Holiness in an unholy world... (8)

Living lives that glorify God...

Can you believe it? It’s 2022!

When we come to a New Year as the Pastor, often the big question is this, “What can I say that is going to make a difference in our lives for 2022?”

In the fall of 2021, we went through a series entitled, “Holiness in an unholy world...” We started the book of 1 Peter and I really feel strongly that God wants us to continue in this direction. We don’t know when Jesus is coming back, but we know that His return has never been closer.

This morning, I’d like to start where we left off as we start our series on Advent.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:11-12

1 Peter 2:11–12 NIV

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

As we start 2022, have you taken time to think about your goals and aspirations for the year? Is there anything on your bucket list that you want to accomplish in the next twelve months? Any places that you’d like to go? The last 21 months have been challenging for each of us, and many times we can be tempted to live so short-sighted that we fail to live out the plan that God has for us.

Focus on what matters

What do I mean by this?

Peter starts out this section by saying, “Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles...”

There is no question that this is the place where we live, but this is not our final goal. It can become too easy to get comfortable with the things of this world. We live in a country where we are tempted to complain about everything that doesn’t seem right and yet there are so many things that we take for granted: A roof over our heads, natural gas or some other form of heat that is readily available, the clothes on our back, the food in our cupboards, fridges, and deep freezes; vehicles to drive, fuel to put in our vehicles, roads to drive on, schools to be educated in, hospitals where we can get help if we are sick, jobs to pay the bills, and the list could go on and on.

The question becomes, “How do we keep focused on Heaven, while making an impact on earth?”

Philippians 3:14 NIV

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

In Philippians 3:17 Pau; makes a statement about the example that he lived in front of others.

Philippians 3:17–21 NIV

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

We as Christians need to live lives worthy of the gospel. There needs to be something about us that brings glory to God. Because our final resting place is not in the cemetery north of town, we are called to be salt and light.

Matthew 5:13–16 NIV

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Rethinking our purpose

The constitution of the United States of America says that “loyal Americans were of one mind to protect, “LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS.” Do we have the same purpose as Christians? Is that our goal in life? Is that God’s call on our lives?

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

A country’s responsibility, at least within a democracy, is to protect the people that live there. We have constitutions that give us rights so that we can’t be taken advantage of by others including those who are in authority over us. Many people struggle with what is the obligation of the country to take care of the citizens while not crushing the rights of it’s people. We aren’t opening that can of worms up this week, maybe next week.

Why were we created?

For God!

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Isaiah 43:18–21 NIV

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Revelation 4:9–11 NIV

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

We live in a world that is very self-focused. Ego, self-esteem, Me, Myself, and I are very important to us. I think that it was Michael Jordan that was told that there was no I in team. but Jordan replied, “But there is in WIN!”

Many want to win at all cost. Some think that it doesn’t matter who you step over to get what you need. Greed is rampant, but 1 Timothy 6:7-10 says,

1 Timothy 6:7–10 NIV

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

What must we do?

Abstain evil desires...

1 Peter 2:11 NIV

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:11

Abstain (apechesthai) is literally “hold oneself constantly back from.”

The draw of sin can be like a magnet, but God will not call us to do something that He will not empower us to do.

We need to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 13:11-14, Paul the Apostle said,

Romans 13:11–14 NIV

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

There is a battle

We are called to abstain evil and sinful desires because there is a battle that wages war against our very souls. Each and every one of us has a sinful or human nature. When we commit our lives to Christ this battle begins to rage.

Ephesians 6:10–12 NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

These verses make it very clear that we can’t win this battle that wages war in the flesh, we need to submit to the Holy Spirit and be led by HIm.

Galatians 5:16–18 NIV

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

As we continue to walk by the Spirit, it is a constant submission of our will to the Spirit. We don’t pray a prayer at salvation and expect that we’ve done enough for life, we need to be alert, realizing that our adversary, the devil, is trying to destroy us.

As we walk in the Spirit, the Lord raises up protection so that we don’t fall prey to the devil’s schemes. We need to be perseverant as we raise the shield of faith and wield the sword of the Spirit. Take up the whole armor of God: The Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shoes of Peace, the Shield of the Spirit, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. These are the spiritual weapons that we have been given, as well, we have been called to pray in the Spirit on all occasions.

We may think that the evil desires are harmless, but they are literally waging war against your soul.

Live such good lives...

1 Peter 2:12 NIV

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Our words don’t mean much if our actions don’t follow.

Colossians 3:17 NIV

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Every day we make choices that will affect us as well as everyone we meet. Here’s an example, you’ve been given a job, and you are tempted to cut a corner because it’s easier, but you know it’s not right. What should you do?

In my first church, there was a man who was a contractor. He had a license plate that said, “NU MANNA.”

He was a hard man to deal with. He would cut corners. He’d close in plumbing and electrical before the inspector could look at it, and he’d get into heated exchanges with those who disagreed with Him.

He was a good giver in the church. He played the organ. He could praise the Lord, and sometimes he’d even prophesy. I’m sure in his mind, he felt that people persecuted him for being a Christian, but in reality, he was only getting what was coming to him.

I guess we could ask ourselves the question, if we are accused of something, is it because we are Christians or is it because we have done wrong? There’s a big difference.

Even if we are accused of doing wrong, let’s do right anyways. Let’s care for the oppressed. Let’s advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Let’s sacrificially love as God loved us.

Many years ago, a neighbour kid was charged with theft over $5000. Having legal aid, often trial dates would get pushed back, and there were people in the community that were very angry with this young man. I went to the trial, and before it was his turn, I said to him, “If you did it, it’s best to plead guilty as to go through a trial and be proven guilty.”

That day, at the trial there was a woman who believed that things had been taken from her, looked at me with disdain as though I had taken sides. The only side that I had taken was the side of truth.

I could have stayed home that day and minded my own business, but I wanted to encourage a young man to do what was right. It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but do it anyways. When God calls you to stand up and do what is right, no matter what the consequences are.

Even if people malign you, they will see your good deeds, and glorify God on the day that He visits us. The things that you have done or will do may never be seen until the day that Jesus comes back, but do good anyway.

Galatians 6:7–10 NIV

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

In closing, my exhortation and encouragement is this, don’t worry about what others think of you. Do what is right in the eyes of God. This year, as you have opportunity, pray that this would be a year of great opportunity, do good to all people. Look for opportunities to bless others. Look for opportunities to speak into people’s lives with both words and action. As God gives you opportunity do good to your brothers and sisters in Christ.