Closing Words (Part C)

There are those people that are just full of grace. If you ever met someone and say bad about that person.

They always make you feel welcome.

They never overstay their welcome grace to hate or not to hang will grace us to not hate those who offend us natural man this is what what you expect me to do was only natural. That's right, you spoke your brother, it was natural that was not spiritual grace gets us home to heaven. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue through his message called closing words in first Peter chapter 5 dose needs. We hiding and I don't want to give my position away and for the first 20 minutes with total Bob suggests capitalizing on then everything went home just like this kind nice to bed and I have some beans anyway.

I stayed awake and I watched a draft to this day. You tell I'm very proud of myself here. Humility can we get the back that later levels in the universe. This verse, it was an accomplishment that kind of pride to go back and see you guys scratch bunch of losers know I didn't do that and what I say to you I say to all watch because your adversary the devil, Peter would recall the devil one speaking through him. And Jesus calling him out in front of everyone, how humiliating hunted what could you imagine Andrew his brother, going Peter he sent you the devil I heard him I was there. Don't try to deny it, get behind me Satan you're not mindful of the things of God but of the things of man.

What how much is in that Peter knew that Satan also asked for him those more. Luke 23 Jesus said, Simon, Simon, you know, any repeat your name as with any parent that is something serious coming Simon. Simon indeed. Satan is asked for you, that he may sift you as we and of course what would you say at that point, I know what I'd say and what did you say when he asked for me. I have a vested interest in this. So Lord goes on, but I prayed for you that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren, so he knows something about the works of the devil. When he says because the adversary your devil. He also saw the devil gobble of Judas Iscariot saw that he heard Jesus say watch and pray less you enter into temptation. Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

So watch.

He says he walks around like a roaring lion is on the prowl lion's roar. Once you've heard it once you know always know it, seeking whom he may devour. But get this, he can't devour everyone not because he doesn't have appetite enough, not because it is not there's not enough room because God has strengthen his saints. 20 was telling Peter I prayed for you. You going to be victorious you going to return your brethren and then you've got work to do and he's doing it, he is strengthening his brethren, Satan, the predator devouring others to feed his hatred but he can't devour everyone will hold Kenny not devour as I said, those who have set a watch verse nine resist him because you can't kill that would been nice but can't resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world right at the Hebrews says remember the prisoners that the change with them. Those who are mistreated yourselves are in the body also don't lose sight of this brotherhood.

The suffering that we endure so resist him. Any other suggestions for fighting the devil is the only one I know that works, you will still take some hits, but without the resistance you will be gobbled up. God resists the proud we are to resist the devil, resist the devil, but flee youthful lusts, you can't. You can't really resist that doing a run from it as Joseph gave us an example steadfast. That means for as a firm commitment I'm I'm not going to negotiate, I'm going to stand best I can. Satan has one target that he continually aims for you and I and that is our faith to break it down if you cannot kill it, which you will try to do if he can just ruin it and he does a good job. If you're not watching. He says in the faith to faith, never contrary to truth tonight will be discussing the pattern and the presence of God. The pattern in the presence. The presence was the tabernacle, but it had to be according to the pattern that God gave Moses just can't make up well you know what I don't like the whole goatskin thing on the thing I want what I was thinking was this nice silk. You just can't do that, and many try and so they end up with either the pattern, but no presence of the presence and no pattern. They either have the have a mess is what I'm saying they they feel like they have God with them, but is not according to God's will is not with them or they just a mess or leave them for trying to preach this evening sermon before we get there and then I had the night off, we don't leave them in together up the right knowing that same sufferings are experienced by the your brotherhood in the world. The persecution that was expanding throughout the Roman Empire. I do believe Peter is physically in ancient that ancient area of Babylon will cover some of that some don't believe it. And they're wrong.

Of course whenever they disagree with me you know that the Satan attempts to destroy the church through Tara and he will dissent attempt to destroy you on an individual level can get to the church and try to get you to destroy you through Tara. Second Thessalonians 2 for the mystery of lawlessness.

Don't try to figure it out. After a point, is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way, that he who restrains this mystery of lawlessness is the Holy Spirit and when the rapture comes the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn, not absent, and the church will no longer the true church will no longer be the apostate church which is being developed now. Which is more than ever, globally the apostate church will remain. Thus the woman rides the beast. Verse 10 what may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. After you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you grace for living grace.

For thine grace to deal with the penalty of sin, grace to deal with the power of sin. What is grace well theologians of struggle to define it with words close. The closest I think we can come as it is undeserved kindness from God, but grace again is one of those things it has to be worked out. It's worked out and we show it to someone else by withholding retaliation and by releasing gifts and blessings to others.

Grace is a big deal. One of the best illustrations as if a policeman pulls you over and he says you were speeding but I'm not going to give you a ticket. That's mercy is withholding a justified punishment, but then he says is matter of fact I've got two tickets to the ballgame. I like to give you box seats like back home late. That's grace. And that is also something that I like to receive and am amazed at sometimes I can pull it off. Monica Wickham badmouth the Holy Spirit says he's never shown grace through me as he gets the glory.

But I know something about grace and I think it is so unnatural to us and the character of Christ that it would. It has to be like any other great attribute of Christ. It has to be practiced to be developed. There are those people that are just full of grace.

If you ever met someone is and his essay the bad about that person. They always make you feel welcome.

They never overstay their welcome grace to hate or not to hate will grace us to not hate those who offend us, the natural man this is well what do you expect me to do was only natural.

That's right, you spoke it, brother. It was natural that was not spiritual grace gets us home to heaven, he says, who called us by his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, Peter keeps reminding them in the face of persecution about the glory of Christ Jesus. It is serious serious step back to lose sight of the revealed character of Christ as it is given to us in the Scriptures.

That's how cults are born. That's how heresies and apostasy begin to take place in lives when they lose sight of the character of God, full of grace and truth, and we beheld his glory, John said he says Peter does in verse 10, after you have suffered for a while was nothing he could do to stop it.

So rather than curl up in a corner he was going to do what he could to brace them for it, and reminds them that this will pass. Later, after this persecution may be 40 years or so there will be another strong persecution come their way. The church Jesus wrote to a church he wrote to the messengers of the church now, when you go to a service that was a good message because of the messenger for the messengers of the seven churches in Revelation's are not the spiritual angels. They are the pastors who deliver the message and so he singles them out.

Whatever the flock is doing wrong. He addresses the pastor sister the angel of the church in Ephesus to the end of the church at Smyrna Smyrna who was not going to receive rebuke Smyrna and Philadelphia. He said this. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Telling I don't like suffering.

I don't like humidity. I don't like mosquito bites. I do not like suffering. I don't know how I made it this far. As I read these words and I just say Lord you know I don't like suffering.

I don't know if you need to hear the goes back to things that you don't need to hear that I'll be driving home thinking about spent 20 minutes on Revelation 210. Talk about your suffering. Anyway, in an attempt to identify with you. Of course, indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

What kind of faith that Jesus think that church had where he could stand up through his messenger and tell them they were about to have a train wreck and be slaughtered. That's what he does. We know of no protest from churches. Smyrna continued being Christians as to this day as it has been with Christians persecuted through the ages. They continued to be Christians.

So Peter says. May God perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. That is a benediction. He is putting on them the outcome of persecution should you survive it physically.

May you be established, mentally, spiritually, verse 11, he says to him be glory and dominion forever and ever amen is an outburst.

There he doesn't sort of air to him be the glory and all etc. etc. this is action-packed because this Jesus, Peter see you and I read about Jesus. We haven't seen his face. Peter saw him before he was glorified and after he was glorified. So when he says to him be glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen Soto I have my repertoire of Christian moves that can match that doxology. As you've seen him to maybe not with your eyeballs but you seen him.

If you are born-again you seen the risen Lord, you know him. No one can take that from you.

You want to trash it. That's on you but if you if you are born-again you have seen him very unlikely or going anywhere and you can say when you are preaching the gospel, you have the same surge of emotions that says to him be the glory and the dominion he is my ruler. I am not ashamed to call Christ my master is everything to me. Verse 12. He's now in the state the ends is ended. His letter now he persist postscript by savannas of faithful brother as I consider him and savannas whose writing the stances. Thanks Peter, no problem. Since I have written to you briefly because he knows Paul's letters longer, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. Now savannas is loaded. The longer form of silence is the same Silas from the book of acts that was called a prophet in the church but was he spoke the word of God not always predictive prophecy goes with that New Testament. This Silas was one that was beaten at Philippi with Paul and with the wounds on their back. They made their way to Thessalonica and they established a church there is a very good job is the same Silas who traveled with Paul often is mentioned in his letter.

Second Timothy chapter of second Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul savanna sent Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians.

There is in here he is now years later with Peter Thessalonians, being one of the earlier Christian writings that we have so there's been a decade or so since so Venice was with Paul and took those beatings and he still serving. Of course now. Peter's first letter is written in classical Greek whoever wrote whoever wrote the letter not authored it. Peter authored it but who wrote it down the amanuensis he knew his Greek, Peter did not have that level of green second Peter is not as well done.

So this is why that it is in the classical Greek. Unlike the second letter because savannas is the one writing it and, apparently, not only did he write the letter but he delivered the letter to the churches in the areas of Pontus, where he was dispatched and so he says by savannas of faithful brother as I consider him. I have written to you briefly and this some faithful brother man, how, how could you get a higher endorsement than from the apostle Peter, and of course Paul says I written to you briefly is always more to say because there's always more to do, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God which you stand. That's the objective. What we what we trying to do here stand in the grace of God in the face.

Whatever is hurled at us encouragement for those suffering suffering what happens if we don't stand in grace. I haven't read this since James but an old Puritan John Owen. He wrote this hundreds of years, will not that many hundreds, but a few hundred. It is in many places a lost labor to seek for Christianity among Christians wetness caving commentary on dead churches and dead Christianity. He says he got a work hard to find Christianity in places where they say that Christians SON Peter says I'm exhorting you and test exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand what John Owen was talking about those who want standing in this. Thank you Lord that many have been due and are standing in disgrace.

But that is a good a good warning to us all. I don't want to be in that number when the Saints go marching and I want to go marching in, I do not want to be left out, and I do not want to be left out here of the Christian life proclaiming Christ in verse 13 he says, but she was in Babylon elect together with you, greets you and so does Mark.

My son now this word Babylon, which the Bible students. If you know really gone back and forth with some believe it was a codeword for Rome I don't see why I was he covering up only by Norman Rome. The Nero has spies everywhere. They find a way to Christians were and they just have throw Dragnet out and round up and see what they get that. I don't think that was it at all symbolic of the Christians in exile throughout the Roman Empire as a fair suggestion, but it's rather redundant. I think as Paul said, I think my judgment is right, the ancient city in Mesopotamia known as Babylon, which at this time in history was really just a small town.

I think that's where Peter was. It was a still Jewish community.

Peter was sent to the Jews to preach Christ at the Paul did not want to know.

And Paul said I must get to Jerusalem for the Passover. Why I thought your Christian because the opportunity to preach the actual Passover of Christ Jesus to his people. That's just a side note, so I mentioned that Peter seems removed from the persecution in his writing is not a lot of it would going through it kind of a feel to it and will this would explain it that that well I'm I'm I'm I am outside and the father part of the Roman Empire, which it has not yet trickled down to. He will come back in and to Rome and then he will be persecuted. So Mesopotamia, of course, there were Christians or Jews from this area of the world in acts chapter 2 and the church was born. And that's how the gospel would've made its way there in this earliest stages. If we had to search for. He says the elect together with you the elect in context.

In the end times. The electors are the Jews, but during the times of the apostles, the audience call the elect was the church. Jesus said that such tribulation is world is not known that if possible, even the elect would not survive. But if they elect being the Jews what they will because of divine interference. They greet you. So does my son Mark at some point, probably earlier market already penned his gospel Peter has is likely the contributor is not younger Christians. I don't know if you understand what I throw in these little tidbits about Mark wrote the gospel. He probably got it from Peter because there little things inside the story that come would give the details. The signature of Peter. You may say boring, but this is your foundation would you take this away and then how can you believe anything else.

There are those that have tried to attack the Bible in this post kind of little things that repel their attacks. So don't sell them short. I the only words that I speak appear that can be dismissed. I'm brokenhearted to say on my jokes, but the tidbits from Scripture, therefore, valuable they are. They have been fought through so heavily that they've shut the door on protesters who don't know what they're talking about. You can go online and you can find out you know when was Peter monitored and you will get all sorts of wrong information that does not agree with the timelines given to us clearly from the Scripture. You can find those as a Peter was the first pope and you do the math you set the timelines from their declarations and what the Bible has to say and you refute them soundly. So this big news Mark one that ran away from service because it was too hard at the time, and then both Paul and Peter bring him back and he had a cousin named Barnabas wouldn't let them go.

Would to God. When you view failed, you will have people in your life like that he'll end up going back. Also Paul will write to Timothy said it didn't say bring Mark with you, but that won't happen yet that second Timothy now verse 14 were almost done. Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen for the practice of reading others with a kiss was universal at that time, but people like me rose up against it put an end to that the see how about a nod thumbs up or your handshake if you must, but still common in some cultures, but largely died out in the Western world and I am very happy about that. So no matter though how the customs and cultures change the form of greeting love remains the same.

That's the idea, he saying show the love and and and and that culture now. They're going to be wiseguys at the end of the service that's going to pucker up a Rick Gorman. We won't let us you got nothing to do a mean peace to you all in Christ Jesus says to the born-again and when he says amen. Again, this truth with firmness is a saying this is something I made up. He said the beginning we not follow cunningly devised fables.

We made known to you Majesty in the coming truth with firmness premises so we closed the first letter of Peter and you will start the next one yet not for us. We are on right side move.

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