being watched and accused.
We need to make sure that our conduct is such that they have to lie about us.
Don’t let them find fault, after all, you bear the name of Christ.
Don’t put filthy stains on His robe of righteousness!
Satan is the accuser, and he has many other accusers working under him.
The truth is, everyone who is not born again is part of satan’s army and is doing his will (whether they realize it or not).
There are two families on this earth, God’s and satan’s. We are not all brothers!
There are two families on this earth, God’s and satan’s.
There are two families on this earth, God’s and satan’s.
John 8:44
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Don’t give satan the ammo to shoot you with!
If we are going to witness to the lost people around us, we need to live Godly lives.
We don’t witness only with our mouth, but with our walk. We need to back up our “talk” with our “walk”
We don’t witness only with our mouth, but also with our walk.
We don’t witness only with our mouth, but also with our walk.
Matthew 5:16
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The “day of visitation” here seems to be the time when God “visits” a sinner and saves them.
We witness to people and provide a good testimony so that when they are “visited” by the Holy Spirit, and taste God’s grace, they will respond in faith and God will be glorified.
The “day of visitation” is the time when God “visits” a sinner and saves them.
The “day of visitation” is the time when God “visits” a sinner and saves them.
Luke 1:68
Luke 1:68
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,
Luke 7:16
Luke 7:16
Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
Your good works, done in love, may be the open door that allows you lead someone to Christ.
