Putting away the words of death for the words of GOD (1 Peter 2:1-3) “THE CURSE OF THE OLD MAN”

1 Peter 2:1-3 1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

From what God does to what we do The first word is “So” or “therefore” Hope, called to obedience But look back at Chapter 1:22-25 A fundamental belief of the early Christians was that God’s Word, His Words create and sustain life 2:1 is connected to 1:22 All the things listed here will eventually lead to you speaking The verb here implies that YOU put these things away like dirty clothes AW Tozer

Changing Clothes Romans 13:12, Eph. 4:22, Hebrews 12:1, Romans 6 Malice, Kakia, Evil or Wickedness Socrates and friendship walks You know it when you see it or you’re in it Deceit, Guile- “deceitfulness that harms others through trickery or falsehood” or “mouse bait” Hypocrisy, “mask inner evil with outward righteousness” or “pretending” Envy, “Do painters envy singers?” Slander, defame, belittle, backbite These types of clothes don’t fit someone with your type of hope

Babies and Milk Verse 2-3 Immature Christians are people that don’t attend to and feed on the Word of God And those are the ones that end up acting like babies “Pure” Not watered down “Spiritual” logikos “Grow Up Into Salvation”—Now and Later Psalm 34:8, Psalm 1 What Word or words have you been feeding on? How have they been coming out?

The Curse 2 Kings 2:19-22 Elisha is about to replace the greatest prophet ever People don’t trust him, he doesn’t trust himself He speaks the Word of the Lord and heals the water with something that should make it unfit to drink, this is about GOD!! It brings healing and it validates him as Elijah’s successor, overturning the curse of Joshua We are in the same spot as followers of Jesus The only way to heal an unfruitful life, church, and world is to speak the creative Word of God, to take it in

A Prayer of Longing Dear Jesus, we come before you today craving more craving, hungry for hunger, thirsty for a thirst you alone can slake. Make us wholly and holy uncomfortable—so faint, that unless you hydrate our hearts with the gospel, we will surely perish. Even if we we’re swimming in an ocean, sitting under a waterfall or standing in front of an open fire hydrant, life is dry and weary without you. For it’s a dangerous thing to no longer desire deep fellowship with you, Jesus. It’s a deceptive thing to enjoy you, but no longer actually need you. It’s a deceitful thing to be satisfied with correct theology about you, without experiencing vital communion with you. It’s a demonic thing to find our ultimate satisfaction in anyone or anything else but you. Stir us up, Jesus. Stir us up. Jesus, only your steadfast love is better than life—only your contra-conditional, irrepressible, unwavering affection for us is enough. Nothing else will do. You have created a gospel-shaped vacuum in our hearts—a screaming empty place that fits only you. Forgive us when we try to cram human love, creature comforts, or anything else into that Jesus-shaped place. Don’t let us be so easily satisfied. Give us redemptive discontent until our hearts rest again in you. Jesus, we’re not making this request just for ourselves, as individuals, but for our churches as well. Forgive us when we get so organized, creative, and “right” that we no longer miss your presence. Is it really you we’re following, or are we just following new spiritual trends? Is it really you we’re serving, or are we just serving ourselves as religious consumers? Is it really you we’re worshiping, or are we just worshiping worship? If you actually “left the house,” how long would it take before we knew the difference? In all honesty, Jesus, how much of what we do in our churches doesn’t require the Holy Spirit at all? Show us, convict us, forgive us, and change us. Lord Jesus, as we get closer to Holy Week, let us see and experience your power and glory, in fresh ways and obvious. You are the God of the living, not the dead—the God of resurrection and life. We want to lift our hearts, voices, hands, and whole lives to you as a sacrifice of praise. May the truth and grace of the gospel satisfy us as the fattest and richest of foods. So very Amen we pray, with longing and expectant hearts.

Psalm 19 GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. The law of the L ORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the L ORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the L ORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the L ORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the L ORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the L ORD are true, and righteous altogether. GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O L ORD, my rock and my redeemer. GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.