"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58)

Behold The Man!

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold the man"! (John 19:1-5 KJV)

Krystal Meyers - The Beauty of Grace

032606

Christ Followers
A Part of the Church and the Body of Christ
1 Peter 2, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4
March 26, 2006


1 Peter 2:4-10 (Monday)
“As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, "and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (NIV)
1) Last week we found Jacob, one of the great patriarchs of our faith, having finally reached the end of himself, lying prone and wearily resting his head on a stone (Genesis 28:10-22!) This stone, the one true Rock, Peter addresses here as the living Stone! We learned through this picture we are given of Jacob, Christ’s purpose in going to the cross! It is Jesus that is calling us into this act of resting or dying to our own efforts, our own self-exaltation—any personal claim to “rights” or “wants!” This is required of anyone who would follow after Jesus. In this divine paradox, we find that it is in “dying” to ourselves (Matthew 10:37-39), that we gain a new and eternal life with Christ Jesus. Peter explains that having joined Christ in his death, we have now been raised with Him and share in the forming a holy temple to God the Father, one not built by human hands, but by the Spirit of the Living God!
2) As Christ followers we have come to the living Stone: (1 Peter 2:4)
a) This living Stone, Christ Jesus, “rejected by men but chosen by God and precious…”
i) “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone [ or cornerstone]…) (Psalm 118:22)
(1) Jesus is the Rock, literally translated “massive rock,” or “cornerstone” of the church (1 Corinthians 10:1-4!)
(a) “Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "…on this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:16-18)
3) The tabernacle and later the temples were all temporary dwellings of God’s Presence—foreshadows, glimpses of God’s divine plan and purpose for our lives! As believers, we have become “living stones” forming God’s spiritual temple.” (1 Peter 2:5)
b) “And I tell you that you are Peter..” (Matthew 16:18)
i) Peter is translated, Petros which means “piece of a rock.”
c) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV)
4) The original call for a royal priesthood (vs. 9) was given to the entire nation of Israel. This calling was conditional!
i) (Exodus 19:1-6), “In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt--on the very day--they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: `You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
b) The entire nation of Israel was called to meditate on God’s word and be a light to the Gentiles
i) Isaiah 42:6—"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,”
(1) The model for the priesthood fell to the Israelite tribe of Levi. Specifically, to Aaron, Moses’ older brother, and his descendants (Exodus 28:1.) The remainder of the Levite tribe served in the temple, but were not allowed to participate in the priestly duties.
4) According to the word of the Lord, the tribes of Israel were allotted a portion of the Promised Land—each assigned by the casting of lots. However, the priesthood (the Levites) had no such inheritance! God’s command was that the priests were to live as sojourners on the land allotted for them within the territories of the other tribes. Their food, income, dwelling—everything was from the Lord God. Why?
a) Their inheritance was the Lord (Numbers 18:20!)
5) While Israel’s calling was conditional, please know that ours is firm, set in stone, yes, that Rock—Jesus Christ! In Christ, all of God’s promises are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20!)
6) Don’t let fear hinder your call to the priesthood—you have been fully equipped by the Spirit of our God (
YOUR PRIESTLY ROLE
1) Reflect God’s Holiness
a) “I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45)
2) Offer Acceptable Worship and Sacrifice
b) Worship and sacrifice go back as far as Abel, Noah and the Patriarchs. King David left us a perfect example of the right attitude toward offering a sacrifice to the Lord. He said, “I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Samuel 24:24)
3) Offer your life
b) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
c) “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:11-14)
d) “I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” (Romans 6:19)
e) “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19b-20)
4) Offer your praise, good works
b) “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:15-16)
5) Offer your gifts, offerings
b) “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received…the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:18)
6) Discernment of God’s Will
7) You have been blessed to be a Blessing
a) To Fellow Believers
i) “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another…(Romans 12:10 KJV)
ii) “…serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
iii) “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
iv) “…remember [each other] in.. prayer” (Romans 1:9-10)
v) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other…” (James 5:16)
vi) “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1)
b) Represent God and Intercede for the Lost.
i) “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ…He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors…” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)
ii) “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men…For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Acts 2:40-47 (Tuesday)
“With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (NIV)
1) Do you think the “world” sees the church of this or recent generations as being wonderfully filled with such godly awe, the power of their fellowship and prayer being followed by the many signs and wonders? Why, or why not?
2) The early church was excited—on fire for the Lord and zealous for the brethren! So passionate in their faith, they met daily to break bread together and to devote themselves to prayer and praise! Not only did they fellowship in the temple courts, but in each others homes! They were so motivated by thankfulness and the love Christ and for one another, everything they possessed was willingly offered up for the common good of the entire church body. Do you feel that today’s church has this same self-less passion? Why or why not?
3) The loving actions of the early church won favor among those around them which resulted in more and more being added to their number daily! What did Jesus tell His disciples in John 13:35?
4) We are commanded to love one another deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22) “Deeply” can be translated as “exerting one’s self with all of one’s energy.” Sincere love is constant, enduring and unshaken.
a) “And now I will show you the most excellent way… Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:4-8)
5) Less we too harshly judge the present day church, let’s look at a major factor that may have played a major role in the loss of such close knit worship, fellowship, sincere devotion and love (Acts 6; 7:51-60; 8:1-4; 11:19-30.)
6) What do you think was God’s heart in allowing this to take place?
7) In case you haven’t noticed—the world is watching you (vs. 47!) You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16!)
8) What is light and what is its purpose in our lives?
a) Jesus, the Word of God made flesh is the light of men (John 1:1-5!)
i) Light is our armor (Romans 13:12!)
ii) Light exposes things hidden in the dark (1 Corinthians 4:5!)
iii) Light gives us the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6!)
iv) We are now light (Ephesians 5:8!)
v) We are sons of light and sons of day (1 Thessalonians 5:5!)
vi) We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, so we may declare the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9!)
vii) Walking in the truth of God’s light brings fellowship with God and man (1 John 1:5-7!)
viii) If we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we walk in God’s light (1 John 2:8-11!)
1 Corinthians 12:4-13 (Wednesday)
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (NIV)
1) Are you one of those individuals who feel you just don’t have anything to offer the body of Christ in the way of service? This passage clearly assures us otherwise. Each of us is gifted with at least one spiritual gift. They are all necessary for edifying, building up and serving one another, which lead to the furtherance of the gospel. Do you think our gifts are always in operation? Explain your reasoning.
2) Why do you suppose each of us do not possess all the spiritual gifts?
3) I’m stepping out on a limb here, but I truly believe this to be true. If you see a need, a service, a much needed word of encouragement or a ministry of any type that needs to be addressed (inside or outside the church body) and no one else steps up to the plate—that’s your spiritual gift and service! I truly believe that God would not allow you to see the need if you were not fully capable of meeting that need!
4) Okay, you don’t want to have a gift, much less use it—well, carefully read Matthew 25:14-30 and James 2:14-17!)
1 Corinthians 12:14-26 (Thursday)
“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (NIV)
1) I really can’t think of a single gift that is not necessary or needed by other members of God’s body! There may be some that humanly speaking may be seen as the “least” gifts, but what does Jesus say about that in Matthew 19:30; Luke 9:46-48!)
a) I think of my husband when I read this passage. Week after week, here is a man with sound wisdom, not to mention 33+ years of business, managerial and administrative skills, faithfully serving his Christian brethren by finding a place for them in the parking lot. He does not have the benefit of having a wife join him in life group, and because he also takes the weekly attendance count, he usually only gets 15-20 minutes of worship time, and by then, I think he’s too tired to fully benefit from Spikes sermon. Most people would outright reject this area of service thinking it beneath them, but I can’t wait to see the honor our Lord pours out on my man for being willing to humbly serve His God! Great role model—makes his wife very, very proud!
Ephesians 4:11-16 (Friday)
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (NIV)
1) Oh, our gifts have a purpose, what does vs. 12 say that purpose is?
2) When is that time when we all reach unity in the faith?
3) What does it mean to be tossed to and fro by life’s winds and waves?
4) What are some of the reasons we failed to mature, easily following the most current teaching fad?
5) How do we grow up in Christ?
6) How do the spiritual gifts and talents of others help us to be more grounded in truth?
7) If you prayed and asked God for any of the spiritual gifts mentioned in this week’s lesson, which would it be? How would you like to put that gift into action? What, if anything, hinders you from using your gift(s)? How steps can you take to remove any such hindrance(s)?
8) Dear child of God, in dying to ourselves—picking up our cross of service to our brethren and to a lost and dying world, we are working shoulder to shoulder with Jesus Christ (Zephaniah 3:9) and we are fulfilling His commands given in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20! That’s the abundant life—live it!

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