Hope for the World to See
Level Up: Discover hope on a whole ew level • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewJoseph was confused by the will of God being what it was. When we are confused by God's will we are comforted by non other than God Himself.
Notes
Transcript
Series Review:
1 Peter is a book meant to give hope to those “dispersed”
Peter wants them to trust that there is a purpose in their suffering.
Royal priesthood and a Holy nation being built into a Holy Temple.
Then he reminds them to flea from the ways of the world mankind in general rejects God’s ways and God rejects mankind.
Therefore, the Gospel compels and even demands our conscience and morality and lifestyle be shaped by the cross.
There was a legal transfer of deeds
The work was totally final
It was completely voluntary
Intro: When we understand the motivation of Jesus from the cross it compels us to obedience.
Let’s stand as we read...
Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.
Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.
The text gives us 2 main tests to help us know if we have the eternal hope God can give.
In chapter 1 we are told that we are to be born again.
By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
since you have been born again —not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
If one claims to be born again, Peter says they will be changed.
There will be a difference in their obedience to God’s word and their lifestyle.
The two tests are:
Do we wage war in our private lives?
Do we live for God in our public lives.?
1. Do we wage war in our private lives?
There is a strong urge on Peter’s part to see his friends and you abstain from fleshly desires.
Peter knows it is possible to lie to yourself or convince yourself you are something you are not.
Inflated egos
Transgender
Peter also understood this war within. He said He would die for Christ, until he was tested.
Explanation
Peter makes a comparison between the the animal kingdom and the heavenly realm.
It is a contrast, just as animals will act barbaric and foolish compared to our greater ability to think.
Because of our connection to God, Christians see what the world cannot.
Illustration:
Since my time at prison I have learned a lot about impoverished communities.
Crime. Violence. Abuse. Addictions. Generational sin. Lack of education.
The attempts are always the same. Make policies, give resources, assure them its not their fault.
What will fix Crime. Violence. Abuse. Addictions. Generational sin. Lack of education?
Having good fathers helping raise their children.
Father’s who love them. Lead them by example and empower them to what is right.
Argumentation
If you are a child of God, He has given you both the understanding of the battle and its destruction, but also the power to resist the temptation and overcome it.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve —because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin —
in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
Our Father loves us, He freely gave Himself over to death so that we could live for a higher calling.
The world will not be able to understand who we are calling on or where the resources are coming from but as Christians He is here for us to succeed.
And its more than just drinking and evil desires.
Because unbelievers can get sober and live decent lives.
Following God empowers us to see how self-centeredness and pride keeps us from experiencing the fullness of our walk with God.
Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
The way the devil always attacks is by promising a better outcome in life through selfishness/rebellion and pursuing pleasure.
Adam and Eve.
1. God doesn’t have your best in mind
2. You’ll be like a god.
Thousands of years later Peter is preaching
1. That they should stop pursuing the pleasures of this world and instead seek the greater pleasure in Christ.
2. humble themselves in obedience to the Word like Christ did.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve —because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin —
in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
What once was a cures of death without God becomes a blessing when done in God.
Peter says that Christians are to submit to God and His plans knowing he loves you and has your best in mind.
Therefore
Submit to His sovereignty.
As a believer God can enable you to submit your life in trust of Him and His control over all things.
The world could Never do that. But those born-again in Christ can
Read 1 Peter 2:13-3:22
Submit: to Presidents, employers, husbands and church elders.
Not because they are God or even act like Him, but because His kingdom advances when we obey and trust his plan.
In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live
when they observe your pure, reverent lives.
Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes.
Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.
Elaborate above passage
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm.
The greatest test of you being born again to a living hope is in how you live.
If you live with you and your well being as the priority then its clear that Jesus is of little priority.
However if you are born again to a living hope you have battled in your heart and have had victories over selfishness, your attitude toward suffering, and you have experienced the rewards of a submissive life; a closeness to God you’d never have otherwise.
Ladder picture.
Ladder
Ladder
The world is looking for what works, what is real, we will never convince them of something that hasn't changed our private lives.
Do we live for God in our public lives?
Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.
Peter stresses two outcomes that demonstrate if we are born again to a living hope.
Conflict and Conversions
The world will see your good deeds
Some will be attracted others repelled.
The more you live like Christ the more the extremes become.
Jesus’ time on earth: the more time he spent with people the more some rejection and rejoicing.
But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
If your worldview cannot understand how
suffering is a part of refining and restoring then you’ll be mislead and suffering can train wreak your belief.
But as a child of God, you know that suffering serves a purpose and so we respond differently than the world.
“And we will be appraised by no one” means that won’t be able to figure you out.
You are to be an anomaly.
Are you an anomaly?
They may be frustrated or fond of you but BOTH should be happening.
Argumentation:
As Christians, we understand what it takes to be saved. Faith in Christ-fully aware of our sin and unmerited grace that give us.
Illustration:
When I was a kid (Catholic)
The world sees Godliness in this way,
so when we claim
we know God,
talk to Him, or
That we a chosen,
A holy priesthood
They automatically assume we’re looking down on them or that we feel better than them.
If they don’t see it that way their on their way to belief.
Our lives are to be lived in view of non believers so that they see we do not earn salvation. We win them through humility, submission and grace.
Illustration.
A puritan preacher from the 1600’s said “If you are born-again, the first one to know it is your horse.”
Illustration.
The Genie “I don’t trust people but because of your kindness and selflessness, I trust you.”
The change in us should compel others to see God’s power at work. They may reject it but to some it will be to their glory at the day of Jesus’ return
Application:
We are the invitation of Christ to people.
What does your life say?
So let your life share your faith.
People want what works.
Has the Gospel given you hope?
Has the gospel changed you?
Go live for the hope that is in you.
Show the world your victories.
Share your life with others so they to can be ready at the Lord’s return
Prayer
Completely Done