Chapter 1 Completed

Calling

Introduction

Hey Pete… Series going through 1 & 2 Peter

Pick up a devotional if you didn’t get one last week

or check out lifebridgesavannah.com/heypete

Tension

Reading God’s Word is opposed

It’s words are life to us

But we have an enemy who wants to entangle and trap us in the ways of the world

Truth

1 Peter 1:13 “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”

So… in light of the Gospel (a free gift to us)

Because of what Jesus has done for you… act

Notice that God is not:

Go get yourself together and then I will do something

God is:

I have done this for you, now do this

Prepare your minds for action (practice vs perfection)

Be mentally alert

1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

I have a love hate relationship with schedules

But when our dinner plans are scheduled for the week, I’m not tempted to spend money we don’t have and eat out

The schedule keeps me mentally alert

Schedule time to read God’s word

God’s Word prepares you for whats ahead

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Exercise Self-Control

This is not done on your own power

This is a fruit of the spirit within you

Self-control is a discipline

Sure… we have discipline in things we love

But we needs the spirits power to help us in the disciplines of things that are opposed

Love others more than yourself

Give our first to God

Submit to authority

Surrendering our will

Put all your hope

Have you ever tried to balance a bat?

did you know that when you focus on where the bat meets your hand, it’s almost impossible to balance

But if you look at the furthest point of the bat (from your hand), it is now easy to balance

Put all your hope in something that is to come

This is all about focus

When our focus is correct, our life is balanced

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

1 Peter 1:14–16 “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Don’t go back to your old ways

This is the greatest battle of your life

Paul said in Romans

Why do I do what I hate

and that which I love I cannot do

He was in a battle between flesh and spirt

Ephesians 2:1–4 “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,”

But now you must be HOLY

God has changed our standard

We are born looking at everyone around us as out standard

Kids will say… but so & so gets to

So & So has one

My response to this is… I am not so & so’s parent

God is saying the same thing to us

He is now our standard

Not everyone around us

We are set apart and dedicated to Him

1 Peter 1:17–25 “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new…”

You are cleansed so…. Love others!

John 13:35 “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

1 Peter 2:1–3 “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

Peter starts with prepare you minds, exercise self-control, and put all your hope in Jesus…

So that you can:

Get Rid Of evil behavior…

deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy and unkind speech

We are to crave God’s attention, teaching, and comfort

Application

The Word of God is opposed

So you must fight for it

Just as a baby cries for food when it hungry

You must long (yearn) for it

Psalm 42:1–2 “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?”

How much do you need Him?