Introduction: 1 Peter 2:4-10 "Psalm 122 - I was glad when they said to me, come to the House of the Lord. Where else in this world can you go to hear such a message of hope; You are chosen, You are special, You are the people of God - Opening Prayer
Illustration: I have an interesting item to show you today. I found this stick along the bank of the Clark Fork River, near the Alberton Gorge in Western Montana. Notice how dried up and twisted it now looks. It looks like one of those "magic wands" you see in movies. At one time this was a branch of a large tree. It was part of something that had life. We can only imagine where this tree might have first sprouted, then sent roots diving into the soil to anchor in for the mountain storms. Its first few years would have been spent struggling for good soil, water and sunlight to secure its place among the much older, straighter Lodge Pole Pines that surrounded it. But judging from the size of this one branch, I would say this tree had grown considerably. As these trees grow, the branches often bow toward the ground, having been shaped by the weight of months of snow. The moister that is drawn up through the roots provides nutrients for internal growth. The cool mountain air keeps the branches moist on the outside allowing moss to grow and hang down as much as three or four feet. The moss that hung from this branch housed bugs and spiders for the birds and became a major source of food for Elk in the winter. Wherever it is that this tree and this branch began, I am certain it played a vibrant role in the life cycle of Bitteroot National Forest. At first glance things like this stick draw our interest. We think the twisted lines and deformations give it character, We place things like this in our gardens for looks. We hang them over our mantles. We make walking canes out of them. But the sad reality remains. This is the dried up remains of something that once had life. It became twisted and bent because something separated it from that which gave it life. Many things happened to this branch after it left the tree. Having spent 4 winters in the Montana mountains I can only imagine the extreme conditions this branch suffered during its journey from the base of that tree to the banks of the Clark Fork River. What I want us to see today is our need to stay with our source of life, Jesus. In Chapter 2 of 1 Peter, the Apostle draws a similar analogy for his congregation. Because of the prevalence of wooden and stone idols in his time I believe Peter had them in mind as a clear contrast to the living God we serve.
Textual Idea: Because Christ is the Cornerstone, we are to be living stones that build a spiritual house based on acceptable sacrifices.
Sermon Idea: A Holy House isn’t made of Dead Wood
Division 1: We are to be Living Stones not Dead Wood
Explain: vv 3-4
"if indeed, you have tasted" = your salvation (there is a false salvation people count on that is not what Jesus provides) works, head knowledge not heart knowledge (even the demons believe - yet they tremble because they Him not as their Lord) No only SxG-FnJ; knowing Jesus as Savior without having Him as Lord isn’t possible // if indeed you have tasted = if indeed you have placed your faith in Jesus you have submitted your life to His Lordship because ... the moment you receive Christ you receive the Holy Spirit whose # 1 mission in your life is to enable you to follow Jesus with your heart and then your hands. This is the purpose for which you were created. This is the purpose for which you were recreated. Chris Tomlin - You Are My Treasure: Faithful Lord, fill my cup, with your grace and love, your grace and love. The pleasures that this world’s sure of will never be enough, can never be enough. Cause I’m created, for you alone, bought with a price I’m not my own. Seated in the heavenlies and there’s no place I’d rather be than with You forever Lord. You are my treasure."
v. 5 "you also, as living stones" = Holy Spirit in you moves you toward Christ likeness //
Christ is the Living Stone therefore we are also living stones
While that sinks in let’s take ...
Application: A look at different types of stones in the Bible:
Uncut Stones: (to make alters untainted by human works - man cannot effect a sufficient sacrifice)
Smooth Stones: 1 Sam 17 - (to defeat evil)
Living Stones: 1 Peter - (to make a Spiritual House)
Precious Stones: Rev 21:11 (to reflect the glorious light of God)
These different aspects of stones give us a little insight about ourselves.
If I took a diamond, a very large diamond and began trying to shape it with a power grinder we could all see what a mess I would make of that diamond. However, when God shapes our lives it’s called laser surgery. He makes us into smooth stones that are effective at spiritual warfare. We are not only alive with His Spirit, we are like precious stones that reflect, not our own light, but His.
In sharp contrast to the images of the New Jerusalem -
Illustration: If you’ll notice that piece of drift wood hasn’t done much since I laid it over there. And unless something or someone comes along it will sit right there, doing nothing. Soon its attractiveness will wear off and it won’t even be noticed unless someone has to step over it. Get the picture? Some of us are in danger of becoming dead wood, our connection with Jesus is being severed. Some of us are already separated from Jesus and we are drying up. But the difference in you and that dead wood is that you have the means to get right with Jesus and get back to work in His house.
1st Point: We are to be living stones not dead wood.
Division 2: We are on the materials list for the Spiritual House Jesus is building.
Text: v.5 "you, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house"
Reasoning: Unless you are building an igloo you need different materials for different purposes to construct a house.
Things needed to construct a house:
1.To construct a house you need different materials for different purposes.
This concept describes the use of the gifts in the local manifestation of the Body of Christ. Just as a song takes many notes, chords and rhythms working together in harmony to be a joyful noise, White Oak Baptist Church requires the use of many spiritual gifts in order for ministries to be effective and its prayers to be as golden bowls incense to the Lord. Rev 5:8 I do not intend today to go into detail on the appropriate use of gifts in the church. But I will say this: Every believer is endowed with spiritual gifts. Not all believers within a congregation will have the same gifts. There is no one gift that every believer possesses. There is no gift missing within a congregation that would prevent it from accomplishing what God has tasked it to do. If God has charged with something, He has both equipped and empowered you to accomplish it. Spiritual Gifts are specifically for the perfecting of the saints and building up the body. It is inconsistent with the Biblical teachings on Spiritual Gifts to promote the idea they are intended to prove God’s presence within this congregation. Jesus performed signs and wonders for that purpose. This is my last comment on gifts today ... If you are trying to have enough faith to exercise a specific gift, you are hacking away at a precious diamond with a hatchet.
2.Just as a building needs firm ground under it, spiritual gifts need the firm foundation of Jesus as the head of the Church to be effective.
Illustration: Matt 7 and Luke 6 Parable of the wise home builder: We can take all our gifts and figure out just where everyone needs to be and when in order to make it happen. But it will completely fail unless it is built on the Solid Rock. Tell story of Logan Carson "On Christ the solid rock I stand."
Application: It takes more to make a house a home. It takes more than a building and religious programs to make a church a spiritual house.
Worship in Spirit and Truth - John 4
Effective Praise - Psalm 115:17, 2 Chron 7 Dedicating the Temple
Presence of the Lord - 1 Kings 9 The Lord consecrates Solomon’s efforts
3.Finally to build a house you need something to hold the parts together - ever build anything with nails too short, try to hammer wood screws because your wife moved your philips head screw driver.
1st Point: We are to be Living Stones not Dead Wood
2nd Point:We are on the materials list for the Spiritual House Jesus is building.
Finally,
Division 3: We must keep our lives and ministries acceptable to Jesus.
Explain: v.5 " a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God"
Reasoning: The religious activities by professional clergy do not relieve the rest of Christianity from the mandate to serve as a holy priesthood.
Illustration: The Old Covenant Priesthood
1.Offered Sacrifices
2.Interceded on the behalf of God’s people
3.Judged
4.Entered the Holy of Holies (God’s Presence)
5.Provided a buffer between God and the world.
Application: All that fell away when the Temple Shroud was torn. Today as New Covenant believers you fill those roles.
Application: What makes materials no longer useable? What makes our sacrifices unacceptable?
Studs cut too short to use again get burned - let God shape you
Studs cut unnecessarily get wasted and burned -
Materials left out in the weather or on the ground become wet and soiled - they need a covering, they need to be put to use as soon as possible (covering = anointing; use your gifts)
Green blocks need to be dried before they are set under a heavy load - develop your gifts under the leadership of a mature mentor
Conclusion: Ask yourself three questions today:
Does my spiritual life show signs of life?
Where do I fit in this house? What do I add and what do I take off to fit?
Is what I am joined to connected to the foundation?
Ask your Father three questions:
In your eyes do I appear as dead wood?
Have I been placed in the pile of scrap material?
Am I made of something you can use?
