Jesus is the Living Stone. Christ is our Salvation
John 14:6
Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Cornerstone – laid the foundation of the building.
Christ is the Cornerstone and we are the living stones build upon Him.
We are the Holy Priesthood and our priority is ministering to God.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true act of spiritual worship.
Our position as a Holy Priesthood must continue despite the circumstances we are in.
We are being put through the furnace of affliction. It will reveal our true character.
Pain and anguish can tempt a person to turn back, to give up, to totally just surrender.
Our compromise to sin hinders us from rising up.
Isaiah 28:17
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.
We align our lives to His plumb line of righteousness.
The greatest testimony that we can give to others is a live changed, a live transformed.
We are called to be kings and a royal priesthood. As kings, we rule and reign with Christ. We are in the place of authority.
Psalm 2:8-9
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron sceptre. You shall dash them to pieces like pottery."
God is preparing His people through this season of darkness.
We need to be the light to the nations.
We allow the presence of God to instil in us this enlargement and move forward and be a blessing to those out there.
One stone cannot build a house or even a wall.
There is a strength in unity. In times of crisis, we need one another.
1 Peter 1:13-2:3 New International Version (NIV) Be Holy 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[c]
And this is the word that was preached to you.
2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
John 21:15-17 New International Version Jesus Reinstates Peter 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”(A)
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(B)
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”(C)
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”(D) He said, “Lord, you know all things;(E) you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.(F)
John 14:2-4 New International Version (NIV) 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
There is a secure future for you because you are born again. You have a living hope. You have an inheritance in heaven--imperishable, unblemished and unfailing.
Our God is a good God.
His community of believers should be people who walk in the fear of God.
Therefore, live accordingly to this person of God who is holy, just, loving and who saves.
God's life ought to shape us into His holiness. Be holy.
2 Peter 3:11 New International Version (NIV) 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
Holy means set apart from the world but at the same time set apart to God. Find out what is God's will and obey it. A holy life is a life that is lived doing God's will.
1 Peter 1:13-16 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) Consider soberly what God has done for you 13-16 So brace up your minds, and, as men who know what they are doing, rest the full weight of your hopes on the grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ reveals himself. Live as obedient children before God. Don’t let your character be moulded by the desires of your ignorant days, but be holy in every department of your lives, for the one who has called you is himself holy. The scripture says: ‘Be holy, for I am holy’.
Be holy in our physical life, mental life, emotional life, social life and spiritual life.
1 Corinthians 6:19 New International Version (NIV) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Treat our body with reverence.
Let God change the way we think in the area of renewing our minds. Let our feelings be filled with grace, for the pure in heart shall see God.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 New International Version (NIV) 23 This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Live our lives in truth, lovingkindness, justice and righteousness. That is the pathway to holiness. We could live life in this manner if we know God's character.
"If you think you can walk in holiness without keeping up perpetual fellowship with Christ, you have made a great mistake. If you would be holy, you must live close to Jesus." ~Charles Spurgeon
God will judge both the good and the bad. He will judge out deeds and actions.
He has redeemed us by the blood of God so we ought to repent of our sins of either commission or omission.
Proverbs 3:7 New International Version (NIV) 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
Choose the fear of God and walk in the fear of God.
The Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts. And the expression of that is we love one another.
"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." ~ Saint Augustine
Love is action. It is not just a feeling.
Live holy lives.
Live reverant lives. Live lives in the light of God's judgment.
Live loving lives.
Grow and mature.
During his time as a prisoner at Auschwitz, Viktor Frankl found that those around him who did not lose their sense of purpose and meaning in life were able to survive much longer than those who had lost their way.
"The prisoner who had lost faith in the future – his future – was doomed. With his loss of belief in the future he also lost his spiritual hold; he let himself decline and become subject to mental and physical decay." ~ Viktor Frankl
When we look beyond the suffering, we see what is ahead. When we look to that future, we are able to go through the suffering.
Hebrews 12:2 New International Version 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus,(A) the pioneer(B) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(C) scorning its shame,(D) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(E)
Grow up in the goodness and grace of God.
2 Peter 3:18 New International Version (NIV) 18 But grow in the grace(A) and knowledge(B) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(C) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.(D)
"[T]he Beatitudes contain the dynamite of the Holy Ghost. They explode, as it were, when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do so. When the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of these Beatitudes we say — “What a startling statement that is!” and we have to decide whether we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words. That is the way the Spirit of God works." ~ Oswald Chambers
1 Peter 2:21-24 New International Version (NIV) 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a]
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 4:19 New International Version 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will(A) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Eternal life begins with faith.
Only Jesus paid the price for your sins so that you could be the recipient of that salvation.
To God’s elect,(B) exiles(C) scattered(D) throughout the provinces of Pontus,(E) Galatia,(F) Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,(G) 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge(H) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(I) to be obedient(J) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:(K)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.(L)
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(M) In his great mercy(N) he has given us new birth(O) into a living hope(P) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(Q) 4 and into an inheritance(R) that can never perish, spoil or fade.(S) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,(T) 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power(U) until the coming of the salvation(V) that is ready to be revealed(W) in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice,(X) though now for a little while(Y) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(Z) 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness(AA) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(AB)—may result in praise, glory and honor(AC) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(AD) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(AE) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.(AF)
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(AG) of the grace that was to come to you,(AH) searched intently and with the greatest care,(AI) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(AJ) in them was pointing when he predicted(AK) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(AL) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(AM) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(AN) Even angels long to look into these things.
Romans 15:13
New International Version
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace(A) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(B)
