1 Peter 1:1-9

Introduction

Whats up!? CCCJR

Good to see you all

Its nice to be back here!

I hope you all had a good thanksgiving

Now we got Christmas around the corner!

An exciting time for many

its also hard time for many

maybe this year will have some people missing.

maybe this year will year will have people added in

i know this time of the year can bring

for some joy

and other difficulties

or maybe a mix of both.

Well today I want to share with you guys a scripture that addresses that and is very close to my heart

It is 1 Peter 1

go ahead and turn there

When I first got saved just after High School.

life was pretty great, and exciting!

When you know your saved

& you have a new relationship with Jesus it is amazing!

My memories of that time

was full of enjoying Jesus and enjoying fellowship

and chasing a new desire of knowing more of God’s Word.

I got called into ministry not long after being saved

I went to Bible College

and was neighbors with Brian Delmore

who as you you know is a very big trouble maker

and rebel.

After I graduated my call to ministry became reality

I was hired at Calvary Chapel Corona

getting live my call

learning ministry, and growing as a leader.

a few years later I married my amazing wife Megan!

Life had been good! and we enjoyed our marriage and getting adventure together.

Then we had our first born son Nehemiah

and just a few week later we end up

back at the hospital with him.

our happy world was about to be flipped upside down.

lets pray

at 5 weeks my son was diagnosed with infantile spasms, polymicrogyria, and basically he was having seizures.

We were told he may never walk, talk, swallow his food, and my biggest concern have friends

our world flipped upside down!

Trials came … havent quite left.

After a year full of hospital vists and tests.

we found out we were having another baby

who was born in the middle of the Pandemic

his name is Judah

Not long after we were excited to have our 3rd son Hezekiah

then at 26 weeks our son went to be with the Lord

Stillborn

We held our life less son for 1 day

in that cold dark hospital room....

Nothing more evil

Then watching your wife labor in pain

knowing their is no happy ending

just more pain.

then holding the cutest

lil guy

I automatically love with my whole heart

with no heart beat,

If i could i would give him my breath

I would give him my heart but I cant

I hate that I had no chance of me getting to show him my love

a life time full of lost opportunities.

10 days later after losing our boy ....our house flooded.

& we had to plan my sons memorial service away from home

and as insurance tried to not pay to repair our home

they robbed us of time to greive our son

I had to go back to work as a pastor

Having to preach to youth that don’t understand ..

and counsel their teenage drama

Having to be the bigger but broken person when people don’t understand and often say hurtful things

I would try to fake it .... but faking it makes it worse…

you just feel misunderstood by the world...

its a whole different world having to be back in normal life when your broken

Have any of you had your world flipped upside down?

Well in 1 Peter chapter 1

Peter is writing to believers

who have faced trials too

the people he writes to are seen in verse 1

1 Peter 1:1 NKJV

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

show map

thats the area

According to Acts 2:9 we know that when the church started on the day of pentecost

Jews from Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia were there.

What we need to know is that these are believers that are in some way away from their home land.

and while that is not easy

the area they are in has not approved of Christianity

they have been or will be persecuted and punished

and if we take a peak at verse 6 it says:

1 Peter 1:6 NKJV

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

Now while we may not face the same trials as them

and you haven’t faced the same trials as me

and I have not had the same trials as you.

we need to know that as believers

we will face trials

we are not promised heaven on earth.

we are in a sinful world now..

so sinful … evil will happen

Peter ends this book with 1 Peter 4:12

1 Peter 4:12 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

in other words don’t be shocked as believers that

bad things will happen.

Trials will happen

And our trials will be various for each believer

Peter had at this point has had plenty of trials come his way

he had been persecuted himself

so he knows how to speak to these believers.

and what I love is that he doesn't say look at me....

i can do it

When David faced Goliath he didn't talk about how dangerous Goliath is

he talked about how great God is.

Peter is going to say

look at God

He did it! He will do it

He is going to remind them of God.

and this wont make their problems suddenly disappear.

but its going to give them a hope and a purpose

When you bring God into a problem or a tragedy

an amazing thing happens.

because at the moment of suffering... my problems seem massive.

but when God gets brought in

the problem gets smaller and God gets bigger.

and what a great thing to be reminded of a ......great, loving, powerful God

in the face of hard suffering.

it switches our thinking from “WHY GOD” “Why is this happening”

“Why aren't you stopping this?

to

That He is love, there is Hope, it will end, and God knows why. even if I dont know why.

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As Max Lucado said

“Focus on giants you stumble, focus on God giants tumble.” - Max Lucado

Whether with Nehemiah or Hezekiah

when someone reminded us of God

in the hospital room

a strange peace came from knowing that

He knows. He is in control. He is with us.

The question is not are you in a storm, or how bad will this storm, or for how long.

but is Jesus in your boat!

because peace is not the absence of trials...

it is the presence of Christ in the midst of them.

the Christian life is no cruise ship…

its a battleship armed with the power of God

So Like with Peter here...

when another brother or sister in Christ is in a trial

may we also remind them

of God.

Since what we are reading is a letter

Peter is using words ....

but please notice how this letter will display God’s love so well!

He is going to help them with their trials by

Showing them that

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1. God has solved our greatest problem (v.2) .

2. God gives Hope (v.3-6),

3. God uses our trials (v.7-9)

so here is how God loved us so much… and helps us through our trials:

1. God Solves Our Greatest Problem (1 Peter 1:2)

1 Peter 1:2 NKJV

2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Our greatest problem is something we cant solve

but God can....

Peter uses the Trinity to show them 3 things

1. The Father—chose them

2. The Spirit—sanctifies them

3. The Son—laid down His life

I can’t make myself worthy to God

I can’t to sanctify myself.

My blood cant save me.

So the greatest problem I have is sin

that I cant fix by my efforts.

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Charles Spurgeon said: “Sin is not a splash of mud on man exterior, its filth generated from within Himself”

It made me think

when you clean

you don’t get rid of dirt

you just move it to something else.

Well Jesus removed the sin from our lives by moving it to Himself.

The greatest trial in all our lives has been resolved

The trial of sin

has been paid for

by the death and resurrection of Jesus

because God chose us

He saved us

& sanctifies us

Gods love isn't based on you, its placed on you

He died so that we may live

Without Jesus it wouldn't matter what great trials you faced...

your own sin would be greatest issue

and by Jesus its dealt with!

Without God resolving our sin issue

there is no hope

despite what you face on earth there would always be a bigger problem

So because of Jesus the worst we face on earth is the closest to Hell we will get.

without Jesus the closest to hell we get is actually Hell

He handled the greatest problem we had with sin!

which allows us to even have hope.

Peter will share more on this in the next few verses:

Which is the second way God helps these believers through their trials.

2. God Gives Hope (1 Peter 1:3-6)

1 Peter 1:3–6 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

As we experience the next closest thing

to Hell that Earth puts before us

God places Heaven ahead of you.

Thats hope

Psalm 126:5 NKJV

5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.

yeah the tunnel is dark

but God is beside you taking you

to the light at the end of the tunnel.

show slide .... “here it says.. “according to His abundant”

How He gives to us:

According to His abundant mercy (v.3)

Through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (v.3)

By the power of God (v.5)

What He gives us to us:

A living hope (v.3)

An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven (v.4)

Salvation (v.5)

That greek word for inheritance here is the same GK Word used in the LXX

for the Israelites inheriting the promise land (Num. 26:54, 56; 34:2; Josh. 11:23),

our inheritance is the promised land of God’s Kingdom.

where death, pain, suffering is no longer.

where life, joy, peace, is eternal!

making it our living hope

But were just caught in this space between God’s promise and its fulfillment.

Where our hearts are set on Heaven but our feet are still on earth....

So

I hope with a broken heart

because a piece of my heart left earth and is in heaven

but my feet are still here suffering

and I look forward to that day In Rev 21:4

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

one day our tears will be wiped away.

by God Himself.

a moment I cant wait for

I want God to fix it

in that moment He will.

until God’s promise is fullfilled

I hope broken

but great news as verse 6 says

our various trials are .... for a little while.

2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Compared to eternity our trials/ affliction is so short… just a moment

and even though it is short… our trials are working on us for eternal purposes.

Peter is going to explain this more in the next few verses

3. God Uses Our Trials 1 Peter 1:7-9

1 Peter 1:7–9 NKJV

7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

While our trials are short compared to eternity

Here we see that

God uses trials to work on our faith for something that lasts for eternity.

In short, our trials work on our faith.

Here we see that

Your faith is more precious than Gold.

that its genuineness (like with gold) is tested by fire (trials)

and when it passes through the fire

the result is at the revelation of Jesus

(when His promises are fulfilled)

we giving praise, honor, and glory

So because of hope we know the trial will end.

Now here we see that your faith...

through trials it works out an eternal purpose.

so what do you do when trials comes?

do you try to run? medicate?, drink, lust, gamble? spend money? go to work?

none of these have an eternal purpose to them

its just distractions and band-aids

When you go to God..

God can do things greater and so far above our own ability!

Your trial is described as a fire

and like shardrach meshach and abendigo in the fiery furnace

God can bring us out of the fire with much more strength then when we first entered it.

but

fire can

either purify or destroy

Some faiths are purified and proven genuine through the fire.

Some faiths are destroyed from a tough trial.

Do you believe God is good.... when you experience the most evil thing?

Do you believe God loves you.... when your suffering just wont let up?

Do you believe God is with you.... when every time you try to hear from God its a constant reminder of your pain?

Does what you go through change what you think of God?

I know of many that changed their minds on God.. based on what they went through..

and instead of later giving God praise, honor and glory at the Revelation of Jesus

they are currently giving God blame, criticism, denial, a disbelief.

When the heat gets turned up

Will your faith be destroyed or proved genuine?

Yeah I went through the fire....

and Im not the same.

At one point

My faith was engulfed in a flame

I wouldn't wish on anyone.

But I also wish everyone would have the strength, joy, &, purpose,

that resulted from my faith being put in the fire.

fake gold when it is set on fire changes color

when real gold is set on fire it shines brighter.

and a real faith responds back shining.

because a real faith saved by grace, tested through the fire

is a faith thats shines back with perseverance unlike any other, a character unlike any other, and a hope unlike any other.

Romans 5:3–4 NKJV

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Perseverance has been

one the small blessings through the great the pain of losing my son

while i would not wish that on anyone.

Because it hurt so much

I have noticed a perseverance I didn't have.

where things didn't effect me like it used to.

its because

I need God for the bigger pain i am going through

I am making Him bigger… and hoping for Heavens healing.

So im not going to go there and let a rough day, week, month , or year get to me.

If I am going to start whining about that..

well I got a lot bigger things to whine about

Because I know what my call is

and getting upset about it

will just distract me from God’s purpose.

thats perseverance. to just keep going....

The fire/our trials/ tribulations/ also brings our character and hope.

your character is largely determined by your motives.

if your all about work

your character will show that

same is true for

if your all about money

if your all about fun

whatever

its hard to change a persons motives....

but when motives change

a transformation of character takes place

Aside from my families well being in loving God, and provision.

My motive....What I really want...

Is my son back!

I want my baby boy in my arms!

Is that possible on earth? no.

But every other want, desire, goal,

is just so small compared to that.

and that really is a blessing.

Because while God is my help and hope

He has a purpose for me here....

because if you have a pulse God has a plan.

The shaking isnt there to stop you

its their to shift you.

The fire isnt supposed to destroy you

its to reveal a genuine or real faith.

so that in your weakness you rely on God

and instead of running or trying to fix it yourself

you have faith in God…

as v.8 says. “even though you dont see Him”

because He is able… because He promised hope,

because He has a purpose and a plan!

from pain to purpose

God uses our trial to work out a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

and as I do the purpose and call God has for me

I hope and look forward to the day I get to see Jesus and hold a little hand waiting for me.

The fire isn't a comfortable place

it challenges your faith

it effects the person you are.

hope is either lost or found in the fire.

The ones that get stronger in the fire are the ones that

instead of trying to run away from it

or fix it them selves

cry out to God for help

and God gives them hope and an eternal purpose from the fire.

and a burnt up, hopeful, eternally purposed person

is strengthened from a power way beyond themselves.

because

they are living in hope not in circumstances

they are living in purpose not just pain.

and just like that they’re not dieing in the fire

but your living eternally with a purpose

That is a strength because of God and from God.

Moses sang this:

Exodus 15:2 NKJV

2 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

I learned this after I lost my Hezekiah

I struggled with the meaning of His name

...when the fire was turned up

but now I love it.

Hezekiah means strength of God

thats why i have his name tattooed on my hand

because it tells me by the strength of God I will rise up and do God’s call

I wont shrink back, and fall in pain.

and I have his hand on my hand to remind me

that by the grace of God I have the hope

that I will get to hold that hand one day.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I dont get to have life my way

life God’s way is better

2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

yeah it hurts

yeah its hard

but our joy isn't based on circumstances

its based on God on what He has done and what He will do.

the fire is going to end

Hope for the kingdom of God

and live the eternal purpose God has called for you

I dont know about you but when I hear this my broken heart

rejoices and says okay God lets go… lets ride

their is hope and purpose in this

Psalm 30:11–12 NKJV

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Gods plan so as

verse 6 and 8 of 1 Peter says greatly rejoice, & rejoice with inexpressible joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

10 ...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

the weak have the strength and joy of God.

you cant lose strength or joy when He is your source

because God is unchanging, and what He says He will do.

so in some crazy… amazing, God way

the weak & hurting will rejoice, get stronger

and rise up to do God’s call as they hope!

As worship team comes up:

if you’re in the fire now

and you have been thinking: I dont know if I can make it”

it hurts so much!

God loves you so much!

He knows…

God knows why

and its not our time to know why yet

but He will make all things good in His time

Think about the hope we have

how great that it will be when all things are made good!

rejoice in that it will happen because God said so!

There is an eternal purpose for your trials!

and as verse 9 says: at the end of our faith.... is salvation!

Let’s leave with hope, and purpose today!

Lets close out with 2 verses:

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NKJV

8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

Lets pray: God to you be thepraise glory and power! God we ask that you would heal here. Would you lead , help you, bless , teach , guide , purify , power , and strengthen your people here! Its in your name we pray amen!

“By the strength of God rise up!”

“Praise the Lord!”

“The joy of the Lord is your strength!”