Precious, Privileged and Priesthood 1 Peter 2:4-10

Israel because there's only want there's no other Cornerstone Deli Cornerstone that you and I know of in Christianity is Jesus Christ. He's not Vision you could he he's not my heart that he's none of those he Israel Israel because first of all by with his brother and by the way of his purchase.

If I brought you that he makes us different as well. So he talks about the preciousness of this and he said it was a lot of men but why she chosen of God and precious and I don't have a way of rejecting that would you call Precious?

Listen to Lorde just for a moment. Thank you so much for the fact that you've been so faithful to us from last week. And this week Lord many tragedies are taking place nor what you did not allow one to come nigh unto us for that. We are grateful and so now Lord as we are in your presence this morning we pray. Oh God it to you is only you can file for you to superintend out. I'm in this place allow your car when your presence to be well-known and father to that individual. That doesn't know again Department. Send me pray the Lord that they would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ even today. We ask you Lord in Jesus name. Amen.

in the words of Peter He says that this way he says for All Flesh is grass and all of the glory of man is a flower the grass withers the flower Fades, but the word of our God endures. Amen. Amen. So we acknowledge except that today. I'm doing a serious right now on I want you to call a lively. Hope meeting that your hope is not invested in something that does not work with me. That that that you can have hope in that hope gives birth to life. Today in today's time in particular. We need that type of Hope. The Apostle Peter is talking to a group of folks who have been dispersed and disbanded and now called and he asked for they are spread out. They are Jewish Christians are being persecuted by their government because they are being persecuted by their government. They need to have some full-size to how they should acting and one of the things that they find hope it is in God's enduring word that no matter what else is going on in their life in God's word last forever. But the other thing that they have got to have it during that. Of time that. Of time no see if they need to have something to hold onto I want to spend time with you in The Mists of persecution. That's when all the maturity comes out of the individual. When the things that the Lord has brought to my attention that said that the way that you can tell when folks are mentors, they understand how to sacrifice show me a person that's mature in Christ and I'll show you a person who's learn to give up stuff Rhonda sacrifice in Tifton to do without on behalf of the greater good of others, but show me an image of a real show. Please in the Unholy Trinity me myself and I know they don't last long because after while self is a a little bit to invest in after while you run out of self after. Time, but when you're able to bless many people and so when Peter is talking about something to hold onto it understand that you need to be mature and learn to be with you as you navigate through. difficult

Peter in this particular passage unlike Paul, who is he will be called he use a syllogism Elijah can use a didactic passages. In other words, very very very well. He is more para tactical that is his words and stuff like that go from here and there and Ian and from one place to the other and they have no necessary logical connection other than the fact that Peter is talking about how to navigate through difficult times.

He talks about Hugh is preciousness. talks about being privileged talks about the priesthood preciousness privileged and the priesthood and now if you know anything about something that's precious, you know that is rare. But everybody can't get a hold of that. This is unique. It's different. It's is something that it is distinguished over that which is common for example a ring for somebody everybody can go to jail, but everybody can't go to Tiffany's come on. There's something about the light blue box.

Well, yeah, there's something about a De Beers Diamond. Distinguish over those ones you get it at any old regular store like Kay Jewelers watches.

Anybody can get one 4K but they can't just get one from the bed while your pregnant.

Clarity cut that all that kind of stuff and all that kind of stuff but the thing is is that is precious because it's Rick. The Apostle Peter he talks about that here in this texting versus starting with verse for going forward. It says to whom coming as unto a Livingstone allowed in need of men but shows of God as precious Jesus Christ being if you will that Livingstone that has been disallowed. Can I give you an example here together in order to build a cut the stones just right? But what they did was they had one stone that seem too big and not a place. So what they did was a rolling it out. They recognize that this was the main stone that they needed to hold the rest. So they called it the Cornerstone. Israel because there's only one. There's no other Cornerstone Deli Cornerstone at you. And I know of in Christianity is Jesus Christ and he's red. He's not he's not Muhammad. He's one of those he is rare is rare because of first of all by with his brother and his purchase for us, so he's ready. And I brought you that he makes us different as well. So he talks about the preciousness of this and he said it was a God and precious and I don't really have a way of rejecting. That was you call Precious. If you are a Believer particular, I think about my young folk right now, if you are a young Christian, you've been in church all your life your Mom and Daddy had a drug problem. They drug you to church every time they got to see how you got your answer again, so I can go to the university I could do what I want and I can read what I want you I couldn't do what I want you and I didn't want to hang out who I want you Jesus.

Right now right now all that you've invested. Or did you have to leave your whole life for the rest of your life? Now comes to play you find out that your friends don't like Jesus the way you like Jesus.

Cuz I want to be with my friends. I don't stop talkin about Jesus because I want to be with my friend Jesus believe in what you believe it is precious stone of Jesus that saying yo solo you hold on to Jesus you put them at arm's length because Jesus is distinguished. Is different he is a juul he is if you can have the highest description of it is your of any facet of Jose. Jesus is that you don't need a Jesus Jesus because you got friends friends that don't can't put you in Heaven or Hell Ranch who can't forget he would say you don't get Jesus is precious Bistro his where are you?

Remember sometimes when my kids were growing up and sometimes they want to have a little paratool adjustment because they might not have liked something that her highness suggested to them being my wife. They want to choose they friend.

Ober mamma I remember I said ain't none of them pushed you out. She is precious over you for you. Hold on to him and let him go.

Yes God, I find you some fresh can't find some friends that are stick with you and everybody else is walking out the front door and walk out on you. If you don't. Sit in the front row you like everybody. The front row of your life living stones are built up a spiritual house on the holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. That is what he moved privileged. Jesus precious and by virtue of the fact that we are built on the main Chief Cornerstone that makes up privileged. Yeah, you know it's a promise to be a Christian can't be one they have to be invited to be one and a half, but you know what? I remember when my mom. I want to dismiss real exclusive Club in Washington DC real estate calling the Metropolitan Club.

A little round and you know how I could help but I look around trying to figure out see how many people have darker Hue and unconscious biology want to walk they went now on you have been extended to become a part of the kingdom of God. You've been given an opportunity to become one of the privileged purses that will one day be seated along with Jesus. You've been giving everybody doesn't get that. They don't understand that but if you right now understand the significance of that chicken patties with a privilege and a privilege office you so it's not like there's nobody says right here. It says here to offer up spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. You can really give God praise. If you didn't know everybody there a Christian a Christian everybody say that they love the Lord don't really know the Lord everybody that's on the Christian band wagon ain't going to have to come on talk to me. Somebody get all of the people that have the ticket that Jesus gave them to get in unless they trusted and believed in them.

Precious that that that that this whole thing is precious. She said well for also is contained in the scripture behold. I lay in Zion the Chief Cornerstone elected precious and he that believeth in him should not be confounded. Let me share something with you young folks. You will not be frustrated trust in Jesus. You might be frustrated by some response to the people that that you have trust that that you that the fact that you trust me. You might be frustrated by their responses. You know, when you when you when you're young and you ain't that stage where you're trying to make your relationship work, you know, you haven't met him and you never met her. Neither one of y'all want to hang up the phone y'all you hang up first. No you hang up. No, you don't know about them yet, you know, baby. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Is there an you still talking about this other thing going to church? Yesterday when you find out whether or not this is serious. Is there a Friday night when you start said you can't touch this now you can head into each other room baby. Now, you can't you can't have a cookie.

What is the restaurant at Dallas when you figure out is it really serious? Because when you're serving God you got the distinct impression you are set apart by God. So he brings out here. He says it's contain the scripture that that you who believe on him shall not be confused and I work it won't be frustrated. So you got to stay at that you got to take. You have to ingratiate you have to receive you need to hold on to it because you to my beloved. I precious you ought to know that you're not that that to anybody play fast and loose with your body fast and loose with your mind. You know, I'm not. and because you it should take that type of seriousness even more because you are a believer. Some folks what they want to do is they want to jettison the fact that they're Christian for the convenience of being involved and included but I'll share with you it's better for you to be excluded on this side and included on that side was on that side and included on this side. This that means that you include on this side part, but if you actually left side that means she was excluded forever.

No, no you want to be included and if you trust Christ now, you really believe him. She saw me believe that what you need to accept Christ. No. Believing in Jesus. It's a lifestyle pools. You're married. How you spend your leisure time? You respond to your family and your relationship with Jesus Christ and forms when I get out she is going with you everywhere you go. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, you are privileged. That means you should experience a little bit of that goes on here. He says for seven. I don't do you therefore which believe he is precious, but other than which be disobedient didn't disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same as made that had the corner. Two words. The stone meaning Jesus Christ, which was rejected. What's now becomes the head? So people who are disobedient that is unbelievers. They won't accept Christ is wrong with you. You won those teetotalers Bible Thumpers one of those people believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster, you you one of those people know you are I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you are privileged and you are precious to him. How many goes on here in Merced? He says and a stone of stumbling a rock of offense even to them, which don't let the word being disobedient wearing to also they were appointed. Are you a chosen generation watch them? A royal priesthood a holy nation of her showing your people and I was you not like everybody else know you not like everybody else. That's so you going from being just precious to privilege to now he's dealing with the idea of the priesthood. You used to be just like I used to be a bona fide Center that's going to bust hell wide open wearing a gasoline.

What we used to be by what we did in other words, and we wanted to have fun. We went to the club to have fun and we wanted to take him to Spirit not the Holy Spirit, but we took in some of us with Jack Daniels and talk to me about me out somebody I take.

We were enjoying ourselves because we weren't connected to the one who was the most privileged and precious Lord Jesus Christ, but now that you're connected to be on the lifestyle change that shows that I don't know if you wake up cuz I was serving God bless all my life.

For the rest of my life. You might say written as a mighty mighty long time. But right turn it inside of used to you eternity is a long time for what you've done to yourself a journalist too long when you repair. NFL repentance in eternity cologne Precious your privileges and now you're part of the priesthood but it goes on. He said you are chosen. That means that God's are only selected. You beloved history. What's a pillow dinosaur you with all your faults?

But you chose to show for his present him who I called you out of Darkness into the mother took the worst and you put them on display as going to be the best of the best is different from everybody else with you to show how much you can wear even look the worse. He made it better than that. So yes, yes. Yes. Yes y'all did that. He got he did that with us and then it says it switching time password people. Ghetto, he's talking specifically about the Jews. Did you know there was a time when Abraham was just able God had a conversation get you and your family up and go to a place and I'll show you and he said he wouldn't talk to his wife server is a server. Look at God told her to get up and go to a place. You see where she's I don't have no forwarding address.

Is it is it what you mean. I told me to go to a place to cool building foundation and make it was God's okay for have a man got up took his family even his father-in-law and it again to pilgrimage at but they were not yet a people yet and it got it just a chapter 12. He says the 8th when he says I'm going to bless you. I'm going to make you and your nation pretty and it worked those who put you out a blessing those who curse you out of Christian. He said by you all will be blessed to the Book of Exodus. The people are still waiting to be delivered and so happy while comes out of Egypt 4 million people for million people in that is 4 million people now, there are people What is sole responsibility is to worship God and some of you will know that God has called you. I don't know why you're so responsibility is to Worship in your lifestyle and your communication and everything. You do your horse is sitting around worshipping God is a woman. I can't just praise God all day long. I guess you can praise him all day. And what is you praise him all day long as you do what he had to do it all day long if he asked you not to do something even though I will join you shortly.

It's about worshipping God for God. Even if you do the best that you can because you represent you represent God and not yourself you could you call even your work is an act of worship.

The priesthood people one time they were not the people of God because they had not obtain Mercy, but now they have obtained Mercy.

Mercy is withholding from you the Judgment that you deserve in this room, whether you believe it or not deserve that I was just calling his name now, we had grace and mercy just like he gets a strip. It is a opportunity. He gives us blessings and it gives us new mercies every morning. He wakes us up and she's alone I wake upin Hospital. Adjust to things here to things you to take home? First of all, first of all, the cost of Salvation is God's way of showing how much he values us. I want you to think very clearly now about if you had a child.

a precious child You've been waiting for this child for a long time. In fact, if you are a man, you haven't you don't have a son and you've been waiting for a son if you are woman and you have all sons and you wanted a daughter and God bless you with that one daughter and that's how I came out to your sick. I want you to sacrifice that daughter for that convict over there.

You said to take my innocent baby and give it up for that cause we go there yet. Who want you to take a child that has done nothing to no one that owes nobody anything that that's beautiful loving and innocent and give him up for someone who has committed a heinous crime by became sin for us all so that he can show us the love of God. Stop doing that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. So we find here but the cost of Salvation is God's way of showing your value, but also, You're calling to Ministry to God. It's not defined by your age. I've been doing this for a while because you get older and you don't stop serving God because you're young and I don't know how. No, no, no. No, what happens is we get better at doing it because we continue fraxo age is not a requirement for serving God. Yeah, yeah, you see folk check out all the time with no they can Union do that. Well, how did you how do you say?

They got to start somewhere. It's a kid have to stop somewhere. He's been playing for two years. He had to stop when he was in the first grade. He had to stop playing the piano sometime. So it's never too young for you to start throwing up too old to serve Lord. So as you're standing on your feet this morning.

Very very poignant words. Thank you for joining us today. If you happen to be in the Washington DC area. Feel free to join us at the Mount Olive Baptist Church 11 46th Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002. Again. Thanks for listening. God bless you, richly and have a great week.