back to indexBerean Community Church Wednesday Night Bible Study 5/4/2022
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to study your word together, to sing these songs to you. 00:03:01.000 |
We pray, Lord God, that wherever we come from, 00:03:04.500 |
that we would come here with focused minds and hearts. 00:03:15.000 |
that you'd allow us to have humble hearts, hearts that 00:03:17.500 |
are teachable and moldable, that desire to learn more 00:03:22.000 |
I pray, Lord, that as we just go into a time of singing, 00:03:26.000 |
that we would really be able to sing these lyrics to you 00:04:20.500 |
Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. 00:04:45.500 |
No other gods, no other love, no other gods before you. 00:05:36.000 |
Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. 00:06:00.500 |
No other gods, no other love, no other gods before you. 00:06:26.500 |
Lord, you're calling me to come and behold the wondrous cross 00:06:59.000 |
Where your boundless love conquered my boundless sin. 00:07:15.500 |
My heart is filled with a thousand songs proclaiming 00:07:24.000 |
With every breath, Lord, how I long to sing of Jesus 00:07:33.000 |
Lord, take me deeper into the glories of Calvary. 00:07:46.000 |
Sinners find eternal joy in the triumph of your works. 00:07:58.500 |
By our Savior's crimson flow, holy wrath has been removed. 00:08:07.000 |
And your saints below join with your saints above. 00:08:23.500 |
My heart is filled with a thousand songs proclaiming 00:08:40.500 |
My heart is filled with a thousand songs proclaiming 00:08:58.000 |
Lord, take me deeper into the glories of Calvary. 00:09:54.000 |
Can you join me in prayer, and then we'll start chapter 4. 00:09:58.000 |
Father, we come tonight just to study your word. 00:10:05.500 |
And you've been so faithful to us just in the last four months. 00:10:10.000 |
And as we are now in the latter two chapters, 00:10:13.500 |
I pray that you would help us to be even more hungry to know 00:10:17.500 |
your truth, but to be more zealous to apply these truths 00:10:29.000 |
and help us to learn really what it means to live a life 00:10:34.500 |
And so we pray for just your help to discern your truth. 00:10:42.000 |
so that we would see just the beauty of the things 00:10:52.500 |
Let me just start off by reading chapter 4, verses 1 through 6. 00:10:56.000 |
"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, 00:11:07.000 |
because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. 00:11:12.000 |
So as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer 00:11:15.000 |
for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 00:11:18.000 |
For the time already past is sufficient for you 00:11:21.000 |
to have carried out the desires of the Gentiles, 00:11:24.000 |
having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, 00:11:28.000 |
carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 00:11:33.000 |
In all this they are surprised that you do not run with them 00:11:42.000 |
But they will give account to him who is ready to judge 00:11:45.000 |
For the gospel has for this purpose been preached 00:11:50.000 |
that though they are judged in the flesh as men, 00:11:53.000 |
they may live in the Spirit according to the will of God." 00:12:16.000 |
That clock is wrong, and so right now it's 7.15, 00:12:20.000 |
and at 8.20 we'll resume just with the wrap-up time. 00:12:25.000 |
But the last part that I want you guys to focus on 00:12:29.000 |
is there's a lot of purpose and will of God talk 00:12:40.000 |
And that's something that after your discussion 00:12:43.000 |
that I would think it would be beneficial for you guys 00:12:45.000 |
to spend some time just discussing, all right? 00:12:50.000 |
and then, yeah, just enjoy your time with your group. 01:17:58.560 |
This one I found to be a little bit difficult, 01:18:03.360 |
But this, it's just a process of doing this helps 01:18:15.520 |
with an outline that I put up in the front, okay? 01:18:24.680 |
So the main thing that I see is arm yourself. 01:18:44.060 |
And whenever there is a command in Scripture, 01:18:46.760 |
those are usually where the important meaty parts, 01:18:55.280 |
The red, the therefores are always important, 01:19:02.360 |
I would have actually high-lit in red that because, right? 01:19:07.360 |
Arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because. 01:19:28.880 |
And then all the activity of the Gentiles, I underlined. 01:19:42.000 |
sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, 01:19:51.360 |
Okay, so those are, so my eyes will go there. 01:19:53.920 |
These are all things that I don't want in my life, right? 01:19:57.440 |
The blue, this is where I started getting a little bit like, 01:20:01.720 |
ah, I don't know if this is a highlight worthy. 01:20:04.160 |
The same purpose talk, because that's kind of related, 01:20:07.520 |
but I noticed that the word for same purpose, 01:20:11.720 |
the first blue and the second blue are different. 01:20:14.320 |
So it's probably not right to highlight it in blue. 01:20:22.360 |
There is a lot of will of God talk in 1 Peter, 01:20:27.120 |
but in verse six, the will actually is an added word. 01:20:34.120 |
So I'm like, ah, so I loosely highlighted it. 01:20:38.320 |
But the reason this is helpful is it kind of hones 01:20:42.360 |
my attention on what's important for me to remember 01:20:51.380 |
Okay, this is the only time this word is used 01:20:57.760 |
It's this word haplizo, to arm yourself with weapons 01:21:27.160 |
And this is mentioned starting from chapter two 01:21:33.140 |
That our main weapon, our weapons are not of this world. 01:21:45.420 |
So I'm gonna rephrase this first verse like this. 01:21:50.420 |
Therefore, since all that you just saw, okay, 01:21:54.440 |
about Jesus having all authorities and powers 01:21:57.480 |
subjected to him, him suffering in the flesh, 01:22:01.800 |
because of all of that, haplizo, with the same purpose. 01:22:06.800 |
Because sin no longer has dominion over those 01:22:13.840 |
And going back from what we looked at last week, okay? 01:22:25.420 |
That is the worst thing that can happen to you. 01:22:40.860 |
He's in control, he's standing on our behalf, 01:22:45.180 |
but he ordains suffering in the midst of a wicked world. 01:22:52.180 |
So that's kind of the main takeaway is to arm myself. 01:23:04.420 |
Now if you guys noticed, all five translations 01:23:10.900 |
And when you're doing a comparative Bible study 01:23:14.180 |
and the translations are all a little bit different, 01:23:25.060 |
So if we're supposed to arm ourselves with what? 01:23:28.540 |
Well, so it's a little bit more complicated, right? 01:23:32.740 |
So we're supposed to arm ourselves with the same annoyah. 01:23:38.620 |
And basically the way you can understand that 01:23:44.980 |
That was in chapter two, that was in chapter three, 01:23:48.700 |
and now it's also mentioned again in chapter four. 01:24:01.820 |
And so I found just an interesting thought on this 01:24:06.620 |
just by John MacArthur, and I just wanted to read this 01:24:11.000 |
Thousands of martyrs throughout church history 01:24:17.580 |
because they armed themselves with the same purpose 01:24:22.180 |
Jesus Christ had, to be faithful to the Father, 01:24:25.720 |
no matter what, knowing that the cross precedes the crown. 01:24:33.200 |
the greater is the reward, and history's martyrs 01:24:37.060 |
realize that there is the greatest triumph of all in death 01:24:40.900 |
because believers who have died have ceased from sin. 01:25:04.120 |
And it's difficult for me to, I have risked my life, 01:25:08.200 |
and I have put my life in danger for gospel-related work, 01:25:12.440 |
but on a day-to-day, my life is not threatened. 01:25:18.120 |
or they don't like me, and I don't like not being liked, 01:25:21.640 |
but why does persecution and opposition come? 01:25:24.960 |
Usually because even if I don't say anything, 01:25:39.500 |
but let me just give you an example of my college days 01:25:41.900 |
and something that happened to me, all right, 01:25:44.380 |
where I was persecuted for my faith, all right? 01:25:49.880 |
they used to have a thing called black lightning notes, 01:25:52.520 |
which basically someone gets paid to sit in a lecture class 01:26:00.380 |
and they print that out so that I can subscribe to it, 01:26:05.380 |
I can get it, and so, I mean, I should still go to class, 01:26:30.900 |
'cause this is how other college students made money, right? 01:26:33.700 |
So it actually said, "Copyright, do not print, do not copy," 01:26:44.020 |
they actually were in the habit of one person 01:26:54.940 |
and I remember I didn't feel comfortable with this. 01:26:56.980 |
I had a tender conscience as a freshman in college, 01:27:11.660 |
and I didn't say anything except, "I'm not gonna do this 01:27:15.280 |
"because I just don't feel comfortable with it," 01:27:17.800 |
but the three people that were the biggest culprits in this, 01:27:24.560 |
Again, this is the first world version of persecution. 01:27:49.360 |
and so they started heaping their abuses on me, right? 01:27:57.320 |
but a lot of the persecution happens in our Christian lives 01:28:12.520 |
and they'll scoff and scorn and say, "You are legalistic. 01:28:19.760 |
and then this next list is what is described here, okay? 01:28:24.500 |
So whenever we, this is another series of lists. 01:28:31.760 |
and what I like to do is when I go through an epistle 01:28:34.120 |
and there are lists of qualities, I just compile them, okay? 01:28:44.760 |
that have been used to describe the Gentiles, all right? 01:28:49.280 |
Ignorant, malicious, deceitful, hypocritical, 01:28:57.340 |
they're in darkness, they're fleshly and lustful, 01:29:00.340 |
drunkenness, idolatrous, and excessive, okay? 01:29:25.280 |
and there's even almost like a provoked offense, okay? 01:29:33.460 |
And it's interesting, this list that we looked at today, 01:29:36.820 |
it mentions alcohol twice, sexuality three times, 01:29:54.800 |
This is just one example of some of the pagan idolatries, 01:30:03.380 |
to the Korean drink, bakkas, the energy drink, all right? 01:30:11.240 |
which means just kind of indulging in excess partying, right? 01:30:17.720 |
Bakkas has a divine mission, okay, he's a god, 01:30:25.660 |
During his drunken frenzies, bakkas loosens the tongues 01:30:29.560 |
of those who partake of wine and other beverages, 01:30:46.080 |
and were part of a mystery religion built up around bakkas. 01:30:51.080 |
Bakkas is a god of the theatrical arts, aka entertainment. 01:30:55.780 |
In his earlier incarnation as the Greek Dionysus, 01:31:04.600 |
He is often portrayed as a slightly effeminate figure, 01:31:12.920 |
So they celebrated this party animal god, okay? 01:31:17.720 |
And that was part of the Roman Empire and the world, okay? 01:31:36.260 |
and there were many, many, many more qualities 01:31:39.860 |
about those who have ceased from sin, all right? 01:31:47.980 |
they love God, love man, believe, trust in God, 01:31:51.500 |
suffer for righteousness, and that's mentioned 01:31:56.300 |
gentle, quiet in spirit, they're future-focused, 01:31:59.140 |
holy in behavior, they live life fearing God, 01:32:10.200 |
and these are Christian attitudes toward all people, 01:32:17.980 |
there's a submissive, gentle, quiet humbleness, 01:32:48.220 |
Now I make those two lists, and I did a little, 01:33:01.300 |
But you know the thought that I have today is like, 01:33:05.660 |
you know, there's a lot of people that go to church 01:33:29.940 |
that I could characterize closely more with the top 01:33:59.240 |
And that's what this passage is speaking against. 01:34:02.540 |
So just take a look at the top and look at the bottom. 01:34:22.020 |
you're gonna avoid suffering to the best of your ability, 01:34:39.640 |
If my chief goal is to finish this Netflix series, 01:34:46.540 |
and then to go on to the next Netflix series, 01:35:06.040 |
And then over time, I just start becoming more and more 01:35:22.760 |
man, there's a lot of the bottom that I am not like. 01:35:29.720 |
it's just a discouraging thing to think about. 01:35:36.240 |
in what way do I need to actually better arm myself? 01:35:46.480 |
How am I supposed to make adjustments in my life 01:35:49.280 |
so that the bottom is more characteristic of me 01:36:00.660 |
like if you get into that stretch of a week or two 01:36:15.840 |
and then they're like, I gotta maximize my hydration. 01:36:18.040 |
They'll drink, drink, they'll stop drinking soda. 01:36:24.100 |
But when you let yourself go with disciplines, 01:36:25.880 |
you kind of let yourself go with all of them. 01:36:32.160 |
Which are you pursuing more of in terms of arming yourself? 01:36:52.720 |
so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh, 01:36:55.300 |
no longer for the lust of men, but for the will of God. 01:36:59.080 |
And then I ask myself, man, what is wrong with me? 01:37:12.280 |
In my younger days at a retreat site in Yucaipa, 01:37:24.160 |
'cause I've always heard that if you hit a lizard 01:37:41.020 |
So I kicked the lizard just in the interest of science. 01:37:52.720 |
It started flailing and going (imitates tail flailing) 01:37:57.400 |
And then I was thinking, this is a fascinating, 01:37:59.360 |
and I was a youth pastor already at the time, 01:38:01.200 |
so I was like, this is a good illustration, right? 01:38:03.760 |
So I asked the kids, hey, is this tail dead or alive? 01:38:09.080 |
But I was like, is this dead or alive, right? 01:38:19.900 |
And so that's something, if anything for all of us, 01:38:35.060 |
But there is still the flesh kicking and screaming, 01:38:40.560 |
And so sin is dead in you, but it's still dying. 01:38:45.320 |
And that's a visual that I wanted to leave you with 01:38:56.560 |
28th year as a Christian, and I can tell you for a fact, 01:39:00.680 |
there have been some changes in the last 28 years. 01:39:08.040 |
He is so much more holy, so much more powerful, 01:39:11.220 |
so much more good than I thought of him at 15 years old. 01:39:15.340 |
He is a God who really is worthy to be praised. 01:39:21.660 |
And at the same time, my view of self has gotten very low. 01:39:26.900 |
At 15, I thought I was God's gift of Christendom. 01:39:44.720 |
And I'm a lot more aware of my dirtiness and my filthiness, 01:39:50.740 |
but strangely enough, I have a lot more compassion and love 01:39:55.740 |
than I did when I was 15 or in my first year of ministry. 01:40:06.180 |
also just to track how far I've come in my faith. 01:40:10.080 |
But until we're on the other side of eternity, 01:40:25.140 |
is actually very good for our spiritual condition. 01:40:32.020 |
I wanna just read four, one through six again, 01:40:41.260 |
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, 01:40:48.420 |
So as to live the rest of the time in the flesh 01:40:50.260 |
no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 01:40:53.000 |
For the time already past is sufficient for you 01:40:55.220 |
to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, 01:40:57.500 |
having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, 01:41:03.420 |
In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them 01:41:06.540 |
into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you. 01:41:11.420 |
who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 01:41:17.740 |
that though they are judged in the flesh as men, 01:41:19.860 |
they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. 01:41:22.940 |
So how are we to live our lives as believers? 01:41:31.560 |
If you address as father the one who impartially judges 01:41:41.700 |
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things 01:41:43.980 |
like silver or gold from your feudal way of life 01:42:06.260 |
you guys ever read "Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"? 01:42:14.220 |
And the name of the lion that represents God, 01:42:26.940 |
and the children, they meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, 01:42:29.900 |
and they're describing to them for the first time 01:42:45.340 |
"and the son of the great emperor beyond the sea. 01:42:48.420 |
"Don't you know who is the king of the beasts? 01:43:03.080 |
"I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." 01:43:06.860 |
"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver. 01:43:10.780 |
"If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan 01:43:14.980 |
"they're either braver than most or else just silly." 01:43:38.660 |
And that's from "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." 01:44:23.000 |
So this is for next week, verses seven through 11. 01:44:30.060 |
And then the last question that I want you guys to prepare 01:44:36.420 |
What gifts are you using to build up the church? 01:44:43.020 |
so you don't need to scramble to write this down. 01:44:58.780 |
Second question, are believers or unbelievers more surprised? 01:45:08.680 |
And third, what are some ways the members of your group 01:45:12.620 |
can pray for you and help keep you accountable 01:45:14.660 |
in applying the truths we see in 1 Peter 4, 1 through 6? 01:45:20.580 |
and then we'll dismiss into our small group time. 01:45:23.240 |
Lord, help us to walk in obedience and in fear, 01:45:32.900 |
not fear of the persecution and the suffering 01:45:35.460 |
that can happen as we live our godly lives here, 01:45:51.620 |
that we would be able to respond in all circumstances