We are a chosen People.

1 Peter 2: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:

To begin with brothers and sisters, Christian Friends,Well Wishers and Saints of God God gave me a mighty message that is meant to be meaningful to the masses on behalf of the Master. The Apostle Peter said that “We 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:

These are some powerful potent pious words coming from Peter the fisherman who denied knowing Jesus Christ three times when things got rough. Can I say something to you, you’ll find out who your friends are when things get rough.Real friends will stick with you and Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. And the church said Amen.

Peter penned this text and I was compelled to find out a little bit about Peter. Did you know that Peter’s name was Simon? and Did you know that it was Jesus who changed his name to Peter? And Jesus changed his name because the name Peter means rock. And Jesus used the name Peter or Petra to describe His Church. Jesus said that thou art Peter and upon this Rock I’ll build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And lastly did you know that the name Peter is the name is also Cephas? Peter and Cephas are the same in the translation from Hebrew to Aramaic. For instance: if somebody’s name is Albert, in Spanish it would be Alberto. And so Peter and Cephas is the same name but Simon is different. This fact speaks to the two natures inside of us.

The name Simon represents the flesh. And we know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God right? But the name Peter represents Christ’s solid rock. Because Church it’s upon Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Church we have to live up to the holy standards in the bible. Peter’s main theme in this epistle is How to stay clean in a polluted world. We live in a world now days where we can hardly tell right from wrong. And both sides are pointing at the other and I see flaws in the design. Because God said in 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

People can say what they want about you, but your actions speaks louder than your words. You’re either holy or not. Peter is saying to this church in Rome be holy before a Holy God.because in Roman culture it was hard to stay clean in their polluted society.

Church The worst thing in the world is to try to tell people to live right and you live wrong as two left shoes.

Let me tell you how to be A Chosen People

1.In 1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, First things first Peter said we got to stop cooking up evil on one another because stirring up the pot and Cooking up malice take time! Because I looked it up. Malicious behavior means that you thought about that evil thing a longgggg time before you acted on it. Tell your neighbor: Don’t do it

Then Peter says in verse 1 all guile. Having Guile is being deceitful that’s when people only tell you part of the story and you believe a half truth and that half truth becomes a full blown lie. God told Adam and Eve that they’d die if they ate off the tree but the serpent change one word and mankind been messed up every since. The serpent said thous shalt not surely die. One half truth can mess you up for a lifetime. Just tell me the truth please. And verse 1 says and Hypocrisies. Peter is saying don’t be a hypocrite especially if you want to be called a chosen people. Because a Hypocrite is a person that says one thing to you but live a whole different kind of way. Then Peter says don’t be envious and jealous of other people. Jealousy like to caused me my life and After that terrible wreck I had! I’ll never be jealous again 3x It’s not good to want what other people got. Then lastly in verse 1 Peter says give up on all evil speaking. Listen to me if you can’t say something good then don’t say nothing at all. Some of us just need to stop talking about one another and the church said Amen

2. Peter said in verses 2&3 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.

And this means that when it comes to the word of God we ought to have an uncontrollable enthusiasm for God’s word. Have ever seen a hungry baby. Boy when they are hungry, they are hungry,and it ain’t no rocking them singing a lullaby no no no you better have them bottles warm up to room temperature and feed them quick. Then get ready to change that diaper because that’s coming soon. And the church said Amen. That’s the WAYYY Peter wants us to desire God’s word.

Because verse 3 in 1 Petter 1:3 is just like Psalms 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! You’ve got to love God’s word brothers and sisters in order to be called a chosen generation and chosen people and a peculiar people a holy people and the church said Amen.

3. Peter is saying in 1 Peter 2 verses 4-6 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

Briefly let me unpack this text The text is teaching talking and telling us to Come to the Lord Jesus, because He’s the “Living stone.” It’s because he lives that I can face tomorrow. Pastor Peter said the Sanhedrin Council didn’t want Jesus but God Chose Jesus, His Only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him should not perish but shall have eternal life. And Peter said because Jesus is the Living Stone the Rock of Ages and The Rock in the wearied land then we too are His stones.

Yeah we are His solid witnesses, we are the recipients of His Glorious Power and Peter says we are built up a spiritual house.

Tell your neighbor : You got to have your house in order that’s why Romans 12:1 says “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Peter said we are a royal priesthood and when we are holy we can offer up spiritual gifts and sacrifices to God in the name of Jesus and God will accept them.

And then you know that we are belong to and exclusive club, For Member Only. Lastly Peter says that God Laid a Chief Corner Stone in Zion in Jerusalem and everything is built up around that Foundational Stone. The Christian Church is built on the Rock and that Rock is Jesus. That’s why the song writer said be sure be very sure that your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock and that Rock is Jesus He’s the Only One.

4. Peter is saying in 1 Peter 2:7 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.

Peter is saying everybody who believes that Jesus is precious in their hearts are alright.

Tell your neighbor: I’m Alright then

But to the people who are deliberately disobedient Lord have mercy. Peter was Mainly talking about the Sanhedrin Council and the Roman Government in Rome. Peter says “Jesus is now the Head of the corner. And not only is Jesus the Head of the Corner, but now He’s a rock of offense.

Peter’s ministry is concentrated on reaching the Jews of the diaspora. And the Jewish religious orthodoxy exclusively hated Jesus being looked upon as the Messiah. And to them it sounds like Peter was cutting them with a sharp knife. And the word cuts where it hit and hits where it cuts. And the church said Amen. In 2024 that means that you ought to be on the right side of history. And when you’re doing wrong the word of God bothers you left and right, up and down even all the way around the corner. When you’re out there wrong the word cuts you up and you think that the preacher been following you all around town. But its the word! The word has becomes a rock of offense because of your disobedience.

5. Finally, Peter now talks to his congregation and says in 1 Peter 2:9 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: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

And what I perceived about this massive text is that it takes a lot of teaching to grow a congregation into being the Chosen People.

Finally brothers and sisters,I don’t really watch Hockey but I recognized that the Florida Panthers just won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. Some hard work went into that victory. The Boston Celtics just won their 18th NBA Championship the greatest of all time and no doubt, great effort went into becoming the bonifide champs.In 2023 the Texas Rangers won the MLB World series it was a great team effort and finally The Kansas City Chiefs won the NFL Championship in 2023 & 2024. How about them Chiefs.... Yeah and in every case great effort and preparation went into becoming something above the common, or the normal or the regular run of the mill. Brothers and sisters greatness requires going to the next level up. And God want all of us to go to the next level up.

Tell your neighbor: We going up to the next level baby

Start Closing Slowly

Because Peter said “We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; And that we should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Jesus has changed my whole life and if anybody ask you whom I am tell them that I am redeemed.

Church if it had not been for the Lord on my side I don’t know where I’d be. Because when I talk about Jesus yes Lord I get so excited inside. yes

Jesus My Rock in the wearied Land um um um . Yes Shelter in the time of the storm. Oh Lord Alpha and Omega. The Author and Finisher of our Faith. Jesus the First and the Last. Jesus is my Burden Bearer and heavy load sharer. Jesus is mankind’s last and best hope for salvation. Oh Lord

When I talk about Jesus I know He’s my Doctor in the sick room oh Yes He is.

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.