1 PETER 2:4-10
SOMEBODY SPECIAL!
One of the men who pastored this church was George Hall. In talking with many of you about him I have learned that he is somebody special! He was sympathetic, energetic, always there to help, and a man to be respected. Although he isn't perfect, he was and is somebody special!
One of the people some of you remember fondly is Dwight's mother, Pansy. Pansy was a faithful enthusiastic member, who liked to sing "I've got a Mansion just over the hilltop." She was an active part of the missions circle and attended services regularly.
And could she bake pie!" Pansy was somebody special.
Let me tell you about Ed. When I became Ed's pastor, another pastor had just hurt him, and I was told that he could be a problem. As it turns out, to this day I do not have a more faithful friend than Ed. When his pastor, he and his wife Janet knew exactly when it was time to take Dottie and I out to lunch because we needed encouragement. And since then they have kept in touch with us and been there for us through thick and thin. To my way of thinking Ed is somebody special.
I know it’s Sunday Night, but I’d like us to take a moment and greet each other.
So why did I have you shake hands now? I wanted those around you to shake hands with somebody special, you! If you know Christ as your Savior, you are somebody special! The passage before us, 1 Peter 2:4-10 shows us just how special you are!
1 Peter 2:9 sums up just how special we are:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
There are four things listed here that make you special. You are a:
CHOSEN GENERATION
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
AN HOLY NATION
A PECULIAR PEOPLE
A lot of times we get down on ourselves. We don't think well of ourselves. We get depressed about who we are, what we've done, and what we didn't do. We get angry with ourselves because, in our own estimation, we have failed. If we grasp the fact that we are somebody special, we will actually improve our behavior and our level of success in living the Christian life.
WE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION or A CHOSEN PEOPLE
Vs. 4 - If you know Christ as Savior, you are special because you are one of God's chosen people. You came to Christ by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
And now because you came once to Christ, you can continue coming! You came to Him for salvation, and now you can come to Him whenever you have a need!
Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And, as God's chosen people, we can always get closer to Christ than we already are!
Alexander MacLaren said: We know not how close to His heart we can lay our aching heads. We know not how near to His fullness we may bring our emptiness. We have never yet reached the point beyond which no closer union is possible.
And notice to whom we are coming in verse 4. We are coming to a living stone!
My friends, as a chosen people, we come to a living stone. Christ is the rock, the cornerstone! He is alive! He rose from the dead and is living now! He is not only alive but gives life.
Vs. 5 - You and I who know Christ as Savior become living stones! We become part of the building that He is building, His church! Every believer, no matter when and where He lives is part of a Spiritual house that we call the church.
You are special my friend! Jesus said "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
You are one of the living stones that is part of the building project Jesus calls His church.
Now not everyone is this special. Not everyone is part of His church. Not everyone is one of the chosen. Why?
Vs. 4 - Jesus was disallowed by men. The Jewish leadership of His day rejected Him and His claims of being the Messiah! Even though men rejected Him, Jesus was and is God's chosen one and precious to God as the Son.
Vs. 6 - The Scripture quoted here is Isaiah 28:16. Buildings in that day would have cornerstones. The cornerstone was a massive rock that rested on the bottom of the building. Everything else was measured based on this stone and was built upon this stone.
The Lord Jesus is that corner stone upon which every believer rests! And those who are trusting in Jesus shall never be confounded. That means they will never be put to shame!
Vs. 7 - To the believer Jesus is precious! To the disobedient or disbelieving he is still the cornerstone. He is still the only way to God! This is a quote from Psalm 118:22
Vs. 8 - Those who do not believe in Christ stumble over Christ!
He is the "stone of stumbling and rock of offense."
A person who hasn’t consciously trusted Christ is still stumbling over Him! You are not one of God's chosen people!
If you have trusted Christ, you are built upon Him, and you are one of God's chosen people.
This morning you can rejoice if you have trusted Christ and are one of the chosen. Or, this morning you can come to Christ, and become one of God's chosen people.
YOU ARE SOMEBODY SPECIAL IF YOU KNOW CHRIST
YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION
YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
Vs. 5 - In Old Testament days the priest was the go between man and God and between God and man. He bridged the gap caused by sin. He bridged the gap by offering sacrifices.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our great high priest. As such He offered the ultimate sacrifice for sin, HIMSELF! There is no other sacrifice necessary to bring man to God.
However, those who know Christ as Savior are priests! You are just as much a priest as I am a priest. And our job is to offer up Spiritual sacrifices through our Lord Jesus Christ!
You are somebody special. You are a priest who is to offer Spiritual sacrifices! So what do you have to offer?
The greatest gift Jesus gave was Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Because we are privileged to be priests we can offer ourselves to God as sacrifices as well.
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Because we are privileged to be priests, we can also offer the sacrifice of praise!
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
There is nobody else more qualified to praise God than the one who has experienced salvation.
Psalm 47:6-7 - Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Revelation 4:10-11 - The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Hebrews 13:15 calls praise a sacrifice. It will cost you to praise.
It will cost you time. It will cost you words. It will cost you attitude. It will cost you thoughts.
When we sing choruses at the beginning of the service and when we sing hymns, these should be means by which we are praising God for just how great He is! And let's not stop with the worship service. As God's priests let's sing praise to Him all day long!
Our prayers are another sacrifice which we are privileged to offer to God.
Revelation 8:3 - And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We are also privileged to offer the sacrifices of good works and sharing with others.
Hebrews 13:16 (NASB) - And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
It will cost us time and effort to do good.
It will cost time, effort and finances to share.
That leads us to a final thought on Spiritual sacrifices - we are also privileged to offer monetary gifts in Christ's name.
Philippians 4:18 - But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
You are somebody special!
A CHOSEN GENERATION
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
AN HOLY NATION
As you know, I’m a veteran I want you to know that I'm proud to be a veteran, and that I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I appreciate all the privileges I have experienced living in this free land.
But I also want you to know that I enjoy a greater privilege than being an American. I enjoy the privilege of being a citizen of heaven!
Philippians 3:20-21(NKJV) - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
As citizens of Heaven we are part of a holy nation.
The word holy means to be set apart.
As Christians we have the privilege of being set apart for God.
We have the privilege of living a holy life for Him!
1 Peter 1:15-16 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
We have the privilege of speaking holy words for Him.
Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
You are somebody special:
CHOSEN GENERATION
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
AN HOLY NATION
A PECULIAR PEOPLE
This word peculiar doesn't mean strange.
According to Kenneth Wuest, "The Greek word speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God."
We are God's special possession.
When you own something special you take care of it.
Dan owns a Chevy II that he has restored. He takes excellent care of it. It doesn't go out of the garage in bad weather. It is a special possession.
How much more are you and I the special possession of God!
How well does He take care of you as a special possession?
It you know this passage, recite it with me.
Psalm 23 - The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
That's how special you are.
If you know Christ, you are somebody special
A CHOSEN GENERATION
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
AN HOLY NATION
A PECULIAR PEOPLE
Is there a purpose that goes with these great privileges. There is!
Read Vss. 9-10 and comment.
Our Daily Bread - "As newsman Clarence W. Hall followed American troops through Okinawa in 1945, he and his jeep driver came upon a small town that stood out as a beautiful example of a Christian community. He wrote, "We had seen other Okinawan villages…down at the heels and despairing; by contrast, this one shone like a diamond in a dung heap.
Everywhere we were greeted by smiles and dignified bows. Proudly the old men showed us their storehouses and granaries, their prized sugar mill."
Hall said that he saw no jails and no drunkenness, and that divorce was unknown in this village. He was told that an American missionary had come there some 30 years earlier. While he was in the village, he had led two elderly townspeople to Christ and left them with a Japanese bible. These new believers studied the Scriptures and started leading their fellow villagers to Jesus. Hall's jeep driver said he was amazed at the difference between this village and the others around it. He remarked, "So this is what comes out of only a Bible and a couple of old guys who wanted to live like Jesus." Source Unknown
My friend, this is what happens when each Christian realizes that he or she is somebody Special!
Do you know Christ! Have you been born again?
Then you are somebody special!
Have you not yet been born again?
Come to Christ by faith right now and become Somebody Special!
CHOSEN GENERATION
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
AN HOLY NATION
A PECULIAR PEOPLE - GOD'S SPECIAL POSSESSION