Monthly Archives: May 2021

1 Peter 2:12

Recap

In  1 Peter 2:11 we considered the Apostle Peter’s instruction to abstain from sinful desires (lit passions of the flesh) — i.e. strong emotions that wage war against our souls by leading us away from pure and simple devotion to Jesus.

1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives
  • literally keep your conduct (or conversation) beautiful / honourable / honest
  • this is the flip side of last week’s theme.  We abstain from indulging in sinful or destructive  emotions, thoughts and desires, in order to be free to focus on better things.
  • what does beautiful or honest conduct look like?
  • what is its source?
among the pagans
  • literally among the Gentiles. Peter, the apostle to the Jews (Galatians 2:8), was probably writing to assemblies made up mostly of Jewish believers, so he may have literally been instructing his mostly-Jewish disciples about how to conduct themselves among the Gentiles. Relationships between Jews and Gentiles were not always positive, and he may have wanted to instruct his flock – as followers of Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of the world – to show kindness, purity and love to Gentiles.
  • But you don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate Peter’s point. The word Gentiles can also be understood as a synonym for pagans, meaning those outside the faith. In the first century world, pagans believed in many gods and practiced a sexually permissive way of life. We are to keep our conduct excellent among those outside, who may not have a positive opinion of our faith.
  • Does this seem applicable to our present-day context?
that though they accuse you of doing wrong
  • Jews refused to worship the emperor, and when Gentiles became believers in Jesus they likewise refused to bow to Caesar, insisting that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11)
  • Followers of Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, likewise refused to join in the general debauchery and sexual promiscuity that was part of pagan worship (1 Peter 4:3-4). For this they were viewed with suspicion and rejection on account of their supposed odium generis humani (hatred of the human race). [Source: Causes of the Early Persecutions, History Today]
  • Does this sort of suspicion of Christians and Jews have any parallels in Canada today?
they may see your good deeds
and glorify God
  • we need to die to the desire to win the praise of people
  • this was one of the main reasons Jesus found fault with the Pharisees ( )
  • if our non-Christian neighbours end up glorifying God, it won’t matter whether we get the credit
on the day he visits us
  • when Jesus returns to judge, cleanse and rule the earth, what will happen to our non-believing neighbours (including those in our society who are currently most opposed to the gospel)? Will they be among those who welcome Him with praise and worship, or will they suffer eternal loss?
  • what about us? If someone who opposes everything we stand for ends up repenting and being saved, will we be glad or will we complain about it as Jonah did when God spared Nineveh?  (Jonah 3.10, Jonah 4.1, Jonah 4.11)
  • Let’s check our hearts and ask the Lord to give us His love – and a heart to do good and intercede – for our non-believing fellow Canadians, including those who hate everything we stand for.
  • Matthew 5:44-45

 

 

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1 Peter 2:11

Recap

In 1 Peter 2:9-10, we looked at the multi-layered blessings that come with being called God’s people. We talked about the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.

1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends

Literally beloved ones

  • When we are dealing with a call to obedience, what difference does it make that God calls us beloved ones?
as foreigners and exiles
  • The Holy Spirit (through Peter) is reminding us here of our true identity as well as our true destiny
  • We do not belong to this age although we live in it.
  • We are the people who will inherit a restored earth (with full access to heaven’s blessings) in the age to come.
I urge you … to abstain

The root word apexo can have the following meanings

  • to hold back, keep off, to be away, be distant.
  • to have one thing by separating from (letting go of) another.

When we abstain or keep away from evil, we don’t lose something. We gain something.

  • What do we gain by abstaining from sinful desires or choosing not to indulge in destructive feelings?
from sinful desires
  • ESV the passions of the flesh
  • the Greek refers to strong feelings or desires.
  • The word can be used of desire for good or bad things.  Desire is not bad in itself. Paul says we are to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts 1 Corinthians 14.1
  • In this context Peter is clearly speaking of evil desires.
  • Galatians 5:19-23
which wage war against your soul
  • How do sinful desires (or the passions of the flesh) wage war against our souls?
  • According to Galatians 5:16,22-23, how do we win this battle?
For further reference

Teaching on spirit, soul, body and how we govern our soulish nature.

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Recognizing true and false prophecy

Teaching on Prophecy – week 2

Continuing on in our mini-series on prophecy, I want to pick up on some of the themes in Pastor Dan Wallace’s sermon on prophecy at Harmony Community Church on May 9, 2021.  To listen to his message, click here.

False prophets in Judah in the time of Jeremiah

Jeremiah prophesied during the closing years of the Kingdom of Judah and continued his ministry during the first few years of exile in Babylon (587 BC).  During the final few years of the kingdom, he warned of coming judgement but was often contradicted by the court prophets.

The kings of Israel and Judah maintained a company of prophets whose job assignment was to consult the Lord on behalf of the king. An example of a court prophet who did his job faithfully and well was Nathan, who prophesied during the reign of King David four centuries before Jeremiah’s time.  Nathan gave David prophetic words of great promise ( 2 Samuel 7:1-16 )  but when David sinned, Nathan stepped out and brought a bold word of correction ( 2 Samuel 12:1-15) .

By Jeremiah’s time, however, the court prophets had become corrupt. They claimed to hear from God but typically told the king and his people what they wanted to hear.

Jeremiah 23:14, 16-17

Jeremiah accused them of prophesying lies.

Jeremiah 23:26

He was vindicated when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians a few years later.

Factors that can lead to false prophecy
  • Fear of man; desire to please people rather than God ( Proverbs 29:25 )
  • Confusing our own desires with the promise of God ( Jeremiah 23:26-27 ).
    This can dull the spirit of the prophet to the point where he can no longer recognize that what he is prophesying is not the true word of the Lord
  • One’s theological assumptions can get in the way of discerning the word of God for today
    (Matthew 16:15-23) . Prophecy sometimes requires that we take the risk of saying something that may seem wrong but is actually right and proves to be the true word of God for that time and place.
  • Self-promotion and self-protection.
Factors that make for good prophecy
  • Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37). Cultivate love for God and make it your aim to please him.
  • Be a student of the Scriptures. Get to know the Word of God well. (Psalm 119:72)
  • Spend much time in the presence of the Lord and become familiar with His voice. (John 10:27)
  • Don’t make an industry out of prophecy. Prophesy only what the Lord tells you.
  • Be more concerned about serving people than pleasing them.
  • Be accountable. Prophecy is to be weighed and tested.  ( 1 Corinthians 14:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 )

 

 

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Why Prophecy?

Introduction

These notes are a summary of the main points in a sermon preached on May 2, 2021 by Pastor Daniel Wallace of Harmony Community Church in Ormond, Ontario (near Winchester).

Priority of Love

If we are going to operate properly in any spiritual gift we need to build on a foundation of love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2

Prophetic powers that are not governed by love are of no value and may even do significant harm.

We are to pursue love. 1 Corinthians 14:1

Spiritual gifts are good and should be sought and desired

Eagerly desire spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1

Prophecy is a higher gift

Prophecy is especially valuable because it has the capacity to build up, encourage and comfort our fellow believers. This is a practical expression of the love of God. 1 Corinthians 14:3-4

Potential Impact of Prophecy

Prophecy has the potential to call people to account, reveal the secrets of their hearts and thus bring unbelieving people to repentance as they recognize the power and presence of God in His people. 1 Corinthians 14:24-25

Prophecy must be weighed

Prophecy is subordinate to the written Word of God in authority. A valid prophetic word is a word from God, and therefore carries genuine authority to address the human heart with lifegiving truth, but it is never equal to the written Scriptures in authority.

Paul says that all prophecies spoken in the the assembly of believers are to be weighed. 1 Corinthians 14:29, see also 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

Summing up

A good safeguard which will ensure safe and effective prophecy is to fix our hearts on everything that is good.  Philippians 4:8-9.  Jesus said if we make the tree good, its fruit will be good. He said this in reference to the human heart.  Matthew 12:33, see also Luke 6:43.

 

 

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