A litmus test for believers

Terry Ellis

1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted 9 months ago • Presented 9 months ago

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It was in the 14th century that scientists discovered that litmus, a mixture of colored organic compounds obtained from lichen, turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and, thus, can be used as an acid-base indicator. Six centuries later, people began using litmus test figuratively. It can now refer to any single factor that establishes the true character of something or causes it to be assigned to one category or another. Often it refers to something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that can be used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable or not.

1 Peter 2:1–3 NKJV

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Three questions that we often hear.

1. How Would You Change Your Life If You Won the Lottery (Assume It’s Millions of Dollars)?

2. How Would You Change Your Life If You Won the Lottery (Assume It’s Millions of Dollars)?

3. If You Only Had 5 Years Left to Live, How Would You Change Your Life Now?

Grandpa was always going on about the good old days, and the lower cost of living, in particular.

“When I was a kid, my mom could send me to the store, and I’d get a salami, two pints of milk, six oranges, two loaves of bread, a magazine, and some new blue jeans—all for a dollar!”

Then Grandpa said sadly, “You can’t do that anymore—now they got those video cameras everywhere you look.”

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

I. Malice

The opposite of virtue and lacking social value.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Beginning to Grow up (vv. 1–3)

Malice, an attitude similar to hatred, is the desire to inflict pain, harm, or injury on another person. It includes the holding of grudges and acting out of these grudges against others.

II. Deceit

Taking advantage of people.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Beginning to Grow up (vv. 1–3)

Deceit refers to deliberate dishonesty, to speaking or acting with ulterior motives. Anything less than speaking the full and honest truth from the heart is deceit. This vice is the selfish, two-faced attitude that deceives and hurts others for personal gain.

A famous art collector was walking through the city when he noticed a mangy cat lapping milk from a saucer in the doorway of a store and did a double-take. He recognized the saucer was extremely old and very valuable, so he walked casually into the store and offered to buy the cat for $2.

The store owner replied, “I’m sorry, but the cat isn’t for sale.” The collector said, “Please, I need a hungry cat around the house to catch mice. I’ll pay you $20 for that cat.” The owner said, “Sold,” and handed over the cat. The collector continued, “Hey, for the $20, I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer. The cat’s used to it and it’ll save me from having to get a dish.”

The owner said, “Sorry buddy, but that’s my lucky saucer. So far this week I’ve sold 68 cats.”

III. Hypocrisy

To be an actor

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Beginning to Grow up (vv. 1–3)

Hypocrisy has an intriguing history. It comes from a verb meaning “to answer.” A hypocrite originally was simply a person who answered. Then the word came to mean “an actor,” a person who takes part in a stage drama, specifically the interactive narrative parts of question and answer in the play. From there, this word came to mean a person who is acting out a part and concealing his true motives

IV. Envy

jealousy

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Beginning to Grow up (vv. 1–3)

It is a resentful discontent. Envy is “the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others”

V. Evil Speaking

slander/ defamation

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Beginning to Grow up (vv. 1–3)

Envy often finds expression through slander of every kind—the final behavior attitude that Peter mentions in verse 1. “Slander” (katalaleo) literally means “to speak against someone.” It suggests running others down verbally. It is speech that deliberately assaults the character of other persons. It is any speech that harms another person’s status or reputation.

Small minds discuss people.

Average minds discuss events.

Great minds discuss ideas.

VI. Desiring the Word

Hunger for God’s word

VII. Tasted God’s goodness.

Good/ desirable.

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

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