WEBVTT

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 Good evening. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Luca, and I'm one of the members here at Bransfield Evangelical Church.

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 As you might know, we're beginning a new series of sermons on the book of 1 Peter tonight.

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 1 Peter is a letter, it's in the New Testament, and it's a really powerful letter which has so much encouragement for us, I think,

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 as we strive to live out our Christian lives in a broken world.

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 Today, as you know, we're going through the first 12 verses in the letter, and I think these first 12 verses in particular,

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 they really overflow with positive language.

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 I think perhaps Peter has carefully chosen his words to set the tone in these first verses of the whole book,

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 because the passages that we will be looking at in the coming Sundays, they do have some very direct challenges for us.

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 So I think this is probably why Peter opens the letter the way he does, as if he was saying,

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 this is what I'm reminding you of in these first 12 verses.

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 This is the reason why you should do what I'm going to tell you later.

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 As I studied this passage, I was reminded of a painting by a French painter, Paul Gauguin.

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 He lived in the 1800s.

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 And it's one of the many paintings that this art teacher of mine made a study back in school in great detail.

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 I'm really no art expert.

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 And the reason why this painting came to mind as I read the passage and studied the passage is its title,

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 which is quite a peculiar one.

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 It's really long, and it's made up of three questions.

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 So the title of the painting is, where do we come from?

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 What are we?

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 Where are we going?

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 You might notice a running theme if you were here this morning with existential questions today,

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 as Graham preached this morning.

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 But I think, as Graham said, if we're honest, we've probably asked ourselves these questions.

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 Maybe we still come back to them, perhaps from a different perspective every time I know I do, at least.

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 And Gauguin's answers to these questions seem to be in this allegoric, quite enigmatic picture.

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 No one really knows what all the different elements in the picture symbolize, so to speak.

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 But the most common interpretation is that this is where we come from, the baby on the far right.

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 And this is what we are, just people going about their lives in the middle, maybe picking fruits.

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 And that's where we're going, the older lady crouching on the far left.

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 So why the painting?

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 Because I think in these verses that we're looking at today, I think they give us the answers to these three huge questions.

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 But I'm convinced also that we will come to some wildly different conclusions than the painter.

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 Because unlike the painting, there's really nothing enigmatic in these verses.

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 In fact, I think the answers we're going to find are quite clear and transparent for us.

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 Now, before we dive in, because this is our first Sunday in 1 Peter,

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 I thought we would spend a couple of minutes just looking at the background of the book.

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 So the apostle Peter writes the letter.

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 He's one of the 12.

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 And he's possibly the apostle that we often remember because he denied Jesus in a moment of weakness.

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 But let's make sure that we don't let this event in his life define the whole of his life.

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 In fact, I think if any of us today are skeptical about the difference that the gospel can make in a person's life,

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 then Peter's biography is a really good place to go.

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 We read in Matthew 26, as we said, how he hits rock bottom and he denies Jesus, who is about to be killed.

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 But then just a few pages later in the Bible, in Acts chapter 2,

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 the same Peter is preaching to thousands of people in public, out loud,

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 and 3,000 people that day after he preached or as he preached join the church.

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 That's how powerful the gospel is.

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 And that's the same gospel that Peter is telling us about in these verses.

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 As he writes the letter, Peter is in Rome, and he is writing to Christians who belong to different churches,

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 churches in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey.

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 And these people are being persecuted.

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 Nero is the Roman emperor of the time, but his systematic persecution, which we might know of

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 because it culminates in the great fire of Rome, that hasn't started yet.

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 It's likely that 1 Peter would have been written just a couple of years before that, around 63 AD.

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 But going by a few hints in the letter,

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 it is likely that these Christians are victims of non-systematic persecution.

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 Because they live in provinces of the Roman Empire, therefore a pagan world,

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 and therefore they stick out.

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 They do not conform to the society that they live in.

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 This society that is becoming more and more hostile towards Christianity,

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 this new philosophy that is getting more and more disciples.

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 So people are skeptical, people don't trust Christians,

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 and therefore Christians end up suffering at the hand of those in power.

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 Now I wonder, does any of this sound familiar to us?

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 People around us, skeptical of Christians and Christianity?

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 People around us, hostile even?

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 This feeling of sticking out because of our beliefs,

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 maybe at work or among family or among friends?

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 I'm sure it does probably for many of us.

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 And so I think we can understand at least to a certain extent,

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 probably what these Christians would have been going through.

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 And that is great because this is a letter which will show us

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 what it is like to live as Christians in a difficult world,

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 just like we do.

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 So I think it's safe to assume that these Christians that he is writing to,

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 they are discouraged.

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 They're probably wondering, what is the point of it all?

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 Has God forgotten about them?

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 Does God even care about us?

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 Well, I think God clearly does because he works through Peter

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 so that they can receive this incredible letter,

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 which is a letter of encouragement

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 and a letter which reminds them of their identity as children of God.

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 But it's also a challenging letter,

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 which will exhort them to behave as children of God.

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 So thinking about us,

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 I'm hoping that this is going to be for us a letter of encouragement,

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 which will remind us of our identity as people of God

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 and which will exhort us to behave as such.

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 And also before we dive in,

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 I just wanted to say if any of us today don't think they're children of God,

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 if any of us today are unsure as to what that possibly even means,

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 then I'm hoping that we will find the answer in this book together.

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 So if we go back to the three questions,

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 the first one we're going to begin with,

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 and the first one we're going to look at is,

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 where do we come from?

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 And I think Peter gives us the answer to these questions

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 in the opening and closing verses of the passage.

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 So verses 1 and 2,

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 and then verses 10, 11, and 12.

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 Let's read verse 1 together again.

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 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

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 to God's elect,

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 exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus,

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 Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

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 I'll read it again.

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 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

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 to God's elect.

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 This is who Peter says he is writing to.

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 It's very fast words that he uses,

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 God's elect.

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 Do you see what he is doing here?

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 He's telling these Christians from the very start,

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 God knows you personally.

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 He always has.

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 Imagine the power of a statement like that

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 for someone who's feeling neglected by God.

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 Let's think about those moments in our life,

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 for instance,

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 when we asked ourselves if our life mattered to God.

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 With just one word,

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 Peter takes us right back to where we really belong.

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 We are God's elect.

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 In verse 2, he says,

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 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.

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 So where do we come from is the question.

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 Well, says Peter,

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 we come from the family of God.

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 God the Father,

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 the Spirit,

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 and Jesus Christ,

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 see the Trinity,

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 here in verses 1 and 2,

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 they work together,

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 and are still working together,

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 so that these Christians may be saved,

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 so that we can be saved.

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 So if that doesn't make us the opposite of neglected,

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 then I really don't know what does.

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 The triune God of the universe has chosen us,

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 and he has made us his family.

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 Something that we will see as we go through the letter

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 is that it is full of Old Testament language.

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 As he writes to these Christians,

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 Peter wants them to feel part of the family of God,

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 despite the fact that they are Gentiles.

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 They're non-Jewish people.

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 So it needs to be clear to them

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 that through Jesus,

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 as he says in verse 2,

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 having been sprinkled with Jesus' blood,

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 they are now part of God's people.

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 Christians are all part of God's family,

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 whether they were born Jewish or not.

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 And this probably sounds quite straightforward to us,

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 but in the context of the first century,

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 using words like this for Gentiles,

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 it takes on a lot of significance.

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 What they're hearing is,

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 you are not nobodies.

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 You are not less important than the Jewish people around you,

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 because you are God's elect.

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 And then we have all of these Old Testament references throughout the letter,

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 but in these verses we're looking at tonight,

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 and in particular 10, 11, and 12,

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 then he,

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 Peter addresses even more directly this link

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 between the Old Testament,

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 the people of Israel,

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 and these Christians.

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 Sorry, yeah,

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 these Christians,

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 these Gentiles,

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 who lived after Christ.

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 Because he's telling them that the prophets

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 that God sent to the people of Israel

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 hundreds and thousands of years earlier,

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 these prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus,

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 just like Isaiah,

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 just like the passage we read,

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 they were serving them.

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 They were not serving themselves.

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 They were talking about things

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 that would have happened

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 in their time.

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 So you unimportant

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 non-Jewish Christians in Asia

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 who are going

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 about your ordinary lives,

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 who are being looked on

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 by the people around you,

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 God himself,

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 he sent prophets

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 who would speak of things

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 which were going to happen

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 in your time,

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 events which even angels

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 long to look into,

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 he says in verse 12.

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 The gospel

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 is for you.

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 There is one last little word

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 in these verses

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 which has a lot to say

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 about where we're from

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 and it's exiles

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 in verse 1.

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 These Christians feel like

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 they do not belong

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 where they live

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 and there is a reason

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 for this.

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 There is a reason

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 why they feel like outsiders

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 and why they are being persecuted

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 and the reason is

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 because they actually

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 really do not belong.

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 The same way that we don't.

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 Paul says in Philippians 3,

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 our citizenship is in heaven.

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 Jesus says in John 17,

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 we are in the world

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 but not of the world.

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 We might have a British passport

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 for many of you

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 or an Italian one for me

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 but these are just

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 earthly temporary citizenships

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 while we are on exile

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 on this broken planet,

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 while we wait to go

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 back to our real home.

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 So I think it's quite easy

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 to see how everything

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 that Peter has said so far

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 to these Christians

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 is actually so, so relevant

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 to us too.

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 When our faith is causing us

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 to feel uncomfortable,

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 it's causing us to feel

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 out of place.

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 Well, of course it does.

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 We need to pause

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 and remember where we come from.

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 Yes, we're here.

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 Yes, we have families

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 and friends and work

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 but we are children of God.

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 We've been saved

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 by the God of the universe.

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 His own son died for us

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 and his spirit

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 is at work in us now.

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 And as Peter points out

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 at the end of the passage,

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 we're so fortunate

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 to live on this side of history,

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 to be able to hold this book

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 in our hands

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 and to witness

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 God's grace

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 through Jesus' death

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 for us.

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 So when we are discouraged

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 like the original readers

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 of the letter,

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 then let's look into this book

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 and let's be thankful

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 that God loves us so much

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 that he sent Jesus

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 to die for us.

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 Let's look up

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 to him

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 and marvel

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 at his love

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 instead of focusing

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 on our difficulties here.

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 Thank you.

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 Question number two

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 is where are we going?

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 And we're going to look

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 at verses three to five

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 from this.

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 These three verses

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 in the NIV

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 are split into sentences

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 but in the original

00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:33.940
 they are one long sentence

00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:36.600
 and as I read them

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.759
 I thought

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.100
 this really is

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.139
 the gospel

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:42.299
 in one long sentence.

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.659
 So I thought

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.639
 I imagined

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:46.559
 if any of us

00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:47.359
 were chatting

00:14:47.359 --> 00:14:48.199
 to some stranger

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:49.019
 at the bus stop

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:50.719
 and we end up

00:14:50.719 --> 00:14:51.740
 talking about Christianity

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.399
 and then the question

00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:54.259
 comes up

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:54.979
 they have no idea

00:14:54.979 --> 00:14:55.899
 what Christianity is

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.620
 so they go like

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.699
 what is the gospel?

00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:58.179
 And you think

00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:59.399
 well this is my opportunity

00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.519
 I can tell someone

00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.319
 what the gospel is

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.059
 and then you turn around

00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:03.099
 and you see their bus coming

00:15:03.099 --> 00:15:04.939
 so they need to hop on

00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:05.439
 on their bus

00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.859
 maybe you have 20 to 30 seconds

00:15:06.859 --> 00:15:07.819
 how do you answer

00:15:07.819 --> 00:15:08.740
 a question like that?

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.399
 You read these three verses.

00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.919
 Let's do it together

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.519
 but more slowly

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.919
 so let's break it up a bit

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.159
 if you follow in your Bibles

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.959
 starting in verse 3

00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:20.899
 so God

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:23.039
 who is the father of Jesus

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.179
 in his great mercy

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.539
 and we'll come back to this

00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:28.419
 he has given us

00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:29.360
 new birth

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:31.720
 how has he done that?

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:33.079
 Through the resurrection

00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:34.120
 of Jesus Christ

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.879
 and what is the result

00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:37.000
 of this new birth?

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.759
 That we have access

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.600
 to our inheritance

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:42.139
 which is kept in heaven

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.039
 for us

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:45.039
 and what does

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.360
 this inheritance look like?

00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:47.580
 This inheritance

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.440
 can never perish

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.379
 can never spoil

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.659
 can never fade

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:52.000
 and when are we going

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.539
 to get it?

00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:53.940
 We're in verse 5 now

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.960
 in the last time

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.159
 at the coming of

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:58.100
 the salvation

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.899
 so when Jesus comes back

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.899
 there you go

00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:03.860
 summary of the whole gospel

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:06.159
 So where are we going

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:06.740
 is the question

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:08.740
 this is where we're going

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.980
 it's the place

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:11.539
 where Jesus has already gone

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:13.480
 and where we are headed

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:15.159
 as children of God

00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.539
 it's our inheritance

00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:21.019
 we are family

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:22.100
 part of the family of God

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:22.899
 and that's what happens

00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.379
 with family

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:25.320
 you get an inheritance

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.539
 it's such a

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.259
 it's a world

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.300
 with such a strong

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:30.300
 sense of belonging

00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:33.839
 we are going

00:16:33.839 --> 00:16:34.679
 to heaven

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.679
 I don't know

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.679
 if we say it to ourselves

00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.819
 often enough

00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.179
 I know

00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:40.179
 I don't think about it

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.339
 as much as I should

00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:43.139
 we are going

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:43.679
 to heaven

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:45.359
 heaven is being

00:16:45.359 --> 00:16:46.419
 kept for us

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:48.279
 Jesus did say

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:48.740
 didn't he

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.719
 that he is preparing

00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:50.759
 a place for us

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.839
 a place so so different

00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:53.799
 from where we are now

00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:55.240
 so so different

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.339
 that Peter uses

00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.659
 these three amazing words

00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:58.740
 to describe it

00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.599
 in verse 4

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.659
 and I realized

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.639
 as I studied the passage

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.500
 particularly the first few times

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.519
 it was just so easy

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.039
 to read quickly over it

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.740
 and overlook

00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.960
 these three attributes

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.759
 so I thought

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.779
 we should stop

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.039
 and look at all three

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.779
 of them tonight

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.380
 and try and

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:14.539
 savour them

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.240
 I thought of

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.779
 just small

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:18.299
 sort of illustrations

00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:20.240
 for each of them

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.880
 heaven is

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.920
 imperishable

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:24.920
 what does that mean?

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.620
 it means that there's

00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:27.140
 no expiry date

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.559
 on it

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.680
 it's there

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.339
 to stay

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.159
 it isn't going

00:17:30.159 --> 00:17:30.879
 anywhere

00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:31.720
 heaven is

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.919
 waiting for us

00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:33.659
 always

00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:34.980
 and forever

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.399
 so we're trying to think

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.579
 what is like that?

00:17:37.659 --> 00:17:38.379
 is there anything

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.000
 in the world

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.500
 that we can all relate to

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.899
 that's always been there

00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:42.939
 and will always be there

00:17:42.939 --> 00:17:43.619
 and the best I could

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.220
 come up with

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.839
 maybe you will come up

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.480
 with something better

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.199
 but the best I could

00:17:47.199 --> 00:17:47.699
 come up with

00:17:47.699 --> 00:17:48.699
 was the sun

00:17:48.699 --> 00:17:49.619
 I think no matter

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.699
 how far back

00:17:50.699 --> 00:17:51.480
 in history you go

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.500
 we all take for granted

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:52.980
 that the sun

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.799
 was already there

00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.539
 and if we think

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.119
 about the future

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.619
 probably

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:58.319
 we will always

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.359
 assume that the sun

00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.719
 is there

00:17:59.719 --> 00:18:00.339
 but even

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.279
 the sun

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.159
 we do know

00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:03.359
 is burning away

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:03.879
 I think

00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:05.179
 at the moment

00:18:05.179 --> 00:18:05.599
 the estimate

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.039
 has got

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.359
 a few billion years

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.879
 to burn

00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:09.939
 but heaven

00:18:09.939 --> 00:18:11.139
 will survive

00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:12.039
 even that

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:13.439
 it's really difficult

00:18:13.439 --> 00:18:14.179
 to even comprehend

00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:16.379
 and then still

00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:17.179
 in verse 4

00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:18.519
 our inheritance

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.079
 in heaven

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.659
 is undefiled

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.880
 there is nothing

00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.820
 anyone can do

00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:23.960
 to spoil it

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.920
 to damage it

00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:25.860
 to ruin it

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:27.279
 there's so much

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.019
 focus at the moment

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.220
 on our planet

00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:29.900
 on how

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.300
 we are destroying it

00:18:31.300 --> 00:18:32.720
 how

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.540
 humankind

00:18:33.540 --> 00:18:34.460
 is spoiling it

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.080
 and

00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:35.759
 the damage

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.480
 that we can make

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.160
 is so visible

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.880
 isn't it

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.400
 well

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.620
 not in heaven

00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:40.740
 because no one

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.279
 can do

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.220
 the same

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.900
 to our

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.800
 inheritance

00:18:43.800 --> 00:18:45.480
 whatever expects us

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.340
 is going to be

00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.700
 pristine when we get there

00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:48.620
 and it will

00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.720
 remain intact

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.880
 we won't have to worry

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.500
 about sustainability

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.279
 in heaven

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.360
 our inheritance

00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:54.880
 it cannot spoil

00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.860
 unlike the earth

00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.779
 we're on just now

00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:59.039
 heaven is exactly

00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.039
 like God

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.720
 intended it

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.940
 and then the third

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.339
 attribute Peter uses

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:06.200
 is unfading

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.960
 heaven

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.299
 doesn't fade

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:09.180
 it will not

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.759
 lose

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.759
 radiance

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.039
 it won't be like

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.240
 going to a party

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.660
 everyone's really excited

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.420
 at the start

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.400
 you meet your friends

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.700
 there's a lot to catch up on

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.920
 maybe you meet new people

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.640
 where are you from

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.180
 what do you do

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.000
 but then by then

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.520
 the party sort of peaked

00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:23.880
 and then people start

00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.680
 to get bored

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.580
 they start leaving

00:19:25.580 --> 00:19:27.259
 and then the party dies

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.720
 well not the party

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.720
 that God has prepared

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.340
 for us

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:32.280
 heaven will not fade

00:19:32.280 --> 00:19:35.420
 what a complete picture

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.460
 that Peter has painted

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.980
 for us

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:39.280
 do we see

00:19:39.280 --> 00:19:40.220
 do we realize

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.640
 the grandiosity

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:43.120
 of what awaits us

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:45.400
 this description of heaven

00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.800
 should really lift our eyes

00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:48.100
 from our everyday lives

00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:49.240
 and have us marvel

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.659
 as the beauty

00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.939
 of what awaits us

00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:53.199
 it's a place

00:19:53.199 --> 00:19:53.939
 that's been designed

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:55.019
 by God himself

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:56.179
 it's a place

00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:57.240
 that is being kept

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.579
 by God himself

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.579
 it's a place

00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.839
 that hasn't been spoiled

00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:01.500
 by sin

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:04.019
 so Peter is telling

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.679
 these Christians

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:05.939
 you come from

00:20:05.939 --> 00:20:06.980
 the family of God

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.699
 and because

00:20:07.699 --> 00:20:08.779
 that's your identity

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.959
 then this

00:20:09.959 --> 00:20:11.099
 is where you're going

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:12.740
 so do not let

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.399
 what is happening

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:14.539
 here and now

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.459
 discourage you

00:20:15.459 --> 00:20:16.639
 distract you

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.720
 just drag you down

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.340
 and forget

00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.060
 where you belong

00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:21.280
 you are on exile here

00:20:21.280 --> 00:20:22.120
 your citizenship

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.200
 is not

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.380
 on this earth

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:25.980
 but look up instead

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.620
 that's where you belong

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.780
 and that

00:20:28.780 --> 00:20:30.180
 is where you're going

00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:34.200
 again here

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.860
 I think there's

00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:35.800
 one little word

00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:36.400
 that we need to

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.259
 pay attention to

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.200
 and it's mercy

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.060
 in verse 3

00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:41.060
 great mercy

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.860
 Peter says

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:44.419
 because the description

00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:46.379
 of such an astonishing

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.019
 inheritance

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.939
 it can be overwhelming

00:20:48.939 --> 00:20:50.299
 it can make us wonder

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.579
 what on earth

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:53.119
 can I possibly do

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.379
 to deserve it

00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:57.459
 well the answer

00:20:57.459 --> 00:20:58.519
 is nothing

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.979
 we can accept it

00:20:59.979 --> 00:21:00.919
 in fact we have

00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:01.899
 if we want to

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:03.419
 enter this inheritance

00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:03.939
 at all

00:21:03.939 --> 00:21:05.339
 but we can't

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.399
 possibly deserve

00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:07.599
 what God has prepared

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.139
 for us

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:10.000
 we are not going

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.619
 where we're going

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.339
 because we've been

00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.919
 ticking off a few boxes

00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:14.399
 on a to-do list

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:16.199
 we are going

00:21:16.199 --> 00:21:17.439
 because God

00:21:17.439 --> 00:21:19.379
 infinitely loves us

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.619
 simple as that

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:23.559
 verse 3 reads

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.739
 he has given us

00:21:24.739 --> 00:21:25.379
 new birth

00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:26.939
 into a living hope

00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:29.059
 how has he done it

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.539
 is it maybe

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.439
 through our actions

00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:31.919
 no it's not

00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:32.879
 it's through

00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:34.259
 Christ's death

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.159
 and resurrection

00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:36.119
 nothing

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:37.359
 we can do

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.919
 will ever change

00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:40.079
 the extent

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.099
 of God's mercy

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:47.219
 the last question

00:21:47.219 --> 00:21:48.779
 that we need

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.559
 to answer then

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.959
 if we put it

00:21:50.959 --> 00:21:52.159
 in Goggins words

00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:52.919
 is

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:54.359
 what are we

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:56.079
 we're going to look

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.359
 at verses 6 to 9

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:57.639
 here

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.819
 so we've seen

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.000
 where we come from

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.139
 as children of God

00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:03.459
 we've seen

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.819
 what inheritance

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.759
 expects us

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.100
 where we are going

00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:07.980
 but

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.460
 what about

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.600
 the here and now

00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:11.279
 what happens

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.840
 in the meantime

00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:13.160
 what about

00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.259
 all of those moments

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.059
 when we wonder

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.720
 why am I having

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.319
 to suffer

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.220
 for my

00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.759
 suffer

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.779
 for my faith

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.480
 does the Bible

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.279
 have any answer

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.340
 any answers

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:23.779
 for us

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.500
 in this passage

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:26.259
 let's

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.400
 look at verse 6

00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:27.880
 together

00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:29.360
 though now

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.920
 for a little while

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.400
 you may have had

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.720
 to suffer grief

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.740
 in all

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.840
 kind of trials

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:37.980
 Peter tells us

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.920
 that we

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:40.480
 suffer grief

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.760
 and maybe

00:22:41.760 --> 00:22:42.300
 we're thinking

00:22:42.300 --> 00:22:43.000
 thank you Peter

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.940
 I noticed

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.380
 and

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.380
 why would we

00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.420
 be

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.140
 suffering grief

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.840
 why would

00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.720
 we be

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.820
 enduring trials

00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:52.800
 if not

00:22:52.800 --> 00:22:53.740
 because we're

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.460
 broken people

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.260
 because there's

00:22:55.260 --> 00:22:55.600
 something

00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:56.380
 inherently

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.900
 broken

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.920
 with us

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.440
 and I think

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:02.220
 we all

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.200
 simply

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.060
 know that

00:23:04.060 --> 00:23:04.600
 we're broken

00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.040
 don't we

00:23:05.040 --> 00:23:05.820
 I mean

00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:06.320
 we have to

00:23:06.320 --> 00:23:06.580
 live with

00:23:06.580 --> 00:23:06.900
 ourselves

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.420
 every moment

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:07.980
 of our lives

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.700
 and I'm

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.020
 pretty

00:23:09.020 --> 00:23:10.060
 confident

00:23:10.060 --> 00:23:10.520
 we can

00:23:10.520 --> 00:23:10.940
 probably

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:12.140
 think of

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.100
 even a few

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:13.560
 examples

00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:13.980
 from just

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.260
 the past

00:23:14.260 --> 00:23:14.620
 couple of

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:14.840
 hours

00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:15.100
 which

00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:15.820
 point

00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:16.700
 to

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.140
 our

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:18.160
 brokenness

00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.000
 and this

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.280
 is quite

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:20.580
 simply

00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:20.940
 what we

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.160
 are

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:21.880
 we are

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.180
 broken

00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:22.620
 people

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.720
 and we

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.460
 live

00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:24.980
 in a

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.200
 broken

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.680
 world

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.160
 and as

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.720
 Christians

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.600
 these

00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:29.140
 subjects

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.519
 us

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.000
 to

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.259
 all

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.500
 kinds

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:30.640
 of

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.039
 trials

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.400
 don't

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.680
 we

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.539
 know it

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:33.960
 all too

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.180
 well

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.480
 in a

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:34.759
 world

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.480
 which

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:35.779
 was

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.440
 so hostile

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.799
 to

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.360
 Christianity

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.279
 in Peter's

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.580
 times

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:40.019
 and still

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.480
 is in

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:40.680
 our

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.140
 times

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.400
 we can

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.519
 think of

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.120
 outright

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.799
 persecution

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.680
 in countries

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.320
 like China

00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:46.880
 for instance

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.720
 but also

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.880
 closer to

00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.240
 home

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.400
 there's

00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:51.200
 less violent

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:51.820
 or direct

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.440
 forms of

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:52.900
 persecution

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.420
 in our

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.039
 western

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.560
 countries

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:54.839
 in the

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.299
 form of

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:55.980
 stigma

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.740
 against

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.240
 Christianity

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.759
 maybe

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.379
 or the

00:23:59.379 --> 00:23:59.839
 controversial

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.559
 topic of

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.460
 freedom of

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:01.779
 speech

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.059
 when it

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.500
 comes to

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.240
 certain

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.579
 issues

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:03.839
 I

00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.799
 know of

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.119
 some of

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:05.579
 you who

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.539
 regularly

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.259
 face these

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.659
 problems

00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:07.960
 in the

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.319
 workplace

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:10.599
 but there

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.039
 are two

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.599
 things

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.379
 that Peter

00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:13.000
 points out

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.399
 for us

00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:13.879
 about these

00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.200
 trials

00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:14.639
 there's

00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.419
 good news

00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:15.859
 for us

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:17.079
 the number

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.599
 one is

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.539
 for a little

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.079
 while

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.819
 in verse

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.179
 six

00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:21.659
 our trials

00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.099
 on this

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.460
 earth

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.159
 are

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.960
 temporary

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.400
 they're

00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:25.880
 only for

00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.400
 a time

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.140
 and we

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:27.640
 must not

00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:27.980
 make the

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.340
 mistake

00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:28.819
 of thinking

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.360
 that Peter

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.240
 is trivializing

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.259
 what Christians

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:31.740
 go through

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.319
 of all people

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.799
 he would be

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.160
 the last

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.600
 person to

00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:34.000
 do that

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.840
 what Peter

00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.480
 does with

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.100
 these verses

00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:36.900
 instead is

00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:37.980
 he is

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.920
 helping us

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.600
 lift our

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.000
 eyes

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:43.840
 let's think

00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.299
 back to

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.980
 one of

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.220
 those

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.960
 three

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.819
 attributes

00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:48.079
 of our

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.539
 inheritance

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.059
 in heaven

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.500
 we said

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.620
 imperishable

00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:52.180
 now compare

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:52.700
 that

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.299
 this heaven

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.659
 that will

00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.180
 survive

00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:54.700
 the sun

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.440
 to

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.240
 what we

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.720
 go through

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.339
 on earth

00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.579
 don't

00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.099
 our human

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.519
 mortal

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.440
 lives

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.039
 pale in

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.519
 comparison

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.319
 and so

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:02.799
 should

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.379
 our

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.859
 trials

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.460
 if we

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.740
 look at

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.119
 things

00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:05.799
 from the

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.259
 perspective

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.539
 of

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.259
 eternity

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.019
 eternity

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.740
 with God

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:11.099
 and then

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:11.519
 the second

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.000
 piece

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.119
 of good

00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.539
 news

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.399
 is that

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:14.700
 these

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.159
 trials

00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:15.940
 are

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.779
 necessary

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.639
 he says

00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:18.980
 in verse

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.279
 six

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.079
 you may

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.779
 have had

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.500
 to suffer

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.240
 and then

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.599
 in verse

00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:22.819
 seven

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.240
 he says

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:23.859
 these

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.460
 the trials

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.039
 have come

00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.779
 so that

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.220
 and then

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.599
 he gives

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:26.859
 us an

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.319
 explanation

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.019
 which we're

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.259
 going to

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.539
 look at

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:28.799
 in a

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.000
 minute

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.920
 but just

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.240
 to say

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.759
 these

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.180
 words

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.039
 the way

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.399
 he

00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.680
 words

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.019
 things

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.440
 that means

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.220
 that they

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.680
 are

00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.639
 necessary

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.279
 what

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:38.680
 these

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.079
 Christians

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.319
 are

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.639
 enduring

00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.019
 what we

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.460
 have to

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:40.819
 endure

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.879
 is no

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.379
 accident

00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:43.819
 yes you

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.079
 have

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.559
 trials

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.460
 yes it

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.059
 is horrible

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.460
 yes it

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.039
 is frustrating

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.460
 yes it

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.099
 is difficult

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.319
 but they're

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.559
 not let's

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:50.919
 not make

00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.259
 the mistake

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.679
 of thinking

00:25:51.679 --> 00:25:52.279
 that these

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.779
 trials are

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.480
 the inevitable

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.039
 consequence

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.899
 of this

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.679
 world that's

00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:56.339
 been forgotten

00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:56.919
 by this

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.419
 God who's

00:25:57.419 --> 00:25:57.819
 looking the

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.339
 other way

00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:01.059
 God is

00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.659
 in control

00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.500
 they are

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.500
 part of

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.899
 God's

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.919
 plan and

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.399
 as such

00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:06.000
 they are

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.639
 necessary

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.899
 because and

00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:08.339
 he gives

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.240
 us the

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:11.099
 reason these

00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.199
 trials serve

00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:12.799
 a purpose

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.779
 just like

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.079
 Jesus'

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.699
 death on

00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:15.099
 the cross

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.519
 did he

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.159
 didn't die

00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.500
 in vain

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.919
 did he

00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.539
 so where

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.920
 is this

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.359
 purpose

00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.680
 verse 7

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.680
 to test

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.299
 our faith

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.420
 to prove

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.299
 the genuineness

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:23.759
 of our

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.559
 faith and

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.000
 by doing

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.259
 so ultimately

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.500
 to strengthen

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.779
 it these

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.599
 trials strengthen

00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:32.119
 our faith in

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.579
 a way that

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.500
 results in

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.960
 praise glory

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.879
 and honor when

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:38.079
 Jesus will be

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.220
 revealed that's

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.159
 in verse 7

00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:45.059
 and then to

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:45.579
 top it all

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.240
 off it's not

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.019
 in today's

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.579
 passage but

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.039
 Peter will

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.619
 say in

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.720
 chapter 4

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.420
 verse 14

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.139
 if you're

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:51.619
 insulted

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.299
 because of

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:52.720
 the name

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.319
 of Christ

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.079
 you are

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.700
 blessed

00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.579
 for the

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.059
 spirit of

00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.839
 glory and

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.299
 of God

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.139
 rests on

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.400
 you

00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:00.619
 so these

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.139
 trials

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:02.000
 what we

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.740
 undergo for

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.379
 being children

00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:03.960
 of God

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.279
 they are

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.160
 a blessing

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.839
 because they

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.680
 strengthen our

00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.119
 faith

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.559
 so when we're

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:09.980
 at work

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.460
 tomorrow

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.599
 and we're

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.200
 faced with

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.079
 what we can

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.859
 call persecution

00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.839
 let's

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.240
 remember

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.279
 that this

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.240
 is part

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.740
 of God's

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.079
 plan

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.559
 and not

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.199
 because God

00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:20.079
 acts like

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.579
 this mean

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.639
 fitness instructor

00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.799
 who pushes us

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.379
 to our limits

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.879
 for the sake

00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.179
 of it

00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:25.379
 but because he

00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:25.979
 knows the

00:27:25.979 --> 00:27:26.679
 fruit that

00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:27.319
 these trials

00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:27.879
 will bring

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.619
 to our

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.000
 faith

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.279
 and to

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.819
 his kingdom

00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:33.679
 so we're

00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:34.379
 broken people

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.459
 who endure

00:27:35.459 --> 00:27:36.279
 temporary

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.319
 and necessary

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.619
 trials due

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.039
 to our

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.460
 Christian

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:39.960
 faith

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.980
 but it

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.339
 doesn't

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.019
 stop there

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.779
 because what

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.139
 is the

00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:43.659
 flip side

00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:43.960
 of all

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.399
 of this

00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:45.960
 it's that

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.599
 we have

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:46.980
 hope

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.659
 because we

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.240
 are believers

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.359
 because our

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.220
 hope is not

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.659
 in whatever

00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:51.259
 is happening

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.740
 to us

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.519
 here on

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.220
 this earth

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.200
 our hope

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.839
 is in that

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.319
 inheritance

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:55.940
 to come

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.240
 and this

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.519
 hope

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.059
 Peter says

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.399
 in verses

00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.019
 6 and

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.519
 8

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.440
 it produces

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:00.960
 in us

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.480
 great joy

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.740
 inexpressible

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:05.299
 and glorious

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.039
 joy

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:09.700
 we have

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.299
 faith

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:10.899
 in the

00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.399
 triune

00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:11.839
 God

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.339
 of the

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:12.619
 first

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:12.879
 three

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.339
 verses

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.539
 we have

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:14.920
 faith

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.220
 in a

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.559
 God

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.099
 who is

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.299
 our

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:16.740
 father

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.659
 in his

00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:18.159
 plan of

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.579
 salvation

00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:18.980
 through

00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:19.420
 Jesus

00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.599
 and in

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:20.779
 the

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.159
 God

00:28:21.159 --> 00:28:21.899
 whose

00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:22.559
 spirit

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:22.960
 is

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.379
 working

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:23.980
 in

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.619
 us

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:26.200
 this is

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:26.519
 all back

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:26.819
 in verses

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.200
 1 and

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:27.420
 2

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.619
 and so

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:28.899
 Peter

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.619
 tells us

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:29.960
 what this

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.579
 faith looks

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:30.940
 like

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.460
 in verse

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.920
 8

00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.680
 these

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.139
 Christians

00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:34.059
 have never

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.339
 seen

00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:34.779
 Jesus

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.720
 and yet

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.339
 they love

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.579
 him

00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.440
 that's

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:37.720
 faith

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:39.400
 and the

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.039
 end result

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.519
 of it

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.000
 of this

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.360
 faith

00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:41.759
 in verse

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.140
 9

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:42.860
 is

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.839
 the

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.400
 salvation

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.480
 of their

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.200
 souls

00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:47.160
 nothing less

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:49.600
 so

00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:50.319
 what are we

00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.319
 we are

00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.240
 broken people

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.259
 in a broken

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.779
 world

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.620
 who have to

00:28:54.620 --> 00:28:55.460
 endure trials

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:56.259
 because of

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.880
 our faith

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.799
 and therefore

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.480
 lead

00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.180
 miserable

00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.660
 lives

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.200
 no

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.720
 because

00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.319
 this same

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.799
 faith

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.839
 which caused

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.579
 the trials

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:04.839
 in the

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.460
 first place

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.279
 it makes

00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:06.480
 us

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:06.880
 overflow

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.539
 with joy

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.120
 at the

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.519
 thought

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.200
 of the

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.720
 salvation

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.259
 that it

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:10.660
 produced

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.100
 in us

00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:14.519
 so as we

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.180
 wrap up

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:17.059
 I have a

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.380
 couple of

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:17.819
 applications

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.460
 for us all

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:18.900
 to think

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.319
 about

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.299
 of the

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.559
 back

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:20.840
 of all

00:29:20.840 --> 00:29:21.180
 of this

00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:23.980
 the first

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.259
 one

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.740
 for any

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.019
 of us

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.200
 who are

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.500
 struggling

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:26.840
 with the

00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:27.180
 idea

00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.340
 of faith

00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:28.640
 in the

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.000
 gospel

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.840
 if we're

00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.299
 thinking

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.680
 yeah okay

00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.319
 I'll believe

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:32.839
 it when

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.279
 I see

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:33.519
 it

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.339
 these

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.759
 Christians

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.299
 that Peter

00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:35.779
 is writing

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.439
 to they

00:29:36.439 --> 00:29:37.500
 are proof

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.579
 that faith

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.159
 is enough

00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:40.519
 though you

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.019
 have not

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.579
 seen him

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.980
 you love

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.299
 him

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.740
 Peter is

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.299
 telling us

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.339
 that this

00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:46.720
 book

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.599
 the bible

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:47.980
 is all

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.359
 we need

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:48.879
 it is

00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.259
 enough

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.240
 evidence

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.319
 maybe we're

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.879
 doubting and

00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.379
 we're thinking

00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.379
 if only I

00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.099
 had a sign

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.980
 but again

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.799
 here is our

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.079
 sign

00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.480
 Jesus

00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.519
 died for

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:57.799
 us

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.579
 and that's

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:58.879
 all we

00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.139
 need

00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:01.819
 and then

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.579
 for those

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:02.859
 of us

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.299
 who do

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.779
 believe

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.960
 then my

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.279
 challenge

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.599
 for us

00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:05.839
 is

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:07.079
 where is

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.599
 our joy

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:09.639
 if I'm

00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:10.180
 honest with

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:10.759
 myself

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.940
 as someone

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.819
 looks at

00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.160
 me from

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.859
 the outside

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.759
 do they

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.879
 see a

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.759
 joy in

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.559
 Peter's

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.480
 words so

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.240
 great in

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.859
 my salvation

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.200
 and the

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.579
 inheritance

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.200
 which awaits

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.200
 me that I

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.559
 can't even

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.240
 express it

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.940
 as we

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.700
 go about

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.480
 our life

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.480
 are the

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.120
 truths of

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.660
 the gospel

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.360
 what we

00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:30.019
 focus on

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.059
 what is it

00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:32.019
 the challenges

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.599
 that our

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.559
 Christian life

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:36.519
 produce and

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.380
 how sorry we

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:37.839
 feel for

00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.440
 ourselves is

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.000
 that what we're

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.559
 focusing on

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.700
 instead are

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.319
 we using the

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.980
 bible as a

00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:43.319
 compass to

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.200
 lift our

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.539
 eyes towards

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:48.440
 the God

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.360
 who chose

00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:50.000
 us these

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.099
 amazing loving

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.019
 God that

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.519
 we're going to

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.180
 go back to

00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:54.180
 for the rest

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.279
 of eternity

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.019
 and if the

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.920
 answer to

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.500
 these questions

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.460
 is no

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.319
 then can I

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.059
 invite you to

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.039
 grab someone

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.539
 maybe at the

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.000
 end of this

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.779
 service and

00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.460
 just pray

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:04.980
 together

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.920
 let's pray

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.500
 together and

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.039
 ask God to

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.599
 direct our

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.180
 attention to

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.759
 the greatness

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.559
 of salvation

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:11.660
 and the

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.359
 greatness of

00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:13.240
 what is to

00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:13.559
 come

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.720
 let's ask

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.059
 him to

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.339
 give us

00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:15.920
 perspective

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:20.720
 let's go

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.120
 back to

00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:21.380
 the

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.080
 painting

00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.580
 as we

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.360
 conclude

00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:25.519
 so I

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.100
 ask myself

00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.980
 in the light

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.500
 of everything

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.320
 that Peter

00:31:29.320 --> 00:31:30.060
 tells us

00:31:30.060 --> 00:31:30.940
 what is the

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.519
 problem with

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.100
 this painting

00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:33.120
 and I think

00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:34.000
 it's that it

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.039
 begins and

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.060
 end on

00:31:36.060 --> 00:31:36.440
 earth

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:38.140
 it doesn't

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.779
 show us

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.620
 where we

00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.140
 come from

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.880
 the foreknowledge

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.420
 of God the

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.460
 father and it

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.180
 certainly doesn't

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.840
 show us where

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.939
 we are going

00:31:44.939 --> 00:31:46.720
 eternity in

00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.079
 the presence

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:47.619
 of God

00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.939
 perhaps it

00:31:48.939 --> 00:31:49.879
 partly shows

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.799
 us where

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.339
 we are

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.359
 this broken

00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:53.559
 confusing

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.659
 world but

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.319
 it doesn't

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.199
 show us the

00:31:56.199 --> 00:31:58.339
 joy that

00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:59.319
 we have in

00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.199
 the hope of

00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:00.659
 what is to

00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:01.939
 come as

00:32:01.939 --> 00:32:02.699
 Christians

00:32:02.699 --> 00:32:03.980
 how much

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.819
 bigger and

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:06.119
 just fuller

00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:06.459
 and more

00:32:06.459 --> 00:32:07.179
 beautiful is

00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:07.859
 the picture

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.399
 that Peter

00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:08.959
 has painted

00:32:08.959 --> 00:32:10.199
 for us in

00:32:10.199 --> 00:32:11.019
 these 12

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.779
 verses it's

00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.220
 infinitely

00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:13.139
 bigger

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:14.940
 so as we

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.380
 study the

00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:15.800
 rest of the

00:32:15.800 --> 00:32:16.400
 book in

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.140
 the coming

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.680
 Sundays

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:19.040
 can I

00:32:19.040 --> 00:32:19.560
 encourage you

00:32:19.560 --> 00:32:20.000
 to try and

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.480
 remind

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:22.580
 yourselves of

00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.060
 what these

00:32:23.060 --> 00:32:23.820
 12 verses

00:32:23.820 --> 00:32:24.740
 are all

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.180
 about

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:26.240
 is where

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.100
 we are

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.900
 from and

00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.560
 where we're

00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.640
 going really

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.400
 is the

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:30.940
 premise for

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.560
 everything that

00:32:31.560 --> 00:32:32.300
 is to

00:32:32.300 --> 00:32:33.160
 follow and

00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.460
 it's the

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.020
 only way that

00:32:34.020 --> 00:32:34.620
 we can find

00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.700
 the strength

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.440
 that we need

00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.259
 to lift our

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.300
 eyes and to

00:32:38.300 --> 00:32:39.380
 rejoice despite

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.740
 our trials in

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.280
 a God who

00:32:41.280 --> 00:32:42.160
 is in

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.600
 control

00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.980
 rejoice in

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.640
 our new

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.820
 birth through

00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:47.340
 Jesus and

00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:47.860
 in the

00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.720
 salvation that

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.300
 it brings

00:32:49.300 --> 00:32:49.600
 us

00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:51.100
 let's pray

00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:55.840
 father we

00:32:55.840 --> 00:32:56.440
 come to you

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.560
 confessing that

00:32:57.560 --> 00:33:00.920
 we more

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.700
 often than not

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.700
 probably look

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.320
 down rather

00:33:03.320 --> 00:33:03.880
 than up

00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:05.779
 we focus

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:07.360
 on our

00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:08.200
 problems on

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.960
 the here and

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.060
 now rather

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.619
 than on

00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.700
 your glory

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.419
 and what

00:33:13.419 --> 00:33:14.480
 awaits us

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.259
 so we

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.000
 ask you to

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.000
 forgive us

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.579
 and we ask

00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.200
 for your

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:21.220
 help to

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.539
 just lift our

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.299
 eyes and

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.659
 be joyful

00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:26.179
 because we're

00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:26.740
 part of your

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.879
 family and

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:29.799
 because you've

00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.700
 saved us

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.480
 father so we

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:33.099
 just thank you

00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:34.539
 because you're

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.319
 in control we

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:35.940
 thank you for

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:37.059
 your amazing

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:37.640
 plan and we

00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:38.380
 thank you for

00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:39.840
 Jesus'

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.779
 sacrifice and

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.259
 the salvation

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:43.720
 that it's

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.240
 given us

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.200
 amen