A Living Stone and a Holy People
*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, that by it you may grow up into salvation—*3* if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
*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. *6 *For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
*7* So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”[a (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A1-12&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30390a)]
*8* and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
*9* But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 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.
*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.
HOPE IV: Standing Strong in the Face of Opposition
Hope begins with a Relationship with the Rock. (John 10:10)
Mercy - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
Don’t be surprised when you face opposition.
* Advancement invites opposition.
* The devil doesn’t bother those who are not a threat.
Behind every relational conflict there is one of three causes:
* Power and Control - Who’s priorities matter and who gets to make the decisions. (Christ Centered vs Egocentric - It's all about me/all affects me)
* Closeness and Care - Do we have each other’s back and are we in this together. (LIFE Groups and Family vs Isolated and Alone)
* Respect and Recognition - Do you appreciate me and do you value me? (Grace & Mercy vs Truth & Justice)
I’m not going to be moved by praise or criticism!
* I’m not going to let praise get into my head or criticism get into my heart!
The external opposition will only be as loud as my internal insecurities allow them to be.
* Self Awareness and Accountability
* If you want to change the other, change yourself (System Dynamics)
* It is the way you treat the other that will ultimately tell you who you are
* If you want to join the team and bring Hope and change to the world, share with the world how Hope and change has been brought to you
The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity for our God to fight for you.
If I’m not ready to face opposition for my obedience to God, I’m not ready to be used by God!
LIFE/Family Group Questions:
1. When you face opposition, how do you usually respond?
2. Why is it important for us to remember that we answer to God and no one else?
3. How have you received God’s Mercy and seen Him fight for you?
4. How can you prepare yourself for the opposition you will face as you pursue God’s work?
Hope IV - "Standing Strong"
November 3, 2019 • Brad Van Cleave
Hope X: "Hope Killers"
December 8, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope IV “Hope Killers” Suffering causes severe things in our life (weakness, faltering and isolation) *1Pe 5:8* Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The adversary (Against what is right) is the one is coming against you The devil-author of confusion, deception and fear —a beautiful angel of light, Prowling or roaming in his world (greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world) Like a lion- - Away from the herd - Weak and sick - Young *1Pe 5:9* Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. Resist him -Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. firm in your faith- *intervention vs. prevention* Intervention faith is faith born out of crisis (foxhole faith) Prevention faith is faith born out of discipline and intentional, planned growth (faith before the foxhole) *Conclusion:* Satan is coming. When he gets here is not the time to grow faith your faith. Grow your faith before. How is your faith at this moment? Are you planning your faith or hoping your faith? First step is repentance, second is obedience and the third is victory. Connect, Grow and Repent (turn away from sin) _*Questions:*_ 1. How do you picture Satan when you see him in your head? What does he look like? Is this reality? 2. How has connecting, growing and repenting protecting you from Satan? (specific instances) 3. How does your faith measure up? Is it an intervention faith or prevention faith? 4. What are some ways to get prevention faith not intervention?
Hope VII "The Decisive Moment
November 24, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope VIII “The Decisive Moment” 1. 1Pe 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1Pe 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. * The more you go through the more you should have a “don’t quit now” * “Whoever has suffered for doing right, and has still gone on obeying God in spite of the suffering it involved, has made a clear break with sin.” (Grudem) 2. 1Pe 4:3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. MSG * Suffering always leads to a decisive moment * Your decisive moment can be your defining moment 3. 1Pe 4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 1Pe 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. * There are people all around that do not make it through the suffering and will encourage you to give in as well. * Once again, the tension rises and a decisive moment is born. * Example- Marriage suffering and the bad advice from other sufferers. Conclusion: You have a choice. Live for you or Jesus. Live for them or Jesus. Live for it or Jesus. Its time to make your decisive moment your defining moment *Life Group Questions:* 1. How does suffering cause you to be stronger in your fight against sin? 2. Have you had to decide to move forward in a time of struggle when you did not want to? What caused you to move forward? 3. Explain how your decisive moments can be you defining moments in your peronsal life. 4. How have people treated you when you abstained from sin? Negative? Positive? 5. What could Jesus have done to end His sfuffering on the cross? Did He? Should You?