Follow the Guide
1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
There is a Guide for Everything
There is a Guide for Everything
There is a guide for everything.
There is a guide or directions for running for weight loss
There is a guide for losing weight on certain diets
There is guide on how to make macaroni and cheese.
There is a guide on the biscuit can on how to make biscuits.
There are guides on how to read the Bible.
Imagine with me for a minute that you are scrolling online during the week. You don’t pay for the ad free services. So an add comes across the screen or enters the play list and says.
A guide for 2021. You made it through 2020 and now we have something special for you in 2021. This is a fail proof guide for you to love life and to see good days. Kiss 2020 goodbye and enter 2021 with a fresh perspective and new insight. Trials are still present but gain a new outlook on trials. The times is now to start loving life and seeing good days. Click now to find out more.
Some of you might click it, some might ignore it, some might start looking for reviews for this service.
I would say that many of us would desire this.
This morning’s text is a guide to love life and see good days.
In order to love life and see good days, there is a set of directions that we must follow.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
Pray
Warren Wiersby says
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)
Peter wrote this letter to prepare Christians for a “fiery trial” of persecution, yet his approach was optimistic and positive. “Prepare for the best!” was his message. In this section, he gave them three instructions to follow if they would experience the best blessings in the worst times.
Don’t be confused this morning about the guide that has been to us here in scripture.
This is not a guide to avoid suffering. Remember what he wrote to this group of Christians that have been scattered whom he called elect exiles.
6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials
He is preparing them for a “fiery trial” of persecution, yet his approach is optimistic and positive.
This is needed now more than ever in the life of believers. Believers need to prepare for persecution with an optimistic and positive approach.
More often than not the believers outlook is doom and gloom verses optimism and positivity.
The Instructions
The Instructions
Let me just warn you that the result of these instructions are amazing.
This week I followed the directions on macaroni and one of my kids said that is some good mac and cheese dad. I said thanks I followed the directions.
Here are the results
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.
His ears are open to their request
This is the result but let me just tell you the instructions in order to get the results are radical.
It’s like the grapefruit diet on steroids.
The grapefruit diet is an extreme diet that if you stick to it you can lose like 12 lbs in 2 weeks. It requires you eating half a grapefruit at every meal or drinking grapefruit juice.
It has amazing results but it takes lots of dedication in order to get the results.
The instructions in order to get these results is pretty extreme. Many would consider them radical instructions to follow.
So here they are...
One commentary says this is Peter’s exposition on Psalm 34 here in verses 8 and 9.
He then quotes Psalm 34 in verses 10 through 12
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
So peter breaks down Psalm 34 for us here in verses 8 and 9. He says you want to love life and see good days you must do these things.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
He says now finally.
He says to sum all this up...
Just as the whole law is summed up in love.
8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and whatever other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
So the whole of human relationships is fulfilled in love. This applies to every Christian and to every area of life.
This love is shown by
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Unity of mind. Unity is not uniformity. We all think differently on different things. Many of us argue to who is the real GOAT. We disagree on this. This does not mean that we all think a like on everything.
It does mean that as believers there is cooperation in the midst of diversity. The church body comes together and works together even though each individual is different.
We must as believers rally around the things that are eternal even though we may disagree on the temporary.
24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.
Think back to this past year for just a second. Think back about decisions that have been made that you disagree with.
I fully recognize that some of you may not agree with me on every decision that has been made here at this church. You may have disagreed with other believers and their decisions this year.
In all these disagreements how many of them are eternal.
Let it sit in for just a second that many of the things we might have disagreed on are not eternal and in 1 Peter he says the Word of the Lord endures forever.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
Be like-minded with believers. Rally around the eternal word of God.
Again, this is a radical set of instructions for us.
You want to have a positive and optimistic outlook on life you start by being like minded with believers.
Stop trying to find all the things you disagree on and start intentionally working toward the things you do agree on.
Be like-minded
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
Sympathetic: to suffer with
In persecution, when someone is being mistreated because of their faith in Jesus, We are to pray for them, morn with them and support them.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Love Believers: Brotherly love or family love. You take care of each other.
You help each other. You stand with each other. You carry each other’s’ burdens. You speak well of each other.
You lay down your preferences for each other. You forget each other’s sins.
Amy said it very well as we were talking about Dayle reuniting with his 12 year old son and his son coming to live with him. Amy said I am worried because our church family is a little much. I hope we don’t overwhelm him. Dayle has a huge family.
This is brotherly love we are family.
In marriage, I was taught that if you want to complain about your spouse then you go to your spouses family to complain. Your spouse’s family loves your spouse and they don’t have a choice to love them.
It is sad that church has come down to your favorite preference and if the church doesn’t meet this than you can just change. You don’t get to change families.
This is the call of the church to brotherly love for one another.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Compassionate
Compassionate: Kind or tenderhearted
I get the image of the new born baby. I love holding new born babies. I like taking the baby into my arms and working to be so gentle with them. You have to support their head and you really have to take care of them and be tender with them.
This is the image.
The opposite of this is when they give a newborn a bath… You ever seen a nurse give the newborn their first bath. I was in shock.
ancient people believed that the emotions literally rose from deep within their bowels or stomach. So being compassionate wasn’t just a feeling that you can kind of fake with a nice word or smile – it was literally within you and came from the deepest parts of you.
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Compassionate
Humble
Humble: The opposite of promoting yourself or pride
Humble is to be courteous of others. The humble person puts others ahead of himself. This comes about in hearing others opinions, thoughts and ideas.
You place these above your own and seek to learn and understand from them.
9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Compassionate
Humble
Not paying back evil for evil
Not paying back evil for evil: Responding to mistreatment with forgiveness
The world returns evil for evil and sword for sword. The Christ followers set of instructions are extreme.
You don’t as Christ followers repay evil for evil.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)
As Christians, we can live on one of three levels. We can return evil for good, which is the satanic level. We can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the human level. Or, we can return good for evil, which is the divine level.
Jesus is the perfect example of returning good for evil.
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.
22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth;
23 when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He was suffering, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.
Do not repay evil for evil reminds me of Jesus in Mark 3
22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul in Him!” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”
23 So He summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished!
You can’t drive out evil with evil. This takes a radical stance in the midst of persecution. You don’t repay evil with evil.
9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Compassionate
Humble
Not paying back evil for evil
Not paying insult for insult
Not paying insult for insult: Don’t speak evil of your enemies.
This goes further than just not paying evil for evil but it says when it comes to your speech. Don’t repay insult for insult.
Verse 10 says keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Compassionate
Humble
Not paying back evil for evil
Not paying insult for insult
Give a blessing
Give a blessing: To speak well of
In stark contrast with showing evil or insult to one’s enemy, Christians must give a blessing
We must ask Christ to empower us to speak well of those who do me evil or offer the church insult.
9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
Instructions for life
Like-minded
Sympathetic
Love Believers
Compassionate
Humble
Not paying back evil for evil
Not paying insult for insult
Give a blessing
The Finished Product
The Finished Product
You can inherit a blessing. This blessing is eternal but it is also now.
Look at verse 9
9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
Again Peter uses verses 8 and 9 to explain Psalm 34:12-16 Notice this.
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
We must deliberately decide to love life. It takes an attitude of faith that sees the best in every situation.
It is a level of trust in God in the middle of persecution to continue to love life.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)
We can decide to endure life and make it a burden, escape life as though we were running from a battle, or enjoy life because we know God is in control.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)
Peter was not suggesting some kind of unrealistic psychological gymnastics that refused to face facts. Rather, he was urging his readers to take a positive approach to life and by faith make the most of every situation.
We must control our tongues
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
We must do good and hate evil
We must seek peace and pursue it
The summary of Instructions
Deliberately decide to love life
Control our tongues
Do good and hate evil
Seek and pursue peace
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
Do we trust God or not? The face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. Do we trust Jesus to deal with evil?
If not we will be like Peter in the garden, who whipped out a dagger to kill his enemy.
If we do really believe this, we entrust ourselves to God, the just judge, and still fight for justice and peace, but not with the sword or with insult or hatred. We combat the evils and insults of the world through Gospel proclamation and Gospel lifestyle. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead empowers the Gospel proclamation and the Gospel lifestyle.
1 I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad.
3 Proclaim Yahweh’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
7 The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 You who are His holy ones, fear Yahweh, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
10 Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who delights in life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.
16 The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to erase all memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.
19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all.
20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.
Peter does not promise that if you do these things you can avoid suffering. He says you do these things and God is with you in the suffering and will be with you.