R295 Experiencing God by Understanding Who We Are

We all could use some encouragement and modified it together today in the Bible-based printing of Dr. Don Wilton on this edition of The Encouraging Word experiencing God by understanding ER some self reflection and understanding something that all of us can benefit from starting with the woman in the mirror.

The man in the mirror. Then we look at and say okay God help me to know myself better so I can serve you today. Will had to first Peter chapter 1 Dr. Don Wilton well-known author evangelist Pastor and today as he teaches us to gain insight on how we have a closer intimate relationship with God by understanding we are as his creation. Another were also available for you 24 seven on our website TW online.org EW online.org now Dr. Don Wilton with me in your Bibles this morning to first chapter 1 first Peter chapter 1. I hope that you have a copy of God's word with you in a pencil in hand experiencing God by understanding who we all let me put that in the first person. How can I experience God by understanding who I if I was to awesome your question this morning. Do you understand your so I wonder what you would say you know some of us are very hard on now so and probably deservedly so. In some of us are very very soft on soups as the songwriter said it's hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way.

There is a lot to be safe for motivational speakers who go around the wound motivating people to do what they are able to do a better understanding of who they are. Sometimes a week and poor self image is the greatest enemy that we have writing in the later to the Hebrews, the writer to the Hebrews in chapter 2, put it like this. He said, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation that I was writing to Christian people and basically what he was saying to you and me as he was saying this you will never experience God in all of these fullness. If you don't understand everything that you are in the him if you don't understand everything that is being made available to buy could put it into layman's terminology enables us some time to say thank you Lord that I'm alive.

Thank you Lord that I have something to eat. Thank you Lord that I have a roof over my head. Thank you Lord that I live in America. Thank you Lord that I have such a wonderful church and I have friends and I have family and the Bible says my friend, if we are going to ask Arians God, we must understand we all in Christ Jesus. Because the truth of the matter is that God has made available to us all the riches of his grace, and when you receive God into your heart through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is as it were, that God says now that you have trusted Jesus Christ.

Now that you being redeemed, washed and redeemed by the blood of the lamb.

I am going to keep upon you all the manifold blessings that I have in store even for my own son Jesus Christ. They are going to become yours. I'm going to give you a full and meaningful life, and that you are going to be able to grow as a person in the way that I intend for you to grow as a person. You see, my beloved friends, ladies and gentlemen this morning. It is very possible to be a born-again believer and know the Lord Jesus Christ and get to go through life in reverse gear to go through life not making available to yourself all the riches of God's grace not met many Christians like I've made many Christians who do not avail themselves of the rich treasures of God's grace will I want to look at first Peter this morning just the first two verses look there with me and let's read first Peter chapter 1 and verses one and two Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and by sending who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father through the sanctifying work of the spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood, grace and peace be yours in abundance by the Lord writes his word upon our hearts. The apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

I believe touches on Sabin major things that God tells us about ourselves in these two verse Sabin major issues Sabin major availabilities Sabin major gifts that God has given to us. Sabin facts that we need to hide in our hearts and I'm convinced today beloved friend that until, as believers, we come to understand ourselves, not in terms of ourselves, but in terms of who we are in Christ Jesus. We are always going to short-range our experience of God number one number one. We are chosen by God. We are chosen by God, I want to start off in verse two, verse two, the apostle says to God's elect.

Verse two who have been chosen.

I love that. Don't you think that God has chosen me at that God has chosen you to very special thing to be chosen to be singled out in the Bible says that all people have been chosen of God. Red and yellow and black and why people are precious in God's time is a wonderful thing to be chosen.

We got a lot of choosing going on right now in our schools people being chosen to be cheerleaders being chosen to play on the varsity football team being chosen to represent the school been chosen to be a part of the school newspaper being chosen to belong to this club. It's a great thing to be chosen as I mean it just makes you very special there is nothing in the world that is more special than being chosen and care.

The apostle Peter says you have been chosen by God.

Just think about the Lord not me, Lord, and everybody runs around to congratulate you and the world and those that know you, they look at you and they say it's impossible. How could God ever choose such a what this condo as that person. How could God he would do something in the life of someone who doesn't deserve that. And yet the Bible says that by his grace reaches down from heaven and he has chosen me from before the foundation of the world. I want you to keep your finger right there in first Peter turned to second Thessalonians.

I love to hear those pages, wrestling, turn the second Thessalonians chapter 29 second Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse from verse 13 the apostle Paul talking to the church of Thessalonica is dealing with a very important issue in the church.

You know what it is standing firm taking a stand for God.

That's not easy to do. Is it not easy. It's one thing to be a Christian on Sunday morning. It's another thing to be a Christian. On Monday morning at the apostle Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica. He saying to these people.

I got the key that is going to enable you to stand firm. Could I perhaps paraphrasing my own terminology. What Paul was saying to these people always say to these people. Guess what, I believe that God has shown to me the way in which you can experience God not only on Sunday morning. But on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday.

This is what God says you can stand firm. You can stand up for what you know to be true. You can take a stand for Jesus. You can do for him on the playing fields of society and this is what he says in verse 13, but we ought always to thank God for you, brothers love by the Lord why because from the beginning God chose you. You are special. I have enjoyed in years gone by. Working in Chicago and Los Angeles and New York City and Detroit and some of the great cities of America. I remember preaching up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and I got up there about five that a thousand young people in the middle of my message the door open and about 20 gang members from downtown New York City walking they had boomboxes and radios and why they made the biggest noise I've ever heard disrupted the whole thing and I was scared to death and I remember preaching the word of God, and I remember saying. As I looked at the leader of that group. I want you to know that God is chosen you my friend, you see the whole gang mentality means that you been chosen to be a part of an inner circle and by virtue of that choosing. You are represented by and protected by the group that is chosen.

You and that's not in the Pocono Mountains in a place called Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. I'll never forget that gang leader getting up during that invitation. Walking down that and not knowing how to handle what was going on inside of him as tears began to stream down his cheeks and he didn't want anybody else to see and sewing together why.

Please keep away by hitting himself on the side like this is not he was trying to be cool in front of his friend and I remember that day how more and more of those kids and by the end of that service. 17 of those gangsters had given their lives to Jesus Christ and I remember how the spirit of God came down upon that place and it was old because we climb to an understanding.

My friend that if we are to ever experience God, we must understand that God has chosen number two.

We are known by God, not any chosen by God, but we are known by God. Look at verse two.

You been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father you want to talk to someone about who knows who talk to moms and dads. They know their children don't. In fact, I challenge anyone in this congregation gone tell some parents about their children. Are you going to middle a little you know that.

Or maybe you see a child misbehaving somewhere you think the child misbehaving.

I challenge you to go to the parents. I your son was misbehaving. Even if he was misbehaving. Parents don't like other people to tell them that God talk to grandparents.

I love grandparents grandparents will tell you that one of the difficulties of being a grandparent is not the love that I have from the grandchildren. It's the fact that they have to be careful not to interfere with the parents in terms of knowing about those children. There's a kind of line that's drawn in the sand. You know the Bible says my friends that one of the greatest things about experiencing God is that he has not only chosen us, but he knows us in John's Gospel.

He calls us peace.

She and he says my sheep know me by name, and I know them and they hear my voice, and we have an intimate relationship together.

So much so that if one of my sheep go astray. I'm going to put myself out to go and recover a lost sheep in those old loves us. Please forgive the interruption. Please don't go away Dr., be back in just a moment for the completion of today's message experiencing God understanding. I pray that you would know that the reason we stop it because Dr. Don insists I let you know we're here for you as we study God's words we gain insight to ourselves.

We also sometimes gain insight to areas that we need prayer for we would love to pray with you and for you not just during the broadcast.

But anytime day or night at this number 866899 word Chinatown store it yourself.

Would love to connect with you at 866-899-9673 or online@twonline.org that TW for the Encouraging Word online.org pellets.back in today's great teaching with Dr. Wilson experiencing God, understanding, and I want you to note in the third place he has redeemed us by his blood, we all read redeemed by his blood, looking at experiencing God by understanding who we all number one we ought chosen by God. Number two. We are known by God. Number three. We are redeemed by his blood.

What a wonderful thing to think that God by Jesus Christ here in verse two has let us know beyond any doubt whatsoever that we belong to him.

Look at verse two to God's elect to been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father for obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of his blood. If you turn over the page in my Bible you going to get up there to verse 18 and 19.

The Bible says will you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish and without defect. You may say to me today what' farm redeemed by his blood. How does that enable me to experience God well turn back with me very quickly turn back with me to second second Thessalonians. Again, second Thessalonians.

I beg your pardon, Hebrews, not second visit.

Hebrews chapter 10 just the two books before where we all Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 22. Have a look at what the Bible says about being redeemed by being sprinkled by the blood of the Lamb. Let us draw near to God there is experiencing God the writer to the Hebrews is talking about perseverance.

Living with God being drawn into the heart of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. Garrett is having our hearts sprinkled that is with the blood of the Lamb redemption to do what.

There is a twofold purpose in being sprinkled and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Number one is to cleanse us from a guilty conscience there is in verse 22, number two is to have our bodies washed with pure water. Now there are two things that happened here when we all washed and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. First of all, we are safe free from a guilty conscience are the Bible says all of us have a guilty conscience. All of us as soon as I'm done this before. How many of you have ever sin before raise your hand on your hands, not presenting right now. Why is that just some cute statement that I'm making tonight know the Bible tells us the Bible says all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

How do we escape. How do we find relief how we set free from our guilty conscience by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We cannot experience God unless we been set free.

But there's a second thing here. The Bible says we are not any claims from a guilty conscience, but we have our bodies washed with pure water, not purity and pure water right throughout Scripture is a symbol of the holiness of God. And so what is happening here is that the writer to the Hebrews is saying that we are not only set free from our sin in time now, but we are continually washed by the purity and the holiness of God through the fabric of the lives that we live, it means that our daily experience is an experience of God. Why because we all redeemed by his blood, we experience God by understanding who we all well who always who am I who always number one. We are chosen by God.

Number two. We are known by God. Number three. We are redeemed by his blood, number four. This is precious. We are sanctified by his spirit.

Look at verse two of first Peter five verse two first Peter you have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father. Garrett is through the sanctifying work of the spirit.

Now what does that mean folks you see the sanctifying work of the Spirit is the ongoing process by which you and I are safe apart to the work of God's grace I want you to turn back to second Thessalonians return the initially second Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13. Have a look at that verse again. Let's take a closer look at. He says here but we ought always to thank God for you.

Why brothers loved by the Lord because from the beginning. Number one God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the spirit you not, that is that is present continuous ongoing never ending with apologies to English teachers here this morning. It is present ongoing never ending continuous tense. You see, the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God is the ongoing cycle of the sanctifying movement of God in my life from the moment I'm born again until the time that I'm seated at the feast table of the king. It means that every day in every moment of my life through the indwelling of the Spirit of God. I am sanctified, I am safe apart. I made special and refine into, and unto God, I am made more like the Lord Jesus Christ every moment that I live because I am a recipient of the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God turn back with me very quickly to Corinthians 1st Corinthians funders. First Peter first Corinthians chapter 1, I will not go in preaching evangelism conferences and when I preach to preachers. I love preaching on this verse.

Listen to what it says. First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18. The apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth. He says for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing present continuous.

Never ending tense but unto those of us who are being so, it is the power of God, why did the apostle Paul cited why does the apostle Peter say what he says about the ongoing sanctifying work of the spirit of God in first Peter. The reason is very simple.

My friends because we are sinners saved by the grace of God and our Christian life is a journey, it is antics. This is experiencing God in all of these cleaners and all of these breaks.

Yes, there were many times that I wake up in the morning and I have not been obedient unto the heavenly vision. I have not live for God. I have letting down. I have problems at home are problems at work and everything is going wrong and get is the moment I wake up I'm reminded that I'm in him and because I am in him. I am a participant in the on going sanctifying work of the spirit of the living God and Bob that I have wonderful hope and wonderful joy as I experience God in my daily living. Number one, we are chosen by God. Number two will known by God number three redeemed by his blood, number four, sanctified by his spirit number five we are called to obedience.

We are called obedience verse two. Can you believe all this comes out of one verse folks is just remarkable. Verse two he says to God's elect who have been chosen through the sanctifying work of the spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ.

You see the apostle my friend was saying that we are not called to obedience to our own preference.

We are not called to obedience to our own way of doing things. We are not called to obedience to what I think or what you think. We are called to obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and frame when we come to grips with the fact that God expects us to do what God wants us to do. That's when we begin to uncover and unlock the keys to the kingdom living. That's when we begin to understand what it means to live and to experience God number six we are designated as strangers we are designated as strangers look back at verse one. If you don't mind that the apostle says I'm Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ writing to God's elect, strangers in the world. Strangers in the world. Now that would stranger is the same word from which we get the word alien.

It means quite frankly, beloved friends this morning. Different number seven. We are scattered as witnesses. We are scattered as witnesses to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout the world. You see, this morning we are the gathered church tomorrow morning, we become the scattered church.

What Peter is saying is that we will experience God, my friend. When we represented scattered throughout the world that is Dr. Don Wilton and that question are you ready to respond to him is something that he believes in passionately because when we hear the word of God we hear God speaking through his word and today through his messenger Dr. Don Wilton we cannot be the same God's word changes and I pray that you would open your heart to do that simple question Dr. Darcy to fill it out even more.

In these next moments but just be ready to respond to God. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that wanting to pray this prayer dear God, I know you love me very, very, and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross so that I might be forgiven today. I repainted myself. I confess my sin. And I invite you to come in my life in Jesus name I pray, if you prayed that prayer. Let me be the first one welcome to the family. This is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be help very important issues for me polis. We can hope to connect to the right place you can begin this wonderful journey. If you just gave your life to Jesus Christ. Welcome to the family of God. Maybe you rededicated your life will come home time to build some new relationships, some new structure in your life that will help you grow in your faith. Dr. Don has wonderful resources if you just gave your life to Christ to rededicate your life that he wants you to have for free just need to call 8668.

That's 866-899-9673. We also have a tremendous number of resources on our website@tewonline.org that's TE W online.org, and the one that everyone is asking about is this one Saturdays with building our new site is Dr. Wilson's brand-new book Saturdays with Billy Saturdays with daily pastured timeshares, heartwarming stories of times with Mr. Graham Billy's words changed John's life can change our lives.

One man leaned on God's grace and to return and discover their powerful friends W online.our times, tomorrow a powerful message from Dr. Wilton called experiencing God by living life. Let's encourage children to holdings in world is seemingly running headstrong away from holiness.

Tomorrow will gain insight from God's word from the book of first Peter right here with Dr. Don Wilton. I hope you'll join us