Peter's Unwasted Life

We recently began a new series through the 1^st Epistle of Peter. Expository sermons through books of the Bible is the mainstay of our preaching (Why?) at Perryville Second Baptist.

This is from our introductory sermon on the Epistle.

This letter was written by the Apostle Peter probably in the 60s AD. So Peter is older in life and it has been nearly 3 decades since the death, burial, crucifixion, and ascension of Jesus. Peter is someone we have a lot to learn from. But even more importantly, we know that as he pens this letter that the Holy Spirit has worked in and through Him in such a way that we don’t merely have Peter’s words but God’s. However, it is still helpful for us to understand the human author. And so today, I want us to see 8 things about Peter’s life and hope to show you that even though he died a gruesome death, his life was not wasted. Chiefly for one reason: He loved and lived for Jesus!

But, we’ve got to start from the beginning. So, point 1:

I.                    Peter the Person – Who was the Apostle Peter?

He was born as ‘Simon’ in the city of Bethsaida in Galilee. Bethsaida sits on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and so it’s not hard to imagine that he became a fisherman. That was the family business. Simon the fisherman was first introduced to Jesus by his brother:

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:40-42)

Here is a fitting illustration of how when you meet Jesus, you get a new identity, don’t you? Jesus changed Simon's name. Sort of how Peter says:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Pt. 2:9-10)

I don’t mean to suggest that Peter was ‘saved’ at his first encounter with Jesus but just that immediately when he met Jesus, Jesus changed his name. When we meet Jesus he doesn’t just change our name, but everything about us.

II.                  Peter the Professor –

Now, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. After this first meeting w/ Jesus some time elapsed until Jesus saw Andrew and Peter again and officially called them to follow Him:

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Mt. 4:19-20)

And Peter wasn’t just a measly fisherman. There’s evidence that he was doing well. James and John were partners with him:

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:8-11)

Peter left everything and followed Jesus. Furthermore, we can be even surer that as he pens this epistle that he understands even greater the radical call of following Jesus and that the only way to not waste your life, is to give up everything and follow Christ! How fitting that we see in Peter that when he met Jesus not only did he get a new name, but also a new profession – from fisherman to fisher of men.

You probably remember that Peter’s personality was such that he became sort of the unofficial spokesperson for the disciples a lot didn’t he? He wasn’t always right mind you. But sometimes he was:

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Mt. 16:13-18)

Peter, by grace, professed Jesus as God’s Messiah.

III.                Peter the Presumptuous

Peter also had some negative traits, didn’t he? Just a few verses down from Peter being right, we read:

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21-23)

(Just as an aside, it’s never a good thing to rebuke Jesus.)

Peter had some pride issues and if he’d gone to the doctor he’d have been diagnosed with foot in mouth disease. Two other examples:

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:1-8)

Along with James and John, Peter was in Jesus’ ‘inner 3’. He would later be used mightily of God, but that didn’t happen overnight did it? His presumption and pride got him into a lot of trouble. That leads us to our next point:

IV.                Peter the Pretender

Peter says he writes about the ‘true grace of God’ (1 Peter 5:12). The best people to explain grace, are those who’ve experienced it. Let’s take a look at the darkest time in Peter’s life:

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”…Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62)

I think a lot of people miss a point in the gospel stories. And that point is this: Both Judas and Peter denied Jesus in His most crucial hour. And yet, Judas killed himself, but Peter was brought back. But think of Peter! A pretender! A hypocrite! A coward! He talked a big talk but cowered at the interrogation of a servant girl! So why is Peter prayed for by Jesus and later restored? Grace.

V.                  Peter the Pardoned –

Consider what the gospel of Mark tells us after the resurrection of Jesus:

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:6-7)

Now we are getting glimpses of grace. Why do you think Peter was singled out here? Tell the disciples AND peter…? Peter had absolutely blown it. He had denied Jesus. He had deserted Jesus. He had turned His back on the One whom he’d said he’d die for. Peter needed to understand grace.

Grace isn’t necessarily ‘easy’ is it? Grace probed Peter’s heart. In John 19 Jesus got at the root of Peter’s pride and denial so that Peter could understand that he was forgiven and that his commission was to love Christ above all else, to follow Christ above all else, and to teach Christ’s people.

Peter deserved to die abandoned and alone just like Judas. But instead Jesus sought Him, and dealt with Him in love and grace showing that the blood of Christ was enough to cleanse Peter of his sin.

VI.                Peter the Proclaimer –

In 1 Peter 1:1, Peter identifies himself as an Apostle of Christ. Spurgeon says of this text “It must have been very pleasant to his heart to write those words. Not “Peter, who denied his Master”; not “Peter, full of imperfections and infirmities, the impetuous and changeable one of the twelve.” “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” as truly sent of God as any of the other apostles, and with as much of the Spirit of his Master resting upon him.”

Now Peter’s life is forever changed. He’s not perfect mind you. But he is changed. Consider his boldness in Acts! (See for example - Acts 2:22-24, Acts 4:4-13 Acts 5:27-31) From Simon the fisherman, to the unrefined prideful disciple of Jesus, to the unfaithful and disloyal traitor, to a bold proclaimer of the gospel!

This is the power of God and the effect of the grace of the gospel! Peter passionately preached that there is salvation in no one else but Jesus! Right in the face of those who he’d once feared. Jesus was right: Peter was a ROCK. And on this ROCK – the truth of Christ’s ministry, and the confession of it by Peter and others - Jesus builds His church. Peter unashamedly proclaimed the forgiveness of sins through the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We see it in this letter too:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Pt. 2:24)

VII.              Peter the Pastor –

Peter says he is a fellow ‘elder’ (1 Peter 5:1). This is synonymous with the term ‘pastor.’ The reason I bring up that Peter was a pastor is b/c this letter is extremely pastoral. There are 3 major themes found in 1 Peter. He wants his readers (who are members of mainly gentile churches scattered throughout modern day Turkey) to:

1.       Understand the Glorious Gospel of Grace and its implications – 1 Pt. 3:18

2.       Live Holy Lives – 1 Pt. 1:14-16

3.       Know the Reality of and Hope in Suffering while living as strangers in this world – 1 Pt. 4:12

The letter of 1 Peter is extremely pastoral, practical, and a needed word for us in 2017. It is worthy of your reading it and rereading it. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection produces a holy people. And our hope isn’t in this life or the fame or fortune or accolades we can receive from it (1 Peter 1:3-5)/

Peter is a man in love with Jesus and in love with the church and this pours out of every page of this letter…

VIII.            Peter the Persecuted -

The Bible tells us that Peter would die a martyr (John 21:18-19). But it doesn’t tell us exactly how he did end up dying. Tradition however, says he died in Rome at the hands of Emperor Nero sometime in the mid to late 60s after he had written 1-2 Peter.Tradition also says that he was to be crucified but did not consider himself worthy to be crucified like Jesus so he requested to be crucified upside down.

I bring up Peter’s death for two reasons:

1.       When Peter writes about suffering, he wasn’t just saying ‘do as I say’

He was writing with conviction and calling the church to be faithful in suffering and his own death proves that he was living that out too. Read Acts and see Peter’s suffering. He was beaten and imprisoned because of his love for Christ. Peter understood suffering.

2.       He did not waste his life

See, you might be reading this today and think that any person who gave up their family business, and some even close relationships with friends and family, in order to be beaten, ridiculed, persecuted, and eventually martyred for their faith in Christ, would be a wasted life. Oh, but I assure you today, Peter did not waste his life. And you might think “Well, I wish I could ask him” but we already KNOW what he thought because we have his letter! His life was oriented to proclaiming the excellences of the person and work of Jesus! (1 Pt 2:9)

Peter lived an unwasted life b/c he followed Jesus:

·         He didn’t live for this world but the one that is to come at Jesus’ return

·         His hope was so set on what Jesus had done, was doing, and has still yet to do, that he resolved to live holy in the midst of a twisted culture

·         He was willing to love, and to share the hope of Jesus with others.

·         And he was willing to suffer for his faith to the glory of God.

It has been my endeavor to set before us the man who wrote this letter so that we might understand the background of his writing. But, even more importantly, I hope that we have seen the Man whom Peter would want to be set before us: Namely, the God-Man Jesus Christ. A life that loves, submits to, follows, and obeys King Jesus is never a wasted life. Whether we are known in 100 years by this world or not.

Who cares? Jesus knows us! Jesus knows me, this I love!

·         Jesus became a curse that I might receive the blessing.

·         Jesus tasted death that I might have life.

·         Jesus was forsaken that I might never be abandoned.

·         Justice was paid on the cross that I might receive grace.

And by faith in this gospel, we go free. Free to live in holiness. Free to live in joy and delight in Christ. Free to suffer in hope. Free to eagerly await the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Free to grow until he returns (2 Peter 3:18).

I implore you today: Do not live a wasted life. Do not buy into cultural expectations for what matters.

Christian: See Jesus as infinitely better than any worldly achievement or the applause of men. See your life, and your children’s lives, as more valuable than the paltry goals the world has for you. Live for Christ! Rest in His finished work daily and let the world know who you really are by your holy lives and by the spoken gospel.

Unbeliever: Do not waste your life. Oh you may think the cost is too great. But I assure you: The cost of a wasted life is much greater. Surrender now to Jesus as your only suitable and all-sufficient Savior. Can you receive pardon? Oh yes! Yes you can! Just ask Peter! But you must come to Christ in faith alone…

Don’t waste your life.

(You can hear this sermon preached by clicking here)

Keep Moving Forward

As we journey through the 1st Epistle of Peter together at Perryville Second Baptist, it is evident to me that one of the themes of the letter is that Believers are to be holy. As a Minister of the gospel, I have alway sought to try and carefully balance the exhortation to pursue holiness while understanding that we won't attain perfection in this life.

Recently, thanks to a free gift from Ligonier, I acquired John Calvin's A Little Book on the Christian Life. I think what Calvin writes about this in the first chapter is superb. I hope you are encouraged and challenged:

"I'm not saying that the conduct of a Christian will breathe nothing but pure gospel, although this should be desired and pursued. I'm not, in other words talking about gospel perfection, as if I were unwilling to acknowledge or recognize a man or a woman as a Christian who has not obtained perfection. If that were the case, everyone would be excluded from the church, since we do not find any in it who are close to being perfect. Indeed we find many in the church who have progressed little toward perfection, but who, nevertheless, it would be unjust to reject as Christians.  

What I am saying is this: Let us fix our eyes on the goal and sole object of our pursuit. Let that goal, toward which we must strive and contend, be established from the beginning. After all, it's not right to barter with God regarding what we will and won't undertake form those things He has prescribed for us in His Word... 

Of course, none of us is capable of running swiftly on the right course while we remain in the earthly confinement of our bodies. Indeed, most of us are so oppressed with weakness that we make little progress - staggering, limping, and crawling on the ground. But let us move forward according to the measure of our resources and pursue the path we have begun to walk. None of us will move forward with so little success that we will not make some daily progress in the way. 

Therefore let us keep trying so that we might continually make some gains in the way of the Lord, and neither let us despair over how small our success are. For however much our successes fall short of our desire, our efforts aren't in vain when we are farther along today than yesterday. 

So let us fix our eyes on the goal with sincereity and simplicity, aspiring to that end - neither foolishly congratulating ourselves, nor exusing our evil deeds. Let us press on with continual striving toward that goal so that we might surpass ourselves - until we have finally arrived at perfection itself. This, indeed, is what we follow after and pursue all our lives, but we will only possess it when we have escaped the weakkness of the flesh and have been received into His perefect fellowship." (Emphases mine)

Ah! How refreshing! Keep pressing, beloved. Keep fighting.

Keep moving forward.

Though you do not now see Him, you love Him. Press on. One day you will see Him and you will not regret striving for holiness. To Christ be the glory.

What does it mean to love God?

Everyone in the Bible Belt loves God. 

Well, at least most people say they love God. In fact, when teaching and preaching on the reality of depravity it is difficult to communicate to people our relation to God apart from Christ. Most people view our love of God like our love for our 3rd Cousin that we never visit. We don't wish any ill will toward him or her so we say we "love" them. Surely we don't wish any ill will toward God! So, we conclude that we must "love" His as well.

This is problematic for a couple of reasons. First, it's not true. We do wish ill will toward God for we want Him to be like us instead of Who He is. We want Him to love what we love, to be ok with our sin, and to let us live a life unbothered by Him and His holiness. In fact, if it were possible, we would throw off the restraints and cast Him forever into the abyss so that we could rule and reign the universe instead of Him. Secondly, it is problematic because it does not convey the biblical understanding of love. 

So, biblically, what does it mean to love God? For that, we are going to call in a guest writer. Thomas Watson (1620 - 1686). (All words except those in brackets are Watson's) 

"What is love? 

It is a holy fire kindled in the affections, whereby a Christian is carried out strongly after God as the supreme good. The nature of love consists in delighting in an object. This is loving God: to take delight in Him. 'Delight thyself also in the Lord' (Psa 37:4), as a bride delights herself in her jewels. Grace changes a Christian's aims and delights."

"What are the visible signs of our love to God?

1. If we love God, our desire will be after Him. He who loves God breathes after communion with Him. 'My soul thirsteth for the living God.' Psa 42:2. Persons in love desire to be often conferring together. He who loves God desires to be much in His presence."

2. "The second visible sign is, that he who loves God cannot find contentment in any thing without Him. Give a hypocrite who pretends to love God corn and win, and he can be content without God; but a soul fired with love to God, cannot be without Him."

3. "The third visible sing is that he who loves God, hates that which would separate between him and God, and that is sin. Antipathies can never be reconciled; one cannot love health but he must hate poison; so we cannot love God but we must hate sin, which would destroy our communion with Him."

4. "The fourth visible sign is sympathy. Friends that love, grieve for the evils which befall each other. If we have true love in our heart to God, we cannot but grieve for those things that grieve Him. They surely have no love to God who can laugh at that which grieves His Spirit! Does he love his father who can laugh to hear Him reproached?"

5. The fifth visible sign is, that he who loves God, labours to render Him lovely to others. He not only admires God, but speaks in His praises, that he may allure and draw others to be in love with Him. True love to God cannot be silent, it will be eloquent in setting forth His renown. There is no better sign of loving God than to make Him appear lovely, and to draw proselytes [converts] after him."

6. The sixth visible sign is, that he who loves God, weeps bitterly for His absences. What can all worldly comforts do, when once God is absent? 

7. The seventh visible sign is, that he who loves God is willing to do and suffer for Him. He subscribes to God's commands; he submits to His will. If God bids him mortify sin, love his enemies, be crucified to the world, he obeys. It is a vain thing for a man to say he loves God, and slight His commands. If God would have him suffer for Him, he does not dispute, but obeys. It is true that every Christian is not a martyr, but he has a spirit of martyrdom in him; he has a disposition of mind to suffer, if God call him to it. We [only] pretend to love Him [if we] will endure nothing for His sake."

So, the question is, do you love God? Do you love Him? Not do you love Him perfectly, for no man save Christ has done this! But do you love Him at all? And if you love Him at all, then these 7 signs Watson lays out will be evident in your life. And while it is true we don't know anyone's heart or motivations, we can and do see their actions. Yes, we must exercise Christian prudence and grace, but it's not helpful to affirm one's love for God when they manifest little or no evidence that they do actually love Him! Remember, we aren't to let culture dictate to us what 'love' is but Scripture.

Do you love Him?

Consider the gospel. Although we wanted to replace God in hate, He instead, in His great mercy and sovereign grace, replaced us on the cross in love. He substituted His own Son to bear our guilt for all who call to Him in faith. Will you look to Jesus in faith?

Why We Must Think of God Rightly

I've never read the Shack. Nor do I have any plans to do so. But it has certainly been causing a stir lately as the movie comes out in just a few weeks. 

Personally, I didn't think there were any serious Shack supporters within the circles that hang out in but I noticed the comment below on Facebook: 

"I have read the [Shack]. I did not think it was blasphemous. I thought it portrayed the Father Son and Holy Spirit in a way that this man could relate to them in his time of pain and definitely not that they would appear  in the same way to anyone else. Just my point of view."

A few issue there but here's the one I'd like to focus on: it's not ok to think of God in any way we want. Whether we are in pain or joy. Sadness or jubilation. It's not ok to portray God in a way that makes Him more 'relatable' to us. 

Why?

Primarily for the reason that He has already revealed Himself to us in the one way we can relate to Him. Our Triune God has set the parameters for which we may think of Him in His Word and has shown us that the way to Him is through the person and work of Christ. This doesn't 'limit' God's 'godness' but rather shows us who He is as He is. For example, Jesus says "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). It's not ok to worship God in anyway that is not 'truth'. And you or I don't get to define truth. Truth isn't just 'whatever feels true to me today,' rather, truth is objective. Truth is truth and that's the truth. Truth is the Word of God. 

To worship our 'ideas' of what God is like separate from what the Bible actually reveals God to be like is idolatry. Time and again God scolds His people for not thinking of Him rightly (see Psalm 50:21 for example). 

"Yeah but the Shack is fiction." Well, we've already seen how it causes people to give acceptance to 'any view of God goes as long as it works for you.' So, it maybe fiction, but it doesn't take away from its danger in making us think wrongly about God. 

This Sunday we are beginning a new sermon series at our church on God's holiness. It didn't click with me until today just how closely this is connected to the current hubbub over the Shack. You see, God has revealed Himself to us as the Holy One. One eternal God in three co-equal and distinct persons. We didn't make up thinking about God this way. Instead, this is who God is and we know so because He has told us. So, I don't get to define God in such a way that 'works for me.' I don't get to say God's holiness means whatever I'd like it to mean today. I am obligated to define Him the way He defined Himself. Furthermore, I am only hurting my joy in Him when I seek to define Him in ways I think are more convenient for my circumstances. Only the eternal, Triune, holy God of the Bible can grant me life, satisfy my deepest longings, and pardon me of my sin against Him. 

And if at this point you still don't see the big deal, consider what Jesus says the essence of eternal life is: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3). You don't have eternal life if you don't know God. Yes, this isn't merely intellectually, but also gloriously relationally. However, it's impossible to be in a true relationship with someone you don't also actually know intellectually. Does this mean we must be able to exhaust God before we can have a relationship with Him? Of course not! For you cannot exhaust the inexhaustible! Our knowledge of God now barely scratches the surface of who He is. We will spend an eternity knowing Him and growing in our knowledge of Him. So, let us not think lightly about how we think of God. To consistently and consciously think of God in such a way that is wrong or contrary to Scripture suggests that we do not have eternal life. Again, that's just what the Bible says "this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God." There aren't many versions of the only true God as if we are ok just because we use the term 'God' and 'Jesus'. No. There is One God and this God must be thought of the way He as told us to think of Him. 

Let Scripture be your plumb line. But let it also be the hammer that smashes faulty thinking into dust. Let it be the chisel that conforms our mind and heart. Let it be the fire that burns obliterates all idols. Let it be the sword that protects us against any false teaching on the character and nature of God. Let it be the anchor that keeps us from drifting away. Let it be the light that shines on all that God is for us in the person and work of Christ. Let it be our treasure in the morning and our solace in the evening. Let us love it, not because it is an end in and of itself. But because it shows is the one true God. In Him and to Him be the glory alone. Amen. 

Skill

I read Exodus 28 in my bible reading today. Sometimes I think people get bogged down in these latter chapters of Exodus with all the meticulous details about the tabernacle and various procedures. I know I have before! 

But, upon further reflection, these chapters reveal to us that God is a God of order and detail. And in the 1st 15 verses of chapter 28 the word 'skill' pops up 5 times (in the ESV). It begins in verse 3:

"You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood."

If you've seen pictures of the priestly garments then you know some of the intricate detail. And so, what I want to focus on today is 'skill'. 

If the Lord cared about skill in Exodus 28, and particularly blessed people with certain skills in the making of priestly garments, it's right to think that God still cares about skill today. Here's a few thoughts I have:

1. Worship -

Particularly our corporate gatherings. I certainly think their can be room for spontaneity- a testimony, prayer request, or the like. But my point here is it's not 'unspiritial' to be prepared. To lead in song with skill. To teach and preach with skill. To pray with skill. 

I'm not saying we can't involve people who are new or learning - we most definitely should! But what I am saying is that God has gifted people in the church. And we should carry out these gifts with the skill the Lord has blessed us with. Don't settle for haphazardness in worship. It's not ok to treat Sundays as a tack on to your week and so settle for unskillfulness. If you're a Sunday school teacher - prepare. A song leader - prepare. A pastor - prepare. If all you think you do is 'show up' then you can still prepare. Pray for your own heart and those leading. Pray for how you can be an intentional and skillful blessing to someone else even if you're not sure what that may look like. 

2. Work - 

While the passage in Exodus is not speaking directly to our jobs, I still think there is some application. Work is not a product of the Fall.

No matter what sort of work you are doing today - flipping burgers or building skyscrapers - you can do it with skill. Not lazily. Bring glory to God in your effort and intentionality of doing the best job you can. Even if you're not in your 'career' job yet. Prepare for your career job by being skillful in the work you're doing now. 

3. Home -

There's a lot of blogs and memes today about having a messy home because we are more concerned about time with our kids. I get that. And there's definitely some truth there!

At the same time, let us be skillful in our homes. This is for moms and dads and children. No, we won't have perfect homes! But we can be intentional about doing things around the home with skill. 

We must also be intentional about using the skills God has blessed us with as parents to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I want to be careful here because I know parents feel so inadequate. However, God has entrusted you with those kids! So pray to Him for help in rearing them faithfully. Make the effort to intentionally point them to Christ. 

Grateful for God's Word this morning. I hope you've been edified. 

Providence - A Baptist Heritage

If you remember back to American History then the name 'Roger Williams' will sound somewhat familiar. Williams came to the New World in 1631 and wasn't fully on board with the pervading idea of the day of a state ran religion. This got him into trouble and in the kind providence of God led to the formation of a new colony. A colony where freedom of religion was woven into its very charter.

This colony, of course, was Rhode Island. And what city would be the capital of this new colony? Providence would play a key role here as well. Literally, Providence. A most fitting name. During his Providence, RI days Williams was, for a brief stint, a Baptist and it was during this time that he was instrumental in the formation of the very first Baptist church on American Soil - First Baptist Church of Providence in 1638.

I share this neat little bit of history to just remind my fellow baptists that we have always been people of Providence. Perhaps we've never even visited Rhode Island, but that's not necessary to appreciate our heritage. It was only a few more decades later when the 1689 London Baptist Confession came out. It has this to say about providence:

CHAPTER 5; OF DIVINE PROVIDENCEParagraph 1. God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy. 

Paragraph 2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without His providence; yet by the same providence He ordered them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 

Paragraph 3. God, in his ordinary providence makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at His pleasure.  

Paragraph 4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His providence, that His determinate counsel extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also He most wisely and powerfully binds, and otherwise orders and governs, in a manifold dispensation to His most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceeds only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin. 

Paragraph 5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God does often times leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of His elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good. 

Paragraph 6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin does blind and harden; from them He not only withholds His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraws the gifts which  they had, and exposes them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God uses for the softening of others. 

Paragraph 7. As the providence of God does in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it takes care of His church, and disposes of all things to the good thereof.

Some of that may be difficult to read in 21st Century vernacular but suffice it to say that Baptists throughout the centuries have viewed God as the one who is control of all things. A healthy understanding of the providence of God is this: That God works all things after the counsel of His will. That in the universe there is not one rogue molecule floating around. Every atom, every proton, and electron, every single thing in the universe is under God’s sovereign hand and is used by Him to bring about His own eternal purposes for His own eternal glory.

This does not make God the author of evil, nor does it make men unresponsible for their actions. Can we not see God as big enough to uphold the universe by the word of His power, and to order and direct all things after the counsel of His will, and simultaneously hold men responsible for the choices that they make in accordance with their own desires? This is the God of the Bible.

I am finishing up Jonah this week. We've spent a few months now walking through this great book together (sermons here). In the final portion of Jonah, we see that God brings things into Jonah's life that are both comforting (the plant) and discomforting (destroying the plant). The point being that God is willing to do things in the lives of Believers in order to get to our hearts. Not because He is punishing us, but because He loves us. Because He refuses to leave us in a state of callousness, He will go to great lengths to prune us of remaining sin, sometimes even sin we didn't know we had!

This does NOT mean that you must see every negative thing in your life as God trying to ‘get you’. That’s a sad view of providence. Rather, it is to see that God is in control of all things and that even the crazy, painful, and difficult moments in your life, God is using for a good purpose.

He is at work in the chaos and the pain. When the kids are crazy and the house is a mess and the bills are late and the washing machine is broken: trust God’s unwavering love for you and His uncompromising commitment to your holiness in Him.

When the pink slip comes in or the checkup doesn’t go as planned or the tornado hits your house but not your neighbor's you must believe in a God who is not just up there wringing his hands, but who is in total control.

This doesn't mean we always have every answer to situations that arise. But it does mean that He is not through with you. He is not done with what He started in you. You see, God didn’t save you from discomfort. He didn’t save you from not getting your feelings hurt. He didn’t save you from bad days. He saved you in Christ from His own holy wrath against your sin.

And while that sin was paid for on the Cross, it’s still something that we struggle with and it’s still something God is pruning in us. God was willing to proactively bring discomfort in Jonah’s life to reveal his heart issue and to show him a clear picture of who He was and His compassion for the Nations. And because God loves us, He brings things into our life, or via secondary means allows things into our lives, for a higher purpose.
So, let us drop words like 'chance', 'luck', and 'coincidence' (and 'mother nature'). And let us recover our Baptist heritage. Let us be sound in our doctrine of providence. And let us give God the glory for all that He brings or allows into our lives knowing that His ultimate purpose is our good and His glory.

Unhealthy Evangelism

We are putting an emphasis on evangelism this year at Perryville Second Baptist. I think this is an area I can definitely grow in personally and I hope to see our church as a whole grow in this as well. Our goal is not to necessarily memorize a specific evangelistic outline (although, I'm not opposed to that) but to shift the culture in our church were evangelism is not 'something extra to do' but flows naturally in our daily interactions as well as fostering a sense of urgency and intentionality in searching out gospel opportunities. While it is true that some in the church are more gifted at sharing the gospel, we still believe every Believer is equipped to share the gospel with others for three main reasons:

1.) They know the gospel! (Otherwise, they wouldn't be a Believer)
2.) They are indwelled by the Holy Spirit
3.) God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise

With that being said, here are a few quick thoughts on when evangelism is actually harmful to the church. I know, I know. There's that famous Moody quote of "I like my way of doing [evangelism] better than your way of not doing it." And I certainly agree with that in part. However, I think we've all seen some of the bad ways evangelism has been done and I submit to you that in some instances it is actually harmful to the church and the people being evangelized. But I certainly am not advocating not doing evangelism at all! Rather, I support doing evangelism faithfully, biblically, and unto the glory of God. So here we go:

1. When the gospel is not present -

This should be obvious! But if the gospel isn't present, we aren't really evangelizing. We are just 'izing'. It's not a good tactic to leave all the 'hard stuff' out of the gospel like repentance (the proper response to the gospel), and the bodily resurrection (just a couple of examples), so that you can get people to come into Christianity. When we strip the gospel of its essentials, we no longer have the gospel! And when we invite people to place their trust in a false gospel, we are not seeing conversion to Christianity take place. I'm afraid there are many in the church today who have trusted an insufficient gospel and feel secure in their salvation when in reality they haven't truly placed their faith in Christ as their only suitable and all-sufficient Savior.

2. When the means distort the message -

So, the argument goes 'I don't care what 'means' we use to win people as long as we have the right message.' But sometimes, the means preach louder than the message. I once heard about a VBS that had 100% of the kids respond positively to the gospel message. The leaders put two large buckets at the front of the room. They wrote on one bucket 'Heaven' and the other 'Hell'. They asked the children to place their cards in 'heaven' if they accepted Jesus and 'hell' if they didn't. And for added effect they lit the hell bucket on fire. Yup. 100% responded 'yes'. We ought to eschew manipulatory tactics and underhanded ways. Preach the gospel.

3. When healthy church membership is compromised -

Personally, it's difficult for me to hear from pastors/leaders who are 'concerned' about evangelism but not healthy membership practices. As if these two things are at odds! Periodically you will see conferences on evangelism that feature 'evangelistic pastors' whose membership rolls don't emphasize the real make-up of their church. Say, 5,000 people coming on Sundays and 25,000 members. Evangelism that doesn't care about healthy church membership is at best woefully deficient. It is not connecting the fact that God isn't merely saving 'individuals' but a people for His own glory. "Well, yeah, but it's still bringing people into the Kingdom!" First off, that's not confirmed. Because John tells us that we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers (1 Jn 3:14). Secondly, if some of those people are true converts they are not growing as they should be and the particular church is not as effective as it should be because they are missing parts of the body.

4. When the glory of God is not the chief motivator - 

This is sort of an underlying issue that can lead to the above three. But when our own reputation is the chief motivator we become more concerned about numbers. When people, in and of themselves, are the chief motivator, we become more concerned about lowering the standards to 'get them in'. But the driving force behind our evangelism must be that we are zealous for the glory of God. That God is infinitely worthy of the worship of the Nations. That we are provoked in spirit to see such idolatry in our communities. We care about souls because we care about the glory of God. When the glory of God is our chief motivator then our greatest desire will be to honor God, to be faithful to His Word, to rest in the sufficiency of Scripture. To let the latest evangelistic fads come and go and not get caught up in them, but rather to continue to day in and day out seek to faithfully share the message of Christ in the places that God has placed us.

5. When the church sees evangelism as priority number 1 -

Similar to the last point. But the church's main concern is the glory of God. Thankfully, we aren't left scratching our heads wondering what exactly God wants from us and how the church is to bring Him glory. We have His Word! Is evangelism an important part of the mission of the church? Absolutely! But, the issue is that many churches have gotten so caught up on 'reaching the unchurched' that they have dismissed other teachings of Scripture on the effect of the gospel, such as holiness, gospel unity, etc. The problem we see is our churches are less full than they used to be. So, the question we ask is 'what can we do to get people to come again?' When the question we should be asking is 'In what ways can we ensure that we are being faithful to God even in the midst of a culture that rejects Him?" The biggest ways I see this played out currently are through attractional and affinity based churches. The idea being let's make our churches more inviting or tailor made toward a certain 'affinity' (Biker, Cowboy, etc) so that we can see people saved. Let me quote from something I wrote in January 2016:

We think "church" is where people come to get saved. Can people get saved during a church service? Of course! But is this the purpose of the local church's weekly gathering? Absolutely not. You won't find that anywhere in the New Testament. It's strange to even consider how we came to assume this.

So, the idea is "we need to create a church for the 'unchurched'." Well, there's a reason men are 'unchurched' (not a biblical category btw) - they are lost. How can we read the New Testament and come away with the idea that we need to plant churches that people will come to and get saved? Not one church in the New Testament was planted that way. Instead, the gospel was preached, people were saved, and a church was planted (no adjective before the church either). We don't "come to church". We are the church that goes to people (Mt 28:18-20 That's the great commission - GO! Not "ya'll come!")

So again, maybe similar point number 3 as well, but when we make 'evangelism' crowd out the other purposes of the local church, we are committing an error. Actually, I would say that evangelism done in this manner is not biblical evangelism.  

6. When only 'baptism' is the indicator of 'successful' evangelism -

Unfortunately, sometimes we think that successful evangelism is seeing someone born again and to follow through with Believer,s baptism. While that is defintiely what we want to see, at the end of the day, God is the One who saves. We must be faithful to share the message. Successful evangelism is proclaiming the gospel and inviting sinners to repent and believe it in faith. If they are saved, then glory to God! But if they reject the message, it doesn't mean we are 'failures'. We must keep proclaiming! Keep inviting! Keep imploring with men to be reconciled to God! But our success is dependant on God and His work. So even if we don't see immediate fruit, we must keep sowing seed.


The goal of this post isn't to make us think evangelism is bad! Instead, it's to make us realize that bad evangelism is bad. Let us strive to be faithful in our evangelistic endeavors.