September 3-4, 2005, 1 Peter 2:4-5, Selected

HARD ROCK CHANDLER!
LIKE A ROCK – EVEN IN A CRISIS!

*** JN 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." [NIV]
*** Proverbs 3:25-26 “No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.” [Message]
*** 1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." [New International Version]

LIKE A ROCK, AS LIVING STONES WHEN CRISIS COMES WE ARE TO:

1. STAND STRONGLY!

FACT #1 CRISES ARE INEVITABLE!
*** James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials….” [New American Standard Version]

FACT #2 CRISES ARE VARIABLE!
*** James 1:2 “… when you encounter various trials….” [NASV]

FACT #3 CRISES ARE IMPARTIAL!
*** Matthew 5:45 “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”[NIV]

FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ARE ONLY EXEMPTED FROM ONE THING: HELL!
FACT #4 CRISES ARE UNPREDICTABLE!
*** Proverbs 24:22 “Without warning your life can turn upside-down, and who knows how or when it might happen?” [MSG]

FACT #5 I CAN CHOOSE MY RESPONSE TO A CRISIS!
*** Matthew 8:18, 23-27 “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" [NIV]

HOW TO STAND STRONG IN A CRISIS:
BY REMEMBERING HIS CLOSENESS!
FOCUS ON THE CHRIST NOT THE CRISIS!
BY RELYING ON HIS CARE!

*** Isaiah 43:1-2 “But now…the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up….” [NLT]

BY RESTING IN GOD’S CONTROL!
THERE IS NOTHING BEYOND GOD’S CONTROL!

2. SPEAK STRONGLY!
*** 1 Peter 2:5 “…like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood….” [NIV]

A PRIEST IS ONE WHO SPEAKS TO AND FOR GOD!
SOMETIMES CRISIS HAPPENS BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD!

*** Romans 8:22 “For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in sickness and death as they await this great event.” [Living Bible]
*** Job 1:21 “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." [NIV]

MY RESPONSE: TRUST IN FAITH!
SOMETIMES CRISIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF OUR OWN MAKING!
MY RESPONSE: OBEY IN FAITH!
SOMETIMES CRISIS HAPPENS BECAUSE IT CAUSES CHANGE!

*** James 1:2-4 “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” [MSG]

MY RESPONSE: LEARN IN FAITH!
SOMETIMES CRISIS HAPPENS BECAUSE GOD CAN BE GLORIFIED IN IT!

*** John 11:4 “When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."

MY RESPONSE: HONOR HIM IN FAITH AND ACTION!
"SOMETIMES GOD CALMS THE STORM!
SOMETIMES GOD LETS THE STORM RAGE AND CALMS HIS CHILD!"

3. SERVE STRONGLY!
*** 1 Peter 2:5 “Like living stones…being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
*** Hebrews 13:16 “Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.” [NLT]
*** 1 Tim. 6:18 “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them.” [NLT]

l SHARE OUR MINISTRY! l SHARE OUR MONEY!
l SHARE OUR MESSAGE!

*** Luke 13:4-5 “And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you too will die." [MSG]
*** John 16:33 “I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

IN THE FACE OF CRISIS REMEMBER THE CROSS OF CHRIST!