The Spiritual House (Part B)

You older Christians.

Be careful when you come in contact with new Christians don't expect a newborn Christian to behave as though they been a Christian for 20 years. All in all, they're going to have to suffer a lot before they get to that spot. However, sometimes you meet one that is all but a Christian 2130 is whatever and you just shake your head. You have learned thing. Where have you been self absorbed more than likely 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 today. Pastor Rick continues teaching through first Peter chapter 1 in his message called the spiritual house hypocrisy. We all know about that in the time you're very small you can identify hypocrisy. Unfortunately sometimes we find it in our parents don't what to do with it except we remember and be careful there. Honor your mother and father hypocrisy, pretending to be what you have no intention of actually being wearing a mask and wanting others to believe that there is no mask at all that this is you. Webster's dictionary says this about hypocrisy. A person who puts on a false appearance of true virtue or religion to false appearance. No attention there.

It's not someone who's weak and failing was saying. I love the Lord I'm going to serve him and obey him, and then they fail you don't all your hypocrite.

I'm a week might be the problem, someone may just have given it their best shot, and not met your standard doesn't give us grounds to say they are a hypocrite when they are fake through and through. One becomes a hypocrite and Peter says the real churches well there more of them outside about churches than they are inside so the next time someone to go to you but you hypocrites. Were you kidding me you can't be that dumb. How old are you now more hypocrites outside the church, then inside the church. Envy is the next one. That is another inward sin that leads to outward sin in the Greek it covers a pile of things spike jealousy, improper desires, covetousness, resenting the blessings another has because you wanted it. This is a mean one last session and Peter I mentioned to you that it's very easy or it's easier to applaud someone outside of your field as a values myself as an example will because imperfect right don't talk to my wife about that if you were to tell me that you you met someone that was one of the greatest pianists or artists store or writers.

I would buy would be very impressed.

Wow, that's nice. Tell me about it. If you were to say I went to church and I found one of the greatest pastors preaching.

Wait a minute. I didn't see you this morning. What you talking about, see that's that's where I should shine brighter than the other guy envy. Be careful it is, it will grow like poison ivy. It will take over goods like wire grass and if you have wire grass hate stuff anyway probably got it from you. Anyhow that's always fun to blame others. No, it's not what I have to say no it's not. Anyway, Matthew 12, verse 34 Jesus speaking because the Pharisees, the religious leaders. The pastors of the time brood of vipers just happily assist snakes that the poison how can you, being evil, speak good for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. They envied Christ and end it was there, but that was what was in their heart and that's what came out. Until finally brought about his crucifixion.

What helps us lay aside the things on this device list of Peter's going to tell us this next verse, verse two as newborn babes, desire pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby reading this, it doesn't read comfortably to me. I mean you look at verse one and he says NBN all evil ladies aside evil speaking and then he says as newborn babes, desire pure milk is it just doesn't blow to me.

However I remember that Peter dictated this letter. I think a lot of the commentators and theologians often lose sight of the human element when when these documents were put together so there's Peter and he's not writing this. He is dictating it to select two savannas, we find that at the end of first Peter and so he's talking any sense like newborn babes in an savannas just captures it like that is uses a high level Greek of classical Greek savannas writing in and is he so he's putting Peter's words on the parchment and so Peter's flowing and he says put away the lying, the envy as newborn babes, desire milk of the word. He just sort of goes there. Paul the apostle notorious for taking rabbit trails in his writings of the… Man you know those… Suspension points when you write will Paul as if some commentators are from long ago called him that if it is the… Apostle because he goes on these rabbit trails because he's writing and things burst into his mind by the spirit.

That's where he goes and even though at times.

It's an incomplete thought that incomplete thought in and of itself is complete and that is what allows pastors to take with single verse and do a whole sermon on because the Holy Spirit says I'm not interested in anything short of communicating my will.

I'm not restricted by the rules of grammar, or anything else.

But truth and when we understand that then it begins to move and then we understand that the man writing this letter or dictating it is a man that has suffered like me is someone who is faced temptation and faces temptation is one that knows what fear is the Norwood snows with joy is and knows what disappointment is funeral disappointment is a heavy weight sometimes you love someone and then for whatever he may they move away again.

So whatever and they just no longer in your life consists of disappointment and attunement to death or anything like that.

And as we grow we we go through these things that shape our character.

We make adjustments and we keep moving forward. While these writers are men just like that.

I point this out because before I was a Christian. I didn't think that my concept of the Bible. It was a man that just sat down were full of themselves writing about what they thought God was now there are other religions like II think Islam is like that.

For example, and are not the only one with Christianity is not like that. These are men. That said, I saw Jesus dead and I saw him alive you want, kill me for that, go right ahead, but I am not telling you that I did not see him alive. When I did is power in the word of God because it was power in the lives of the women in the men in Scripture, whom God records events from their lives and so he says as newborn babes now this is important you older Christians.

Be careful when you come in contact with new Christians don't expect a newborn Christian to behave as though they been a Christian for 20 years Hall know they're going to have to suffer a lot before they get to that spot.

However, sometimes you meet one that is all but a Christian 2130 is whatever and you just shake your head. We have learned thing. Where have you been self-absorbed more than likely, so there is no joy in meeting professed Christians who for years have behaved as unbelievers and Peter wanting to intercept these things he says as newborn babes, desire pure milk of the word can't grow or develop without it you need nourishment, all of us do now in these days the cows milk is not the idea here there just one of the bottles and the convenience that is around today.

In those days.

Of course it was the mother's milk for a wetnurse that provided the child with with the milk and that's what's is the idea behind the pure milk direct from the source.

And Peter says the word of God and nurses us and nourishes us. It is pure. It comes from the source. That's where we need to be noticed any of the Bible always comes back to the Scripture always comes back to the work never lets the reader get away from the word we have sections where there is song in this poetry, but the word of God is always the larger shadow in the picture. So in order to lay these things aside, these this these things on these vices that he had mentioned the going to need not only the word but appetite for the word that you may grow thereby church does not grow by addition, it grows by nutrition, said one old St. I should to take credit for that. Have an opportunity there to support. He's pretty deep. Anyway that is something that seems to be missed by a lot of folks. People come and see a small church and he think that the spirit is not there because of the numbers they look they're looking for addition. It's nutrition that makes the church that is a true statement. First Timothy chapter 4 verse six. If you instruct the brethren in these things.

That's the word you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed the emphasis of Scripture flows throughout that verse.

It is woven into the verse, Martha, you remember Martha and her sister Mary, her brother Lazarus. She had a mistaken concept about ministry. She thought ministry was defined by activity. Now there is activity in ministry for sure a doers of the word what doing without hearing is not the idea that God has in mind for his people. Mary's concept was on hearing before doing.

She did because of what she heard that shape her actions. Martha had at the other way around.

So the day came when the Lord brought this outing very gentle with milk. Martha very gentle and the smutty stings are, you know, as mentioned to me yesterday. One of the brothers. Someone mentioned that I speaking step on toes. I've never aimed at anyone's toes. I have gone for the heart and the head every single time.

And so I stepped on his toes or anyone I'm I'm sorry I missed my target like Mickey Mantle, Mickey Mantle was told. Don't try to head home and 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 are 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 a 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 under 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 through the washing and regeneration of the word you say what I been sitting under the word, and I'm not any better off than I was. Well statement like that but 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 patients 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's the word of God means you don't exhort without the word of God in 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 that 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 may be 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 a 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 steal our 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 the 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 you speaking to them is the Ephesian elders he's talking to them and Luke make sure he gets this down. He says Paul to the Ephesians, for I 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, are you desiring the milk were back window. The word, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious to taste is to experience the live through you taste something you've experienced it. If courses according Psalm 34 our Lord were told in Hebrews P 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 smart when 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 hits 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 for Seca 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 going 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 is made of their minds what God should be like over Jesus should be like nevermind what the Bible says about him. I know more about God and God knows about God and I think God how the loving got 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.

Have fun in 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 the prophetic word Isaiah longer upset over 700 years before Christ came. Isaiah said when he comes, his beauty is going to be messed 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. All rights, King of Kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light. No man is ever seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power and amen 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.

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