Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Up here in northern Minnesota, a lot of us like to go fishing because we have so many lakes available. Some mornings when we are getting the boats ready to go, we realize that we got a little bit of rain overnight. Even though the drain plug was pulled, there is still some water that you have to get out of the bottom of the boat, otherwise your shoes are going to get all wet. Many fishermen will reach for a sponge that they have in their toolbox. A sponge has very absorbent qualities in order to soak up liquid. In the Christian faith, we need to possess these same kinds of qualities by absorbing sin. Instead of retaliating against others who sin against us, like water in a boat, we suffer and soak it all up.
1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Because I used to work at a school each day, I used to deal with kids who sometimes would get into fights with each other. When you get hit or punched by somebody else, the first reaction and desire in our human nature is to want to retaliate, because we want to fight back. We want to avenge ourselves and punch them in return. This is a natural reaction caused by the carnal nature.
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
In Christianity, Jesus teaches us a different way. Just take a look at what He did for us at the cross. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son who has great power and authority. Everything that you see was created by Him. He is perfect, and sinless and never wronged anybody, yet he was crucified mercilessly on a cross in Jerusalem. He could have destroyed the entire world and fought back. He could have called out legions of angels to punish the wickedness of this world for what was being done to him. As God’s only begotten, He had complete authority to do that, but he chose a different path, He willingly chose to suffer and lay down His own life instead.
………Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:……
Suffering In the flesh is when others hurt you but you choose not to fight back. It’s being passive. This is the way of Christ Jesus. It is completely opposite from the mindset and teachings of this world. When Judas turned on Jesus and they came to take Jesus away at the Garden of Gethsemane, even though Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, (John 18:10), Jesus healed him right on the spot.
Luke 22:47-51 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Malchus was an enemy, coming to apprehend Him, yet Jesus completely healed him. Instead of avenging Himself and pouring out His wrath, He suffered it and extended a merciful act of kindness and to him instead. However we suffer, physically, emotionally or mentally, we are supposed to bear it, as Christ bore our sins. There are many people who profess to be Christian who go into courtrooms and sue others at the law, rather than suffering the wrongs committed against them. It’s not the way Christ, it’s the way of the flesh.
1 Corinthians 6:6-7 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Suffering with the wrongs committed against us shows that you believe in what Jesus did for each of us at the cross. When the Christian doesn’t retaliate, God will step in and retaliate on their behalf.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
Unlike Earthly battles that have been fought with other men, their battle will be with God. The Lord Jesus is watching and will avenge the wrongs committed against His own elect. The battle belongs to Him.
Luke 18:7-8 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily…..
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
When people were completely against him, when they spoke evil about Him and eventually sentenced Him unjustly to death on the cross, He resisted the urge to fight back. He could have destroyed them all, but he didn’t. He laid down His own life.
Hebrews 12:2-4 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
It’s because of His patience and mercy that any of us could ever attain eternal life.
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;…..
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any sehould perish, but that all should come to repentance.
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Jesus suffered and died at the cross because of our sins not his own. Christians are called into the same kind of sufferings when people sin against us, patiently waiting for God’s deliverance.
1 Peter 2:19-25 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
It doesn’t feel good when people hurt and sin against you. The carnal nature wants to fight back and inflict the same punishment back upon them, but when sin completely surrounds us, just like a sponge we need to learn to
…..soak it all up.
Let’s think about these things for today and Lord willing, we can talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody. ❤️
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