Sermon Tone Analysis

!!!! Intro:

!!!! Snail Joke:

!!!! Have you heard the one about a man who heard a scratching noise on his front door?

He opened the door, looked down and saw a snail.

He picked up the snail and threw him across the street and into the woods.

Three months later he again heard the scratching noise on the front door.

He opened the door, looked down and there was the snail again.

The snail looked up and said “What was that all about?”

!!!! “What was that all about”

!!!!

As I go through a trial, small or large, my normal response is “what is going on” and “why”.

!!!!

More scars than skin on my back, foot run over by lawnmower, broke my leg 3 times, have a bad knee, spent 20 days camping on a deserted island rationing food and water (there was no drinkable water on the island), faced fire, bullied, picked on, mocked for my faith, at one stage my parents though I was literally being brainwashed in my faith, when I told one friend I was going to a bible study he had a image in his head that we sat around in a circle in a room full of candles chanting.

And some of you already know my testimony on what I faced from brothers and sisters in Christ.

That was my greatest trial because for me it was so unexpected.

But I am not unique, we could go around this room sharing the trials we have all faced.

!!!!

But more often than not when the trial is on the down swing or over my reaction is “what was that all about”?

It’s often not until later that God gives me an inkling, a small glimpse of one of the many reasons that trial occurred.

But the question begs to be asked, “is there a reason why the Body of Christ faces these things?”

Trials and Persecution.

Trials are temptations and unexpected troubles that come from an unexpected external source thrust upon us.

Persecution is a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate a people because of their religion, race, or beliefs (dictionary.com).

!!!! Just what should our thought process be as we face trials and persecution.

How should we react; what should we think; what should we feel?

How can we know “What was that all about?”

Well, God tells us in 1 Peter chapter 1.  Let’s read it through and then take a closer look.

!!!! 1 Peter 1

!!!!!

A Living Hope, and a Sure Salvation

 1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

 2according 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 yours in the fullest measure.

3Blessed 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,

 4to obtain an inheritance which is *imperishable* and *undefiled* and will *not fade away*, *reserved* in heaven for you,

 5who are *protected* by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready *to be revealed in the last time*.

6In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though *tested* by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 8and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

 9obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

10As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

 11seeking 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.

12It 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 preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look.

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit*, fix your hope* completely on the *grace to be brought* to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14As obedient children, *do not be conformed to the former* lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

 15but like the Holy One who called you, *be holy* yourselves *also in all your behavior*;

 16because it is written, "*YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY*."

17*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 on earth;

 18knowing that you were *not redeemed with perishable* things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

 *19**but with precious blood*, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

20For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

 21who 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*.

22Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, *fervently love one another from the heart, *

 23for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but *imperishable*, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

24For, \\          "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, \\          AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.

\\          THE *GRASS WITHERS*, \\          AND THE *FLOWER FALLS OFF*, \\     25BUT THE *WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER* " \\          And this is the word which was preached to you.

*A.

Remember the context*

Believers facing increasing trials and persecution.

There are three themes in 1 Peter, which all relate and interact with the other:

*Suffering, grace and glory*

Summary of below article

Rashin who is from Iran, her father was executed for converting to Christianity 18 years ago and now her brother is in jail and it looks as if he might be executed under new religious laws brought in this summer.

“A month (or so) ago, the Iranian parliament voted in favour of a draft bill, entitled "Islamic Penal Code", which would codify the death penalty for any male Iranian who leaves his Islamic faith.

Women would get life imprisonment.

The majority in favour of the new law was overwhelming: 196 votes for, with just seven against.”

Rashin herself is a Christian living in London married to another believer but is very worried about her brother.

You see the law aims at someone leaving the Islamic faith but her brother was raised a Christian by their father.

He never belonged to it in the first place.

But the President of Iran even though he didn't initiate the law mandating the death penalty for apostates, he has been lobbying for it.

It is an effective form of playing populist politics.

The Iranian economy is doing very badly, and the country is in a mess: The President may be calculating that he can gain support, and deflect attention from Iran's problems, by persecuting apostates.

The good news is the new law is not yet in force in Iran: it requires another vote in parliament, and then the signature of the Ayatollah.

But that could happen within a matter of weeks.

"Or," says Rashin, "it could conceivably be allowed to drop, were there a powerful enough international outcry".

*B.

Look ahead….

vs. 1-7, 13*

As believers we have good reason to be looking ahead.

We have been chosen to obey and be sprinkled; to be in obedience to God and be sprinkled by his blood.

To be sprinkled by his blood carries the implication of purification.

We are being sanctified, we are in process, we are being made holy, we are being made more Christ like, and we are growing.

In our salvation we have much to look forward to…

We have a *Living Hope*.

A hope that is breathing, active, carries vital power, brings real life to be enjoyed and touches the soul.

Our inheritance is *Imperishable*.*

*It can not be corrupted, it can not decay, it lasts forever, it is immortal

Our inheritance also is *Undefiled*.

It is unsoiled, it is not dirty, it is not unclean it is not deformed or debased and its force and vigour is not impaired.

It also *Will not fade away*.

It is perennial, unfading

Our inheritance is *Reserved*.

Watched, kept, preserved, held fast, it carries the sense of being perpetually maintained.

And we are *Protected* by God through our faith for salvation.

Protected: to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.

\\ \\ We are protected from the enemy and from ourselves.

All this aims us to a salvation to be* revealed *in the last time

1.    to */uncover/*, */lay open/*/ /what has been veiled or covered up

a.     disclose, */make bare/*

2.    to make known, make manifest, */disclose/* what before was unknown

2 Timothy 4: 17-18:

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and /that/ all the Gentiles might hear.

Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve /me/ for His heavenly kingdom.

To Him /be/ glory forever and ever.