Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Own Special People

Pastor E. Keith Hassell

 

 

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) /“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”/

*God has a special (“peculiar) people*

* *

I.              Everyone wants to feel special in the eyes of someone

II.

There is something inside of us that longs to stand out from the crowd

III.

God has chosen from among all peoples of the earth a special people who are completely His own

IV.

Definition: “Special” (Webster’s Dictionary): /“distinguished by some unusual quality; especially *: *being in some way superior; held in particular esteem; readily distinguishable from others of the same category*: *unique; of, relating to, or constituting a species *: *specific; being other than the usual*: *additional, extra; designed for a particular purpose or occasion”/ [1]

V.          Wuest says, /“The Greek word /[for “special” or “peculiar”] /means literally ‘to make around,’ that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership.”/[2]

*Why are God’s people special?*

* *

I.              We were not always God’s special people

A.               1 Peter 2:10 (NKJV) /“who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”/

B.                Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) /“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”/

II.

We are special because of God’s covenants

A.               Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (NKJV) /“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”/

B.                /A people belonging to God/ (/i.e./ special) uses the imagery of the eastern king, who kept a special treasure chamber apart from his government exchequer [administrator in charge of revenues].

This was for his own use, and the idea is first found in Ex. 19:5 and picked up in Tit.

2:14 by Paul.[3]

III.

We are special because of the price that was paid for us—the blood of Jesus

A.               As faith and obedience in applying the blood of the Passover Lamb distinguished Israel from Egypt in the final plague, so our faith and obedience in applying the blood of Jesus to our lives distinguishes us from those who are lost

B.                Ephesians 2:11-13 (NKJV) /“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”/

C.               1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NKJV) /“Flee sexual immorality.

Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”/

D.               1 Peter 1:17-19 (NKJV) /“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”/

E.                Because God had saved the firstborn of Israel through the blood of the Passover lamb, they now belonged to Him (Ex 13:1-2).

Because God has saved us through the blood of Jesus Christ, we now belong to Him.

 

IV.

We are special because we are God’s children through the New Birth

A.               John 3:3 (NKJV) /“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”/

B.                1 John 3:1 (NKJV) /“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”/

C.               Through the New Birth we become God’s children

 

V.

We are special because we are called out to be His own

A.               2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (NKJV) /“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

And what communion has light with darkness?

And what accord has Christ with Belial?

Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God.

As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them.

I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’

Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.

I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”/

 

VI.

We are special because of God’s purpose

A.               What is our purpose in being special?

—/“to proclaim the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light”/

1.          “Proclaim” means to “to tell, to advertise”

2.          Light speaks of the revelation knowledge of God’s truth

3.          Darkness speaks of absence of the knowledge of God

4.          How can we show forth the excellence of God’s revealed truth if we continue to walk as if we do not have that knowledge?

*How can we proclaim the Excellencies of God?*

* *

I.              Through declaring the truth of the Gospel

A.               Declaring His truth dispels the darkness of ignorance

II.

Through thanksgiving, praise, and worship

A.               We demonstrate appreciation through thanksgiving.

B.                We declare God’s excellencies through praise.

C.               We demonstrate submission to God through worship.

1.          Worship involves sacrifice.

2.          The level of our sacrifice determines the level of our worship.

III.

Through a holy life

A.               Holy means set apart for God as a bride is set apart for her bridegroom

B.                Holiness is a matter of the heart.

Standards are a reflection of the heart.

IV.

Through good works

A.               Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) /“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”/

B.                Titus 2:14 (NKJV) /“who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”/

V.          Through obedience

A.               Obedience to His voice reveals His authority in our life

B.                Obedience to His word reveals that God has a different standard

VI.

Through living a life worthy of His love

 

*Invitation:  *If we are so special that Jesus died for us, then isn’t He so special that we should live for Him?

 

*Song of Response: “My Jesus, I Love Thee”*

(William R. Featherston 1846-1873; written as a poem after his conversion as a 16 year old teenager)

 

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine—For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou: If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow: If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, and praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; and say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow, “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”

In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”

* *

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[1]Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993).

/Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary./

Includes index.

(10th ed.).

Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.

[2]Wuest, K. S. (1997, c1984).