Continuing our series from First Peter, this post is a summary of the most recent sermon preached at Morningside Baptist Church (MBC) by Pastor Dave Sowers. The audio of the sermon can be found at the "Sermon Audio Podcast" link of the website http://www.morningsidebaptist.us/. Pastor Sowers pictured to the left. As much as is possible it is hoped that these notes honor both the intent and the content of Pastor Sowers' original message. Please compare to the sermon audio podcast.Currently you may be sending out yourself or receiving INVITATIONS to share in the joy of the glad event of a graduation or marriage. Announcements are sent out, invitations made, "come and celebrate the joy of the marriage of our daughter", or the "graduation of our son." Here is cause for happiness and we desire to share it with you our friends. Todays text is contains also an invitation to rejoice together.
1Pe 2:9-10
1Pe 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
OUR CONDITION:
DARKNESS:
We were in darkness, " hath called you out of darkness"
Isa 8:22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
Our condition without Christ is to be living presently in darkness. A darkness that we must be released from. And if we are not released then we will experience an eternal darkness.
WERE NOT A PEOPLE:
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
NOT RECEIVING MERCY:
Without Christ our condition was one of having no MERCY. We did not receive any.
Q. Is God obliged to show us mercy?
Q. Is God indebted to show mercy to us, to all?
Q. Do we deserve mercy?
A. No.
Q. What do we deserve? A. Judgment.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
To the end and for the purpose that we glofify GOD FOR HIS MERCY:
Rom 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
We were NOT MERCIED -- but now HAVE MERCY.
REJOICING GROUND:
1st Marvellous Light: "into his marvellous light: "
Marvellous defined as: click here
- Causing wonder or astonishment.
- Miraculous; supernatural.
- Of the highest or best kind or quality; first-rate: has a marvelous collection of rare books.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Rom 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Rom 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
2nd Part of a Chosen Race:
Deu 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
A chosen race who is a Holy Priesthood, a royal priesthood. Called to offer spiritual sacrifices: ie. ourselves, our bodies, thanksgiving and praise, the fruit of our lips, starting from the heart and coming forth from the mouth.
3rd Holy nation, ethnos, ethnic:
We are now part of a new dinstinct ethnic group with a unifying characteristic. Not our skin color, not our accent, our country but this --- HOLINESS.
A people for God's own possession: Belonging to God by, we Don't belong to the world, to Satan, to ourselves, but to God. This was part of the reason for the cross.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
In addition to taking away sin by the cross we are purchased to belong exclusively to God.
LET THIS TRUTH SINK IN. LET THESE WORDS SETTLE DOWN INTO YOUR HEARTS.
Does it amaze you?
We were in darkness but called into marvellous light.
We didn't deserve mercy - yet he bestowed it upon us as a gift.
Chosen race, holy nation, his own possession.
Now we should ask: "Why did God do that?"
Was it to make us feel special?
Was it only that we should escape hell?
What reason does Peter list in verse nine.
SO THAT: We show forth his excellence.
SO THAT: We proclaim his excellence and make it known.
Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
PROCLAIM: clearly, with energy and conviction.
Bob Kauflin: "proclaim is to announce something officially, publically...Why God is SO GREAT,...what he has promised and accomplished"
Bob Kauflin goes on to write that "everybody is proclaiming some sort of message." What message am I proclaiming?
Proclaim the Excellency of God with all your being - at the center of who you are - of who I am let this be the focus.
Excellency: outstanding quality that shows god is the greatest being in the universe, god is worthy. This our job. It doesn't just belong to the star of heaven.
Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
So is this the message we proclaim? Do people around us hear this from us and NOT "I'm a pretty good person, God will accept me.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
We natually assume we are acceptable but we must acknowledge that we're not. There is nothing that we can contribute that would complete our acceptance with God most high.
God has already provided the one and only way, which is Jesus Christ.
Jesus died on the cross. Jesus lived a perfect life. Call on the name of the Lord and thou shalt be saved.
FOUR WAYS TO PROCLAIM GOD's EXCELLENCIES:
1st WORSHIP:
Worship, singing his praises, sunday school class, the preaching of the word, all that we do as we come together on Sunday designed to worship God and proclaim his excellencies.
Psa 29
Psa 96
John Piper: "worship is showing God to be blindingly glorious,...Limitless in knowledge...infinite in mercy...terrible in wrath..... and strong doses of truth" are needed to bring about "intense emotion" in the praise and worship and proclaiming of God's excellencies.
So in anticipation of coming together each week we need to be concerned to prepare our hearts, making them ready thru sober reflections upon our God, and serious consideration of the awesome privelige and the great duty of delightful, joyful worship.
2nd CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH BELIEVERS AND UNBELIVERS:
Give God the credit.
After talking with someone will they conclude that God is important to you. Will they have heard something of the excellencies of God.
Consider the man possessed with the legion:
Mar 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
Mar 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Mar 5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
We ought to get this paradigm into our hears.
3rd How we Serve and Work:
We ought to serve and work so that they would say "Wow, what a God they must have."
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
There is a connection between good deeds and glorifying God.
4rth Missions:
Psa 96
Psa 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
WE HAVE A GREAT GOD WORTHY TO BE PROCLAIMED.
By His grace and for His glory.
