Living as Exiles A Study of 1 Peter

Good Morning!

Good Morning and Welcome to Freedom Chapel. My name is Pastor Terry, my wife Michelle and I serve as the lead pastors here at Freedom Chapel. This Church exists to bring hope to our community, by being a Place to Belong, Church for the Whole Family.

If you are new with us this morning would you please take the time this morning to fill out that little flap on the side of your bulletin. If you put it in the black boxes by the back door we will make a donation in your name to a local charity and we send you cookies. Church can we show our guests some love this morning.

Family, I am so excited by what the Lord has been doing in and through the people of this church body. Easter Sunday we had over 210 people in this building. 60 of those people were children. Last week we had over 150 people in our service. Close to 40 were children. Church our family is growing and God is moving.

In February and March combined you trusted God and gave nearly $70,000 in tithes and offerings. I want you to understand something. You trusted God and God is delivering. It is not a coincidence that when the people of God began to trust God more our attendance went up as well. God will not be outdone. So keep it up. I believe that Freedom is coming to McPherson. The people out there believe they are free, they believe they have all they need, but they have not tasted or seen the goodness and mercy of God. Freedom Chapel is becoming more and more a place where people find true Freedom. Let’s show God some appreciation this morning.

New People Party

If you are new to the church we want to invite you to join us for a new people party at Lake Side park next Sunday at 5 PM. Come out and get to know our church, staff, and deacons.

Would you pray with me as we dive into today’s Message.

Five Weeks through 1 Peter

Who Was Peter?

We meet him as Simeon bar-Jonah a fisherman.

He was the first disciple to recognize that Jesus was the son of God the promised Messiah.

Jesus changed is name to the Hebrew name Cephas, which translates to Petros (meaning rock).

Matthew 16:17–18 ESV

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter would go on to be one of Jesus’ most trusted Disciples. He witnessed

Jesus Raising Jairus’ Daughter being raised from the Dead. Mark 5:35-43

The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13)

He would be the only disciple to attempt to Walk on Water

He would deny his position with Jesus three times

Jesus would then restore Peter to his position three times.

Peter was the Pastor of the Church in Jerusalem and then would go on to start churches in Asia Minor( Modern Day Turkey).

1 Peter is a letter written to the Churches of Asia Minor.

Thes churches are facing great persecution at the hand of Emperor Nero. He is writing to a people who have been scattered, are struggling, that are facing persecution, death, and living in fear.

Peter is writing to encourage them as to how to live as people who have no where to belong.

1 Peter 1:1–2 ESV

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Those who were elected by God, to be exiled by a God who knew what was coming.

He is telling these people that they were set apart by a God, so that the could demonstrate what is was to be obedient in their walk with God and to show what it is to be covered by the blood of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter is reminding these first century Christians:

Don’t Focus on the Here and Now.

Focus on the What is to Come.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We are tested to prove if our Faith is worth purchasing.

1 Peter 1:8–12 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Peter is encouraging them that they are living out the very things that the prophets searched for.

How should we be living in Light of this Great Salvation?

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

A mind prepared for action is a mind that is saturated in prayer and the Word of God.

To be Sober-Minded is to not have a mind distracted by outside forces.

1 Peter 1:14–16 ESV

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

My first week of driving.

Don’t go back to the mud, Jesus pulled you out of.

I still remember that night. There are still ruts there. I remember the embarrassment, the fear, and the grace. I don’t want to go back to that place.

1 Peter 1:17–21 ESV

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Live as if God’s Judgement Matters!

Live like someone who’s captivity was paid for by something that can not be repaid.

In Conclusion:

You are here today because God has Elected you to find Freedom.

Romans 10:8–11 ESV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

God is speaking to you today to stop focusing on the here and now.

Focus on the What is to Come!

Prepare your Mind, Drive out the outside influences, and steer clear of the old obstacles.

You are living what you are living in order to bring Glory to God!