You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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All right, if you have Bibles with you or on devices or wherever, open them to 1 Peter
chapter 1. We're taking a brief break again from Luke. We're going to look at a few verses here in
1 Peter, and I also have to say this. I know that there's a congregational meeting next week,
and it's about me, but this is not a campaign appearance. It has nothing to do with that.
1 Peter 3. I'm going to read verses 3 through 9.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has caused
us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various
trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is
tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen Him, though you have not seen Him, though you do not now see Him,
you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome
of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Let's pray together as we approach the study of this portion of God's Word.
Father, what words, what richness, what...
Your Word is just beyond comprehension in so many ways, but yet it is simple enough
that we can understand and our hearts be set aflame. And so I pray that you would do that
in this time together, that by your Spirit that you would set our hearts aflame,
that you would cause the realities of what is said here to be planted deep in our souls,
and there have it bear fruit and transform us. Father, use my weakness and the weakness of my words.
Use them by the power of your Spirit in such a way that when all is said and done,
we know that we've heard from you, not from just another man.
So would you meet us now in this study, we pray. In Jesus' name, amen.
Amen.
Some of our men have been studying a book these last few weeks. We're in the midst of it.
It's called The Benedict Option, and it's a book written by a guy named Rod Dreher. It was on the New York
Times bestselling list, and in the beginning of the book, he makes this statement.
He said, American Christians are going to have to come to terms with the brute fact that we live in a culture,
one in which our beliefs make increasingly little sense.
We speak a language that the world more and more either cannot hear or finds offensive in its ears.
You know, I think in a lot of ways, this is a reality in so much of the world.
In so much of our country, in many ways, we here in the South have been shielded from this
because church still plays such a strong role in our culture.
But the reality of what he said is coming.
It's not a matter of if.
It's a matter of when.
And so the question, when that day comes, is how are we going to stand up against this rushing tide of secularism
or antagonism that is directed towards not just the church, but towards God and all things of him?
How are we going to stand firm?
How are we going to stand firm in our faith when our jobs are put at risk?
Because we will not, cannot affirm the values that your company now celebrates.
How are we going to stand firm in our faith when our jobs are put at risk?
How are we going to stand firm as a student when in order to pass a required class,
you are expected to profess certain beliefs and you are expected to reject others
and those others may be very dear to you.
How are we going to stand firm?
How are we going to stand firm when social media, where you become famous or infamous,
either on YouTube or whatever, because you have said something that now everybody else is ridiculing
because it's so yesterday and is so out of place in now our modern culture.
How are we going to stand firm?
This is the question that Peter is dealing with here in 1 Peter.
and what he's going to tell us is that instead of us just becoming more determined and
maybe more committed to certain things
he's telling us that there has to be another reason
there's something else has to be out there that we're living for or that we're looking
to that's going to keep our feet firmly fixed on the foundation we need a greater hope than what
is offered to us in the here and now a promise of something that is worth so much more that is so
attractive and so glorious that we will joyfully give up anything now in order
to gain what is promised in the days to come
we need a hope that endures
and this is what peter is doing here in this letter peter's writing to a bunch of people
believers who are scattered he calls them exiles
exiles through this area of what is now central turkey
but these believers are facing these kind of trials they have been pushed out of society
they are losing their place in their professional guilds because of their new faith
they are even they are losing their property they are being imprisoned and even put to death
and so peter is trying to encourage them under this kind of almost unimaginable pressure
to not just to stand firm where they are but to stand firm with joy to rejoice be glad we are those
who can rejoice with joy that's inexpressible
and so he's trying to give them the fuel to stay firm through the moment
until the day comes when their hope will be realized
he said hold on now
don't give up
because another day is coming
and so as he does this in this passage there's far far more in these not these few verses that we can deal with
but as of course we're going to look at three
um but there are some very critical things here
that peter is going to encourage these believers to remember
and to focus on
as they hope and work to stand firm
the first point is that enduring love flows from worship
look at the way he starts this passage
he said blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ
these first few verses are not about their situation
they're not about anything else but god himself
it is all about god it's not about me
my standing firm cannot be about me
it cannot be about my determination
it has to be
and will always be
about him
standing firm
begins
perseveres
and ends
with worship
i love this
definition that john piper gives about
worship
a sermon that he preached
back in
93
he said worship is when the mind apprehends
great truth about god
and the heart kicks in with deep feelings of brokenness
or wonder
and gladness
and admiration
and gratitude
and the mouth
says something like
blessed be god
oh blessed and praised and honored and glorified
be the god and father of our lord jesus christ
he said worship is coming to this realization
that we stand before
someone
glorious
worship here
it really
in this context
is about two things
the first thing
worship is about coming to grips
with his beauty
beauty
and the treasure
that he is
it is about
just the glory
that comes
from him
the benefit
the blessing
it is
to be
one of his own
coming
becoming so overwhelmed
and captured by his glory
and beauty
to the point
that it elicits
this response
from us
a response of love
joy
gratitude
and trust
and when we are in a hard place
waiting
and persevering
we need these
kind of reminders
I don't know if you can see
on my phone
there's a picture
a picture of
someone very precious
to me
and I
and she's on that my phone
for
a very good reason
it is
every time I open
pull up my phone
I remember
this lovely lady
that I'm married to
that 36 years ago
I fell in love with
and she reminds me
this picture
reminds me
of all that I have
in relationship
to her
all the
just the joy
and the benefit
the good things
she has been
for me
and I know
a lot of you
probably have
pictures on your phone
better not be hers
but see in life
there are all kinds
of things
that are clamoring
for my affections
and we're not
just talking about
relational things
here
but it could be
work
it could be
career
it could be
prestige
it could be
status
it could be
how you're going
to vote next
week
it could be
all kinds
of things
and so
to
remember
her
is vital
for me
in my
devotion
to her
to remain
fixed
especially
if there's
a long
separation
if there's
a long
time
when we're
not together
I need
that
remembrance
this
in a lot
of ways
is what
worship
does
worship
is just
coming
back
seeing
the portrait
of our
true love
and remembering
remembering
all that we
have
in him
and Peter
is calling
us to
something
to remember
all of
these blessings
but there's
something else
that worship
does
worship
is not
just about
what we
are enamored
with
what we
love
worship
is also
about what
we fear
and Peter
kind of
alludes
to this
as he
goes through
here
that we
would
obtain
the salvation
of our
souls
and so
forth
you know
what has
the power
to
change
your
behavior
what has
the power
to keep
you up
at night
what has
the power
to manipulate
you
to
direct
you
you know
if my
greatest
fear
is to
become
infamous
on
YouTube
or if
my
greatest
fear
is to
be
ridiculed
on social
media
I'm going
to be
ruled
by that
I'm going
to change
my behavior
according to
that so
that this
group of
people
that I
think I
desperately need
acceptance
from
I'm going
to serve
them
and give
them what
they want
so that
they
will give
me what
I want
that is
worship
that is
what we
fear
see
Peter
is calling
us to a
fear
that's far
beyond
that
he's
calling
us to
a fear
that's
far
beyond
the
moment
this is
the God
and Father
of our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
who
caused
us to
be born
again
to a
living
hope
this is
the God
that doesn't
just have
the power
of making
you popular
or ridiculed
is the power
of life
itself
life
for
eternity
and Peter
is saying
don't worry
about these
others
worship
and remember
who holds
the stars
in his
hands
remember
who holds
all leadership
all kings
and nations
and
remember
who is
God
and who
isn't
and so
worship
is all
about
whatever
I want
the most
whatever
I look
to the
most
whatever
I'm willing
to serve
the most
is remembering
that life
is bigger
than me
it is bigger
than my
situation
it is bigger
than my
temporary
suffering
it is bigger
than my
world
and the one
who holds
the power
of life
itself
is more
beautiful
and more
glorious
and more
desirable
than anything
this world
will ever
offer
to me
worship
will
enable us
to endure
but Peter
also makes
another thing
another point
here
and it's
that enduring
hope
waits
for
the promise
he reminds
these exiles
here
that you're
in a hard
place
you are
waiting
and what
you're waiting
for
you can't
taste
and feel
at the
moment
it's
promised
and it's
coming
another
day
but he's
telling them
but wait
it is
promised
and the
promise
is
an
inheritance
he's
talking about
this inheritance
that is
coming
this is
inheritance
that's
way beyond
anything
that you'd
ever
experience
in this
life
it's
way beyond
anything
that
publishers
clearinghouse
could offer
you
it is
an inheritance
that can't
be taken
from you
it'll never
fade
it will
never be
corrupted
it's
guarded
in heaven
for you
it's
a done
deal
it is
not
it cannot
be stolen
it will
not fluctuate
with the
market
but it
is not
now
it is
still
to come
and so
we wait
but it
is a
promise
that is
so sweet
so
promising
so
desirable
so rich
that
it's
worth
waiting
for
and saying
no
to any
other
competitors
one of my
favorite movies
things
that I
can watch
pretty much
daily
is
Princess
Bride
amen
yeah
Princess Bride
is a fairy tale
but there's
something about
and I've probably
said this before
there's something
about fairy tales
that ring true
in these fairy tales
elicit from us
hope
and this one
in particular
does this
this is
you know
it's a story
about
a farm boy
named Wesley
he meets
Buttercup
and they have
true love
you know
it's not just
something that happens
every day
it's true love
well Wesley leaves
to go make his way
in the world
and he promises
to come back
he says
well how will I know
you come back
and he says
it's true love
so he leaves
and time lapses
then she
Buttercup
hears that his ship
was attacked
by the dread
pirate
Roberts
and
and everybody
knew
that the dread
pirate Roberts
never left
survivors
and so
she assumed
Wesley was dead
she gave up hope
got engaged
to Prince
Humperdinck
well
as we know
through various events
Wesley comes back
they are reunited
and
his question to her is
why did you not wait
she said
well
I thought you were dead
and he said
well
death can't stop
true love
it can only delay it
for a little while
then she says
I will never doubt again
the love that she found
was so valuable
that it was worth
denying all other rivals
and waiting
as long as she had to
for her true love
now
this is a fairy tale
pretty darn good one
it's a fairy tale
and we know
that human
you know
it's based on
romance
human romance
and we think that
that is the most powerful
thing in the world
and we know
that's not true
but
we're not talking about
the promise made
by some farm boy
we're talking about
a promise that is made
to us
by the God man
Jesus himself
and I like the way
Peter puts it here
in verse 8
he says
though you have
not seen him
you love him
the promise
is not just
a bunch of stuff
we're not waiting
for a time
when all
that we ever eat
will be dark chocolate
and every golf shot
will be straight
actually I don't think
golf will be in heaven
I think it comes
from hell
but that's not
what we wait
for
we wait
for true love
the love
of God
demonstrated
to us
in his son
and he says
I'm coming
this relationship
it's like
being
in a Christian
is like
the engagement
period
though so much
more than just
engagement
so we've been
betrothed
to our true love
and he has gone
to make
things ready
and he says
I'm coming
wait for me
and now
we're in the
interim
we're in the
waiting
and it's hard
and we'll be
ridiculed for it
we'll be pressured
to reject it
we'll remember
the things
that he told us
and the thing
while he's not
coming
is the promise
really true
but it is
our true love
he has
promised
and he will
come
and we
can wait
because
the fulfillment
of that promise
is far
beyond anything
we'll ever know
or be offered
or could
experience
in this life
the third thing
that Peter says
he says right up front
how do we know
the promise
is true
how do we know
because of the
resurrection
enduring hope
stands
firmly
on the resurrection
of Jesus Christ
from the dead
how do we know
the promise
will be fulfilled
because we've
seen it
fulfilled
Christ went
to his death
and everybody
thought hope
was gone
it was lost
but that was
Friday
Sunday
he was not
there
he was seen
he was embraced
they spoke
to him
he came up
from the dead
and if Christ
was raised
from the dead
in time
and space
if it is
a historical
event
a fact
of history
then
every promise
that he has
made to us
is good
I like the way
Tim Keller
put it
just this
last week
he said
if Jesus
rose from the dead
then you have
to accept
all that he
said
if he
didn't
then why
worry about
any of what
he said
if Christ
didn't
rise from
the dead
then
you can
go do
whatever
you want
you can
go find
your pleasure
wherever
you want
give in
to the
culture
give in
to the
movement
of our
society
just
follow along
everybody else
and hope
in what
they hope
and do
what they
do
because
that's
all
there
is
but
if the
resurrection
is true
everything
Jesus
promised
is
sure
when he
says
that the
meek
will
inherit
the earth
the
meek
are going
to
inherit
the
earth
the
meek
are going
to
struggle
now
and it
seems like
the strong
are winning
but Jesus
has promised
in a
promise
based on
the resurrection
from the
dead
when Jesus
says that
your father
in heaven
knows every
hair that
falls from
your head
he's that
intimately
acquainted
with you
he knows
that promise
is sure
because
he was
raised
from the
dead
our
hope
stands
and
falls
it
won't
fall
it
will
always
stand
on the
resurrection
of Jesus
from the
dead
everything
hinges
on the
resurrection
of Jesus
from the
dead
if he
is raised
then
every
power
on earth
every
kingdom
every
dominion
every
government
every
country
every
voice
out there
on the
internet
every
blogger
everybody
serves
in
submission
to one
king
the king
who sits
on his
throne
and who
rules
with a
firm
grip
and who
will one
day
balance
the scales
that's
his
promise
and that
promise
is good
because
that
king
came out
of the
tomb
came to
new
life
and
validated
everything
that was
said
every
promise
so
the
question
for us
what are
you waiting
for
I don't
mean just
waiting in a
temporal sense
but
what are
we waiting
for
just
another
momentary
pleasure
you know
more
material
comfort
the
popularity
with all
your
friends
what are
we waiting
for
remember
we have
hope
in a
risen
savior
we have
hope
because
the
savior
went to
his
death
was
judged
by
the
judge
of
all
things
and
came
to
life
to
vindicate
all
things
we
wait
on a
risen
savior
who
has
promised
and he's
worth
waiting
for
to
remember
this is
why we
celebrate
this
table
this is
why we
do it
in
worship
because
it helps
us
remember
it helps
us to
see
the beauty
of this
God
for whom
we wait
because
he
showed
true
love
in that
he
laid
down
his
life
it
was
not
just
a
presumption
of
being
dead
he
actually
died
a death
that no
other human
could die
so that
we wouldn't
have to
he
paid
the
penalty
that we
could be
made
clean
and spotless
for the
wedding
and now
we wait
for our
bridegroom
this is a
foretaste
of the
wedding
feast
for which
we wait
you're going
to get a
little taste
of bread
a little
taste of
juice
but know
this
this is a
feast
this is the
down payment
of the
feast that's
to come
so that you
can have
hope
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information
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