1 Peter 2:11-12 (verse-by-verse)

Pastor Ray Bollas

1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago • Presented 2 years ago

1 Peter 2:11–12

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Passage: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Title: The Surrendered Life (the Ordinary becoming Extraordinary)

Summary: So many things in our lives can seem so ordinary (work, school, relationship, ministry), but when we surrender and yield the very common and ordinary things to God, He can and will do with them what only He can do, make them extraordinary.

1 Peter 2:9–12 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Peter’s Credentials / Still Feeding

Written by the Apostle Peter, whose credentials have been challenged because of his lack of education and training; but Peter walked with the Lord, the second Apostle called, and all could see that his power and boldness came because he had been with the Lord. For 3 years he walked with Jesus step-by-step, and now it is 30 years since the resurrection and Peter is still faithfully doing what the Lord commissioned him to do, “feeding His sheep”.

The Dispersed

He is writing to the Believers that have been spread out, dispersed form their homeland, thrown into foreign countries. Many of them are struggling and suffering; but their greatest struggle is yet to come, for in just several months Roman Empire Nero is going to launch and all-out attack and persecution against Christians, and over the next 2 centuries over 6 million Christians will die for their faith.

Why Peter Writes / Remember

Peter tells us in the Second Epistle why he writes to them (and us), to stir us up, to remind us, that we hang on to the things we have been taught in the Old Testament, the Epistles of the Apostles, and the teachings in the Gospels. He says remember these things, hold on to them, no matter how hard life may get.

(2 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

(2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

Doctrine – Duty – Declaration

Peter pretty much breaks this letter into 3 areas. Doctrine, Duty, and Declaration; this book takes on the frame work of Ephesians, except Peter adds on the Declaration – The Lord is Returning – Remember that! Doctrine, what we believe and why. Duty, doctrine in action, living it out. Declaration, soon and very soon we are going to see the King, Hold-fast until then.

Doctrine: Remember Our Great Salvation (1:1 - 2:10)

The Certainty of Our Salvation (1:1-12)

The Calling with Our Salvation (1:13-25)

The Chosen of Salvation (2:1-10)

Duty: Remember Our Example Before Men (2:11 - 4:6)

Honorable Living Before Unbelievers (2:11 - 3:7)

Submission to the Government (2:11-17)

Submission to Masters (2:18 - 25)

Submission in the Family (3:1- 7)

Honorable Living Before Believers (3:8 - 12)

Submission to One Another (3:8 - 12)

Honorable Living in the Midst of Suffering (3:13 - 4:6)

The Principle of Suffering for Righteousness (3:13 - 17)

The Perfection of Suffering for Righteousness (3:18- 22)

The Purpose of Suffering for Righteousness (4:1 - 6)

Declaration: Remember Our Lord Will Return (4:7 - 5:14)

The Responsibility of Christian Living (4:7 - 11)

The Rewards of Christian Suffering (4:12 - 19)

The Requirements for Christian Leadership (5:1 - 4)

The Realization of Christian Victory (5:5 - 14)

Theme

He tells us to remember because of the theme of this book. The theme of this book is given to us in chapter 5:

(1 Peter 5:10 NKJV) But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

The word suffering is used 16 times, glory 12, and grace 8. Peter unties these 3 words to write a letter of encouragement to those who are struggling and suffering, that their suffering will one day be transformed into glory.

Perfect / Establish / Strengthen / Settled

He writes to us so that we may be:

· Perfect- (mature) which means to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair, to complete, to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust, to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare;

· Established– to set fast, confirm one’s mind;

· Strengthen – to make one strong;

· Settle – to lay a foundation.

Move to New Section / Bridge / Proclaim the Praises - Lost World

As we move into this new section on duty (Remember Our Example Before Men), we bridge on the closing of the last section in which we were called to God's special people that we proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This calling is to a lost and dying world, and we are given the exhortation to live honorable, uprightly, before them:

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

(1 Peter 2:10 NKJV) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Recap Last Study:

· a chosen generation – a race of people (same bloodline – Blood of Christ)

· a royal priesthood – we are a kingdom of priests serving the King of kings.

· a holy nation, - a set apart (holy) nation (spoken to a people who were pilgrims v.1:2)

· His own special people, - special, treasured, of great value to the owner.

God is Calling us to Something

Look at verse 9, what a verse. We were nobodies, aimless, life of vain and empty things, and then God reaches down and touches us, calls us and elects us, and now here we are (look aound this room for a laugh) as we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation….. and his “own” special people!

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.

1 Peter 1:18 (NKJV) 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

Jacob (Bethel – El Bethel)

But for all of us today, I am reminded of the story of Jacob back in Genesis. Jacob has his problems indeed. Jacob has all kinds of baggage without question.

· Genesis 27 – Jacob deceives his father for the blessing due Esau.

· Genesis 28 – runs and runs into the Lord at Bethel

· Genesis 29 – Jacob meets Rachel but marries Leah.

· Genesis 30 – Jacob works for his wives and children.

· Genesis 31 – Jacob flees Laban

· Genesis 32 – Jacob wrestles with God

· Genesis 33 – Jacob reconciles with Esau

· Genesis 34 – Jacob’s sons deceive a whole region of people (Dinah Incident)

· Genesis 35 – Jacob is called by God to return to Bethel

But through it all, he was always growing because when he comes to Bethel the second time, twenty years later,

· he no longer calls it Bethel, “the house of God,” but El-Bethel “The God of the House of God.”

This shows monumental maturity, for Jacob understands that it’s not the house of God that is important, but the God who dwells therein. God has called us and blessed us with something so great and wonderful, and it is His presence, His intimacy, His heartbeat. I, we, have all been there (and maybe we are today), where we come to our morning bible study, or the church service, or the Christian school, the mission field…. And we come and say here we are in God’s house, let me check out what the Word says from the pastor, lets check out the worship (wonder if they will play that song I’ve been hearing on the radio), the Christian school let’s see what the chapel service will be like today, the mission field let’s see how they handle such impoverished conditions….. all things as we come to God’s House, His ministry, His things! But then over time, as we walk, as we grow, as we are broken, as we become surrendered, and grow deeper in who is God, what does He think of me, we move past of what is going on in the House of God, and begin to look at Who is walking in the House the God; that God is in this place, God is in my church, my school, that mission field. Jacob, it took about 20 years, but we see him move from “the house of God”, to God of the house of God”. This is where God meets me. So too for us, as we grow and move deeper with the Lord, we see beyond “let’s see what is going on in the house/things of God”, to “I see God in these things, for I am looking for Him, I am looking and expecting to see Him. I didn’t realize it at first, but now I do, and now I expect Him to be here, therefore I will look for Him when I come!

Genesis 28:19 (NKJV) 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.

Genesis 31:13 (NKJV) 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

Genesis 31:38 (NKJV) 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.

Genesis 35:7 (NKJV) 7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.

I See

As Jacob, so as for us:

· I see the Word – but now I see the God of the Word

· I see the Song – but now I see the God of the Song

· I see the School, the Campus – but now I see the God of the school and campus

· I see the Mission – but now I see the God of the Mission

· I see the Church Building, the House of God – but now I see the God of the House of God

For He appears to me, he sees me, and I see Him, I look for Him, for I expect to see Him!

(1 Peter 2:11 NKJV) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

V.11 - Beloved

Beloved - Maybe your translation says “dearly beloved”. The word here is special, it is in the Greek (agapetos), and it means (my simple simplifying), you who are “agaped loved”, unconditionally loved.

v.11 - I beg you

Beg - The Greek word “beseech” is literally, “I exhort, urge, I beg of you, please.” While it is Peter writing, yet it is the great God of the universe saying to His blood-bought children, “I beg of you, please.” Think of the love and humility, the infinite condescension of God that stoops to address a creature of His handiwork whom He could command. (Wuest)

v.11 - As sojourners and pilgrims

Sojourners – foreign citizens, strangers, without citizenship

Pilgrims – one who comes from a foreign country and resides there by the natives.

You are just passing through Peter says, remember this world is not it, and don’t slow down to get stuck in its mud. When I go out in the woods, and I come rolling up on a mud/water pool, I drop it into 4-wheel drive and punch it through the mud, I don’t slow down and lose my momentum and get sucked into the mud.

1 Peter 1:1–2 (NKJV) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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.

v.11 - , abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

abstain - The word “abstain” is literally, “hold yourself constantly back from”

Be Holy

The calling to be holy, set apart, and to watch it all in our minds, because that is where either the spiritual things or the fleshly things are reproduced – what we think on.

1 Peter 1:13–16 (NKJV) 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

2 Corinthians 10:4–6 (NKJV) 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

War – Strategy

The Greek word translated “war” is strateuomai, from which we get our word “strategy.” The Enemy has a strategy to war against your soul—your personality, your emotions, your will, your volition. The strategy of Satan is simply to say, “Abstinence is too old-fashioned, too legalistic, too unrealistic, too harsh. Just know when to say when. Be wise in what you’re doing.” You see, gang, Satan won’t come blasting into your life with a drug dealer in tow. No, his strategy is much more subtle. He simply wants you to compromise a little here and a little there, until there is nothing left of your purity. The problem with lust is not that it hurts God or others. The problem with lust is that it wars against us. It tears us down as it wears us down. (Courson)

We Are Taking the Family Picture

We’re pilgrims on this earth - just passing through - let’s not get bogged down in selfish lusts.

Mom, imagine getting your kids clean and dressed for the family portrait. You work overtime to get it done. But on the way to the car, Junior jumps in a mud puddle, and sissy spills a drink on her dress. Can’t your kids stay clean long enough to get into the car? This is what Peter is asking the church, we’re headed to heaven... stay clean, stay out of the world, glorify God.

(1 Peter 2:12 NKJV) having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles,

Maybe your translation says “conversation”; “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles.” The word conversation we have met before (1:15, 18). It means “behavior” or “lifestyle.” The word honest comes from a word that occurs about one hundred times in the New Testament. It is generally rendered “good” in the Authorized Version. It refers to a goodness that is beautiful to behold. (Phillips)

Our goodness, goodness beautiful to behold, is to be “among the Gentiles.” We are God’s people in a world of lost people.

that when they speak against you as evildoers,

“That, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God.” A vast sea of unsaved Gentiles surrounded the church of Peter’s day. Christians were accused by their enemies of horrendous crimes, including setting fire to the city of Rome. They were said to be immoral, enemies of the gods, guilty of gross immorality, practicers of ritual murder, and so on. These accusations were all lying slanders. The only answer was to live lives of impeccable and transparent goodness, which would put to silence the false accusations of men. (Phillips)

In a recent survey (September 2022), 32% of Americans view Evangelicals as negative, and only 18% view them positively, and the rest are just neutral. That is not good stats, even the neutral part. Why is it not 100% positive!

they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Mediocrity

Calvin Jones was born and reared in a small Midwestern community. He never married and led a remarkedly modest life. Still, the time came when he enjoyed a degree of notoriety as the town's oldest citizen. Then came the day when he died, and the local newspaper editor thought his death deserved a proper notice, but he couldn't think of anything to write: no scandals, no special accomplishments, no relatives. His friend, the tombstone proprietor was facing the same challenge.

The editor decided ultimately to give the assignment to the first staff member he encountered. That turned out to be the sports editor. Here's the caption he wrote that's inscribed on Calvin's tombstone:

· Here lie the bones of Calvin Jones,

· For him life held no terrors.

· He lived as a bachelor. He died as a bachelor.

· No hits, no runs, no errors.

World Watching / Everyday Works – Everyday People / God Uses the Common Things

The world is watching, Gentiles there in verse 11 mean non-believers, and they are watching our works, our everyday works. We are everyday people, living out everyday tasks, and that is what the world sees as they look at us. In the context of this section on "Remember Our Example Before Men", the things that are so common are the things that God uses the greatest.

Be Submissive in Common Things / Gov't - Marriage - One Another

As we study through this section the common things are the things that God will ask us to be submissive in, the things He will ask us to surrender our wills to; we will be asked to be submissive to the governing authorities, to our employers and bosses (you students that means your teachers), being submissive to one another in marriage, and to one another which covers every other area of our lives which would include children to parents, people within the church, and all the other areas in our lives.

Common – Gives Life / Nothing Ever Ordinary / Marriage – Kids - Parents – Job / **Called to Them

All these things are everyday life, the common things of life, but it is the common things that God says if you lay them before me, I will give them life. I will take the common and turn them in the extraordinary, because I called you to them, and nothing God ever calls you to is common or ordinary, for He is no common ordinary God. Your marriage is not common, your kids are not common, your parents are not common, your job is not common, your church is not common, your coaching sports is not common, leading a food/clothing drive is not common, nor leading the youth group is not common, for they are all things God has called you to. Nothing, nothing, is just something in your life, or that’s just the way it is. Look, verse 9, is after the call for the submission to governing authorities, within marriages, and to each other:

(1 Peter 3:8 NKJV) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

(1 Peter 3:9 NKJV) not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Used to Bring Us to this Place / But I Know Them

What God is also saying is your government, your boss, that teacher, your kids, your parents, your spouse, are all called by God to bring you to the place you are in your life. God says take these things, and look what I will do with them, both in you and to the lost world, if you will surrender them and yourself to me. You may say, I know these things, all they are, are common, I know them like the back of my hand, there is nothing more here in my family, job, or school than what it is right now. I don't see the commonness of these things making a different.

Really / Moses – Common to Opportunity

Really, let's look at a common life, a story that God set aside, recorded for us, to show us what may appear common to us, is just an opportunity waiting for God to give life to, and change the course of people and a Nation. Let's take a look at Moses:

(Exodus 4:1 NKJV) Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.'"

(Exodus 4:2 NKJV) So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."

(Exodus 4:3 NKJV) And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

(Exodus 4:4 NKJV) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),

God Slowly Working Moses Along / We Are All Called

God is slowly working Moses along, convincing him of the calling upon his life. That is a slow process in all of our lives, for God has a calling upon all of our life's:

That's all of us, not just ministers of the church. We are all ministers:

(2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

(2 Corinthians 3:6 NKJV) who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

It is considered reasonable service, expected of us.

(Romans 12:1 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service

It is the High Calling:

(2 Timothy 1:8 NKJV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

(2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

High Calling / High Price

All of us are called to give our life to Christ, for He has given His life for us, and we are to give our lives back to Him and His purposes. Remember you are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. This is a High and Holy calling that is upon each and every one of our lives.

(1 Peter 1:18 NKJV) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

(1 Peter 1:19 NKJV) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Desperate Times / 16K – 3X

We are not that different form Moses, and his day. Moses was living at a time when the people of Israel were living in desperate times, under the slavery of Egypt, living in fear that at any given moment their life could be taken. Women could be taken out of the home and forced into a harem, and then kicked back out on the streets. We today don’t live in much of a different time. More people were killed on the streets of America in the past year (16,000 FBI Stat) than in the war in Iraq, did you know that there are 3 times more adult book/videos stores in America than there are McDonald's. 34 million children killed in their mother's womb in the last 20 years (Like in Moses day when they were throwing babies into the Nile River).

Moses I’m Going to Use You / But – But / Suppose - Consider

The Lord says Moses I am going to use you to reach the people I want to reach, and Moses says “but” they won't listen to me. Don't we say that? But Lord, what about this, what about that? But, But!!!

(Exodus 4:1 NKJV) Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.'"

What’s In Your Hand

But watch what the Lord shows Moses, as He wants to show us also. The Lord says to Moses, what is that in your hand, and he said it is a rod.

(Exodus 4:2 NKJV) So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."

Daily Reminder / Failure in Egypt / Life of Mediocrity

On some days, maybe even daily, I am sure that rod was a reminder of His failure in Egypt. A constant reminder of a life of mediocrity, a constant reminder of trying to do something in his own strength instead of God's. A reminder that he will live out the rest of his days without nobody knowing his name or who he is, and no having any impact on the things of God.

Thought I Would Deliver Israel / Instead Leading Sheep – Holding Rod

I thought I would deliver Israel form Egypt, I was second in the whole land of Egypt, next to be Pharaoh, I had the political power, the military power, the training at the finest schools, I thought it was all God's plan, yet I failed, and I sit out here in this desert now only leading sheep, holding this rod in my hand.

I Know this Staff / 40 years / Knot – Smooth – Shine – Thumb / ******Do We Really Know

I know this staff ohh so well after all these years of herding sheep. I have carried it for 40 years, I know every knot in it, where the grain curls, it is smoothed on the top from my hand wearing it, it is shiny from the oils of my hand. I like to place my thumb and first finger between the knot in the wood, I know this rod so, so well. But Moses really didn't know it as well as he thought. And I would say that is the same in our lives. God would challenge us and say what is that in your hand. We are surrounded by some many things in our lives and we think we know them ohh so well, but in essence we really don't. Our families, our jobs, our school, our activities.

Surrounded by 2 Questions / Who am I

God asking Moses what's in your hand, is surrounded by two other questions Moses asked back in verse 11 of chapter 3.

Who Am I

Moses asks the Lord who am I that I should go?,

(Exodus 3:11 NKJV) But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

Doesn’t Matter

Here is a key, God says it doesn't matter who you are, for I am with you.

(Exodus 3:12 NKJV) So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."

Who Are You

And then Moses asks, who should I say sent me, I don't even know your name.

(Exodus 3:13 NKJV) Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"

I Am

God says, I Am that I Am.

(Exodus 3:14 NKJV) And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Becoming One

The meaning of "I Am" is the "Becoming One". God saying I am the God who will become to you all that you will ever need. And the Lord would say that to us today, I am the God that will become to all that you will ever need. When we et to these studies on areas we are asked to submit in, we say “but” I can’t it is too hard, and God say’s I will become to you all that you need to be able to do these things. For:

Abraham He became Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will Provide (Genesis 22), for in Abraham's time of greatest need up there on the Mount when he was to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord provided a substitute. For the Nation Israel (Exodus 15) in the wilderness, He said none the diseases that come upon the Egyptians shall come upon you for I Am Jehovah Raphha, for I have become your healer. Later to Moses in his battle against the Amalikes, against all odds, I am Jehovah Nissi, (Ex 17), I am your banner, your victory. He would say to Gideon, when Gideon thought he would die, I am Jehovah Shalom, I am your peace. He would say to David, I am Jehovah Ra, The Lord has become my shepherd, I shall not want, He has made me to lie down in green pastures. He would say Gabriel (Luke 1:31), tell Mary I Am Jehovah Shuwa, I have become your salvation

I Am Not Restricted / Your Affairs – Nation – Church - You

Moses says who are you, and God says I Am that I Am, I am all that you need. I am not restricted by the state of your affairs, I am not restricted by the state of your nation, I am not restricted by the need of revival in the church. I am not restricted by what you can and can't do, I am not restricted by what is in your hand, or where you are in your life, for I Am the Becoming One

What’s In Your Hand / Do You / Light of You – Light of Me

What's in your hand Moses, a rod and I know it well. Do you Moses? Do you really? You think you do, but you have defined it by who you are, not for who I Am. You have not interpreted it in light of me:

Ram’s Horn - Jericho

What’s in your hand, the priest says I have a ram's horn; I am a priest of the tribe of Levi. I know it well, I know it's sound; it is part of my daily use. Do you know it well, do you know it interpreted in light of me that when that horn is blown the walls of Jericho will tumble when you blow that thing at my command

Jawbone - Samson

What's in your hand Samson, a jawbone of an ass, so what? Do you know it interpreted in light of me? Do you know that it will slaughter 1000 Philistines and change the course of a nation?

Clay Picture - Gideon

What's in your hand Gideon, it is just a clay picture/jar. Do you know it interpreted in light of me? Gideon do you know that there are 135,000 Midianites against 300 of you with only a trumpet and a clay picture? Gideon, cast it down and I will give it life, it will give Israel a mighty victory.

Slingshot - David

What's in your hand David, a slingshot, I use it drive off jackals from the sheep. Do you know it interpreted in light of me? Lets interpret that little slingshot in the light of the enemies of God are mocking Me, take it and we will kill a giant, and change the course of a nation

3 Loaves

What's in your hand, 3 loaves and 2 fish, but that is nothing in light of the needs before us. Really, because you have interpreted in light of whom you are. Jesus says give it to me so that the multitude may be feed.

2 Mites

What's in your hand, 2 mites, that is all I have it isn't worth anything, I'll cast it in the offering when no one is looking. Only God would say this widow has cast in more than all the rest. How she will change the lives of millions who look at the Scriptures on giving

I’m a Mother

What's in your hand, nothing I am a mom, all that is before me is a continual pile of wash, and the kids in terrible two's. My heart is angry half the time, I'm insincere, continually frustrated. Really give it to, put it in my hands.

Moses – 80 Years to this Place / Nile Blood – Lice – Red Sea – Water Rock

What's in your hand Moses, it has taken me 80 years to put it there Moses. Throw it down Moses, give it to me and I will give it life. It's just a rod, is it? It will turn the Nile River to blood; it will turn the earth to lice so the Magicians of Egypt will say it is the hand of God. This staff you thought you knew so well will part the Red Sea and deliver a Nation. Moses you will strike a rock with it and it will bring water for a nation.

Turns into Snake / He Runs

Moses throws it down, and it turns into a snake and Moses takes off running, God says get back here, pick it up by the tail, and it turns back into a rod. Moses thought he knew it so well, did he ever think of that. Yet Moses will have no idea what more it will do:

(Exodus 4:3 NKJV) And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

(Exodus 4:4 NKJV) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),

What’s in Your Hand / Watch Out – Medocity / Missed – Passover – Exodus – Red Sea – 80 days

What’s in your hand husband, is it a wife, is it children. How about your business or job? If you are not careful you may live the rest of your life out in mediocrity. Moses could have said, no I'm happy here holding this stick watching sheep. He would have missed

· the first Passover, the exodus of Egypt,

· the parting of the Red Sea,

· 80 days on the mountain of God - where his face reflected the glory of God.

· The presence of God passing before Him.

· The Mount of transfiguration with Jesus and Elijah.

Is it just a rod?

God is Beckoning You / We say But – Consider This / We Run

Is God beckoning you to give Him what is in your hand. But maybe you are saying, but did you ever think of this, or are you running from it, as God says give it me, throw it down in front of me and I will give it life.

Big Mistake / ** Moses Reaches Point of Believing / Interprets In Light of God

Sometimes we think the thing in our hand is a mistake part of our failure. Moses finally reached the point of surrendering his life; he reached the point that he believed that God could do anything with what was in his hand, he began to interpret things not in light of who he was, but in light of who God was.

It is Now God’s Rod

We see in verse 20 - Moses carried this rod for 40 years - now he is taking it, and carrying in light of who God is. It is now the rod of God:

(Exodus 4:20 NKJV) Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

What’s In Your hand / Throw it Down / HumDrum – or Perceptive

Will you look at what is in your hand, your spouse, kids, your parents, your job, and say it is the Rod of God in my life, and He desires to great things in my life through them or it. What is in your hand, children, spouse, job, talents?. Do you know your circumstance so well that it is just the humdrum of life. Church on Sunday, back to work on Monday. Or are you perceptive enough to seek His face, and hear Him say “throw all this down before me so that I may give it life”.

All these Years / Despise The Person / Constant Reminder of Failure / Interpreted

God says it has taken all these years of your life to bring you to this circumstance, this place in your life; it is my sovereign tapestry woven to bring you to this place. Do you despise the person you are married to, to the kids you have, that job, that boss, your health, your condition. Do you look around you and say this is the mediocrity of my life, a constant reminder of my failures, I could have been Prince of Egypt, and instead it is the rotten shepherd staff in my hand. Have you only interpreted life in light of who you are? He says to you throw it down in front of me, your life, surrender it, so I can reach an unsurrendered world, and set people free from the lost world.

1 Message / Unsurrendered

God essentially has one message to this lost world, and that is you are mine. Yet how does He send the message to those lost people, he does it threw his people. It is an unsurrendered world, and therefore God cannot send an unsurrendered life to reach an unsurrendered world. God will not send an unsurrendered man or woman to an unsurrendered generation because He desires to make our life part of our message. Moses what is in your hand, what is in your hand.

Before Our Next Study /

Before we begin the next few studies on submission, will you lay whatever it is in your hand and say, “It is now the rod of God”. My wife is the rod of God in my life and He will do great things in my life through her. My children, my job, my activities, my parents, my school, my church, they are “now the rod of God”, and He will do great things in my life though them.

Who Knows What He May Do Through You / Time for Salvation

Maybe you are saying I'll never be a Billy Graham or Mother Theresa, who knows what God has saved you for in this day. God is beckoning us, saying you do know what I will do with you in these days. Some of you have been putting it off, you know you need to be saved, but you are saying, but God, what about this, have you considered this, I once had an abortion - how could you ever love me, I did drugs, I rip people off, God is saying just put it down in front of me and I will give it life.

What’s In Your Hand / Lay it Down & I’ll give it Life

God is saying what is in your hand? Put your life down in front of me, and I'll give life to it.