The Seed Blog: For Such a Time as This

Today... We are going to take an in-depth look...At the First Chapter of the Book of Peter...And without further introduction...You will quickly find out why...These Passages are literally "Custom Written"...For OUR GENERATION TODAY!...Because WE... RIGHT NOW, IN THIS COUNTRY...ARE FAST APPROACHING THE CULTURE AND PREDICAMENT...In which the recipients of this Letter found themselves!It is so easy... And natural... To wish we were not living in such...Anti-Christian... Angry, and difficult [...]

Today... We are going to take an in-depth look...At the First Chapter of the Book of Peter...
And without further introduction...You will quickly find out why...These Passages are literally "Custom Written"...For OUR GENERATION TODAY!...Because WE... RIGHT NOW, IN THIS COUNTRY...
ARE FAST APPROACHING THE CULTURE AND PREDICAMENT...In which the recipients of this Letter found themselves!
It is so easy... And natural... To wish we were not living in such...Anti-Christian... Angry, and difficult times! But we desperately need...TO COMPLETELY CHANGE OUR WAY OF SEEING...THE TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN...AND WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS...IN THE MIDST OF THESE TROUBLESOME DAYS...IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES!
The author of 1st Peter is none other than the very Peter...Who was the disciple of Jesus!
 
The one whom Jesus always named among His closest three friends... Peter, James and John 
The one that Scriptures suggest Jesus chose to live with during a period of His ministry! 
The one who stepped out onto the water in faith...And sank!
 
The one who had the nerve to reprimand Jesus when He said He would be killed! 
The one who first recognized and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah! 
The one who swore he'd never forsake Jesus, no matter what the others did...But denied Jesus the most vehemently 3 times afterwards...
 
The one rebuked by Jesus more than any other disciple...
And PRAISED by Jesus more than any other disciple! 
The only one whom Jesus mentioned by name, when telling Mary to proclaim His Resurrection to the disciples! 
The one so dangerous to Satan's cause…That Jesus Himself said that He was praying for Peter...
As Satan's attack sifted and purified him!
 
The one who left the Upper Room after being filled with the Spirit at Pentecost... 
And boldly accused Jesus' betrayers and murderers... 
Calling all to repent of their rejection of Jesus... 
And bringing 3000 souls to accept Christ that day! 
Peter writes this Book many years later...Near the end of his life...The most probably location is Rome... Because in the close of this Book… Peter says he's writing from "Babylon"
 
Paul is also there… But in a Roman prison at this same time! This Book, and 2 Peter… Both written near the same time...Were his last works just a short time before his death...Let’s see what Peter writes at such a crucial time of his life!
 
Exiles and Pilgrims... For Such A Time As This!
 
1 Peter 1:1 (NKJV)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
 
The introduction, Peter identifies the recipients of his Epistle..."The Pilgrims of the Dispersion!"
This introduction reveals why his Epistle was so important THEN… And why it is so important to us here and NOW! The Letter is addressed to Jews and Gentiles alike…In five different Roman Provinces…Located in Asia Minor, which is present day Turkey...The Greek word used for "pilgrim" in the opening here...Is parepidemos (par-ep-id'-ay-mos)...Meaning a foreigner living side by side with natives in a strange place!
 
Many of the Jews who were in Jerusalem and surrounding areas…Who had accepted Christ… During & after His Crucifixion…Were being persecuted and hunted for their faith in Christ...
And we’re FLEEING to other areas!  Some coming HERE!...And the many Jews… AND many Gentiles now as well!...Who had trusted Christ…Were strangers who thought and acted differently...
In any areas in which they lived now...They stood out immensely from everyone around them...
And were not really accepted anywhere they went!...Much like the Jews in their dispersion to Babylon 500 years before!
 
As we will see... They were in the beginning stages of horrid persecution...Even in these Provinces to which they had fled...It was during this exact time…That Emperor Nero burned Rome & blamed Christians! Paul was probably executed around the very time of this Epistle! So the recipients of this LETTER…Were living in a very real and growing time of trouble!...Because the people saw them as troublemakers & haters…And the ONE false accusation of Nero… Broke the dam!!...Giving them a reason to act on their growing hatred! It only takes one spark when the hatred is there!
 
By A.D. 112… Just 60 years later…Pliny the Younger, Magistrate in Asia Minor… That area!!
Wrote to Emperor Trajan…Asking if he had to, “Continue killing so many Christians…Or just certain ones!”….Meaning the persecution… And the growth of Christians…WAS IMMENSE!
 
TODAY... RIGHT NOW... WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON WITH THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WHO RECEIVED THIS LETTER FROM PETER!! We are in the beginning stages of hate and persecution...Our beliefs and lifestyles are causing...A VERY notable and serious rift...From mainstream society and even the laws of the land!
 
We are beginning to look and feel more and more...Like Pilgrims everyday ourselves...
Strangers now living in a land... Where they don’t fit in…AND ARE INCREASINGLY BECOMING UNWELCOME!!...And many true Christians…Are beginning to look more and more towards our True Home...Peter writes this letter to... (A.D. 60-65)…Encourage these Pilgrims in their situation...
Teach them how they should behave…During this difficult time...And to reveal the purpose behind it all…Can you not NOW SEE... How this Letter...Could be personally written & addressed to us right here today?!
 
1 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)
… elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
 
It's very important that Peter opens his Letter… To despairing people!! Reminding these Christians they have been "Elected" by God..."According to His Foreknowledge!" This does not mean that we are simply chosen…With no will of our own! If it did…We could take the same wording and reasoning to proclaim...That Jesus Christ had no choice in His own Crucifixion!
 
Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)
8  All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
 
1 Peter 1:20 (NKJV)
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world...
 
Jesus makes it clear that He has called to many...Who WILL NOT ANSWER IN THEIR OWN CHOICE...
 
Matthew 22:1-5, 8, 14 (NKJV)
1  And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2  "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3  and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4  Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5  But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

8  Then He (the King) said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy...
 
14  For many are called, but few are chosen."
 
Many had an invitation...But many of the called were not worthy... WHY?...BECAUSE THEY CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT HIS GIFT! Those who are CHOSEN... Are those CALLED…Who react in acceptance, thanksgiving & obedience!
 
THE true MEANING OF ELECTION...IS SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL AND COMFORTING!!
It means that God, in His Foreknowledge of...Our reaction to HIS Gift...Our lives lived for Him in love and obedience...Called us HIS ELECT… Before we were ever walking the earth!...And has a Plan laid out for us before we are even born!
 
Those of us who will choose to live for and serve Him...In THIS TIME AND AGE... THROUGH THESE CURRENT TRIALS... HE ALREADY HAS OUR COURSE LAID OUT BEFORE US!  We only need to step out into His Power and Plan!
 
Now get this next point... It is what we have begun to lack...In our comforts of the day in which we have lived our lives...In this introduction… Peter acknowledges their unsure position...In a life of rejection and resistance...And then immediately reminds them of the reality...OF THEIR TRUE POSITION…BEHIND ALL OF THE PRESENT CHAOS!...OF THEIR REAL WORTH AND PURPOSE...
HIDDEN BEHIND THE FAKE AND TEMPORARY VIEW...OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM!
 
THEY were the ones God had seen as His People... His Beloved Bride...Long before THAT DAY!
God knew they were there...And He had sanctified them... Set them apart...For obedience to His Work... There and then! Covered them in His Blood... Made them perfect and ready...FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!
 
They were NOT forgotten, hated, rejected minorities...As the world saw...They were chosen... Placed...  And made ready for THIS time!...Did you get that?!
We have to shake that overwhelming feeling...That we are all now unwanted, minority rejects...
That our time and place are FADING! That we are living in a progressively...Difficult and intimidating world as Christians!...And that we should drop our faith or hide out!
 
We were CHOSEN, CALLED OUT...And PREPARED for THIS TIME AND PLACE! This is not a time to be timid and intimidated...It is a time to accept that calling and revel in it... Rather than fear and reject it!
 
THIS IS OUR TIME...MAYBE OUR BIGGEST PURPOSE IN LIFE THUS FAR!
 
Remember when the Jews were becoming the hated minority...In the Persian Empire during the time of Esther? God had placed an ordinary, seemingly insignificant girl...In their midst as well... And Mordecai, her cousin... Sent her this message:
 
Esther 4:14 (NKJV)
14  For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
 
WE... Are not here by accident or chance either! We need to recognize our worth and purpose...
Through the REALITY of God's Plan... And not the current social view of our Faith!...And get excited, ready and BUSY... Not depressed and withdrawn! …Or else God will use SOMEONE ELSE to save His people! I for one... Want Him to use ME! …Are you with me on that one?!
 
Rejoice In What Is Coming Soon!
 
Now that Peter has reminded them of who they ARE in reality...Versus how they FEEL in their current circumstances...He goes on to tell them the REAL reason…They can have hope and joy... RIGHT NOW!
 
1 Peter 1:3-6 (NKJV)
3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6  In this you greatly rejoice...
 
“Living hope” / "In THIS you greatly rejoice!"  HOPE AND REJOICING IN WHAT?!
 
In a Salvation that is incomprehensible... And imminent!!! Peter wants them to focus on the reality of the Treasures that are about to be uncovered!! A time and place of amazement that is real...And that nothing we go through can take away...He wants us to realize THIS is our point of focus and hope...
Our reality behind this seemingly victorious horde around us! Stop and think on this for a moment...In the very near future... Very near now...Every person who is fighting to do away with Christ…Hating Christians, hurting others for their own benefit…Living completely self-absorbed... Tearing this world apart to get what they want...WILL VERY SOON SEE THEIR ENTIRE REALITY CHANGE!
 
The Proud mouths speaking hate against God's people…Will be closed! Defiant and hurtful people…
Will bow their knee before the King! The overwhelming flood of…Chaos, violence, perversity, lies a hate…Will be stopped in a moment!... By Jesus Himself!
 
Now... Peter has reminded them…Of who they truly are, even in their lowly state...And of the true, powerful reality behind the present dark situation...NEXT… He gives the mission…Behind what they are currently facing...And incredible strength to draw from in the struggle!
 
1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV)
6 ...though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8  whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9  receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
 
Peter says the trials they are now facing...The same trials we have now begun to face...Being misfits in the culture, being misunderstood...Our love and good intentions being represented as evil and wrong...
Our rights to follow Christ being questioned and withering...Are all present… SO THAT...The genuineness of our faith…not only be found to endure the fire...But that our faith might bring praise, honor and glory…To Our King at His Appearing… IN THE FIRE!
 
So... Tell me... How could our FAITH bring praise, honor and glory to Christ…AS it is tried in these times?
 
By showing resolve and peace…In the face of changes and potential loss...

Knowing it is for our King... Knowing what is coming soon...
Knowing what has been done for us!
 
By having joy in the chance to prove our love...
Rather than crying about how tough it is in life... 
By holding onto what we have in this world lightly...
And not being identified by or wrapped up in our lives here...
WE ARE PILGRIMS! 
By not compromising with the ways around us...
But staying solidly on the side of righteousness and love... 
By loving the people who are misled...Not returning hate...
 
By giving more time and attention to Him and His Word...
Than the messed up distractions of the world...OR WORSE YET… DIVISIONS OVER TRIFLING THINGS WITHIN!
 
By truly keeping our eyes, minds and hope…On what is shortly to come...
 
Rather than on what is around us! Now... In this last section we will explore today...Peter follows this challenge to purify our faith in trials…With an awesome reminder...That we are NOT ALONE... That we NOW belong to an ancient, amazing family...

1 Peter 1:10-12 (NKJV)
10  Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11  searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating, when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12  To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.
 
Peter reminds us that the prophets of old would be thrilled…To see the things come to pass which we count as history!
An event they could only prophecy and dream about! An event so unimaginable in all of the Universe...
That the angels of Heaven look on in wonder as it unfolds! How passionately would these ancient believers…Be living for God today?...If they saw how Jesus had lived out…All of the Sacrifices revealed to them in pieces?
 
Listen to this exciting Truth...Peter tells us these prophets knew…They were NOT writing for their own time or benefit...  BUT FOR US... FOR THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FUTURE...
FOR OUR TIME!
 
We are joined to an ancient subculture…Which existed in every generation before us…
Who stood as persecuted warriors for Christ! They did their part in Faithfulness even to bloodshed...To tell of the Coming King...To preserve His Word and His Love...And to exhort and comfort those of us who follow their heritage!...And one another in their struggles.
 
NOW IT IS OUR TURN TO CARRY THE TORCH...IN THESE MOST TROUBLING OF TIMES!
Our current home…Is beginning to look more and more like Babylon...And we have become the exiles living in a foreign land...We are united as brothers and sisters…With these precious Saints of our past... As they look on...And we are to stand in unity with one another now… As they did!
To maintain that strong Tribe of believers…Willing to suffer for the cause of our King... And one another!
 
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)
1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight (cares of living), and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
 
I believe one of the hardest things…For this generation of Christians to do...Is to separate ourselves from the rapidly shifting culture...Enough to genuinely… SEE ourselves AS PILGRIMS... AS FOREIGNERS!! WE HAVE TO WAKE UP…AND ADMIT THE REALITY OF WHERE WE ARE...
And that begins with admitting that life in this culture…As we know it… HAS PASSED!!!...And fitting in as a Christian will never be the norm again...And rather than LAMENT what is being lost...We need to let go of what we have held to up to this point...And OPENLY EMBRACE a new, different life...Carrying the Torch for Christ through OUR age... Until His soon Return! As a band of foreigners... Unwelcomed Immigrants...Holding onto the ways of Home... Until we are Home again! This Letter could easily have been written directly to us from Peter today...So let's read his closing statements of Chapter one…As though they were!! In light of all Peter has just said...
Here is how he says WE… Should respond!
 
1 Peter 1:13-25 (NKJV)
13  THEREFORE gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16  because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 17  And IF YOU call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; (WHY?) 18  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21  who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24  because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25  But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is
the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
 
   - GIRD UP YOUR LOINS… Prepare, rather than pout!
   - BE VIGILANT AND REST IN HIM… Live purposeful in Him!
   - LIVE OUT THIS TIME IN AWE OF HIM, NOT FEAR OF WORLD!
   - LOVE WITH A PASSIONATE AND A PURE HEART!
   - BECAUSE IT WILL ALL… SOON BE OVER!
 
IT IS OUR TURN TO...
CARRY THE TORCH IN OUR GENERATION!
 
TO HOLD THE LINE...
WE ARE A BAND OF BROTHERS… IN HOSTILE TERRITORY!