Speaker: Greg Sanders

Passage: 1 Peter

CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE

Come on back in. If you have your Bibles, grab them, please. We are going to start a new study today. We’re in the Book of 1 Peter. We’re going to do something I bet you’ve never done before in a church gathering. We’re going to actually read the entire Book of 1 Peter together. It only takes fourteen minutes. We’ll be okay. 

We’re going to do it for a reason, though, and that is primarily it’s really dangerous when we grab on to snippets of Scripture, and we don’t see it in the context it was written in. And so, when we embark on a study, I want us to remember this is a letter that is written to a church, to a group of people. 

How many can understand that if you just studied a single line in a letter, you might miss the details? This letter is not a bill. You’re like, Great. It’s not a bill. I can ignore it. It doesn’t mean there aren’t important things in it. So, we have to understand context. 

And so, I want to take us through that today, and then we’re going to just do some quick work in the first two verses. But before that, I want to just do a little bit of background for us. First question when we study a book is obviously the world behind the Scriptures. 

WHO WAS PETER?

So, who was Peter? Okay, so originally named Simon. Some of you might know that from the Scripture, a fisherman from Bethsaida who lived in Capernaum. He was married, we don’t hear much about his wife in the Scriptures, but he was married. 

Most scholars believe that a lot of the early apostles, a lot of the early disciples, it was such a shift culturally that it cost them their spouses, and most of their spouses would say, I won’t make that journey with you. And it would divide homes, which makes a lot of what Jesus says make a lot more sense.

So, he worked with his brother, Andrew, and partners James and John, and was called by Jesus early in His ministry. We look at that in Matthew 4. His name means rock. Jesus renamed him Cephas or Petros– whether it’s Aramaic or Greek– meaning rock or stone. And what was that for? It was to symbolize his future role as a foundational element of the church. 

Peter’s listed first in all the Gospel accounts. He was the first to identify Jesus as the Messiah– Matthew 16. I don’t want us to miss those kinds of things about his personality as we study this book. 

He’s known for bold faith. He walked on water. How many can say they’ve done that without falling in? He’s also known for dramatic failure, including misunderstanding Christ’s mission. He had an agenda, what he thought Jesus should do. It was very different than what Jesus came to do, and he denied Jesus three times during his arrest. 

So, after denying Jesus, Peter was restored and becomes the primary spokesperson for the Apostles in Jerusalem, preached the first sermon after Pentecost, performed early miracles in Acts 2 and 3, and they think that that reality makes this book really, really important. 

And here’s why: Peter faced the reality of Jesus dealing with his sin face-to-face in his lifetime. I don’t know about you, but I think that would mark me. Wouldn’t it mark you, to have an encounter face-to-face with the Lord, where He’s dealing with your places of failure? And he came out the other side. 

And so, I think what he has to teach us is amazing. And I think as we mine through this book, we’re going to hold that kind of as a tenet, going, Okay, Peter really had the Lord deal with him early. He’s obviously attributed with writing 1 and 2 Peter. Tradition holds that he’s martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero, crucified upside down. That’s the tradition that’s held. 

WHO IS THIS BOOK WRITTEN TO?

So, who’s the book written to? The letters, likely co-written by Silvanus, we see that in the very end of the book, in chapter 5, you’ll hear that this morning. He assists in drafting it. One of the things we know about Peter, because Acts will tell us this, is that Peter was illiterate. 

How many have ever heard the term ignorant fisherman? Ascribed to Peter, and some of these guys. Peter was not literate, could not write. So, we know that someone else wrote for him. Silvanus is who we believe wrote for him. 

This book, interestingly– I know, I know, it’s really interesting to Pastor Dustin, might not be so interesting to you. This is the most complex Greek book in the New Testament, as far as the level of Greek in it. So, there’s some things that we’re going to mine out that are kind of hidden in the original language that are really fun.

Peter is sent to encourage churches. This letter is sent to encourage churches in the region where Paul had already ministered. The Book of 1 Peter was written by the Apostle Peter from Rome, which is considered Babylon in this book– we’re going to hear that phrase a bit– probably in the early to mid 60s AD, so probably just about thirty years post-Jesus, 

The church he’s writing to is in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, what we would call modern Turkey. And they’re facing intense persecution, social alienation, and slander. So, the letter addresses believers as exiles. That’s a term I want us to get familiar with. 

There’s another term that you would maybe sub in for that, as strangers or aliens. This is how Peter refers to the church. I think that’s an important concept, especially for us as Americans, because I don’t think we really see ourselves like that. 

PETER’S MESSAGE

And he tells them three things that they’re to really work on. One is to persevere. I think it’s the most important concept in the Book of 1 Peter, to persevere, which means to stay in the fight, to maintain high moral standards, to live holy lives, and to understand their identity as exiles in a hostile world. 

We’re going to spend a lot of time looking at that because I think it directly affects the way we live. They’re going to talk about suffering for righteousness, hope of salvation, proper conduct within a pagan society, the imminent return of Jesus, and then Babylon, which is the code name for Rome. 

We’ve studied Rome, but I want us to consider how that was controlling the world. I just spent two days in San Francisco, and I just stood and watched the city around me because I was stuck there because of the weather patterns here. 

And what I noticed in San Francisco that was just so interesting, is just as a city, there’s this really deep sense of, We don’t really care about anything else except what we care about. You could feel it in the air. I think Rome was very much the same way. 

And this is Peter trying to encourage a church. What does it look like to stand in that day and in that time, understanding I’m not of them, I’m of a different world? And we’re going to dig into that a bit. 

So, this idea of exiles: I want us to consider that we’re exiles in our lives. We’re believers, scattered in the United States, but our origin is Kingdom, it’s not national. Please hear that, your origin, my origin, is Kingdom; it’s not national, I am not an American.

That is a paradigm shift that has to be understood by us for us to be successful in our day and time. I don’t know that we really consider ourselves strangers and aliens, and aliens in a system that’s not our own. I would argue that the majority of the church that we watch is fighting to make the system serve her needs instead of realizing it’s not going to, nor was it actually intended to. 

So, can we take what we learn in this book as a tutorial for how to live faith-filled in our day and time? Can we take what we will learn as a challenge and admonition to maintain an appropriate holy life? 

Because this is what Peter’s going to push on. He’s going to push on us to choose, to find our hope in the new nature of Jesus Christ. We sang about it a bit. I loved that song, talking about letting go of the old, setting it down, and grabbing onto the new. I’m never going to be the same, like come on, let’s just sing that all day long until it sits in our spirits, right? 

The other thing Peter is going to challenge for the church, and I think this is important for us, is that suffering is a reality in the Kingdom, but it’s not a definer of our existence. It’s just a process that God gives. 

In chapter 1, we’re going to learn something about difficulties and trials and suffering, and it’s going to change the way we approach them, socially, economically, physically, general harassment. These are the persecutions they suffered. 

And I think a lot of times we glass past those, like we don’t even have those in our lives. But I think we’re going to look at ways that it happens, like, let’s just pick one. Let’s call it general harassment. We don’t think we have this. 

You want to test it? Just get on Instagram and post an intensely believer-perspective and see what happens. Get on Instagram and say, I’m so grateful for Jesus. I don’t know where my life would be without Him, and list all the things and watch what people say back to you. 

We live in a culture that, whether we like it or not, there is a deep underlying hatred because that’s what the Scriptures say is going to happen. And so, we face that a lot. And I think what Peter is going to do for them is help them understand how to take all that impetus into their spirits and not let it get them down, but to see it for what it is, so they can rise above it. 

1 PETER

And I’m going to want to do the same for us. So, with that, if you have your Bibles, let’s go to 1 Peter. Just so you know, Biblically, I have the right to make you stand for this, and have the right to make you stand up to twelve hours because that’s what Josiah did when they read the Law. 

So, I think fourteen minutes is pretty simple, and I think we can handle it. And I really want you, if you want, to read along, or I want you to listen. But what I want us to grab onto is the narrative, like, What’s really being said? I want you to hear it in context. 

I’m reading from the New American Standard. I’ve made a shift recently. When we were studying the Book of Revelation, I got really angry at the New Living for a few moments because it said things that weren’t actually there. In fact, it said them opposite. And I was like, Oh, that’s a problem. So, I’m in a midlife crisis for a new version. 

So, here we go, chapter 1, 1 Peter. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you’ve been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

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

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which you were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it’s written: ‘You should be holy, for I am holy.’

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay here on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundations of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

“Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ 

“And this is the word which was preached to you. Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold, I’m laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.’ This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, ‘A stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense;’ for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed. 

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

“Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against your soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the things in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation. 

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience towards God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 

“For you’ve been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example, so that you would follow His steps, He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you’ve returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 

“In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your pure and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely the external– braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with an imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way, the holy women of former times, who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subjected to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Adam, calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 

“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit, a blessing. For, ‘To the one who desires life, to love to see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.’

“And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect; and keep a good conscience so that in the things in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, who were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you– not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience– through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. 

“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desires of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you; but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the Spirit according to the will of God.

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is actually speaking words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. If you’re insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. 

“Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourself with humility towards one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. 

“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. Be of sober spirit, be on alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

“Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. 

“Peace be to you all who are in Christ.” 

SPRINKLED WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Do you notice how when you hear the entire book together, there’s a different context? There’s a weightiness to what Peter begins to say, I don’t really have time to go where I want to go today, because that took longer than fourteen in front of you, but I want to just put in front of us this really simple concept. 

And in chapters 1, verses 1 and 2, “Peter, an apostle to Jesus Christ to those who reside as strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.” 

There’s just this systematic process that I want to look at really quickly. One is this idea of strangers who are chosen. The word stranger here means one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there, side by side with natives. Hence, not from here. 

The word chosen here means to be elected or selected. The stranger idea is important for us to grab onto because we have to understand we are not from here, we’re from above. We talked about this in Ephesians last week, this imposter thing that Paul will present, where Paul says to put aside your sin nature. 

And he uses the word pseudo. He says your native sin nature is false. It’s actually not your real identity, your real identity in Christ. Jesus is his nature, your new nature, that’s been given to you. So, there’s this constant juxtaposition of remembering, even though this feels native, even though this feels natural, it’s not. 

And if I can remember when I go to work, if I can remember when I’m driving down the street, if I can remember when I’m in the marketplace, This isn’t my home, okay? If it’s not my home, then what am I here for? If it’s not the reason, what am I here for? 

According to Peter, you’re here to release the image of Christ to the world around you. You’re an ambassador, is what Paul will say in other places. You’re there to reflect Him. You’re to put on His nature so that the people, that the foreigners around you, see Him. 

One of my favorite quotes, Brother Lawrence, will say it this way: “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” I think it’s a mindset shift that we have to grasp: we’re not from here, we’re from above. So, our lives cannot look like we’re taking all of our cues from here. We have to take our cues from above. 

This word, chosen, selected, it’s a concept that absolutely messes with my brain. Anybody play sports on the playground growing up? And you always know the really good athletes got chosen first? They got selected. Why? Because they had benefit. 

And I don’t want to bring up old trauma, maybe you’re one of those kids that got chosen last. Sorry, just you hadn’t developed into that great athlete. Sorry, but that’s the word here. The word here means to be picked out. It’s a picture of being picked out to play on that team, which means that God the Father made an intentional choice to put you on His team. 

I think we downplay that a lot. Why would we downplay that? Because if I believe that, it requires a response. It means, if I really look at it and say, He picked me, I have to ask the question, Well, why? I have to reconcile in my mind that I was chosen because of a love that He had for me that I don’t necessarily understand. 

How many could agree with me, you don’t necessarily have to understand it, to embrace it? And then the second question we have to answer is, Well, am I going to live with that level of importance? I have to determine what is my response going to be when I stand before Him? Will I be able to stand before Him and offer a life of devotion that was birthed in gratitude for being chosen? 

It says, “Sanctified by the work of the Spirit.” This word sanctified means to be purified. It’s a byproduct of setting something apart, being consecrated. And he says, “By the work of the Spirit.” 

And I don’t want us to miss this, because I think a lot of times we have to do better mentality, like it’s our work that we’re sanctifying with. And Peter says here, it’s not, it’s actually the Holy Spirit’s work. 

Could we just consider that the process of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as in it’s His main agenda that we are in a process where the Holy Spirit is working to sanctify us? Peter says we were chosen, sanctified, selected for a purpose, that the Father’s desire and the Holy Spirit’s leading is taking us to two places, and I want to highlight those really quickly. 

The place, one, is to obey Jesus Christ. The word here for obey is to walk in compliance and submission to another’s will, that the entire desire of God the Father, the entire working of the Holy Spirit, is always driving us to honor the will and desires of Jesus Christ. 

We talk about the Holy Spirit’s movement a lot, I just want you to understand Biblically, the primary movement of the Holy Spirit is to push you to act like Jesus, look like Jesus, and do what Jesus wants. Are there other cool things the Holy Spirit does in our gatherings? Yes, but the primary function of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to honor Jesus. 

I love this phrase, “To be sprinkled with blood,” because I think it’s very interesting the way Peter lines it up. The root word is a direct borrow from the temple sacrifice system. Sprinkling was a step that was used to validate and purify the offering. 

Can you just hear this phrase? We are offerings that are purified by blood, not performance. We are offerings that are purified by blood, not performance. Peter’s working to educate a culture that just doesn’t understand what Jesus came and did. He’s grabbing onto a parallel here out of Deuteronomy 7, and I just want to highlight it really quick. 

It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set His heart on you and chose you, for you are the fewest of all peoples. It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that He swore to your ancestors, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the land of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 

Obviously, this is a word to Israel, but that same principle aligns with us. He chose us because He loves us. See Peter’s writing to a people who believed that being selected was all about ethnicity. Oh, we were selected because we’re Israel. We’re God’s people. 

But Peter’s making a very clear statement here that our chosen identity as believers exists by living in the will of the Father, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and being obedient to Jesus Christ, that those things are the qualifiers of our lives. We’re aligned with the will of the Father. We’re in sanctified relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

What do I mean by that? It means that I’m in a tender relationship with the Holy Spirit, to when He whispers, I respond. If you’re waiting for the Holy Spirit to slap you upside the head to get your attention, He doesn’t do that. Life’s circumstances may be used to wake you up, but the tenderness of Heaven is always to lead us through kindness. It’s His kindness that leads to repentance, that’s His statement. 

So, we have to position ourselves to be very, very tender to His voice. You were chosen for a God-ordained purpose. That’s really what Peter’s saying to this church, to live complete, surrendered lives to Jesus, to stay there by letting the Holy Spirit work in constant relationship with us. 

Church, I want to remind us, when we need help, the Holy Spirit gives it. When we need grace, He continues to sprinkle us with the blood of Jesus, marking us as forgiven. Think about that. Every time you fail, the Holy Spirit’s answer is, No, they’re still marked. They’re forgiven. And then He comes to work to move us back to the right path. 

We have this mindset that is every time we fail, His answer is, I’m not touching you, and He distances Himself. And that’s just such a false narrative, because the truth is, in our failure, His answer is still, Forgiven. Come on, let’s go back over here. 

Here’s Peter’s point: we are wildly secure, but we were not chosen to do what we want, to live how we please, to just escape hell. Peter’s truth here is that we are in desperate need of the Holy Spirit, and that relationship is, and should be, our most central one. 

So, here’s my three questions as we go: how is your attentiveness to the Holy Spirit? Is your heart connected to His heart? And are you living in honor to His voice and His directions? Are you easy to lead for the Holy Spirit? Are you taking it upon yourself to ensure you’re making place for His voice?

We sing a song, I love the phrase, “Let us become more aware of Your presence.” That should be the heart cry of the church. We know who we are. We know being set apart for the question is, what level of intimacy are we walking in? Let’s stand. Sorry I went longer than I thought, I apologize. I’ll read faster. 

Just put your hand on your heart with me, please. Holy Spirit, I genuinely sense this morning that there’s a really fun reminder hanging over us to lean in to more intimate encounter with You. So, we just invite Your presence, not just right now, but we would ask that You would lead us and guide us into a deeper, more intimate encounter with You. 

We’re secure in the cross, we know that, but we don’t want to just go blindly along, we want to be in step with You, Holy Spirit. We invite You if there’s things in our lives that are hurting Your heart and bringing You grief because I know that’s possible in the Scriptures, would You point those out? Would You give us the courage to bow the knee to repent? 

Lord, if there’s places where we’ve just not made time for Your voice, we ask forgiveness for that. We ask that You begin to put pressure on us, in a good way, to invite us to just talk. Lord, in our behavior patterns, if we’ve become numb to Your heart, I know You don’t slap us upside the head, but would You whisper louder? Help us step into this. We would just say with one voice, we want to be led by You. 

We love You, we honor You, we thank You for Your guidance and for Your leadership and for the work You do in our lives. It’s not lost on me standing here that Jesus made a very important statement to the disciples, that He blew on them and said, “Receive my spirit,” because He understood without the Holy Spirit, we’re not going to make it. 

So, Lord, we just say, release more of the Holy Spirit to us, a greater measure, greater impartation. Paul’s statement is to continue to be being filled. So, right now, we just ask that You’d fill us up, that You’d invade our culture, which is more of Your presence, that we’d leave here with an electricity in us, just knowing, Man, I feel very, very drawn by the Holy Spirit to surrender all my ways to Him. Bless You. Jesus’ name, amen.