1. As we look back together at CH 1, Peter’s been teaching us about the truths of God’s redemption, His never-ending love for us, His faithfulness and care…
2. He’s also included a few things about our conduct & behavior when times get tough.
• Get your mind ready for battle… 1:13
• Obey God not this world… 1:14
• Holiness is important… 1:16
• Fear of the Lord… 1:17
• Knowing who you are in Jesus… 1:18
• Faith & hope are in God… 1:21
• Love One another Fervently… 1:22
• Cling to the Word of God which abides forever… 1:25 (THEREFORE 2:1)
I. (2:1-3) LAY ASIDE & DESIRE
1. (22) Because of all that God has done…
a. Because we’ve been born again, and we’re guarded, protected, and kept by God…
b. Because we have a new nature & a new love…
c. Because you’re going to heaven & your salvation is secure…
d. Lay aside some things…
e. ALL MALICE – refers to all sorts of bad stuff
f. ALL DECEIT – refers to craftiness, manipulation
g. ALL HYPOCRISY – 2 faced living
h. ALL ENVY – jealously, upset that you don’t have
i. ALL EVIL SPEAKING – gossip, slander, cursings, etc.
SO laying aside these things that are not consistent with our new nature, our new life in Jesus… AS NEWBORN BABES DESIRE.
NOTE: One thing we see with all the newborn, precious babies around this church is that when they get hungry, when they desire some nourishment from mom… WE KNOW ABOUT IT!
• When they get hungry, they sound like a siren, like they’re hurt!
• If you’re a first time parent, you’re wondering “what did I do?!”
• They want mom’s milk and nothing will satisfy them!
• A ride in the car around the block? NOPE. A pat on back? NOPE
• They know what they want & won’t be content until get it!
Luke 18.16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
APP: A lot of Christians walk around weak & defeated because we aren’t feeding on the Word of God.
• Not taking in the pure milk, the nourishment, the vitamins.
• Your new life can’t grow unless you feed it.
• Without the Word there won’t be any growth in your Christian life, none. God’s Word is able to do a work in us!
• Turn over to 2 Timothy 3:16 – 4 Things the Word always does!
Now it says that Word of god is profitable.
DOCTRINE – Teaching us Truth about God.
REPROOF – Teachings us what’s wrong
CORRECTION – Teaching us how to fix what’s wrong.
INSTRUCTION – Teaching us How to maintain what is right.
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NOW THE WORD ‘DESIRE’ in v2, means to have an “INTENSE YEARNING” for it.
• Desire it so that you might grow & as you grow you intensely desire more!
• That’s why you have an appetite for Jesus… v3 three says you’ve tasted that the Lord is gracious so you want more.
DON’T LET ANYONE take away that desire from you.
• Oh, you’re just a Christian because you need a crutch in life!
• Look, I haven’t met a man or woman in life that doesn’t have one… it might be a bottle, or a syringe.
• For others is a VISA or Mastercard, others it’s a relationship.
• Really it’s all in search to fill the void only Jesus can fill!
NOTE: it’s OK to lean on Jesus, to take your concerns and worries and anxieties to Him. He’s not upset with you.
1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
He doesn’t belittle you when you come to Him with things that need attention or help. He’s waiting for you to respond & come!
• He’s allowed the stuff in your life so that you might act.
• He wants to show Himself strong in your life, to be your strength.
• And He becomes you’re strength, you know what? You start to crave and want more of His Word.
APP: One more thing. You NEED to be in the Word of God every single day. It’s essential for your daily living.
• This is a piece of eternity that will go right into eternity with us.
• Strengthens your soul, speaks to your heart, uplifts your spirit.
REMEMBER… it’s easy to do.
• Start with PROVERBS every day… wisdom. 31, a chapter a day.
• Add some PSALMS… personal devotional thoughts…
• A few chapters from the GOSPELS… all about the life of Jesus.
• Now if you’re having a hard time with the NKJV that we use here, pick up a copy of the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION… it’s great for devotional reading.
• Then get an MP3 or CD player and starting listening to the Word taught to you… studies up on the web, available after svcs.
II. (2:4-8) COME TO HIM
1. (4-5) Coming to Him Alive
a. You know, that’s what a daily devotional life will do…
b. We’ll continually come to him alive & full of life.
c. Yes, the world rejects us, and doesn’t understand us.
John 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
NOTE: In those days you lost everything to be a Christian!
• You were kicked out of the city. Lost your house & all your possessions. You’re were no longer accepted in society.
• BUT… you had Jesus and a brand new family.
• We’re part now of a spiritual house that Jesus is building!
Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
2. (6-8) Jesus is Chief Cornerstone!
a. Jesus is the chief cornerstone. He’s the foundation!
b. We are all coming in as living stones.
c. Every single one of us have a place in the Body of Christ.
d. He’s the head, we’re the stones He’s using.
THINK ABOUT A PALLET of bricks sitting there.
• You can’t do much with a stack of bricks. Just a stack!
• They need to be taken off one by one and put in their right place!
APP: Guys, there would never be another call for help in this church if everyone of us would ask Jesus where He would want us to serve.
• So many think, well, I don’t have a place here, but we have so many needs and so many people needing love & ministry.
• You have so many gifts, callings, and we have so many places to plug in and serve and be used in this wonderful building Jesus is working so carefully in establishing in this city!
NOTE: It’s FUNNY isn’t it? This talk of a building!
• So many associate church with a building but it doesn’t matter where we meet… in a school, on dirt, in a garage!
• This little Middle School has been SO GOOD to us as a church!
• We’re going to miss it one day.
• But people come through here week after week & think that they could never come back here because we’re not a real church! NO WAY! We are a real church!
I’ll never forget the time way back in the early days when I was still answering the phones… this woman called for info on the church.
• Well we meet at this time on Sundays… Where she asked?
• Oh, at Columbia Middle School… gave her the directions.
• Uh, did you say CMS? YES. And I’ll never forget it…
• A school, you guys meet in a school? But you sound like a real church on the radio!!! That little comment rocked me!
But the Lord used it to teach me WE ARE A REAL Church.
• People are getting saved. Believers are being disicpled. Men & women are using their gifts and serving the Lord!
• And Jesus is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE of this fellowship.
• He’s our GOOD SHEPHERD, the pastor & leader & our all in all!
FOR SOME v8, he’s a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense… But:
III. (2:9-12) HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE
1. (9-10) A Chosen Generation.
a. After Jesus Christ came to this earth, died, and rose again, He never intended that a priesthood be established.
b. That people would have to come through an earthly man to have fellowship & relationship with God.
BUT Today, I am a priest, and so are you!
• All of us form a holy priesthood. We all have access to God.
• You go anytime into the presence of God.
• You don’t need to make an appointment or wait in line.
Hebrews 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
AND I LOVE v10, we were once NOT A PEOPLE.
• We had no identity, no direction, no spiritual family.
• But now we are the PEOPLE OF GOD!
3. (11-12) I Beg You.
a. Usually, when someone is begging it’s for their own selfish desires and wants. Like our kids sometimes.
b. But biblically, when a spiritual leader begs, he’s usually begging for selfless others-centered desires.
c. Peter begs us here… stay away from sinful lusts
d. Keep our lives honorable among this world.
e. Let your good works be seen so God might be glorified!
f. It’s kind of the book end of this section…
g. Lay aside… abstain… live a life pleasing to God.
NOW… as we close up, I want to show you 3 things you can offer to God as a pleasing sacrifice to Him. (Look back at v5 & v9)
#1 – OFFER YOURSELF – Romans 12:1-2
• That’s truly what He desires & He deserves! Not just a little part. Not just a carved out part. Not a portion but all of you!
#2 – OFFER YOUR PRAISE – Hebrews 13:15
• Whether it be thought song, singing praises to Him, about Him.
• Or even the simplicity of seeing His handiwork & praising Him.
• Let your lips continually speak of His goodness & faithfulness.
#3 – OFFER YOUR HELP – Hebrews 13:16
• Another offering is do good & share.
• To look around & see where the needs are in the Body & help those people out.
• To look around our community & see where we might take the gospel to someone in a very real & practical way.
• When you cook a meal, slip a family a little money when times are tough… it’s well pleasing to the Lord!
I love this section of Peter…
• Newborn babes… yearning for His pure Word.
• Living stones, holy priesthood, chosen generation, holy nation, His own special people… now we are the people of God!
