Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Peter 2:11-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2000

Franklin’s Street Lighting Idea

 

When Benjamin Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he didn’t try to persuade them by talking about it; instead, he hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket before his own door.

Then he kept the glass brightly polished, and carefully and religiously lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk.

It wasn’t long before Franklin’s neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their homes, and soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and took up the matter with interest and enthusiasm.

Like Benjamin Franklin, believers must shine forth good works and glorify our heavenly Father.

/Everyday, people are watching you.

What sort of witness are you giving them?/

Last week we saw how God wants His children to grow.

The new birth is just the beginning.

The Lord has provided the pure milk of the Word to enable us to grow to maturity.

But we have to feed on it and exercise it in our lives.

The Lord has service for His people to do.

*/Firstly,/* we saw that God's children are living stones in His spiritual house.

Each stone must be fitted into the house.

*/Secondly,/* as royal priests we have been called to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

*/Finally/* we saw how God wants His people to live as a holy nation in this world.

The Lord wants His people to declare His Gospel of grace to a dying world!! /In fact this dying world is watching us to see how we live./

*/So Peter gives instructions on how God's people should live./*

There are three criteria that God's holy nation must observe:

 

I.

Separation                         II.

Submission          &                III.

Service  

/Firstly/       Separation

 

/a.

Abstain From Fleshly Lusts - /*1 Peter 2:11* /Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,/

/ /

To start with Peter reminds believers that they are sojourners and pilgrims here on earth.

Christians don't belong here, we are travelers just passing by on our way home.

Peter said the same thing in the first verse of his letter.

As travelers we shouldn't get caught up with the affairs of this life.

If we become involved in the pleasures of this life we will stop traveling as heaven's citizens and become earthly residents.

Abraham lived amongst the wicked Canaanites as a traveler.

By keeping his focus on the heavenly Jerusalem he remained a traveler.

He stayed pure before God.

On the other hand, Lot became a citizen of Sodom after he was ensnared by worldly pleasures.

Peter says that fleshly lusts war against the soul.

In fact he tells us how this very thing happened to Lot.

* *

*2* *Peter 2:7-8* /God delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked, for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.

/

 

We need to be careful about the things we let into our hearts.

The desires we entertain work their way out in our actions and our lifestyle.*

Philippians 3:17-20* /Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, /

/b.

Apply Ourselves To Good Works/

 

*1 Peter 2:12* /having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation./

/ /

If we are going to witness to the lost people around us, we must live /honest/ lives.

The word */honorable/* implies much more than telling the truth and doing what is right.

It carries with it the idea of beauty, comeliness, that which is admirable and honorable.

To use a cliché of the ’60s, we must be */beautiful people/* in the best sense of the word.

We do not witness only with our lips; we must back up our */talk/* with our*/ walk./*

There should be nothing in our conduct that will give the unsaved ammunition to attack Christ and the Gospel.

Our /good works/ must back up our /good words/.

Jesus said this in Matthew 5:16, and the entire Bible echoes this truth.

I remember instances of some wonderful conversions simply because dedicated Christians let their lights shine.

On the other hand, I recall with grief some lost persons who rejected the Word because of the inconsistent lives of professed believers.

I've had non Christians say they won't become Christians because of the hypocrisy of some they know!

Man With Roped Blind Friends

 

A missionary physician in one of China’s hospitals cured a man of cataracts.

A few weeks later 48 blind men came to the doctor from one of China’s wilds, all holding on to a rope guided by the man who had been cured.

He had led them in this way, walking in chain 250 miles to the hospital.

The multitude may appear indifferent to their condition, but let not this discourage us, for many are fumbling blindly after light.

It is our happy mission to tenderly and tirelessly seek them.

Like the cured man, all Christians can lead sinners to Christ through their good works.

Application

 

God's people need to be separate from the world.

You are a citizen of heaven, a member of God's holy nation.

/Are you living up to your holy calling?

Are you living on earth as a traveler or a resident?

Are you abstaining from fleshly lusts that attack your soul?

Are you sharing your faith in good words and good works?/

/How are you serving the Lord now?  /

 

/Secondly/   Submission

 

The central section of Peter’s letter *1 Peter 2:11–3:12* emphasizes */submission/* in the life of a believer.

The word */submission/* u&potassw means */to arrange under, to be subject to, to render obedience to./*

This is certainly not a popular topic in this day of lawlessness and the quest for /personal fulfillment,/ but it's an important one.

He applied the theme of submission to the life of a believer as *a citizen* 1 Peter 2:11–17,* a worker* 1 Peter 2:18–25,* a marriage partner* 1 Peter 3:1–7, and *a member of the Christian assembly* Peter 3:8–12.

Submission does not mean slavery or subjugation but simply the recognition of God’s authority in our lives.

God has established the home, human government, and the church, and He has the right to tell us how these institutions should be run.

*/Many Christians are unhappy because they won't submit to God's recognized authorities at home, work and in government!/*

George Mueller’s Secret

 

To one who asked him the secret of his service, George Mueller said: /There was a day when I died, utterly died; and, as he spoke, he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor — died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will—died to the world, its approval or censure—died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends—and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God/.

* *

*1 Peter 2:13-15*/ Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men./

/ /

Peter carefully points out that Christians are representatives of Jesus Christ to society.

It is our responsibility to advertise God’s virtues.

This is especially true when it comes to our relationship to government and people in authority.

We must obey the laws of the land.

The word translated */ordinance/* in our /Authorized Version/ simply means /creation or institution./

It does not refer to each individual law, but to the institutions that make and enforce the laws.

It is possible to submit to the institutions and still disobey the laws./

/God gave our leaders the authority that they have.

Therefore we must obey their rules for society except when they violate God's Word.

Then we must respectfully disobey that particular law.

Daniel and his three friends respectfully disobeyed the king's law a number of times in Babylon.

This was because a higher Law prevailed.

God's Word overrides the laws of men.

Daniel and his friends were also prepared to pay the price for their allegiance to God.