The Problem with Perspective by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we will be reading from the book of 1 Peter chapter 2. Before we begin with the scripture reading, I want to speak about perspective. There's a saying that perspective is your reality. Your perspective isn't really the truth to things, but it's your mind's idea to what is real. 

        I want to give you a definition of the word holiness. It's being wholly set apart, consecrated, and moral purity. In a rare occasion, the definition in scripture is similar to what is defined in the world. 

        Giving to others is spiritual but you have to be not only a cheerful giver but also a cheerful receiver. There are a lot of angles to view about giving. There's a difference between living a life of perpetual sin and a mistake.

        To be consecrated before God is to where your faith butts up against your will and the iniquity your flesh harbors. There are things you need to lay down and pick up on this path that you and I are both on. You just laying down a sin doesn't mean that you are holy. This means that you are without a sin.

        Perspective doesn't mean anything because there have been generations of man chasing after his own selfish desires instead of God.

        Let's read 1 Peter 2, beginning with verse 1.

        Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.

        Peter understands the things he lists in verse 1 which you have to make the decision to lay down. When you have conflict in life, God doesn't care whose fault it is. Verse 1 is a large net cast over carnal behaviors.

        2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

        3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

        4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.

        5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

        If you seek holiness, God will reveal to you what you're carrying that's listed in verse 1. We don't start at holiness. We begin at repentance, then baptism, then the receiving of the holy spirit before holiness. Let's move down to verse 10.

      10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

      11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

      12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

      13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme;

        Today we are fine with what Jesus went through on the way to the cross and resurrection, but we bristle against payment on a personal level. The disciples too went through things for their faith as well. You have to be disallowed, obtain and seek mercy, lay down fleshly lusts, and speak with evildoers.

        You are subject to everything in the world. Holiness is a hard lesson. Persecution will come to the church so you shouldn't be surprised when you face persecution. Self-righteousness is created by your flesh. Holiness is a gift from God. When you keep quiet where your flesh wants to talk, that's an example of holiness.

        To love the brotherhood. Who are we talking about? It's born-again believers. Offering spiritual sacrifices is tied to giving of yourself. Let's read verse 18.

      18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

      19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrogfully.

      20 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.

      21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

        Whether people are right or wrong in presenting your faults to you, you should take it with patience. We are going to move past man's theologies and school of thought and focus on holiness through the scripture.

        Peter was there and involved in Jesus' ministry. Despite this, he was subject to self-righteousness. There's enough room for error in this walk. Lay down the sin and pick up holiness.