September 3, 2012

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."  II Peter 1:3-4

When I was a kind we used to sing a chorus in Sunday School that went something like this:

"Every promise in the Book is  mine - every word, every letter, every line."

Looking back on it I believe my teacher was trying to instill the same truths in me that Peter is affirming to these Christians - GOD HAS GIVEN US GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES!

These promises are great because of Who has given them!

These promises are great because of what they give to you!

These promises are great because of what they will give you in days to come!

And, these promises are great because they are TRUE and their truth is guaranteed in Jesus Christ, Who is both the fulfillment of every promise and is the proof that every promise will be fulfilled!

His promises that have been given to you are precious because He made them!

His promises are precious because what they promise is precious!

His promises are precious because of the price that was paid to guarantee them -the life blood of Jesus.

God, through His power, has given you great and precious promises!

Will you believe them?

Will you receive them?




 

September 2, 2012

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." II Peter 1:1-2

 

It was rather ironic yesterday that American Hero, Neil Armstrong, was laid to rest in Ohio on a day when there was a "blue moon".

 

People my age or older remember being transfixed in front of black and white TV screens on July 20, 1969 watching a grainy image of Neil Armstrong stepping off the botton rung of the ladder from the LEM (lunar excursion module) and planted his space boot firmly on the surface of our moon!

 

Those of us who witnessed it have those pictures permanently emblazoned in our minds!

 

During the week I did some reading on this humble mid-western hero. I found several interesting details, but the one that impressed me that most was the fact that neither NASA or the astronauts or President Nixon were very optimistic about Neil and his co-pilot, Gene Cernan, making it back from the surface of the Moon.

 

According to what I learned, NASA had a statement all prepared to share with the American public were the worst to happen. President Nixon's top speech-writer had crafted a brief script for the President to inform and comfort the American people if Armstrong and Cernan should be permanently stranded on our Moon.

 

Such a bold as theirs would be risky today even with our 21st century technology. You can probably imagine how dangerous it was with 1960's equipment! There was great concern among the peoptole at Mission Control and with the astronauts about whether the engine on the LEM would fire when it came time to launch from the surface of the Moon and link up with the orbiter that would bring them back to earth. That engine had to fire on the first try or it wouldn't work. While they had test-fired it 250 on earth they were not sure how it would function in the lunar atmosphere.

 

When these courageous astronauts launched from the earth, they were fully aware of the very real possibility they would never return! They risked their lives because they were convinced that space exploration was essential to the scientific growth of their beloved nation, The United States of America!

 

Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan loved their mission more than they loved their own lives! They were totally committed to going to the Moon and exploring the Moon even if it meant they never would return from the Moon!

 

In II Peter 1, Peter is reminding us that we have some very precious gifts available to us through faith in Christ. But we must serve Him and grow in our knowledge of Him in order to receive and enjoy those gifts.In short, we will need to love Him more than life!

 

Let me ask you, "Do you love Jesus more than life?" "Are you willing to get know Him better even if it costs you everything?"  "Will you be willing to surrender everything for the joy of knowing God?"

 

If you will, I promise it will be out of thsi world!

 

 

September 1, 2012

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as our.  Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." I Peter 1:1-2

Out of Peter's role as a servant developed a knowledge of his Master. That knowledge grew into a relationship.

Peter makes it clear that this is God's desire for all His people. To see how that knowledge develops let’s trace Peter’s journey.

          Follower – “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men…..”  Mt. 4:19

Peter became a follower when Jesus issued him a personal call to leave his nets and boat to follow Jesus. He would never be the same!

 

ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST?

 
 

          Learner  – Disciple – “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” Matthew 5:1-2

Since Jesus was a Rabbi, those who would follow Him would learn His teachings. What Peter learned from Jesus changed his life! Until you live it you haven't learned it!
 

ARE YOU A DISCIPLE?       

WHAT DID YOU LEARN LAST WEEK?
 

ARE YOU DISCIPLING ANYONE ELSE?

          Believer –  Mt. 16:16 - Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Peter's name changed from “Simon” - shifting sand to “Peter” – the rock.

Peter not only learned with his head, but as he walked with Jesus and watched Jesus he began to believe that Jesus WAS the Son of God. His doubts diminished as his knowledge grew.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS? DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT?

           Minister  – “Feed my sheep…..” John 21:17

After Peter failed and denied Jesus, He lost confidence in himself and after Christ was crucified, Peter went back to fishing. But the Resurrected Jesus came looking for him and tenderly let Peter know that he was forgiven and that Jesus still had a ministry for Peter to fulfill! When Peter heard that he was forgiven and called by his Jesus to get busy serving Him again, he gladly resumed serving Jesus.

What is neat to realize is that even after Peter gave up on himself - GOD PURSUED PETER WITH GAZELLE INTENSITY.

HOW ARE YOU MINISTERING FOR GOD?      WHO ARE YOU FEEDING?

 

           Apostle – “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:40-41

An "apostle" is one who is sent on a mission with the "Good News". Peter drew close to Jesus and learned from Him and then he was sent out to draw others to Jesus. But first, the big difference was - HE WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT first.

HAVE YOU BEEN FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?

Martyr – Crucified upside down on a cross because he felt unworthy to die like Jesus!

WHAT ARE YOU GIVING YOUR LIFE FOR?

I think it is safe to say that Peter had his eye on the prize! He shows you how to do it, too!

 

As You Grow In Him As Peter Did, You Realize HE IS THE PRIZE!

Hearing Him say, “Well done” Is The Prize!

Leading Others To Getting To Know Him Is The Prize!

 

 

August 31, 2012

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ," II Peter 1:1a

 

What Peter describes as his role, a “slave” of Jesus Christ, is also your role and it is my role. But just exactly does that mean?

 

It means to surrender to Him! Offer yourself with all your hopes and ambitions.

 

Billy Graham tells the story about a little child who was playing with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best to get it out, to no avail. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now my son, make one more try. Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull.” To their astonishment the little fellow said, “O no, dad, I couldn’t put my fingers out like that because if I did I would drop my dime.”
 

 It means to serve Him! Offer to do His will.

 

When Joseph Ton was a pastor in Romania he was arrested by the secret police for publishing a sermon calling for the churches to refuse to submit to the Communist government’s demand for control over their ministries. When an official told him he must renounce his sermon, he replied, "No, sir! I won’t do that!"

The official, surprised that anyone would respond so forcefully to the secret police, said, "Aren’t you aware that I can use force against you?"

"Sir, let me explain that to you," Ton said. "You see, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. . . . You know that my sermons are spread all over the country on tapes. When you kill me, I only sprinkle them with my blood. They will speak 10 times louder after that, because everybody will say, ’That preacher meant it because he sealed it with his blood.’ So go on, sir, kill me. When you kill me, I win the supreme victory." The secret police released him, knowing his martyrdom would be far more of a problem than his sermon.

 

It means to satisfy Him. Obey Him in love.

I recently did a wedding. During the wedding rehearsal, the groom pulled me aside and made me an offer.

He said "Look, I’ll give you $100 if you’ll change the wedding vows. When you get to me and the part where I’m to promise to ’love, honor and obey,’ I would appreciate it if you’d just leave that part out." He gave me a $100 bill and walked away.


The day of the wedding the bride and groom were in front of me and we were to that part of the ceremony where the vows are exchanged. When it came time for the groom’s vows, I looked at the young man and said "Will you promise to bow down before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life and swear eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?"


The groom gulped and looked around, and said in a tiny voice, "Yes." Then He leaned in and asked “what happened I thought we had a deal."


So I gave him his 100 dollars back and told him that she had made a better offer.

Are you choosing to be obedient to God or are you looking  for a better deal?
 

HERE’S A BETTER DEAL:  Give Yourself To God As A Slave And He Makes You A Son!

August 30, 2012

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ" II Peter 1:1

Not only does Peter identify himself as a "servant of Jesus Christ" - which IS significant - but notice that he signs in using two names, "Simon Peter".

 

In the Jewish culture names were significant. Unlike today when children are often named after a sports celebrity or entertainment star, in those days the name was given according to some prominent characteristic of the child.

 

You may remember that when he dropped his nets and left his boats to begin following Jesus he was known by the name "Simon". The name "Simon" means "shifting sand". If you know very much about Peter you will understand why that name was appropriate.

 

When he identifies himself by his given name he is acknowledging the way he was when he began to follow Jesus. He was weak and inconsistent in his new found faith. One moment he would get it right and the next moment he would be fall flat on his face.

 

Maybe you can relate to that. I sure can!

 

But Simon received a name change. Here is how it happened:

 

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:15-18

 

When Peter began to understand Who Jesus really was, it began a dramatic change in his life and Jesus recognizing that change marked it in a pretty big way - He changed Simon's name to "Peter". "Peter" means "rock". So you could say, his name changed from "Sandy" to "Rocky". As you recall that a name reflects the character or nature of a person you see what a significant change that was!

 

Let me mention a couple of significant insights about Jesus in this story. First, Jesus sees your potential long before you do! Peter was far from being a rock when Jesus changed his name to "Rock". Second, Jesus patiently empowers you until you become the "rock" He knows you can be! Jesus believed in Peter when Peter doubted himself. Even when Peter betrayed Jesus, Jesus never doubted Peter. And sure enough, Peter become not only a rock but he became a foundation upon which the Church was built! Once he got his eye on the prize, everything changed!

 

It may seem like a small or even insignificant that the Great Apostle opens his second letter with the

moniker "Simon Peter". But since the Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit, EVERYHING is significant and the significance of using both names was to glorify God by recognizing His transfomational power!

 

Like Peter, you may be a believer in transition. You may be changing from shifting sand to a rock. I want to encourage you to keep your eye on the prize. I want to remind you that God believes in your potential even more than you do and He promised you an new name:

 

^"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  Revelation 3:11-13

 

Hang tough, Rocky! Keep your eye on the Prize!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 29, 2012

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ......" II Peter 1: 1a

If you were to begin listing the names of the great godly men of the Bible, Peter would be somewhere on that list. He one was of the first to drop his nets and follow Jesus as a disciple and became one of the "inner circle" with James and John. Along with those two, Peter got to be on the Mount of Transfiguration to experience that amazing event!

 

He was the one who God used to launch the Church on the Day of Pentecost. After he preached his simple sermon in the power of the Holy Spirit 3,000 were saved and added to the Church.

 

Peter became an important leader in the early Church, helping it to be established on a solid foundation.

 

There were several ways Peter could have introduced himself in this letter, but he chose to refer to himself as a "servant"of Jesus Christ.

 

The word for "servant" is the same word used for "slave". But while the word is the same the idea is significantly different.

 

A slave was bought against his will by his master and became the property of that master. That master had the power of life or death over his slave. Slaves were often worked hard and poorly treated. A slave had no rights. Being a slave brought shame upon a person.

 

Unlike a slave, Peter was not a servant against his will. He surrendered to His Lord, giving up his rights and his ambitions to humbly do whatever his Lord desired. Peter did not do this with shame but great joy! He served because he loved it! He served because he loved others! But mostly He served because He loved God! That is what you do for Someone Whom you love! You serve!

 

So, here is a great man of God who had walked along side the Master and was transformed, just as Christ had promised, from a fisherman to a fisher of men. And how does he identify himself?

 

"Peter, a servant of Christ."

 

How do you identify yourself?

 

Who do you love?

 

Who are you serving?

 

 

 

 

August 28, 2012

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

 

Barbara and I just returned from watching the Dinesh D'souza movie "2016, Obama's America". If it is at a theater near you I recommend you see it.

 

One of the things that resonated with me is D'souza's idea why some America's dislike their country. He mentions that rather than measure America against other nations less free and less prosperous, they choose to measure America against her highest ideals. When you measure social evils such as slavery or racism against our ideals of freedom and equality then America "falls short of the glory" of Her Founders.

 

In reflecting on that thought, I could see how it has resulted in a degree of guilt and self-loathing that seems to haunt many on the liberal side of the political spectrum. And when you think that many of them have discounted the existence of God, how do they deal with the guilt from a nation that has fallen short of its ideals? When you fall short of your own high ideals, where do you go to get forgiveness?

 

Do you lower the ideals? Some have.

 

Do you work hard to give extra rights and advantages to the vicitims of injustice? Some do.

 

Do you make laws and enact policies to level the playing field and make life fair? Some do.

 

D'souza identifies this guilt and self-loathing as one of the factors contributing to an environment where a relatively unknown and inexperienced Senator from Illinois could get elected to the Presidency of the United States.

 

Contrast that to Paul's counsel to the Roman Christians. His worldview, the Christian worldview, believes God is the Creator, the Law-giver and the Judge of the universe. His standard and ideal is holiness. Since every one of us are sinners by nature, everyone of us have fallen short of that high ideal. But that is where the big advantage comes for Christians! Since God set the standards He can also provide forgiveness for those who have fallen short of the standard. That forgiveness was provided by the death of Christ on the Cross!

 

You don't have to labor under the frustration of reaching impossible standards nor do you have to live under the self-loathing that results from guilt. Another verse from Romans says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 6:23.

 

You can love a perfect God, you can love a less than perfect you, and you can love a not so perfect America!