“A Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble because the Christlife is inside him, repairing him all the time.”
C.S. Lewis
Prayer
Preparation, Price & Purification (love changes us)
1 Peter 1:22
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
We’re in 1 Peter. If you will recall last week we learned about God’s assurance on the past, present and future. That our salvation and His promised work is good throughout all of history. I’ll read the passage again, then we will pick up with the passage we want to focus upon this week.
1 Peter 1:3-25
Born Again to a Living Hope
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, [9] obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
[10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, [11] inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. [12] It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Called to Be Holy
[13] Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” [17] And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, [18] knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you [21] who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
[22] Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, [23] since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; [24] for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
[25] but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
———-
Verse 13 starts with a “therefore” so it’s there for something, right? It’s saying “since” God has handled the past, present and future, we are to do this…..
Let’s break it down this way.
Preparation, Price & Purification
As a reminder (to help us with our therefore) I just said this to the kids “Jesus paid the price for us……We cannot ever pay him back fully, but there is a cost to following Him.”
Luke 9:57-62
[57] As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [59] To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:16-22
[16] And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” [17] And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” [18] He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, [19] Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [20] The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” [21] Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [22] When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
So there is a cost. Since there is…. The Holy Spirit is helping us through Peter’s words here. He is instructing and equipping us with what to do.
Preparation
1 Peter 1:13-16
[13] Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
5 things
- Prepare for action
- Be ready to do something, not just sit around and talk about it
- Be sober minded
- Think clearly
- Set your hope fully on Jesus
- Lean on Jesus to guide you, nothing else
- Do not be conformed
- Obey the Lord, not yourself, not the world, not your old ways
- Be Holy
- totally devoted, totally dedicated
God’s word says our salvation should change us. We are becoming like Christ.
Adrian Rogers said “if your religion doesn’t change you, you need to change your religion”
Price
1 Peter 1:17-21
[17] And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, [18] knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you [21] who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
- The price was Jesus’ blood. His life. He paid the debt. Our penalty that we owed. Never forget it. Never tire of it. Never stop preaching it, never stop believing that truth.
- It’s not plan B, God knew (before the foundation of the world)
- Jesus is alive and at the right hand of the Father. Our faith resides there.
Purification
1 Peter 1:22-25
[22] Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, [23] since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; [24] for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
[25] but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
- You know what purified means? A purified soul?
- Not like the world, not sinful and morally corrupt
- Not self seeking
- Wholehearted devotion
- Sincere
- Changed
- Deeply loving
- Stretching love to the limits
So the whole thing is pointing toward our change, right? I don’t want us to entertain, “well…that’s just the way I am”. “I’m better on some things, but I just don’t want to do that.” What scripture is telling us here is that we are to strive…stretch to the limits our love that God has given us to love Him and to love others. That is the way of change.
The number 1 thing I see when I am working through difficulties with folks is the fact that they want someone else to change or circumstances to change, but some are unwilling or struggling to do the things that God calls us to do here in scripture. Y’all understand that? That the very first step to helping us through our issues is to get our lives in alignment with God. I’m not saying you are perfect and if not…just give up. I’m saying…if you haven’t started first with your relationship with the Lord and are doing what He says here….be Holy, pure, loving, then it’s really hard to overcome things with others, because if you’re not doing those things, then chances are you are being self centered, self focused and difficult. E.g. I don’t want to change, I just want you to change!!!
Soooooo…. The reason why v 22
[22] Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Love changes us.
——————-
Ike Miller
Some years ago, the superb young English evangelist, Henry Moorehouse, was invited to a Welsh mining town to hold a revival. The few Christian people there built for him a humble tabernacle—earth floor, four walls, a roof. He started preaching twice each day. The crowds came. Souls were converted. A church was organized. The meeting began to stir the town, becoming the talk of the streets.
One night as Moorehouse started for the pulpit, two of the church-members, men, called him to one side. “Brother Henry,” they said, “some of us believe you had better close the meeting tonight and leave town.” “Why, brethren,” questioned the preacher, “what is the matter? What have I done?”
“It is nothing that you have done, Brother Henry; it is what is going to be done to you.”
“What’s going to be done to me, and who is going to do it? You may as well tell me. I am not afraid. Besides, I cannot make up my mind properly until I know all the facts.”
“Brother Moorehouse,” said one of the men, “there is a wicked fellow in this town by the name of Ike Miller. He is the vilest, lowest, lewdest man we know anything about. He hates preachers, despises the church, abuses Christians, curses the Lord and the Bible. He told some of us to tell you that unless you close the meeting tonight he’s coming tomorrow night to break it up and pistol whip you out of town.”
Henry bowed his head in silent thought. “Brethren,” he said, “I feel very definitely that the Lord has brought me to preach to you. He will take care of me and of this meeting. I am not running. What does this Ike look like?” They told him. All the next day the preacher scouted and hunted all over the town to find Ike, to talk to him, but he could not locate him.
That night the tabernacle was packed and jammed. Henry gave out a hymn, then another. He called on someone to pray. The crowd sang again. The evangelist read his Scripture, announced his subject, led the congregation in another season of prayer, then began to preach.
He had just well started when the door opened with a bang to admit the bulky, burly form of Ike Miller. Moorehouse recognized him from the description he had received. Ike walked all the way to the front, sat down on the very first bench, and looked up at the preacher, as if to say, “Well, go ahead and do your stuff,” and settled down.
Henry closed his Bible. Once more he lifted his face to God to breathe a silent prayer. Then slowly, gently, clearly, he announced a new text, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
He preached a sermon on the love of God that would have melted the heart of a statue. Finishing, he called the people to their feet and led out in the invitation hymn. No one moved. Some few sang. In the middle of the second verse, Ike Miller turned about and heavily stomped out of the room. The crowd broke up at once. The men crowded around the preacher.
“Henry, of all the idiotic things that any preacher ever did, you’ve done the worst tonight. What does a man like Ike Miller know about the love of God? Why did you not tell him about the wrath of God and the doom of sin?” Moorehouse bowed his head as the hot tears scalded down his cheeks.
“Brethren,” he plead, “pray for me. Perhaps I have made a mistake, but I was trying to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.”
But the Holy Spirit had known what He was about. It was He who had spoken through the preacher to the sin- cursed heart of the wicked miner.
Ike Miller left the tabernacle blindly and staggered down the main street of the town. He passed saloons, gambling joints, places of infinitely worse repute. Men and women tried to stop him, but he shook them off and kept on walking. He came to the end of the street, turned to the right, walked about a half mile out on a narrow country road, came to a tumbled-down gate in a dilapidated fence enclosing a one-room, weatherboard shack, so old and decrepit that the light could be seen through the spaces between the boards. He made good money but drank and gambled and caroused it away.
He plodded toward the door and pushed it open. The room was bare. There was an old stove in one corner, a bed, a pallet, a table, and two rickety chairs. His wife was seated at the table working on some darning in a sewing- basket. His two children, a girl about ten and a boy about seven, were on each side of their mother, fussing over something in her lap.
They heard the door and looked up to see their father come in. Their little faces blanched with fear. The mother stood up, motioned the children behind her, and slowly backed up toward the bed. The boy and girl swiftly crawled under the bed. They thought the father was drunk, coming to beat up on them. The mother was willingly anxious to take all the abuse upon herself to spare the children. Ike knew what they were doing. He was a rotten sinner, but he had plenty of sense. His heart strained in his great body; his eyes began to smart with unshed tears. Walking into the room, he stretched out his arms and gathered his wife into them.
“Lassie,” he said, “you need not fear anymore. God has brought you a new husband tonight.” He pressed her to his heart while she sobbed. After a bit he released her. Kneeling by the side of the bed, he wheedled his children out. They crept up, saw their mother’s tears, and began to cry also.
Ike embraced them, petted them, comforted them, kissed them, cried with them. After a while, he turned to his wife. “Lass, we ought to pray.” All four knelt at the old table. The woman began to pray but broke down. All the pain, the torment, the passion of the abused years came out in her loud weeping. The children sobbed with her.
Ike raised his voice. “Lord,” he said, and stopped. “Master,” and stopped. “Savior,” and stopped. “Father,” and stopped. He did so want to pray, but he did not know how. His sinful heart broke. The long restrained flood of tears swept him in a mighty emotion of penitence and longing. Somehow there came to his mind an old prayer verse he’d learned at the knees of his mother. Lifting his head, he wept out:
“Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, Look upon a little child, Pity my simplicity, Suffer me to come to Thee.”
Ike Miller was saved and changed because Moorehouse preached love.
