Sermon Tone Analysis

2 Pet.

1:1-4 OUR PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS

Intro: Five times in his two epistles, Simon Peter mentions possessions that are precious to the people of God.

Now, when we think of something precious, we think of a thing that is valuable, of something that is to be cherished, of something that needs to be put under a guard and watched very closely.

We all think of our children as precious.

Some even feel that way about the spouse.

We cherish them and want to protect them and we hold them in high regard.

Some of you own things that are precious to you.

It may be a family heirloom, a piece of jewelry or an automobile.

Whatever it may be that you hold precious, you know precisely what I am talking about.

I remember going to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.

There in the Museum of Natural History, they have a rock called the Hope Diamond.

This stone is considered to be absolutely priceless.

If you ever go there and view this stone, you will look at it through a thick piece of glass that allows you to peer into the vault where that diamond is kept.

This stone is also protected by an elaborate alarm system and armed guards.

Why go to all this trouble for a rock?

I mean it was big, but it didn't look all that special to me.

The reason?

Someone, somewhere considers the Hope Diamond to be a precious thing.

As believers, there are things which we possess that are truly precious.

Al the material wealth that we esteem will one day perish.

All the people we count to be so precious will also perish from this earth.

Even the Hope Diamond, with all the millions of dollars spent on its protection and safekeeping will also perish.

However, we have been given some very precious things by the Lord that will never perish or be taken away.

I would like to share these precious things with you tonight.

To accomplish this, we are going to have to travel through both of Peter's epistles.

However, it is a journey worth taking.

Notice with me Our Precious Possessions.

I. 1 Pet.

1:7 THERE ARE PRECIOUS TRIALS

A. Peter tells us that the trials of life are very precious things.

We may look at the valleys we are forced to navigate and think that our lives are horrible things.

Yet, Peter tells us that trials have a way of helping us.

(Ill.

Note that Peter refers to the refining process that is used to purify gold.

When we are put to the test in life, it has the effect of removing the impurities from our lives.

Often, it is the trials of life that will bring us closer to the Lord.)

B. In the valleys of life, we are reminded of several great truths that we often forget when life is easy.

Allow me to share some of them with you today.

1.

We are reminded that Jesus is always with us - Heb. 13:5.

(Ill.

The Disciples in the storm - John 6:16-20)

2. We are reminded that even our valleys are planned by the Lord - Rom. 8:28; Isa.

45:7.

3. We are reminded that our trials are helping us grow in the Lord - 2 Cor.

4:17.

4. We are reminded that something better is waiting just down the way - Rom. 8:18.

5. We are reminded that even when times are bad, God is still good - Job 1:20-21.

C. The trials and valleys of life are no fun and we would all rather be spared having to go through them, but when we have gone through the valley and come out on the other side, we will know the Lord better than we could have otherwise and we will be stronger in the faith than we ever could have been.

(Ill.

The Disciples would have never known that Jesus could walk on water if there hadn't been a storm.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would never have known that God would come to their aid if there hadn't been a fiery furnace.

Noah would have never known that God could keep him safe in the ark if there had never been a flood.

Mary and Martha would have never known that Jesus could raise the dead if Lazarus hadn't died.

The 5,000 would have never known that Jesus could fed the multitude if they hadn't first become hungry.

The list could go on, but the truth is plain to see.

The valley show us a side of God we could never see otherwise.)

I.

There Are Precious Trials

II. 1 Pet.

1:19 THERE IS PRECIOUS BLOOD

A. Peter tells us that the Blood of Jesus is a precious substance.

He means that it is something that is of great price and is to be held in honor and great esteem.

B. What is it about the blood of Jesus that makes it so special?

1.

It is the price of redemption - 1 Pet.

1:19

2. It is the proof of God's love for us - Rom.. 5:8

3. It is the only substance known to God or man that can cleanse away our sins - Rev. 1:5; 1 John 1:7.

4. It is pure blood that was shed by an innocent men.

His blood and His death were accepted in place of our own by the Father in Heaven.

His blood is precious blood!

C. Since the blood of Jesus is precious, it deserves to be cherished by the believer.

We make much of the cross in our Christian churches.

However, the cross doesn't save anyone!

It was what happened at the cross that makes the difference.

It was when the Lamb of God poured out His life in His blood that sin was forever atoned for, and redemption completed!

(Ill.

There are some that would take the Blood out of the hymnals.

There are those who like to preach a dry cleaned plan of salvation that contains no references to the blood of Jesus.

My friends, those of us who still cherish the blood need to take our stand on the side of right and guard the precious blood of Jesus.

We must se to it that there will always be a group somewhere that is preaching and teaching that the blood, and the blood alone, makes me right with God.

His blood is precious blood and we need to cherish, protect and proclaim the blood of Jesus.)

I.

There Are Precious Trials

II.

There Is Precious Blood

III. 1 Pet.

2:6-7 THERE IS A PRECIOUS SAVIOR

A. Peter now moves on to tell us that Jesus Himself is precious.

The word used here refers to a thing of great value.

Peter is telling us that Jesus is valuable to those who believe.

In fact, His value to us is beyond all human comprehension

B. Allow me to tell you why I believe Jesus is a precious to the saints of God.

1.

Because He loves us - Jer. 31:3; Rom.

8:38-39.

2. Because He cares about us - 1 Pet.

5:7.

3.

Because He understands our needs - Heb. 4:15.

4. Because He is always near to help us - Psa. 46:1.

5.

Because He paid the ultimate price to save us - John 15:13.

(Ill.

You can't put a price on things like that!

Men will fail you, those you love will let you down.

People all around you may never understand you or what you are having to face in life, but there is a precious Savior named Jesus who can and does understand and care.

He is a precious Savior.)