The Path We Follow

Sermon Title: The Path We Follow

Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:10-13

Bethel Christian Church - Eddyville

Date: October 15, 2000

Scripture Introduction:

I am excited as we continue on in this first epistle of Peter. In the previous section we saw how even as long-time residents we can suddenly find ourselves strangers in our own land. Our choice of Christ over things of this world, sadly causes us to be shunned by many who have as their only hope, the message of the Good News of our Lord and Savior.

We look at the motivation of those not living for the Lord and wonder how they can possibly hope to extract the kind of comfort that we get from our Lord from things that will fail. We may well find ourselves tested from time to time, but we have our eyes set on a reward that is onward and upward, one that is imperishable, undefiled, and won’t fade away. We may know the difference between our heavenly reward and earthly rewards now, but that wasn’t always so and there may be some that haven’t found that path yet. Peter continues on in this letter to shed some light on what needs to be done. If you have your Bibles and wish to follow along with me please turn to 1 Peter 1:10-13.

Please join me in the reading of God’s Holy Word!

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:10-13

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

Every endeavor of man follows with some type of process. Everyone has a point of illumination whether it be of a spiritual nature or otherwise that we label the LIGHT CAME ON stage. There has to be a vision. For some reason Thomas Edison comes to mind when he comes up with the idea of developing the electric light bulb. From there we enter the nuts and bolts stage where we take the vision and try to get it to work, we go beyond the blueprints and drawings and make the vision a reality. We begin the process of implementing our vision. This is the part of the process where we skin knuckles, stub toes and perhaps at various times even bite out tongues. This is the part of the process where we are apt to meet the most resistance. I think of Noah building an ark in a mountain region in preparation for something that the world has never before seen, and I can just imagine the heckling that might have taken place. Just what are we prepared to withstand after God has given us a vision of what we are to do? Now Noah went on to complete the ark and safely floated away as those around sank to their watery graves. Then I also think of what happens when we receive a vision of what we need to do and decide to become hard to get. Look at Jonah, God called him to deliver a message to the Ninevites, and Jonah had other plans. I’m sure that those plans didn’t include becoming the main course for a huge fish.

The point is, we are given a glimpse of something that we are to do, God supplies us with all that we need that we don’t have on our own, and we go to work, following what God wants us to do. We see what we are to do, we take the measures to ensure that it becomes fact, and then we watch as the vision becomes reality at last. It doesn’t matter where or whatever means God uses to give us His vision for our lives, only that we do what we can with what He equips us for. I can think of some visions that God has for each of us. He wants us all to love Him heart, soul, and mind. He wants us to love each other as we love ourselves. We are all commissioned to go forth and proclaim God’s message to those whoever they are and wherever they are.

Let us go to the Lord in prayer!

POINT 1: The Vision