2.17.08
The BIGGER PICTURE by William Akehurst, HSWC
1 Peter 1:13-21
Scriptures Referenced:
1 Peter 1:13-21
Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, 20:7
Matthew 4:10
Luke 16:13
Amos 3:3
Matthew 5:34
Exodus 20
Deut 6:5
Basic Outline:
GUARD YOUR MINDS. Our minds must be clear and ready for action
1 Peter 1:13-21
BE HOLY. Live Separate of this world in every aspect of life.
Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, 20:7
SERVE GOD.
Matthew 4:10
Luke 16:13
Amos 3:3
Matthew 5:34
Exodus 20
Deut 6:5
KNOWING and realizing that we can not buy our freedom and forgiveness. It was bought by the blood of Christ. This was known before the world existed, but for our good, became public in this last period of time, this time in which we live. That through Jesus, we do believe in GOD. Let your faith and confidence be in GOD.
* * * * *
As we read through the Bible, from beginning to end, we get a bigger picture of GOD’s plan for humanity, to spend eternity with Him. This is our training ground. We are given the choice to obey or not. We are to be obedient to HIM in this life, and those who are, will serve HIM for eternity. Life is not about who we are. Life is about who we serve.
Sometimes in order to understand, we can no longer stay on our perch above, but must DIVE IN HEAD FIRST and be fully immersed in life. That is how GOD wants us to get into HIS WORD. DIVE IN HEAD FIRST.
The BIGGER Picture
Everyone these days it seems is talking about widescreen or big screen tvs. On Extreme Home makeover, it seems that every house has a built in movie theater somewhere in the home.
This isn’t unusual, since the beginning of the moving picture shows, people have wanted to see things in a big light.
Movie theaters are big screens, but there are still bigger screens…at the Science center, there is the IMAX theatre with its screen of 70.9’ x 54.5’ that’s 3864.05 SF BIG
We all want to see the bigger picture don’t we.
Since last week, those of you who heard the message of the LORD, and have heeded it, followed it. Those of you who have been moved to act on our instructions last week. Those of you who have gotten into the word and consumed it. Taken it in…are beginning to see…The Bigger Picture.
Last week, I challenged you to set aside time for the LORD, Daily. Who took the challenge?
We began a program of reading the Bible in 90 days. There are many books and reading schedules out there from the Bible in a Year, which I have done with my family as a child, and we did with our family. But one thing I am realizing is this…Time is short…we can not waste any more time, and must get into the word.
As a favorite song from Stephen Curtis Chapmen goes. DIVE IN.
Sometimes we are so stuck in our ways, we believe things are as we see them from a distance. But there are times that we must walk over to the edge, and dive in and immerse ourselves headfirst. 1 Pet 1:13 says Gird up the loins of your mind… (and dive in – head first)
GOD’s PLAN
As we have started this study throughout the bible, taking a selection of chapters of the scriptures each day, we see the hand of God at work in HIS world.
There are many lessons to be learned as we go through each chapter and each verse. Some verses jump out at you saying…HERE IT IS, THIS IS THE MESSAGE FOR YOU TODAY.
I’ve seen verses that pertain to life, love, parenting and business. What have you seen?
INCREDIBLE DESIGN
From Creation, to the fall.
God’s provision for life, and His disappointment with man’s sin.
From Noah’s Ark and the Flood, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
All along the way, we see how our world developed.
How, languages and diversity of the nations were created at the tower of Babel when God caused everyone to speak a different language, and people gathered with those they were able to communicate with and formed their own new communities.
PRAYER ANSWERED
We have seen men of God seek the LORD for help through prayer, and seen prayer answered as with Abraham’s servant in search of a wife for Isaac. The servant, by faith, asked the Lord to send the girl to be Isaac’s wife to the well to fetch he and his camels water. And when the girl came and did as he asked of the LORD, he knew in his heart that God had answered his prayer. Genesis 24:12 And he shared it with the girls father, and then with Abraham when he returned.
We see Isaac and Esau and Jacob, and the selling of the birthright, the trickery of Jacob. And the blessing passed down from Isaac to Jacob.
Then Jacob, laboring 14 years for his wife and eventually having 12 sons, including Joseph.
USING EVIL FOR GOOD
Then we saw Jacobs favorite son, Joseph, the dreamer, despised by his brothers and sold into slavery and given up for dead.
We see God use Joseph by answering dreams of others. This raising Joseph up to a place of governing the storehouses of the nations.
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
The drama of Joseph’s brothers coming for food. The money in the top of their baskets. The cup of Joseph in Benjamin’s bag. All to bring the family to Egypt, where God wanted them to live and grow into a nation.
PRESERVING and PROTECTION
We see the nation of Israel, grow stronger and larger. Even though they were slaves to Egypt, they were grew strong.
We see Moses, a baby placed in a basket in the Nile, picked up by the pharaohs daughter. Raised and educated by the rulers of the land. Designated by GOD to be the leader of the nation back to the promised land.
We see Moses’ encounter with GOD, and the wonderful signs and miracles that God instructed to Moses.
We see hardened hearts, turned to God. Then hardened again, and destroyed.
We see God’s hand over HIS people, even though a stubborn, and stiffnecked nation.
He says in one area, You will travel without me, for if I travel with you, I will surely kill them
Ex. 33:3 for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
But He says. I will do marvelous things for you, but you must keep your end of the bargain. Obey my commandments and you will see great and mighty things. God was willing to bless them despite their indignation.
God showed HIS blessings and benefits, but HE also punished those who disobeyed.
HE is GOD and is to be reverenced as THE ONE AND ONLY GOD ALMIGHTY.
In the 10 commandments, the first 3 out of 10 are to Reverence HIM
1. Ex 20:3 Have no other gods before me
a. Jesus said in Matt 4:10 Worship only the LORD GOD. Obey only Him
2. Ex 20:4 No idols or graven images.
a. Jesus said in Luke 16:13 we can not serve 2 masters
b. In Amos 3:3, asks the question ‘can two walk together unless they agree’
3. Ex 20:7 Reverence for God’s name. Do not use His name in vain or use God’s name to swear
a. Jesus said in Matt 5:34…do not make vows or even to say ‘by heavens, is a sacred vow to God’
In Deuteronomy, we are told to LOVE HIM with all our hearts mind and soul.
If we love HIM, won’t we OBEY HIM?
We are to obey HIM as OBEDIENT CHILDREN – Fearing God
When we read of how God not only cared for HIS people, but also punished them when they did wrong against HIM. Doesn’t that make you want to do what is right?
If you are a child of God. Don’t you want to do what God your Father in Heaven wants you to do? To please HIM?
God wants to bless us, but we need to be on His Terms…not ours.
God’s people are to be holy
He wants us to be holy.
1 Peter 1:16 says because it is written, Be holy for I am holy.
Leviticus 11:44
’For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy…
Leviticus 19:2
"Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ’You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Leviticus 20:7
’You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
God’s people are to set themselves apart from the world
Leviticus will show us the need for sacrifice as ordered by GOD. And when we look forward to JESUS, we see how HE fulfilled all the needs of these daily sacrifices, as HE shed His precious blood upon the cross, once, for all.
God’s people will see the benefits of the Lord
God is a God of Love
Yet, He can not stand sin
Be ye holy as I am Holy
Consecrate. Separate, set apart, be holy
Living a holy life
Set time to worship
Set ourselves apart. Not doing the things the world does, but doing the things God wants us to do.
Guard our minds to this effect.
Looking forward and hoping in the grace that was brought to us by Jesus Christ – God’s only begotten son.
Live your life, holy, as unto the LORD.
Passing our time here in fear and reverence for HIM.
Desiring to please HIM.
Knowing that we can not please God and do it of our own accord, but through Jesus, HIS precious blood, the Lamb without spot, by believing in Him, we have faith and hope in the LORD.
As we read through scripture, we get the understanding that even before the beginning of time, there is a BIGGER PICTURE for us to understand.
SO, what is the BIGGER PICTURE?
First, we are to understand that JESUS is the BIGGER PICTURE.
Then, taking HIM as our LORD, Savior and Redeemer, We are to live our lives here on this earth, for this time we call life, for one purpose. And that BIGGER PICTURE is that our lives are to be used to fully and wholly to serve and glorify the LORD.
1 Peter 1:13-21 GUARD YOUR MINDS. BE HOLY
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Lev 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Lev 20:7
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
Matthew 4:10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Matthew 5:34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
