Distractions to the Ministry
Distractions to the Ministry
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. ESV
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. KJV
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. NASB95
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents of the Dispersion in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and ⌊for the⌋ sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. HCSB
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 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. NIV
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. NKJV
There is much that can be gleaned from an introduction or even from a simple greeting. And when, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is found in the Holy Scripture, wouldn’t you agree that it is blessing to spend some time meditating on it? Also, the amazing thing is that this gleaning can be used by you and I in our fast pace world.
Notice the first six words that start this letter; ‘Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.’
This man by the name of Peter, who is he and what are the possible distractions to the ministry that God has given to him? And how does he avoid these distractions starting with his greeting?
“Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ!”
· What is this man saying to these people?
· What is he saying to us today?
· What should we take away from this?
Within this first clause we have the subject – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Looking at this we have an identification of who this man is: (see the commentary page for notes from the commentaries)
· Peter – Petros – the Greek name of the leader of the twelve apostles who was also called Cephas and whose name was originally Simon - Peter see
Matthew 10:1-4
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ESV
· An Apostle, this is a definer – a modifier that attributes features to or further defines Peter. We will look at this in more detail
o How are we defined?
o What attributes are applied to us?
· Here is one meaning for ‘Apostle’. The role of one who has been commissioned and sent as a special messenger – ‘apostleship, to be an apostle, to be a special messenger.
· A messenger. So why do you make your position so important when it is never about the messenger but the message and the sender of the message?
Romans 1:5
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ESV
· My questions to you today are:
o Are you doing what you are called to do?
o If you are, what exactly is it?
o As an illustration – a woman when she gets married, it is customary to address her as Mrs. and the last name of her husband; such as Mrs. McCreary, Mrs. Woodmore, and Mrs. Bryant.
· Note this is not just another man by the name of Peter and not just a special messenger from anywhere or of just anybody, but
· Of Jesus and this is a qualifier of the modifying word.
· It is a statement that limits or constrains the scope of the word it modifies.
· But there is a further definer or modifier, and we need to be reminded that this is also part of the name of Jesus.
· Christ – Messiah – the anointed one.
· It could almost be said this way, ‘Peter the apostle of Jesus the Christ’! or ‘Peter the messenger of Jesus the anointed one’
· What have we subtracted from our identity or are we still adding or holding on to things that indirectly affect our ministry.
· If you were asked to say something about yourself, what would it sound like.
· Listen to Paul
Philippians 3:1-14
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ESV
· Far too many who say they are active in the Church, with a capital ‘C’, are still caught up in things like
o Their race or ethnic background
o Where they – live, work, shop, or play
o Their education or lack there of
o Physical conditions – including age (old or young), health, the ability to get from one place to another, the time of day, (morning, noon, evening, or night)
o Their political association and all the stuff that goes with it
o Our jobs and or hobbies
· You wear many hats and you enjoy it because it takes up your time and use up your energy
· Valuable time that can be used for ministry is soaked up in worldly stuff that we feel is so important. Listen
· It is about taking off stuff and not adding more stuff to ourselves and when we do, as we are tempted in so many situations to do, we are pulled away from doing what we are called to do and that is to be messengers of Jesus Christ.
· Look at the example of Jesus:
· He refers to Himself as the ‘Son of Man’ in the gospels but
· Going back to Philippians Paul says that I may know Him.
· Listen
· Philippians 2:5-8
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ESV
· Do you hear it? Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus
· He made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant and humbled himself.
· Why do you and I do the opposite?
· Even within the faith, we allow names and dogma to hinder the ministry of being a messenger for Jesus.
· Names that separate and split
o Rural church and city church
o Reformed or non-reformed
o Followers of Calvin or followers of Arminius
o Conservative church or liberal church
o Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, non denominational
o Black, Southern, Full Gospel
o Pre-millennium, Post-millennium, a-millennium
o Dispensational or reform
· These are just some names that has causes separation and church splits. They have cause fall outs and the questioning of ones salvation.
· Peter gives his first name and says that he is just a messenger of Jesus Christ. Even though this is a special position for just a select number, it is not the position but the source of the position.
· Too many times we stop at the position and we want others to see us and dwell on us because of the position.
NOTE THIS IS FOR LATER USE:
The second verse contains these words: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Notice that there are three descriptions and they are each associated with different member of the Holy Trinity. God is involved, actively, in man’s salvation.
Commentary Notes
From the commentary by Karen H. Jobes on1 Peter, we have the following:
· The apostle Peter ends his letter with a statement of its significance
o 1 Peter 5:12
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. ESV
· The apostle explains the significance of Jesus’ suffering and how those who follow him must live out their faith.
· 1 Peter has been described by some as the most condensed New Testament resume of the Christian faith and of the conduct that it inspires
· The life of Jesus and the believer’s life are inseparable in Peter’s thought. In 1 Peter Jesus is not only the object of Christian faith; He is also the pattern of Christian destiny.
· 1 Peter 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ESV
· Jesus’ resurrection is the source of the believer’s new life. His willingness to suffer unjustly to fulfill God’s purpose is the exemplar to which Christians are called as they live out their lives in faith, following in his footsteps.
· For the original readers to whom Peter wrote, their identity as Christians was not only the source of great joy but ironically also the reason they suffered grief in various kinds of trials
· 1 Peter 1:6
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ESV
· Because of their Christian faith they were
o Being marginalized by their society
o Alienated in their relationships
o Threatened with – a loss of honor and socioeconomic standing
o Possible worse things
· We are not facing this in our country so the question is what significance could this ancient letter have for us here today?
· The social ethos of the first century Greco- Roman setting of 1 Peter is undoubtedly substantially different from that of those culture today founded upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. Nevertheless, the principles upon which Peter offers his original readers consolation, encouragement, and guidance in their specific situation are applicable to all Christians at all times
· The apostle wants his readers to recognize the sweeping scope of new life in Christ and the implications for how they view themselves now that they have been born again by the mercy of God the Father through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1:3).
· They must no longer think of themselves and their relationships to family and society in the same way they did in their former life (4:3)
· 1 Peter 4:3
3 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. ESV
· Peter intends his readers to understand who they are before God so that they can be who they are in society.
· A Christian self-understanding based on the New Testament is christocentric and society is not.
· Herein lies the significance of 1 Peter for modern readers.
· Christians need to be transformed in their thinking about who they are in Christ and what that implies for relationships with other believers and with society, regardless of one’s historical moment or geographical location.
· 1 Peter applies principles of Christian conduct to the Christian community living out the faith in trouble times
· Some may say we are living in trouble times now. If so, how do we live as Christians in it?
·
From: The NIV Application Commentary by Scot McKnight
· Peter has been categorized in popular writings and sermons as impetuous and impulsive, but we know far too little about him to know whether such psychological descriptions are fair. We do know that
· Peter was a fisherman on the northern shore of Galilee, he was called by Jesus to follow Him.
Luke 5:1-11
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. ESV
John 1:35-42
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). ESV
· Peter become the leader of the apostolic band
Matthew 10:2
2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ESV
· Peter was the first to perceive Jesus as the Messiah
Matthew 16:17-19
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ESV
Mark 8:27-33
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” ESV
· Peter tried to walk on water
Matthew 14:28-31
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ESV
· Peter denied Jesus
Luke 22:21-23
21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. ESV
Luke 22:31-34
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” ESV
Luke 22:54-71
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. 66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” ESV
· Peter was restored
John 21:15-19
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” ESV
· Peter was a primary leader of the new church formed at Pentecost – see the book of Acts chapters 2-5.
· Peter received a magnificent vision about the unity of God’s people – see the book of Acts chapters 10-11
· Peter continue to have ministry as far as Rome
· It is known, for example, that Peter’s ministry in Rome was so extensive that Roman Catholics see the foundation of their church in his ministry there, and this has become a divisive issue between Roman Catholics and Protestants.
· We can discern in Peter and “about-face over the question of Jesus’ death: from outright rejection Matthew 16:22
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ESV, and denial (see above Luke 22:54-71), to restoration – see the book of John chapter 21, to preaching the death and vindication of Jesus in Acts chapter 2, to finding the death of Jesus the ultimate paradigm of Christian existence 1 Peter 2:18-25
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. ESV
· This trail of Peter’s conversion is what lies beneath our letter
· Also remember that his original name was Simon and the Lord changed his name to Cephas or Peter