1 Peter 1:22 – 2:12 Responding in the Midst of Difficulty / Tough minded reactions

How many have family members that died serving this country?

Trouble comes. The world will never be the same. What happens now?

In difficulty

A disciplined response – Be tough minded and in control but dependent on Him

A holy response – don’t sin, fear God, because of the price He paid for you

Continue in 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

In difficulty

Respond appropriately

I. In Difficulty: A love response

In the midst of difficult relationships in the church

(ESV) 1 Peter 1 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly (fervently) from a pure heart,

The source of a lot of our difficulty comes from people. Peter describes how we should respond to them (most of Peter’s letter will address dealing with difficult people – always the same)

A. Others focused

Love one another

1. A love of choice – agapeo - unconditional

2. Even those who bring difficulty into our lives

3. Eyes on others – care about others / seek to understand / see what’s going on in their lives

4. These are the ones Jesus loved

B. With intensity

Earnestly / fervently

1. With passion

2. How great is the need – the reason they bring difficulty into my life is because of their own spiritual need / trouble / hurt

C. Without mixed motives

from a pure heart,

1. Not about me / don’t react selfishly

2. Desire others to prosper in Christ because the need Him not just so my life will be better

3. Desire to obey Christ regardless of how I am treated in return

II. In Difficulty: A Word of God response

Looking to that which can be relied upon

A. Based in the Word’s certainty

(ESV) 1 Peter 1 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1. Our reactions to love should be based on our own being made new thru the living Word of God

2. Man’s glory passes away

3. God’s Word never fades

4. The message of the good news proclaimed that change our lives

B. Sustained through the Word

(ESV) 1 Peter 2 1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk (of the Word), that by it you may grow up into salvation—

1. The word sustains – all that is necessary

2. Not just a time in the Word – but take it into your soul – allow it to build up / change / grow you

3. Choice to lay aside other stuff to embrace it

C. If you are indeed truly a Christian

(ESV) 1 Peter 2 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good (gracious).

1. Has experience the grace of the Lord – give grace

2. If you knows the Lord is good – so don’t get discouraged when difficulties occur – A purpose/plan from a good Lord

III. In Difficulty: A response based on who we are

Let our response flow out of who we are

A. A living temple

(ESV) 1 Peter 2 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1. The place in the world that God dwells / but alive

2. Intercede for others / Stand between God and man

B. Chosen to be set apart for Him

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, …

3. Chose – a race – royal lineage

C. A people intimate with Him

9 … a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

4. Close to Him / His very own people

D. So live reflecting Him in spite of difficult people

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

5. Don’t mess up His reputation

6. See Christ in our response to difficulties