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1st Peter is addressed to believers Who are living as exiles under the Roman province and administration.

For context, its important to understand that life for the believer is difficult

At the particular time, Christians living under the First Century Roman way of living is not conducive or Aligned with the lifestyle of the believer

So, here it is Peter begins to acknowledge their suffering….

Contrast to today

While we may not be persecuted for worshiping the only true and living God.

The 21st Century is still to a degree exiled, or set a part from the world - or at least we SHOULD be.

James 3:10 ESV

10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Blessings and curses should not proceed out of the same mouth. In other words, the holy spirit should be working enough for you to have self- control.

The standard for Holy living as really drifted away. Could it be because the believer who was once exiled, now has a desire to be accepted.

Some sort of line we are not willing to cross because Gods word - says so.

That SHOULD be enough.

Identity Crisis VS Access Granted

I believe we are trying to access and receive the blessings of God has for us without dealing with our issues.

Its really an Identity crisis of the believer. An identity crises can take place at any given moment in our lives.

The enemy has a unique way of planting seeds to make you reevaluate who and who’s you are.

Is this worth it?

We are seeking so much change that - we are now compromising -

And its not limited to the new born Christian

Older saints in the faith too are experiencing

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As believers you must prepare your mind, or Mentally prepare yourself.

Ephesians 6 Gird up your loins

Sometimes, preparing your mind is simply asking for help. Pride is a symptom of an identity crisis

Psalm 34:17–20 ESV

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Man often to seek his own way out of his difficulties. This leads to broken hearts and dissatisfaction.

The truth is God is a God who has always, and is making a way of escape for HIS people.

God saves us from situations in which we landed by our own fault, from catastrophes of our own creation

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

I. Chosen Race/People/Generation

1. God chose you and gave you free will to for you to follow him

2. God does not anoint or choose counterfeits.

- Be you

- Stop seeing validation from others

Matthew 4:19–22 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

I. And Immediately they left their nets - They left their business or their agenda.

The words “follow me” - means follow my lead. In other words, if you see me do it, you do it.

Mark emphasizes the intimacy Jesus desired with the ones He chose, saying: “He appointed twelve — designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”

Jesus chose them knowing they weren't perfect. “I will make you” turned out to be the authoritative word of the Creator that makes people into a new creation.

The call to follow jesus often feels unfathomable,

BUT he said I will

Peter wasn’t perfect - Jesus has to continue teaching him time and time again

Luke 22 Jesus is arrested, Peter is following at a distance, and he later denies Jesus

been walking with Jesus

dangerous because He knows……

Matthew 16:15–18 ESV

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I. Jesus say upon this rock, I will build my Church. (Petros, Peter, Rock )

2. Peter, Petra, Rock - Unwaiving solid, he can use you - if you’re fully commited to him.

Ephesians 2, christ is the conerstone.

2. Luke records Peter's ministry as he is the first to preach the gospel in Acts. We know that in Acts 2 the Holy Spirit falls

1 Corinthians 1:9–10 ESV

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

fellowship…..communion sharing

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

II. Royal Priesthood

You are now a “royal priesthood”

Now the tribes of Judah and Levi are combined. In the Old Testament the two offices were separated….kings came from the tribe of Judah, while the priests came from the tribe of Levi.

Exodus 19:5–8 ESV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

All the people answered

Jesus is now our high priest and eternal king! the scripture has been fulfilled.

Holy -

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

//No read

1 Peter 2:5 ESV

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

To offer - What sacrifices are you offering to God?

Worship

Time

Talent

because of this, nobody should have to ask you to serve, worship — its your reasonable service.

God has done too much for you to sit down

//Lift up

Romans 8:1–6 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Its a privilege to set apart.

God will not use us as living stones in His building without our consent.

The Greek verb oikodomeisthe is in the passive imperative, meaning that it is being done to us but also that we must obey the command. We cannot confess that Jesus Christ is the foundation of our life and then live our life in according to our own will.

Our freedom is not in ourselves but in Christ

Maybe God did not make a mistake when He paired us up with someone with whom we cannot get along. Much of our joy of

1 Corinthians 3:9–11 ESV

9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.