The Spiritual House (Part C)

You said you believe in Christ you gonna want the word.

Now you can sink so low under some pressure in life that you struggle going is become depressed in your grief hit you hard and just go take a God gives us some space there, but it is because leading up to that moment in life you've been built up that you have reserves to make it through this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. First Peter chapter 1 is where Pastor Rick will be teaching today is continuing study call the spiritual house doing without hearing is not the idea that God has in mind for his people.

Mary's concept was on hearing before doing she didn't because of what she heard that shape her actions moth are ahead of the other way around. So the day came when the Lord brought this out. A very gentle with milk. Martha very gentle and east, but he stings her and you know as mentioned to me yesterday.

One of the brothers. Someone mentioned that I speaking step on toes. I have never aimed at anyone's toes.

I have gone for the heart and the head every single time. And so I step on his told our anyone. I'm I'm sorry I missed my target like Mickey Mantle, Mickey Mantle was told. Don't try to hit a home run every time you're at bat Mickey Mouse that every time I got up the bat I tried and knocked at the height of the park that's preaching. Whether you are sharing the gospel with someone you we are going in for the kill of the enemy.

Not all. Let's just see if we can make comfortable what Jesus does this give us an example, he does it but he doesn't do it with brutality that won't stop people from charging with brutality for speaking the truth but make sure we're innocent is as best as possible. Luke 10 now it happened, as they went, that he entered a certain village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house and she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word. Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone.

Therefore, tell her to help me, Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, that see that he's just getting her ready, but he's gently doing and he says you are worried and troubled about many things but one thing is needed.

Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her right between the eyes and she got it she learned a lesson we never complaining again what you see she was distracted by much serving, if you can't sit on the word you want to be a busybody in the church is not good and that's why we try to keep a ratio here so that you don't hide behind serving sit with a heart and the head can be ministered to the washing and regeneration of word you say what I've been sitting on of the word, and I'm not any better off than I was well stating like that bruiser you might be right, or maybe just a little thick in the head and you don't notice that you have grown. You have done well that you are doing better learn to thank the Lord for his patience and gentleness in his determination to never give up on us. First Timothy four, Paul writes to Timothy till I come give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine, the word of God. I mean, you don't exhort without the word of God and the doctrine and the reading is the Scripture throughout the Bible God insist on his word that it be exalted, and that it be pursued. Peter emphasizes it seven times in his two letters are going take all seven of them. First Peter chapter 1 verse 23 having been born again out of corruptible seed but incorruptible through the word of God lives and abides forever. First Timothy 125 but the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you know we don't sing people into salvation. Well maybe little kids. It's a big part of the child's life.

You know you sing to a little child that the love songs of the Lord the very important very helpful but as adults we have to use the word first Peter chapter 2 of course our text.

I will take that one of the time sake. As newborn babes first Peter chapter 2 verse eight. They stumble being disobedient to the word to which they also were appointed first Peter 31 wives. Likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word they without a word. Maybe one by the conduct of their wives second Peter one verse 19 and so we have the prophetic word is prophecy confirmed as fulfillment of prophecy would you do well to heed.

I love that part you did be good for you. Listen to this as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. See we are supposed to be this temple. The shining light. We are supposed be part of this process not walking around as a W Tojo said, acting as though we been baptized in lemon juice some and vinegar where it is hard I mean things will we allow joy but they don't have to still have faith to second Peter 354.

They willfully forget that by the word of God the heavens were formed of old and the earth standing out of water in the water, ice, powerful is the word of God that truth that formed physical creation because it is the mind of God. It is the will of God. So we moved to this very important point so vital to Scripture. Satan is committed to distracting the ministry of the word distracting us from the ministry of the word, especially in the local churches. If the local churches are cut off from Scripture. Pretty soon everyone's going to be cut off from Scripture we know we've got to little petri dishes of this all around the world all throughout history we know what happens when the local church abandons the word of God. Acts 20 verse 27 Paul writes to them what is speaking to them is the Ephesian elders he's talking to them and make sure you get this down.

He says Paul to the Ephesians right have not shunned to declare to you the entire counsel of God.

I have not held it back. I don't care what I face.that's with that we decide not shunned that there were times when I could've backed down and I did not I gave you the Scripture popular or not.

Verse three now of Peter chapter 2, so he goes on after telling them I forgot what he said it would backup you desiring the milk were back when the word if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious to taste is to experience the live throw me taste something you've experienced it. If courses according Psalm 34 our Lord were told in Hebrews the by grace tasted death for us for everyone.

He says in Hebrews chapter 29 but again here's appears the point Peter is just dictating the letter and he says that we are to abandon these things which you crave the word of God as a little baby does the milk from its mother if your Christians that's with that's that's with verse two, three, is one of the common cases want to say that they can dig on long things about well in heaven I think is just I know that makes me silly.

I'm the smart one and they are not true on this one. I think I'm happy with my view.

I should put it that way if you don't know me and your visiting here. I am really arrogant know not that's allowed me to have fun. I with it, but anyway, if indeed you taste it can mean it doesn't mean anything else but that to me is very simple if you said you believe in Christ you going to want the word now you can sink so low under some pressure in life that you struggle. You don't want is you become depressed in your grief hit you hard and you just gotta take a no and God gives us some space there, but it is because leading up to that moment in life you've been built up that you have reserves to make it through. Now verse four he says, coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and precious best thing I ever did was come to Jesus Christ besting any human being can ever do is come to Jesus Christ the dog is not about the best thing I ever did was save my child I know the best thing you can ever do is get your salvation. There's nothing higher.

John chapter 6 Jesus said this concerning he doesn't leave us or forsake them for say because he's is all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out while you casting out these vices. Christ is not to cast you out, he says that coming to him as to a living stone will Jesus Christ is a living stone here.

There's more to it. We just getting to the first part of it is not dead is arisen, reigning Savior on the throne in heaven he will common take of this earth back to himself and rain here also but just not yet the reins and hearts of believers rejected by men but chosen by God. Peter says in verse four. Why, what, what is in Jesus Christ to reject what what is it to not like about him, I mean Jesse was a good to go home and clean up your room. What is not like about him because he exposed the hypocrisy. How dare anybody asked have you ever expose the monies hypocrisy. They love you. After that, because he was not the kind of Messiah they wanted, they had their minds made up with the Messiah should be just like those who are lost in their sins made of their minds what God should be like, or Jesus should be like nevermind what the Bible says about him. I know more about God and God knows about God.

I think God how that a loving guy there they go Bubba Bubba is wrong should fine you for talking wrong things about God that of the $0.85 say another word.

95. Catholic Church. As long as on one controlling well.

The word says this of Christ in Isaiah 53 there is no beauty in him that we should desire him just a prophetic word Isaiah longer upset over 700 years before Christ came. Isaiah said when he comes, his beauty is going to be missed.

Then look at him and say wow. He's one of us, of course, not everybody but the thing than the big picture and the beauty is in the eye of the beholder crisis, the son of God, God the son.

His splendor is divine. There's never been anybody like him. There never could be. That's why in the wilderness under those three examinations that are recorded by Satan because wasn't at all what if Jesus had failed. He could fail.

That's the point to 20 showing it was impossible for me to fail death couldn't even hang around him. Sickness could not be in his presence and remain first Timothy six. This is our King. Paul writes the King of Kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light. No man has ever seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. You cannot fully see Jesus Christ what we have of him is not water down, but it is failed somewhat. We cannot see all there is to see if it was too much and what we can see this home much beauty and that in the world misses it. But we as living stones as he is the living stone want to be part of that process. Verse five are bringing them to him you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I would be nice if God asked me what words what I like to remove from the Bible sacrifice would be one of them. I don't want to sacrifice. I've been comfortable but these things are out of our hands. Many times here. The Greek word again for stone is used of the stone that is cut for a building in the Greek that is Jesus said I am the light of the world but you know what. Also he said to his followers. You are the light of the world. He said you are the salt of the earth are the light of the world and here Peter is saying he is the living stone. He's made us living stones also church not made of adamant rock stone cut for purpose, living stones again.

Ephesians chapter 2 now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone will get into that next session in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the spirit you being fabricated for placement. It is an honorable thing. It is the work of the Lord the church of Jesus Christ not built of wood and stone.

Another materials that are available. This is of course the mystical church, the body of believers. The universal church and the local church of believers.

We are his building materials as defective as we are because of him. We are able to be used in his hands because he is the master craftsman. His spiritual Temple on earth is built out of saved sinners. The Angels on preaching the gospel in this church age. Defective people such as us where the ones doing it the motley crew that defeats hell and its purposes, the holy priesthood and some monies are not motley your opinion as a body of sinners saved by grace were not the cream of the crop. Whatever beauty we have comes directly from his touch. The psalmist said. My goodness is nothing apart from you all my springs are in you and Jerusalem all my springs are in Jesus Christ. If there's any life flowing out of me. It is because of him in a simple way to prove that is just remember what it when you were lost in your sin. What was coming out of you, then expletives, profanity, selfishness and the malice, hypocrisy, strife, and the list goes on.

We are as trees, as a holy priesthood nor pre-speaks of him to get out of your mind.

A Roman Catholic priest of the Anglican or any other human. The priest is given to us in Scripture. This holy priesthood, the priests represents this great thing access to God. That's what the priesthood represented to the Jew.

I can get to God I got to go to a priest to do it but I can get to him.

Now that's the Old Testament and the New Testament. He is our priest and we have direct access to him through him and we to the unbeliever, we are a holy priesthood, they have access to God through us because they can get there on their own and their lost state and as we share the gospel.

The temple that the veil that separates them is torn and there no longer strangers.

Now they come behind the veil their part of the priesthood. Once they are saved. These are this is a pectoral on what is going on. This imagery is rich is robust to see ourselves as you know, I I am part of a royal priesthood, I serve the king and in the service of this King. I am supposed to live in such a way that someone who does not have access to God can gain access to God through my life through the preaching of God's word. It is a beautiful picture the Old Testament priesthood has been replaced. It will be restored in and a sense in the millennial reign, but this is the church age we live in now and all of his blood bought people all of us are ordained to function on behalf of God is priest down here on earth in that since we don't have to get robes. We don't have the light candles would on the burn incense. We have to preach the gospel and have a testimony to back it up to offer up spiritual sacrifices said testimony how ministry is an extension of his ministry going to read a few verses to get to the point that I think these verses add to this section of Scripture second Corinthians 12 and I will glad very gladly. I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. Though the more abundantly. I love you, the less I am love now and I first became a pastor in the Bible in those days we actually used Bibles nowadays everything is digital and there is benefit to that, but you get your new Bible and you put your favorite verse is released I did. I'm sure you had to do your thing to put my favor. This was one of them is a young pass road of ever been a young pastor but as a new pastor, I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. The more abundantly. I love you, the less I am love. It was such a romantic moment writing that entire. I will be spent until I started getting spent until I found other people to love me as much as I love them until I found out how much it hurts to serve the Lord emotionally at the pain physical pain. You know you can you deal with that. But emotional pain and Paul said, I I will very gladly spend and be spent. And when he wrote this he was already hurting. It was and it was a lie. Got me going into this kind of I got an idea what this is about really not getting this is a spiritual sacrifice that God requires of us were too many Christians are due thin-skinned to stick around to pull it off.

And at this instant of pain-and-suffering and a broken heart that gone to know no advantage for the Lord and that if we could just remember some time to suffer. Just suffer. I think will be stronger and I'm not telling you that because I read in the book because it's what I've come to a point ministry when okay is that this is how it is now is nothing to change until I get to heaven so it is in my own best interest to find out what is going on and to face it and so suffering.

I have to learn how to embrace this thing instead of running from it because is no escape.

Unless I take the road of cowardice and that is the suffering that I would like to opt out of Romans 12 1B, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God hear him say acceptable acceptable to God, to God, now look again at first Peter chapter 2 verse five he says to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God we need acceptance from people can live without that I and I don't is a dangerous thing to out teens are youth you get influenced by the wrong crowd can be life-changing in a very horrific way. But in a positive on a positive side we need acceptance as it is a good thing, but more importantly we need God to accept us, our sinful nature is entirely unacceptable to him is made away Ephesians 16 to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made us accepted in the beloved. That beloved is Jesus Christ.

Paul says he made us accepted in Jesus Christ the beloved of God, powerful verse John John's gospel chapter 1 but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name we haven't sung that song a while. Hint hint as many as received him, he gave to them the right to be children of God. Well we close with through Jesus. Just that simple. Through Jesus you want to be accepted to God is through Jesus did no other way will were about the pygmies what you care about the pigment. Your naïveté consensus acting like you so interested. What about you gobble always derives we close with this verse. John's gospel chapter 1 said demo. Surely I seen you here after you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and ascending upon the Son of Man. I am the road.

Spiritual information is traffic through me and are we glad we are so glad you tuned in today to study the book of first Peter on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry of pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and we are blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you'd like more information about this program or want to listen to additional teachings from Pastor Rick please visit our website cross reference radio.com. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. We hope you tune in again next time to join us as we continue our study through the Scriptures right here on cross reference radio