Sermon Tone Analysis

Special Prayer

Pastor Ed & Sonia Corbin (served here at GCA as children’s pastors) Prior to that, and since that time they served as missionaries to South Africa for 23 years (One of our supporting missionaries) They will be leaving on September 29th and going back on the field for approx 5 months.

We’d like to pray for them and bless them in the name of the Lord today.

Introduction

Recap last weeks message

1 peter 1.

Good morning and welcome to GCA, we’re so glad you’ve joined us this morning!

While you’re turning in your Bible’s to , would like to thank everyone who participated in the silent auction for Hope House Charity Center fundraiser (Charlie Stevens) A ministry that feeds children in Kenya and India.

Through the auction, we raised over $1,000!

Last week we said:

If you are in Christ, you have a Living Hope and your future is bright!

The ancient Romans had a saying:

“Where there’s life, there’s hope.”

While there’s an element of truth in that statement, there is no certainty of hope apart from Christ!

Recap last weeks message

“Human beings can live for forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air.

But we cannot live for four seconds without hope.”

The word hope in English often conveys doubt.

Old Testament the Hebrew word is batah and the New Testament word hope in the Greek elpizo.

(there is no doubt attached to this word)

(vs.

3-5) In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never “perish, spoil or fade.”

“Our inheritance is death-proof, sin-proof, and time-proof”

“Kept in heaven and shielded by God’s power” (a military term) which means that God’s power is a garrison in which we find our security.

“all kinds of trials or various trials” literally means ‘many colored’ and was used to describe the skin of a leopard.

All kinds of trials literally means “varied” or “diversified” trials.

At least 15 x’s Peter mentions suffering using 8 different Greek words.

Holman NT Commentary

I don’t know if we can truly identify with what Peter was most likely referring to.

This takes on a depth of meaning against the background of the ghastly persecution led by the Roman emperor Nero.

In that persecution, Christians were wrapped in freshly slaughtered animal skins and fed to dogs and wild animals.

They were dipped in pitch or tar and set on fire as torches to light Nero’s gardens at night.

This persecution was the first of nine that took place under the Roman Empire during the next 250 years.

Peter himself very likely died during this first persecution.

All of this sheds some light on the expression Peter used to describe these varied trials: “a little while.”

What he was saying is that our suffering here is brief in light of our inheritance that lasts for eternity.

Regardless of how long our trials last, that length of time is nothing in light of eternity!

Our faith isn’t tested because God doesn’t know how much or what kind of faith we have.

It is tested because we often are ignorant of how much or what kind of faith we have.

God’s purpose in testing is to display the enduring quality of our faith.

God has purpose in testing our faith

Faith is tested to show that it is sincere faith

Faith is tested to show the strength of faith

Faith is tested to purify it, to burn away the impurities from our faith

Peter cemented his point with the illustration of a goldsmith.

To form a useful object, raw gold must be cast into a mold.

For that to occur, the solid ore must be melted, requiring a temperature of 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the gold is melted, the impurities rise to the surface, where they are skimmed off or burned off.

A goldsmith knows the gold is ready to cast when the liquid gold becomes mirror like and he can see his face reflected in the surface.

Christianity isn’t a one time decision, It’s a way of life.

We will be tested!

A faith that has been tested is a faith that can be trusted!

luke

Staying Clean in a Polluted World: Peter indicates three ways we can help this happen!

Live Ready

“Prepare your minds” or “gird up”

1 Peter 2.

1 Peter 1.13

1 peter 1.

Literally means “Get your head together” or “Discipliner your mind.”

A very loose paraphrase could be “be on your toes.”

The first picture is of a man gathering up his long main garment and tucking it into his belt so as to leave his limbs free for action.

The English equivalent would be to “take off your jacket and roll up your sleeves”

Get your mind prepared to hear from God as like the prophets of old:

Jer

“Sober minded” means to be calm, steady, controlled; to weigh matters carefully.

Why?

“Set your hope” can mean “Hope in the end” It is the Optimistic mind.

When the outlook is gloomy, It’s time to start looking upward.

It has to be dark for the stars to appear!

Pursue Holiness

Peter gives us the why?

Because our lives are supposed to reflect the character of God.

Peter gives us the why?

Because our lives are supposed to reflect the character of God.

Before you say, “it’s impossible to be Holy like God is Holy,” Here’s a better understanding of where this concept comes from:

1 pet 1.14

You shall therefore sanctify yourselves: One great purpose of the dietary laws of Israel was to sanctify—to set them apart—from other nations.

It made fellowship with those who did not serve God far more difficult.

We see this sanctifying effect in Daniel 1, where Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the unkosher food at the king of Babylon’s table—and God blesses them for being set apart for His righteousness.

The root meaning of the word translated “holy” is different.

Not “odd” but rather a different person.

lev 11.

Peter gives us the why?

Because our lives are supposed to reflect the character of God.

The root meaning of the word translated “holy” is different.

Not “odd” but rather a different person.

When we chose to “be different”, the world won’t understand.

It simply will not make sense to them.

We were disobedient children

In other words, “Place your hope totally on the return of Jesus Christ and its results, and live your life in light of that future reality.”

But now we should be obedient:

But now we should be obedient:

states that we have been “chosen” to be obedient to Jesus Christ.

For many of us our greatest obstacle to following Christ is our desire to fit in.

God didn’t create you to fit in, but He created you to stand out!

There is a wrong type of thinking that has invaded western Christian culture and it is this - God’s highest calling in your happiness.

(God’s highest calling is your holiness)

The theology of happiness has empowered countless Christians to personal Justification.

Not happy in marriage - just leave