Overcoming Disappointments: Do Not Give Up

1 Pet. 1:1-19 NAS

Shalom brothers and sisters. Lets turn to our bible and read from 1 Peter 1:1-19. I am reading from New American Standard (NAS) version and we can sum up the verses with reminders from verse 13 – 19,

i. gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit

ii. fix your hope completely on the grace

iii. do not be conformed to the former lusts

iv. conduct yourselves in fear

v. redeemed with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ

Lets study, who is the author?

Peter is a person with colorful characters. As all the Gospels unfold it will become clearer and clearer that beyond simply being listed first, Peter is the spokesman for the Twelve. Besides he was a fisherman, he also known with his strong characters, would die for Christ and a service management team or a flow manager before Christ started to preach. His commitment and energy for Christ is unbelievable and incomparable. This happened after Peter met with Christ on his fishing boat when Christ perform a miracle for Peter (Luke 5: 4-10). That changed his life from a fisherman to someone fully committed and someone who would die for Christ. But don’t we know Peter ever disappointed with Christ?

Even though he answered Christ correctly when Christ asked Peter, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." He knows that Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. But still, when Christ was captured, in Simon's and everyone else's mind, the Messiah would never suffer, never submit, never serve. By the end of this long day Jesus will have done all three. And Simon will be bitterly disappointed with him. Jesus will fail to meet his expectations as the Christ. For them, Christ should lead the Jews to form an army just like recorded in their history to take out Roman empire. That resulted to Peter’s disappointment.

Do we ever wonder why Peter denied Christ that night? It’s not about Christ prophesied that Peter will deny Him. It’s about Peter’s attitude. He was disappointed with Christ and did not want to acknowledge who Christ is to him that night. Normally, when we are disappointed with someone or something, we will have two reactions. First, either we say we know the person very well and we talk all the bad things about the person. Secondly, we refuse to know the person. Or even we do not want to look at the person and want to know anything about that person. Let’s read it in this chapter

1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

2. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4. to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

7. that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

8. and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

9. obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Those scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia they are afraid of persecution and some of them started to sway from their faith in Christ. They started to forgot who they are in Christ and what Christ has done to them.

Based on this introduction, are you in the same situation?

Are you disappointed with someone you trust or hope as your friend, as your colleague or as your leader? Are you disappointed with your ministry mates, maybe your church leader or Pastors or maybe right now you are disappointed as Christian or believer? Or are you disappointed with yourself? If you are, please stay and let’s dig together into the word of God today. I am not sharing the tips to become successful in overcoming disappointment. But we will learn together from what is written and the word of God speak to us this morning.