Got Milk

Text:

1Peter 2:1-3:

1: Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

 

Theme:

Got Milk?

 

Introduction:

• The Apostle Peter wrote the First Epistle of Peter to console those suffering from persecution outside of the church.
  • Can we identify with this pervasive problem?
  • Sociology says — “In any situation, the only person whom you can change is yourself.”
• This brings to memory the gospel song à “A change, a change, has come over me. He changed my life, now I’m free.”
  • We can glean a good overview of a change from the text:
    • Verse 1 cleans up
    • Verse 2 builds up
    • Verse 3 looks up
  • The text then becomes a type of introduction by Peter…foundational for the rest of the epistle
    • as Preparation – Needs to happen
    • as Prerequisite – Has to happen
    • as Precursor – Ordered to happen
  • Without this introduction, there is no need to go forward into the chapter because it does not apply to you.
  • 1Peter 2:9 says it best, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”
    • Without this introduction, the “chosen generation” isn’t referring to you.
    • Without this introduction, the “royal priesthood” isn’t referring to you.
    • Without this introduction, the “holy nation” isn’t referring to you.
    • Without this introduction, the “peculiar people” isn’t referring to you.
    • Without this introduction, you are not living in “His Marvelous Light”.
  • The primary focus of the three verses is upon the 2^nd verse which implores the reader to

“desire the sincere milk of the word”

• From this focus we arrive at our theme:
  • There was a series of commercials on television, in magazines and on countless billboards. The commercials emphasized the importance of daily drinking milk as valuable source of calcium and other nutrients.  However, the commercials depicted this notable concept with a picture of a famous person holding a glass or carton of milk in their hands and having a “milk mustache” with the quoted caption saying, “Got milk?”
• I stand before you today, not with the stain of milk upon my upper lip, but with the blood-stained banner held up high, posing to you the same question in reference to the text in First Peter… “Got Milk?”

 

Body:

Verse 1 gives us some things to do before we can even think about “milk”:

• Lay aside all MALICE – desire to see another suffer
• Lay aside all GUILE – duplicity, two-facedness
• Lay aside all HYPOCRISIES – trying to be what you are not
• Lay aside all ENVIES – resentment of another’s possession or position
• Lay aside all EVIL SPEAKINGS – This defines itself. As Matthew 15:11 says, “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”

When you have done all these, it leaves you in the purity or untainted state of the NEWBORN BABE!

• Then verse 2 begins with the description of “as a newborn babe”
  • Mark 10:14 says, “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
  • Luke 18:17 says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”
  • Only a baby gets “milk” from its mother.
    • Therefore, only as a newborn babe can one desire and expect to receive the sincere milk of the word.
  • As an example…
    • If a grown man went to his mother and out of hunger requested milk from his mother’s breast, the mother, as well as the psychologist, would be concerned about the man’s sanity.
      • Therefore, if you go to God without repenting and being filled with the Holy Spirit because of your hang-ups, carnal desires, and self will, the same Word that would cause a newborn babe to grow would condemn you to eternal death.

Then the primary focus arises, “desire the sincere milk of the word”

• “Sincere”
  • True, pure
  • John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• “Milk”
  • The fluid secreted by the mammary glands of a mother for the nourishment of her young
    • Four interesting facts about a mother’s milk vs. the milk of the word
      • A mother’s milk is produced specifically for the baby à then as the baby grows the milk changes in composition to continue to suit the baby
        • As the song says, “What God has for me, it is for ME!”
      • The mother’s body produces enough to handle what the baby intakes à if the baby eats more, the mother produces more. If the baby eats less, the mother produces less.
        • As the song says, “He knows just how much we can bear”
      • A mother’s milk is the most efficient source of food for the baby à It is the easiest to digest and produces the least waste.
        • Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
          • It is SIMPLE, CLEAR, and WITH UNDERSTANDING
        • A mother’s milk also provides protection against sickness and infection à In the milk is the medicine that the baby needs to prevent illness.
          • Psalms 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

So, tell me…Got Milk?

• Milk is the substance needed for growth à “that ye may grow thereby”
  • Without milk there is no growth
  • Milk gives the blueprint for growth
    • Whatever “milk” you intake determines your growth.
    • Your mother had the only milk that’s “perfect” for your body. Now, only your “Father” has the milk that’s perfect for your soul.
      • Any other milk will leave you lacking somewhere.
        • Think about our sources of nourishment in the world….

Conclusion:

• So, tell me…Got Milk?
• Peter then gives a qualifier to help us answer this question in our theme:

“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious”

• If you Got Milk, then you got a taste of the goodness of God
• If you have partaken of the sincere milk of the word, then you know for yourself that God is good.
• Conversely, if you have not partaken of the sincere milk, then you just don’t know!
  • Let me tell you…
    • I know that God is good because he saved my soul one Wednesday night!
    • “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found…was blind but now I see”  à  God is good!!!!
    • When I think of the goodness of God and all that He has done for me, my soul cries out, Hallelujah!!
• So, tell me…Got Milk?

#114