Good Morning All!
What a tremendous blessing having you all here today!
I'm very thankful for each one of you...
Each day we look up at the great expanse of the universe and Almighty God looks down upon it!
Heavenly Father,
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this precious gift of another. I thank You and praise for the honor and privilege of Your calling, guide me use the spiritual gifts You have
graciously entrusted to me to build up others. Guide me in all my interactions so others are blessed
and You are glorified in all I say and do. Show me who to talk to, where to sit, and how to
encourage others with Your Word. Help me be a vessel of encouragement
as we see the Day of Christ drawing nearer. May Your love compel each us to strengthen the
weak, bind up the injured, and serve others patiently as we remember our
service to others is service to You. Cause our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths to exalt your Holy Name. Open our eyes and ears to Your message today, open our hearts to see the glorious hope we have in Christ Jesus.
In Jesus' Precious Name we ask and pray.
Amen
Let us begin with the Word of God....
"Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror."
Let us begin with the Word of God....
"Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror."
A Word to Husbands
"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."
Called to Blessing
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For
“He who would love life And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Suffering for Right and Wrong
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed."1 Peter 3:1-16
What can we discern from the Word?
God is telling us to get our house in order..
So what IS reviling?
Reviling means to criticize harshly. to speak in an abusive way, to speak hostilely, angrily or in an insulting manner.
Name calling, to say means things or to speak in a condemning manner.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived."
1 Corinthians 6:9
"Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
1 Peter 2:22-25
Notice that Jesus, Who is our example.. DID NOT RETURN REVILE!
JESUS TAUGHT US HOW TO DEAL WITH PREJUDICE, RACISM, SARCASTIC COMMENTS, HURTFUL WORDS & MEAN SPIRITED PEOPLE, AGITATIONS AS SAINTS OF GOD.
DO NOT RETURN IT!
"Do not render evil for evil"
Commit to the Righteous Judge!
"Submit to good authority"
Let me make it plain...
The Founder of this thing laid down the guidelines… NOT His followers!
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen."
Matthew 28:16-20
WHO WAS ALL AUTHORITY GIVEN TO?
Jesus!
What? Not you or me??
GO AND MAKE DISCIPLE OF WHERE?
of ALL the nations!
That means there's no room for prejudices or racism in His churches!
The body of Christ is as One!
TEACHING THEM WHAT?
Observe ALL things that I have commanded!
That doesn't mean we get to pick and choose what we want to observe/obey!
Peter had a vision of the racism of his day....
Jews and Gentiles.
That was until God's Word came down!
“DON’T CALL UNCLEAN WHAT I HAVE MADE CLEAN!”
"you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
But you are
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.Living Before the World
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul"1 Peter 2:5-11
What profound and precious truths we find here!
Being in or out of the body of Christ is an issue of obedience and disobedience.
We are not a people or nation in and of ourselves, we are NOW His people!
This is the last time the Bible uses the word “priesthood”, used to describe a multi-racial church!
If we are obedient, we are in the body of Christ, all citizens of His Kingdom, as one people!
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."
Hebrews 12:22-24
"And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation"
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation"
Tribe = Race or clan.
This church as it all!
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 3:27-28
Paul was saying in the church, racial, economic, gender differences are not to be recognized!
But the church had all of these different types of people in it ...
All of these issues are issues of understanding and responding properly to God's Authority!
"Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman."
Numbers 12:1
Interracial Marriage?
Moses was Hebrew/Egyptian
His wife was Ethiopian/black
NOW UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE… Aaron & Miriam were family, so, they can talk plainly to Moses, but they had no right to attack his authority as a God called leader!
"So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream.
Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house.
I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream.
Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house.
I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”
"So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!”
So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!”Then the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again.” So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again. And afterward the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran."
Numbers 12:9-16
Now I know there are some of you get all fired and fussed up about interracial marriages...
I have even heard of some pastors who would not perform a marriage ceremony because the couple was interracial..
But listen up!
There are many interracial marriages among God's people...
Irish/Italian, French/Greek, British/American etc..
However, black/white is always the extreme more widely noticed.
In a “PERFECT WORLD” it would be no problem. However, we do not live in a perfect world!
It would be silly to pretend that our culture and society does not put extra pressures upon a family.
Because it does!
But pressure should never come from within the church and the body of Christ!
Your personal FEELINGS on race should never keep you from accepting or marrying a couple!
SCRIPTURE AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY should guide all of our decisions, on this issue as well as others!
I could have had a BIBLE STUDY about interracial marriage, but I will not!
But let me say this...
Young people need to obey the wishes of their parents in dating.
And Yes, I do have Bible Scripture for that!
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:1-4
"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
Ephesians 6:1-4
"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
Colossians 3:20
Now May I Say Something To The Parents And Grandparents Here...
If you don’t honor the wishes of another parent with their child, you may just reap that rebellion in your own children.. or
Someone else will begin to undermine your wishes with your children.
REMEMBER: JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER SAINT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE SPIRITUAL OPTION OF ABANDONING YOUR PLACE OF ACCOUNTABILITY!
"Commit to a righteous judge"
Allow me to make my point here...
Every problem, every issue we face comes back around to these same issues, OBEDIENCE and AUTHORITY!
Now I do not believe that God struck Miriam because she did not like interracial marriage..
They were Moses' OLDER Brother & Sister, so in the family, Moses would be subject to them.
But she made the mistake of challenging Moses as the delegated authority in Israel because of a family disagreement!
Church, do not make the issues in your home an issue of the church!
Miriam did not like Moses wife, Scripture doesn't specifically say it was an issue of race or not!
Just because Scripture notes his wife was of a different race, it does not say that it was the basis of Miriam's dislike for her!
MIRIAM DID NOT LIKE HIS WIFE...
Beneath her disapproval of Moses’ choice of a wife lay a deeper problem of ambition and insubordination. Consequently, God reminded her of Moses’ divinely appointed leadership and chastened her with leprosy.
She could speak with her brother… but had no right to revile against God’s Authority!
CHURCH ME MINDFUL NOT TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE!
Note that God chastened Miriam with leprosy for seven days ... disciplined and restored!
Why did God back up Moses' authority?
Because he was under it!
He was a meek man...
Authority GIVEN by God - is not ATTAINED by position!
You cannot “attain” spiritual authority by just looking for a leadership role, but only by relationship!
Only natural authority is obtained that way!
Example: Politician, police, military officer..
BUT GOD GIVES AUTHORITY TO WHOM HE CHOOSES --- NOT TO WHO BEGS FOR IT THE MOST!
DID YOU HAPPEN TO NOTICE... that God’s cloud departed from over the tent when this rebellion occurred?
Anyone know why?
BECAUSE whenever rebellion and reviling are in the body… God’s glory lifts and the cause is delayed!
GOD’S GLORY CLOUD WILL NOT COME BACK UPON THE TENT UNTIL THE REVILING WORDS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH - AND THE ISSUES OF AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN SETTLED!
In closing ....
Many people consider themselves obedient to God - but not his delegated authorities.
Anyone who is truly obedient will learn to LOOK for God’s authority EVERYWHERE they go & Respond accordingly!
Whenever there is a reviler - there is a rebellious heart!
We should treat a reviler as leprous!
Keep them at arms length.
Paul spoke of men that taught a specific doctrine concerning the slave/master relationship…
"He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."
1 Timothy 6:4-5
Listen, we all have conflicts.. Offenses will come
But remember the words of Thomas Jefferson
"Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle”
"Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble."
Psalms 119:165
Here is something for you all to consider...
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!"
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Notice the responsibility rest on the shoulders of the one who is wounded…
Go to him alone, if the problem is resolved, DROP IT!
Take one or two more saints of God, try to work it out with some level headed saints.
Take it to the church leadership. Elders first… then onto Pastoral Authority.
If they will not accept correction then Church discipline is in order - it is out of your hands.
Whatever you do, don’t just ignore the problem. "Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath."
Learn to care more about the body of Christ then you do your own personal friendships and feelings.
That my brothers and sisters... is how a TRUE Christian responds!
WE AS A CHURCH MUST LEARN TO RECOGNIZE & OBEY THAT THE AUTHORITY OF GOD AMONG US!
And now for the blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
Now May I Say Something To The Parents And Grandparents Here...
If you don’t honor the wishes of another parent with their child, you may just reap that rebellion in your own children.. or
Someone else will begin to undermine your wishes with your children.
REMEMBER: JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER SAINT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE SPIRITUAL OPTION OF ABANDONING YOUR PLACE OF ACCOUNTABILITY!
"Commit to a righteous judge"
Allow me to make my point here...
Every problem, every issue we face comes back around to these same issues, OBEDIENCE and AUTHORITY!
Now I do not believe that God struck Miriam because she did not like interracial marriage..
They were Moses' OLDER Brother & Sister, so in the family, Moses would be subject to them.
But she made the mistake of challenging Moses as the delegated authority in Israel because of a family disagreement!
Church, do not make the issues in your home an issue of the church!
Miriam did not like Moses wife, Scripture doesn't specifically say it was an issue of race or not!
Just because Scripture notes his wife was of a different race, it does not say that it was the basis of Miriam's dislike for her!
MIRIAM DID NOT LIKE HIS WIFE...
Beneath her disapproval of Moses’ choice of a wife lay a deeper problem of ambition and insubordination. Consequently, God reminded her of Moses’ divinely appointed leadership and chastened her with leprosy.
She could speak with her brother… but had no right to revile against God’s Authority!
CHURCH ME MINDFUL NOT TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE!
Note that God chastened Miriam with leprosy for seven days ... disciplined and restored!
Why did God back up Moses' authority?
Because he was under it!
He was a meek man...
Authority GIVEN by God - is not ATTAINED by position!
You cannot “attain” spiritual authority by just looking for a leadership role, but only by relationship!
Only natural authority is obtained that way!
Example: Politician, police, military officer..
BUT GOD GIVES AUTHORITY TO WHOM HE CHOOSES --- NOT TO WHO BEGS FOR IT THE MOST!
DID YOU HAPPEN TO NOTICE... that God’s cloud departed from over the tent when this rebellion occurred?
Anyone know why?
BECAUSE whenever rebellion and reviling are in the body… God’s glory lifts and the cause is delayed!
GOD’S GLORY CLOUD WILL NOT COME BACK UPON THE TENT UNTIL THE REVILING WORDS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH - AND THE ISSUES OF AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN SETTLED!
In closing ....
Many people consider themselves obedient to God - but not his delegated authorities.
Anyone who is truly obedient will learn to LOOK for God’s authority EVERYWHERE they go & Respond accordingly!
Whenever there is a reviler - there is a rebellious heart!
We should treat a reviler as leprous!
Keep them at arms length.
Paul spoke of men that taught a specific doctrine concerning the slave/master relationship…
"He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."
1 Timothy 6:4-5
Listen, we all have conflicts.. Offenses will come
But remember the words of Thomas Jefferson
"Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle”
"Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble."
Psalms 119:165
Here is something for you all to consider...
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!"
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Notice the responsibility rest on the shoulders of the one who is wounded…
Go to him alone, if the problem is resolved, DROP IT!
Take one or two more saints of God, try to work it out with some level headed saints.
Take it to the church leadership. Elders first… then onto Pastoral Authority.
If they will not accept correction then Church discipline is in order - it is out of your hands.
Whatever you do, don’t just ignore the problem. "Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath."
Learn to care more about the body of Christ then you do your own personal friendships and feelings.
That my brothers and sisters... is how a TRUE Christian responds!
WE AS A CHURCH MUST LEARN TO RECOGNIZE & OBEY THAT THE AUTHORITY OF GOD AMONG US!
And now for the blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you
The Lord life up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
And be gracious to you
The Lord life up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries