A life that is not Photoshop

Title: A life that is not Photoshop “A living stone and a holy people”        

 Text: 1 Pet 2: 4-12                                                                                    

Preacher: Rev. Jesse Amiel A. Ramoso                                                    

Objectives: A life that is transformed by God through living in a pure testimony that is worthy to be called priests of God. 

Watch the introduction here:...

Introduction: The technology of communications of today flourishes to the highest peak. Many of viral images and video posts are trending. Recently, the video of Gwiyomi trends, and I saw some of our young people are also posting the same video. My facebook page, flooded with these kinds of videos full of likes and comments and share, this sometimes amusing but it is also annoying. However, not only video post that keeps us amused. Few months ago I recently got a program that post images like this “picture on screen”, picture of me in Paris. This is photoshop, it looks like I been there but not yet. Our Christian life and walk are sometimes like this. We tend to fake and show some fake-images of ourselves; it is only a product of photoshop lifestyle in order for us to keep our good image, while neglecting God’s command us to post the image that he want’s us to present to the World.

In this passage 1 Peter 2: 4-12 remind us of our main responsibility of posting our true image as chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation God’s possession. This supposedly the image what we present to the World; however, it is not convincing that we are living this way. We wonder why it’s not accomplishing to us, no matter how much effort we made but still it will not accomplish something. Today we will learn some principles on how to achieve this through the Word of God.

Passage:

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house [a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 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.”[b] 7 Now to you who believe, this stone are precious. But to those who do not believe,” The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”[c] 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”[d] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

Watch in Video: Part 1..

1. 1 Peter 2: 4-8 The rejection of a Living stone. Just to understand of what does it mean a living Atone being rejected, let’s visit the common scenarion between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders.

a.      The story of Jn 5:1-15 is the example of how Jesus a living stone has been rejected by Jewish leaders                                                                                                                                          V2: Bethesda with five Colonade “suggest that this is near in the Temple in Jerusalem”

                          V3: great numbers of disabled people used to stay to wait for miracles.

a.      V4-5: Paralyzed for 38yrs

b.      V6: Jesus asked Him,….

c.      V7: This reply has implications: Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

The way paralyzed answer Jesus reflects the kind of faith Jewish has during Jesus; they based their faith on the following…

1.      Conditional or contractual faith…faith that is base on conditions; Abraham  practiced this Gen 18: 28-33: “if get

 (45, 40; 30; 20, 10) Common phrase: what if Lord?

If you do this Lord…? Abraham’s faith failed! Not until he learned to offer his best Isaac, he never become father of faith. Unless we become selfless and willing to offer our best to God, then we’re still immature and might fall into this trap.

2.      Conpensational faith. Faith that base on ROI, return of investment. Gideon practiced this. Elijah and Jonah did this not until he received a fresh delivery that raven brought food to him Lessons: Ilijah complained: God itu po ba ang kabayaran sa paghihirap ko syo? Gutom, hirap at banta sa buhay? Hunger, difficulties and life thretening …Ah, teka magkano bang akin dyan? Pag ako ba’y aattend dyan ganito ba kikitain ko? Illustration: nanakaw ang motor dahil nag simba sya

.

3.      Occasional Faith. As long as the occasions is high “when the angel comes and stirred up the waters” I will get held. We are just like a bending machine; maglalabas lang ng products after nabayaran na ng tao. Gideon did this: mahilig tayo sa shomai Show me money muna Lord “show me this and show me that”.

Examples: as long as business is ok. Pag hiniwalayan/break-ups/may party/may pa birthday/Christmas/summer camps/financially stable. Reverse:

4.      Human manufactured/ assumed faith. “as long some body get’s first on the water…belief of Jews. How did Abraham and Sarai achieved God’s plan in human manufactured faith? Now this becomes consequences “the Islam Word”. Soemtimes we do our own way and assumed that GOD will bless us. This is critical because once you fail, you will blame God. Then you will complainto God at Sasabihin mo,Lord it’s unfair!

What therefore is the right faith?

d.     V8: Then Jesus said….. “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk…”

It is essential or important for us to understand God’s direct instruction. Here, get up, pick your mat, walk. Simple instruction: according to (Anselm of Canterbury’s motto: Faith seeking understanding). The right faith is to understand God’s specific instruction before doing anything. We cannot just simply assumed. Boom, here’s a good example; the paralyzed man got healed after he heard Jesus instruction to him. Pagka akala natin ganito lang kadali ang pinapagawa ni Jesus sa kanya: Infairness: this a violation of the Sabbath Law, that ended up a major disfute between Jesus and the religious leaders. What was the scenario look like when after Jesus healed this paralyze man; it’s not in the Bible; but it’s in our common sense…..dramatize the scenario. Fully Obedience to Jesus!

Watch in video: Part II

Because they rejected Jesus as Messiah, therefore, they were blinded to see the power of Jesus performed to this paralyzed man; they try to find ways to discridet Jesus by violating the Sabbath law by picking up the mat and walking.

e.      v:16 They plan to kill Jesus because of this miracle. This scenarion created tension between Jesus and the religious leaders in the Temple.

Jesus was rejected as a Living Stone inspite of miracle he performed.

2. 1 Peter 2: 9 -12 Chosen people, a roya priesthood, a holy nation.

                       watch part III

                  1. Peter’s perspectives: Chosen people, priest: exo 19:6 The Priesthood of the believers is not new.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 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. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

            2. Royal priesthood: combination of Prophet, King and High priesthood.

            a. Only Melchizedek and King David had opportunity to hold this position. Abraham, Melchizedek, and Messiah (Hebrews 7:1-10)

                                    It is overwhelming to know that we are priest of God not just a believer. The priesthood of the believer was one among of 95 thesis of Martin Luther. That is why this scripture reminds us of who we are and what our responsibilities to God.

I.               A life that is worthy to be called priest of God.  9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 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.

a.      The job of the priest or high priest is get inside the tabernacle and offer sacrifices once a year for the sin of all people. It was not easy to be a priest before Jesus time, it is limited to a few people. The qualification was very strict, and instant death inside the Holy of Holies if sin found in the life of a priest. Through Jesus, the original plan of God that all his people should be a priest has fulfilled through the believing and obeying Jesus.

II.             A life that is lived in holiness. Paul’s perspective as a Priest: 1 Pet 2: 11-12 and Romans 12:1-2 Paul and Peter complemented each other. Offer our body as living sacrifice: to offer is a job of a priest. This is the way Paul presented us that we have a priestly authority. To bring offering to God, and that is our life. As priest our responsibilities are…

a.     Acts 6:4 “devote ourselves in the Word and in Prayer.

In this context: The Apostle decided to leave their basic (practical responsibilities) and focus to the Word of God. As a church that launches small group (although) being practical in our teaching; we need not to neglect the pure Word of God and prayer. Let us avoid the same mistake of other churches who practiced practicality and neglect the Word of God. Let’s focus on the facilitating the Word that is preaches on the pulpit to make sure nan a apply natin po ito.

Example: The small group implementing the pulpit message. As a facilitator of a small group; our job is to make sure our faith will be put into action. What we heard on Sunday Word must apply to our daily lives; help each other and pray one another...

b.     Follow the paralyzed man’s faith; a full obedience to God, no bargaining like Abraham, not in compensational basis like Elijah and Jonah, and not a self manufactured faith like Sarah and Abram. The faith that we need is to fully obey God after we clearly understand his instructions. Today the instructions of God to live holy and fully obedience to Him. This is how we can fulfill that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Instead be a channel of God’s glory to spread the good news, and to be a vessel of God.

Conclusion.

The moment we hear God, like a paralyzed man, we don’t create reason and excuses instead hear and instantly obey him. It is a self deciet if we will wait for us to become able, whereas, the requirement is just to hear Jesus and obey his instructions. Like the paralyzed man we’re instantly able to do things if we know how to hear Jesus and obey him. For us today, we are not paralyze physically, but spiritually we paralyze ourselves by refusing to do our responsibilities of being a priest. To some, they don’t like to take the responsibilties as a priest because they don’t like to live the lifestyle of a priest. To study his word, to live holy and to do the call of God sacrificially.

The priesthood of believers is not a calling but a responsibilties. It is a default settings installed to us the moment we accept Jesus as Lord and savior, the moment we become his children. Therefore, there is no excuse that we avoid ourselves into the ministerial responsibilties. All of us are responsible in reaching out souls, discipling them and bring them to the kingdom of God. It is a direct disobedience to God and not to church if we don’t take this as our responsibilties. It is also our responsibilities to live a Godly like character, holy and worthy to be called childeren of God. Therefore, we are the image of God on Earth, if this image does not seen in our lifestyle then we cannot expect this people will come to know God. The God that we know will reflect in our lifestyle, then this will be a sign to the unbelievers that there is trully God on Earth; through living our life according to His word, holy and acceptable in the eyes of God and to the people arround us.  This is how to live a life without photoshop; meaning no fake images that we present to the world. Wherever we are, we present to the world that we are worthy to be called chosen people, royal priesthood a possession of God.  God Bless!

If you believed you heard the God today, put your faith into action by obeying or doing what you exactly heard today.

Small Group Questions

1.     What area in your life that you feel you are paralyzed?

2.     What area that you feel you are strengthened and transform by God?

3.     Have try to take the responsibilty of being a priest in your family, friends, or in your offices?

4.     What area do you want to improve as a priest of God.