This Encouragement letter went to 150 ministers in India.  The root of it was from a message I shared with the Journey Church in Lebanon, Tn.

Brothers in Christ, I pray that this message will assist you in walking together in the things of the Lord.  As well, may it also give you insights for your respective congregations that you pastor and lead them as well into Godly living.

Our text is I Peter, chapter 3, verses 8-12.  The preceding chapter speaks of submitting to authority and so do the verses in this chapter.  This idea of submitting is most hard for us as Children of God.  We often take the stance of being independent because of being born again, filled with the Spirit, and having knowledge of the Scriptures. I believe that Peter understood pride and the spirit of being independent of others.  His life was filled with examples of speaking before he listened to the Lord.

Peter starts this section of his letter with " To sum it up".  He is wrapping up what he has said in the previous verses with some important directions so as to accomplish what it means to be in submission to one another. Peter uses what is known as "imperatives" in his writings. Such as;  "Therefore Gird your mind", "Therefore, putting aside", "Submit yourselves", "Keep your souls".  He is calling for the readers to get ready to listen, pay attention, and get into the actions of his teachings.

Peter is not going to let those reading this letter escape from all that he has taught in the previous verses. He intends to show them the way and close the door to any who wish to take it with light heartedness.  He wants their minds and hearts to be heavy with the reality of walking out their relationship to God in real ways in a real world that is watching and the absolute need of harmony among believers.

Peter is in essence commanding, ordering, urging, etc. the readers to a godly life style.  The very idea of imperatives is to prepare against an occasion.    He is calling them to actions because there is a consequence of inactivity to the truths he has laid out for them.

Let’s get to Peter's "To sum it up" proclamation before us and examine why Peter is calling for a tentative heart to these things.  We will do so by examining these words: Harmonious, Sympathetic, Brotherly, Kindhearted and Humble in Spirit.

Harmonious   Greek word transliterated Humothumadon ( Homo thoo ma don).  It means to be  with one mind, with one accord, with one passion.  A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to "rush along" and "in unison". The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ's church.

Sympathetic means to suffer with.  In an obsolete meaning it denotes agreement in quality and or disposition.  Using the word disposition...it clarifies this as a state of being that we as brothers and sisters should have when we see others in circumstances that are not good, we should desire to understand and have grace and mercy toward them.  It is beyond a mental observation, it is actually walking through the circumstances with them. (of which we could not have this disposition if we do not already have Harmony with others.)

Brotherly :  Greek transliteration is adelphos...  simply signifies a family/brotherhood. It is only used in Peter 1st letter (other uses  2:17 and 5:9)  "The word “brotherhood” is somewhat like the word “church” (it describes a “group” of fellow Christians who are both male and female)." 

Kindhearted:   this is simply the idea of being tender. Christians should have a tender heart and not one that is hardened by life's circumstances.  For me it creates the picture of a mother tenderly caring for her baby.

Humble in Spirit:  Best meaning in the context..... to have a modest opinion of one's self,  as well it is a part of one's demeanor when giving corrections because you to have been in that place of needing correction.  It is not being simple minded but rather simplistic in approach, but not with a haughty attitude.

These five attributes are the outward actions of the Nine Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

From these particular words that describe what we must be like Peter moves on to the don'ts.    No evil and No insults......these need no interpretation. Simply do not allow these things to be a part of one's life.

Then he describes how we are to speak to others by giving a Blessing, because it is what you are. The word blessing in the Greek is Eulgeo  --  yoo lo gat o  -- it is the act of pronouncing a blessing on something.   This is where we get the English word Eulogy, which is the act of extolling the virtues or achievements of a person.  We as God's people are to give "good words", a blessing, toward others.  We reap what we sow.  James says, "Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?".

Peter's last few words in this section, gives a warning to those reading that there are consequences to not having the aforementioned things in their lives.  These are quotes and are supported by Ps.34:12,13...34:14, 34:15-18...Proverbs 16:7

We see from verses 10 and 11 that there are actions required of God's people.  Our words portray our hearts, which is where our minds frame our words. If we go back to Peter's "To sum it up" words, we find guide lines that will lead us to the right words.

Verse 12 brings forth a promise of God, not a statement, such as "I hope you can do good. "  It is very emphatic --- For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.....And His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

 Parallel passages:

 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.. (NASB) Prov. 28:9

So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood (NASB) Isaiah 1:15

If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; (NASB) Ps 66:18

 

In closing, I wish to remind ourselves, as Peter was reminding the readers, that we must have these characteristics in lives or we will find our prayers hindered and the blessings of the Lord are stopped.   It would be good that we all looked at our lives to see if the Harmonious, Sympathetic, Brotherly, Kindhearted and Humble in Spirit attributes are in our lives.

I pray that it is so with you, for I desire to hear that your prayers are unhindered and the Face of our Father is ever upon you and that He is blessings the works of your hands in the Kingdom of God.

 

Your brother and fellow-worker…. Brother James Ulmer

Unity Among Brethern

Psalm 133 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

To me this is one of the most beautiful passages in the Word of God. It paints a picture of that which is desired by God for unity among His children. Precious oil here signifies value, something that is not just the “run of the mill” product. We can sing, have the same doctrines and teaching. We can serve in the same church, fellowship in meetings and have the semblance of being together or as some would call it “unity of fellowship”.

Most Christians regard oil as a symbol of the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. In thinking of Psalm 133 , this is where my mind always goes. The idea of the Holy Spirit being the oil that causes unity. We cannot have unity unless it is derived from God’s way of forming it. How one perceives of unity creates the pathway one walks and talks unity. Is our idea of unity flowing from God’s design?

Listen to Paul’s call to the Ephesians: “ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3 "He called these believers to “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

As leaders of churches and ministries, we should be about seeking unity. Not in the sense of getting along together ( no strife) or in a gathering to proclaim we believe the same things, but rather the “flow of unity” that is caused by being surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. We can exercise the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and walk in the Gifts to the Church given by Christ yet we often show a lack of Unity in the Spirit. The Unity of the Spirit is about being in a life style of surrender to His leadership in all things and not about our perception of how we think unity should be.

When unity is present, then David’s proclamations is being lived out: “For there the Lord commands the blessing – life forever.” We are ascending to His ways of Unity and not descending to our thoughts of what unity should be.

Paul’s language to the Galatians shows us how to know that the “Oil of Unity” is present. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” 5:22-25

Allow me to encourage you all, along with myself to pray, for the unity that allows us to be in step with God’s Spirit that calls and causes us to be in true Unity. May the Oil of the Spirit reveal anything that prevents you from being brethren that dwell together in unity. Pray for revelation of how to seek that unity of the Spirit daily so that you will experience “the blessing, even life for evermore.”

I am praying for this Unity of the Brethren to fall upon you during your gathering today. Seeking His Grace for us all…….Brother James Ulmer