Needs

“So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows” 

~Matthew 10:31 HCSB

Jesus sends out the twelve and tells them they will suffer for His name sake.  He tells them don’t be afraid of the people, but to fear the Lord.  He tells them they are highly valued, in fact the hair on their head has been numbered. He tells them everything will be exposed, things told in the darkness will be heard from the housetops.  God knows all and nothing happens without Him knowing it.  

God is overall and knows all.  He knows what we are going through because He experienced it Himself.  Jesus is fully God and He is fully human, He knows what it means to suffer.  He also knows what it means to be betrayed, let down by others and so much more.  He also tells us He will never leave us and He is always with us.  So no matter what you face in life, Christ is with you.  You are worth a great deal to Him and He loves you beyond anything we can understand.  So our part is to trust Him with our lives.  Trust Him with our children, trust Him with everything.  He will meet your needs no matter what those needs are.  We all have needs weather they are physical, emotional, or spiritual Jesus can meet them all.  

Lord thank you for your Love.  Lord thank you for knowing and meeting all my needs.  Lord help me to trust you more, help me to give everything to you.  Lord I believe, help my unbelief.  Amen

Words Again!

“The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.”  ~Proverbs 15:28

Reading through Proverbs is like looking through a fine art museum, it dazzles the senses.  When King Solomon became king, he asked the Lord for help.  The Lord told him he would give whatever he asked for.  Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people.  Because of this God gave him wisdom and a whole lot more.  Solomon was the wisest man to ever live.  It was Solomon who wrote most of the Proverbs, so we can learn a lot from his words.

As Christians we should think before we say anything.  I know I have a tendency to say something and as soon as the words flow past my lips, I wish I could push them back into my mouth!  The problem is we can’t, once something is said it is out there for everyone to hear.  That is why a wise person thinks before saying something.  But for a Christian it is more than that.  We are ambassadors for Christ, we represent the King.  As ambassadors of Christ we should never say anything that would make Christ look bad in the eyes of others.  In other words never say anything that would take from the glory of our King, who died for us.   

Lord guard my lips!  Lord please let the words I say to others be pleasing to your ears.  I love you Lord and I would never want to take anything away from your glory, Lord help me be a good ambassador for you with my words!  Amen

Glory

“The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.  Fire came from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar.  And when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell facedown on the ground.” 

~Leviticus 10:23b-24 HCSB

Aaron and his sons have been consecrated and the tent of meeting is also been purified.  All is ready for the people.  Moses has them all gather at the entrance.  Aaron makes a sin offering for the people.  Aaron blesses the people and the glory of the Lord appeared before all the people and a fire from the Lord came down and consumed offering and the people surprised let out a shout and fell to the ground! 

Imagine seeing that with your own eyes!  To see the glory of the Lord and your first reaction is shock and then awe!  Look around you the glory of the Lord is constant display.  Open your eyes to a sun setting, the beauty around us “declares the glory of the Lord”.  See the glory in a relationship God has placed in your life, your spouse, and your children.  See the glory in the word of God, that we can read.  See the glory in prayer, that a we have a God who hears us.  So much glory surrounds us, BE IN AWE!  Be forever thankful! 

Lord open my eyes!  Open them to see your glory that surrounds me.  Lord most of all let me see your glory and let it rise in me awe of who you are!  Lord I am thankful for everything.  Thank you Amen!        

Cleansed

"Moses slaughtered it, took some of its blood, and put it on Aaron's right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot”.

~Leviticus 8:23 HCSB 

Moses was consecrating the tabernacle.  This was a serious event and blood of animals was shed to cleanse and prepare Aaron and his sons.  They would represent the people of Israel before the Lord.  They were anointed with oil to set them apart for this purpose.  Also Moses slaughtered a ram and took the blood and touched Aaron’s right earlobe, right thumb and the big toe of his right foot.

Moses did this to cleanse Aaron for the purpose he would serve.  His ears were set apart to hear the confessions of the people.  His hands were set apart for the touching of the people offerings and his feet for standing on holy ground.  We too are entirely set apart for the purpose and will of God by Christ. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7 Through the shedding of Christ blood we have been cleansed from sin and set apart for His glory, for which we are to live our lives.

Thank you lord Jesus for your cleansing blood!  That through your sacrifice I have forgiveness and eternal life. Lord help me to live a life worthy of this call!  I Love you Lord thank you! 

Home

“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” ~Acts 28:30-31 NIV

Paul made his appeal to Caesar and after an adventurous journey to Rome he arrived and was allowed to rent a house and await his opportunity to make his plea to the emperor.  Staying there he welcomed all who would come to see him.  He shared Christ boldly and without hindrance. The book of Acts closes with this scene.  If you look you can almost see the white picket fence and dog running around in the front yard.

We know that wasn’t the case he was under house arrest and in his last days we know he was in chains in a Roman prison and was executed.  But for this brief time Paul was able to share Christ with whoever would listen and I can only imagine what that was like.  We also have a short time to open our homes and our lives to invite people in and share Christ.  Share His love and compassion, share His forgiveness.  Share Christ today with someone, practice the gift of hospitality and share what God has provided for you.  

Lord open our hearts up to others.  Help us to build relationship with other and most of all help us to share Christ with others.  Put people in our paths that need to hear about Christ and need to know about His love. 

Sermon: Be Holy 1 Peter 1:13-16

 Sermon can be heard here

Grace v.13

We continue this morning in 1 Peter and begin a journey in light of the “Living Hope” of the first twelve verses.  For me I read these verses in the light of grace.  I don’t think you can fully grasp the words of this letter and especially “living holy lives” without the light of grace and its full understanding.

Grace is something I have just begun to understand and I will spend the rest of my life pursuing it.  In the simplest terms grace is favor, or kindness shown to another.  In the Bible, God takes grace to entirely different level.

Grace of the Bible is God’s unmerited favor towards sinners.  It involves the forgiveness, salvation, regeneration, repentance and the love of God.

If you spend time looking at the first twelve verses of this letter, Peter carefully lays out the details of God’s grace to us.  Verse two he asks that “grace would be multiplied to you”.  He told us the prophets looked for and talked about “the grace that would come” and here in verse 13 he says, “set your hope completely on grace.”  

Paul echo the same thoughts Ephesians Chapter 2:1-9

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-- not from works, so that no one can boast. ~Ephesians 2:1-9 HCSB

Paul also said, “But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace”. ~Acts 20:24 HCSB

At the end of his life Paul tells Timothy, “You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” ~2 Timothy 2:1 HCSB

Grace is the key to living holy lives and it has to be central to our way of thinking.  As we go through these verses I hope this thought will become clearer to you. 

“Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.  But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1:13-16

-Be Serious  

Be serious, be sober minded, and be self-disciplined!  Peter starts with our state of mind, our attitude which will determine our actions.  Have you ever seen that poster that say’s “attitude is everything”.  It’s so true and Peter feels the same way. 

Peter is telling us to be clear minded.  We are not to be influenced by the anything other than the gospel.  We must avoid anything that might affect our thinking.  We are not to be physically drunk or drugged. We are to avoid mental intoxication—addictions—anything that would keep us from being spiritually alert.

Living in America I almost think this impossible at times.  We are blessed with unprecedented freedoms and at times I think they work against us.  We are obsessed with entertainment and possessions that rule our lives.  In the last 60 years we have gone from necessities meaning food and shelter—to necessities meaning the internet, cell phones, big screen TV’s, cable, government retirement plans and health care.  These are now people who consider these things basic human rights!     

We live in a country that will spent 25 Billion on video games and 213 Billion on sports…plus all the money spent on movies, television, and cell phones.  We are a nation of distraction, cell phones, texting, social networks dominate our lives.  All the while we spend less time in prayer, less time reading our Bibles, less time in relationships.  We are drunk with the world around us and we desperately need to sober up!

We need to get back to basic disciplines of our faith, scripture, prayer, both private and cooperate, building relationships in Christ.

-Be Alert    

We need to be alert!  This verse is really saying “gird up your loins” which just sounds funny to the modern reader.  But it is an ancient custom of gathering up ones long robes, by pulling them up between your legs and tying them around your waist.  You did this so you could run, so that you could work or walk faster. 

So Peter is telling us to ‘gird up the loins of your mind”, get ready for thinking ready for action.  I remember as a kid the teacher would tell us to put on our “thinking caps” and all of us would pretend to snap our chin straps, same thought applies here.  We are to be ready to think and serious, because there are great expectations!

-Great Expectations

We are to get ready to focus all of our thoughts, all of our energy, all of our hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  The blessings of Christ return!

Hope here is expectation—it is not ‘wish for’.  It is confident expectation—the word fully implies a very confident and eager expectation.

We are to live expectantly waiting for the Lord’s return and the grace of his coming—that is when we will see the grace given to us in it’s entirely from start to finish.  Knowing this should drive us to living holy lives before God, as obedient children.

Children v.14

We are God’s children!  Pause here for just a moment and think about that reality.  “Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children” 1 John 3:1  As God’s children we are to be obedient children.

-Obedient Children

This thought is foremost on Peters mind when he wrote this.  He had written already in verse two we are set apart by the spirit for obedience.  Our lives are to be characterized by our obedience to Christ.  Peter would also be thinking about Jesus who said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." ~John 14:21 NIV

We are to be obedient and we are not to be conformed.

-Not Conformed

The pattern of our lives is to be different from those around us.  Not conforming, means no longer following the ways around us, we are not to fit the mold.  Paul says it this way in Romans 12:2:

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. ~Romans 12:2 HCSB

Let me share how I read this verse “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.”  I have to read this verse in the light of grace, for which we are to completely rest our hope in. 

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see”

Grace has opened my eyes, by grace I am a child of God.  By grace I am no longer ignorant.  I know Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to a cross by my sin—He became sin, who knew no sin—He bore my sins on the cross, by doing so I have forgiveness. 

If that isn’t enough by His death and resurrection I am justified before God and I am an heir to a throne, I will eternally be with Christ by putting my faith in Him.  We cannot even begin to understand what awaits us in heaven.  All of this is accomplished by the grace of God.  I did nothing to deserve any of this; by faith he just gives it to me as a gift…a gift.

So to go back to sinning, to go back to the former ways of life when I lived blinded by sin and ignorant of God and His grace, I would be turning my back on Christ!  I would have to turn my back on everything he has done, and would have to intentionally live ignorant of His amazing grace!  I would be denying Christ for sin—we should weep at the thought, as Peter did at the hearing of the rooster crow!

For the Christian to turn back to sin in this way is the highest tragedy in all of heaven.  The mare thought should shatter our hearts in our chest and we should run from sin with all of our might!    

That is why Peter brings us back in verse 15 with a strong rebuttal by saying “but’ and a reminder of who has called you!

  

Called v15

-Who has called you?

You are not to live in your former ignorance, your not to continue in sin because the one who has called you is holy and we are to pattern our lives after Him.  He is reminding us that it is God who initiated our salvation; it was God who called them out of the darkness into fellowship with Himself.  This calling is to live with God and to be like Him.

God is holy this means he is separated from sin and devoted to seeking His own glory.  We are too be separated from sin and devoted to a life of righteousness that brings glory to Christ.

-All is all 

We are to be holy in all of our conduct, all is all!  We are to live lives that are transformed, every movement, every thought, every action is to be set apart for Christ.  This is to bring glory to Him and to make Him known to the world around us. It’s not just avoiding outward sin, but it is also seeking Him and His holiness in our lives. 

Why ?? v.16  

Why are we to be alert, and sober minded?  Why are we not to be conformed and ignorant?  Why are we to be holy?  In this verse Peter takes us to the call to holiness of the Old testament by quoting Leviticus 11:45, but he only uses the last half of the verse the entire verse reads “For I am the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy. ~Leviticus 11:45 HCSB

“Because I am holy”

Reading this verse in it’s entirely sums up this entire message this morning.  The people of Israel were slaves in Egypt and cried out to God who delivered them by His grace.  He freed them to separate them from the rest of the world and to make His name known to the nations.

Christ has freed us from the slavery of sin by His grace and he has separated us for the purpose of making the name of Christ known to the world.

That is why we are to live holy lives and the way we do that by placing our hope completely on the grace of God.  

   

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

 “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.  But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1:13-16

Done

Since he would not be persuaded, we stopped talking and simply said, "The Lord's will be done!" ~Acts 21:14 HCSB

Paul is finished with his third missionary journey and is returning to Jerusalem.  Along the way back he stops and meets with friends.  All of them know that once he gets to Jerusalem we will be arrested and handed over to the Gentiles, the Romans.  The Holy Spirit has told them this and they are warning Paul, begging Paul not to go.  Paul though is also being led by the Spirit to go there and to give his life if needed.  All the weeping starts to break Paul’s heart and they realize Paul is being send by God.  They all stopped talking and all agreed, “The Lord’s will be done!”

Paul’s confidence in the leading of the Holy Spirit was witnessed by those around him.  Once this was realized they supported Paul.  Our church leaders need our support.  They have been called by God to accomplish the difficult task of leading people in the will of God.  As church members we need to recognize this and put our personal likes and dislikes aside and to support Pastor’s and other church leaders who are being led.  Church leaders can help by being open and honest, to show their hearts and by being an imitator of Christ.  In other words lead by example, as Paul did. 

Lord help us to follow your lead.  Help us to support each other and especially our church leaders who are called to lead.  Give the gifts needed to carry out your will.  Give us the strength to be God pleasers and not people pleasers. Most of all Lord, You’re will be done! Amen     

Examined

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ~Acts 17:11 HCSB

Paul left Thessalonica and arrived in Berea and began to share the gospel with them.  The Bereans heard the message and examined the scriptures daily.  They searched to test what Paul was saying and if it was true.  Paul commends them for being opened minded.  The result was that many of them put their faith in Christ.  What does this say for us today? Search the Scripture!  We live in a world that is full of false teachings.  We have seen other religions and false teachers use this information to take away from knowing Christ.

The solution hasn’t changed and is needed more now than ever, read you’re Bibles!  We need to be as the Breans and examine the Scripture daily to see if what is said is true. That means reading the whole Bible and not just the verses that support what you think is right.  Reading the Bible through and making it a part of our daily lives allows Scripture to give us a Biblical world view and allows us to live a life that brings glory to God and not ourselves.

Lord thank you for your Word.  Thank you for giving this guidance in our lives and burden us with the desire to know it.  Help us to know your Word and apply it to our lives to glorify you by making Christ known!  Amen     

Rejoice

Then he escorted them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

~Acts 16:30 HCSB

Paul and Silas is in prison singing and praying when the entire jail shook, the doors open and their chains fell off.  The jailer woke up and thought all of the prisoners had escaped.  In those days if a prisoner escaped the jailer was executed, so he immanently went to take his own life.  Paul seeing what was happening shouted “do not harm yourself”.  The jailer escorted them out and asked Paul and Silas what must I do to be saved.  

“So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." The message of Christ was shared with the family and all were baptized.  The family took care of them, washed their wounds, feed them and rejoiced.  They rejoiced because the entire family had believed.  A night that started with the thought of suicide ended with salvation.  Christ changed everything.  Christ brings us from death unto life. Through Him we have salvation, eternal life and a reason to rejoice!

Lord thank you Jesus for salvation!  Thank you for dying for me and taking my sin upon yourself on the cross.  Thank you for giving me life.  Lord help me live a life worthy of this call, a life full of thankfulness and rejoicing.  Most of all Lord may other see you in me.  Amen

Daily Reading:  Acts 16-18; Proverbs 12:1-14

Words

“When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise” ~Proverbs 10:19

I have a case of foot in mouth disease, in other words I have a unique way of saying something I shouldn’t.  Words hurt and where there are many words eventually one of them is going to leave a mark.  I have seen this over and over in my life because I am a person of many words.  I get wrapped up in the sin of self and have to make my opinion known regardless of the outcome.  I would like to think I am getting better at this and in some ways I am and other ways I haven’t.  

When we have to share our words over someone else feelings we sin.  Our words are powerful and can hurt worse than sticks or stones because words go to the heart.  Such strikes over time kill and harden their mark. Christians should use their words to build up and strengthen those around us.  Words should never be used to bully or belittle others.  So how do we become wise?  By thinking about what we say before we say it.  I have a sign on my desk that I have had for a long time and it’s turned towards me.  It says, “Be sure brain is engaged before mouth is put into gear”.  I think this is wise counsel!   

Lord help me today to use words wisely. Help me to use them in such a way to build up those around me and make you known in a glorious way. Amen

Daily Reading:  Acts 13-15; Proverbs 11:16-31

Sermon: Living Hope: Salvation 1 Peter 1:10-12

Sermon can be heard First Baptist Church of Rocklin Website


Two years ago I had the opportunity to go to Disneyland.  I grew up with Disney, as most of us did.  Every Sunday night at 7:00 PM was Disney movie of the week.  I would look at the castle and think about how big it was and what a wonderful place it must be.  While stationed in Germany I went to the castle where Mr. Disney got his idea for his castle. Neuschwanstein is an amazingly beautiful sight, one I will never forget.

So you can image the expectations I had for the Disney Castle!  When I got to Disneyland I was looking for the castle, I though it has to here somewhere.  Then I saw it, it was so small!  It’s a miniature castle! I was disappointed.  Have you ever had that experience?  Something just didn’t meet your expectations?

Well this morning’s passage is just the opposite.  The prophets of the Old Testament had no idea what the fullness of the Messiah—the fullness of His grace poured out on the world would have looked like—they only had ‘clipping’ of the bigger picture.  

This morning we will finish this section of scripture the “Living Hope” and move to how the gospel should impact our lives daily.  So for now we are looking at verse 10-12 and again look at our reasons for hope and rejoicing no matter what our situation is.  

There is a recurring theme in the New Testament.  As I continue to study and look at the teaching of the apostles, I see them again and again take us to the cross of Christ.  Back to the gospel, back to the resurrection, back to the work of Christ for a lost sinful world.  

This section of scripture is exactly that, Peter laying out the work of God the Father, through the Son, with the Holy Spirit, working together to bring salvation to those who did not know God.  This is God taking the initiative, God providing the way for us to experience His love for us.  

Trust in Christ   

We learn through Christ to trust in this “Living Hope”—we trust in a Christ we cannot see, we love Him.  That love is based on a spiritual relationship through the work of the trinity.  

The more we learn about Him the deeper, this love grows.  As we face life’s trails we learn to depend on Him to see us through.  God want us to grow in Christ, to bring out the very best in us to the bring glory to God.

Warren Wreisbe said this, “Satan want to use life’s trials to bring out the worst in us, but God wants to bring out the best in us”

We are to trust in Christ, have faith in Him and His work in us and through us.

Rejoice In Christ 

By doing this, through time and maturity we learn to rejoice in Christ.  As He gives us victory through the various trials we face, we learn to rejoice.  This rejoicing is deep, unspeakable, inexpressive and glorious.  Words will escape us in describing Christ.  I pray that we would all experience Christ in this way!

Experiencing this we taste some of the future glory.  Charles Spurgeon said this, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul”

Peter is urging his readers to exercise love, faith, and rejoicing, so that they may experience some of the glory of heaven in the midst of suffering.

Which brings us to our verses this morning.  To set this up we have to understand Peter wants his readers to understand the spiritual blessing they have now are greater than anything that was ever envisioned by the Old Testament prophets or even the angels.      

Salvation v.10

-The Prophets

The Old Testament prophets understood salvation somewhat.  It was a mystery to them for the most part.  They had glimpse of it as God filled them with the Holy Spirit and guided them.  Like looking in a key hole into a room they tried to understand what was happening behind the door.  

They prophesied to the people about a situation they were about to face in the near future, or something they needed to know now.  At the same time God was pointing them to the future event, a future grace, a future salvation.  

The prophets were moved by this and they actively searched for more information---this searching, this investigating and inquiring can be likened to a miner looking for gold.  They mined the scripture for clues—they left no words undone and yet they could not connect all the dots.

They searched their own writings and the writings of other prophets—the scriptures of old—Peter doesn’t say every where they looked—but they understood that their writings where also for some future event that would take place.  

 All the while the Holy Spirit was pointing them to Christ—when Peter talks of the Spirit of Christ he is most likely referring to the Holy Spirit doing just that making Christ known to them, pointing to the coming Messiah. In fact we see this all through the Old Testament.  Just as the New Testament points to Christ’s return.

-Suffering Messiah

One of the parts probably most misunderstood by the prophets was the idea of the ‘suffering Messiah”.  Isaiah 53, Psalm 22 and the earliest Genesis 3:15 all present the suffering of the coming savior.  

Peter talks about this several times once in this letter:

He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth; when reviled, He did not revile in return; when suffering, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to the One who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounding you have been healed. ~1 Peter 2:22-24 HCSB

And in a sermon at the Temple Complex, after healing the crippled beggar at the gate beautiful and the people were amazed:

When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked to have a murderer given to you. And you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you. "And now, brothers, I know that you did it in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. But what God predicted through the mouth of all the prophets--that His Messiah would suffer--He has fulfilled in this way. Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ~Acts 3:11-19 HCSB

-Glories

Knowing all of this brings us to the “glories that would follow”, Christ resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of God the Father, the coming of the Holy Spirit into believers and the building of the Church, His coming again, the glories of his coming kingdom that has no end.

The glories of his grace and mercy poured out on the world.  That by His suffering, His sacrifice on the cross, I could stand before God justified, forgiven of my sins.

By putting my faith in Christ and by the repenting of my sin I could by grace have salvation.  That in Christ I am given a new hope, a living hope, a lasting hope, a hope that can never disappoint. All of this to bring glory to the Father, all of this is truly glorious!  In fact it is so amazing, the Angels want to know more! 

All of this was predicted and sought after from the beginning.  Reading through the Old Testament we get to see this coming Christ, I get excited when I come across a verse or story where I can see Christ in the passage and so did the prophets. 

-Revealed by the Holy Spirit v.12

All of this was being revealed by the Holy Spirit—who was stirring the hearts and pointing the prophets to Christ

The word used here is “revealed” and it always refers to God’s activity and never human activity.  So God was giving them prophesies about the Messiah and the idea that what they were saying was more than something for the people at that time—but also a future prediction. 

This future prediction of the gospel was being revealed to Peter and the Apostles—this mystery was salvation was for everyone. 

The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ~Ephesians 3:3-6 HCSB

   

The mystery of the Messiah was being made known by the Holy Spirit—the Gentiles are co-heirs through the gospel—the gospel wasn’t just for the Jewish people but for everyone.

This gospel was being made known by the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven and fills every believer. 

“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation--in Him when you believed--were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” ~Ephesians 1:13 HCSB

  * We all have the same measure of the Holy Spirit—He didn’t half fill some and fully fill others—we are all filled and sealed.  This filling is the down payment of your inheritance for the redemption of your soul. 

-The Living Hope

The living hope—the glorious hope—Jesus Christ.  Who was given to us by the Father—by his great mercy, to give us a new birth through the resurrection and into a inheritance that is imperishable, incorruptible and unfading—kept in heave for you. 

Christ who never leaves you, guides you through various trials to build your faith—Christ who you love though you have not seen Him.  Christ in whom you rejoice in with inexpressible words—because of the salvation of your souls.

This salvation was made known through the prophets, who knew of a future grace, but could never have imaged it in its glorious fullness.  This gospel has been revealed to you through the Holy Spirit.

This incredible gift the Angels look at with awe—and want to see more of—this is the Living Hope we are to share with the world to the glory of God!