Living Lively Chief Corner Stone

Today 1 Peter 2: 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

To begin with brothers and sisters, Christian Friends, Well Wishers, and Saints of God it is with a plum pleasing pleasure to take out a moment and talk about The Stones. This is such an interesting subject because it is actually the height the depth and the width of the foundation of Christianity.

In Isaiah 28: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.

These scriptures are key to understanding the whole structure of our religiosity Every religion has some sort of foundational principles. For instance God said to Moses tell pharaoh that I AM that I AM sent you to tell him to let my people go. In other words the first foundation is that God is the Self Existing One Elohim . That’s number one And Elohim is the Godhead plural meaning that Elohim is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Three in One.

2. Secondly the text declares in 1 Peter 2:4 That there are dimensions attached to describing Jesus the Christ. Jesus the Christ is God the Son. And so that’s the subject that we have to Explain Expound and Exergete this morning. The bible says that Peter starts of by saying in

1 Peter 2:1 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.

Ok there are a few prerequisites that we have to address before we can get to the STONES. First of all Peter says we have to 1. Malice, guile,hypocrisies and all evil speaking.

Malice means you have a desire to harm somebody.

Guile means to be a trickster and a deceiver

Hypocrisies mean to be a stage actor who acts one way in front of people but act another way behind closed doors. the great pretender.

Envies resentful desire for another’s person’s possession they are against their neighbor having anything that they don’t have.

Lastly, All Evil Speaking means that everything that comes out of some people’s mouths is evil. Haven’t you heard somebody talk and every time the speak they talking about somebody else badly. And watch the dog that bring you a bone that same dog will carry a bone that talks about you too.

2. Verse 2 gives us the Standards and the Criteria and the Method that every Christian ought to have when we approach God’s Word.

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

The real Christian desires to know more and more and more about the Royal Regal Renowned word of God. Because you got to read God’s word to be wise you’ve got to Believe God’s word to be saved and you’ve got to practice God’s word to live holy.

I’ve got one verse in Psalms 45:1 That sum up how I feel about God’s word. Beautiful words fill my mind. I am speaking of royal things. My tongue is like the pen of a skilled writer.

The more I read God’s word to more I love it . The bible says Oh Taste and see that the Lord’s word is God.! It’s sweeter than a honeycomb. God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.

3. In verse 3 The bible reiterates that God taste gracious. What? I thought about that, you can’t taste grace. Can you? You experience Grace right. We always say it was God’s Grace and Mercy that brought me through “right” I’ve living this moment all because of you. And so this word says if ye have tasted that the Lord is Gracious.

Somebody in here have experienced God’s Grace. And when you look back over your life and think about how good God’s grace has been in your life You have to say it taste um um Good. Because if it had not been for the Lord on my side I don’t know where I’d be. And so that’s the prerequisites that happened in the text before this next part.

Look at 1 Peter 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

1. This part of the text is talking about us coming to Jesus because He is the Living Stone. And this means that Peter is now saying that I realize that Jesus is not teaching talking or telling his disciples that upon a Rock I’ll build my church no no no but now Peter is saying that Jesus Himself in the Living Stone. And that we ought to come to Jesus. The bible says that first we have to acknowledge that God is and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. And this text is acknowledging that Jesus is the Living Stone. He’s alive and well.

Tell your neighbor :He’s Alive

Living Stone 3x In the Greek vernacular Zao Lithos it means that the BIG ROCK IS ALIVE. We aren’t talking about pebbles or pea gravel or tiny rocks no no no, in this text Zao Lithos is talking about a rock that’s so big and so powerful so strong and so sufficient until it will meet all our needs where ever we are in life.

And then the b clause of the text gives us a complimentary view of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ it says disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,.

The pharisees and Sadducees and the Scribes the chief priest of the Sanhedrin Council couldn’t stand Jesus but He was chosen of God. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son. In fact the bible says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him should not perish but have an everlasting life. So Jesus was chosen of God and He’s precious. I know He’s precious because the song writer said He’s sweet I know dark clouds may rise strong winds may blow but I’ll tell the world about the savior I know because He’s sweet I know. Jesus is precious. Yes Sir 3x .

Then the second part of our theme text says in verse 5 You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ.

This is like the Great Commission We are to go out and be witnesses everywhere. When you’re on fire for God, you ought to be able to show that fire! everywhere you go. You’re a living stone. Actually you’re an extension of Jesus Himself. It’s an assignment,

The way I read the text I discovered that we are duty bound to be living stones unto God. We have to let ourselves be used in God’s service to up build the Body of Christ. you ought to be doing everything you can to build up Pilgrim Baptist Church. But the text is saying that you can’t build up something on the outside without building up something from the inside.

In other words Christianity has to be real in your heart before we can see any manifestation of an outreach ministry. In other words how are you going to tell somebody else how to get right with God and you yourself need to get right with God. First sweep around your own front door before you try to come and sweep around mine. You can offer up holy sacrifices to God when you’re cleaned up.We never ask a person to be in charge of great things that have just started out because the if you out a novice in charge things must go south real quick. You’ve got to be rooted and grounded in Jesus before you accept great responsibility.

Let the church say Amen

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. What this means is 6 The Scripture says:“I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem. Everything will be built on this important and precious rock. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” And the bible says the same thing in Isaiah 28:16 16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste. In every facet of your life the Stone will meet your needs, protect your person and family, the Stone will open doors because it’s the foundational Stone In other words Jesus is saying I am the foundation and I am the tired Stone because I came down through 42 generations and died on the cross fro mankind. And Jesus is saying that I am the Precious Corner Stone. I’m the capstone the center the main focal point of the building And and and the religious leader of that day didn’t want Jesus to be the Chief Corner Stone The precious corner stone the foundational stone the sure foundation. The pharisees didn’t want the people to believe on Jesus because Jesus offered freedom from their oppressive system. and I’m so glad I believe in Jesus the Christ because He’s my Rock in the wearied Land.1 Peter 2:7 This stone is worth much to you who believe. But to the people who do not believe “the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” It was a real thing. And don’t you just hate it when you’ve done the best you can and people still reject everything you do. You know you’re doing a great job but they always have something to complain about, always have something to gripe about always have is a naysayer to every program in the church. But if you’re doing right let me encourage you. the Bible says be not weary in well doing ye shall reap if you faint not. They didn’t want Jesus but became the Propitiation anyway. In other words Jesus became the substitutionary sacrifice and Savior of the world. Then there is verse 8 8 Also, he is“a stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall.” Peter the writer is saying that if you’re in God’s way and then God becomes a rock of offense and If you’re in God’s way He knows how to move you out of the way. And the word clearly says “They stumble because they do not obey what God says, which is what God planned to happen to them”. I’d rather obey God and receive the manifold blessing that he has for my life than to fight God fight the church and fight my fellow brothers and sisters Yeah yeah yeah Because verse 9 makes me shouts because it says 9 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 marvellous light: