Crossroads Community Church

October 22, 2015 · 0 Comments

In fellowship we gathered to worship, praise and glorify God.
Pastor Don shared announcements and prayed, “Dear Father God, we praise you this morning for all the blessings you have given us, acknowledging what an indescribable, incomprehensible, all powerful, gracious, loving, merciful God you are. I pray that we will, excitedly, have our eyes and ears opened to your awesomeness. I pray all this in the name & authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.
Although we live in a world where much attention is focused on the disturbing news of man’s inhumanity to man, social injustices, natural disasters and economic hardships, for the born again child of God, followers of Jesus, we have much to feel blessed about.
Ephesians 3:6 tells us that it is God’s plan for us to enjoy the promise of blessings because we belong to Christ Jesus.
Blessings come in many forms and today we studied 1 Peter 1:1-6.
Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers who, too, may have been facing trials, misunderstandings, ridicule, harassment and even persecution.
The key to this scripture occurs in verse 6 “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”
In studying these six (6) verses we focused, particularly, on the following:
1) We can feel blessed about our Privilege;
2) We can feel blessed about our Hope;
3) We can feel blessed about our Inheritance; and
4) We can feel blessed about our Security.
There is no greater privilege than to be chosen.
In Ephesians 1:4, Paul states, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”
We prayed, “Dear Lord Jesus, I praise and thank you for the sinless life you lived and for bearing all our sins on the Cross.”
No one is too sinful nor too lost.
Jesus blood can wash away the sins for anyone who hears the call of the Spirit, confesses their sins, asks forgiveness and accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
“There is a change in the life of the believer! We may not reach sinless perfection in this life, but when Jesus saves someone there is a change!!!” That’s the fruits of the Holy Spirit working within you.
What a Privilege. We have been chosen, we have been cleansed and when we accept Jesus we will be changed. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
We have hope.
Jesus went to the Cross and died for our sins, but we know he rose again (Mark 16:9) and as Peter states (1 Peter 1:3) “Now we live with great expectation”.
This hope is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of things to come when we believe and have faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
We have an Inheritance.
An inheritance and a treasure that is kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:4
Our priceless inheritance is eternal life, which we receive from Jesus because of our relationship with him, and it will not fade away and cannot be taken away. What a Blessing.
We have Security.
If you have truly accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are truly saved and you are secure.
John 10:28-29, Jesus says “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.”
What a Blessing.
We are not saved because of or by what we do. We are saved because of what Jesus did and we are secure because of who Jesus is “And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation”. 1 Peter 1:5.
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Peter 1:6.
Have faith that when God begins something He finishes it (Philippians 1:6) and “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7.
Blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
May the Holy Spirit anoint these His words here this morning and “May God give you more and more grace and peace.” (1 Peter 1:2) Amen.