Advent Week One: The Hope of Advent Isaiah 2:1-5

What is Advent?

The word Advent comes to us from the Latin “adventus” which means arrival or coming. During Advent we look forward to the arrivals of Christ. Many of us are aware that we celebrate the birth of Christ in December and that is one of the arrivals we anticipate in Advent. But we also anticipate Christ’s return – his second arrival. In this way we look forward to the hope we have and find assurance and joy by looking backward at God’s faithfulness in sending us Emanuel, Our Lord, Jesus Christ some 2000 years ago.

Advent is all about anticipation. It is a time for prayerful reflection, for quiet prayer, for fasting, and generosity - that we might use the tools of grace God has given us to draw our attention to Christ. As a church, each week, we will light a candle, share a brief Advent reflection, read from the Word about God’s promises, and pray expectantly together.

Advent culminates in Christmas on December 25th, as we celebrate the first coming of Christ and joyfully look forward to the second coming of our Lord. We feast, sing and celebrate gladly enjoying our God and his good gifts. That celebration continues through January 6th, Epiphany Sunday.

For a more full exploration of Advent with helpful resources, please review this rich page:
Advent Resources - Mosaic at Park Avenue Baptist (churchcenter.com)

Advent Week One: Hope

Now as we begin, this week we focus on the Christian hope. A hope that is anchored for us today in a person - Jesus - God become man - Emmanuel.  But the people of God have always been a people filled with hope.

With hope Abraham left all he knew and set out.
With hope Noah built the Ark.
With hope Moses led the people out of Egypt and into the wilderness.
With hope Joshua led them into the land.
With hope David stored up the materials to build God’s temple.
With hope Solomon built that Temple. 

With hope the scattered people of God looked forward to their restoration. 

With hope the prophets prophesied about the coming Messiah.
With hope the disciples left all they knew and followed Jesus. 

With hope the disciples ran to see the empty tomb. 

With hope they proclaimed the faith to far flung places anticipating Jesus’s second coming.

The people of God have always been a people of hope. People who look back on the faithfulness of God and look forward to the fulfillment of his promises. Despair may come for us in Christ, but we know that the hope we have can never be totally snuffed out. Christ has come. Christ has been raised. Christ will come again. And so this week as we look back at his first coming and anticipate his second coming, let us be filled with hope. A hope which will not disappoint. Just as the light from the candle we will soon light burns, may the light and warmth of hope fill us and illuminate a hopeless and dreary world.

The heart of it all, the attitude of a peacemaker – Jesus and His own - Part 2

Matthew 5:9 The heart of it all, the attitude of a peacemaker – Jesus and His own. God’s wisdom, not mine. Part 2 

What is a peacemaker?  What is the difference between a lover of peace, who does seeds of peace in and with peace - a true peacemaker and a “peace lover”?

We cannot separate the peace of God and the wisdom of God… The prince of peace, the wisdom of God, says “My peace I leave with you…“. It is the perpetual remembering of God’s mercy and grace in Christ, Jesus, and our eternal life in him, the grandsons, both peace and wisdom, God’s wisdom.

Wisdom makes us peaceable: https://biblehub.com/psalms/141-3.htm 

• Psalm 106:33 “...trouble came to Moses because of them; 33for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips - and he spoke foolishly.”

• Psalm 39:1 “I said, "I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present."

• Proverbs 12:16 A fool's anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

• Proverbs 12:23 A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.

• Proverbs 13:18 “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

• Proverbs 15:1, 4 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger… 4The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

• Proverbs 19:11 A man's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

• Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

READ: James 3:13-18 Now, as important as ever, followers of Jesus, the Prince of peace, must show themselves a child of God: peacemakers

Peacemakers, sowing seeds of peace.  Among who?  All. That is, all that we encounter.  We are to be an oasis of peace - as we have peace with God, established by God through Christ.  And we have peace with ourselves by God’s healing grace.  So now, we who have peace, live in peace with God, that we might bring that same peace to others - that they too, might have peace with God and themselves, and they themselves, being at peace, can bring that peace to those they encounter.

We are living in a time and place where Godly wisdom is so necessary - essential.

James 3:13 who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by good works down with wisdom’s gentleness”. (James 2:12-26)

And if you lack wisdom… ask attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand -- attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).

• James1:5 “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

• 1Kings 3:9-10 “…give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.” 

• Hebrews 5:14. “…solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.”

May the way we live give them a reason…

Why would anyone ask us for anything, let alone for the hope that we have?  Becaise we are wise and our wisdom enable us to to live peaceable and discerning lives, thst reflect the gentleness of Jesus - wven in the most turbulent of times 

• 1 Kings 10:24. The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

What is that work? To be peacemakers - between God and self; the brotherhood of believers, and God and man… making more peacemakers - children of God (true “believers” Luke 6:; Eph 4:1; 5:1-2)

What are the “good, wise, and gentle works” James speaks of? To be peace makers - between God and self; the brotherhood of believers, and God and man… making more peacemakers - children of God (true “believers” (Lu 6:35-36; Eph 4:1; 5:1-2)

What do peace and wisdom have in common? 

Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6 “to us a child is born… the Prince of Peace”

…as Jesus, is The wisdom of God… 1Corinthians 1:24 “to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

…and in whom Wisdom resides - 

Col 2:2-3 “2My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

…and with whom we find and realize a peace, a 

Peace that transcends… (Phil 4:4-8)

We are living in a time and place where Godly wisdom is so necessary because it is only the wisdom of God that can bring peace - true and real peace, peace that DOES transcend understanding. 

It is God’s wisdom that brought us and continues to bring us peace (Jesus, the wisdom of God - Luke 11:49; 1Cor 1:21,24,30; Eph 1:17; Col 2:3), and it is with and by God’s wisdom that we can bring peace to others - that we can be peacemakers.

Peace - everything which makes for a man’s highest good - not wishing for another merely the absence of evil things; he wishes for him the presence of all good things - this would be as the angels declare to su  “…we bring you glad tidings of great joy for all the people of earth…, a savior has been born to you, the Messiah of the Lord… Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth - peace - on whom His favor rests.”  Luke 2:10-11, 14

What we can do among one another - the brotherhood to promote peace?

Speak the truth in love to one another 

Eph 4:15 - the truth of the gospel in love  the gospel that brings salvation, but not only salvation, but ongoing sanctification 

Speak the wisdom of God to one another 

1Cor 2:6-7, 13-15 “6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature… …we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began… that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak…in words taught by the Spirit…  they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things…”, as “…we have the mind of Christ.”  

The world cannot understand, but they can see… as we love one another and act wisely in this world…  Cultivating peace in and with one another.  God’s wisdom promotes peace, and we need to be seekers of this wisdom, of that peace, and be lovers of peace, peacemakers. 

Why?  We have this peace with God in Christ,   Because we have this peace, it is our privilege and responsibility to work to love peace, live in peace, to cultivate, realize, and bear the fruit of peace 

While the world in its “wisdom” sows discord…

James 3:14-15

“To have…” - to harbor in one’s heart, to give safe quarter to

By resisting the flesh’s addiction to drama - being easily offended, quick to anger or defend oneself, complaining, grumbling, whining, commiserating, being derisive and divisive - in an attempt to get others to join you in your parade of self (James 1:19-21; Phil 2: Prov 

“Do not brag or deny the truth…” - (1Cor 2:11,13,20-26; 3:1-3; Gal 5:13-15)

We, as children of God, are instead to bring wisdom and peace by practicing appreciation, gratefulness, humble service to others, cultivating likemindedness, mission, purpose, and spirit through genuine love and affection  

• Bring God’s peace forward with God’s wisdom, intentionally growing in each area (Prov 1; 2; 2Pet 1:5-8)  not avoiding making waves, but wading into the chaos and peril of this world, we bring the peace of God in Christ, we are peacemakers, being called sons of God, or, going about God’s work - peace-making - making right relationship between God and man, and man and man. 

• By good works done gently 

Good - beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.  attractively good; good that inspires (motivates) others to embrace what is lovely (beautiful, praiseworthy); i.e. welldone so as to be winsome (appealing)

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Nahum 1:15 Look to the mountains--the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!

Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace

Romans 10:15 “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

NOT being a person who promotes discord and unrest, BUT being one around whom the seeds of discord, the world’s way, cannot live, or breathe, or grow - may we be the person who smothers discord - between God and man, among the brethren, then the world among whom we trod - and are to be an example of peace - seen as children of God. 

Being careful not to get caught up in “stupid arguments“ 

Peace, it seems, begins with its presentation.  Being a lover of peace, who sows seeds of peace with peace, is one who approaches others with an eye toward mercy and gentleness - a posture of humble service, done out of love 

We are to sow seeds of peace, with peace, goodly and gently - this is godly (Matt 5:9)

James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial, and sincere.”

Am I a lover of peace? 

• With God?

• With self? 

• With others?

• Among others? 

What does each of these each of these elements of wisdom mean?  How should they inform how I think, speak, and act?  How does each of these elements of wisdom work to bring and promote peace?  What must I do to being a peacemaker?   

Cultivating our own peace with God and self - being one who loves peace and lives in peace… how? Phil 1:3-6; 2:1-18; 4:4-8; 2Peter 1:5-8; 

• Remember and rejoice in God’s mercy, saving grace, and grace to live

• Make every effort to sort out your salvation 

• Rejoice and rest in the favor of God's nearness (Luke 2) 

• Contextualize every experience you have in and with God’s word, the truth that sets you free 

Pure - motives are undefiled with self - free from the defilement of love for the “world”; chaste, innocent, and modest (love is not conceited, haughty, puffed up, full of self), prepared for worship, the offering of our selves, our bodies as instruments of righteousness, the first of which is bringing peace -  (Ro 12:1-3)  

“Blessed are the pure in heart… they will see God…” (Mt 5:8)

Peace-loving - bring with them a love for truth and the stabilizing effects of truth -  (pre)disposed to peace, wanting and seeking after peace, securing and protecting peace - with God, in and with self, and others - peaceable - 

Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt 5:9) 

What is the difference between a lover of peace and one who is peace-loving?

Peacemakers are of those who love peace, and long to bring peace, and are willing, at great personal risk, to bring peace 

“...will be called sons of God” (Mt 5:9) 

Gentle - disarming, Proverbs - reasonable, moderate, fair, mild - one of Jesus’ key attributes and characteristics as the Son of God 

“...come to me…,...I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28-30  (Titus 3:2)

Fair and impartial - "equity-justice" – properly, equitable (the quality of being fair and impartial."equity of treatment"; freedom from bias or favoritism) 

; "gentle" in the sense of truly fair (this does not mean “the same” and not to be confused with equality) by relaxing overly strict standards in order to keep the "spirit of the law."  "Justice beyond ordinary justice" builds on the real intent (purpose) of what is really at stake (note the epi, "upon") – and hence, is true equity that appropriately fulfills the spirit (not just the letter) of the law - “upon another” for their good and welfare (agape - love).

Accommodating or submissive - “constantly attendant”, it has a willing spirit that is predisposed to God’s will and way and the needs of others - it obeys easily, it sees, naturally, and does

“Then the righteous will say to Him ‘when did we so you and…, …truly I tell you, whatever you did it for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me…’” Matthew 25:37 

• As the Trinity lives and loves one another in mutual submission to one another

• Submit to God and His word and way

Being full of the Spirit, at peace with God, content in Him, we, having been loved, now love - our hearts being more and more conditioned to be naturally alert, aware of one another’s needs; we are open-handed - waiting and ready to give, and, cannot help but give. (Luke 10:25-37 the good Samaritan) 

• Submit one to another in true love and service, care and consideration for one another - loving one another as we have been loved (Eph 5:21)

This wisdom, condescends to those who are lost, and bring the message of hope as the fruit of a life that lives goodly, or beautifully, bringing forth the person and fruit of Christ in us - loving the lost as God, in Christ, so loved us (John 1:9-14;13:34; 15:12-17; Rom 12:10; Eph 5:2; 1John 3:11; 2John 1:5)

Empathy is not enough: as to meet them where they are - empathy, thst moves to sympathy, that moves to compassion, that cannot, not, bring comfort

https://theconversation.com/an-excess-of-empathy-can-be-bad-for-your-mental-health-178677#:~:text=It%20is%20essential%20for%20building,cognitive%20empathy%20and%20emotional%20empathy. 

Full of mercy - a “tender” mercy, pity, and compassion that is right at the surface, a heart conditioned to see, feel, consider, and respond - as it sees and recognizes the need before them regardless of who they are or what they have done - as we are merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful - we show ourselves to be children of our Father (Ps 119:76, 132; Luke 6:36; Romans 12:1)

Bearing good fruit

• The character and nature of Jesus and His righteousness.  “...for I am (a) gentle, humble, servant…” (Mt 11)

• The fruits of the Spirit - “...the fruit of the Spirit is…” 

“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22

Sincere - a sincere love that truly wants God’s best, God’s blessing, God’s favor on all, every, and each we encounter - unfeigned, unpretentious, and genuine “...love must be sincere…” Romans 12:9-21

This is the fruit or the fruits - the character of a heart conditioned by Jesus and trained in our abiding with Him, empowered and prompted by the Holy Spirit - to see the plight of those around us and desire to, long to, bring peace, relief, true and lasting, eternal peace 

Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called the children of God

All - the world - be aware, concerned, and pray

Every - that everyone might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus 

Each - would be saved

Matthew 5:1-12 The heart of it all, the attitude of a peacemaker – Jesus and His own.

Matthew 5:1-12 The heart of it all, the attitude of a peacemaker – Jesus and His own.

Peacemakers, sowing seeds of peace.  Among who?  All. That is, all that we encounter.  We are to be an oasis of peace - as we have peace with God, established by God through Christ.  And we have peace with ourselves by god’s healing grace.  So now, we who have peace, live in peace with God, that we might bring that same peace to others - that they too, might have peace with God and themselves, and themselves bring that peace to those they encounter.

We are living in a time and place where Godly wisdom is so necessary - essential. see the contrast: James 3-4

We are living in a time and place where Godly wisdom is so necessary.  

It is God’s wisdom that brought peace (Jesus, the wisdom of God - Luke 11:49; 1Cor 1:21,24,30; Col 2:3), and it is with and by God’s wisdom that we can bring peace to others - that we can be peacemakers.

Peace - everything which makes for a man’s highest good - not wishing for another merely the absence of evil things; he wishes for him the presence of all good things - this would be “...glad tidings of great joy for all the people of earth…, a savior has been born to you, the Messiah of the Lord… Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth - peace - on whom His favor rests.”  Luke 2:10-11, 14

We have this peace with God in Christ, it is ours to bring that forward with God’s wisdom…  not avoiding making waves, but wading into the chaos and peril of this world, we bring the peace of God in Christ, we are peacemakers, being called sons of God, or, going about God’s work - peace-making - making right relationship between God and man, and man and man. 

Not being a person who promotes discord and unrest, but being one around whom these cannot live, or breathe, or grow - may we be that person. 

James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial, and sincere.”

Pure - free from the defilement of love for the “world”; chaste, innocent, and modest (love is not conceited, haughty, puffed up, full of self), prepared for worship, the offering of our selves, our bodies as instruments of righteousness, the first of which is bringing peace -  (Ro 12:1-3)  

“Blessed are the pure in heart… they will see God…” (Mt 5:8)

Peace-loving - (pre)disposed to peace, wanting and seeking after peace, securing and protecting peace - with God, in and with self, and others - peaceable - 

Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt 5:9) 

Peacemakers are of those who love peace, and long to bring peace, and are willing, at great personal risk, to bring peace 

“...will be called sons of God” (Mt 5:9) 

Gentle - reasonable, moderate, fair, mild - one of Jesus’ key attributes and characteristics as the Son of God 

“...come to me…,...I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28-30  (Titus 3:2)

Fair and impartial - "equity-justice" – properly, equitable; "gentle" in the sense of truly fair by relaxing overly strict standards in order to keep the "spirit of the law."  "Justice beyond ordinary justice" builds on the real intent (purpose) of what is really at stake (note the epi, "upon") – and hence, is true equity that appropriately fulfills the spirit (not just the letter) of the law - “upon another” for their good and welfare (agape - love).

Accommodating or submissive - “constantly attendant”, it has a willing s’pirit that is predisposed to God’s will and way and the needs of others - it obeys easily, it sees, naturally, and does

“Then the righteous will say to Him ‘when did we so you and…, …truly I tell you, whatever you did it for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me…’” Matthew 25:37 

• As the Trinity lives and loves one another in mutual submission to one another

• Submit to God and His word and way

Being full of the Spirit, at peace with God, content in Him, we, having been loved, now love - our hearts being more and more conditioned to be naturally alert, aware of one another’s needs; we are open-handed - waiting and ready to give, and, cannot help but give. (Luke 10:25-37 the good Samaritan) 

• Submit one to another in true love and service, care and consideration for one another - loving one another as we have been loved (Eph 5:21)

This wisdom, condescends to those who are lost, as to meet them where they are and bring the message of hope as the fruit of a life that lives goodly, or beautifully, bringing forth the person and fruit of Christ in us - loving the lost as God, in Christ, so loved us (John 1:9-14;13:34; 15:12-17; Rom 12:10; Eph 5:2; 1John 3:11; 2John 1:5)

Full of mercy - a “tender” mercy, pity, and compassion that is right a the surface, a heart conditioned to see, feel, consider, and respond - as it sees and recognizes the need before them regardless of who they are or what they have done - as we are merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful - we show ourselves to be children of our Father (Ps 119:76, 132; Luke 6:36; Romans 12:1)

Bearing good fruit

• The character and nature of Jesus and His righteousness.  “...for I am (a) gentle, humble, servant…” (Mt 11)

• The fruits of the Spirit - “...the fruit of the Spirit is…” 

“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22

Sincere - a sincere love that truly wants God’s best, God’s blessing, God’s favor on all, every, and each we encounter - unfeigned, unpretentious, and genuine “...love must be sincere…” Romans 12:9-21

This is the fruit or the fruits - the character of a heart conditioned by Jesus and trained in our abiding with Him, empowered and prompted by the Holy Spirit - to see the plight of those around us and desire to, long to, bring peace, relief, true and lasting, eternal peace 

Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called the children of God

All - the world - be aware, concerned, and pray

Every - that everyone might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus 

Each - would be saved

Living as an Alien

Why are people so enamored with aliens?  Maybe, because, here on earth, in this world, we were meant to be aliens?  Could it be that so many are interested in alien life forms because that is what we were meant to be - something “better, greater” than what we are, doing something bigger, better than what we do?  

Is our interest in aliens because we are looking for something transcendent, something that rises above our humanity?   Is it that we are hoping and wishing for something outside and different from ourselves - something that appears bigger, stronger, smarter, maybe even wiser than ourselves?  Something that does better than we have or do?

And if we can’t be that - bigger, stronger, smarter, wiser than we have been and are, maybe we can make up something that is.

The truth is, we, who are in Christ, are all the world imagines an “alien” to be.  In Him, by His spirit, we are bigger, stronger, smarter, and wiser - able to do so much more and better than we have ever been able to do - on our own. 

Jesus came so that we can actually live according to that hope we all have - that by the Holy Spirit - we can be bigger, stronger, smarter, and wiser than when we were of this world - not (just) in this world, but, through Christ, we are truly aliens, one’s whose lives ACTUALLY transcend this world and its ways.

People are enamored with aliens because God made us to want something more than this world is and gives, He wants us to seek something that is other-world, He has designed the heart of mankind to be enthralled with something truly, really, actually - other - that is Him, and the transformed alien lives of those in Him.  (John 1:12-14; Romans 1:18-; Eph 2:1-7; 1Peter 2)

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh a and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Why all this talk of being alien?  

Because we do not belong to this world - we are in it, but not to be of it - it is ours, the living, to live among the dying, to bring the hope of something more - bigger and better - something truly alien.   The world is looking for something “out of this world”, may we, in Christ, give them that. 

What makes us alien?

Hope - Peter, speaks of hope.  What is hope?  In Who is our hope placed?

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In all this you greatly rejoice

Hope: expectation, trust, confidence (not in self, but God, in Christ).  to anticipate, welcome, an expectation of what is sure - certain - of good, a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. (Acts 23:6; 26:7; Romans 5:4;12:12; 15:13; 1Cor 13:13; 1 Peter 1:3; 3:15)

In what, in whom, do we place our hope?  If it is Jesus, who He is, and what it is He has done for us and is doing in us, then, since we are anchored in Him, saved by Him, we can go on with confidence to live the way God commands - to live a life of love, service, and sacrifice.  (Rom 12; Phil 2)

It is in this hope, because of this hope, Christ - the hope of glory, that we can live as aliens.

Because our hope is in Christ…

We ought live to as the aliens we are, living according to our faith and hope as we realize the peace we have with God - a joyful, transcendent peace - a peace, anchored in our hope, that makes our lives look ridiculous under the current circumstances - that our lives, lived in and with that transcendent peace, remains sober and self-controlled, as this peace protects our (Philippians 4:4-8)

Hearts - our faith, the anchor for our soul - are guarded from the feelings of anxiousness, fear, doubt, despair, and dread

Minds - our thinking is guarded from the lies of the evil one, from the convincing deceit of our own heart’s desires, and the temporary enticements of this world

Because of this alien hope…

Our lives (can) transcend the circumstances of these current times because God transcends the times - He uses the times, within the times, but is not controlled by the times - HE is sovereign over time - and because we have eternal life, a life hidden with God in Christ - God uses these times, even the worst of times, in the lives of His children that is “He works…” these times, that is “...all things, for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purposes…” (Romans 8). 

Because we have hope, we can, as aliens, do gooder, better, even in the face of opposition…

Because we are aliens, the world cannot understand our goodness (1Pet 3), our joy, our hope, or the peace we live in (which is) based on the truth of WHOM and what we place our hope - our lives (should) look different because we are different.  Our lives look different because our God is different.  Our lives look different, because what and on whom we place our hope is different.

It is not in the world and its ways, but in God and His way, His Son, and His undying love for us who believe. (Rom 12; Eph 2; Col 3)

Being an alien is the very purpose of our being here still - to live as examples of the hope we have in God in Christ, it is to show God’s grace - in perfect contrast to this world - as this world spirals, seemingly out of control, God stands in the midst of it, in us, calling out to the world through us, that those who see and hear might turn, and be saved too. 

We’re going to look at Jeremiah 29 

Jeremiah 29 how are we to live as “the scattered”?  As aliens, strangers in this world?  Those who are in it, but not of it?  Are we to be fearful and hopeless?  Overcome by the anxious hand-wringing of trepidation because of…?

Our lives can and should reflect the truth of our being God’s children, living under His wing, eternally - unaffected - by the condition of this world, not that our hearts are unaffected for the sake of the lost; no, our hearts should be effected at the witnessing of the world’s condition effected in such a way as to grieve, mourn, and moved with compassion toward them.   

What I mean by “unaffected” is that our hope is not shaken, that we live in and with the confidence of our being saved by Him and in Him, is unaffected, that is to be crippled or diverted.

Instead, because of our hope, despite our inevitable suffering, (which is) the condition of this world, and its circumstances, we live lives in it and among the dying that are the fruit of the hope we have in Christ Jesus, who did and does overcome this world - resting in the grace given to us, the gift of life in Christ, and our eternal hope in Him and His loving work on our behalf, to the glory of His Father - 

We are free to live above our circumstances, unencumbered by the fear of death or judgment, the condemnation of sin, or fear of retribution (by God), but, as ones loved by God, cherished and precious to Him, kept by His power.

So, how might our lives reflect this truth?

Gleaning from God’s commands to the aliens, strangers, exiles, among Israel - so that the way we live, is so different from, with such a different attitude, that people will ask…  they will ask. 

The world - is God’s concern (John 3:16), the peoples - are pursued by God (Babel - Acts), the nations - are used by God (Jeremiah 29), and persons - each one, are saved by God.  Through who?  Yes, saved by Jesus, but blessedly, through the body - us, me, and you… as we get to  “Go…” (Matt 28)

Jeremiah 29

4This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 

5“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 

7Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

10This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. b I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

1Peter 1

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout… chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1Peter 2

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles - strangers, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Do not be afraid… live lives that baffle the world

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

1Peter 3

Gleaning from the Early Church in 1 Peter Chs 1-3

Gleaning from the Early Church in 1 Peter Chs 1-3

Why 1 Peter? 1 Peter was written to a Christian people who were scattered throughout the ancient world and found themselves enduring suffering and persecution. Not only were people enduring suffering - but they were enduring suffering for doing good - for upholding the things which God in Christ had called them to uphold. 1 Peter is really a master class on navigating life as a Christian when it seems unfair, when hope seems hard to come by, when good is called evil and failing to participate in evil for the sake of Christ is regarded with scorn. In other words, it’s a letter written to a people suffering greatly about Christian hope. And in the midst of global conflicts, high interest rates, inflation, worrying cultural trends nationally and locally, not to mention all of our own personal struggles and sufferings within ourselves and our communities, I thought it might be wise to offer some hope in Christ.

My hope for our time together this morning is that you would walk a way with a bigger vision of your life and a broader context of everything such that your heart would rightly magnify Christ so that you might be full of genuine hope in the midst of all kinds of temptations to despair. That we might join Christ in fixing our eyes on the joy before us in the cross which brought his death and also gave opportunity for his and our eternal life with God. (Hebrews 12:1-2) We are going to go quickly. Please take these notes and meditate on these passages together with a friend or with your family. 1 Peter is a banquet of hope in troubled times and I don’t want anyone to be malnourished.

Where do we begin? Jesus - our living hope.

Read: 1 Peter 1:1-12

What is the most important thing for us to understand as we encounter suffering? We are hidden in Christ who has overcome Satan, sin and death. Our deepest reality & identity is not in our current circumstances, but is tied to Jesus Christ. We have been born again. Brought into a new life that cannot be shaken or destroyed. Because of the work of Christ on our behalf. He lived the life we could not live in our place. He died the death we should have died. He rose again overcoming sin & death on our behalf so that we could enjoy life, hidden in Christ, forever. THAT is the foundation of your life. THAT is an untouchable hope. THAT is the most true thing affecting you today. THAT reality should be driving your life. Not fear. Not worry.

I am not saying you won’t experience those things. You will. Of course you will. But do not let those realities drive your life. I am prone to bouts of deep depression and I navigate it well, by grace, by clinging to the hope I have in Christ that is more real than every self-doubt, and lie depression could ever throw at me. When life tempts you to despair - collapse into the unshakable arms of Christ. Then when you’ve rested - get up and live out that hope.

So we’re brought into eternal life with Jesus - now what?
Read: 1 Peter 1:13- 1 Peter 2:3

What do we do now? Live holy lives. Christ gave his blood - of inestimable value - to deliver you. He came for you. He died for you. He endured all that he endured for your sake. He reconciled you from enemies of God to sons and daughters - co-heirs WITH Christ.  

What is holiness? Becoming like Jesus by the power of the Spirit. Cultivate sincere love for one another. Love deeply - from the heart. Produce fruit that demonstrates your eternal reality. Your love for others should not make sense UNLESS your life is eternal and your inheritance is eternally secure. What does that mean for you? Prayerfully consider.

Peter suggests you begin by working to rid yourself of malice & deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind and like a newborn crave spiritual milk so that you may grow into your salvation. In other words, dedicate time and attention to growing in understanding what it actually means for you to be saved by Christ and united with him eternally. Dwell on that.

We can only lean on and live out a hope we truly understand. 

But you’re not saved alone - you’re saved into a body. Why does our holy living matter as a community?
Read: 1 Peter 2:4-18

Together, as we strive to love God and love one another well God is building a spiritual house - a bastion of goodness, truth and beauty in the midst of a lost and dying world from which salvation, truth, blessing, grace, and love pour out until Christ’s return.

We are to live as free people because we are the only free people in the world. Death does not own us. Sin does not enslave us. Governors and Emperors do not dictate our lives, but the law of God and the love of God empowered by the Spirit directs our steps.

The most fundamentally true thing about you and I in Christ is that nothing can shake our foundation. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (see Romans 8.) There is no threat to our security in life or death in Christ. And so we are free.

We are free to uphold what is good even when it’s unpopular. We are free to love those who hate us for upholding the good, to bless them and intercede for them as recipients of blessing and intercession of Christ on our behalf. We are free to respect everyone, pour ourselves out for the sake of one another in Christ, and honor the emperor because we know all are dead in their sins and trespassess apart from the work of Christ just as we were. We were once hopeless and lost. But now we are free and loved. Part of an eternal body because of Christ who saw us in our sin, loved us in it, and now leads us out of it. We are to be a bastion of this message in a lost world.

What does this look like in our individual roles in society? How do I live a holy life where I am?

Read: 1 Peter 2:18 - 3:7

Some thoughts on slaves: Peter is here addressing people who find themselves as slaves. When we think of slaves we can think of our past in this nation, but that situation is likely not what was going on here. Likely these people chose indentured servitude or found themselves in a situation where that was the only means possible to repay a debt or to secure a better future for their family.

Yet, Peter is encouraging slaves - even in harsh environments - to “submit yourselves to your masters.” But the motivation there is really important. Remember, we are free. Even the most harshly treated slave is free in Christ. So WHAT does Peter want him to do? Fear God. Submit. Live in such a way that your kindness and love towards your harsh master demonstrates that you serve someone higher and far better than your harsh master.  But what if yous suffer for doing good? You join Christ in his suffering - he left you an example - follow in his footsteps. Do not sin.

Peter then shows how we crucified Christ and YET we are now together hidden in Christ. To the slave of even a harsh master Peter’s encouragement is not immediate freedom (though there was legal justification for a slave to escape and be given his freedom if a master was heinously harsh) but to live out an eternal freedom so that, perhaps, the slaves master might be freed from his shackles of sin and harshness that enslave his soul.

Come back to this passage and sit with it when you have some time. Imagine how free you would have to be to love an actively oppressing enemy who you’re utterly dependent on for life in the material sense?

Family dynamics…

Wherever there is opportunity to sin in an understandable way - there is opportunity to put the glory of God on display. Peter also addresses the common household of his day. How we conduct our households matters. They are mini societies which are declaring some truth about the world we inhabit and the God who made it. How we conduct ourselves as husbands and wives matters. Christian marriages are a signpost pointing to the relationship between Christ and the Church. Your conduct in your marriage matters - immensely. This is the most immediate and one of the most pressing areas in our modern day where the gospel is most needed and where we are most under attack. Our culture worships comfort. Worships self. Worships self-fulfillment which is defined as satisfying the desires you have. It pits men against women. Husbands against wives. Parents against children. And children against parents.

Yet we are free. How we conduct ourselves as families should flow out of that freedom in Christ. Our love to them should be a genuine response to our having been loved by God.

Some final thoughts on suffering and resting in Christ our Lord.

Read: 1 Peter 3:8-18

Be like-minded. Sympathetic. Love one another in Christ. Be compassionate and humble. Don’t repay evil with evil or insult for insult - instead work to sow blessing in the fields of your enemy’s insults. You’re free - remember?

Who will harm you for living this way? But even if someone does. You are blessed in that too.

If you are counted as worthy to join in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of others that is a blessing. Don’t seek suffering. Don’t walk around waiting to be martyred. Love the person in front of you in truth and compassion. But if suffering comes, like it came for Jesus, know that you are blessed. It was by Christ’s suffering in just this same way that you and I were united with God through his sacrificial life, death and glorious resurrection. To suffer for doing what is good is to join Christ’s suffering. To join him in his death because you are sure that you will join him in his eternal life. It is to join God in the work of redeeming lost souls.

Destroying sin always comes with death. If you are married or have children, or are single and are working hard to tear down generational curses you know exactly what I am saying. To have a good marriage, one or sometimes both spouses must die. To raise children who love God and his word, parents must engage in many small deaths of discipline and correction. To destroy generational curses sometimes we must avoid things other people don’t have to avoid and suffer so that the fruit of that suffering would be life to the generations to come.

Christians. As we suffer, and we will all suffer, be encouraged that if we suffer for doing good. If we suffer for righteousness sake, we will be blessed. Not only will we be blessed, but know this - we are joining Christ in his work. We - the once enemies of God -have been called by God, sustained by God, and empowered by God to tread the ground with the Son of God to bring about life to the praise and Glory of God. 

This is the context by which we should see all of life. Everything we see and do should be infused with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We should live lives of freedom - which for us looks like following in the footsteps of Jesus - regardless of what may happen to us and regardless of what is happening in the world.

When we do this, rest assured people WILL ask: “What is the reason for the HOPE that is in you.” When we suffer and count it a joy because we know we’re in Christ and sharing in the very suffering of Christ, people will be curious. No one else is free like we are in Christ. The more that we see that the stronger our hope will be and the more righteous our lives will be.

Nothing can happen today which will make you any less free in Christ. Nothing can happen to you today which can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing can happen to you today which can shake the kingdom of God. Nothing can happen today which can in any way jeopardize your eternal hope. Do you know that? Do you believe that? Will you live that out?

What Can't the World See? Romans 1; 1Corinthians 2

If we are walking with a Spirit, and taking time to engage with God in His word, what we see, naturally, seems to us, obvious - so obvious, we cannot imagine anyone not seeing it.  This is why we are often surprised, even dumbfounded, when somebody we think should know - be able to see what we see, hear, and understand, cannot.  In fact, to us, their perspective can seem incredibly skewed and backward.

In 1Corinthians 2, Paul is speaking of the mind of the believer imbued with the mind of God, sparked by the Holy Spirit, and compares and contrasts the mind connected to the Spirit to the mind and thinking of the world, which is under the effects of the ruler of the king of the air, who Jesus describes me as “a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).

How we see life, we will treat life; how we see life, will be the fruit of how we see God, who is life.  We have talked about life where it comes from, from Whom it comes, and with that, who has the right to define life when and where it begins, and the value of life - a person whose life has been thought of and granted by God:

• Life’s inception - the mind of God 

• Life’s conception - the person in the mind of God is coming to be

• Life’s realization - birth and maturation 

How we view life will determine how we treat life.  If we view life as God’s gift to us, imbued with intrinsic value, a reflection of God, in image and likeness, then we will be apt to treat life and the person who possesses it, with the greatest respect and dignity.  

If we do not, we will not.  We will treat life as ordinary and mundane, and a person, too often, as one who is there for us, to compete with us, or in our way - utilitarian - something to be moved out of the way, or used for our...

Then, there is another life, one that, you might say, has gone from “life to life”.  

That is, going from having been “made in the image and likeness of God” - Born of a mother and father, living, certainly reflecting, though dimly, God, in image and likeness but going through life, “dead”, “dead in our sins and trespasses…”.  Though living and animated, devoid of the life of God in us, separated from God by those sins and trespasses.  And with that, lacking the ability and capacity to see, hear, and understand God or what is truly, good. 

…to being “born again”, this time of God, by His will, in this description, we are going from life to life, actually from living dead to life, born again, “created in Christ Jesus”, “new creatures”, each person a new creation. Not only being given the gift of life itself, but now, the imputed righteousness of Jesus, and imbued with the Holy Spirit, and with Him, the mind of God - as to see, hear, and understand, God.

Why does the world not understand?  Why can’t the world see?

• God

• His wisdom

• What is right or true

We were, and “they” are of the spirit of this world.  We, now, are of the Holy Spirit, or, the Spirit of God 

Why can’t the world see?  Why can’t they understand?  From where we have fallen?  We were intended to walk with God, but…

Romans 1 Depravity and futility - refusing to acknowledge God, we begin a slide down away from God, and if away from God, away from what God intended us to be. (Romans 1:18-20)

From not acknowledging God, we begin to replace God - our “thinking became futile and our foolish hearts darkened”. (Romans 1:21)  In our stupidity, we not only refused to acknowledge God, or give Him credit, we exchanged the glory of God for images…” (Romans 1:22-23)

In exchanging the glory of God for images, we went further to “exchange the truth about God for a lie, and began to worship the images and idols, and He “gives us over to our lusts” and we slip further and further away from God, into deeper and deeper depravity… (Romans 1:24-27)

Then, we begin to resist or rebel against our being made - distinctly - in the image and likeness of God 

· Distinct from God - we are not God - though we think we are (at least equal to) 

· Distinct from the animals (as Adam would be led into seeing and realizing) 

· Distinct in our sex and the expression of that sex - male and female 

Finally, (mankind) acts inhumanely - going against the purpose of their making. (Romans 1:24-32)

If Jesus came as the perfect human and acted perfectly humane, as the righteous Son of God in the flesh, what He came to do was demonstrate for us what being human was, what being human, is supposed to be, and what we will look like in eternity.

Our depravity, then leads to “inventing ways of doing evil”  this is our being and acting inhumane, even inhuman, and leaving our (God's) intended way of being - to be like Him. 

• We no longer reflect God’s glory as intended, and so now only dimly reflect God’s invisible qualifies (1Cor 13:12)

It is Jesus and the gospel of Christ, that rescues us from this lot. (Romans 1:14-17)

• It is the Holy Spirit, God’s divine power, in Christ, that allows the believer to rise above THIS corruption, and “participate in the divine” (2Peter 1:4; Rom 8:4-7) or, regenerated humanness and humanity.  In other words, to look and act like Jesus (Phil 2 “will and act according to God’s purposes”, Romans 12:2 “transformed”, Eph 2 “created in Christ Jesus”, “conformed” Rom 8:29”, “new creature” 2Cor 5:17)

• Now in Christ, we more and more accurately, reflect God’s invisible qualities - as we go from “glory to glory” 2Cor 3:18

• Now with the Spirit, we are able to see, hear, and understand God, where we couldn’t before.

Everything said in Romans 1 is a study of Genesis 1-4.  Paul is asserting that sin has removed us further and further from God’s design and original intent - traveling the road away from the Garden, with Cain.  

And, as our sin increases, so does our depravity, as God “gives us over” to our sinful lusts, until we finally move from depravity to ever-increasing depravity, from futility - or - stupidity, to a “reprobate” or “worthless” mind - that everything we think, believe, say, and do, is “unapproved” by God.  (Romans 1:28-32)

If righteousness is what God approves of, then depravity is unrighteousness - what God does not approve of.

And that is what Paul is speaking to in 1Corinthians 2

Believers have the wisdom of God based on the truth of God, the Spirit of Truth, and Scriptures –  it is crucial we walk with God’s Spirit and engage with God in the word, prayer, and fellowship – it is here that we are able to see, hear, and understand God’s working and will.  And, even if something is beyond us to truly grasp, our hearts and minds are guarded and guided by the Spirit and Truth to trust God and His glory and goodness – which we can see!

If are not investing in our relationship with God this way…

…we can lose sight of God’s will and intentions, and begin to defend and justify our ungodly feeling, thinking, believing, speaking, and acting - our sinful behavior, as we are deceived (by our heart) about what is right and good and of God - even believing that if we have prayed about something (that is actually outside of righteousness)  and the opportunity is then afforded us, it is God’s gift and approval, His will, by His “answering my prayer” 

We must be careful… to take off the old, and put on the new, no longer acting like…

Christians can suffer from depravity and futility also if we choose to entertain and indulge the flesh (Rom 1;8;  Gal 5) and relieve their suffering in and through temptation, which we are called to exert self-control and endure and persevere (2Peter 1: 1Peter 4) - we must know that to suffer in the body, is to join Jesus in the resisting the urges of the flesh.

The Holy Spirit will (John 14-16)

• Remind us of the truth (in Christ)

• Guide us into all truth (in line with the scriptures) 

• Prompt and direct us according to the truth 

• Warn and convict us when we stray from the truth 

• Prick our conscience when we sin - giving warning gs pangs of guilt, shame, stricken conscience 

To not properly respond to the Spirit’s conviction and prompting and act according to Jesus’ righteousness (that we are (2Cor 5:12), or, to not “rise above… and participate in the divine”) is to then “grieve the Spirit” Eph 4:17-30-32

The world cannot see what we see, or know what we know, or interpret what we are able to interpret (2Cor 4:4-6; 10:3-4)

God’s Handiwork, God’s Love, God’s Good Intentions: John 1:1-18; 3:16-18, 32; Psalm 139:13-16

Life: All, Every, Each: God’s handiwork, God’s love, God’s good intentions: John 1:1-18; 3:16-18, 32; Psalm 139:13-16

What testifies, speaks of, and is a witness to, God and life?

The Word (Rom 1:16; 10:17; Heb 4:12) 

Creation (Gen 1; 2 ; Job 38-41; Ps 19; Rom 1:18-20; Col 1:15-17)

Making: mankind (Gen 1; 2; Rom 1:18-20)

The Prophets (Hebrews 1:1)

The Person (Hebrews 1:2-3)

The Spirit (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22)

What testifies to the world God’s light and love for mankind?

The mission and ministry and commission of reconciliation (John 3:16-18; Matt 28:18-20; John 13:35; 2Cor 5:14-21)

What is life?  Both physical (present) and spiritual (particularly future) existence.  All life, throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God's self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, making each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.

What is a life?  A person, one to whom life has been granted, given by God, that with the life they have been given, they reflect the invisible qualities of God - this is by grace to ALL. (Rom 1:18-20)

What is a person? Or, better stated, “Who is a person?”  Each One of ALL, made in the image of God, having been woven together, given the breath of life, whom God loves; that is EVERYONE to whom God has sent His Son to save, that EACH one who is saved is one who has received Jesus by faith for new life, quickened in and by the Spirit of God (Jo 1:12-14; 3:5-8,14-18; Rom 8:1-6-17)

From whom, therefore, does a person come?  God, Himself.

How does this person live?  By the very grace of God, able to stand, in spite of their sin, because of God’s mercy, expressed in His patience, and tolerance, that that kindness, might, lead them to repentance.  (Romans 2:1-7)

Where does a person go?  Eternity. To dwell wherever their faith determines. (Rom 2:8-16)

Life in Christ – John 3:36; 17:3; 1John 5:11

Life without Christ, separated from God – Matt 10:28; 18:8;  21:41-45; Mk 9:43-44; Luke 12:5

How might we view life?  All life, every life, each life?

All life - the Father, God “So loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…”

Every life - the Son - that whomever, everyone, who believes in Him (the Son), will have eternal life...

John 1:12 …for whoever would receive Jesus, they would be given the right to become children of God…

Each life - the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-17  “If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (parakletos) to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit (pneuma) of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

The value of all lives, every life, because each has been made by God

Psalm 139:13-16 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  16Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Life is from God because it is in God, of God, and granted by God. All people matter, every one of them, as each one is known and desired by God. 

Which brings us to the issues at hand:

1. The life of the unborn within the life of the one who carries them. We must care for them - each and both

1. The life of those in the Middle East, Certainly Israel, but also, and even, those who oppose Israel – remembering that this concerns the entire world. 

What do we do? These issues today are huge and overwhelming!  There are so many things happening, so many emotions, opinions, positions, and strife.

We ALL, EVERY one of us, must be careful to not lose the micro, EACH one, in the scope of the macro - ALL that is going on.  We can be so overwhelmed by what we see on the world’s stage - it is concerning, and concerns us all. God has instructed us what to do:

Matthew 24 - be alert, be aware, do not be alarmed, keep watch, be ready, serve the brotherhood… 

Psalm 122:6-9 Pray for Jerusalem - peace. 

1Timothy 2:1-4 “1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Jeremiah 29:4-9 Live peaceable, fruitful lives in the places you have been placed, with the brotherhood, being a blessing to that place you reside - to which you have been appointed, to whom you have been called and assigned ambassadors.

 How are we to live - speak and act?  By  ; each encounter, with all we come in contact with. 

Ephesians 5:15-16 “...making the most of every opportunity…”  Colossians 4:6 “...your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” 1Peter 3:15-16 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

James 2:12-13 “12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (Mat 25:34-40; 1Cor 3:1-15; 1Pet 4:17; Rev 2:4-5)

Romans 12:11-21  “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Matt 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-38; John 16:33; Rom 8:28-38; 2Cor 2:14; 4:7)

1Peter 2:11-21; 3:8-18; 4:7-19 (Phil 1:27; Eph 4:1; 5:1)

What Are These Times We Are Living In? Ps 122

This is essentially 2 messages combined. Each with significant relevance to us, today: that all life, matters; everyone; that each might come to know God and gain eternal life.

Turn to: Ps 122 

Jerusalem: why has the world stopped and turned its attention to Israel?  It is, they are, the center of God’s attention, God’s people, God’s covenant, God’s heart, and God’s intentions for the world, go through these two things - Israel and Jerusalem: not, the USA.

Why?  How? Because everything revolves around Israel, everything.  Because it is Israel that God has chosen to impact, affect, and bless the world and to glorify Himself.

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you [Israel] are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession”

Isaiah 42:6 "I the LORD have called unto you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and submitted you as the people's covenant, as a light unto the nations" 

Isaiah 49:3 “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified“

The world is alerted, why?  Israel is God’s chosen people through whom the Messiah will come to bless the world.

Genesis 22:18 “And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” 

Jerusalem is the place where God has designated:

First: His presence - 1Kings 8:10-11; Rom 9:4

Second: His chosen people, Israel, to worship and beseech Him - Ps 27:4; 42:4

Third: His peace offering and eternal dwelling place, with His chosen people through whom He has blessed the world, and those chosen people from the world, who would come to the Messiah - Isaiah the nations and kings will bring to God… 

Revelation 21:1-4 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Why should these current events matter to us?  Because this is about our God and His good intentions for the world.  His faithfulness to His covenant, and His calling to Himself a people of His own choosing - for life: to go from life to life (Exodus 19:5-6; Deut 4:20; 7:6; John 1:12-13; 1Peter 1:2:9)

And because, as God’s people, we who are not Israel in the Hebrew sense, have been made part of Israel, wild olive shoots, grafted into the cultivated tree, Israel. 

Romans 11:11-36

Therefore, what is happening concerns us, the Church, as we are on the mission granted us, the privilege of bringing the good news of this Messiah to the entire world, for life.

This, whether the world is cognizant or not, effects the whole world, and as we can see, somehow, though they might not know why, they, the world cannot turn their eyes away. (1Cor 2:6-16)

Matthew 24:6-8 “6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Do not panic - such things must happen, God is sovereign, you, in Christ, are His beloved children

Do not overreact - saying “Here He is!”, “There He is!”, “Now, is the time!”  

Turn to: Luke 17:20-24 (25-37)

Recognize the times for what they are - the beginning of the birth pains, labor pains of sorts, ready yourselves

Respond in repentance, prayer, and joy - commune with God in word, prayer, fellowship, repentance - not going our own way, but God’s (Isaiah 58:13; Gal 5:13-18)

Respond with urgency in ministry to one another and mission to the lost - act as one who knows the days are short - “How would I live if I had a short time to live?”, “How deeply would I love if the time were short?”, “With whom would I share the good news of the kingdom?”  

And how then should we live in these times?

Turn to: 1Peter 3:13-22; 4:1-5, 7-18

Forgiveness: expectations and disappointment: Is our hurt and disappointment sometimes made worse by what we expected from another

Forgiveness: expectations and disappointment: Is our hurt and disappointment sometimes made worse by what we expected from another? Growing in discernment: knowing more that we might act wisely and respond kindly.

Could it be true that we are often hurt as much by our unmet expectations that we have of someone as by anything they may have said or done to us?   And oftentimes, we find, that our expectations of another may have been, or may be, out of place, or out of proportion with who they are, or who we are.   

Let us not be mistaken…

No matter what we do, there will be hurt, there will be wounds - this world is broken and fraught with peril.  No one goes through this world unscathed, unhurt, without wounds and the scars that follow.  We must also see, admit, and acknowledge, that all have the ability and capacity to speak and act in a way that harms another, and therefore, trouble, and harm will come - even in the life of another by our own hand (John 14:27; 16:33).  But, perhaps these times need not be as devastating and debilitating as sometimes are - by having a better understanding of ourselves and one another. (2Cor 1:1-2; 4:7-12)

Remember: scars are not as much to remind us of the wound suffered, but a constant reminder of the healing hand God and His great love for us. (Romans 8:28-39)

Loving self and others as we love ourselves, truly… 

How might we protect ourselves, and others, from disproportionate hurts and wounds, disappointments, that might have as much or more to do with our expectations of one another, as they things said or done?

Gaining perspective, growing in discernment…

If we were to take a step back, we might find, that most of the time, our expectations of others are founded on faulty assumptions, a lack of discernment on our part, that has formed our preconceived notions of that person and their role in our lives - setting expectations that are bound to be unmet, expectations that may have formed without proper knowledge.

You see, Jesus knew.   And we can know, and discern, too. 

John 2:24-25  “24But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. 25He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.”

Entrust: have faith in, place one’s faith in, trust as to believe, and place faith in - to give oneself up to; put confidence in as to give oneself over to (as we would believe, have faith in, and entrust ourselves to Him, because of our being convinced of and confident in His character and nature, He would not, could not, because of knowing of man’s character and nature - to their fidelity)

• Give control of one’s over to

• To make vulnerable to

• To trust another enough to entrust or give oneself over to another

We do this by degree as we learn about someone and they earn our trust - we see this in Matthew 25 when the master entrusts his riches to those he “knows” or perceives. 

Knew: I am taking in knowledge, coming to know and learn: ascertain, realize - first-hand acquaintance

• To know, to perceive, especially through personal experience - to take note of 

• This is NOT “keeping a record of wrongs” as that would be a matter of judgment, hanging over one’s head, to dangling in front of to hold against, but wise annotating to establish an understanding as to how to navigate and set and reasonable and accurate set of expectations. 

• Love trusts all things - until shown otherwise: and understands it will be shown otherwise - this is human nature and necessitates patience, forbearance, and forgiveness, then a process by which someone might re-gain a level of trust as to be trusted 

How do we grow in discernment?

• The word of God - asking ourselves the following questions and looking intently, intensely, and prayerfully for the answers: turn to: Proverbs 2; 2Peter 1

• What does God say about…?

• Himself - His person, character, and nature 

• Mankind - His love for; His desire for;  and warnings to

• His description of those of the world, before being saved and/remaining in their sin (Isa 59; John 1; 3; Rom 1-3; 5; Eph 2:1-3; 4:17-19) 

• Those no longer of the world, after being saved (Ezek 11:19; 36:26-27; John 1;3;14-17; Rom 8; 2Cor 3; Eph 1;2;4;6; Phil 1; 2)

• Those who are saved and in the process of sanctification - our growth and maturity is a process, we are all works in progress - who still sin; who are still affected by past happenings - as well as old thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting (Rom 6:4; 7:6; 8:29; 12:2; 2Cor 3:18; 4:16; Gal 5;6; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10; Titus 2:14)

• The Holy Spirit - discerning truth from lie; what Spirit of God and our own - John 14:15-21, 25-27; Gal 5:13-18, 22-25; 6:8; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 5:15-20; 2cor 2:14; Jeremiah 17:8-10 (deceitful heart and flesh) 

• Fellowship of believers - speaking truth to one another:

• In love, phileo - brotherly affection 

• Uut of love, agape - for the well-being of the one loved 

Responding to God, Not Reacting to Man

Being generous with our discernment: being prudent, circumspect, not allowing our anger to flash, but exhibiting self-control (Ps 4:4; Prov 1:3-4; 14:8, 15, 17, 29; 15:1, 18; 29:22) discerning who it is who assails you, how, and why, and the possible reasons behind it.  We are to act with agape informed and fueled mercy (Mat 5:7; Luke 6:35-36) - loving mercy that empowers forgiveness, patience, and forbearance - enabling us to act kindly toward the one who has harmed us (Rom 2:4).  

All of this will lead us on the path of righteousness (Ps 23; 2Pet 1:1) - wanting God’s best for them: considering them as Christ Jesus considered us, me: empathy, leading to sympathy, leading to compassion, leading to comfort: 

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good, but even if you should suffer for what is right: you are blessed. 

1Peter 3:13-14 13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.”

Jesus is preparing us for this new way, the way of the kingdom, the way of God: this is not your father’s tooth for a tooth…. 

Matthew 5:38-42

Spirit-empowered self-control that leads away from a selfish, evil reaction, to a God-directed, loving response:  It does not mean we are utterly passive, it means we strive to not hold onto resentment and bitterness, or seek revenge or insist on being compensated, but we refuse to be enslaved by their attitude and behavior toward us by being possessed and consumed by their offenses and our “need” to see myself vindicated, and that, by my standards, according to my sense of justice.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

We are to resist evil: not only the evil perpetrated on us, but, our evil (reaction) toward them: Matt 5:39; 1Cor 6:7; 1Pet 2:19-23

Romans 12:17-21 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”  says the Lord…”.

We are to be careful not to take revenge…  to leave from for God’s wrath…  what IS His right just, and fair (Pr 1:3; 2:9 19:20)  justice  - according to what is true 

Romans 2:1-3 “1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.”

Instead, to those who know better, we can challenge their definition of righteousness in relation to their behavior - though still resisting avenging themselves.

• John 18:22-23  “22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.  23“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

• Acts 23:1-3 “1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

And to those who do not know better, we bid them the Father’s forgiveness, and mercy, taking into consideration the nature of who they are, what it is, they know, and what are their compelling reasons, as wrong as they might be, and offer mercy.

Jesus on the cross to the soldiers bidding his father’s forgiveness

• Luke 23:34 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

What does God’s righteous judgment, His wrath, look like?

Romans 12:20-21

“20On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It is important that we see our heart’s intent - even in leaving room for God’s wrath.  Our motivation needs to be that God’s avenging us, will prayerfully, hopefully, lead to the offender’s repentance, redemption, salvation, and purification - not merely to see ourselves righted.

And that our mercy, our acting just like Jesus and our heavenly Father, Jesus’ character leaking from us, will lead them to conviction, leading them to sorrow and repentance (2Cor 7:10)- not gleefully looking for their punishment, but, humbly beseeching God on their behalf, that they might be forgiven and saved, and if saved already, restored and made whole.

Ezekiel 18:23  Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn't I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?

Ezekiel 33:11  Say to them: 'As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die