A PRAYER FOR GODS PEOPLE
March 10, 2002 PM
Sermon Outline
1 Pet 5:10,11
INTRO: Though Peters immediate concerns were of those first Century saints who would see the tribulation of which Jesus spoke in Mt 24, the words of these two verses are certainly an apostles prayer for the Lords people in any age ... for those whom He has called ... unto ... eternal glory. So many years before Jesus had said to Peter, When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Lk 22:32). Surely, the nature of this first letter and especially the words of this prayer are involved in Peters accepting responsibility in the Lords challenge to him. Its a powerful little prayer so full of promise. Consider A Prayer For Gods People.
I. THE GOD TO WHOM PETER PRAYED
A. The God of all grace - 5:10a
1. God has been variously described
a. Rom 15:5 of patience, of consolation
b. 2 Cor 1:3 of comfort
c. 2 Cor 13:11 of love, of peace
d. but in a way those descriptions only partially tell the story
2. the God of all grace is the full picture
3. grace describes Gods favor to us in all of His gifts patience, love, comfort, peace, etc.
4. but one thing above all is on Peters mind ...
B. Our call to eternal glory through Jesus Christ - 5:10b
1. eternal glory ... our future inheritance (1:3,4)
2. but it is only possible through our precious Lord ... Jesus His substitutionary death (2:24)
3. to love the unlovable ... to give for the unlovable that was the nature of Gods grace so, Gal 1:15
4. how were we called? 1 Thes 2:12,13 and 2 Thes 2:14
C. The consequences of the call? - 5:10c
1. after that ye have suffered for a while
2. no New Testament writer for a single moment deceived readers about the conflicts of conviction
3. suffering, sacrifice are simple facts of discipleship
4. but no New Testament writer offered hopelessness ... a while we move from experience to experience knowing were heaven bound, growing toward that destiny daily
II. THE PETITION OF PETER FOR US - 5:10d
A. Firstly, the four points are promises
1. Peter is not hoping or wishing God would provide
2. the form of the words is that of a certain promise
3. Peters saying, You can count on God
B. Make you perfect
1. to make fit, complete - to mend, restore
2. a word commonly used for setting a fracture
3. used in Mk 1:19 for mending nets
4. putting all of this together, God takes that which is broken and makes it useful for His purposes! 2 Tim 2:21
C. Establish ... you
1. fixity, immobility to make firm as granite
2. two things may happen in conflict ... collapse or greater conviction!
3. until our conviction is tested we do not ruly become toughened, tempered unmoveable
4. 1 Cor 15:58 ... Eph 6:13,14a ... Stand therefore
D. Strengthen ... you
1. to impart or to fill with strength
2. how exactly? not any direct, tangible inpouring
3. the immediate things of which I think? strengthening of forgiveness, of the church, of the word, of prayer, of worship ... of the presence of the Lord and the anticipating of heaven
4. I love to read 2 Tim 1:7!
E. Settle you
1. to lay or give foundations
2. isnt this really what God does for us? He gives us foundation for our lives
3. and, friends, we need - come what may - to rest on that bedrock of faith in life every day!
4. we ought - in this crazy world - to be the most settled know what were doing and where were going people there are
CLOSE: What marvelous things flow from Gods grace. Yes, to God be the glory ... and the power forever. He is truly worthy to be praised.
Cecil A. Hutson
10 March 2002