The circumstances of Peter's ministry now provide him opportunity to leave his flock with words to remember in his absence. Following the example of Jesus, who commissioned him and all the church to go and make disciples in Matthew 28, Peter gives his hearers marching orders which likewise will provide direction to the church after he has died. The death of the apostles might have been the end of the Christian church if God had not ordained Spirit fueled means of survival in the post-apostolic era. This book and the rest of the New Testament is that means coupled with the indwelling Spirit that would fortify the church of Jesus Christ to stand and expand for as many generations as He would tarry. (3:1) Peter indicates that this is the second such letter he has written to encourage the church along these lines. If Peter is referencing his letter we have recently studied (I Peter), than his audience is the churches of Asia Minor. However, it may well be that Peter wrote more frequently to various churches. At this time he is likely writing from prison, toward the end of his life and ministry. The apostle makes good use of the few days and months and the network of missionaries who carry his letters. By these means, Peter documents the solid bedrock of the faith and its applications which wold prove sufficient to preserve and equip the church for thousands of years. Today, let us lean closer with rapt attention to hear the last words of our forerunner in the faith. Given his calling to interpret and apply the Gospel and our situation surrounded by challenges to our faith, a sober church should treasure every word...

Providence Community Church

PETER’S COMMISSION – II Peter 1:1-15

In Genesis 26, the trajectory of events begins with turmoil that eventually gives way to gracious provision and covenant reassurance. These themes are marked by the naming of wells – Esek: (quarreling), Sitnah (hostility), Rehoboth (broad places), and Shibah (oath). These themes of Isaac's experience in Gerar are now playing themselves out in his family. The generational aspects of covenant succession are in view as we witness “esek” and “sitnah” in the home. In chapter 26, verses 34 & 35 signal a shift in the record from the account of Isaac's influence in the land to a behind the scenes look at his family. In our text today, there is no hero to root for save the providence of God. It is the sovereign hand of Yahweh, the true covenant keeper, that holds the promises of redemption together in spite of the efforts of four individuals threatening to upset the entire plan as each pursues his own self interests. The Apostle Paul reveals the purpose of these texts in Romans 9:8-13 when he writes: “...it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring...” Later he continues explaining why these events played out as they did: “...in order that God's purpose of election might continue not because of works, but because of Him who calls...”. Do any in Isaac's family validate themselves in this story? Certainly not. What we glean from Genesis 27 is salvation is by grace through faith alone. It becomes all the more clear, there is surely no one deserving & no one who could secure his salvation apart from Christ alone...

PROVIDENCE VS. DYSFUNCTION – Genesis 26:34-27:25

The duration of Isaac's stay in Gerar mirrors the experiences and growing influence of Abraham who preceded him. In Gen 20, Abraham enters this region as a timid sojourner only to witness the tables turn as God prospers him and the inhabitants increasingly recognize that he is “ a prince of God among them” (23:6). This is the confession of the Hittites as Abraham engages in negotiations for a burial plot – the only piece of property he laid tangible claim to in Canaan at the time of his death. Now we see his legacy continuing in the next generation according to both his weaknesses and his strengths. Just as Abraham's journey was marked by unfolding events between altar worthy visitations, so Isaac's journey is marked by the digging of wells. There are at least 4 of these significant places mentioned in Gen 26. They serve as milestones connecting the dots of Isaac's journey of faith even as they are named for thematic events which commemorate the purposes and providence of God throughout his days. These signal themes chart the course of Isaac’s journey in light of the covenant. Well springs of water are symbolic markers throughout scripture. We have witnessed Hagar introduced to Yahweh Himself at a well of water (21:19), the Angel of the Lord having preciously visited her at a spring of water in the wilderness (16:7). Isaac's descendents will encounter springs of water gushing forth from stone upon their return to this very land (Ex 17:6). And one day Jesus Himself will be asked one of the most important questions in history at the site of a well associated with Isaac's covenant son Jacob.... The Samaritan woman asks (John 4:12-14): “are you greater than our father Jacob?” Jesus the true covenant Son answers: Whoever drinks of the water that I will give will never be thirst again...”!

A TALE OF 4 WELLS – Genesis 26:6-35

The 5th 'Hallel' Psalm is unique in several ways. It is the shortest psalm and the shortest chapter in the Bible. It is situated near the center of the entire cannon. It extends the scope of covenant hope far beyond ethnic Israel's borders. Finally, It is cited as a primary prophecy of Gentile Gospel inclusion (Rom 15). As many have noted, though it is brief by word count, its theme is colossal. We are gathered in our assembly today in obedience to the call to worship expressed in this passage. It is common for songs of shorter length with weighty themes to be employed more frequently. The “Doxology” in more recent church history is an example. A song fitting for many occasions serving purposes of invocation, benediction, memory, instruction, and perspective. Ps 117 may have been such a song, sung frequently in festal, temple, and family worship. Furthermore it is easy to imagine Ps 117 as the very first hymn introduced by missionaries even in the Old Testament. I imagine the town square of Nineveh overflowing with converts following Jonah's preaching singing this Psalm with all their heart. I imagine a recorded version playing for hours on end as these same words are sung over and over translated into the tongue of every known language. I imagine Ps 117 sung by the multitude of Revelation, a crowd so great, no one can number, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb with one voice like the roar of many waters, like the sound of mighty peals of thunder...

ONE VOICE – PSALM 117

The letter of First Peter opens & closes with salutations appropriate for the encouragement of a body of believers facing trying times (1:2b) “...may grace and peace be multiplied to you” (5:14b) “...peace to all of you who are in Christ.” Other key features reinforce the apostle's purpose in writing. Perhaps the most succinct theme verse of the epistle is found in (4:19) “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” This verse providers the imperative/command, the surrounding passages, while the surrounding passages are brimming with reasons we can trust our souls to our Creator. Even as Peter employs the analogy of exile and pilgrimage in addressing outposts of believers in a pagan culture, he continually refers to the absolute certainty gleaned from the word and work of God in salvation. (1:3-5) (18-21) Our imperishable inheritance, (1:23-25) The forever Word of God, (2:6-7) Jesus Christ our cornerstone, (3:21-22) The resurrection & ascension, (5:10-11) The personal and specific intentions of God for His church through suffering. This concluding certainty reference can serve as an outline for the entire book...

SUFFICIENT GRACE & PEACE – 1 Peter

Abraham has died. The calling to sojourn in faith of obtaining covenant promises has now been passed to Isaac – the appointed son. We are about to witness another momentous occasion profoundly confirming the purposes of God to the next of Abraham's kin. This account is marked by striking parallels throughout. The experiences of father and son are remarkably similar both in blessing and in frailty. This context serves to communicate enduring truths of the Gospel in spite of the sins that easily beset every generation since Adam. In this way, history itself displays the hand of God as recurring themes are are set against the backdrop of similar events, attitudes, peoples, geography, hardships, nations and more... Isaac's experiences move us to ask important questions of or own calling even today. “Do we sojourn in the land of our future inheritance with the faith that our nation and our world are entirely the rightful claim of our covenant head, Jesus Christ?”. Concepts drawn from out text today are restated in I Peter. We are sojourners only in so far as we are dwelling in lands temporarily occupied by various nations and authorities who will ultimately be subdued by the true heir of all nations of the world: our ascended Lord Jesus Christ! How much greater His rightful claim! If the lands of Canaan were secured for the lineage of Abraham by the covenant obedience of the federal (representative) head: Abraham – how greater the assurance and certainty of our own inheritance in Jesus Christ whose perfect obedience to the will of the Father secured in substance what Abraham prefigured in type...?

THE NEXT GENERATION – Genesis 26:1-5

The “Reformation Study Bible” summarizes and introduces the Genesis record of Isaac and family in the following language: “The account of Isaac is one of conflict between Isaac and Rebekah (v:28, ch 27), Jacob and Esau (25,27,37), Jacob and Laban (29-31), Leah and Rachel (28,30), and finally and decisively between Jacob and the Angel of the Lord (32)”.... The notes go on to say: “Overarching the entire story is God's sovereign good pleasure (Rom 9:10-12). He opened Rebekah's barren womb, established the supremacy of Jacob over Esau, contravened human customs regarding first born rights, and overrode Isaac's patriarchal authority, Laban's social position, and Esau’s military might.” A major feature in this section of Genesis is the purposes of God in His glory and salvation advancing in spite of all the apparent obstacles standing in the way of His will. Time and again the covenant line is threatened by the fallout of the fall and time and again the plans of God prevail notwithstanding systemic conflict and sin. In our text today, the preliminary setting is Rebekah's womb. Indeed from the womb there is conflict within and without including bareness and strife. Yet through the womb there is miraculous provision. The covenant line of the Messiah continues anticipating the means of incarnation to come. Christ, the true significant Son, would be supernaturally conceived, even as His people will be born again by the Spirit of God. Furthermore, this people is elect from the womb as the scriptures go on on to make clear... Thus, “From the womb” of the covenant mother/bride, the story of redemption continues to unfold...

FROM THE WOMB – Genesis 25:19-34

Ps 116 is the 4th of the 'Hallel' set – songs chosen for worship of the Lord upon deliverance from Egypt under Moses. This particular hymn expresses worship for personal deliverance, reminding us that salvation in the Kingdom of God has both corporate and individual implications. God saves a nation, a priesthood, a church, a multitude, one heart at a time. How ought the heart of the delivered respond? Ps 116 answers. He ought to join the throngs of the redeemed in offering his praise and performing his vows. A 2nd title for Ps 116 could be: “Grace & Vows”. The entire framework of this song clarifies the relationship between God's grace and our obedience. Which comes first? Time and again the grace of God's deliverance precedes, enables, and inspires the praise of the author and sincere singer of Ps 116. A 3rd possible title historically may have been: “Postpartum Praise” as churches have relied on Ps 116 to provide the liturgy of thanksgiving after a mother had given birth in their congregation. The content of the praises and occasion lend themselves to accompany times like these. Nevertheless, our primary title is chosen from a moment in the Gospels where praise is offered to our Lord upon deliverance from a horrible affliction. Sadly, this heart of worship was demonstrated by just one of ten who were healed that day. I cannot think of a better song for a leper to sing as he returned to thank his Savior, Healer, and Lord. Read of this man's worship in Luke 17:11-19...

10TH LEPER’S SONG_6-13-21_Psalm 116

The biography of Abraham closes in Genesis 25 after a lengthy record of trial and blessing in the life of this pivotal patriarch of the faith. Abraham's legacy will continue however, through his family lines. At the end of his days, several themes which have followed his life story, and will accompany the ongoing story of redemption, are prominent. First: the unmistakable sovereign hand of God preserving His covenant promises against all odds is obvious and powerfully evident. Second: the distinction between efforts according to flesh and the seed born through promise (Gal 4:22-23) is featured. Third: the stage is set in the providence of God – even through the faith-lacking-sins of the fathers, for the earliest covenant promise to Abraham to be fulfilled. Gen 12 declares of Abraham that God will make of him a great nation and will give him a great name, and through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Gen 25 anticipates future fulfillment of these promises as nations are born from Abraham's sons, even those according to the flesh. The purposes of God in redemption (in spite of a 4th major theme: The persistent conflict between the 'seed of the woman' and ' the seed of the serpent') will continue to unfold far beyond the lifespan of Abraham and these purposes will be accomplished ultimately through the Son of Abraham according to a fifth theme: the birth of the significant Son yet to come...

TO BE CONTINUED_5-30-21_Genesis-25-1-21

Waiting is dangerous. Toward the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, He illustrated the call to vigilance between advents of redemptive history by way of parable. The parables of the 10 virgins and the talents (Mat 25) communicate proper orientation for disciples who find themselves called to faithful gospel service in the time between Christ's visitations. Peter echoes these admonishments to the churches in his charge at the end of his own ministry in his epistles addressing the “elect exiles” (his readers). Peter likewise warns the churches that the suffering and trials attending this “little while” between Jesus' ascension and the 2nd coming are harrowing. Without intentional preparation and equipping, the confessing church will not survive. Peter himself has experienced the dangers of following Christ even unto death. Underestimating the serious nature of the call of discipleship, he denied his Lord 3 times. The apostle knows the dangers of the Christian walk first hand. John Bunyan powerfully allegorized these themes in his enduring classic: “Pilgrim's Progress”. Time and again the Christian faces danger, peril, and sword within and without as he journeys toward the celestial city. Bunyan understood what Jesus and Peter had spoken to the church. The path to glory is paved with suffering, nevertheless, the Word of God is sufficient to prepare us to endure and more. Indeed just as the darkest hours of Christ's own earthly calling proved His most powerful moments in defeating the enemy – we can be assured that in Him we will be victorious through suffering as well. To do so we must heed the words of our text today...

VICTORIOUS SUFFERING_6-6-21_ I Peter_5-6-14

Suspense & anticipation continue to build in this exemplary faith and love story. Securing a covenant bride for Isaac, the Spirit of God has accompanied Abraham's servant and answered his earnest prayer. By ordering these events in a moving display of divine providence, Abraham's ambassador recognizes Yahweh has “prospered his way”. Indeed the servant's own faith in this journey has been welcomed by fruitful blessings. Now a second journey will commence, that of Rebekah herself returning with him to meet her would-be husband. For something like 3 weeks, this caravan retraces its steps back to Canaan bearing precious cargo. Indeed, the future lineage of Abraham and birth of the Messiah depend on success in this endeavor. At any moment in this chapter, how easy it would seem for something to go wrong, rendering the bride quest a pitiful failure. Nevertheless, God demonstrates once again that He orders the affairs of men to bring glory to His name and to advance His redemptive purposes. Matthew Henry writes of this account: “the making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah is told very particularly. We are to notice God's providence in the common events of human life, and in them to exercise prudence and other graces”. Perhaps we can add to Henry's commentary the following: “In the sequence of events unfolding, we behold striking parallels to the calling of redemption through the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto His bride, a message which goes forth yet today...!”

A PROSPEROUS WAY – Genesis 24:29-67

Abraham is now around 140 years of age, Isaac himself about 40, and once again the entire covenant hinges on one outstanding situation: securing a bride for Isaac. One could easily empathize with Abraham's reaction if he were to entertain anxiety and frustration at this juncture. However Abraham is a mature man at this point in the record, not just in years, but also in faith. The patriarch commissions his trusted servant to secure a wife for his son from his kindred people. These events have been foreshadowed in the text (22:23) where we learn Abraham's nephew Bethuel has a daughter named Rebekah. Parallels and contrasts abound throughout the Genesis account of Abraham's life and lineage and this chapter is no exception. Whereas Abraham's nephew, Lot, bore daughters of immorality and scandal, Bethuel's Rebekah is introduced in our passage as a virtuous woman of faith. While Abraham's earliest years were sometimes marked by compromise, at this stage he will make no concessions that might jeopardize the covenant. Furthermore the calling of Rebekah herself will mirror that of Abraham as she journeys to a promise that will be revealed along the way. This miraculous faith and love story unfolds in a spectacular display of God's sovereignty across 550 miles as the purposes of God defy the odds yet again proving that Yahweh is Lord of His covenant and history...

COVENANT BRIDE QUEST – Genesis 24:1-28

Psalm 115, the 3rd of the 'Hallel' songs sets forth a clear perspective for the discerning. If Yahweh is creator/ruler of all reality from the heavens (realms beyond our tangible grasp), to earth (the domain of human beings)... How are we to view our relationship to Him and how are we to weigh the claims of His enemies? The psalmist’s logic is transcendental. He answers these questions from an over-arching vantage point. As created beings, we can only exploit created resources to advance the foolishness of idolatry. Idolaters cannot construct, conceive, or promote anything without commandeering created resources granted to us by the steadfast love and faithfulness of the One True Sovereign. Every notion is inherently and inextricably dependent on the faculties and provisions granted us by the Maker of heaven and earth. As such, every attempt to deny, subvert, or supplant the Almighty inadvertently and ironically testifies to our folly and His authority. Given this reality, Ps 115 serves to rouse the people of God from the slumbers of discouragement unto praise as the bluff of the ungodly is called via God-breathed satire reminiscent of Is 44:9-20, where the prophet exposes the deluded heart of the unbeliever who cannot so much as admit the absurdity of burning half a tree for fuel and worshipping the other half. Historical contexts for the use of Ps 115 further illustrate its value in trying times. II Kings 18b-37, for instance, records the words of Israel's enemies at the time of Hezekiah. How should God's people confront the message of the 'Rabshakeh' of the king of Assyria? What of our day? Do we live in an era and among a culture steeped in brash defiance against their creator? The whole scale assault on the created order is evidence enough of idolatrous propaganda blasting through the loud speakers of our culture. Ps 115 reminds us that the Word of God is louder still...

THE GLORY-WORTHY NAME – Psalm 115

 I Peter chapter 4 closes with a statement which could serve as the summary theme of Peter's entire 1st letter: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”  Our last message from I Peter closed on this verse which raises an important question: 'Who can we trust with our souls?' -or- 'Who DO we trust with our souls?'.  A million voices claim to be trustworthy for the stewardship of our mental/spiritual health, and our own hearts often betray a tendency to trust the claims of parties competing for our soul's investment.  We can identify with the first readers of this letter.  They received these words of exhortation during times of uncertainty and conflict.  When our world is shaken, our bearings are questionable, and the anxieties of life are amplified, the care of our soul is all the more paramount and the sources of our peace of mind need to be carefully vetted.  To navigate the challenge of soul care during trying times, a church would do well to take Peter's words to heart.  The apostle closes his instructions with an appeal to the church.  The priority of his closing exhortations makes sense as one considers the church's responsibility as a primary means of discipleship in a culture hostile to the Biblical worldview.  The officers and congregants of Christ's bride must be equipped to direct their attention to their faithful Creator and encourage others to do the same.  They are to do this by means of the grace supplied to the assembly who trust their crucified, risen, and ascended Savior to secure their eternal destiny.  I Peter provides clear direction not just for a ticket to heaven, but for faithfulness in the Kingdom of God.  

SOUL STEWARDSHIP – I Peter 5:1-5

Toward the end of his days and upon the death of his beloved wife Sarah,  Abraham finally secures his first legal claim in the land of promise.  Burial preparations for Sarah provide occasion to negotiate for a cemetery plot that will house the bones of three generations of patriarchs awaiting the promises of God to be fulfilled beyond the grave.  This event profoundly illustrates faith superseding death as Abraham continues to walk according to the original calling summoning him in chapter 12.  His sojournings have led him to secure a title deed as pledge and security of God's promises to make of him a great nation with land and legacy of significance.  These events transpire in Hebron.  Little did Abraham know that this small piece of property would be central to events and family pilgrimages far beyond his day.  Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah would all join Sarah in this tomb.  From Hebron, Jacob would depart for Egypt during famine.  This region would become the property holdings of Caleb, the faithful sojourner, who received land from Joshua upon the conquest of Canaan centuries later.  Hebron would serve as a Levitical city of refuge.  David, the great king, would reside here as well, in the place of his anointing.  All this and more was fruit of Abraham's testimony of faith even as he approached the grave himself, burying his wife along the way...

DYING IN FAITH – Genesis 23

Christ Centered. Reformed Theology. Sermons from Providence Community Church in Crosslake MN. Soli Deo Gloria!

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Providence Community Church

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