The SUPERIOR VALUE Of A SANCTIFIED HEART—1Peter 3:13-17
Attention:
*Cold case files may be re-opened because of the availability of new technologies. Because of the superior value of those technological advancements new evidence can be uncovered & new methods of examining evidence, which was previously impossible to do.
But in every solved ‘cold-case’, there must also be a person completely dedicated to finding the truth. They add another level of superiority in that they have ‘set themselves apart’ for the purpose of unearthing the truth.
Likewise When your heart is set apart(‘sanctified’) to discovering & living out God’s will, then others, who have never heard or have merely ‘heard of’ God’s truth, will hear it from you & the ministries in which you are involved.
Need:
The church today in America must realize that they do not gather to be entertained, nor to celebrate their own achievements, nor to merely socialize with their friends.
They gather together regularly & repeatedly in order to prepare themselves & others for the return of Jesus & for the final judgment of God upon the earth...In that we share the good news of salvation by grace thru faith in Christ alone.
Peter causes his audience to examine the superior value of a sanctified heart.
The superior value of a sanctified heart is exposed.
How is the superior value of a sanctified heart evaluated/measured/determined?
5 means/ways of evaluating the (superior)value of a sanctified heart:
1—The (superior)value of a sanctified heart is evaluated thru...
YOUR RELATIONSHIP With HARM(:13)
Explanation:(:13)
:13—“And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?”
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BKGD:
The Holy Spirit by Peter has already presented four practical categories/areas in his argument for integrating Christian governance into every aspect of our lives especially as we dutifully bear up under the stresses of personal sufferings in relation to relationships in:
1)Government(2:13-17)
2)Work(2:18-25)
3)Marriage(3:1-7)
4)Church(3:8-12ff.)
Peter has most immediately proved God’s goodness by reminding them from the OT, that:
1Pet. 3:12—“For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”?Which is from:?Ps. 34:15-16—“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”
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NOW(in our text) the Spirit by Peter continues to clarify the need for Christian governance thru personal & corporate suffering.
So Peter continues to warn the saints, that though God’s people may faithfully follow God’s direction, they CAN be tempted, coerced, & led toward or into trusting/following their own flesh.
The threat of suffering personal “harm” may cause Christians to waver in their commitment to God.
IF they ‘cave’, then their ministries would then ‘suffer’ because of compromise with the world thru flesh.
God promises that there is no “harm” that will come to us as a result of our “following” that which is God’s “good.” So in a Christian’s following” in the footsteps of God’s ordained “good”, there comes upon them God’s peace. The Christian’s peace comes in knowing that no “harm” will come to them.
Matthew 10:24-28—“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, & a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, & hidden that will not be known. Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; & what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul & body in hell.”
Acts 18:5-11—“When Silas & Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, & testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him & blasphemed, he shook his garments & said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he departed from there & entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed & were baptized. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, & do not keep silent; for I am with you, & no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year & six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
This verse is NOT a promise of God’s protection ‘from’ any “suffering”, but is rather a promise of God’s protection ‘thru’ or ‘in’ the midst of “suffering.”...
Isa. 43:1-3—“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia & Seba in your place.”
“And”(See :18, 19—“Also”)—kai—Conjunction—1) And, also, even, indeed, but. Strong—apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative & sometimes also a cumulative force; And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection(or composition) with other particles or small words.
“Who”—tiv—Pronoun—1) Who, which, what. Strong—an interrogative pronoun--Who, which or what(in direct or indirect questions).?Probably emphatic of—tiv—some or any person or object.
“He”—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Harm/Injure”—kakow—Verb—1) To oppress, afflict, harm, maltreat; 2) To embitter, render evil affected. Strong—To injure; figuratively--To exasperate. RWP—Any real hurt, either that wishes to harm you or that can harm. Used 6X.?From—kakov—Worthless(intrinsically such), i.e. Depraved, or Injurious.
“If”—ean—Conditional particle or Conjunction—1) If, in case. Strong—a conditional particle; In case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty.?From—ei—a primary particle of conditionality; If, whether, that, etc.—&—an—a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.
“You”—umav—Pronoun 2nd Accusative—1) You. Strong—accusative case of umeiv; You(as the objective of a verb or preposition).
“Become/Prove”—ginomai—Verb—1)To become, i.e. To come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. To come to pass, happen—2a) Of events; 3) To arise, appear in history, come upon the stage—3a) Of men appearing in public; 4) To be made, finished—4a) of miracles--To be performed, wrought; 5) To become, be made. Strong—a prolongation & middle voice form of a primary verb; To cause to be(“gen”-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become(come into being), used with great latitude(literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Followers/Zealous/Eager”—mimhthv—Noun Masc.—1) An imitator. Used 7X.?From—mimeomai—middle voice from mimov(a “mimic”); To imitate.
“What”—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Good”[See :16, 21]—agayov—Adj.—1) Of good constitution or nature; 2) Useful, salutary; 3) Good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; 4) Excellent, distinguished; 5) Upright, honorable. Strong—a primary word; “Good”(in any sense, often as noun).
Argumentation:
3John 1:11—“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
Dan. 6:1-4, 10-13—“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred & twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; & over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors & satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; & the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors & satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.”.....“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, & prayed & gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled & found Daniel praying & making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, & spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered & said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes & Persians, which does not alter.” So they answered & said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.””
Ezek. 2:3-8—“And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they & their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent & stubborn children. I am sending you to them, & you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ “As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse--for they are a rebellious house--yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers & thorns are with you & you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth & eat what I give you.[the scroll of God’s determined judgment against Israel]””
Jer. 1:4-10, 17-19—“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand & touched my mouth, & the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations & over the kingdoms, To root out & to pull down, To destroy & to throw down, To build & to plant.”.....“Therefore prepare yourself & arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city & an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land-- Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.””
Isa. 6:8-13—“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, & tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return & be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste & without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, The LORD has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return & be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.””
Ps. 38:15-22—“For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.” For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. But my enemies are vigorous, & they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good. Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!”
Rom. 8:28-39—“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; & whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, & furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Rom. 13:1-6—“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, & the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, & those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, & you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.”
Prov. 16:7—“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
We must work with our communities leading them in & to the Lord’s heart & way.
1Thes. 5:14, 15—“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves & for all.”
Illustration:
Another ‘Dog Lesson’/Our dog Hershey can be intimidating—He has a very loud & ‘ferocious’ bark & has a patch of coarse hair that stands up at attention when he barks/Whenever he encounters someone off-leash he will circle the person barking the entire time. There is local a man who has taken up walking in an attempt to lose weight & he walked by our house while Hershey was sunning in the front yard. Hershey began his characteristic hair standing-barking-circling routine on the passer-by/The walking man always walks with a huge tree-limb looking walking stick!/He had his stick in hand ready to bop Hershey if he got too close!
*IF Hershey had chosen to either stay within the boundaries of his yard, OR approach the walker with love happily & expecting to be petted, he would have been a doer of good—thus the walker would not be compelled to ‘harm’ him.
Gossip—Have you ever whispered or spread ‘a word’ that is not true...that is untrue...that is a lie...that is slanderous...that is devilish...that is demonic? God’s people are to be blameless—so that any evil intent by others of harm toward us, will have no basis in fact or truth.
Judge Brett Kavinaugh was in the process of being confirmed(fall 2018) as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, he would fill the vacancy left thru Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement & would offer a conservative voice.
I do not know enough about Mr. Kavinaugh’s worthiness, BUT I know that those who are opposing his confirmation seem to be very desperate.
There are active attempts by political entities who disagree with Kavinaugh’s conservative stance, to ‘harm’ his reputation & stall the process & so prevent his confirmation.
You’ve heard this before, but Adrian Rogers rightly said, “If you want to see what a person is, don’t watch their actions, watch their reactions.”
Application:
?What is your RELATIONSHIP With HARM?...
...?Does it limit or enhance your ministry potential?
?What Value do You place upon a Sanctified Heart?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Cold case files may be re-opened. There must be a person completely dedicated to finding the truth. They ‘set themselves apart’ for the purpose of unearthing the truth.
Action:
The (superior)value of a sanctified heart is evaluated thru...
1. Your Relationship With HARM(:13)
Presented 09/30/2018am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
