The Train

 

I love it when the Bible lays out things in a particular order.  It is always for a reason and when I start to try and uncover that reason, God’s Word takes on a whole new dimension.  In today’s study, the word picture is of a train with eight cars, each in its proper place, on the way to The Eternal Kingdom.  All aboard!

 

2 Peter 1:5-7 - For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,

self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

 

Things to think about:

·       The idea is of a train on its way to The Eternal Kingdom of Jesus

o    2 Peter 1:11 – “For if you do these things, you will never stumble,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

o   Each of the cars is in a very specific order.  Each one connects perfectly to the one before it and the one after it.  Getting them out of order would lead to a derailment!

·       Car 1 – FAITH

o   The first quality mentioned is faith - “make every effort to add to your faith…”

o   The first step in becoming a follower of Jesus is to step out in faith, faith leads the way to everything else

o   Hebrews 11:16 - Without faith it is impossible to please God

o   Why do you think this train is led by faith?

·       Car 2 – GOODNESS

o   We come to God in faith because we know we aren’t good in and of ourselves.

o   The impetus for faith is the conviction we aren’t good and need a savior

o   Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

o   Through faith, God imputes Jesus’ goodness on our behalf

§  Romans 3:22 - This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

·       Car 3 – KNOWLEDGE

o   Through faith we understand we fall short of God’s standard.  By His grace, He counts us as righteous.  But we are still babes in the faith and must now learn from Him.

o   2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

o   Before our conversion we grew up learning the world’s instruction.  We need to not just want to do better, we need to learn how to be better and that can only come from the divine revelation found in God’s Word.

·       Car 4 – SELF-DISCIPLINE

o   Now that we are beginning to understand what God would have us do (and NOT do), we need to put it into practice.   

o   James 1:22-25 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

o   Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 

·       Car 5 – PERSEVERANCE

o   We can all be motivated for a while to try and do better, just look at dieting, working out, or even reading the Bible. It’s when we are weak or tempted to indulge in sin that reveals the measure of a man.

o   Galatians 6:9 – Let us not weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

·       Car 6 – GODLINESS

o   It is said that character is really the sum total of many small decisions over time.   

o   1 Timothy 4:7 – Train yourself for godliness.

o   All of the steps thus far have focused on getting ourselves right with God and preparing ourselves to be of use in His service

·       Car 7 – MUTUAL AFFECTION

o   Now we are ready to show and share God’s love with others in a consistent way that will stand the test of time.

o   Matthew 13:3-8 - Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

o   John 17:22-23 - I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

·       Car 8 – LOVE

o   John 13:35 - By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

o   John 15:12-17 - My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.  This is my command: Love each other.

This world is not our final destination, just a country we are passing through on the way to the Eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  

Bless you!

 

OK, this post has nothing to do with sneezing but it has everything to do with God blessing you.  Do you want to be blessed by God?  I do!  In 1 Peter 3 there are some Dos and Don’ts that make it very clear on how to be blessed.  What you won’t find though is a lot of religion on the list. What you will find are easy-to-read, hard-to-put-into-practice expectations for a follower of Christ.  With His help, you can be assured God is listening and that He will give you His blessing.

 

1 Peter 3:9 - Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

 

Things to think about:

·       One of the most natural things hurt people often do is to hit back (hopefully harder than they were hit).

o   It might even feel good in the heat of battle

o   Better yet, it might even be defendable – “let me tell you what they did to me!”

·       The only problem with this is that it is diametrically opposed to the example Jesus gave and to God’s law

o   1 Peter 2:23 - When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

o   Matthew 5:38-48 -  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

o    “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

o   Wow, that is an extremely high bar set before us.

§  What makes this hard for you to put into action in real life?

§  Have you ever seen someone rise above and model this attitude and behavior?

·       So what should our attitude and behavior look like?

o   1 Peter 3:8 -  Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 

§  Each of these traits honors the other person and should cause us to think less about ourselves and more about other people

§  Which of these qualities do you most admire in other people?

·       In fact, our passage continues in verse 10-12:

For, “Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

o   The Lord is watching and listening, not like a policeman but like the loving Father that He is. 

o   Our calling is to obey His commands.  His desire is to bless you.  The question is - will you let Him?

Lifting the Lid on Your Prayers

 

Do you feel like there is a lid on your prayers?  Are you offering them up and they don’t seem to be going anywhere?  If you’re a husband, there may be a reason for this.  

1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Things to think about:

·       We all like to quote the “wives be submissive to your husbands” verses, don’t we???

·       But this blade cuts both ways so let’s look at what some of the responsibilities of the husband are.  If we choose to gloss over this, there are serious consequences.

·       “Be considerate as you live with your wives”

o   Who can drive us the craziest?  The people we live with, of course!  I think it’s interesting that Peter calls out “as you live with your wives”.

o   We should be prioritizing our wives’ feelings first rather than demanding our way

o   We ought to do the little things that we know make them happy rather than try to win an argument by belittling their unimportance (to our way of thinking anyway)

o   What other ways can we be considerate as we live with our wives?

·       “And treat them with respect as the weaker partner”

o   Clearly, men on the whole are physically stronger than women

§  We have an obligation and a duty to protect our wives that our physical strength afford us.  It is to our honor to be able to do this.

§  What I don’t think it means is that women are weaker intellectually or spiritually

o   And this is to be done with respect, showing her honor

o   In what ways can you think of can you show your wife respect?

o   What do you think God wants you to learn by treating your wife with respect?

·       “And as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life”

o   There is an equality here that is not to be missed.  She is your peer in the sight of God.

o   She is an heir with you in the greatest gift God can bestow – life

o   Any sense of superiority should be done away with.

·       As always, there are consequences to our choices.  If we choose to ignore this directive, He makes it clear that our prayers will be hindered

o   Matthew 5:23-24 - “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

o   Practicing “religion” while being disrespectful to our wives is simply unacceptable. 

§  Whatever is panging your conscience right now is probably exactly the behavior you need to change for the sake of your marriage and your relationship with God

Your New Benefits Package

 

A big motivator for choosing to work at one company versus another is the benefits package being offered.  Good ones are worth thousands of dollars and over time, potentially much more.  In Psalm 103, we’re encouraged to reflect on the incredible benefits God provides to those who choose Him.

 

Psalm 103:2-5 - Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion, 

who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

Things to think about:

·       An attitude of gratitude

o   Praise the Lord O my soul

o   If you don’t know what to thank God for today, here’s a great starting point

·       Forget not all His benefits

o   An unused benefit can be a lost benefit.  In other cases, (like a 401k) just because you’re not thinking about it doesn’t mean it’s not working on your behalf

·       He forgives all your sins

o   Not just some of them, not just some of the time, not partially

o   We are guilty before a Holy God who has no obligation to forgive us except through His love for you and His mercy

o   Psalm 51:7 - Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

·       He heals all your diseases

o   New body

§  1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;  it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;  it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

o   Sometimes the healing is now, sometimes later

·       He redeems your life from the pit

o   Like the prodigal son, we are wallowing in filth with the pigs

o   Sometimes when you’re in it, you don’t see it for what it is and it’s only when you can see the contrast you understand

·       He crowns you with love and compassion

o   Crowns – we’re children of the King

o   Love and compassion

§  He knows we are made from dust.  He doesn’t wag His finger at us saying we should know better.

§  We’re free from judgement and condemnation

·       He satisfies your desires with good things

o   Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

o   Matthew 7:9-11 - “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

o   You’re never too old!

§  Genesis 17:1-2 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

·       So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

o   Life is hard and exhausting

o   Matthew 11: 28-30 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

o   Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Wow!  Any one of these would be enough to fall on your knees and give God thanks and “praise the Lord”.  All of these, in full measure are yours TODAY.  This is a passage worth committing to memory to remind yourself so when things don’t look so good that God has given you more than you could ever hope or imagine.

The Perpetrator

 

Recently, our new friend, Harold D’Souza, shared with us his harrowing tale of life as a victim of slave labor for several years.  He told us of his perpetrator who lured him into the US under false pretenses and then manipulated him into believing he was unwanted, of no value, and on the precipice of being deported as an illegal.  In similar ways, there is a Perpetrator who lures people in with enticing lies and then when they bite, he makes them a slave to his deception, keeping his victims from living in the freedom that is right before them.

 

1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

 

Things to think about:

·       The man responsible for Harold’s misery promised him a good job and the American Dream.  Instead, he stole his money and his identity.

o   Just like Harold’s perpetrator, the Devil is a liar and a thief. He promises the good life.  But when someone moves toward him to accept his proposal, he steals their very soul. 

·       The man coerced Harold into taking a loan and put him hopelessly into debt.

o   Satan creates a false sense of a debt that we have committed sins for which there is no recourse except shame and suffering.

·       The man forwarded the idea that the authority figures in the US hated immigrants and wanted to punish them with handcuffs, jail, and deportation.

o   Satan would have us believe that God doesn’t love us because we are unlovable.

o   The truth is God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

·       The man threatened Harold’s life many times and said there was no use in fighting him.

o   The Devil is a hateful adversary who uses his considerable power to make us cower in fear.

o   Isaiah 41:10-11 - So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.

 

·       Harold and his family found their freedom by risking their lives, and believed by faith, that a higher authority could save them.

·       They learned that all the years of being called “illegal” was a lie.  They were only undocumented, something that could be remedied.

·       Harold and his family are now citizens in a new country, with all the rights and privileges of natural born citizens.  They went through the prescribed process and now have a new identity, sons and daughters of America.

o   The same holds true in the spiritual realm.  When we come to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, we become citizens of His kingdom, with all the attendant rights and privileges. 

o   John 1:12 - Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God

·       Despite what the Devil may say, we have our documentation found in the new birth and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

o   Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

o   Ephesians 1:13-14 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.