May, 2007
How to Make it to Friday
I Peter 1:17-23
INTRODUCTION: In this scripture Peter is writing to Jewish Christians who were driven out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia Minor and to all believers everywhere. This writing took place as Christians were being tortured and killed for their faith. Many of these Christians were probably not that well established in the faith and were feeling crushed, overwhelmed, devastated and that their lives were out of control. Peter knew about persecution first hand. He had been threatened and thrown in jail. He had seen fellow Christians die and the church scattered. But Peter knew Christ and nothing could shake his confidence in his risen Lord. It was in this context that Peter spoke to these Christians who were suffering for their faith, giving them comfort and hope and urging their continual loyalty to Christ.
Many people today feel that their lives are out of control. They can’t seem to “fix it” any more. Their primary interest is not to get to heaven but to get to Friday. They are feeling the pressures of life and feel pulled in a lot of different directions. Christians feel these same pressures too much of the time. Maybe you are feeling them cave in on you too because of problems in your family, at work, financially, or through sickness. There are many things that Satan is using today to rob people from living abundant victorious lives.
The scripture in I Peter is very applicable to us today as it was to these Jewish Christians. In the preceding verses Peter helps them to focus on their lives as Christians and says, “Prepare your minds for action--set your hope fully on the grace to be given you--do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. Just as he who called you is holy, he says, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter here is telling them, “You are Christians now and your lifestyle needs to change.” You are going to live your lives as different people from what you did before. In speaking to these people who were having a hard time making it to Friday because of the things that were going on around them and happening in their lives, he gave them three major pieces of instruction. These same things apply to us today.
1. Live as a Pilgrim, not as a Tourist--(verse 17 Sojourn in fear). First he tells them, “since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” Our life here on earth is a journey. We can go through our life as a sightseer, a tourist, an explorer, a landowner, a pilgrim. A sojourner is a TEMPORARY resident. A biography of Mother Teresa says that she never traveled to other countries as a TOURIST but as an EMISSARY for the poor. She always traveled as a PILGRIM. The difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is that the tourist looks and samples and moves on. The tourist may take a quick snapshot of the area, but he has made no impact on what is around him. A pilgrim has a PURPOSE for being there. As we go through our journey of life, we must have a purpose or a mission in order for us to stay focused and not get sidetracked by the things that try to distract us. We can make it to Friday if our sights are set on a purpose or a goal that we are looking forward to. We can endure undesirable conditions a lot of times in the present if our eyes can see the end result somewhere in the future. For example, the payday on Friday. The graduation at the end of the four years of college.
Isaiah 50:7 says, “For the Lord God will help me; therefore, shall I not be confounded therefore have I SET MY FACE LIKE A FLINT and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”
Because the Christian life is a temporary stay on this earth, the brief time should be USED CAREFULLY and with a purpose. What is our impact along the way? What are we contributing as we go through the days?
Hebrews 11:13 speaks of those in the past who were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on earth who saw the promises afar off and were persuaded of them.
David in Psalm 39:12 prayed, “Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears; for I am a STRANGER with thee and a SOJOURNER as my fathers were.” Many times David had a difficult time making it to Friday too. He had problems and was often depressed, but he always looked to God in his distress and God brought him through it.
When we have trouble making it to Friday we can say, “I’m on a mission, my life has a purpose, and I am traveling through the days and through the problems that face me as I go.” Psalm 23 assures us of God’s help. “Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.” Knowing that God is with us in our journey makes it a lot easier to get to Friday. Having a purpose for traveling makes the inconveniences and problems along the way easier to bear.
The last part of verse 17 talks about another aspect of sojourning--”pass the time of your sojourning in FEAR. This does not mean to live as if you are scared to death of God. The Greek word used here is phobos meaning reverential fear or RESPECT of God. A wholesome dread of displeasing him, a fear that banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence.
The reverential FEAR of God will inspire a constant carefulness in our dealings with others that we don’t carelessly live a haphazard life that displeases the Lord. We won’t just deliberately sin all of the time and then casually say, “I’m sorry.”
Story: A preacher preached on the 796 sins of man. People kept calling him to get the list, especially people who thought they were missing out on something.
The Amplified Bible says, “…you should conduct yourself with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence on the earth whether long or short” (verse 17). This reverential fear is a controlling motive of life in matters of spiritual and moral conduct. It is not a fear of His power and that He is out to GET US but a dread of displeasing Him. The reverential fear of God will inspire a constant carefulness--we will be more inclined to walk softly before Him. If we lived in this way, wouldn’t we make it to Friday a lot easier? I don’t think we would be all churned up over the every day problems that face us. We would take it in stride better.
2. Live as a New Person in Christ, Not as the Old (not redeemed with silver and gold) verses 18-19.
Silver and gold are considered precious and very valuable in our society. Verse 18 says, “You must know and recognize that you were not redeemed from the useless, fruitless way of life with corruptible things such as silver and gold. But you were purchased with the precious blood of Christ like that of a sacrificial lamb without blemish or spot.”
Why does he use the term redeemed here? In those times a slave was “redeemed” when someone paid money to buy his or her freedom. God redeemed us from the tyranny of sin not with money but with the precious blood of his own Son. We cannot escape sin on our own but only Jesus can free us.
As a new person in Christ our lifestyle is different from Non-Christians. As we go through the days, we can make it to Friday because we have a whole new perspective on life. We are not living an empty lifestyle. Romans 6:6 tells us that “we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
Because you were not redeemed with corruptible things such as even precious silver and gold, this ought to be a constant and powerful incentive to live in an accountable, responsible manner.
On our way to Friday wouldn’t our journey be easier knowing that the chains of sin have been broken and we are free? We are not in bondage to out of control habits that cause our life to be miserable. Many people today are controlled by addictions that make it almost impossible to get from one day to the next. We don’t have to be in the chains of sin anymore.
John 8:34 says, “Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…” Verse 36 says, “If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free INDEED.”
Who am I in Christ? Do you know who you are in Christ when you set out on your journey to Friday? You are not a defeated person. “I am more than a conqueror through Christ” (Romans 8;37). So if that is the case, shouldn’t we be able to make it to Friday?
If we know who we are in Christ and that He has redeemed us and set us free from sin and death, why can’t we make it successfully to this Friday, next Friday and all of the other Fridays?
3. Live with Inward Strength, not with Outward Structure (verse 21).
The redeemed live with faith and hope in God. The gospel message of John 3:16 has been fulfilled in our lives as we have believed in Jesus. The resurrection is understood through our personal experience which brings strength. Inner strength will get us to Friday. We won’t be caving in over every little thing that comes our way.
Jesus’ resurrection is the foundation of our faith, and it spurs us on to a life of response to God as we travel on our journey to Friday. Outward structure where we just go through the lip service of our faith won’t last. People say, “I’m a United Methodist,” but never come to church. “I was baptized or I joined the church.”
Story: There was a man who worked at a store where I bought paint. We were talking one day and he said, “We are losing our pastor.”
I asked, “Who is that?” He said the pastor at Coburn. I said, “That’s where we go. Where do you sit?” I had never seen this man there in the five years I had gone.
And he couldn’t tell me where he sat in that church. I don’t think he was ever there.
Story: Another man used to go to the same church, and we hadn’t seen him for a long time. I asked, “Where are you going to church now?” He says, “Coburn.”
I reply, “Oh that’s where we go.” And then he says, “Sometimes we go to the Presbyterian up on the hill.” I don’t think he was at Coburn either--only in saying, “I go there.”
Our relationship to the church must be a vital one in which we are there in presence as well as in membership.
These things alone are only outward structure. You must decide to put your faith and hope in the living resurrected Christ. It’s your lifestyle. The Old Testament character, Enoch, was said to “walk with God.” This was his LIFESTYLE as he progressed through the week. We need to be committed not only to the Lord but to a church where we can learn and grow and find inner strength. Christmas and Easter Christians are missing out on this vital boost to their faith. When the church doors are open, let us take advantage of the message of hope and faith that is preached for our benefit.
CONCLUSION:
Story: There is a testimony of a young preacher from Zimbabwe:
“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed; my present makes sense; my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small plannings, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don’t have to be right. I know life by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow and my guide reliable. I will not be detoured, lured away, turned back, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have not problem recognizing me…My banner will be clear.”
A firm commitment like this would certainly help a person make it to Friday. How can you apply these truths to your life this week?
1. Live as a Pilgrim not as a tourist.
2. Live as a new person in Christ, not as the old.
3. Live with Inward Strength, not with outward structure.
Let us pray:
