Bless-ed! 52 Blessings Your Lost Friend Doesn’t Have . . . And What You Can Do About It! (Part 22)

My heart grieves for my friend Mike who thinks he’s right with God, but isn’t. And as I’ve been praying for him, I’m becoming more aware of what I have that he doesn’t. Yet. And the blessing list includes many more items than simply salvation, as fundamental as that is.

Another blessing that I have as a believer doesn’t seem to get much publicity among the people of God. Perhaps we are afraid. Maybe we aren’t sure of this blessing. But I believe we need to recognize and pursue this gift. I don’t believe my unsaved friends —

22. THEY DON’T HAVE THE BLESSING OF A FEARLESS INTELLECTUAL LIFE!

If biblical Christianity is really true, then all other worldviews are wrong. Other religions and philosophies deny the reality of the biblical God, salvation alone through faith in Christ alone, man’s need of redemption, the trustworthiness of the Bible, etc. We are not being arrogant when we take our stand on the absolute truth of the Christian worldview.

Some scholars have said that the early Christians “out thought the world!” I’m not so sure that’s true of our present generation — but it could be. The follower of Jesus should be able to talk to anyone about the gospel without fear. We should not be afraid to vigorously debate worldviews for we are not engaged in comparative mythology, but truth. And when we don’t have an answer to a hard question, we go and do our homework!

However, I feel that many Christians think of their faith as so personal that all they can share is their peace and happiness in Jesus. And that’s it. The late scholar Carl Henry said “your relationship to Christ must be personal. But it dare not be private!”

The Christian worldview is based on facts and evidence. The believers in the first century were not afraid to debate the messiahship of Jesus in the Jewish synagogues or argue the gospel among the intellectual elite of the day (Acts 17).

Followers of Jesus are in a cooperative ministry with God the Holy Spirit. Our job is to present the best case we can for Jesus Christ and biblical Christianity. The Holy Spirit’s job is to bring conviction to the heart of the unsaved. We work together. We are to seek to convince; His job is to convict.

Jesus did not hesitate to declare Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He even dogmatically claimed that “no one can come to the Father except by me.” His claims stand up under the intense scrutiny of this unbelieving world — and the Christian has the privilege of carefully responding to those who don’t believe. We read in I Peter 3 –

This is a powerful text to challenge the believer to get out of his Lazyboy and get in the battle. No fear. And he or she is to be ready to respond to questions that are provoked in their unbelieving friends by the conduct and gentleness of the believer.

So, how do I pray for my unsaved friend? I speak the gospel unashamedly and get ready to take questions. I read what I need to read in secular literature and I keep myself soaking in God’s Word and crying out to His Spirit to bring conviction to my friend. And I pray that he or she will open their heart to the truth. (to be continued)

 

 

 

Wisdom for Wives! (A Study of I Peter 3:1-6)

“in the same way”- In Chapter 2 Paul has been giving clear instructions to slaves about how they should conduct themselves. Wives are not slaves, but need godly advice (like the rest of us) on living out the Christian life.

I. The Challenge to Submit (v. 1)

Notice: “submit yourselves to your own husbands . . .” Though our world rejects the term “submit” and strategically often leaves it out of wedding ceremonies, God’s Word is clear. If the husband is loving his wife as Christ loved the Church, how could the wife not willingly submit to his loving leadership?

II. The Potential Outcome of Submitting (v. 1)

There is the possibility that the wife’s godly submission and behavior may win over her unbelieving husband. Without words.

III. The Impact of Personal Beauty (vv. 2-4)

“the purity and reverence of your lives” (v. 2)

inward versus outward beauty (vv. 3-4)

“the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (v. 4)

Note: God’s evaluation (“of great worth”)

IV. The Godly Examples of History (vv. 5-6)

The example of Sarah (v. 6)

Doing what is right versus giving way to fear!

God’s instructions for a Christ-honoring marriage is being attacked in every detail by our culture. And what is the result? Over 50% of marriages end in divorce, many couples live together without the public faithfulness promise of a marriage ceremony, and children wind up being shuttled back and forth for visitation weekends. This is not God’s plan. And so much depends on the godly life of a Christ-following wife!

 

Hard Truth for Husbands! (A Study of I Peter 3:7)

Ten questions about this verse:

1. To what, specifically, is Peter referring when he writes “in the same way”?

2. What is meant by the word “considerate”? Where else is that word used in the New Testament?

3. There are two commands here for the husband: (1) “be considerate” and (2) “treat them with respect.” What are practical ways we can test to see if we men are doing those two things?

4. What does Peter mean by “the weaker partner”?

5. This idea of being “heirs with you of the gracious gift of life” — to what is Peter referring? Salvation? Heaven?

6. How important is prayer to Peter? To the Lord? How do our prayers get “hindered”?

7. Where else in the New Testament do we read of our prayers being hindered because of our conduct in our marriages?

8. Why is only one verse of instructions for husbands given — and so many for the wives?

9. Notice that no excuse is given for husbands not to follow these instructions (if their wives don’t follow the instructions given to them) or vice versa. Our obedience is not conditional on the behavior of the spouse.

10. Do you and your spouse pray together? Linda and I have been married 49 years and only recently have begun praying together (almost) each morning. What took us soooo long?

 

STUCK! Ten Areas That Will Bury You as a Believer and How to Dig Your Way Out! (Area #6- SHARING) (con’t)

Most of us Jesus-followers get STUCK when it comes to SHARING our faith with others!  These messages are being delivered to the saints at Crossroads Fellowship Church in Augusta, GA (website: crossroadschurchinaugusta.com).  My tenure there as preaching pastor will end on Sept. 24 (sniff).

In the issue of SHARING our faith with others, we need to focus on having conversations (not necessarily conversions) with others and show that we are open to listening to their stories.  The text we have been looking at is I Peter 3 which says:

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”^{[c] 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

It’s a whole lot easier to SHARE our faith when we are asked about it!  And the questions that ought to come up (according to this text) would something like:  “How can you suffer so patiently?”  “Why aren’t you afraid of being harmed by others?”  “Where in the world do you get your hope?”  “I’ve heard rumors that you are misbehaving.  Are they true?”

Our lives ought to provoke questions!  If we are not provoking questions and stimulating curiosity, it might be argued that we are not sufficiently living Christian lives!

 

 

 

STUCK! Ten Areas That Will Bury You as a Believer and How to Dig Your Way Out! (Area #6- SHARING!)

Counting today (Aug. 27th) I have only five more sermons to give at Crossroads Fellowship Church in Atlanta.  They have found their new pastor and Linda and I are filled with rejoicing — and deep sadness.  It has been a wonderful 1 1/2 years that we have been able to serve them.

I believe there are areas that get us STUCK in the Christian life, and we have considered five of them so far:  SALVATION, THE SCRIPTURES, SIN, THE SAINTS, and SERVICE.  Let’s now look at SHARING.

Do you find it difficult to “share” your faith in Christ with others?  Me too.  Several truths have helped me in what we Jesus-followers call witnessing.  The first is that I am committed to conversations not necessarily conversions.  I would be thrilled if I saw more people converted to Christ, but I see my witness as sowing the seed, nudging people closer to Christ (as my friend Al McKechnie says).

If I am pursuing conversations, talking about Jesus becomes a whole lot easier.  Why?  Because I can LISTEN instead of talk!  This leads to a second truth that has helped me and it is this:  People want to tell their STORY.  If you or I simply show that we are interested in them, they will often open up and tell us about their lives, their families, their struggles.

Let’s take a preliminary look at our main text for this issue of SHARING:

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”^{[c] 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (I Peter 3)

Wow.  This text tells us that we will suffer in this world, not for doing evil, but for doing good!  And Peter’s point is how we respond to unjust suffering.  Do we grab the Yellow Pages and find the best lawyer we can to sue those who are harming us?  No!  Peter gives us very practical advice:  (1)  Don’t be afraid of them!  (2)  Get your heart right in putting the Lord first in your life!  (3)  Be ready to explain why your hope is in Jesus!  (4)  Make sure your behavior backs up your beliefs!  (5)  Trust the Lord and His will for you — even if it involves unjust suffering!  Anyone trying to harm you?  (to be continued)