This is a different sermon for me so the text may not read as well as usual. During the service, the 3 main sections were broken up with additional singing and activities. Overall, the message helped people and the format did too.

Part 1--The World of Cursing

The World is a rough place—fighting and conflict are commonplace and have many causes—financial, religious, greed, insult. Most conflicts are not global but are local and personal.

Insults, Injuries—in many cultures these produce feuds between people, neighbors or families that last for years, even generations.

In some cultures there are very specific ways and rituals to get back at the one who has offended you. These kinds of conflicts causes some to seek even supernatural means. It was typically called Cursing.

Cursing in the ancient world was the calling upon the name or power of a god to punish or inflict harm on another.

Goliath cursed David by his gods—1 Sam. 17:43—“He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”

Later, David was Cursed by Shimei, a member of the former King Saul’s family

in 2 Samuel 16:5—“As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.”

In America, it’s not so ritualized or complicated, but there are still remnants. Who can tell me what these are?

Voodoo Dolls—things that are supposed to influence, control or inflict pain

Many Islamic cultures or countries fear what is known as the Evil Eye—the fundamental concept of the evil eye is that precious persons or things are constantly vulnerable to hurt or destruction caused by other people’s desire to inflict hurt or hardship due to envy, insult, feud. These desires to inflict injury are conveyed through the eye—a mere look is enough to bring down harm upon someone or their family.—and protective measures are sold as jewelry such as these.

It even makes it on to some airplanes in Turkey—it’s the new anti-terror, anti-missile system.

This is the way the world works. It makes sense to the world’s wisdom that if you get hurt, you hurt back. If you’re insulted, you insult back and you hold on to it until you have a chance to get back at them.

We call it REVENGE, Retribution, Settling Scores, Payback, Reprisal, Justice—WHAT ELSE?

When you think back to your reactions over the past week, you’ll probably notice that the biggest reactions you had were probably caused by someone who upset you or did something to make you angry or upset. It is easy for us to want to lash out in response to these upsets.

There are many incidents in modern life that could inspire anger or a desire to lash out at something or somebody.

Maybe it was with a moment like this

Road Rage from seeing too many younger drivers like this…

Maybe you have a Bad Boss—

Or Computer Problems like I’ve had this week

Maybe these are the speaking terms between you and your neighbor

THE WORLD SAYS

“Repay Evil with Evil and Insult for Insult”

The World wants us to return evil for evil and insult to injury

How many of you have had the opportunity or been tempted just this week to hurt with your words, to say just that one thing that would injure the most?

We exist in a world that returns evil for evil and insult for insult. But that is not how we are called to live—we are called to bless.

Part 2--The Power of Blessing

Bless—to invoke God’s name or call upon the power of God for someone’s benefit or good.

There is power in Blessing—knowing that someone is calling upon God’s goodness in their life—whether they really know Him or understand Him or believe in Him or not—is a comforting and encouraging thing.

Most people you come in contact with will not refuse your offer to pray for them.

Num. 6:23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, `This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

NU 6:24 " ` "The LORD bless you and keep you;

NU 6:25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

NU 6:26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." '

NU 6:27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

One of the best examples of the power of blessing can be seen in Jacob & Esau

GE 27:37 Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?"

GE 27:38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud.

Jacob’s blessing had influence of the kind of future the two brothers were going to have. One foretold great closeness and relationship with God, the other foretold violence and bitterness.

Jacob & Esau--HEB 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

Some of the effects of blessings over 3000 years ago, we are still living in today.

Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Jesus made blessing a part of His ministry.

Mark 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

The world wants us to be stingy with our blessings. The world thinks there is greater power in cursing, but that power is destructive, self-centered, self-seeking, and only causes pain in your life and the life of others.

Yet we are called to Bless—because we have an awesome and a wonderful God who Changes us.

Part 3--Called to Be a Blessing in Returning Good instead of Evil

David chose not to retaliate against Shimei—he chose not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult. David had the power, he had the authority to injure back—as creative a writer as David was, I have no doubt that he could have thought of some good zingers to say back to Shimei. Some in his party wanted to go and kill Shimei, but David refrained and trusted himself to God.

An even better example is Jesus, Himself. At His arrest, trial and crucifixion, He did not open His mouth in defense, retaliation or injury. He could have—He could have brought down legions of angels to smite those who were hurting Him. He could have told the whole world the secret sins of every man coming against Him. His curses would have had the creative power of the universe behind them. Instead, Jesus lived out His own words.

LK 6:27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

He demonstrated it again on the Cross when Jesus said—“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”

Paul put this call to love and bless this way.

RO 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

RO 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

RO 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

RO 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In describing his own situation, Paul put it this way.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

He was a spectacle before the whole universe because he knew the world was watching his actions and listening to his words.

More than being told what NOT TO DO, Peter gives us instruction on how we should live.

How we live and treat each other, our relationships are supposed to be changed by our faith. Faith Changes our relationships—and how you act toward them and respond to them. Last week we looked at how your relationship with Jesus should change the way you relate to the government, to your work, and within your marriage. Now, Peter being led by the Holy Spirit, covers our relationships in general, with our neighbors, with our fellow believers, even in times our struggle.

READ 1 Peter 3:8-12

We are Called to Bless by Living In

1. Harmony—

a. There is little more important in the world of music than a clear and powerful melody. The great composers and songwriters know this. However, there is little more beautiful in the world of music than a clear and powerful harmony. The Barbershop Soloist was never as popular as the Barbershop Quartet. Mozart’s Violin concerto’s has got to have a harmonizing orchestra in the background. Effective Harmony doesn’t work against the Melody. Effective Harmony doesn’t try to replace the Melody. Effective Harmony is Complimentary, works with the Melody not against it, and makes the entire production more beautiful and engaging.

b. V. 8—no one is left out of this command. If you claim the name of Christ, then you must allow the Spirit of Christ to change you so that you can live in “harmony with one another.” This means you should attempt with all diligence to avoid strife and discord, to compliment each other rather than work against each other.

c. Can you see how vital this is for the church family? A church where the people are living in harmony with each other is one that will be encouraging each other to greater lives of faith and create a beautiful witness to the community. If we are living in harmony with one another, then the church will be creating a music together that draws crowds to listen and join in.

d. You can’t live in harmony without sympathy—doing your best to understand the concerns and emotions of others. Romans 12:15—“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”—1 Cor. 12:26—“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” Sympathy takes your attention off of yourself and on to others.

e. Compassion goes closely with sympathy. When you have sympathy for someone’s situation, then you must be willing and motivated to do whatever you can about it. You will rejoice with them, you will mourn with them, you will suffer with them. God had sympathy for our sinful condition, but His sympathy, coupled with His compassion motivated Him to do something about it. To come down from heaven, to put aside His glory, and come in the person of Jesus. So when our brothers and sisters in Christ, or our neighbors and friends are in need, don’t just feel bad for them, but be willing to reach out with your love, your resources

f. Love as brothers—and not the kind of brother that locks your sibling in the closet, and humility—don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought.

g. “In the worlds way of thinking, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the Spirit’s way of thinking, the evidence of Jesus’ Power is if he does not hit back… A blow or personal insult becomes an opportunity for a Believer to reveal the incredible greatness & gentleness of the Lord Jesus… the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “Do Your Duty,” but is, in effect, “Do what is not your duty.” It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things.”

Instead be a blessing—and be blessed—be a blessing to others because of your relationship to Christ.

You were called to be and give blessings and it affects your eternal inheritance.

Who should we bless?

Our family—when you pray for each other. Ask specifically for God’s blessing upon them. Demonstrate blessing by serving them, by forgiving them, by putting their needs above yours

Bless that cousin who cheated you

Bless that child who looks up to you

Bless that husband, or wife who had a hard day at work

Our Neighbors

Our Co-Workers

Our Community—the cashier at the store

The waiter or waitress at the restaurant

Our Enemies and others who give us a hard time in life. When was the last time you prayed for God’s blessing on Osama Bin Laden? The pouring out of God’s blessing would be for someone to share with him the love of Christ and he would embrace His forgiveness and redemption.

The real meaning behind the question, “Who is my neighbor that Jesus was asked was really—“Who do I have to be nice to, and who can I ignore in this world?”

In response to this Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ meaning was not to detail who you can leave out in being a faithful person, but how you are called to be that person to anyone and everyone you come across.

HOW Do we Bless?

Is it just the laying on of hands and making a powerful religious prayer? How can we bless and be a blessing in people’s lives? Responses from people.

Bless the Lord

In blessing others, you are also blessing God in who’s Name you are acting. As you have done to the least of these, we do unto Him.

The greatest Blessing is sharing the love and forgiveness in Christ.

Church Time v. Family Time

Once again, Al Mohler hits on a very important issue in contemporary church life. You can read his post here.

Basically, it points to the problems we have in the apparent "competition" between Church Time & Family Time and the increasing choice of families to drop church out of the schedule of activities.

Is this a decision your family is making? What is your thought process?

Also, how is the church contributing to making this decision easier or more difficult?

What is your greater priority?


One of the interesting points is that the way the church splits up the family upon arrival is hurting rather than helping their cohesion as a family unit.


What do you think about this?


Pursuing Answers to Questions of Faith & Life,

Kelly

Sermon 3-11-07--Faith Changes Our Relationships on All Levels--1 Peter 2:12-3:7

Sorry for the slow post week. A member of our congregation died late last week and there was much to do and many to meet with. Please continue to be in prayer for the family of Harrison Eller--pray that the comfort and hope of Christ will strengthen them.

This message covers some difficult passages, particularly in the family relationships. I hope it helps in establishing our understanding of Christ's place in our lives.

Faith Changes Our Relationships

1 Peter 2:13-3:7

A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest chemical element yet known to science. The new element tentatively has been named... "Governmentium."

Governmentium has 1 neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 11 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since governmentium has zero electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of governmentium causes one reaction in excess of 4 days to respond when it would normally take less than a second.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 3 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a restructuring in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each shuffle, so to speak, will cause some morons to mix with neutrons, forming isodopes.

One of the greatest problems we face as believers in this world is how we should live, behave and respond to people and how we relate to situations in this world.

The world has certain rules, certain attitudes and expectations in relationships. The world thinks it’s OK to…

Complain about the government while trying to subvert the laws for your own benefit, believing the laws apply to others but not really to you.

The world thinks it’s OK to do things that may not be illegal, but are still ethically wrong—as long as you don’t get caught.

The world tries to convince us to get as much from your employer as possible while giving as little effort as possible.

Youth, the world tells you that it’s OK to cheat on a test, to lie or to torment someone else, especially after you had to put up with it in the past.

Last week we finished with 1 Peter 2:12 and the importance of living good lives among the pagans so that they may see your good deeds and glorify God. In other words—Peter wants your life in a hostile world to reflect the character of God and draw people to faith in Him. In such a life, you must relate to people on several different levels, your Faith must change your relationships. With Christ as our King, to whom we have pledged our loyalty, everything has changed. Even how we relate to each other.

Faith Changes Relationships—2:13-3:7

Government—2:13-17

No human government will ever be perfect. It will make mistakes, it will at times be unjust, you may not agree with everything it says or does, but your relationship with the government must be changed because Christ is your real King.

Peter calls us to Submit ourselves…vs. 13 “to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right.” Live by the law of the land unless that law contradicts your relationship with God. Just like Peter and John did before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem when they were told not to speak any more about Jesus. They replied with… Acts 4:18-20—“judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.”

Just because you don’t like something is not good enough reason to break it, but if there it is a clear teaching of Scripture that moves you to stand your ground, then by all means, do so keeping in mind there may be consequences to your stand.

The reason to live as good citizens is “For the Lord’s sake”—as a believer, you do not want to do anything that will malign His Name and be used against the true Kingdom of God.. Your behavior doesn’t just reflect on you and your character, it reflects on His character.

Doing right and doing Good generally avoids the punishment arm of the government and can elevate Him by their commendation.

But History has shown us, even the nightly news that sometimes, living the Christian life brings the gov’t down on you.

There are people in this country who make all kinds of accusations against Christ—who want to remove faith in Jesus from public life—your good behavior can, not always, but can, silence the negative and ignorant talk about you and against the cause of Christ.

V. 16--You have freedom in Christ—not so you can get away with stuff, but so that you can serve God with all your heart soul mind and strength.

Our freedom, our salvation, our security, our surety of forgiveness should never be used to justify getting away with fudging our taxes, breaking the law, shoplifting, or anything else. We respect the gov’t when we follow Jesus’ words to “Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”. one of those things you give and offer God is your integrity.

We must Show Proper respect to everyone, even politicians you don’t like. We must Love and support believers above all, show honor to the king or gov’t, but fear and respect and keep God in the right place above all.

Vs. 15—lets us know that in living good lives among the pagans, we have the chance to silence the foolish and false accusations against Christ because there were many in that day—ranging from public disorder, crimes against humanity, and cannibalism.

Be a model citizen which means, where you have a voice, you’d better share it or someone without Christ will. Where you have a vote, you’d better find out who the people are and then vote with your Faith leading your decision.

Faith changes how you relate to the government authorities. If you live as a passionate Christian and a good citizen, even government may see your good deeds and glorify God.

Slaves—Workers—vs. 18-25

In this country we do not live as slaves, nor do we have them anymore. Slavery was and continues to be a blight to humanity in various parts of the world.

Slavery was accepted in the biblical world and change came slowly. Early Christianity grew quickly among the slave population

This passage may seem distant to us, but that does not mean that it has nothing to say to us.

While we are not slaves, most of us do or did work under the supervision of someone else. As believers we are accountable to show up on time, work hard, not take advantage of perks or inattentive supervisors. Most of all we are to show our integrity. In all we do we must do it unto the Lord. How we work reflects on our Lord.

Colossians 3:22-24—“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor and to win their honor

Show respect to your bosses—vs. 18—not just the good ones but the harsh ones, the incompetent ones, even the crooked ones as well. They may not deserve it, but you are expected to give it. You may be smarter, more qualified or better than they are, but as a Xn, your goal is not to get ahead, your goal is to Proclaim the Name of Jesus. You must let the love of Christ direct your steps. That will not always be an easy life or choice to make, but in all ways, even beyond reasonable, show respect whether they deserve it or not. That means no making fun of behind their back, no taking advantage of them. Students, the same can be said of teachers.

Your conscious in your relationship with God helps you to put up with harsh or unjust treatment—

Peter says when you maintain your cool, your respect even in those wrong situations you are acting commendable. But you are not benefiting yourself, your family, or the Kingdom and Name of God if you rightly get in trouble or receive a reprimand or demotion, or as vs. 20 says, “receive a beating”—the harsh reality of slavery, for doing wrong.

You were called to endure wrongful and unjust suffering and follow the example of Christ. Too often our punishment and suffering is justified.

The world and the devil is going to make your life as difficult as possible by heaping up undeserved wrongs and situations. Christ conquered these situations because He endured them and was steadfast to the greater cause of God. He wasn’t just interested in His rights, His self-interest. Jesus wasn’t making a name for Himself, but for God. Imagine if He retaliated to His insults or made threats. Imagine if Jesus defended Himself and refused to endure unjust sufferings. Jesus suffered and vs. 24 “bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.” Now you are following a new Shepherd. Your faith and willingness to follow Christ should change the way you work—to make you work harder, work better, and work with integrity on every level.

But more important than your relationship with the government, more important than your work, are the relationships within your homes. Your relationship with your husbands or wives and families should be changed more by Christ than the others, because here is where your faith, and your family’s faith is truly built and expanded. When Christ is your King, your marriage is supposed to be better.

Marriage Relationships

Family is the basic unit of society and is not exempt from the change of Christ

How we treat each other as husband and wife says more about the change Christ has made in our life than anything. But what kind of message are believers sending when the same problems, abuse, fighting, divorce, insults, cheating, persist in our marriages? Has Christ made you a better husband, a better wife? Christ is supposed to change you from the normal pattern of this world to the godly pattern that more reflects His original design. Only when husband and wife are both committed to Christ can a marriage be what it is supposed to be—only in Christ do you have the power to do so.

Peter first addressed the wives in the marital relationship. READ 3:1-6.

Following the leadership of the Spirit, Peter says it is important for a believing wife to be “submissive to your husbands”. Show them how much you love them and respect them by your support, encouragement and faithfulness. One reason this is necessary is because the male ego really needs the encouragement.

This is especially for those who don’t have husbands who are believers. This is important for the reason Peter gives—“so that…” In Peter’s day, They would not have understood Xity as a Pro-Family faith the husband and father usually chose the faith for the whole family so if the wife chose Christ without Him, society and the husband may say that she is being rebellious and against her husband and family. . This caused problems for the woman—who could have been thrown out and the Name of Christ. If she used her new freedom and salvation in Christ as a reason to break her vows or disrespect her husband, then such charges would be true.

If you are a woman married to an unbeliever, how you live and relate to him, whether he deserves it or not, can make a difference in how he evaluates Jesus. It won’t be the only factor, but it will be a big one. He will be watching to see if the fruits of the Spirit are alive in you—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

He may not know these are the fruit of the Spirit, but he’ll recognize a growing change in your life because Christ is growing in you. Christ transforms you into something more and more beautiful. But you may suffer unjustly for it because he is not a believer.

The hope is that he will believe. This is important because spiritual mismatches in marriage are hard to live with. It’s hard to be “one flesh” and completely open and intimate with someone who does not share the most important relationship in your life, your relationship with God.

That’s why Scripture teaches it wrong for a believer to knowingly get married to an unbeliever, but if you did, or if you became a believer after marriage or for you wives who thought you were marrying a believer but whose husbands just lost interest and don’t think Christ and the Church is worthwhile, this verse is your hope and your mission. They may be won over by your behavior.

That’s why it’s so important to Show purity and reverence in your life. Your beauty must be from the inside, not the outside where Christ is at work. Outward beauty may get you noticed, but it is your heart that makes a marriage work. READ 3-4.

Young ladies, don’t marry a guy who is only interested in your looks, don’t try to attract him solely by your looks. If you want to show something off make it your integrity, your faith, and the beauty of your character. The one who is more interested in this part of you is one worth your time and will make a good husband and father.

Ladies, you are supposed to let a gentle and quiet spirit define you. This does not mean that you don’t have a mind of your own, or never share your opinion. It means you are not looking for a fight or an argument, that you have the peace and trust of Christ alive in you.

When your heart can maintain a calm spirit in the midst of crisis or strife, then truly Jesus is making a difference in you—and this is of “great worth in God’s sight”—vs. 4. it is easier to win an argument than it is to be pleasing to God?

Submission and a gentle quiet spirit is contrary to the world’s message which is trying to get you to take hold of and demand your rights. That says you’ve got to be the one in control of your life because your the only one you can trust. Inherent in the world’s mindset is fear—vs. 6 The world reasons that Men, including your husbands, cannot be trusted, or will not and are incapable of having your best interests at heart. So the message of the world, the message of most TV shows, women’s magazines, is most of all a message of fear not of power.

Peter reminds that your faith calls your relationships to be changed. It may be difficult, but in Christ you must not give way to fear (v. 6). When Christ is the Lord of your and his life, you can trust your husband in spite of his mistakes and weaknesses. Don’t give into fear, but give him over to the Lord.

Young ladies, Don’t give way to fear by thinking that a guy won’t be interested in you unless compromise your purity. Do not give in to fear by marrying a guy just b/c you’re afraid he’ll be the only one that shows interest.

Do not give way to fear, but give way and trust that God is taking care of you and that God desires to make your husband into the best man for you.

Husbands, you need to realize that how you treat your wife can help or hinder your relationship with God. READ 7. Your failure to be the kind of husband God has called you to be has serious consequences for them… and for you.

Hinder—to impede their course by cutting off their way

Considerate—knowledge of needs, concerns of dreams

If you are disrespecting, abusing, taking for granted and not respecting your wife, not giving and sacrificing to serve her, then even your prayers will be hindered.

If you are not serving as the spiritual leader in your home, then you are not growing in your faith. A harsh or unthinking Christian husband could cause a hindrance to the family's spiritual growth.

You must be considerate—you must hold their needs and concerns above your own b/c she is looking to you. You must give up your rights to what you want in order to serve your wife and provide for her completely—and I’m not talking just about money. That means she is much more important than your favorite team or program.

You are to serve her in a way that sets her free to fulfill who God has called her to be.

The role of service and sacrifice for another is the way that Christ treated His Bride—in fact, Jesus cared so much about His bride that He was willing to die on the cross to keep her pure, to protect her.

That’s how Paul put it in Ephesians 5:25—“husbands love your wives, just as X loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

For a society that denigrated and denied the basic humanity to women, Christian men are to be different and “treat [their wives] with respect”. Where many cultures, even today, would not allow women to inherit the family estate, the Xn faith teaches that women are just as much heirs of the salvation and greatness of God as men are.

Ladies, you are not second class citizens in the Kingdom of God. Attitudes of superiority, dominance, abuse, or the idea that she exists to serve you should never define a Xn husband.

Real men love and serve their wives. Real men live an example of Christ’s sacrificial love before their wives and children.

One person put it this way—“if a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she’ll never turn into an old nag” Real men make their faith the #1 priority in their lives, b/c when it’s important to you, it will be important to your wife and children. They will then be free to fulfill God’s calling.

Jesus is your King—you must submit to Him—you must serve as He served.

Jesus changes your relationships, changes everything. The changed life of Christ is supposed to be an enticement for the unbelieving world around you. Is your life enticing to those without X? Would anyone look at your motivation for living, and give glory to God? Would they see how you respect the law, work hard and have peace in your marriage and ask you what you’ve got that they don’t?

Maybe you’re reading this and you know Christ has never changed you this way. Call out to Him in faith and He will.

Pursuing Answers to Questions of Faith & Life,

Kelly

Sermon-3-4-07--Faith's Building Project

Hundreds of Thousands of dollars are spent each year building homes, super-markets, buildings and sky scrapers. They go through planning, blue-printing, testing, building, and finishing. UBC will soon be featured in an ad about the improvements made in our own building back in 1994. The success or failure of a building is has several key factors, the designer, their design, the builders and the quality of materials used to build it. Back in 2004 an 8 story building in Indonesia collapsed after just a few years being finished. I have never found a follow up to the cause but I suspect the investigation revealed a breakdown in one of these areas, cheap steel, thinned concrete or other cut corners.

Peter’s readers were experiencing trials and persecutions—he had already spoken to them about the great salvation that marveled even the angels. He had spoken to them about trials and what God hoped to accomplish through them. He had spoken about the Call to Holiness we have—not conforming to our old life, but living the new because of what Christ did. Last week we saw Faith’s Call to Hunger & Crave for the pure spiritual milk of the word and growing in Him.

What’s amazing is that neither everything that was happening to them nor the things that happen to us takes God by surprise. He uses it all to make His people into who He wants them to be.

In fact, God is building something wonderful in the lives of His people.

He is a great architect designing, engineering and constructing His very own building project—building His people into a Living Temple. It is Faith’s Building Project and that project in your life defines who you are right now.

Faith’s Building Project--Who You are—2:4-12

God is building a Temple—v. 4-5.

He is building you into a Temple built by God, a spiritual house where spiritual sacrifices will be offered up to God. Think of all the time, attention and detailed planning must go into such a project. Is God going to do a half-hearted or shabby job? Hardly, being God, He desires the best temple possible. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t cut corners? That God doesn’t fudge on His numbers or mixtures or quality?

Being the architect, designer and builder—He builds as He sees fit and doesn’t ask for our approval. So the way He builds us up, the things He uses to build us are not subject to our approval. He desires to build the best and we won’t always think it is the best, we won’t like what going through to get built into who God wants us to be. But it’s not about what you want or what you think is best. It’s about what God wants and what He knows is best for you. What we want is not always what God knows we need.

You are being built into a temple. Every day, every moment, every situation God is using to make your heart into

the most magnificent temple in the universe. Shining with the light of God’s presence, inspiring awe in all who see you, shaking the foundations of evil and filling the earth with the praise of God.

Paul knew this, that’s why he said of believers in 1 Cor. 3:16-17—“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1 Cor. 6:19—“ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

The Holy Spirit living inside you and me makes us more important than any building on earth. The Living, Creator of the Universe has taken up residence in the Temple of our hearts because we have come to Jesus, the Living Stone rejected by men but chosen by God. God has built our temple, we did not create ourselves, we did not save ourselves or clean ourselves up. Only God’s Building Project did that.

Not only are we individual temples that God is building, but you and I are living stones that collectively we are being built into a spiritual house and temple -- See Cartoon

we are living and serving as a holy priesthood in that temple and we are offering spiritual sacrifices to God. God is building His Church into a magnificent declaration of His glory.

He is bringing people together of every tribe, tongue and nation and unifying us by giving us all the same Holy Spirit. No one, no nation, no race is better than another in Christ. No one has more of the Spirit than someone else—they may be better at living in and submitting to the Spirit, but they do not have more of Him. God is building us as individuals and as a church to offer ourselves up “Living Sacrifices”

God’s Purpose for the Temple—v. 9-12

You belong to God for a reason. He is building you for a purpose. He is building each one of us, and all of us into a temple so we may clearly “Declare the praises” of God. Our purpose is of proclamation—we’ve got to be living advertisements of the goodness and greatness of God. This is our purpose for living today. We must Pursue Him and Proclaim Him. If we don’t fulfill our purpose as the living temple of God—to make His Name great among the nations, the very rocks will cry out.

If you miss this purpose, miss your calling of faith—you’ll be missing the greatest opportunity in your life—the opportunity to glorify God, to proclaim Him.

God has chosen you and me for a purpose. God called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. He has built us into a people, a holy nation, a living temple. He has shown us mercy when we didn’t deserve it. God has greatly invested in us, He has spent a great amount of time, love and effort in building us into a Temple that can fulfill our purpose.

As God’s Temple we must be Holy—set apart to be used for His glory. Because we are aliens and strangers in the world, we must not allow the world’s rules to define our lives, to control our lives and tell us what is right or wrong, what to do or not do, what to believe or not believe.

Sometimes that means doing things that doesn’t make sense to the world, other times it means abstaining from things the world thinks is normal.

Abstain means to make a conscious difference not to participate in what other people around you may be doing—If that is alcohol, drugs, smoking, gossiping, cussing, sex outside of marriage, living together before marriage—as a believer you must make the decision with your faith not to go along with the crowd but truly live differently. If you go along just like everybody else, you lose your ability to proclaim with a voice of Authenticity and the Power of Conviction.

We must live good lives among unbelievers. Even when they disagree with you on your faith, even when they don’t like you, even when they slander you, ridicule you or accuse you of all kinds of wrongs—let your light shine through. In the midst of life, through trials and struggles—the light from the Living God can shine from His temple. In the way you respond, in how you don’t lash out in malice and hurt.

In this way, those same unbelievers may see and believe. They may turn around and begin glorifying God because of how He has made such a difference in your life even in simple things, in how you can be so different by speaking a word of love and forgiveness to your enemies.

They will see how precious you are to Him, how you will never be put to shame. How you have been built into a glorious temple for the love of God to be proclaimed.

But if all God built with was us, we would come crashing down—we are not stable or strong enough to build with such a magnificent Temple. That’s why God used something even better

Jesus is the most important piece in God’s Building Project—v. 6-8

Jesus is chosen—selected to fulfill the specific task of God. In the ancient world, and even today, for a solid and beautiful building to be built, you must have a solid and well made foundation. The cornerstone was chosen, cut and transported with great care and expense because it was often the first stone laid.

It became the standard by it the rest of the building was determined. Archaeologists have found foundation stones 69’x12’x13 feet weighing many tons.

From the Cornerstone, all lines and References for the future building are made.

No other stones could act as the cornerstone and Jesus is our chosen cornerstone—the most important piece of God’s construction. Jesus is also unique b/c no one else could be the foundation for the church, no one else could purchase our forgiveness because no one else was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross and rose again. Jesus is precious not only because He is the most important part of God’s saving work but because of His unique relationship to the Father.

Jesus is the unique, One and Only Begotten Son. He is Precious to the Father.

You can see it in how the Father had to watch the Son He loves, suffer;

the Father who had to allow the One in whom He was well pleased endure cruel injustice; Precious to the Father who had to allow death to the only One who didn’t deserve it; who had to wait while His Son felt forsaken. Precious to the Father who came running, tearing the veil of the Temple out of His way when Jesus cried out “Into Your hands I commit my Spirit.”

Jesus is chosen for the task of saving humanity and building our eternity and He is precious and the most valuable to God and to us.

To us who believe Jesus is also Precious because we see on the Cross just how much He loves us. He is precious to us b/c of how He has compassion on us, and saves us even when we were His enemies, Precious to us because

Vs. 6—“Those who trust Him will never be put to shame”—This promise comes to us through Isaiah. When we trust in Jesus, we don’t have to worry about standing before God in shame and fear. Jesus already bore our shame on the Cross—He destroyed the power of Satan and death so we don’t have to be afraid of Judgment. When God sees the Blood of Christ over the door of our hearts, His judgment passes over us.

When we invite Jesus to be our Lord and Savior and ask His forgiveness, we will NEVER be put to shame—never be disappointed.

Since the Father honored and glorified Jesus, we too will be glorified.

I hate to break this too you, but life and eternity is not about you. It’s about Jesus. It’s not about how good you are, how strong you are, or how perfect you are—it’s about How good He is, How strong He is, and how Perfect He is.

We are never great in and of ourselves—but Greatness has been applied to us. The greatness of the chosen Cornerstone, Jesus Christ has been given, and covers over our failure.

Our eternal life never depends on our perfection, our righteousness or our goodness. Our Chosen and Precious Cornerstone is the One who builds us into the Saints of God. In order for Joy, happiness and fulfillment to be possible you must build upon the Cornerstone of Christ, the Rock that cannot be moved or changed; the Only one that can give purpose, direction and can be a solid foundation for life. There are consequences for not trusting Jesus.

Those who reject Him will themselves be rejected—v. 7. What at first seemed an insignificant baby in a small little town became the King of Kings.

What first seemed like a rabble of men led by an oddball teacher overwhelmed the world by a message of the Kingdom of God and forgiveness.

The One rejected and passed over by the important religious leaders, who said this couldn’t be the Messiah was in reality the most important part in God’s plan for the universe.

Men and women have been stumbling over the person and life of Jesus for thousands of years.

Matthew 21:44—“He who falls on this stone will be broken to

pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." In other words, if you lay yourself on the stone, sin and death will be broken in you, but if you don’t, the same stone crushes—it is the standard—without His greatness applied to you, covering your sin you will be rejected and forever out of the Presence of God. And that is not what we were created for.

God is building a Temple to proclaim His glory and He wants you to be a part of it—a beautiful display of His craftsmanship that will stand for eternity.

Are you allowing God to build you—using the Precious cornerstone, using the trials and circumstances of life, trusting that His blueprints are better than yours.

Are you a part of that temple? Have you asked the Rock of Christ Jesus to be the foundation of your life? He made you and formed you. He knows your name and is calling you.