Set Apart For God

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?