Choosing To Be Different

Choosing To Be Different

Living God’s Way – part two

James 1:13-2:3

TODAY – is our second week in our new message series it is a study of 1 Peter that we are called, ‘Living God’s Way…”

FRIENDS - we are digging deeply into a words written nearly 2,000 years ago, by a guy who loved Jesus Christ, and who loved the church so much that it cost him his life… Words written by a man who knew both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat… Words written by man who one when he was old was led out of a prison cell - hands bound, to a Roman cross… Nails were driven into his body that hung upside down on a cross… (because he did not feel worthy enough to die right side up like his Lord.

ONE DAY – 2,000 years ago Peter sat down with pen & paper – guided by the Holy Spirit to write a letter to a bunch of believers who were going through some extremely difficult times… AND AS – he wrote he thought about all that they were going through – he wanted his words to make a difference.

UNDERSTAND – 1 Peter, was written by a real man, to real people, who lived in the real world. AND – these ‘real’ people just like you and me had hopes, had dreams – BUT those hopes and dreams were being crushed under the weight of suffering and persecution. To such a degree - that it doesn’t really even seem real to us…

BUT – listen whether we understand it or not; the people; the sons, daughters, moms, dads, friends neighbors, young and old who first held this letter from Peter in their hands were suffering under Roman persecution… They were being fed to lions; burned at the stake; tortured, imprisoned. They were being thrown into the Coliseum and torn apart by wild animals.

AND – last week we saw that as Peter opened up this letter – that right out of the starting blocks, he reminds these discouraged believers of who they are… YOU SEE – Peter knew that they like us under the weight of severe hardship may have forgotten who they were…

SO – Peter reminds them (and he has reminded every discouraged believer throughout the last 2,000 years); AND – he reminds you today - that You are God’s people, You have been chosen by God (The all powerful, all knowing and all present God picked you); You are children of the heavenly Father, You are people in who God lives through his spirit…

QUESTION – did you hear what I just said; I am going to say again (just in case you missed it) - You are God’s people, You have been chosen by God (The all powerful, all knowing and all present God picked you); You are children of the heavenly Father, You are people in who God lives through his spirit…

AND UNDERSTAND – as we saw last week, when you are God’s people (are you one of God’s people?); WHEN – you are God’s people; IT MEANS….

You Are Not Home Yet… LISTEN – your citizenship, your home is in heaven… This world is NOT your home… Your home is NOT your home… THIS – is most definitely NOT as good as it gets… SAVE your forks baby, because the best is yet to come….

You are born again into a living hope… FRIENDS – your hope is alive because Jesus is alive! The tomb is empty…. And ”those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. “ – Is 40:31

You have an inheritance that cannot be destroyed – an inheritance that will never perish, never spoil and never fade… ONE DAY you will be in heaven… AND HEAVEN is going to blow you away every single day… The thrill will never wear off… Everyday when you wake up in heaven you jump out of bed and do the 1 & 5 with 7 zeros behind it dance…

God’s power is protecting you… AND – that power has no limit… AND through your faith that power is protecting you all the time… AND – remember like Elsiha’s servant in 2 Kings chapter 6 – God’s power is protecting you even though you cannot see it…FRIENDS – be encouraged because;

“Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds and protects his people, both now and forever.” - Psalm 125:1,2

Your troubles are designed to purify your faith… Are you going through a difficult time? LISTEN – whatever it is, IT CAN serve a purpose, IT doesn’t have to be a waste of time; IT CAN purify your faith… YOU – can come out the other side of your trial, mature, complete not lacking in anything…