Peter's Pen 1 Peter 5:1-4b

1st Peter 5:1-4  B

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.   ESV

1 Tim. 3:1

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  ESV

"Aspires" = to stretch ones self out to grast or aquire something.

This word forces me to consider that being and elder/shepherd requires first that the individual understands that the position/role is way beyond his ability to fulfill.  He has to stretch himself towards it.  Of course - he has to be submitted and dependent upon the Lord for it and in it as well.

In 1 Timothy Paul lays out the "qualifications" of the elder/shepherd.  Thay are not arduous but they are utterly dependent upon the candidate's relationship to and with the Lord.  The criteria must not be watered down - not can it be taken on face value.

Of all the criteria, verse 7 is the most fascinating and perhaps misapplied.

1 Tim. 3:7

Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.  ESV

Note - "outsiders" need to think well of him.  Now - this has to be seen in direct association with the prospective elder's confession of faith.  He is well thought of as a believer by outsiders.  Not just popular or powerful nor merely moral - but rather it is the standing of his confession (or profession if you prefer) that is in sight here.  Is he known as a believer - a faithful believer - a consistent believer?

Imagine - a man desires to be an elder/shepherd and lets the session know.  The session interviews him and members of the fellowship and then asks him for the names of three unbelievers whom they might interview concerning his fitness for the role.  OUCH!!!!   But - that is a requirement and how does one confirm that he meets it?

One other consideration.

Peter says that and elder/shepherd should not serve, "for shameful gain."  Now the key here isn't "gain" it's "shameful gain."  There is no reason that the expenses of an elder/shepherd should not be borne by those he serves.  If he serves to the degree that he is unable to pursue employment then he should be well supported and provided for by those he serves.

The prohibition goes to motive.  No man is qualified to serve as an elder/shepherd if his motives are shameful gain.  That would be a a motivation to fleece the flock not serve it.  

Ezek. 34:2-6

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.   ESV

Any questions?

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:8-11

1 Peter 4:8-11

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.     ESV

Above all !!!!!!!
Is there any part of "above all" I need to explain?
This isn't calling us to some mushy, touchy feely relationship with one another - although there's nothing wrong with that.  But it is calling us to a very real, truth (scripture) based intimate relationship with one another.

"Earnestly" = without ceasing, fervently - or as I prefer "stretched out."

There's a hint here we need to pay attention to.  Peter writes, "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."  
This is a "secret displeasure not openly avowed."  In short, we are to love one another without reserve or resentment.  Ouch!  But let's be honest, we all struggle with the fellow believer who is (actually or seemingly) always in need, always asking, always struggling.  It seems that no matter the length or depth of our "hospitality," they never grow; they never make the progress we think they ought to make.

But, have you ever thought about the idea that they may be in your circle of influence for your sake?  Have you ever stopped to consider that it is not really their need God desires to meet but a need of your own that you haven't seen or addressed?

Paul writes of all his suffering as being for our sake; for our blessing and benefit.  Did you ever consider that though Paul coming to town would be exciting, it also brought danger and opposition?  Did those early believers ever get tired or resentful of Paul's constant danger and need?  I don't think so.

One thing we forget when we are challenged in this way.  We are to do what we can, not what we can't.  We are to sacrifice - yes.  Commit physical or material suicide? No!  There are limits to what God provides to us for others.  Certainly we tend to think others may ask too much, but perhaps we want to keep too much.

Also, we must consider, clear minded and soberly (verse 6), if and how we are called to meet their needs.  Sometimes "No," is the right answer.  Sometimes we have to be wiser than they are as to what they need.  Sometimes we have to give or do more than we are comfortable with.  This is the "stretched out" part of the love we are to give.

God may not have provided me with enough to meet all their needs.  Through prayer and counsel, I must determine what, if anything, I can do through His provision.  Yes, we can do too much for those in need, keeping them from the repentance and growth God desires for them.

This is the point of verses 10-11.  We are to do everything we can with what He has given us that He might be glorified.

We are to serve with, "the strength (or means) that God provides."  Hello!!!!  This is never some "from the hip" kind of service.  This is a considered prayerful and honest service.  NOT some knee jerk, unthinking reaction to a need.

Especially in these cases, we desperately need our minds to inform our affections (feeling).  We may have deep and powerful feelings about their condition but it is prayerful thought and even wise counsel that will lead us to the best service.

Not to be too simple but that's why God made Deacons.  Duhhhhhh.....  It is a New Covenant order for the needs of the flock to be brought to the Deacons and through their prayer and consideration needs are met.  It should not be a matter of a brother or sister going house to house, person to person, but rather a matter of them taking their need to those called and commissioned to that work.  It really is a great system that relieves them of the embarrassment of feeling like they are begging.  It also enables us to have confidence in the needs being presented by the Deacons and how we respond to them.  Confidentiality and confidence in asking and receiving as well as giving and doing are built-in blessings of the Deaconate.


 

Walk with P & me 09

Walk with P & me  09

Note:  Blog numbers show the order they are written NOT published.  Some may not make it to the post – don’t want to TMI you.

Prayer – is dangerous

I have a previous blog on prayer I may or may not publish but this one I can.

Patti and I prayed together last night. Usually we just pray individually – but last night it just seemed necessary and good.  We each prayed silently and just being on our knees close to one another was a blessing.

As I began to pray my mind started to race with fear and schemes and all that junk.  So I began to pray the model prayer.  I got through “our Father” and then got stuck at “Hallowed be thy name.”  I stayed there the whole time.

I got caught between two ideas.  The first was that we are to bring glory and honor to the “name” of God.  The second was:

For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."  (Rom 2:24)

Now remember – this is my prayer time so if any of this sticks on you – I talking about me.

I accepted that in way I know and ways I have not seen, God’s name is blasphemed by the “Gentiles” (unbelievers) by me.  When I fail to walk the walk or talk the talk – bam!  When I sit and grouse about the culture and launch out on political rants – bam.  When I suggest that non-believers be bound by the same yoke I am – bam!  We I fail to be gracious and loving and faithful to the Way (Acts 24:14) – bam!

Yes, I am very very aware that unbelievers have little if any true understanding of the Way and that their expectations of believes are, to say the least, skewed but that should not hinder me in walking it.

I, like a lot of believers can be distracted by the sins of the culture and the sins in politics but you know – that isn’t my problem.  My problem is the battle between my flesh and the spirit.  It is all too easy to look at the world and demand the world (or our country) live according to my faith and the waste energy and resources trying to make them.

The church needs to separate from the state – the culture.  We are to be light in it not contenders in it.  Our fight – ok, my fight is for my being conformed to His likeness and to encourage the same in other believers. 

I realized – confessed and repented of my propensity to get real interested in that speck in the eye of another – especially culturally and politically – and to ignore the giant Red-wood in my own.  I even realized – confessed and repented of my propensity to get hung up on the mess the “church” has become.  That is a prayer problem – I am my problem.

The day is coming when all creation will know the truth.  Some will say “Amen,” others will say, “Uh oh!” 

The separation of church and state (even church and culture) has become a comfortable institutional thing; an us and them thing.  Well Toto – welcome to Kansas.  It is first and fundamentally a ME and IT thing.

God says, “Michael,”

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.  (1Jn 2:15-17)

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.   (Heb 11:13)

Less than 90 days till the election.  Do we really think we can change God’s timetable by a vote?  Or are we vainly hoping that we will dampen the hate the world has for us by a vote?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  (Eph 6:12)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2Co 4:4)

Whomever we elect, they will not “hallow” God’s name.  They won’t bring the Kingdom of God.  they won't slow the persecution, trial or tribulation of believers.  By slow attrition I have consistently lost some of my brightness because I have been distracted from individually and consistently “Hallowing His name.”  The result is that the blasphemy He suffers increases.

I am at a point where I want to declare that I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God, a member of His household and own no allegiance, have not duty and recognize no authority save His.  I live in the USA but I am an alien – a stranger – loyal to a different “country” and a different “King.”

I know I mixed up a lot of I’s and we’s in here and I apologize – that’s the teacher in me.  But this is about me and His work in me.  What those in rebellion towards God do or don’t do is only my concern in as much as it is His.  But I have to question if I can continue to play their game on their court by their rules.  I’m afraid I can’t – I mean really afraid I can’t – but I trust in Him for He is sovereign – nothing in the work of man can hinder His will.  Of course having said that I have to accept the truth:

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.   (Joh 15:19)

Certainly what follows is Paul’s experience but should we expect any less for/of ourselves?

·      For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  

     But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

     We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

    For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2Co 4:6-11)

Last Words – almost part 16 

We’ve taken a whirlwind tour of this passage in 2 Peter and I pray you have been provoked by it.  The reason for the series is my love for those who follow the Great Shepherd. 

Much is being written about the church and her ills and errors – and I have to agree that they are mighty and plenty.  The history of the Body of Christ is filled with examples of how easy it is to stray from the way (Acts 24:14) He called us to walk in.

I have prayed and thought and read much about this and have come to the conclusion that if we are to lay responsibility anywhere, it has to be at the feet of those He has called to lead His flock.  Huh?

OK – let me put it this way.  If you are attending a church where the priority of the leadership is not the following – you have a problem!

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   (Eph 4:11-24)   ESV

You see, it is not about programs, worship style, missions or ministries.  It is not about your preferences and proclivities.  It is not about numbers in the pews or in the bank.  It is not about buildings or furnishings.  It is about not being conformed to the world (i.e., being “seeker sensitive”); it is about being conformed to the likeness of the Christ.  And that’s pretty much all it’s about.

Read Acts 2:42-47 – read it again!!!!!

Do you “get it?”  Do you see the simple sanctified Body of Christ?

Yeah, I guess I am being hard on those who in the name of Christ have built great structures to their own flesh.  Those who have erroneously decided, “if you build it, do it, say it, etc., they will come.”  Oh, come they do – but who are they?  They are rarely the called – the elect.  But they are those who having a form of godliness – well, Paul says it best….

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (authority & ability). Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2Ti 3:1-7)

It is not the truth that each individual believer is solely responsible for their growth.  How could it be when God has provided “ministers” or “officers” or “designates,” to equip believers to live as believers?  Yes, it is the responsibility of the individual to seek out sound biblical teachers and to learn and to grow beyond them if possible.  But as Bonheoffer wrote in Nazi Germany, we prefer cheap grace – which is a grace without the cross – a grace without a Christ.

Of those who come to the Body simply to have their ears scratched Paul goes on:

But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.   (2Ti 3:9-17)  ESV

We are engaged in a great conflict.  No, it is not a conflict over culture or national interests, or morality or even competing belief systems.  None of that is OUR fight.  Our fight is against the (actually OUR) flesh.  Oh but it is soooooo much easier to take on the ACLU or the President or whatever – than it is to take on, “Be holy as I am holy.  It is soooo much more fun to do neat marketing projects to get people in the door than it is to live the life that shines in the darkness.  It is sooooo much easier to lift up self-esteem, prosperity, even Israel’s safety than it is to lift up a crucified Messiah.  It is soooo much easier to say, “god loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” than is it to cry “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

The church has become a place where gimmicks, gadgets and graffiti have replaced the gospel.  The unredeemed are enticed to come and to worship the God who their every breath offends.  They come and sing praises to the God whose wrath is looming over their heads.  They come – and if they stay long enough, contribute enough and shine enough they can even become elders.

There was writing over the gate to the temple which warned Gentiles that to pass beneath the arch into the Temple would mean their death.  There is an important point here.  To intentionally create an environment where the unredeemed are comfortable in the presence and worship of the God they do not acknowledge – the God they rejected and replaced - makes it possible for them to come to believe that they are in good stead with Him.  That, my brothers and sisters, is, at least to me, a cruelty beyond bearing.

Faith is NOT a virus; one does not “catch” it.  “Doing,” does not make believers.  God does.

Remember where we started?

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2Pe 1:13-15)  ESV

Peter gives us his motivation for this letter.  It’s what he believes is his last shot.  Will we heed it or not?

Why wait till I'm dead?

Some of the letters of John Newton were published after he went "home."  These have always been a true blessing to me and I have often wondered how many more would have been blessed had they been published in his life-time.  But - He is sovereign.


I believe that if we are without practical applications for the beliefs we hold then holding those beliefs is, well, frustrating and just bad.  But we have long surrendered the true meaning of disciple and have found quick fix programs and seminars more to our liking.  This is a fact I mourn and well, despise.  So we're gonna do some disciple training here - intermittently, intimately and dynamically. 


The following set the circumstances and presents some of the problems.  Join in - jump in.  The catalyst for doing this has been prayer, conviction and Richard Sibbes' book, The Soul's Conflict With Itself.  Walk with us but remember, ministry is messy.  If this is not your cup of tea just pass them by.

Come, walk with us ----

In most of the passages in scripture that deal with perseverance it is in relation to persecution and/or temptation.  At this point in our sojourn Patti and I are facing trials which have little to do with persecution or temptations are none the less frightening and pressing.  So I’ve chosen to do a little finger thinking and share with you what I am learning – or need to learn.  I can’t get more practical in my writing than that.

Of course, like it is for so many of you times are tough.  A recent serious decease in out income has put us in a tenuous (to say the least) positron.  As a tent-maker I have rarely sough the support of others although there have been and are some kind souls who have shared with us to help in meeting our needs.

Right now the temptation is to either fight or flee.   To either take the bull by the horns or just run away.  The desire to “fix” it is one of the biggest problems.  The flesh in it’ incessant bid for control conjures up all kind of schemes and ideas and vaporous imaginings.  It also encourages one to rail at God and others about how we’ve served and not we suffer (OK – it feels like suffering but that is relative).

The temptation to cry out “Where are you?” both to God an others is very strong but from the bitterness and arrogance I can detect underneath that impulse it is very clear it is from the flesh.  He and others have been there.  He and some are still there.  But when one has a sense of drowning, rational reflection is very very difficult.

Another temptation is to be over burdened with blame.  To play the, “I should have…” game on myself.  The thoughts that had I only stayed in law enforcement or if I had only gone on in  my education to be a psychologist/counselor haunts me.  I look back at the decision to take up the ministry I believed I was called to and have feelings of shame and guilt.  Being the head of my household just makes it worse.

Then there is the lovely thought (sarcasm) that Patti would be better off without me and that if she’d just move and live with some of her family her life would be better.  She certainly deserves better.  She has sacrificed and is firm in her conviction that we (that is I) have done the right thing and that I should continue.  But the little voices tell me she loves me and want to encourage men and that though this is sweet it’s just her being nice.

Of course then we have to figure in the embarrassment of what may come as well as the losses.  The potential losses aren’t so bad for us – we’ve got too much “stuff” and if we could have a monster yard sale I don’t think we’d miss much of what went.   As long as I don’t even consider selling Patti’s mom’s Chinese vases I’m safe ;-}.

Pride – pride has never been such a monster for me.  Harboring that silly thought that somehow I am in charge and this shouldn’t be happening and all that “stuff” steals precious moments from each day keeping me from prayer and study and writing. 

Then there’s that slithery thought that I have been wrong – very wrong in thinking that such a weird and chaotic ministry could ever have come from Him.  I await that invisible committee that comes with a chorus of either, “We could have told you..” or “We never thought it was a real “ministry” anyway – we just considered it your delusion – your error.”  And of course there’s that other comment/thought, “You should have gotten a REAL job.”

Yes, the flesh is alive and well in me.  Of course I knew that – I know that.  The hard part is to discern where the flesh is using truth to drive me more towards myself and from God. 

It’s kind of funny that I should have been reading Richard’s Sibbes’ work, The Soul’s Conflict With itself; And Victory Over Itself By Faith.  That’s the book I’ve made so many FB posts from.

I told Patti that had it not been for reading that book and the scriptures referenced I would have yielded to the flesh instead of resisting it.  I’ll share with you (more briefly than here) as we move through this time.  I hope to be candid and honest for your benefit and to help me see what’s going on in my heart and mind as well.

Sibbes wrote:  “Ignorance, being darkness, is full of false fears. In the night time men think every bush a thief.”  Sibbes, Richard (2012-04-24). The Soul's Conflict With Itself: And Victory Over Itself By Faith. (pp. 47-48). A Puritan At Heart Press. Kindle Edition.

So, with your indulgence, I’ll share with you as I work on dispelling the ignorance/darkness that my flesh seeks to impose and grow.

Your prayers are of course greatly desired.  Though your counsel, encouragement and consolation would be a great blessing please remember that in the dark, all cats are grey.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,

compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

(Col 3:12)

Mmmm how about some feedback?

Here’s my -------

Ya know, I had written "vision" but maybe it's really my delusion or even my hallucination.  All I know is that this is how it was done in the book of Acts (kind of - did they have warehouses?)

The faith (The Way Acts 24:14) is not about the church !!!  The church isn't the point!  He is the point and serving Him (gathered together) is the purpose of those He has called out to Himself (ecclesia).

Well - anyway - maybe I haven't washed my coffee cup and there's something growing there that has affected my mind -- regardless --- read on... and how about letting me know what you think.

A great big warehouse (heating and a/c would be nice and a restrooms of course).  But when the church gathers it’s BYOB&C – bring your own Bible and chair.  This is where the church gathers.

Now, when the church “gathers” ;  “ . . . .they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Act 2:42)

Wow

What if while they are gathered:  “. . . . all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Act 2:44-45)

Uuuuuuuu

Then when they weren’t gathered together in total they gathered together in other ways like:  "And day by day, attending the temple (ok-no temple but there is Caribou) together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, "(Act 2:46)

Kool – really cool beans here

Then maybe:  “. . . .  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Act 2:47)

Hey Jen' what do you think????