The Ministry of the Holy Spirit IX - Living Grace Fellowship

Sunday 02/16/14

Topic: Review: Co-partnership in His Sufferings VII

Series – The Ministry of the Holy Spirit IX.mp3

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Key Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12

1 Cor. 8:1-13

Rom. 14:1-23

Partnership in sufferings

To begin with we went back over 1 Peter 3:8-12 which we ended with last week. We did this because this verse as translated in the English, has the unfortunate effect of making us think it is all about us. Let’s look at it,

“Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.” ~ 1Peter 3:8-9

This meaning if this verse is much better understood from the ISV version which reads like this,

“Finally, all of you must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble. Do not pay others back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.” ~ 1Peter 3:8-9

In case it is not obvious the problem with the former version is the selfish bases for the action which I drew attention to by placing the words in BOLD and underling them. New Covenant behavior is NEVER motivated by selfish gain! The reason we bless and not curse is because blessing is our inheritance…it is what we have and are continuing to receive from God. Therefore, God is here only asking us to freely give to others (even our enemies) what we have freely received and in so doing suffer the loss of a PERCEIVED “right” to retaliate. This is part of our co-partnership in suffering.

The last verse I will address here which we covered in teaching is Romans 12:17-21. This passage is a beautiful passage showing a Christian’s perspective of suffering as being a right and a privilege springing out of the lavishness God has shown us as his children.

“Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people. Do not take revenge, dear fiends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.” But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For is so doing you will heap up, burning coals on his head.” Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” ~ Rom 12:17-21

The entire passage speaks of God as the arbiter who is aware of the wrongs we suffer and the Christian’s responsibility to pass all judgement on to God. We are not to right our own wrongs! We are called to differ judgement to the One to Whom it rightfully belongs – God. He WILL repay. It was through knowledge of this that such godly hearts as Jesus & Stephen cried out to God, “Father forgive them, they wrong me in ignorance”. Why cry such a prayer to God for ones enemies? Because they knew they were blessed by Him, to bear His Name and represent His Kingdom, and they also knew that the righteous judge of that kingdom will not fail to take notice of injustice suffered by His servants in His name. He will repay. So our Lord Jesus and Stephen in like manner cry out to God to spare them judgment due to their ignorance though such ignorance led their enemies to kill them!

Towards the end of such a beautiful picture we see a glimpse of something which doesn’t seem to fit into the rest of the passage…something appearing like an indirect attack on our enemies. It says, “For is so doing you will heap up, burning coals on his head.” Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” Does this mean that we should do good so that it might tick off our enemy? That we should patronize them by treating them as tender and helpless children and thus further stir their anger? If so, this command could hardly fit in a worse setting, for all the author has said up until now speaks love, deference and kindness. Not only that, the next words out of Paul’s mouth is “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” sAgain, not the words of a vindictive man encouraging the patronizing of our enemies.

So what does this phrase mean?

Well there are many “theories” out there and most seem to think that Paul is encouraging a type of retribution accomplished through kindness, but again that does not fit all he has said throughout the passage, but is in fact hostile to what he has spoken. This leaves me with only one other conclusion so far as a I as aware. In the east (both far and middle) people customarily kept the coals in their hearths warm at all times so that upon a moment’s notice it could be fed and stoked into a flame, both for warmth and for food. From time to time a person’s hearth would go out, either by negligence or foreseen circumstances which required one to go to their neighbor to ask for some hot coals. This is hard to imagine in the modern western world but in that day hot coals were valuable. To ask for some was quite embarrassing in that you were essentially announcing to your neighbor that through your incompetence you are found in need to impose upon your neighbor’s good nature. The embers of these coals were very hot and so one did not carry them out in front of them for the heat rising off of the coals would be prohibitive. The transport vessel therefore, was a pan which one would carry upon their heads (their heads being protected by a cushion) which made carrying them home much safer and more comfortable. So the etymology of this phrase is most likely referring to this practice of hospitality among neighbors. Due to the value of these coals, many were not often given and one would have to create a full fire from just s few starter coals. So to have them “heaped up” was actually an act of lavish provision. This is in keeping with the tone, mood and flow of this passage so that one who is deserving of retribution is made to know lavish kindness! This sounds like the same God Whose goodness, leads men to repentance! – Rom. 2:4

Co-partnership in His Sufferings VII

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Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!