WEBVTT 00:00:09.699 --> 00:00:13.300 Hello, and welcome to the Kalamazoo church of Christ podcast. 00:00:13.539 --> 00:00:14.839 Thank you so much for listening. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:16.199 We're startup church. 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:23.460 We just planted in September, 2020 and at the Kalamazoo church, we believe that Christianity is done best when it is done together. 00:00:23.539 --> 00:00:32.299 And so if you live in the Kalamazoo area, we would love to connect be it coming to a Sunday service, one of our small groups, or even just grabbing coffee with a member to learn more. 00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:36.439 You can visit kalamazoo.church in order to do that. 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:40.399 We pray that you are inspired by what you hear today. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:50.700 Church on Sunday, talking about a first Peter and there's, then after this, we're going to, we're going to look at first Peter five next week, and then we're going to start looking at second Peter as well. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:51.719 I think it's really powerful. 00:00:52.100 --> 00:01:03.098 There's so much about how to live as a Christian in a, in this, in this letter, and it's spoken in English or rather it's spoken at least in translated and with a lot of words that we can understand pretty readily. 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:07.219 Certainly there's a depth to what's being communicated, but we can pick it up. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:11.780 There's a confirmation of the church as God's chosen people. 00:01:12.260 --> 00:01:14.299 That's you and I being chosen by God. 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:20.260 We're going to look at a little bit about what that means and what, what that, that name means Christian this morning. 00:01:21.219 --> 00:01:28.159 And then, and then it talks about some of the unique roles of the father, the son, the Holy Spirit, and then us as it relates to salvation. 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:31.939 And we understand that there's no salvation without Jesus. 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:35.760 There's no hope without God organizing this perfect plan. 00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:41.099 There's without the spirit guiding us on a day-to-day basis, we, we really would have no hope. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:43.400 However, there's something we got to do as well. 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:58.299 And so we, we, we talked a lot about that last week where we'll actually, it was a couple of weeks ago when we, when we kept the series going, but but we, we understand that in order to in order to be good with God, all of these have to be working together. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:07.819 We're going to look at first Peter four, and I think I know for me, it was, this was a fun, it was a fun lesson to put together because one, it was extremely challenging. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:16.560 The second reason there was so many of these scriptures I've, I've held close to my heart as I've, as I've interacted with the world. 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:26.060 And I, one of these that we're going to read right now, I remember reading this being at some of the, the, the most, the biggest struggles in my life. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:31.840 I remember reading some of these scriptures and just feeling like, man, God is speaking directly to me. 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:35.159 Later on, I, another scripture we're going to look at. 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:40.099 I remember reading it and it's one that me and me and Jordan are trying to work with right now. 00:02:40.139 --> 00:02:42.080 It's just so easy to understand. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:42.719 It's so easy. 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:44.659 It's so, it's so relevant to our lives. 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:48.699 And then the last is something we call each other all the time, which is Christian. 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:50.240 And so it's going to be fun. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:53.800 I think there'll be a lot of practical teaching this morning. 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:56.139 I think you'll be able to pull stuff just from reading the text. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:56.379 Amen. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:02:58.039 Here we go. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.379 But my job though, is to try to illuminate the text. 00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:13.199 So I'll try to, it says in verse one, therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude because anyone who suffers in the body is done with sin. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:23.039 As a result, they do not live the rest of their lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 00:03:24.430 --> 00:03:28.699 For you've spent enough time in the past doing what Pagans choose to do. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:35.159 Living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 00:03:36.469 --> 00:03:46.020 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless wild living and they heap abuse on you, but they'll have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:57.159 But this is the reason the gospel was preached, even to those who are now dead so that, so that they might be judged according to human standard in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:03.199 You know, we, we've said, we've said this before, but we haven't said it for a little bit of time. 00:04:03.259 --> 00:04:07.039 And it's, if there's one thing, the world does a couple of things and work with me here. 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:12.120 The world tries very hard to make things that are black and white, gray. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:21.579 And the world tries to make things that are gray or there's a, there's a spectrum, there's room for conversation, black and white, and put people in boxes that they don't belong in. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:29.040 If the, if the world can convince us to do that, then, then I think the world is pretty excited about it is what I would say. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:37.600 You know, one, one area that, that we see here, this just says there's this, this powerful statement. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:43.459 It says you can either live for evil human desires or you can live according to the will of God. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:56.000 But, but, you know, with your standard of living, the world is how you live by the world's doing everything it can to try to have, there's, there's kind of this spectrum of good, you know, bad, kind of indifferent, neutral. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.660 There's some negative stuff, but not, it's not so bad. 00:04:58.660 --> 00:05:01.100 But then there's those people that are really bad. 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:06.439 As long as you don't do that kind of stuff, you know, it'll, it'll all work itself out, right? 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:09.060 If the world can convince us of that, the world's one. 00:05:10.180 --> 00:05:16.839 But then what you hold yourself to, the standard, not only how you live, but also what standard you hold yourself to. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:28.980 And you, well, there's, you know, maybe there's the most pious of people, but then there's also this kind of big middle of people that maybe I'd like to sit, sit in, you know, that I'm, you know, I kind of do pretty good. 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:35.680 I follow some of the teachings, I believe most of it, but, you know, we all mess up sometimes. 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:35.980 Right. 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:48.879 And, and, and then there's, but I'm just, I'm, I'm better than the worst people though that the worst of the worst, ah, no way, you know, and, and we'd love to be, we'd love for this to be true because we could sit right in the middle of it and feel like, okay, we're doing okay, right? 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:56.620 The world does everything it can to, to make us think that there's this, this spectrum when in reality, the Bible is clear. 00:05:56.779 --> 00:06:01.180 You, you live your life for evil human desires or, or for the will of God. 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:05.540 So that means that the standard is what the Bible outlines. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:10.759 And that means how we live ought to be based on the standard that we say that we're going to live by. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:11.019 Right. 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:21.100 So then, so then listen though here though, because this means that what we do on a day-to-day basis has extreme value. 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:24.740 Uh, what you consume has extreme value. 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:26.639 What you produce has extreme value. 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:28.519 Your words have extreme value. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:39.519 Your actions have extreme value because if we were to live and we, if we really believe the world's lie that, you know what, it's kind of okay regardless, then what we'll do is say, well, then it doesn't really matter what I consume. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:41.560 It doesn't matter what kind of music I listened to that much. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:43.300 You know, it's, it'll be okay. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:56.920 And it doesn't really matter what I do then it's, it's, you know, here, there, as long as I'm kind of, you know, there's this wide door that as long as I go through, I'll be okay that this is, this is what, when I say the world, I'm not talking about it. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:08.600 I hope, I hope that we understand when I say the world, I'm not saying this type of people or who those who vote this way or those who look this type of way or those, that's not what I'm saying. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:12.379 When I say the world, what I'm, what I'm talking about is, is, is the devil, right? 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.319 The devil is the creator of lies, the originator of lies. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:28.220 And so when I say the world, I'm talking about the devil's domain and what this, what, what he wants us to believe, but what, when the devil can get you to believe that your actions are not that important, I think he's one. 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:34.120 This is, this is saying that this means that everything you do can be done for the will of God. 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.620 It's not just showing up to church on Sunday. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:37.759 It's not just reading your Bible. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:42.439 We can do things that are according to the will of God in our mundane day-to-day life. 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:42.720 Amen. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:42.819 Amen. 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:45.339 Amen. 00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:55.660 What, what an extreme value, uh, that, that, that your life has then, uh, you know, so I was, I don't know if this, I'll be honest, I'm not sure if this works, but, but work with me here. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.699 So think about for a second. 00:07:57.019 --> 00:07:57.959 I'm sorry to do this. 00:07:58.019 --> 00:07:59.000 Think about your favorite dessert. 00:08:03.790 --> 00:08:05.730 Think about whatever, whatever it is. 00:08:05.750 --> 00:08:06.870 And now, you know what? 00:08:06.910 --> 00:08:09.730 Just because I'm interested, what are some of your guys' favorite desserts? 00:08:09.850 --> 00:08:10.629 You can just shout them out. 00:08:11.889 --> 00:08:13.589 Strawberry, strawberry, cheesecake, ice cream. 00:08:13.649 --> 00:08:14.009 What do we got? 00:08:15.750 --> 00:08:16.389 Pecan pie. 00:08:16.709 --> 00:08:17.029 Oreos. 00:08:17.089 --> 00:08:17.769 Who said Oreos? 00:08:18.129 --> 00:08:18.389 Come on. 00:08:18.389 --> 00:08:18.829 Come on, man. 00:08:18.910 --> 00:08:19.649 That's the classic. 00:08:19.829 --> 00:08:19.990 Okay. 00:08:20.170 --> 00:08:21.029 Very, very good. 00:08:21.550 --> 00:08:22.550 You can't go wrong. 00:08:22.670 --> 00:08:23.329 They're undefeated. 00:08:23.430 --> 00:08:23.589 Right? 00:08:23.750 --> 00:08:24.750 Never, never lost. 00:08:25.649 --> 00:08:26.050 Nope. 00:08:26.170 --> 00:08:26.329 Yeah. 00:08:26.329 --> 00:08:27.490 Nobody doesn't like Oreos. 00:08:27.850 --> 00:08:34.668 Uh, now, now, now, now we're getting into some, um, some different kind of territory. 00:08:34.668 --> 00:08:45.289 You think about whatever, you know, German chocolate cake or whatever the most, um, you know, and you, you have some kind of pie and you, as we're talking about it, you're, you're actually thinking about it. 00:08:45.309 --> 00:08:46.009 I hope right now. 00:08:46.009 --> 00:08:49.590 You know, we, me and, uh, me and Jeff and a couple of other, I think Ange was there. 00:08:49.690 --> 00:08:55.149 We were talking about, uh, banana pudding and we were like, it's not, it's not banana pudding. 00:08:55.210 --> 00:08:57.809 That's from this instant banana pudding mix. 00:08:58.789 --> 00:09:00.370 Uh, it's, it's banana pudding. 00:09:00.450 --> 00:09:01.029 You know what I'm saying? 00:09:01.149 --> 00:09:07.169 And, and, you know, Bianca has made it, there's like condensed milk and it's like the least healthy thing for you. 00:09:07.769 --> 00:09:10.169 Nilla wafers is like the healthiest part of the pudding. 00:09:10.269 --> 00:09:10.870 You know what I'm saying? 00:09:11.389 --> 00:09:14.269 Uh, that's the part you feel the least guilty eating. 00:09:14.269 --> 00:09:20.529 And so whatever it is, whatever for you is like your favorite dessert. 00:09:21.549 --> 00:09:23.590 Just consider how perfect it is, right? 00:09:23.690 --> 00:09:27.350 Consider that when you take a bite, everything else, it just disappears, right? 00:09:27.370 --> 00:09:35.370 This is, this is, everything's going to be okay, but what the world does though, now work with me here. 00:09:35.429 --> 00:09:44.830 What the world does is the world says that's a good dessert, uh, that's a good dessert, but you can add just about anything else to that dessert to make it better. 00:09:47.330 --> 00:09:50.549 You can, I mean, just don't add anything that's not edible. 00:09:50.669 --> 00:09:52.830 Like don't add pencil shavings to that dessert. 00:09:52.929 --> 00:09:53.809 Definitely don't do that. 00:09:54.450 --> 00:09:54.950 Um, you know, right. 00:09:55.009 --> 00:09:55.950 Don't, don't add plastic. 00:09:56.049 --> 00:09:56.730 Don't do that. 00:09:57.289 --> 00:10:00.909 But virtually everything else you can add to that dessert and it'll be, it'll be pretty good. 00:10:01.149 --> 00:10:04.710 Uh, you can add, you can add a little bit of sprinkles and you're like, well, you know what? 00:10:04.710 --> 00:10:05.309 That's not that bad. 00:10:05.389 --> 00:10:07.149 That's not, it's not as good. 00:10:07.210 --> 00:10:07.909 It's okay though. 00:10:07.950 --> 00:10:08.169 Right? 00:10:08.169 --> 00:10:13.110 Uh, but then what is, man, nobody's going to ask her, Hey, put some garlic powder in it. 00:10:13.129 --> 00:10:17.169 And the world says that's okay because you can just add a little bit of stuff on it. 00:10:17.250 --> 00:10:18.370 It's, it's, it's up to you. 00:10:18.669 --> 00:10:21.870 And yet we'd understand you're not going to add ranch to this, this apple pie. 00:10:22.029 --> 00:10:27.730 Like that there's, it goes from, it goes from amazing to appalling, right? 00:10:27.769 --> 00:10:34.429 I was, I was trying to think of what some of the most disgusting things that I won't even, I don't even want you guys to know where my mind went with all of this. 00:10:34.429 --> 00:10:37.830 So I'm not going to keep going, but the world also says, you know what? 00:10:37.830 --> 00:10:40.710 You can remove everything or at least components of it. 00:10:40.769 --> 00:10:41.450 It's still okay. 00:10:42.570 --> 00:10:42.710 Right? 00:10:42.830 --> 00:10:46.629 You, if you take the butter out of, out of that, that pie, it'll still be okay. 00:10:46.710 --> 00:10:47.549 And you're like, no way. 00:10:47.610 --> 00:10:47.909 Right? 00:10:48.610 --> 00:10:49.389 Give me the butter. 00:10:50.750 --> 00:10:55.649 You know, you think about the condensed milk and the, you know, the, the banana pudding, it's still good without the condensed milk. 00:10:55.649 --> 00:10:56.309 And you're like, really? 00:10:56.389 --> 00:10:57.049 Have you tried it? 00:10:57.149 --> 00:10:57.350 Right? 00:11:00.190 --> 00:11:03.789 Whatever cake, whatever pie, you take the top off of it and you're like, it's still pie. 00:11:03.870 --> 00:11:04.470 It's still good. 00:11:04.509 --> 00:11:06.409 And the world's doing everything it can. 00:11:06.409 --> 00:11:11.429 There is a perfection in what God has created in, inside of all of us. 00:11:12.429 --> 00:11:15.769 And he's the, the world's like, add a little bit, take a little bit away. 00:11:15.889 --> 00:11:16.669 It's all going to be okay. 00:11:16.669 --> 00:11:20.269 That's what the world is saying, except for the worst of the worst. 00:11:21.769 --> 00:11:25.509 Everything you do has value though, that the God, God organized it that way. 00:11:25.529 --> 00:11:27.210 And so you can make a decision every day. 00:11:27.250 --> 00:11:28.149 It's not just on Sunday. 00:11:28.169 --> 00:11:33.669 It's not just when you show up to live for evil human desire, or you can live for the, the will of God. 00:11:35.210 --> 00:11:37.169 And, and you know, it's, it's, it's cool. 00:11:37.250 --> 00:11:42.289 This, it says some of these, these activities that it talks about, these are some activities that are outward. 00:11:42.429 --> 00:11:43.029 They're obvious. 00:11:43.190 --> 00:11:46.330 You see them and, and they're in your face on the surface. 00:11:46.429 --> 00:11:48.309 It appears like, well, what's, what's the big deal. 00:11:48.370 --> 00:11:53.009 There's not the consequence for a lot of these actions doesn't seem to be immediate all of the time. 00:11:53.750 --> 00:11:58.190 And, and, and yet we understand there's something wrong with the Bible is teaching us. 00:11:58.250 --> 00:12:01.029 There's a different way, but it's not only this, right? 00:12:01.029 --> 00:12:07.250 You think about for yourself, maybe it's, maybe it's not these, this outward sin of the old flesh that you are trying to fight. 00:12:07.450 --> 00:12:08.529 Maybe it's gossip. 00:12:09.769 --> 00:12:10.929 It beats bitterness. 00:12:11.629 --> 00:12:12.610 Maybe it's hatred. 00:12:12.710 --> 00:12:30.990 Not, not for everybody, but for that person, maybe it's, maybe it's jealousy, not in every area, but in this area though, these are the inward sins that, that if you've, if you've lived according to the faith for any length of time, these are the ones that are difficult, right? 00:12:30.990 --> 00:12:31.830 All of it. 00:12:31.889 --> 00:12:32.549 All of it is hard. 00:12:32.850 --> 00:12:33.169 Objectively. 00:12:33.190 --> 00:12:38.330 It's very difficult, but man, I think I'm going to be, I'm going to be fighting my ego for the rest of my life. 00:12:38.389 --> 00:12:43.789 That, that's, that's something that that's just, I'm going to be fighting my selfishness for the rest of my life. 00:12:43.789 --> 00:12:45.950 I'm going to have to try to die. 00:12:45.970 --> 00:12:47.370 I'm going to be disgusted by it. 00:12:47.370 --> 00:12:48.850 I'm going to be selfish again. 00:12:49.370 --> 00:12:51.269 I don't want to feel like I'm going to repent again. 00:12:51.269 --> 00:12:53.850 I'm committed to it for the rest of our lives though. 00:12:53.870 --> 00:12:56.690 These are things that we can always choose to live for the will of God. 00:12:56.750 --> 00:12:56.950 Amen. 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:01.240 So what you do has, has great value. 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.299 Let's, let's keep reading. 00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:19.480 Says in verse seven, the end of all things is near, therefore be alert and of sober mind that you may pray above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins, offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:26.879 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:32.659 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:44.919 If anyone serves, they should do, they should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things, God may be praised through Jesus Christ, excuse me, to him be the glory and the power forever and ever. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:45.720 Amen. 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.259 Starts out. 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:55.620 And what does it say to be, to be at the beginning, be alert and sober minded so that what? 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.659 That you may pray. 00:13:58.299 --> 00:13:59.039 Interesting here. 00:13:59.100 --> 00:13:59.779 So work with me. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:10.039 I think the world is again, the world, we're not speaking of a person we're speaking of our battle against the, the, the demonic forces of evil that, that still are working in, in all of our lives. 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:16.960 This the, the world is trying to get us to think mental, to be, to be able to pray. 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:19.940 You've got to just ignore all of what's going on. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:25.360 You got to just turn, turn off and just go to this blissful state of unaware if we're really going to pray. 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.059 The exact opposite is true, isn't it? 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:32.200 The Bible says be alert and sober minded so that what, so that you may pray. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:43.740 If we really had this full idea and understanding of, of the spiritual battle of what's going on in our day to day of the, the, the, the fight that we have to continue to wage against our flesh. 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:48.200 If we had that awareness, if we were that sober, we just have to pray. 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:52.759 That would be out of the, out of the overflow that I know that I'm not able to do this myself. 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:57.120 I know that there's, I have, I have no ability to, to fight this sin. 00:14:57.179 --> 00:15:00.080 I have no ability to not want to sin. 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:01.519 I need to pray. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:03.840 I need to, I see this battle with that. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:13.659 This person is struggling with, and I, I want to give the answer and you've been in conversations where you've wanted to give the answer and you just knew there's no answer I can give you for this difficult part of your life. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.000 So what do we got to do? 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:20.799 If we're that aware, if we're unaware, we'll try to come up with a great solution. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:25.679 If we are aware though, we're going to decide that we, we've got to pray, bless you. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:32.580 So this awareness needs to, needs to transcend. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:35.259 I ask us, how, how aware are we? 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:38.559 How aware are we of the spiritual battle that you're in? 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:42.860 But how aware are you of the spiritual battle that your brothers and sisters are also battling? 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:53.500 And it says this, this powerful thing, above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.340 And I love this scripture. 00:15:56.419 --> 00:16:04.519 This is the one that I'm trying to, we're trying to teach, we've got a lot of stuff to teach our children, obviously, but it's one of the, I think she can learn it. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:10.600 Like it's just, it's a one sentence thing above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.820 You guys, this is what's cool is you guys know that's true. 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:26.039 You think about if you're a parent, you realize that's true because your kids say and do some reckless stuff to you and they just, they just smile at you for a second and you're like, I love you. 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:27.120 There's nothing, there's nothing you can do. 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.100 I forgive you. 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:30.080 You know, you didn't even apologize and I forgive you, right? 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:33.700 Think about your spouse, similar thing, right? 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:37.500 And maybe it's a little bit more difficult, but something, right? 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.600 Be honest with me. 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.799 Maybe it's just for me. 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.799 I, one day, one day it won't be more difficult. 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:46.659 However, yeah, we, I forgive you. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:49.440 I just love covers it all, I'm not even worried about it anymore. 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:51.399 I don't even consider or think about it anymore. 00:16:52.700 --> 00:17:03.578 You really know this is true if you, if you grew up with siblings because you guys can be in a full on fist fight, calling each other X, Y, and Z names, uh, slam doors on each other. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:06.559 And then 30 minutes later you're like, Hey, we got some McDonald's money. 00:17:06.618 --> 00:17:07.318 You want to go with me? 00:17:07.338 --> 00:17:08.460 And the answer is always, yeah. 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:13.559 You know, um, and somewhere, somewhere along the way we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll make up, right? 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.500 You know, I love you. 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:14.740 Yeah. 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.358 No, shut up. 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:15.578 Okay. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:17.220 That's, that's right. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.940 Maybe, maybe just me. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.460 I don't know. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.140 I, it's, it's a powerful reminder though, right? 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:29.940 That means that if we're going to be in a family, think about being in a family that's like that, uh, on earth, but think about being in a heavenly family. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.640 That's about that. 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:30.940 Right. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.880 That man, love covers over a multitude of sins. 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:41.119 That's stuff that we do, uh, that we're like, man, you, again, we've done stuff and love covers over that. 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:45.059 But then a lot of it's probably stuff that, that that's done to us too, right? 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:47.619 That we just have to be like, man, love, love covers over it. 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.599 I know that guy's hard. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:48.759 Yeah. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.859 I'll bring us something up to him. 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:59.640 I'm not, this doesn't mean we don't have conversation, but I just, my intention, I trust that I trust their, their best, that they have my best interest in mind all the time. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.920 Is that always true? 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:03.039 Maybe not, but that's, that's my commitment. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.980 And that's the commitment that we're all making. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:13.180 If we are saying that love is going to cover over a multitude of sins, it doesn't mean doesn't stop the conversation, but the conversation is, is pretty doused in love. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:13.440 Amen. 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.099 Yeah. 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:17.319 And then, uh, then it's cool. 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:21.660 It, there's certainly so many different ways that we can serve God. 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:30.859 There's in Romans, it talks a little bit more deeply about a few other ones, but this, it has a couple of them speak the, if you're going to, your gift is to speak, speak the very words of God. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:35.299 And if you're served, if you're gifted to serve, serve with strength from God. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:43.279 And I think we could take these two to be really narrow minded or very, very, uh, there's a narrow definition and speaking would only be preaching on Sunday. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:58.099 Um, and, and we could say serving is only if you have a title or an appointed, like you're a deacon in the church or you're in charge of administering some kind of thing, we could take them very narrowly, but I think we can probably take them extremely broad. 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.420 Right. 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:03.059 Uh, you think about how, what kind of a call is it to speak the very words of God? 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.339 Good luck. 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:04.660 Right. 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:08.920 That's, that's, that's a difficult call, but that's not just a Sunday morning call. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:16.640 It's not just, it's not just for me, it's, it's all of us making a decision that we're going to do everything we can to speak the very words of God, man, that is tough, isn't it? 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:21.579 You know, I, I, I think it's cool though. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:26.920 The cool thing is if you speak the very words of God, you're going to be able to interact where one is true. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:29.920 You're interacting with people that I don't ever interact with. 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:35.240 If you speak the very words of God, you're going to compel people that wouldn't give me or somebody else here at the time of day. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.579 Right. 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:44.059 And that, what a great call then, what a great call that God is calling you to the same thing you serve with, with strength from God. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:48.279 This is certainly, it's helping the needy jumping in search of service projects. 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:59.339 That is, that is what it is, but it's also choosing to be a servant in every setting and facet of your life and doing it, looking at God and doing it with his strength. 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:03.240 What a difficult call this is because then we're not looking for praise, right? 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:07.099 And what does it look like though for somebody who just speaks what God wants? 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:15.140 Well, I think there's a thoughtfulness, there's an intentionality, but then on top of that, there's like this constant dialogue going on with God, right? 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.519 Should I say this? 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.160 Should I not? 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.660 What do I, what do I got to do? 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:18.920 You know? 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:21.059 And that has to be pretty continual. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:25.160 And then whenever something good comes out of your mouth, you're like, that wasn't, that wasn't me. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.180 That was just, that was God. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.640 Anything good that has to be from God, right? 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:43.059 What happens in the heart of us when we decide we're just going to be servants, not just service opportunities, but we are going to be those who decide to serve at every facet and opportunity our egos at the door, isn't it? 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:48.079 Whatever kind of pride that we can feel that is, that is way pushed to the side. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:54.759 My glory now has to be found in God sees it and he's fired up. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.079 God sees it and he's so excited about it. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:03.119 I don't need anybody else to know this is what serving with the strength of God looks like. 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:18.019 It's powerful because both of these are, if you had to decide, if you had to, if you just had to give me a couple of, uh, stories about Jesus and I'm, we're not going to do this, but I said, Hey Drew, what are some favorite stories you have about Jesus? 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:23.420 Usually maybe it's something he did, uh, but something he did would be serving, right? 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:34.359 Five, beating 5,000, washing his disciples feet, uh, deciding to sit down, even interacting with, with the Syrophoenician woman and you know, you, you're going to, you're going to have some grace. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.500 I'm going to have some grace right now. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.259 You're going to feel it. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.779 All of, all of these things, it's stuff that he said, it's stuff that he did. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:45.380 If we're going to do this, if we're going to, if we do this effectively, it can be overwhelming. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.720 If we just focus on Jesus, we're going to be well on our way. 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.000 Amen. 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.880 Let's, let's keep reading here. 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:53.900 We'll kind of bring this in for a landing as we, as we keep looking. 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.140 Yep. 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.599 Here we go. 00:21:55.660 --> 00:22:16.589 In verse 12 says, dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 00:22:17.009 --> 00:22:24.630 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 00:22:25.109 --> 00:22:31.769 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or a thief or any other kind of criminal or even as a meddler. 00:22:33.230 --> 00:22:44.529 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name for it's time for judgment to begin with God's household. 00:22:44.789 --> 00:22:50.009 And if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 00:22:50.190 --> 00:22:54.730 And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the center? 00:22:55.450 --> 00:23:03.869 So then those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good. 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:24.539 There's, we talked about how this was, uh, this, this letter was written in the midst of, um, some of the really intense persecution by the church, by, from, from the, the rulers specifically Nero, uh, to the, to the, the entire church. 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:31.240 And so this was, he's writing this and it's, it's probably way different than how we suffer for being Christians. 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:33.900 Uh, it, you know, we, we can suffer for being Christian. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:36.920 Certainly we can be insulted for being a follower of Christ. 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:44.160 Certainly there are assumptions made about us, uh, certainly, but, but the government is not killing us for being Christians though. 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.920 Yeah, I'm with it. 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:55.839 This is the, the, this is who Peter's writing to is the people who are, were, were dying to be Christians. 00:23:56.759 --> 00:24:00.240 And he's saying, don't, don't worry about the insults. 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.480 Don't, don't worry about that. 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.839 But what should you do? 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.940 Look at Jesus and say, well, I'm suffering with him. 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.180 And so it's all worthwhile. 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:16.170 It says, don't, if you suffer as a Christian is what it says, I think it's, it's super, super cool. 00:24:16.230 --> 00:24:24.470 You know, there's this, this word Christian would have been one that would be full of shame in that day that you're, you're just, you're not following. 00:24:24.789 --> 00:24:27.269 I wasn't, it was like, we say Christian and it's very normal. 00:24:27.529 --> 00:24:39.890 Uh, I think this was one of the, only a few times in the Bible where the word Christians even mentioned, um, because it just wasn't commonplace name, uh, disciples, followers of the way were, were maybe a little bit more common in that time. 00:24:39.990 --> 00:24:43.890 So this, the word Christian was like, you're a little Christ and it's, it's, it's diminutive. 00:24:44.170 --> 00:24:44.869 It's negative. 00:24:45.269 --> 00:24:49.069 All of, all of that thing, all of that stuff is kind of encompassed in this word. 00:24:49.329 --> 00:24:51.789 He says, don't be ashamed to be, to bear that name. 00:24:51.849 --> 00:24:53.369 That's a, that's a good name for you to bear. 00:24:53.710 --> 00:24:59.470 Uh, it's, it's cool that, that, that name, uh, has been one that we can wear with a badge of honor today. 00:24:59.490 --> 00:24:59.809 Right. 00:25:03.369 --> 00:25:04.289 This is praise God. 00:25:04.289 --> 00:25:08.269 And then it says, uh, this, this interesting thing though, right, right towards the end. 00:25:08.289 --> 00:25:08.990 Do I got it on here? 00:25:08.990 --> 00:25:20.890 I don't, I don't even, I didn't pull it on here, but in verse 19, if you'll follow me, it says, so then those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:33.380 We said at the beginning part of the lesson that you can either follow, uh, evil, follow what the devil has organized, or you can follow God's will. 00:25:35.869 --> 00:25:42.470 We talked about some, some good about following God's will, but this then is saying there's times when if you follow God's will, it's just a known thing. 00:25:42.470 --> 00:25:43.349 You're going to suffer. 00:25:46.430 --> 00:25:50.950 Even if you say, it says, if you suffer according to God's will, then, then wear like a badge of honor. 00:25:51.069 --> 00:25:52.329 What does this suffering look like? 00:25:52.410 --> 00:25:58.690 Well, so many of us, so many of you guys have made decisions that I'm willing to suffer financially. 00:25:59.109 --> 00:26:05.329 Uh, if it means I don't need that promotion then, because it's going to exhaust my time and I'm not going to be able to give it to God and his people. 00:26:05.970 --> 00:26:06.910 That's that's suffering. 00:26:07.009 --> 00:26:08.029 That's a form of suffering. 00:26:08.430 --> 00:26:15.569 You think about so many of us have decided that, that we're not going to be those that speak up and air dirty laundry. 00:26:15.789 --> 00:26:26.390 We're going to be okay being slandered, uh, inside of our families or outside, you know, however, we're going to be okay with it because I don't, I don't want to bring up, bring up old stuff. 00:26:26.430 --> 00:26:26.750 And you know what? 00:26:26.769 --> 00:26:27.690 God is, God is good. 00:26:27.809 --> 00:26:29.130 He, he knows what's going on. 00:26:29.470 --> 00:26:31.029 That's a form of suffering as well. 00:26:31.630 --> 00:26:46.869 You can, you can think about, uh, you know, I think about in, in school or at the, you know, lunch, do you guys are out of school right now, but I just think about, uh, you know, some of the, the kids and being at being a teen to suffer is to say, this is, I don't, I don't, I don't believe in this stuff. 00:26:46.930 --> 00:26:48.789 You know, you guys are jumping in high school here pretty soon. 00:26:48.829 --> 00:27:01.089 And I think one of the most, uh, it's probably the most difficult time in my entire life to be a disciple was when I was in high school, because, uh, when you're in college, everyone finds their own, uh, little, little group or their, their niche. 00:27:01.450 --> 00:27:04.750 And in high school, it's like, it's, it's not that way. 00:27:04.750 --> 00:27:07.970 You know, there, there's one way to do things in high school, at least when I was there. 00:27:07.970 --> 00:27:14.970 And if you stood up against that and for that, it was something that was, it was, you were just seen as lower and less. 00:27:15.009 --> 00:27:18.630 And there's so much, uh, you just received so much backlash. 00:27:18.630 --> 00:27:24.769 And so I, I say that, that you guys are making decisions to, uh, to follow the will of God. 00:27:24.809 --> 00:27:25.970 It might mean more suffering. 00:27:25.970 --> 00:27:27.410 It's going to be better in the long run. 00:27:27.410 --> 00:27:41.029 And so when we're with you guys, as you guys go through that as well, um, these, these fiery ordeals, they weren't, they weren't something that was, uh, just, just how we might even consider a fiery ordeal. 00:27:41.309 --> 00:27:44.990 Uh, and so what, what do we pull from all of this stuff? 00:27:45.029 --> 00:27:54.549 You know, as we, I think if we close this fourth chapter in first Peter, we just need to make decisions to grow in our awareness of how the devil manipulates us, right? 00:27:54.569 --> 00:27:57.529 If we were alert and sober, we'd have to pray. 00:27:57.630 --> 00:28:01.990 We'd be aware that our decisions are extremely valuable. 00:28:01.990 --> 00:28:06.410 Every decision we make has extreme value for eternity for ourselves. 00:28:06.650 --> 00:28:13.349 Yes, but for those around us as well, we can tap in to, to the power that God has. 00:28:13.430 --> 00:28:18.490 We can see that when we become people that we, we just, we decided we're going to love each other deeply. 00:28:18.990 --> 00:28:20.509 We're going to serve each other. 00:28:20.529 --> 00:28:23.789 We're going to outdo each other in, in, in honor. 00:28:23.970 --> 00:28:33.089 We are going to make mistakes along the way, because if it says love covers over a multitude of sins, the assumption there is that there will be sins that that love has to cover over. 00:28:33.529 --> 00:28:41.029 And so we're not perfect and we're going to make mistakes, but how, how much fun is it going to be to continue to build this family on, on, on those things? 00:28:41.049 --> 00:28:42.349 We look at the life of Jesus. 00:28:42.369 --> 00:28:43.289 We look at his death. 00:28:43.349 --> 00:28:47.009 We look at all, uh, what he did, how he served us, how he spoke to us. 00:28:47.029 --> 00:28:51.470 And we decide we're going to be those that try as hard as we possibly can to do the same thing. 00:28:51.890 --> 00:28:57.970 Uh, certainly we're, we're, we're going to have an awesome time here, but you know what's going to happen is people are going to just be interested. 00:28:57.970 --> 00:29:02.450 I want to see, I want to feel this feeling and Jesus so, so much of it. 00:29:02.450 --> 00:29:08.569 I have to imagine this is just maybe me thinking, I had imagined when people interacted with Jesus, they just felt a certain way, right? 00:29:08.609 --> 00:29:14.069 It didn't like when they, when Jesus looks you in the eye, I'd have to imagine you just melt, right? 00:29:14.609 --> 00:29:18.710 You might not even know who he is, what he did, what he said. 00:29:18.750 --> 00:29:23.150 When you look face to face with Jesus, everything's going to be okay. 00:29:23.150 --> 00:29:27.509 And, and we're not there, but we can point to the one who is there, right? 00:29:27.970 --> 00:29:31.470 Because you, because the stuff that I just described, you felt that as well. 00:29:31.490 --> 00:29:35.130 When you walked close with God, you felt like it's all going to be okay. 00:29:35.230 --> 00:29:37.490 Life's not going great, but it's all going to be okay. 00:29:37.890 --> 00:29:38.670 You felt that. 00:29:38.930 --> 00:29:43.809 And I just, I, it encourages me to think about how many people want that feeling, right? 00:29:43.829 --> 00:29:47.289 We have the solution to every problem that the world has ever had. 00:29:47.410 --> 00:29:47.529 Amen. 00:29:48.630 --> 00:29:50.309 Let's, uh, let's consider that. 00:29:50.349 --> 00:29:51.349 Let's close with a prayer. 00:29:51.430 --> 00:29:53.690 And, um, and then you'll be dismissed. 00:29:53.950 --> 00:29:54.730 Let's, let's pray. 00:29:57.089 --> 00:30:01.930 Dear God, Lord, you, you've, you've overcome the world. 00:30:02.089 --> 00:30:12.650 I thank you so much for that proclamation and that promise, Lord, that you've overcome, you've gone ahead of us and, and you have organized things perfectly. 00:30:12.890 --> 00:30:17.589 Father, we don't want to, we don't want to follow evil human desires, Lord. 00:30:17.650 --> 00:30:21.950 We want to pursue wholeheartedly your will for us, Lord. 00:30:21.970 --> 00:30:25.230 And we know that means that things are not going to be easier. 00:30:25.230 --> 00:30:30.690 We know that that means that things are going to be, uh, more, more stressful at times. 00:30:30.750 --> 00:30:34.470 There's going to be more that's, that's expected of us, Lord. 00:30:34.549 --> 00:30:39.829 It's a, it's a heavier weight father, but we're so grateful, uh, to be able to hold it. 00:30:39.849 --> 00:30:43.269 But Lord, we're grateful that we can, we can rest it on you, Lord. 00:30:43.329 --> 00:30:49.049 It's certainly, it's a heavier weight, but it's one that we were, we're going to be carrying alongside our brothers and sisters. 00:30:49.089 --> 00:30:52.690 And ultimately, uh, you're, you're the one that's lifting us up, Lord. 00:30:52.690 --> 00:30:58.750 I pray that you'll give us encouragement, give us strength, uh, throughout the week to, to live according to your will. 00:30:58.769 --> 00:31:00.150 Father, we love you so much. 00:31:00.470 --> 00:31:02.569 This is in your son's name that we pray. 00:31:02.670 --> 00:31:02.890 Amen. 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:10.640 Thank you so much for listening to the Kalamazoo church of Christ podcast. 00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:14.299 If you're in the Kalamazoo area, we'd love to get connected. 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:21.920 Please go to kalamazoo.church and fill in your information to come to a Sunday service or any other event that we have going on. 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:24.519 In any case, you'll be hearing from us next week. 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:38.869 So busy saving souls.