Please bring out your bibles. Or your bible app? And if you don’t have one, please feel free to get a bible in the back or to share with your seatmate. I would really prefer that you use a real bible, why – because the real bible doesn’t have any other applications inside the book. It doesn’t have a chapter on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM. Nor does the real bible send you a notification beep sound. Oh snap, did I hurt your feelings? So sorry! Don’t worry, I’m not talking about you – I’m talking to the one infront of you. Our scripture verse today is lifted from 2 Corinthians 5:17 and I’m reading from the New International Version (NIV). Are you there? If you’re ready say I’m ready! Lets all stand.
Please read it out loud with me -
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
Lets Pray – Father God! We praise and glorify you this morning. You orchestrated us to be all here for a purpose and we thank you in advance for the word you have for all of us. Ready our hearts and our minds to receive it Abba Father. Use me oh Father as your mouth piece, supercede whatever preparations I’ve done Oh Father so that only your message will be spoken to all of us here. In Jesus Name! Amen.
Recenty, I witnessed one of the most magical weddings I’ve attended so far, a wedding of a very close family member. What was even more amazing is that people kept on advising these couple to keep GOD in the center of their marriage. It became a central message, from the message of the Pastor to the special messages of the guests. But you know what, for me, it wasn’t only a message for the couple, it is a message for everyone.
But what does it take to really put God in the center of our lives? Do you actually know what this phrase means? We often hear it, we sometimes say it? But do we really understand what it means? I will give you a few seconds to ponder upon your own answer…..Please analyze your own answer as you think about it in your head.
Okay so we are going to unpack the answer to this question from a whole chapter in 1st Peter. Once again, given enough time, we will dissect this chapter and ask the holy spirit to touch us and convict us with an answer from God.
1st Peter Chapter 4 form the New International Version (NIV)
Living for God
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. (Note that Some versions translates to drinking parties, evil desires, wild parties, gluttony, lewdness. )
4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Lets lift this one phrase here in the whole chapter that jumps right out and dwell on this – In Verse 2 -
“2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
This is synonymous to our verse this morning – The old is GONE, the New has Come.
Do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires – THE OLD IS GONE!
But rather for the will of GOD – The New has come!
The old means our old self, our sinful self, our sinful nature. This is what it is referring to. Lets expound on this part. What does he mean by our old self?
To let go of our old self means to intentionally, consciously separate, sever, cut-off our OLD SELF. This is synonymous to the greek work “ah-fo-RID-zo” Or to be SET APART and to be SET APART means TO TAKE A STAND. And taking a stand for Christ. Let look at some examples here -
Example:
1. IN SCHOOL - You have not prepared for an exam, your classmates who are close to you got a hold of the exam paper from a different class and they decide to have it photo copied. And since they are close to you, they asks if you want to get a copy. What do you do? Then you think to yourself if you don’t do it, you wont be “one of them?” you wont be “part of the group”. Besides, since you have not reviewed for the exam, You might think, You are doomed to fail since you were unprepared! Infact, you might even entertain the thought that this exam paper is GOD sent, an answered prayer! What do you do?
2. IN THE OFFICE - You are late for work, knowing fully well that you were supposed to submit a report that you colleague was depending on as part of his presentation to your boss. You are already running late coz you had a long night preparing for it and woke up so late already. It normally takes you an hour to work and you are 30 minutes behind! What do you tell you colleague? Or do you even tell him you’re running late, and if you do, do you tell him the truth, oh my, that’s not gonna be a pleasing talk, if you tell him the truth, your gonna get the worst scolding in your life, its gonna be tough. But if you tell him its due to the traffic, he’ll understand, if you tell him you had an emergency at home, he’ll understand! But if you tell him you woke up late, this is unforgivable. So what do you do?
3. LOVE RELATIONSHIP - You are in a relationship with someone and its not going very well. You open up to you bestfriend and He admits to you that if he was in the situation, he wouldn’t dare do that to you and finally confesses his feelings to you for a very long time! Deep inside you feel the same way! You are now in a very awkward situation. Your bestfriend tells you to dump your boyfriend and choose him. BUT you still have feelings for your boyfriend and then the right one comes along! Oh its sad to belong to someone else but the right one comes along?? And you justify to yourself that the fruit of the spirit is LOVE! Its okay to love more! Love two! You think to yourself, what if I just swim in two rivers! There is no harm. They love me both! And I love them both! What do you do?
4. KICKING A HABIT - You’re a smoker and you enjoy this habit. Infact it’s the one thing that you share with your friends or colleague at work. You have what they would call a Vitamin C break. And you congregate in an area and smoke together and share stories about your work, your stress, your challenges and you believe these sessions are helpful because you get to unload! But deep inside, there’s this desire for you to quit. Infact, you have been trying to quit for 2 years now. And you tell yourself, this is the year I will quit. But you’ve been telling yourself this for 2 years now. Just like an alarm clock, you press the snooze button and tell yourself 15 more minutes! 15 minutes come and you press it again. 15 more minutes! Right? And when you finally do quit, and havent had a puff of cigarette for 2 weeks, your best friend, your close friend opens up to you and in the middle of this juicy and very open conversation, he offers you a stick and you tell yourself, its okay, I’ll do it just this one time, for him! Just to be with my friend. What do you do???
If we don’t set ourselves apart, we are doomed to be no different from wordly people. If we contine to conform with the world, we will be lukewarm Christians. How many of us still give-in to our strongholds? How many of you concede to temptation? How many of you continue to be the same person you were prior to receive Christ in your life. Coz something has to change. The new will not come, if you can’t let go of the old?
5. The MAIN CHALLENGE IS THIS:
a. Do you have the courage to take a stand to be set apart.
b. Do you have the determination and persistence in doing the right thing even if no one is watching
c. Do you have the discipline to see through your decision to change your ways.
d. Do you have the resilience to wake up in the morning and welcome a new day to shine for Christ and as the video said to DO IT AGAIN.
You see we are good at starting things! We are pretty good at creating a vision for ourselves. We are ready to say yes to a plan! We are too quick to say – I will get rid of my strongholds!
· Our progress as Christians is not measured by how many times we start to change but in our consistency in seeing the change come to pass.
· Our progress is not measured in the decision to make the change, but in the discipline it takes to succeed in fulfilling the change.
When your friends are secretly trying to avoid you already for your beliefs and what your convictions are? When your sister or brother, wont talk to you anymore because you are not what you used to be, When your boss or mentor or teacher don’t show favor to you anymore because they know fully well they can’t count on you anymore to do what you used to do? When your group of friends, your teammates, our your club finds a way to let go of you because you oftentimes frown upon their actions or decisions that are not inline with your christian values. ARE YOU READY TO TAKE A STAND? ARE YOU STILL GOING TO MOVE FORWARD??
I tell you what – there is a way to find out if you have finally been able to let go of SIN – Its right there in our verse – 1 Peter chapter 4 –
“1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. “
Suffering is part of the equation Brothers and sisters! BUT them you come to me and tell me – AMAR – its not easy! I cant let go of this relationship, I don’t want to be alone anymore, I cant let go of my habits, I will get sick if I do, I cant let go!
It’s not easy!!!!
BUT What does the verse say - “1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude,” because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
I’m telling you guys, if you have not suffered in the body – you are not done with your sin. If you haven’t reached that point where you say enough is enough is enough! Then you have not suffered.
You have to reach a point where you finally say NO Consistently!
There is no way around it! Tell yourself now. There is no way around it.
Matthew 26:39-42 – JESUS showed us the example to FOLLOW -
JESUS in Gethsemane said - “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
You will only know if you are done with sin if you have suffered in the process of getting rid of it!
The spirit is willing but the body is weak says the LORD – You know why JESUS said this - Because the devil will use all his weapons to see you fail – and number one of all is FEAR! Especially when you’re in the brink of succeeding. Especially when you have already suffered looong enough –
HE doesn’t want you to reach the border! Because he doesn’t want you to cross the line!
HE doesn’t want you to let go of your old self! He wants yo to remain in his world!
The Devil is going to attack you with FEAR! He is going to derail your plans and convictions and decisions with FEAR! HE is going to lie to you with FEAR as his weapon! Because HE knows this is a powerful weapon.
You have been consistent and persistent in letting go of a habit already. Its been three weeks now…you have abtained from lying, from cheating, from all manner of bad habits! And he’s going to attack you with FEAR – Fear of missing out, fear of loosing your friends, fear of loosing your job, fear of failing your grades, fear of being ostrasized.
FEAR of being left alone with no one to talk to anymore because you decided to SET YOURSELF APART! The fear is real brothers and sisters!
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. Here me out here. Let me tell you something.
If there is one thing you keep in your mind it is this :
GOD Wants you to know this – in Isaiah chapter 41 verse 13 - For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you
Colossians 1:11-20 - God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient. 12 And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that he has prepared for his people in the kingdom of light.
1 Peter 3:13-14 - 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c]
Church – you heard the mighty GOD speak! Do not fear – for He is with you –
SO When you TAKE A STAND, when you SET YOURSELF APART The heavens will align itself to reveal the will of the father in your life! When you finally let go of your OLD self – the NEW WILL COME!
AND Your NEW LIFE comes with a promise – which is the title of our message this morning – GOD PROSPERS THE NEW.
And I would like to end with this verse: 1 Peter 3: 8-18:
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For,“Whoever would love life and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c]
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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,
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
The FEAR that comes for the devil is not real! You won’t be left alone. FOR You are not alone. WE are here for you brother – WE are here for you my sister!
Best of all the HOLY SPIRIT inside you has the power to help you FINALLY TAKE A STAND. TO BE SET APART CONSISTENTLY.
Let us pray
