Sermon Title: Are You A Pebble or A Rock?
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 2:4-12
Ralf HT Bergmann
Bethel Christian Church
Date: November 5th, 2000
Scripture Introduction:
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so apart from bringing out the chalkboard, Peter resorts to the next best thing, and that would be very picturesque language. The words that he uses in this particular section of Scripture are of such a visual variety that the images come to the mind quickly and clearly. Of course when the Holy Spirit does the directing, Peter as the main player in this scene could hardly go wrong. We have all used this kind of language to embellish the conversation and actually increase the understanding of whom we are trying to reach. As we prepare to hear and understand what the Lord has for us in this Scripture let us all ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds for the message that He has for us today.
Please join me in the reading of God’s Holy Word!
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-12
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER STONE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER STONE,”
8 and,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE. A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for once you were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 11 beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Introduction:
In this particular text, Peter uses the statement, built up as a spiritual house, to describe our process of Spiritual growth toward the goal of the holy Priesthood. And in many cases we can use the building of a structure to illustrate the process of Christian Spiritual growth. The obvious place to start would be with the foundation. Now the thought of construction isn’t something that is new to the teaching of Biblical principles. We read the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew 7:24-27:
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
The foundation of a house is probably the most important part of its construction, however another thing that needs to be considered is the surroundings in which it is built. I read this text and I thought about a story when I was a kid. Most of the houses in the neighborhood that I grew up in had basements, however there were a couple of houses right behind where we lived that didn’t. One of the families decided to have the house raised up and a basement put in. One day they heard a commotion downstairs in the basement. When they went to investigate the walls on one side of the basement had given way to the quicksand that the house had been built in. The pressure from the outside environment caused the foundation to collapse. Even though we have a good foundation in the Word of God doesn’t mean that our surroundings don’t affect us. This is where the need for fellowship and worship with fellow Christians comes in handy. It will be even a greater if not impossible struggle if we go it alone.
Does our vision for what we are striving for come close to the final result. The Before and After Pictures of our lives can tell much about our walk with Jesus. I think of the words that contrast the before and after picture in the song Amazing Grace. Once lost but now found, blind but now I can see. These are pretty good distances apart. Like the North pole is from the South pole. We have the plans for our house, the blueprints and now we are looking at the final product. Does our house resemble the plans from which it was constructed? The Bible, God’s written Word is the blueprint of how we are to live our lives, do our lives accurately reflect the plans from which it was constructed?
When a house is finally finished, before the new owner signs the papers to take possession, or like in today’s world, takes possession in partnership with the lending institution, there is a final walk-through. Are the colors right? Is the linoleum properly installed. In this inspection there is nothing overlooked, even the deepest darkest recesses of the closets are inspected. There has been nothing moved into the house that could effectively conceal any imperfection or defect. The house is bare, totally exposed for inspection. Just as to a student, this house is getting its final grade. We will have an inspection such as that before God in the judgement. How will we fare?
Let us go to the Lord in prayer!
POINT 1: The first thing that we are going to look at this morning is the fact that the foundation that we have in Christ is the most important aspect of our Christian walk.
Our foundation is fortunately never completed, unless of course we choose to be done with its construction. We can always build on our foundation by learning more and more by prayer, devotions and the reading of God’s Word. We build on that when we come to church to worship, through the lessons at Sunday School, through fellowship, listening and giving our testimonies to others, the list goes on. The wider the base of our foundation the more stable everything that we try to build upon it becomes.
A tripod is a good depiction of strength in a wide footing. Now does everyone know what I am talking about? The thing with three legs that the camera attaches to is what I am talking about. What happens to the camera on a tripod or a stand when the legs are real close together and it gets bumped? It falls easily doesn’t it, the slightest nudge and over it goes? What happens when the legs of that camera stand are positioned so they are the widest apart possible and then it gets bumped? It may get shook up however, it remains standing.
Peter writes, “you also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood”. The phrase “living stones” made me think. As I considered this I began to think about the effects that the weather has on different structures. If not properly protected, stone structures begin to erode and decay. If bricks are not properly baked they soon decay. Once again we need to be careful of our surroundings and ensure that we take the time to finish the preparations that we need to make.
As a Christian the many things that we experience are like bricks in a wall. If we omit a small item it is like leaving a brick out. If you take a look at a structure where bricks are missing, you will inevitably find cracks that begin where the brick is missing and many times there will be a deterioration of the bricks surrounding where it once was at.
As Christians among a group of Christians, we are like bricks in a wall. When we withhold ourselves we inflict undue pressure on those around us. Once again the cracks radiate from that which is missing and soon the entire structure begins to decay.
We read in Ephesians 2: 21 where Paul writes, “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord”. We are carefully fit together by our Creator for the expressed purpose of worship and fellowship with Him.
Peter writes, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood.
Peter continues on in verse 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." Now this is familiar Scripture that we will find in Isaiah 28:16 and Romans 9:33. This is an obvious reference to Jesus and the fact that our belief in the work that He has come to earth and done is guaranteed not to disappoint. In this illustration, Peter uses the position of a cornerstone, the block that is of the most structural significance, without which the building will not stand, without Christ we would have no church, we would have no hope.
Peter then goes on to tell us, “7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.” I read this and I gather that this means that the benefits of the corner stone, with the emphasis on the THE, is only for those who believe. For those that fail to believe, they will stub their toes in all of their endeavors.
Now are we to interpret that to mean that Jesus will cause injury to those who fail to believe? Absolutely not, however, His illumination will not be available for those who ask for this assistance. If you fail to wear your safety glasses when you operate a saw and something flies in your eye, is it the fault of the glasses? If you go out on a motorcycle ride without donning a helmet and as a result of an accident you receive injuries to your head is it the fault of the helmet. There is the opportunity for choice and a poor choice is made. If we are told and have had numerous individuals testify about the wonderful things that our Lord can do in our lives, and we fail to choose Jesus, when things go wrong can we blame the ones that we failed to listen to?
POINT 2:
Our testimonies to others are very important. When we witness to others about how our lives are different or how our circumstances have changed since establishing a relationship with the Lord, we give others a glimpse of the before and after picture. In this section of Scripture, Peter gives some pretty dramatic examples of the drastic change that Jesus makes in our lives. He contrasts the darkness and the light Peter tells us that Jesus has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. How well do we navigate when the lights are out? If we try to maneuver through an area that we are unfamiliar with when our eyes are closed or in the dark, chances are we will run into some obstacles. This takes it even further, with Jesus we will be illuminated even further. Even when it is light, there are always shadows. Jesus’ light can penetrate the shadows and illuminate even the darkest of cracks, crevices, and recesses. In the parable of the lost coins in Luke chapter 15:8, "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” The illumination from the lamp was to light that which normally was not exposed to the light.
The next contrast is going from being not a people to becoming people of God. Peter tells us that for once you were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD. For an explanation of this we need to go back into the Old Testament to Hosea 1:9-10 where we read, 9 And the LORD said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God." 10 Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, "You are not My people," It will be said to them, "You are the sons of the living God." This is the forecast of the Gentiles being called into the Kingdom of God. Where we once did not live for God and as a result were not one of God’s people we change whom we werve and as we begin to serve God we also become one of His people.
The final contrast that Peter draws in this Scripture is being subject to no Mercy to the point where we receive Mercy, we read “ you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY”. Lets put this into more descriptive terms, we have gone from a future of certain condemnation to an eternity in hell to the point where we can turn our eyes heavenward with an expectation and assurance beyond anything this earthly life could provide.
POINT 3: Just as a teacher rarely gives an exam without a time of review. This Section of Scripture also contains Peter’s review. He writes in verse 11 and 12, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Now Peter isn’t the only one who enjoyed a review. Paul in his letter to the Philippians in the first verse of the third chapter wrote, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. There are many things that bear repeating no matter how much like a broken record we may sound like. These concepts that Peter is presenting now are out of the forst chapter of this letter
We will be as Aliens and Strangers in our own lands. In our making a decision for Christ over the things of this world, we are now set apart from the world. The things that may be common to others are now uncommon or simply not done with us. If we continue on doing what everyone else is doing, then there is no difference to be seen.
We are to Abstain from Lusts. Lust is our enemy within. This is the sin that we can hold captive within ourselves and keep from everyone but God. In a time of war, what can do more damage, a frontal assault from 100 people or a single person working from within the organization? It’s exactly the same thing, we will be destroyed from within if we fail to keep our natures as bay.
We must maintain a clean reputation. Peter tells us that we must Keep our behavior excellent among the Gentiles. I think there are two ways of looking at this and I think they are both equally sound. First, there are those detractors of our faith that would like nothing better than to see us fall flat on our faces. There are those that would relish an embarrassing outburst at a time of unexpected pain or a difficult situation. In fact there are many who go out of there way to ensure that we have ample opportunities to mess up. The second way of looking at this is to keep the high standards of behavior so as to set a good example to those who are looking for a difference in as effort to justify their making the same decision.
I had an opportunity to do both at the same time once. After I had left the factory to begin my studies in preparation for the ministry, I returned to work on a part-time basis during a spring break. I was placed at a job that I had worked at on and off for many years. The person that I worked with had known me for many years, most of them when I wasn’t walking with the Lord. In the eighteen years that I worked there I had never shot myself with an air-nail gun. In the job that we were doing there were two guns that looked similar. One shot a short staple and the other shot an inch and a half nail.
Somehow the two got mixed up and as I tried to fasten a section of aluminum to a thin wood strip instead of a short staple I shot an inch and a half nail through the aluminum, through the wood, and into my thumb. My partner knew instantly what had happened by the look in my eyes. He was also awaiting for the customary factory outburst that would accompany such an injury. My response was a cool, calm, and collected – OUCH, that hurt. No amount of preaching could have had the same effect on someone as the words that did not come out of my mouth.
Every moment of every day we are being observed by those that haven’t the proper relationship with Jesus. Some in anticipation of a slip-up and others for confirmation that there is indeed a difference in our Christian way of life. A difference that they have been searching for and my ultimately find through our living example.
Conclusion:
What is The Foundation of our lives? For many who are living for worldly expectations, they are like the man who builds his house upon the sand. The first storm that passes his way and his house and all included therein is washed away. Is this where you have built your house? Or, have you built your house upon the rock, the Word of God? Are you on your knees asking for direction to shore up the weak spots in your foundation? Are you spending enough time reading and praying through the Scripture so that the material of your foundation is even stronger?
How much of a contrast is their in the before and after picture of your life?
Were you previously in the dark and now find yourself illuminated through the love of Jesus Christ? Or, perhaps you are in the dark searching for a way to bask in the light of God’s warm love. Perhaps it is time to pray for that divine illumination.
Were you formerly not one of God’s people? Do you now find yourself as one of God’s people? There are many who find themselves on the outside only because they haven’t had the proper opportunity to establish that relationship with Christ. Does that describe you this morning? If you are seeking that relationship then the time is now. Have you felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to make that decision this morning? Have you felt like you were a victim of that dark cloud following you around but now you now have seen that silver lining of God’s blessings. If you have are you sharing your testimony with others? Have you heard those stories of others and now wish to find yourself in a similar situation? A time of prayer will get you there.
Are you ready for what Peter has been highlighting in the review of the first chapter of his letter?
We are told that we are going to be aliens and strangers in our own land, are we willing to trade our worldly resident status, be treated as a foreigner in an effort to attain that eternal heavenly reward. Are there things in our lives that we are being prompted to give up that are holding us from taking that step to reach the point where God wants us to be?
If there are decisions that the Holy Spirit is leading us toward, then let us take a moment and pray for His direction.
