I want to talk with you about God’s visitation program. Now, when we think of a visitation program in church, we think of visiting someone to tell them about Jesus. But today, I want us to think about God visiting us to show Jesus to others.
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In verse 12, Peter mentions “the day God visits us.” Some say this refers to the return of Christ. Now, Paul says when Christ returns, “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Believers will confess what we already know; and unbelievers will confess what they will have learned, because they will see Jesus in all His glory. To confess Jesus as Lord now, leads to eternal salvation; but to wait to confess Him as Lord then, will precede one’s eternal condemnation.
So there is a sense in which Peter is referring to Christ’s return in glory. But it’s also true the Lord wants to show up in the lives of His children, to make Himself known to unbelievers so they might be saved today.
I believe that this is what Peter had in mind when, later in this same book of the Bible, he tells us, “But in your hearts set apart 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.” (1 Peter 3:15).
Why would an unbeliever ask us to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ? It’s because they’ve come to recognize God showing up and showing off in our lives, which will happen if we set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts. Which is what Peter explains in our text today.
We read about Peter’s call to become a disciple in Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; and Luke 5:1-11. Luke says this happened after Peter, Andrew, James and John had been out fishing all night, not having caught anything. But Jesus told them to cast their net out one more time, and this time, they caught a miraculous number of fish. Peter knelt before Jesus and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, oh Lord.” Jesus responded by calling Peter and the others to follow Him, saying, “Don’t be afraid. Come, follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” They left their nets and followed Jesus.
Jim Putman, in his book, “Real Life Discipleship,” says that call Christ gave to Peter defines the three characteristics of a true disciple of Jesus. A disciple: 1) Knows and follows Christ; 2) Is being transformed by Christ; and 3) Is committed to the mission of Christ. Peter uses the same outline here. He says if we’re going to live in such a way so that God might show up and show off in our lives to draw unbelievers to Him, then we need to set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts. Which means . . .
1. There’s something we need to know - v. 11a
We’re “aliens and strangers in this world.” So our focus shouldn’t be on the things of this world, but the things of God. Not on pleasing this world, but pleasing our God. Peter learned this the hard way.
Like the other disciples, Peter thought Jesus’ mission was to free Israel from Roman oppression and reign as an earthly king. That’s why they were always asking Jesus for things like granting them the privilege of sitting at His right or left hand when He came into His kingdom. They thought following Jesus was all about what Jesus could do for them.
Even when Jesus was arrested, Peter was thinking about an earthly kingdom. When the guards came to arrest Jesus, who drew his sword and cut off the High Priest’s servant’s ear? Peter (John 18:10)! He was saying, “Look Jesus! I’m ready to fight to conquer Your enemies.” But Jesus said, “No!” as He reached out and healed Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51). Disillusioned, Peter later three times denied that he even knew Jesus. Ironically, Peter really did not know Jesus in the way Jesus wanted to be known by him. Jesus had told Peter this would happen, and when Peter realized that what Jesus had said would happen, did, he was devastated by his betrayal of His Lord.
After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to Peter and some of the other disciples (John 21:1-22). After they’d been fishing all night without catching anything (sound familiar?). Jesus appeared on shore and told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, and when they did, they caught a miraculous number of fish (sound familiar?). When John said, “It is the Lord,” Peter dove in and swam to shore to find that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them over a fire of burning coals (John 18:18 - sound familiar?). Then, after breakfast, Jesus took Peter aside and let him reaffirm his love for Him, 3 times (sound familiar?).
Jesus spoke to Peter about his death, and then said, “Follow me.” Peter saw John and asked Jesus about His plans for John, but Jesus basically told Peter, “That’s my business, not yours. You keep on following me.” Peter learned the hard way, what we all need to know. That the call to follow Jesus is a call to deny one’s self.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 (NIV)
A. W. Tozer once described what is true of someone who lays down their life on a cross: 1) A person on a cross faces one direction; 2) A person on a cross never turns back; 3) A person on a cross no longer has plans of their own. Taking up my cross daily means: 1) I am facing only one direction - looking to Jesus; 2) I am determined to never turn back; and 3) I no longer have any plans of my own.
This is what we need to know. We are followers of Jesus and not the world. This world offers nothing worthwhile for us here. I live my life, as the song says, with “The world behind me, the cross before me.”
2. There’s a way we need to grow - v. 11b
“I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.” - Romans 16:19b (NLT)
Through the Gospel, I can escape the brokenness of this world, recover a personal relationship with God and
pursue His design for me. To do this, I must avoid the wrong things of this world by focusing on the right things.
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus . . .” - Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV)
To throw off that which is wrong in this world, we must focus on Jesus. How? God has given us four gifts to maintain our focus on Jesus.
A. He has given us the presence of the Spirit of God.
“. . . let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” - Galatians 5:25b (NLT)
B. He has given us the privilege of communion with God.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” - Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
C. He has given us the promises of the Word of God.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” - 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)
D. He has given us a partnership with the people of God.
“. . . let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another . . .” - Hebrews 10:24b-25a (Amplified)
“I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” - Philemon 6 (NIV)
3. There’s a way we need to go - v. 12
We need to go about doing good. This is what Jesus did (Acts 10:38). So if I am to follow Jesus, this is how I am to live my life. But the good works I am to do are those God has planned for me.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Knowing this world has nothing to offer us, we give ourselves to following Jesus, keeping our eyes on Him by yielding to His Spirit, spending time in prayer, being in His Word, and partnering with His people, so we might do the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do. Now, as Peter tells us here, unbelievers will not understand why we are spending our time like we are this morning, but as we continue to follow Christ and do the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do, God will show up and He will show off, and there will be those who will acknowledge Christ and give Him glory.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
In their years of interviewing persecuted Christians, Nik and Ruth Ripken once participated in a gathering sponsored by a benefactor of Christian leaders from persecuted countries. Individuals shared stories of God’s work. An Iranian pastor, shared for 2 hours about the activity of God in Iran. He felt free to tell details he otherwise would not have. Two weeks later, the Ripkens heard that he had disappeared. His mutilated body was later found near his home.
Months after the pastor’s disappeared, another pastor was leading a baptismal service in Iran. Muslim families and friends think those showing interest in Jesus are going through a phase and will eventually come to their senses. Until they’re baptized. When they’re baptized, they “cross a line.” The pastor was standing in the water, when his wife interrupted him by bringing him his phone. He’d received a text - they’d found the murdered pastor’s body. That pastor had been instrumental in influencing many of those gathered for Christ. So the pastor standing in the water told everyone about the text he received, then said, “Our dear friend is dead. He has been killed for his love for Jesus. Are you now ready to be baptized . . . now that you truly know what this will mean for you?” And 35 men were baptized that day.
