Sunday Morning June 2, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: “Requirements For Revival” [#1]
SLIDE 1
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
1 Peter 2:4-10
Introduction:
1. Wouldn’t you like to see revival break out? You are probably thinking, “I would love to see revival happen, but the chances of that happening are about the same as someone giving me a million dollars.” We really don’t anticipate a revival happening and that just shows the great need for revival. We as Christians have become apathetic.
2. Many of us don’t even really understand what revival is. We think that it is a time when our church invites a guest speaker and musician down for extra church services. It is also a good time for us to get excited about Jesus for a few days, but within a month everything is back to normal. Is that revival? Absolutely not. Revival is simply a renewal of your commitment to Christ. If you really want to see revival break out you must stop waiting for it to happen with someone else and ask God to start revival in you.
SLIDE 2
3. One of the most used verses concerning revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14 and we will be dissecting this one verse over the next several weeks as we study the “Requirements For Revival”.
4. This morning I want us to focus on this phrase: “If my people, who are called by my name”. There’s been many studies done that talk about the way you see yourself determines to a large degree the way you act and react in life. This is no new discovery. The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Let me ask you this question this morning, “Who do you think you are?”
5. In 1 Peter 2:4-10 we find out what God says about His people. He mentions five characteristics of what you are if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ.
SLIDE 3
Ø “You are a chosen people…”
Ø “You are a people belonging to God…”
Ø “You are living stones…”
Ø “You are a royal priesthood and holy nation…”
Ø “Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
6. In verse 9 we find that all of the old titles of God’s people from the Old Testament now belong to us as Christians. Each of these phrases deserves a full-length sermon, but this morning I want you to simply notice that our text is saying four things about God’s people.
SLIDE 4
AS A PART OF GOD’S PEOPLE…
I’m Important
1. Most of us spend our entire lives trying to earn acceptance. We want to earn it from our parents, peers, co-workers, family, etc…
2. Would you agree that people do crazy things to be accepted? Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to fit in? When the “cool” kids dared you to do something that was stupid or dangerous you would do it anyway because you desperately wanted to fit in.
3. We love that feeling, the feeling that “I’m important. Someone has chosen me and accepted me.” When you are chosen that does tremendous things for your self-esteem.
4. Our text says, “You are a chosen people. You have been chosen by God.”
5. Christ has accepted you and there’s no condition listed there. It’s not based on your performance, on something that you earned. You’ll never deserve it. God simply says, “I chose you.”
SLIDE 5
I’m Worth Something
1. Our text says not only are you important, but also you’re worth something. How much do you think you’re worth? I’m not talking about your net worth. I’m talking about your self worth. Don’t ever confuse your valuables with your value as a person. You can be rich or poor but it has nothing to do with your value as a person.
SLIDE 6
2. What determines value? There are two things that determine value in life: 1) It depends on what somebody is willing to pay for something and 2) It depends on who has owned it in the past.
3. Based on these two things, what’s your value? Ask yourself “Who owns me?” and “What was paid for me?” You’ve been bought and paid for by Christ. You belong to Him. How much are your worth? Jesus paid for you with His life; He bought you back from the devil. God exchanged His own Son for you! The cross proves your value. God says I love you so much that I gave Jesus’ life for you. That means that we must be mighty valuable.
4. Our text uses an illustration to show us our value. God is having this building project and you are part of it. He’s building this stone building that represents the church, the family of God, and you’re one of the stones. God is building His church. The foundation and cornerstone of this spiritual building is Jesus Christ.
5. By the way, what are you building your life on? Make sure it’s on a solid foundation. Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. Jesus is the Chief cornerstone. He is the One who fits everything together in the building. You are worth something. God gave His son for you.
SLIDE 7
I’m Useful
1. Verse 9 also says that we are a royal priesthood. God says I’m a priest. This is telling us that the two benefits that priests have are now available to everyone who is a believer.
SLIDE 8
2. In the Old Testament, priests did two things: 1) They had the right, privilege, and responsibility to go directly to God. They could pray to God, talk to God, worship, and fellowship. Everybody else had to go through a priest. 2) The priest had the privilege and responsibility of representing God to the people and ministering (serving) to the needs of other people.
3. Those are the very two things that are true of you when you become a believer. 1) You have a right now to go directly to God. 2) God says you have been gifted for ministry to serve other people. Every Christian is a minister. Anytime you’re using your talents and gifts to help others you are ministering.
4. Why does God save us and then not just take us to Heaven? Because we are saved to serve Him. A non-serving Christian is a contradiction. God saved us for His holy work.
5. You say, “How do I know what my ministry is?” You look at your talents, your gifts, and your abilities. You look at how God is shaping you and you use those talents and gifts to help other people. Every time you do that, that’s called ministry. Please understand that each person is necessary to the body of Christ. Each one of us is a stone in this building. If you take out just one stone, you have a problem. If I don’t use my talents and spiritual gifts, you get cheated. If you don’t use your talents and spiritual gifts, everybody else gets cheated. We are all necessary and important.
SLIDE 9
I’m Forgivable
1. The text also says that you have received mercy. Some of you believe that whenever you’re having problems that God’s getting even with you.
2. God doesn’t hold grudges.
3. We are told that we have been made holy in the eyes of God.
4. That means that when we stand before God, we are holy and clean. We are pure. Is anyone in here holy and pure? Of course not! Jesus died for our sins so that through His sacrifice we could be washed clean and be able to stand before God.
5. Christians, we are not perfect. We are forgiven!
SLIDE 10
ARE YOU ONE OF GOD’S PEOPLE?
Conclusion:
1. Christians, as we seek revival we must understand who we are and Who we belong to.
2. On our own, we are worthless and sorry; but through Jesus Christ we are important, worth something, useful, and forgivable.
3. Are you one of God’s people? If you are, you have no excuses. God has equipped you for all that He has called you to be and to become. You are God’s kid. It’s time to start acting like it!
Note: This sermon is based off of a sermon outline by Rick Warren at Saddleback Church (Pastors.com).
