RLCF Sermons

I Peter 4:17

“While seeking to be justified in Christ... if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove to be a transgressor... I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ... I do not nullify the grace of God” (Galatians 2:17-21). Part 1: “Justified IN Christ” (v17); I accept death to the Law as a means of justification. Part 2: “Crucified WITH Christ” (v20); I accept death to Self. If however I “rebuild what Christ destroyed” (and He destroyed (1) “justification through the Law” and (2) “living for Self”), then “I prove to be a transgressor and nullify the grace of God”.

Understanding Meekness: Meek (“praus” in Greek) means: humble, gentle, lowly; like a wild animal that has been tamed by its master. The difference between earthly and heavenly wisdom is the quality of meekness (James 3:7-18). Meekness is actively submitting to undesirable circumstances at the Master’s hand, knowing that it will eventually result in the greater good. Seeing Yourself as God Sees You: The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather, he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of God, more important than angels… He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring. (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God) The Perfect Example of Being Tamed: Jesus was the first to be perfectly “tamed” and He calls us to walk with Him under the same yoke. If we are “tamed” with Him, we will get rest (Matthew 11:29). We enter God’s rest by resting from your own works. 1. The “Tamed” Regard Others as More Important: Philippians 2:3-4. This is what it means to “love unto the end” (John 13:1-15). Let the Holy Spirit tame you to assume the lowest place, and make you willing to do even the least desirable tasks. 2. The “Tamed” Do Not Grab: Philippians 2:6. Example: Abraham with Lot (Genesis 13:8-17); Moses with the people (Exod. 32:31-32; Numbers 12:3); David with Saul (I Samuel 24:6; 26:9-11). The world is only gathering what God will eventually give to those He has “tamed” (Ecclesiastes 2:26). Let the Holy Spirit tame you to give up your rights and let others pick first; in the end, you will receive everything from God’s hand. 3. The “Tamed” Live Gently with Others: Wives: your submission to your husband is a jewel that is precious in the sight of your Master (I Peter 3:1-6). Husbands: your living in an understanding way with your wife gives you power with your Master (I Peter 3:7-8). Let the Holy Spirit tame you to live in symphony with others, then you will be beautiful and powerful in God’s eyes. The Church is Built with the “Tamed”: God will remove the stiff-necked ones, and exult over the tamed remnant – His Church! (Zephaniah 3:11-17)

3. Mourn over God’s people straying (Luke 19:37-44): they are like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36); God marks those who groan over abominations (Ezekiel 9:4). 4. Mourn with others in their grief (John 11:33-35): “He had no tears for His own griefs, but sweat drops of blood for mine… how marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!” (C.H. Gabriel) Jesus knew the outcome, but still wept (Hebrews 4:15). How we receive encouragement: individually through the Holy Spirit: “Encourager” is His Name (John 16:7,20-22), a Father overflowing with encouragement (II Corinthians 1:3-7); through a church filled with the Holy Spirit: comfort others with the comfort we received (II Corinthians 1:4-6), prophecy (I Corinthians 14:1,3,31), a local expression of Christ’s Body: hearts knit together (Colossians 2:2), encourage each other daily (Hebrews 3:13, 10:25); “Church: where never is heard a discouraging word”.The God who sees: God does not afflict lightly (Lamentations 3:32-33); mourning is not passive; it’s sowing (Psalm 126:5-6); no more death, mourning, or pain (Revelation 21:4); “You keep track of all my sorrows; You have collected all my tears in your bottle; You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalm 56:8). The Comforter Has Come: (Frank Bottome, 1890) O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found, Wherever human hearts and human woes abound; Let ev’ry Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound: The Comforter has come! The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come! The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n; O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found — The Comforter has come! The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last, And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast, As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast! The Comforter has come! Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings, To ev’ry captive soul a full deliverance brings; And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings; The Comforter has come! O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine — That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine! The Comforter has come!

The joy of the Lord comes only through mourning (Matthew 5:4). Most people in this world are pursuing a "joy" that feels good. You know you have the true joy of the Lord when it gives you strength in the midst of your affliction (Nehemiah 8:10). Jesus more than just "wept" once or twice (John 11:35); He was called a "Man of Sorrows" and was well-acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). Hallelujah... what a Savior! Jesus is our “dictionary” for all spiritual concepts, so when we look at Him we learn what it means to mourn... 1. Mourn to be saved from sin: get desperately serious if sin is ruling over you (Psalm 13:1-5; 6:6-10); don't give excuses or blame anyone else (Psalm 32:1-6,11); weep and mourn, then God will exalt you over your spiritual enemies (James 4:7-10); weeping is an indication of deep grateful love (Luke 7:37-39). 2. Mourn over any break of fellowship with the Father: Jesus sweat blood over this (Matthew 26:38; Luke 12:50); Jesus endured the cross for the joy before Him (Hebrews 12:2)

The only thing that will matter in the end is whether you obeyed what you heard (Matthew 7:13-27). The Old Covenant pertained to the kingdom of Israel (I Samuel 10:25) and contained earthly promises and blessings. Jesus came to inaugurate the New Covenant pertaining to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 4:17) and containing spiritual promises and blessings. Very few Christians are truly interested in the kingdom of heaven, because they are still only interested in earthly promises and blessings. The kingdom of heaven is ruled by a King (Colossians 1:13); it’s not a democratic republic. Once your life is transferred to the kingdom of heaven, you no longer have a say in making decisions in your life; all decisions are made only by the King. The kingdom of heaven is not for the future (“in heaven”), but is here and now on earth (Luke 16:16). The kingdom of heaven is an inner spiritual kingdom (Luke 17:20-21). The kingdom of heaven is not in the words you say, but in the power in your life (I Corinthians 4:20). The kingdom of heaven is righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The kingdom of heaven is hated by all earthly kingdoms, including religious kingdoms. That is why the Pharisees crucified Jesus! The poor in spirit are always in need (Proverbs 8:34). One who is not poor in spirit doesn’t have time for God’s Word and for prayer, because he feels like he can go on through his day without dependence on God. The poor in spirit never compare themselves with others’ faults. They always seek to go down, and that’s why they are God’s dwelling place (Isaiah 66:1-2). The poor in spirit are always compassionate toward others (Matthew 9:12-13). The poor in spirit never make demands on others (Matthew 21:31,43). The poor in spirit never take pride in their obedience to God (Luke 17:7-10). “Holiness without brokenness will make you a legalist!” (Zac Poonen) “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less!” (C.S. Lewis). You will think of yourself less when you think of God more. After all that Job knew and had heard about God, it was only after he saw God that He became poor in spirit (Job 42:5-6).

There were two groups of people who “followed” Jesus: the few who became disciples (Matthew 4:18-22); and the great multitudes (Matthew 4:23-25). The multitudes: didn’t have to leave everything to follow Jesus; came because they saw the miracles Jesus did; followed at their convenience (Matthew 13:34-36). Today, likewise, the “followers” of Jesus can be divided into these 2 groups. The multitudes are drawn by: healing (Luke 5:15; Matthew 15:31); teaching (Matthew 7:28; Mark 12:37); curiosity (John 12:9); rejoicing (Luke13:17); “praise and worship” (Luke 19:36-44). Eventually, the same multitude will gather for: betrayal (Luke 22:47); condemning to death (Luke 23:21); pity at “this spectacle” (Luke 23:48). This is the discipleship test that Jesus gave: 1. Do you seek a “resting place” on earth? (Luke 9:57-58) 2. Do your circumstances (suffering/loss) mute your preaching of the gospel? (Luke 9:59-60) 3. Do you have an attachment to family or friends? (Luke 9:61-62, 14:26) 4. Do you have any interest in yourself? (Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27) Jesus used the test of discipleship to weed out those with “multitude mentality” from those who were truly His disciples (John 6). You’re either crucifying Jesus or being crucified with Him!

The “Great Light” didn’t seek prominence in Jerusalem, but withdrew into “insignificance” in Galilee… He was at rest in His Father’s planning (Matthew 4:12-16). The Father would take care of fulfilling the prophecy (Isaiah 9:1-7). The “light of men” was the life in Jesus (John 1:4-5). The darkness did not comprehend the light like death cannot comprehend life. When “the Light” interacted with others He said, “neither do I condemn you”, “go your way, and from now on sin no more”, and led people to not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:1-12). “The Light” existed with the purpose of doing the works of God… going about “doing good” (Matthew 4:23-25; Acts 10:38). Jesus was the light while He was in the world (John 9:1-5). This is the life that is the light of men: being poor in spirit; being a mourner; being meek; hungering and thirsting for righteousness; being merciful; being pure in heart; being a peacemaker; rejoicing when persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:3-15). “The Master will take care of the great lighthouse: let us keep the lower lights burning” (D.L. Moody). Let the Lower Lights Be Burning by Philip P. Bliss: Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His lighthouse evermore, But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save. Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar; eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights along the shore. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; some poor seaman, tempest-tossed, trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.

4. Satan Relies on Spy Information: Satan spies on your affections, inclinations, and ambitions by carefully observing your behavior. Then, by determining which way you lean, he offers a way of Self-pleasing on that same side. David had an inclination for women (II Samuel 3:2-5; 5:9-13). As king, he was also in disobedience to God’s Law by having many wives (Mark 10:5-6; Deuteronomy 17:14-17). Satan used this inclination to tempt David and eventually cause him to sin (II Samuel 11:1-4). Never let your heart lean toward anything earthly (Proverbs 4:23). 5. Satan Plans the Source of Temptation: Satan custom-chooses as his agents, people in your life who are of the greatest advantage to his evil cause. For example: those with superior intellect or knowledge of God’s Word; those who have a reputation for outward holiness; those who can influence you emotionally — family: Eve, Delilah, Job’s wife, etc. (Luke 14:26); Christian “friends”: Peter (Matthew 16:22); Paul’s friends (Acts 21:12). Never become too attached to any person on earth. 6. Satan Chooses How and When to Tempt: When Jesus resisted Satan with God’s Word in the first temptation, Satan then tempted Him to pride using God’s Word (Matthew 4:6). Satan will bring a similar-looking temptation to one you earlier overcame: “the brother of Goliath” (II Samuel 21:15-17; I Chronicles 20:5). When Satan found Jesus on alert in the wilderness, he departed for a while to try to catch Him “napping” later (Luke 4:13). Satan may leave voluntarily if he thinks he can come in with greater force later (Matthew 12:43-45). After you win the battle, remember the war! God’s Word reveals the enemy’s secret plans (Psalm 19:11). Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how Jesus did it (John 16:14). Don’t let Satan take advantage of you: forgive others quickly (II Corinthians 2:11); make peace quickly (Ephesians 4:26-27).

After filling you, the Holy Spirit will lead you into the wilderness to prove His power in you. The greatest proof of you’re being filled with the Holy Spirit is not that you speak in tongues or heal the sick or raise the dead, but that you have power to resist temptation in the “wilderness”. Jesus was tempted in all points of “the world” — the lust of the flesh, the boastful pride of life, the lust of the eyes (I John 2:15-17; Matthew 4:3,6,9) — yet never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). If there’s one thing that characterizes the Devil’s tactics it’s not power, it’s craftiness. He’s not a mammoth, but a serpent. We must not be ignorant of Satan’s devises... 1. Satan Tempts You in Your Mind: Jesus wasn’t actually physically taken to “the pinnacle of the temple” or “a very high mountain”; He was in the wilderness, tempted in his thoughts. You are what you think! (Romans 8:4-8; Colossians 3:1-3; Romans 12:2) 2. Satan Uses Siege Tactics: Satan waited until Jesus had fasted for 40 days before coming to tempt him with food (Matthew 4:2-3). Job’s real temptation was not his physical affliction, but in the pressure that followed it: from his wife, his friends, his own thoughts. Temptation is strongest when it comes dressed as relief from your current affliction. 3. Satan Asks for Just a Little: Rather than force his way in, Satan only asks you to leave the door slightly ajar, and is willing to nudge at it multiple times. His strategy (Genesis 3): 1. Question God’s Word (v1) The Devil does not initially come with an “exclamation mark” against God’s Word. He comes with a “question mark”. 2. Enter into dialogue (v2-3) 3. Oppose God’s Word (v4) 4. Prod you with a sense of entitlement (v5); e.g. “because you are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3,6) 5. Appeal to self-pleasing (v6). Temptation does not aim to uproot your tree by force, but to dig around it and loosen your root of faith.