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[0:00] You're listening to the sermon podcast of Grace Reformed Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee. To learn more about us, visit our website at gracereformed.org.

[0:11] And now, today's sermon. Let's continue by reading this morning. You'll notice on page 5, our scripture reading for today's passage. Or if you'd like to turn in your Bibles, it'll be 1 Peter chapter 1.

[0:26] We're going to be reading verses 10 through 12. We are currently working through the book of Peter. And this is where we're at in our time together. Let's read. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that it was to be yours searched and inquired carefully.

[0:43] Inquiring what person or time the spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the suffering of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you.

[0:56] And the things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Things into which angels long to look.

[1:10] May God you come and bless not only the singing and the reading but the preaching of the word this morning. May our hearts first of all be convicted and then comforted by your gospel, Lord.

[1:22] In Christ's name, amen. Please be seated. The timing of today's sermon is of absolute no credit to myself and it's all to the divine power of God.

[1:43] As you can see from our passage, we're going to be speaking about how the Old Testament prophets desired and looked into this person called Christ.

[1:55] And the sufferings of Christ. Even the angels wanted to know more about this salvation that comes through the Messiah. I don't always tell you the titles.

[2:07] In fact, I don't know if I've ever told you the titles of my sermons but they do get titled for my own benefit. Today's title is The Mysterious Messiah. The Mysterious Messiah.

[2:18] That's for my son Knox. He asks me every week for my sermon title so there you go. Kids, I do have a lot for you today. So if you have a pen and paper, get them out. You're going to need them. You're going to have to help me out in my sermon.

[2:29] This week and next. Before we begin, I want to make sure we're aware of how the Bible will often translate certain words so that we don't really miss their full understanding.

[2:46] Recently, my daughter, in her humility, Jane, shared with us that we have been singing this song. I believe it's We Will Feast at the House of Zion. And there's a phrase in there that says, bring shalom.

[2:58] And she's thinking, we'll feast, dinner table. She thought shalom was like, bring a drink. Bring wine. And she's not even in here. I asked her if I could tell her the story.

[3:09] She's in a nursery now that I realize it. But no, the word shalom does not mean drink. And you miss the whole point of the song if you think it means bring a drink. No, it means bring peace where there is none.

[3:22] Like it's the pinnacle of the song, right? Well, we have this same issue here when we're reading from Peter this word Christ and the suffering of Christ.

[3:34] Christ often we think is Jesus' last name. John Moffat and Jesus Christ. It's just not how this works. Christ comes, for those of you that may not know, from a Greek word called Christos or Christos, depending on how you want to pronounce it.

[3:48] And the word means the anointed one. Specifically, it was understood by the Jews to mean the anointed Messiah. So we got more words in here that we still may not even understand.

[4:00] So I'm offering more words. Just so we don't really miss the confusion here, I'm going to dumb it down a little bit more, spread the words out.

[4:11] Because again, these aren't words we necessarily use. Messiah means one who saves. It's the simplest way of describing it. Messiah means one who saves. So wrapped up in this little word, Christos, is this full meaning.

[4:27] The Messiah anointed by God. Or the one who saves, to be anointed means to be chosen by God. So the one who saves, chosen by God.

[4:38] That one little word. The one who saves, chosen specifically by God. So the prophets were telling the people about the anointed one.

[4:51] The one who's to save. But they didn't know who it was. They didn't know who the Christos was. Who the Messiah would be. They just knew that he was coming. And that when he came, he would bring this salvation.

[5:06] That's how he describes it. This salvation. The salvation from death to life. And so they wanted to know more about this Messiah.

[5:17] This one is to save them. Look at verse 12. It says at the beginning of the verse, It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves, but you.

[5:29] What did Peter mean by this? He was serving not themselves. The way to understand this would be that they were sending information forward in time.

[5:39] That they would be sending this data to a different time period to serve them, not to the service of themselves. Paul makes this a little bit clearer.

[5:51] If you want to write this down in your notes, Colossians 126. Paul told the church in Colossae that Christ was, quote, The mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints.

[6:04] And so Christ is being told that he is this hidden person. But it was hidden for ages. It was hidden for a long time. He says it this way in Ephesians 3, 4.

[6:16] This is where I get the title of my sermon. Ephesians 3, 4 says, When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ.

[6:28] The mystery of the Messiah. And then he goes on to say in verse 5, Which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

[6:43] So we're starting to pick up here that there's this theme in Scripture that who the Messiah would be, and when he would come, was not information everyone had.

[6:53] If you turn with me, we're going to be all over Scripture today, so get your thumbs ready to either flick or tap. Okay, here we go. Turn with me to Romans chapter 16. I want you to see these words for yourself.

[7:05] I want you to read them because it's powerful, and you realize there's this thread in Scripture, and it's there for a powerful meaning. Otherwise, they wouldn't have put it in there. Romans 16, 25.

[7:16] I may break my record of how many passages I used today, so I apologize ahead of time. Romans 16, 25. Listen to how Paul words it this way.

[7:28] Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations according to the command of the eternal God to bring about the obedience of faith.

[7:56] So now we have a mystery to solve. Kids, how many of you in here like the game Clue? Anybody play Clue? Raise your hand. Help me out. Anybody? All the adults. No kids.

[8:06] Great. It's too old of a nigger. How many of you like to solve mysteries? Any of the kids? Great. We're going to solve a mystery. So get your pen out. Get your paper ready. We have a very important mystery to solve because why is it that Paul is saying God kept this a secret?

[8:26] The mystery of the ages, but it's now being revealed to today. So we're going to look at three different clues here in the text, and as we unravel those clues, hopefully we'll come to an encouragement of the gospel this morning.

[8:39] All right, kids, so here's our first clue that we have to track down. Here's the first one. Who was the secret hidden from? Why do you have a secret? The secret means you're withholding information from somebody or a group of people, right?

[8:53] So we need to answer the question because Paul hasn't quite given it to us yet. Neither has Peter. Why are they hiding this information? Or I'm sorry, who, not why. Who are they hiding this information with?

[9:05] Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. 1 Corinthians 2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. You should have seen my notes this week. I had far more passages than this.

[9:15] I had so much fun tracking this down. I had my own little game of clue going on. It was wonderful. All right, 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 1. Let's just read in context who these people are or these beings that God wanted to hide this information from.

[9:34] Verse 1, 1 Corinthians 2. And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

[9:49] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and power. Now, it, sorry, sorry, we use verse 5.

[10:01] So that your faith may not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. So Paul is speaking of how simple the gospel message is. Even a child could understand the power and the simplicity of the gospel.

[10:15] This is why Jesus even says, let the children come to me. Or even uses the illustration of childlike faith. So knowing God's amazing gift of salvation doesn't take a lot of big words to understand.

[10:26] This is why Paul says, I didn't come to you with all of this wisdom that would boast up your intellect. I came to you in simplicity. That doesn't mean there aren't secrets and hidden wisdom waiting in the word, though.

[10:41] Look at verse 6. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom. Sorry. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom. Although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age who are doomed to pass away.

[10:56] But we impart a secret and a hidden wisdom of God which God decreed before the ages of our glory. Okay, so here's the first clue that Paul gives us.

[11:07] He uses a word that we need to unpack, age. It's not something we really use at all, really, in our English context here in the United States. He uses the word age. He says that the wisdom of this age and the rulers of this age.

[11:24] So in the New Testament, they would refer to periods of time. You can write this one down. This is Matthew chapter 3, verses 32. He's referencing this age, meaning the time before Jesus returns, and the next age, which is when Jesus Christ returns.

[11:41] He says it this way. Matthew 12, 32. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or the age to come.

[11:55] Which means you won't be forgiven here on this earth during this time period or during the time period of the new heavens and the new earth. So hopefully, the first clue we understand is that when Paul is talking about this secret that's being hidden, he's talking about it being during this age, meaning point of creation until Christ comes back, this age period.

[12:15] Then he says a second word. Really helpful clue here. He says rulers. Rulers of this age. Now, we have to determine, what does he mean by rulers?

[12:28] Some would seem to think he was talking about, like, the different rulers in Jerusalem. Whether it would be the Pharisees and the Sadducees or the city rulers. But that's not what Paul means here. He actually is referencing the demonic, satanic realm.

[12:42] Let me explain to you why. Keep reading. Verse 8. None of the rulers of this age understood this. For if they had, they would have not crucified the Lord of glory. But it is written, when no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor heart of man, imagine what God has prepared for those who love him.

[13:01] These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. So he's saying that this gospel was withheld from the rulers of this age.

[13:14] So we have to then ask ourselves, how do we interpret this? Well, how does the Bible interpret this? This word ruler is also, it's translated from the word archon. And archon is used all throughout the New Testament.

[13:27] You can write this one down. John 12, 31. So we've got to gather some data on this clue, kids. John 12, 31. Jesus uses the word archon. Listen to how he uses it.

[13:38] Now is the judgment of this world. Now will the ruler, archon, of this world be cast out. Who is he referencing here? He's referencing Satan. He does it again in chapter 16, verse 11.

[13:51] This is John 14, 30. If you want to write this one down, John 14, 30. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler, archon, of this world is coming, who has no claim on me.

[14:03] So Jesus is interacting with Lucifer and the demonic realm. And he refers to them as the ruler or the rulers of this world. This word archon. Archon can also be translated as a prince.

[14:16] That which holds a status. This is Ephesians chapter 2, verse 2. I think most of us know this verse. But it's important to hear it. Ephesians 2, 2. And once you once walked following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

[14:36] So you have archon being used as a ruler, as the prince, the leader of the air. Same word, just a few chapters later, in chapter 6, verse 12, Ephesians 6, 12. He says, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the archons, in heavenly places.

[14:56] This is why, one last verse here for you, Colossians chapter 2, verse 15. This is why in victory Paul writes to the Colossians and says, Jesus, he disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them.

[15:13] So we can see in context, Paul is referencing rulers, which it could be leaders and powers of that day. But clearly he has intentions.

[15:26] There is a realm, the heavenly realm. We have the earth, we have where God's presence is, and then we know there's this heavenly realm. Job talks about this. And in this heavenly realm, there's often a war that's happening. It's the rulers, the authorities that are dwelling there.

[15:39] And Paul is saying, he is preventing them. If you go back to 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 8, he says, none of the rulers of this age understood this.

[15:52] For if they had, they would have not crucified the Lord. If they would have understood the mystery of the Messiah, Satan would have prevented the sacrifice of Jesus, therefore keeping us from our redemption.

[16:07] So they knew well. See, sometimes we don't understand. God is the only one who knows everything. He's omniscient. But he's also omnipresent, right?

[16:18] So he's the only one who can be everywhere at all times and know everything. And sometimes we attribute that to created beings, these angelic beings. But they do not house this.

[16:29] They do not have these capacities. But they would have been aware of the Old Testament and what the prophets wrote. This is why the prophets were looking into it saying, when is he coming? They also looked at the text, could not figure it out.

[16:41] But they knew Genesis 3.15 because right after Adam and Eve fell, God promised that there is coming a seed who will crush the head of the serpent and will bruise the heel of the man who's coming.

[16:53] And so they knew that this was about to happen. But how it would be fulfilled, we don't know. So one last passage, just so you understand, this isn't one section that talks about this. This is Acts 13.27.

[17:07] Acts 13.27. Peter, the writer Luke says, For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand, the utterance of the prophets, which are reading of every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

[17:24] So they had no clue what they were doing. They were actually fulfilling the very prophecy of God. And here we do see a connection between the physical realm and the spiritual realm.

[17:36] That the rulers who put Jesus to death were being manipulated by the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. And often we see this connection.

[17:46] We'll see it here in a little bit more. How there is demonic influence among people fulfilling the very nefarious ideas of what's to be done. So that's our first clue. We finally unraveled it. So here it is.

[17:57] Who is this secret being hidden from? The rulers and authorities. The ones who we would call the demonic realm. That which would want to stop Jesus from being sacrificed.

[18:09] But why is this important? Why is this important? This is the second clue we need to track down. From the moment Jesus arrives in Bethlehem, rulers and authorities in heavenly realms are trying to destroy him.

[18:30] They've found out that the God-man has appeared. God in flesh. One of the most famous stories we know of when you read the Christmas story or the story of the birth of the Messiah.

[18:43] Matthew chapter 2 verse 16. Not to bust anybody's bubbles. But this most likely didn't happen in December. Just saying. Moving on. This is Matthew 2.16.

[18:56] It says, Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men. So wise men, looking at the information, deducting what has been prophesied based upon astrology, show up and saying, Hey, have you heard where the Messiah is?

[19:12] Obviously they don't know. The moment this man finds out there's a threat to his kingdom, he wants the threat gone. Became furious and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and all that the region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

[19:32] Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. A voice was heard in Ramah. Weeping and loud lamentations. Rachel weeping for her children.

[19:44] She refused to be comforted because they are no more. But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying, Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel for those who sought the child's life are dead.

[20:03] So you have God's army. We often read of this in the Old and the New Testament. Leading and protecting the Messiah throughout his life. There's this war that's happening. So one of the messengers of God comes and says, The threat upon the child's life to take out the Messiah is gone.

[20:19] You now can go to the next part of his ministry that needs to be fulfilled. He needs to go to Israel. But this is not the only time Satan and the rulers of this age are going to attempt to destroy Jesus.

[20:31] He does it two more times. We know that the second time is when he's in the desert. And he attempts Jesus three times trying to basically get him to sin and to remove his authority.

[20:45] And instead of taking the cross, which we know, he goes to the Father and says, Father, please remove this agony of the cross. Is there any other way? This is what makes the temptation of Satan so powerful.

[20:56] Jesus asks, is there another way? Guess what Satan offers him? Another way. But he doesn't take it. Because it would have been a disobedience to the Father.

[21:07] He would have made himself lower than Lucifer. He would then be serving Lucifer. And obviously he's not going to do this. This is the second time he's tried to dethrone the Messiah. Here's the third time. This is Luke chapter 22 and verse 3.

[21:23] Sometimes we kind of skip over this section, but it's important to understand in this narrative. Luke 22, 3 says, Then Satan, the adversary, entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.

[21:38] He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. Do you see now the connection? The rulers of the age influencing humans to betray the Messiah, to take him out, to destroy him.

[22:00] So this act that Satan thought would stop the Messiah actually ends up fulfilling it. This is what Paul is telling us. This is what Acts is telling us. Is that if they would have known that putting Jesus on the cross is actually going to destroy them and bring salvation for the world, they wouldn't have done it.

[22:19] Therefore, it was a mystery hidden until Jesus rose from the grave. This is why Paul and Peter are saying, We are now the ones proclaiming to you that which was blurry here is now clear.

[22:35] And anyone can see and believe and understand. So we have so far discovered the first clue. Who's the secret hidden from? The rulers of this age because they want to stop the Messiah.

[22:48] Because if they don't stop him, they're going to be crushed. They're going to be judged. Number two, why it is important. Because we need to have the prophecy fulfilled. Otherwise, we can't be saved.

[22:59] Our salvation is why it's important. But what does this mean today? Why is Peter using this for today? Why is this so important? There's two points underneath this.

[23:10] Why does this, what does this mean for us today? Number three, here are the two points. The value of the gospel and the advancement of the gospel. This is what Peter's getting at. At the end of verse 12, he makes this statement.

[23:24] Things into which, sorry, 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 12. He says, things into which angels long to look. Sometimes we read parts of our Bibles and we just, we're like, oh, that's interesting.

[23:40] Angels like to study us. Okay, that's weird. I love how Spurgeon made a comment about this passage, this section right here.

[23:51] He can get snarky sometimes. Let us note furthermore, so that it may humble us, that angels have been keen intellects. They far excel us, yet though they have learned so much about the gospel, they still desire to look into it.

[24:08] Does anyone suppose that he knows all about the gospel and does not need further hours of study, thought, and prayer? Poor miserable fool. Angels who are vastly superior to us in intelligence.

[24:22] Desire to learn and know more. This is our grand thing. As the angels are such deep students of things of God, let us try to be the same.

[24:35] It is interesting that Peter just kind of throws that in there at the end. He's like, this salvation that you cling to, that you're holding on to, he just kind of says, oh, yeah, the angels totally study it.

[24:50] The way it's described when it says long to look into it, the way the word is describing is that they peer down inside. Because it's deep. They peer down inside to understand what's happening to us.

[25:04] See, there is no redemption for angels. There is no redemption. They don't understand sin and redemption. But we do. I remember yesterday we were sitting at the table and I was telling the kids about this news article I had written about a baby recently who was swept away in a tornado.

[25:21] And they found it alive in a tree. Did you guys see that article? You know what my thought was? That was totally an angel. Right? How does it get swept away and like put in a tree alive?

[25:33] And I saw a photo of it. No scratches. Nothing. Hebrews 3.13.2 says, It says, Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.

[25:46] I've always read that verse and I was like, how cool would it be to meet an angel? And the angels are like, what? How cool would it be to learn about you? They're concerned about us.

[25:58] As a matter of fact, the whole angelic realm, the whole of God's creation is at the service and attention towards us on God's command.

[26:10] I mean, listen to how Jesus describes it this way. This is John, I'm sorry, Luke 15.10. Just so I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

[26:21] They're looking and longing into it. And when they see one of us come to Christ in life, they rejoice. They rejoice over it. What Peter is doing here is trying to elevate how the entire Bible has been pressing and teaching and exposing the grand wonder of our salvation.

[26:50] He says, all of the prophets, all they could think about was keep studying and trying to figure it out. Even the angels are longing for this.

[27:02] And those of us who have this mystery and we see it clearly, it's been fully revealed that who this man is and who he is for us, it's almost like throwaway information.

[27:15] We don't understand and attach the concept of God's power in word form.

[27:26] It's really just helpful information, a story that we like to connect to two times a year, Christmas and Easter. But after that, we kind of move on from it.

[27:37] We don't have the same weight and attention that Scripture seems to put on it. But after that, we kind of move on from it. I'll speak more of that in a moment. But I want to talk about how this is connected to the advancement of the gospel.

[27:49] So the value of the gospel and then the advancement of the gospel. This is Ephesians 3, 7. I have been reading this verse for weeks now. And it finally made sense.

[28:01] Listen to this. This is fascinating. Turn with me there. Ephesians 3, verse 7. You need to read this for yourself. Because it changes the way you think about life. And the way you think about the gospel and the advancement of the gospel.

[28:13] Ephesians 3, 7. Of this gospel, I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

[28:25] To me, though I am the very least of all the saints. This grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

[28:39] So Paul's perspective is, the thing I preach, you can't even get to the bottom of it. There is no end to the Messiah and what he is and what he can do. There is no end to it.

[28:50] But keep reading. And bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things. So that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places.

[29:10] What? Did you read that? Did you hear what he just said? When the church preaches the gospel, the spirit realm around us learns.

[29:22] Did I read that incorrectly? You all with me? Not just the angels who have not fallen, but those who tried to stop us. We weak humans.

[29:34] I love how he says this. Yeah, I'm a nobody. I'm really weak. I'm the least of the saints. But when I open my mouth, the universe learns about the mystery of God.

[29:46] That's nuts. That's how powerful and wonderful God's message is. So what was hidden from everyone, prophets, the wise, the rich, and also the most powerful beings in the heavenly places, is been revealed to weak humans, and now it is our responsibility to proclaim this message.

[30:15] I'll just go back to quoting how Christ succeeded in this. This is Colossians 2.15. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphant over them in him.

[30:27] So every time we preach the gospel, we rub salt into the wounds of the failed attempts of Satan. Do you understand? Jesus shows up on the scene, and his words about this realm is that they seek to kill and to destroy and to steal from us.

[30:47] And we stand up as weak, sinful, horrible humans and say, But for Christ, I would be dead. But for Christ, I'd be a slave to sin.

[30:59] But for the Messiah who died and rose again, He conquered you and showed his authority far above you. So greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world, the ruler of this age.

[31:13] This is good news. I do want to point out, this is not God starting his plan of salvation and then wondering, Hmm, I've got some fallen, rebellious beings I've created, and they're quite powerful.

[31:36] I might have to adjust my plan. This was no plan adjustment. Listen to how Peter and Paul speak of this mystery of the Messiah.

[31:50] This is Ephesians 3.11. He says, This mystery that I'm unfolding and preaching to you, This was according to the eternal purpose that he had realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[32:00] This has always been his plan. This wasn't an adjustment. Church, this is important. If God had to make a plan B and adjust, that means he can make a plan C, which means he's not really in control.

[32:15] The mystery hidden in the old and revealed in the new is a reminder that no matter how dangerous this world might be, and there might be those who oppose it, God is still the one moving the pieces.

[32:28] He proved it by fulfilling. We're not going to get into this this week, but in a few weeks. If we just look at eight of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, just eight of them, the chances of one person in the human existence fulfilling eight predictions is like one in a billion.

[32:50] One in a billion shot of someone fulfilling eight. And it's more than that. He fulfilled over 50. We'll get into that in a couple of weeks. Listen to how Peter on the day of Pentecost stands and proclaims how this went about.

[33:05] Peter says, this Jesus, this is Acts 2.23, this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

[33:19] God designed it to be this way. They thought they were stopping him. And God was, that is how powerful and wise he is. God wasn't creating an additional plan.

[33:30] It was the plan. And it was our form of salvation. It wasn't plan B because if it's plan B, then it can again be altered. So God chose to save us.

[33:43] And he ended up using the enemy to do it. That's, you guys understand? Those who tried to stop God ended up bringing his salvation. That's how powerful he is.

[33:56] They're standing there manipulating the leaders and Judas. And Jesus is standing there dying on the cross. The spear goes in. And the moment the man puts the spear in his side, he goes, oh, I think this is God.

[34:10] Like it dawns on him. I was manipulated. This is why Jesus on the cross says, Father, forgive them for they do not what they do. God is very clear that there is much complexity and power and wonder in this mystery of a gospel.

[34:33] But yet it's so simple that the children here in this room can believe that Jesus can save them. How can it be both? Because it's from God.

[34:43] God is right now. Now, go back to 1 Peter. He says all of this for a setup of the next section.

[34:55] 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 13. Whenever you see the word therefore, it means it's in connection to what was just said. It was hidden from ages past.

[35:07] even the angels long to look into this he's saying this gospel is big therefore preparing your minds for action and being sober minded set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ basically we have two applications that Peter gives us protect the gospel share the gospel see our hope depends on it if we're not careful the rulers of this age which we've already been warned against Peter's going to warn us again in this book and in his second book we just did spiritual warfare in Ephesians chapter 6 this is why he says church prepare your minds because that's where the rulers of the age come in they get in through your mind he says prepare your mind for action and be sober minded which means do not clutter your mind with the wisdom of this age or the logic or the pleasures or the desires or the lies it's so hard it's so easy to be drawn away because the moment you know this is how if you want to test yourself is your mind is your mind intoxicated by the world and have you been lazy with your mind you just got to answer this one question is your hope fully on the grace of Christ every single day and if not you're not sober minded and you didn't protect your heart and your mind he writes this to warn us listen this isn't nice the whole existence of the Bible the whole Old Testament all of the prophets were writing to tell you about the Messiah the angels are even wanting to know about the Messiah and you're more interested in what's going on in this world we're going to spend more time on this in the coming weeks but just for today in the in the middle of the holiday season where there's a lot of false hopes presented to us feels like hourly no matter what your marital status is your parental what your health your age your nationality your bank account whatever it is that this culture says this is how to have a happy holiday the only way that we could have joy

[37:54] Peter says this if you set your hope fully on the grace that is to come that is to come that's the hard part right there right he says it's not here yet Christ and his hope and his joy of what he will do he's not here it's the grace that is going to come when at the revelation of Jesus Christ so as a family we we try and find pictures of Eden all over our lives fun things that reflect the joy and beauty of Christ whether it's food or music or traditions loving laughing we want to see glimpses of Eden church there's nothing wrong with enjoying the next few weeks loving each other caring for each other getting a break from the war it's encouraged consider how to love and build one another up sacrificing for each other but all of that is in light of the hope the real hope those are but glimpses the real hope to come is not here the reason

[39:09] I guess I'm going to just state it as blatantly as I can the Bible is a story about rulers and authorities who want to destroy everything God has created you can't read the Bible without that entering the story in Genesis 3 why was the serpent in the garden why didn't God kick him out we don't know all we know is that there is a war between the people of God and his creation and the creation that rebelled and that rebellious group of beings wants to kill and destroy us and Peter says the greatest hope you have is this salvation of the Messiah be sober minded be watchful because they're going to use your heart and your mind and your eyes to pull your hope off of him and when you do we bite and devour each other we use each other we sin we hide our sin we get trapped in sin we find reasons not to obey we find reasons not to love each other we find reasons to use each other people who have their hope fully on Christ

[40:33]  I love being around them they're patient they're kind they're loving they're sacrificial people who have been intoxicated by the world it's really hard to be around them selfish and mean and vindictive I love our church you want to know why because you are a people who want this to be true in your life to have the hope of Christ far above anything else therefore the gospel is not our beginning point it's not for Christmas time and Easter it's not how we start our journey it's not just a ceremony that we look back on on our anniversary wedding date the gospel is God's power to save us every single moment of every single day so as a church we have been committed to what Peter is calling us to is to continue to look in and put our hope fully on the grace that is to come amen amen father we are so thankful you chose us just like the angels announced to the shepherd the weakest people on the planet you chose us to proclaim the power of your might not only to humans but to the angelic realm and the rulers who try to hurt and take us out may we keep pronouncing the power that comes only from you by means of your gospel week in and week out in Jesus name amen thanks for listening to the sermon podcast of Grace Reformed Church in Spring Hill Tennessee where everyone is in equal need of grace to plan a visit or to learn more about us visit our website at gracereformed.org where all the rules are as a poder are and using space as a can the yep youー buyer had a片