Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday December 20, 2009

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Myrrh - 1 Peter 4:1-6

At baby shower - what would you do if you opened up a beautifully wrapped package/contained embalming fluid?  An understanding has set in concerning the gifts the wise men brought.

Frankincense: deity of Christ/Gold: royalty of Christ/Myrrh: suffering of Christ

Cf. Jn. 19:39

Peter: have an attitude of valuing myrrh.  There developed in the early church an attitude of valuing suffering in the name of Jesus.   

So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.  Acts 5:41 after flogging

For to you it has been granted (gift of grace) for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake… Philippians 1:29

…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings , being conformed to His death... Philippians 3:10

…even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.  1 Peter 3:14

Some in the early centuries of the church valued martyrdom so much they would deliberately provoke the authorities to kill them.  The church had 2b told not pursue martyrdom.  So many wanted to receive the gift of myrrh because Christ set the example.

One of Peter’s themes is that Christ is an example for us.  He tells us that what happened to Jesus will happen to us/we should respond the way that Jesus did.  Cf. 2:21-24; 3:17-18.   

Christ suffered in the flesh.  Make soma/sarx distinction.   

Due to His claims, Jesus physically suffered.  If you’ve seen “The Passion of the Christ”, you have something of the idea of the extent of His sufferings.  Around the world today, many who follow Jesus are suffering physically – especially in countries controlled by Islam/ communistic dictatorships.  In China/Iran/Iraq/Pakistan/India/etc. are those who have been burned out of their homes/beaten/thrown in prison/murdered.  The myrrh that was brought to Christ is continually being brought to the church.

Since this is so – arm yourself w/ the same purpose/attitude – to physically suffer for being a follower of Jesus, if need be.  If God so chooses to visit your life w/ myrrh, be ready to receive it.  Don’t reject it, but receive it as a gift.  Weaponize your soul – your enemy is fear.  Cf. Acts 5:41.  Cf. v12 – Peter is writing 2a people who aren’t prepared for the physical suffering of persecution/not armed themselves/ defenseless.  RU ready for even social persecution?

Suffered in flesh/ceased from sin – This can’t apply to Jesus for He lived a sinless life. This can’t mean that someone who has suffered physical persecution no longer sins.  The Bible nowhere teaches a sinless perfectionism.  (NASB marginal note: suffered death = the one who has suffered physical death no longer sins.  OK, but he also doesn’t do a lot of other things, too.  Plus, this is true of anyone.)   

What is it to cease from sin?  We asked one Chinese pastor who suffered 14 years of imprisonment: ‘What did you learn from such experience?’ He replied: ‘I learned obedience through suffering.’ As Jesus learned obedience through the things that he suffered, so many Chinese Christians have come to learn to submit their will to God’s. In prison, one experiences a deprivation of freedom, which is equal to a denial of one’s will. Christians in prison had to accept the reality of their helplessness/learn to abandon themselves solely to the mercy of God. Christians in China testify that suffering in the flesh has enabled them to experience the power of God in overcoming the power of sin in them.  One house church leader in central China was formerly plagued with the sins of adultery/stealing. After he became a Christian he still felt the urge to fall back into these sins. Later he was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, and his prison experience cured him of the urge to lust after women and of his desire for stealing.

Christians in China have come to understand that they are called to share the suffering of Christ/bear his disgrace. They interpret the last 34 years of prolonged suffering as a gift of God’s profound grace to the Chinese church in cleansing her from her impurities/in testing the genuineness of their faith and loyalty/in training them for obedience and progress unto greater maturity/in enabling them to gain a deeper experience with Christ.1

The gift of myrrh, physical suffering, purifies the desires.  Arming yourself for remaining true to Christ come what may purifies the desires – Joseph/Daniel.  This is why some say that persecution would be the best thing for the church in America. Receiving the gift of myrrh is to make a decisive break w/ sin.  You’re no longer shaped by your desires, but by God’s desire 4u.  Struggling w/ finances in thinking of planting a new church – I armed myself w/ the purpose/attitude of ‘whatever it takes’.  I ceased from worrying.

Suffering in the flesh has a profound affect upon the direction of one’s life, as does arming yourself w/ the attitude of embracing/ enduring suffering when/if it comes.  May you say to the Lord: Whatever comes my way, I will serve You.”   

Some of you are struggling in your marriage.  You would be greatly helped if you were to say to yourself/God – “No matter what, I am going to love him/her.  I am going to fulfill my vow pledged in front of God/witnesses.”  Arm yourself w/ the purpose of endurance/ faithfulness.  This will help to purify your desires and cut down on the inner chaos.   

Suffering/arming yourself purifies your desires and frees u2 live fully for Christ.  Missionaries: we already died.

3  To purify is to eliminate. Look at all the things eliminated.  Someone who has suffered for Christ/armed w/ that purpose has no regrets about not living that life anymore for they have no desire for that life anymore.  How can I regret that which I don’t desire.  I don’t regret the fruitcake sales for I have no desire for them.   

4 They think it a strange thing that you don’t party w/ them anymore -  they can’t figure it out.  There’s been a change on the inside.  You’re no fun anymore.  And since you no longer do what they do – they malign/blaspheme you.  Your new course serves as a sting to their conscience.  In order to silence their consciences, they seek to drown it out by roaring at you.  Some of you here have friends who became followers of Jesus b4u did/you mocked them.  Paul: kick against goads.

5-6  They’re judging you and they totally miss the fact that it is God who is going to judge them.  God is the Judge of each person/every generation.  Those who have died had the gospel preached to them.  And even though they had to die, because the body is dead because of sin, they are now alive in spirit before God.  Meaning: the party is going to end one day.  Your eternity will be determined by whether you have lived for the lusts of your own pleasure or whether you have lived for the will of God through Jesus Christ.

The gospel is being preached to you.  4u a Savior is born.