Clean House: Let Me Encourage You

October 16th, 2022/Casey Middle School

Story: Worship at Conference

3 “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who has not appealed to what is false,

and who has not sworn deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the Lord,

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who inquire of him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah” - Psalm 24:3-6 CSB

Word at Conference

My wife was preaching an incredible word out of 1 Peter and I felt the tap on the shoulder and heard God say, lean in here. It was then I felt strongly that we were to dive into this series together and do a deep dive into 1 Peter.

Intro: I want to pick up where we left off last week. We talked about how Peter was untrained, uneducated, and unlikely.

This is not just how he was seen among the Sadducees and scribes, this was the reality of it. But this is also not the end of the story. Just because he was untrained and uneducated, does not mean that he was disqualified. Nor does it mean that he was not skilled in speaking, writing, and leadership.

Peter spent three years under the Chief Shepherd. He was a disciple of King Jesus. Discipleship is someone that is a little further in their faith coming alongside someone newer in their faith to encourage and challenge them to take their next step of faith.

As we read through the gospels, we see that Jesus demonstrates the perfect example of what it looks like to make disciples. To walk with people on their journey, to challenge their behavior and belief, and to teach on the Kingdom of God.

Many churches and followers of Jesus see disciple making as a book club or a program. While I do believe there is great power and spiritual growth that can happen when learning from faithful authors and commentators, ultimately we are to look at Scripture and point people to obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Being available for discipleship is also a key component. Peter chose to follow Jesus and to sit under his teaching, and to be challenged by His life. The word disciple means to be a learner. Not for the sake of knowledge, but for the sake of obedience and spiritual maturity.

Unfortunately today we see more consumer disciples and less contributing disciples. Consumer disciples want to ask questions so that they can ask more questions so that they can know more so that they can ask more questions. Contributing disciples ask questions so that they can know God, do the will of God, and advance the Kingdom of God.

Being a disciple means that you are willing to alter your life so that you can make the greatest possible impact in the world today. This includes living a holy and righteous lifestyle. This means following the example that is set before you. This means going from a self feeder to a self learner.

I know that somebody is ready to be discipled when they are seeking the will of God in their life through consistent prayer and the reading of His Word in quiet time. When somebody comes to me, instead of going to God and his Word first, then I am concerned that they may be looking for something in me that can only be found in God. An earthly disciple maker makes a terrible Heavenly Father.

The book of 1 Peter is a book of encouragement and it reminds us of our assignment here on earth and the hope we have through suffering. It is a call to holy living. It is a call to a God honoring life. My heart for this series is that you would become rooted in Christ in your assignment so that you can have a right perspective of being a chosen exile in a culture that will misunderstand you and persecute you for your faith.

Passage: 1 Peter 1-9 CSB

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Pray:

Background:

The author of 1 Peter is Peter. One of Jesus' twelve disciples and among the inner circle of Jesus' closest companions. He’s writing to christians that are experiencing persecution and suffering. A theme in first Peter is hope in the midst of suffering. Throughout this letter Peter is outlining for the believer how they are to live amidst trials, suffering, and persecution. Peter's words are from a place of both deep conviction and profound experience.

The audience is mostly Gentile believers. Peter is acknowledging that they are a part of God’s family and they are chosen in the family of God.

The author & audience

A little more background on Peter. If you cannot relate to Peter, then I don’t know who you can relate with.

He is one of the most significant leaders in the early church. Peter predominately ministering to the Jews and Paul pioneering to the Gentiles. Jesus says “upon this rock, I will build my church.”

But then Peter is the one that denies Jesus to a servant girl.

It was Peter that was one of Jesus' closest disciples. He is in the inner circle. We had Peter, James, and John.

But it was Peter that Jesus declared “get behind me satan.”

It was Peter that had the faith to get out of the boat and walk on water.

But it was also Peter that cut a man’s ear off that came to get Jesus

It was Peter that gave the most profound and powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost.

Peter is the cursing disciple, yet filled with great faith. Sinking, but solid.

Question: Some have questioned, “How could a fisherman write so eloquently?”

Acts 4: Peter and John had just performed a miracle, and were preaching the Gospel and they said “they are ordinary men with no special training.”

God takes what is ordinary and does extraordinary things.

“Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world  — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence.” - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 CSB

I just imagine Peter standing up and preaching and thinking to himself “Only God.” As he pens letters to the church, performs miracles, makes disciples… “Only God”. So that not one will boast in his presence.

Question: Ever doubt that God could use you? Ever question whether or not you have what it takes to make a difference? Ever feel like you’ve made too many mistakes? Ever feel beat down, persecuted, and mocked in this world for your beliefs? This Word is for you!

Title: Let Me Encourage You

Main Points:

1. You are CHOSEN

   1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

   2. Explanation: It’s simple really…

      1. “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9
      2. “You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.” - John 15:16
      3. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and onlySon, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
      4. “For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.” - Ephesians 1:4
      5. So in one passage Peter is saying “He chose you!”, but in the next he says “Not that any would perish”.

      6. I am comfortable in the tension, God is sovereign over all the world and He is omniscient and omnipresent. I’m comfortable with that. I believe that He draws, calls, justifies, and sanctifies. All I get to do is receive His great love and mercy in my life.

         1. I am comfortable in the tension. That He both chooses and allows us to receive His grace.
            3. Illustration: Adoption Day!
            4. On your adoption day, you did not choose God, He chose You! It was the best day ever!
            5. Application: So what? Now what?

      7. Why does this matter?

         6. The Trinity at Work!

2. You have a LIVING HOPE

   1. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

   2. You have a living hope and His name is Jesus!

      1. We don’t put our hope in temporary pleasures, but in the eternal living God!
      2. We don’t put our hope in things on this earth that rot, rust, and decay, but in the everlasting King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is never changing and always good!

      3. Set your mind on things above, your story is not over, you have a Living hope!

         3. You have an inheritance, this place is not your home!

      4. Heaven is your home!

      5. That is why when so many walk into church they say “feels like coming home.”
      6. The church is the body of Christ gathered, praising God and abiding in His presence, this is the closest to heaven we can get on this earth!
      7. In a broken and confused world, don’t let the division out there be the division in here. The problems out there should not be the problems here.
         4. Heaven is our home and the Kingdom of Heaven is our authority.

3. You are being REFINED

   1. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
   2. I’m not going to stay here because my wife already preached such a profound message on this topic, but I will set up the series by saying that we will be coming back to this many times throughout the series.
   3. If we are going to CLEAN HOUSE, then it is going to require some refining. Some being put through the fire. Some suffering.
   4. Following Jesus does not make life easier! But He does make life possible and He gives us everything we need in this Life! He is our refiner, like clay in the potter’s hands. He is molding and making us in His image.
   5. “Trials refine our character and they define our calling. - Ps Rich Wilkerson Jr”

Closing: