A living Hope

Living Hope

Intro

The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy our Faith that is placed in Jesus.

1 and 2 peter are written on how to defend ourselves against Satan.

In the first book.

Satan comes as a lion to devour us with persecution and trials.

Peter writes - We as Christians can depend on Gods grace to get through the trials.

The second book.

Satan comes as the serpent to lie and deceive with false teaching.

Peter writes - we can stand on our Knowledge of the Word to fight off bad teaching/lies.

In fact Peter ends the 2 book by saying this in 2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

This books has been encouraging to me. Although i am not being persecuted, I am in a country that is not my own.

1 Peter 1:1-2

Introduction - Peter and who is writing to

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

pilgrims(sojourners, temporary residents, strangers, resident aliens.)

This was true in the physical sense and also in the Spiritual

Physical

they were pushed out of their homes because of persecution. Not knowing where their next meal or job was going to come from.

Spiritual

This earth is not our home

Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

The othering thing i want to point out is that God is all knowing or Omniscient.

Here it says they were “elect or chosen”

In other word it is saying that “God knew and chose them for sanctification of the Spirit”

He knew what trials that each one was going to go through to make their character more like Jesus.

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The first thing that Peter wanted to do was to settle their minds and heart.

Have you ever been anxious about something. You run stories through your head about the past. How i would have changed what I said. Or i would have reacted differently. Or maybe your anxious about your future and don’t know what is going to happen next. Your next job or meal, or an uncomfortable conversation that has to take place that will effect your lives. These guy were anxious about the persecution that they were experiencing .

1 Peter 1:3 “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,”

It is hope that will settle our minds.

It is a living hope.

1 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,”

Our hope is the person Jesus Christ.

The unbeliever does not have this hope.

1.

In the 1950s, Curt Richter, a professor at Johns Hopkins, did a famous drowning rats psychology experiment. This experiment, though cruel, demonstrated the power of hope and resilience in overcoming difficult situations.

2. In the old testament the Lord often would use things to remind the Children of Israel that they should have hope or God is Faithful

Think of what is inside the Arc of the Covenant

Golden Jar of Manna

A symbal and reminder of God is our provider

Ten Commandments

God is Just

Aarons Rod

Rebelion against Aaron and Moses

Our hope can not be taken away. It is eternal.

1 Peter 1:4–5 “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Conclusion :

Romans 8:24–26 “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.