The Unstoppable Inheritance: How 1 Peter Equips Modern Christian Warriors

Peter's first epistle serves as a powerful battle manual for believers living in hostile territory, calling Christians to hope, holiness, and steadfast courage while remembering their divine election and blood-bought identity.

• God chose believers before the foundation of the world according to His foreknowledge
• Our inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading—kept in heaven and guaranteed
• Trials serve as refining fire, testing the genuineness of faith and making it more precious than gold
• Though we have not seen Christ physically, our belief demonstrates powerful faith that even Peter admired
• We live in an era prophets foretold and angels longed to understand
• Christians are called to prepare their minds for action and pursue holiness in all conduct
• Our redemption came at the cost of Christ's precious blood, not perishable things
• Spiritual warfare requires unity with fellow believers—no lone wolves will survive
• The Word of God is living and abiding, carrying regenerative power to conquer hearts
• Christianity explodes in persecution but often dies in comfort

Every soldier in Christ's army must embrace their election, rest in God's sovereignty, endure the refinery, pursue holiness, love the brotherhood, and proclaim the word until every knee bows to Him.

Christian Warrior Talk is Sponsored by Trident Shield, your trusted ally in violence preparedness. Trident Shield helps safeguard your loved ones with expert training and consulting. Trident Shield, defending faith through empowered preparedness because together, we save lives."

Chapters

• 1:18 Welcome and Announcements
• 2:42 Trump's State of the Union Reflections
• 4:15 Opening Prayer and Introduction to 1 Peter
• 10:22 Elect Exiles: God's Sovereign Choice
• 18:07 Living Hope Through Christ's Resurrection
• 29:15 Trials in the Forge of Faith
• 38:14 Prophetic Longing and Angelic Wonder
• 43:25 Call to Action: Holiness and Preparation
• 47:33 Blood-Bought and Battle-Ready
• 51:21 Brotherly Love Through God's Enduring Word
• 56:13 Communion and Closing Prayer

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:39

Hello everyone, happy Lord's Day to you. Welcome to Christian Warrior Mission, a home church, community ministry and farm that forges Christian Warriors. For today's challenges Announcement Hopefully we'll have our first Christian Warrior Talking Forever this Wednesday at 9 o'clock. Last time, and then we had a family emergency. Everyone's all fine, but one of those family things that when they pop up you got to go all in on, and so we did that as a family and we're doing that. So we asked for prayers Again. No one's hurt, no one's sick, no one's whatever. No one's hurt, no one's sick, no one's whatever, just maturing processes. So let's just put it that way and we ask your prayers on that. Another reminder the only other announcement I have which is amazing that I only have two is our first men's fellowship fire will be Friday, march 21st at 7 pm up at Warriors Rest Fire Pit. Please always be on our Facebook event page. Really appreciate it if you guys let us know so we know how many people we're looking at. We appreciate everyone who's coming to that and no matter if it's one or 20, we'll have a great time.

Speaker 1: 2:03

All right, so without further ado, I want to talk a little bit about I believe Trump's State of the Union hat. Was that this week? Yeah, president Trump's State of the Union One of the best speeches I've seen. You know, I think Reagan did some better ones or did a better one, but that was top five, absolutely amazing. And what we saw there was a secular president who I don't think is Christian, getting things more clear than most pastors do in America, at least the beta church, where you know they believe in 126 genders, rainbow flags, the whole thing. So our president got up there and said there are two genders and that our kids are made perfectly by their creator. We're not going to tell kids there's something. They're made wrong, they're trapped in the wrong body. They were made perfect just the way they are by God. So I wish more pastors would say that and we'd have a lot less issues in this country, I believe, if we had our clergy and our men of God speaking that clearly, which we do here, and there are others, but far too many don't. All right, so that's all I'm going to talk about. We're going to read the new book today. We wrapped up the book of James. We're starting 1 Peter today, so let's go to prayer.

Speaker 1: 3:42

Heavenly Father, lord, we thank you. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your body, lord. We thank you for our countless blessings and we thank you most of all for your divine grace in choosing us when we were still your enemies. Lord, you chose us before we chose you. Lord, thank you for calling us home. Thank you for writing our name into the book of life and choosing us before the foundations of the earth.

Speaker 1: 4:15

Lord, we're going to talk about this today in the sermon. Give me the words, your words, not mine. Lord, help me communicate what you would have us know about. 1 Peter, 1.

Speaker 1: 4:30

Lord, we thank you for your common grace, your creation, this universe, the sun, the moon, the stars, everything on this planet, the mountains to the oceans, and everything in between, all the creatures, plants. Lord, we thank you for the relationships in our life and everyone who's in them. Lord, help us not to take any of them for granted. Lord, we thank you for these bodies that you gave us, the trillions of cells that have to work near perfectly to even be here. Thank you for giving us another day working there perfectly to even be here. Thank you for giving us another day. So now, lord, we ask for you to fill this room with the Holy Spirit, to open ears and give us discernment to find your truth, the only truth that matters. I pray that this time would please you and only you, and serve only you and only you. Pray that we would proclaim you with every breath of our lungs and serve you with every beat of our hearts. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

Speaker 1: 5:30

All right, and for those of you who don't know how to pray and again I'm not saying that I do a very good job at it, there are some far better than I the simplest prayer, a child's prayer, is often the best Just approaching God in humility and telling him what you need help with, or just surrendering to him. You know, paul watched his prayer, which I thought was so profound, you know, you know, you know. But there's also a structure to this and we can look to Matthew 6, 9 through 13, again, like we do every week, as a model on how to pray, when our disciples ask Jesus how should they pray, and this is what he said Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen, all right, so today's sermon is I call, forged by Fire, standing in Triumph, this is 1 Peter, 1. So Peter comes right after James. We're going line by line, verse by verse, and 1 Peter is a battle manual for believers living in hostile territory.

Speaker 1: 6:54

In the early church, persecution wasn't theoretical, it was lethal. Yet Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, calls us to hope, holiness and steadfast courage as Christian warriors. We know Christ reigns as king, now subduing his enemies and establishing his kingdom progressively across the earth. This letter fortifies us for that mission us for that mission. There's a lot of people, or not a lot. There's some who believe that 1 Peter was written in response to. There was a horrific fire in Rome in 64 AD and some hypothesized that Nero said it and blamed it on the Christians. So he burned down Rome and then blamed it on the Christians. And some believe that this letter was in response to what was about to happen and the persecution that was about to happen to Christians that they were about to, in a very short window, experience horrible persecution and be put to death that they were about to, in a very short window, experience horrible persecution and be put to death. A larger portion of the population believes that Peter is just talking about persecution in general and in other locations, because he doesn't mention Rome specifically. So again, you decide. Either way it applies.

Speaker 1: 8:22

Peter's teaching us how to deal with troubling times and to find joy in it. So before I read the text, I'd like to paraphrase John Calvin God's eternal decree the blood of Christ and the power of the Spirit together form an invincible bulwark of hope. Peter is talking about hope no matter what you're going through, hope for your reward in heaven. Okay, so let us march through these verses, each revealing our identity, our calling and our unstoppable inheritance in Christ Jesus. Our calling and our unstoppable inheritance in Christ Jesus.

Speaker 1: 9:06

Some other things that we can look to other than the scripture we're about to read is Psalm 4611. The Lord, our host, is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress. Even in times of lethal persecution, god remains our fortress. And then Proverbs 21, 31. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. A reminder that we must prepare. The final triumph is God's. And then, to quote Augustine of Hippo, hope is two beautiful daughters, and this floored me. Their names are Anger and Courage Anger at the way things are and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are. That's powerful.

Speaker 1: 9:52

So let's go to God's Word now. This is the Word of God, peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as exiles scattered throughout Pontus, galatia, cappadocia, asia, bithynia and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to the obedience of Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of his blood. May grace and peace multiply with you. So Calvinists, don't have a problem. You know this is one of their primary.

Speaker 1: 10:39

You know scripture verses quoted For those of us who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. We'll talk about that later. I'm going to go through it. I just want to point that out.

Speaker 1: 10:50

In verse 3, picking it up Blessed be the God and Father and our Lord, jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven. For you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being made more precious than gold, which is perishable even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And although you have not seen him, you love him. And though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Speaker 1: 12:10

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who were prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, inquiring to know that time, of what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating, as he was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you and these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaim the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct. Because it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy and if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to one's work, conduct yourself in fear during the time of your sojourn, knowing you are not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold.

Speaker 1: 13:58

Only five more verses. He was foreknown before the foundations of the world, but appeared in these last times for the sake of you who, through him, are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God, since you have an obedience and truth. Purifies your souls with the love of the brothers, without hypocrisy. Fervently love one another from the heart, For you have been born again, not of corruptible seed, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For all flesh is like grass and all its glory is like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall off, but the word of the Lord endures forever and this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news. I know that's a lot and we got to break it all down, but I wanted to put it all out there to start with, and then I I wanted to put it all out there to start with, and then I can go to my notes here. So Peter 1, verses 1 and 2.

Speaker 1: 15:19

Elect exiles under the triune. So Peter, who is Peter? Well, we know Peter was renamed Cephas or Rock, and he is not coming to you in humbleness this time, as in some letters, as, like Paul, has come in humility. He's coming in authority, he's defining himself right off as the apostle of Jesus Christ. The sent ones. Okay, so those are our elect exiles.

Speaker 1: 15:49

And the dispersions, as we heard, in Asia and Bithynia, galatia, cappadocia, pontus. So this sets the authoritative tone we receive in apostolic directive from the very foundations of the church. This is somebody who walked with Christ, knew him dearly, who Christ appeared to, witnessed him go to heaven and is the pillar of the early church. All right, who is he talking to? The elect exiles. Believers addressed here are scattered throughout Asia Minor, facing social ostracism and official prosecution.

Speaker 1: 16:29

The term that he uses elect is electoises. Electoises is Greek. I don't know if I said it right, but the original Greek word underscores God's sovereign choice. We are chosen from before the foundations of the world. This again clashes with a lot of recent Christianity recent in the past hundred years where people believe they choose God Time and time again, others who believe, like I do. We see that God chooses us, and this is Peter saying it right to our face. So the exiles, which means sojourners or pilgrims, not because earth belongs to Satan, but because the world's fallen system is foreign to those loyal to King Jesus. As we know and we saw in James, if you are friends with the world, you're going to be an enemy of Christ.

Speaker 1: 17:31

We also see foreknowledge of God, the Father. Foreknowledge does not merely mean divine foresight. In Reformed theology it connotes foreordination, god's loving plan from eternity. God chose you back at the beginning of time. This underscores God's initiative. Our salvation and station in life aren't accidents. We serve at the pleasure of our all-serving commander, jesus Christ. You were brought and paid for. He chose you. He breathed and paid for. He chose you. He breathed life into you. He breathed eternal life into you. So we also see the Spirit sets us apart, that it consecrates us as holy warriors. This is an ongoing process. This is your sanctification. The Christian life is a spiritual battle where the Spirit actively mortifies sin and conforms us to Christ.

Speaker 1: 18:34

And then to the fifth point, which was the sprinkling of blood, which is an interesting choice of words there in verse 2. Father in the sanctification of the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ, the sprinkling with his blood. Obedience to Christ is the hallmark of being his disciple. Again, james talks about doing rather than just saying Okay. So again, obedience in the sprinkling of the blood refers to we were paid for and bought with Jesus's blood. The sprinkling draws an Old Testament sacrificial imagery where they would sprinkle the blood and splatter it on the altar. The shed blood of Christ seals our covenant with God, cleansing us from guilt and ratifying our relationship with him. Us from guilt and ratifying our relationship with them. We can also notice Trinitarians, people who believe in a triune God that Peter here is writing. In that way, he's observing the Trinity the Father foreknows and elects, the Spirit sanctifies and the Son sprinkles us with atoning blood. The entire Godhead is engaged in our salvation. This is an unassailable foundation of our faith.

Speaker 1: 19:51

So what's our application to this? We need to do an identity check. Are you living as one chosen by God, yet willing to stand out as an exile and a culture hostile to biblical truth? Many of us have experienced cancel culture and had struggles. You know we're not like persecution in Africa or the Middle East or in other horrible places, but are you willing to stand and be persecuted?

Speaker 1: 20:25

I know some who are not, who claim to be devout Christians, who will post on social media to support LGBTQ Appreciation Day, knowing that it totally contradicts their faith and they think they're a Christian. It's cowardice. It's denying God to his face, or denying God to man, and when he comes to you, he will deny you to your face. No matter what you do. We do not deny our Lord and Savior. So the warrior perspective is accept your commission from a triune God. You belong to his kingdom. Every breath you take is divinely ordained mission. So now let's go to see where else can we find support for this On Psalm 139.16, your eyes saw my unformed substance and your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet through was none of them, when as yet through was not one of them.

Speaker 1: 21:37

A clear testimony to God's foreordained plan. Once you see Calvinism, or God choosing you, it's hard to unsee. I'm the most reluctant Calvinist there ever was. I hate authority. I don't like being told what to do. I want to have a choice in everything, but I can't deny what I see. And then, in Proverbs 69, the heart of man plays his way, plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps, reinforcing God's initiative in our lives. Forcing God's initiative in our lives In the wise words of John Chrysostom he that chooses us when we are strangers will not abandon us when we journey as exiles.

Speaker 1: 22:25

Now we go to verses 3 through 5, a living hope through Christ's resurrection. Blessed the God of God and Father, our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again. To a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you by who who, by God's power, are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. So, first verse Blessed be God.

Speaker 1: 23:00

The doxology again. For those who don't know what doxology means and I didn't know what doxology meant until I had to do my homework it's Greek. Doxology is doxa, which means glory, and logia, which is speech. So glory, speech to God. We are not merely analyzing facts. We are worshiping the living God who has acted mightily on our behalf and then, as we see, born again to a living hope.

Speaker 1: 23:31

Living hope stands in a contrast to dead, worldly hopes that crumble with time. Our hope is eternally alive because it is anchored in Christ's resurrection. The new birth is a work of divine mercy. He caused us to be born again. We cannot resurrect ourselves. God regenerates us and our inheritance, as we see, described by three adjectives in Greek incorruptible, undefiled and unfading. The inheritance belongs to the eternal kingdom. No moth or rust or earthly tyrant, no devil can rob it. Wrath or rust or earthly tyrant, no devil can rob it. Guarded by God's power, god's power ensures both. The inheritance is safe and you are safe. This double security the prize is kept and the people are kept is our battle guarantee.

Speaker 1: 24:38

We fight from a place of sure victory. For those of us who are post-mill, myself being one of them, we do not cower waiting for an escapist deliverance. We don't believe that the most spoiled, coddled generation is going to be airlifted out right before life gets hard. We advance with confidence, knowing our ultimate inheritance is guaranteed. The resurrection proves Christ's lordship over sin, death and everything in every earthly dominion. So how do we apply this Spiritual warfare? The resurrection is your standard standard. When the enemy whispers despair, you wave the banner of the empty tomb. Heavenly minded, earthly good, because our inheritance is in heaven. We confidently labor on earth. We are not retreating to the hills, we're pressing the assault, certain of the final triumph.

Speaker 1: 25:42

This is my big problem with pre-mill. Pre-mill, which is the rapture crowd. So often they just they're quitters. They hide away. They don't think they're going to have any effect because they're going to leave in the next second, even before they could breathe out the next second. Time and time again, you look at them. They're completely without order. There's no tactics in what they do, it's just random, chaos and inefficient and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom. Whereas post-mill, 12 knuckleheads which were the disciples became over a billion Christians already.

Speaker 1: 26:31

Where can we find other scripture to support this? In Psalms 16, 9-10?. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh will dwell securely, for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, you will not give your holy ones over to seek corruption. This is a prophetic foretaste of Christ's resurrection, our living hope. And then in Proverbs 23, 18, surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Our inheritance means secure, and our early church father Athanasius, said he became what we are, that he might make us what he is, and that's what this whole sanctification process is.

Speaker 1: 27:16

God made you one way, wrote your story long ago, what you would be to reach another class of people, a certain group, me as a former atheist, me as a former military guy, former cop. I resonate with certain people. There are some people who I sound like probably rightly so like fingernails on a chalkboard. But to others I'm speaking exactly in their frequency that they need to hear it in. And he wrote that story so when I got saved I'd stop being like me and being more like him that he would make us what he is.

Speaker 1: 28:17

So, verses 6 through 9, trials in the forge of authentic faith. To recap, in these you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary. You have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And I'll get to 8 and 9. I'll read those second because I think it's great that Peter acknowledged this and it's brilliant. We were always told by Paul James to rejoice in persecution. We hold two realities in tension genuine grief and abiding joy.

Speaker 1: 29:14

Christian warriors do not deny hardship. We rejoice in it, not because of it, though. In today's prosperity gospel, if someone has any hard time, they're rocked Because they think they're supposed to have this gentle ride here. You know, sometimes you see these stories of sick kids, right? You see these stories of sick kids who die early, or a godly person who was called home and the most godly good person that you know gets cancer, and how they handle that has far more impact than if they had lived a full life with no trials, just walking on the beach picking up shells. God tests us so that others will see oh well, you drive a nice car, you have a nice house, you have a great family. Of course you're a Christian, right? You don't have any hard days. Well, we all know that's not true, right. But when everyone knows you're going through a hard time and you still have the joy of Christ. I've seen this once before and it broke me in a good way.

Speaker 1: 30:53

So again, rejoicing in present trials. When hard times come upon you, if they're of your own doing well, there's a chance to dig yourself out of a hole, right Time to repent, turn and learn from it. If they're not of your doing and they're a test from the Lord, rejoice in them, because your faith is going to be made that much stronger afterwards, if necessary, which is part of the in the this is in verse six. If you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. So the if necessary there refers to trials serve a divine purpose. They are not random accidents but are precisely measured by a wise God for our growth. Isn't it great to know that if we suffer, it serves a purpose. It serves a purpose. It's not random chaos, but part of his divine plan for his glory, and we can surrender to that. So test the genuineness right, as we see here in verse 7. Ancient gold refinement used intense heat to burn away impurities. Trials do the same to our faith. True faith emerges stronger, shining, with the heavenly luster that testifies to God's power. And now here is the part that I wanted to read separately, and this is 8 and 9.

Speaker 1: 32:43

Though you have not seen him, you loved him talking about Jesus. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. Why do you think Peter's saying that? Who denied Christ three times? Peter? Who didn't believe that Jesus came back from the dead? Peter? Who didn't believe that Jesus came back from the dead? Peter? They thought it was over. They thought the guy who they witnessed do all these miracles was over. And now Peter is talking to them. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Peter knew him and loved him. Imagine the spiritual jealousy that Peter must have at these people of greater faith than he's ever had.

Speaker 1: 33:49

Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. Peter had walked with Christ in the flesh. The readers of his letters have not. That's just just, I think. I look at that as a salute and a praise. And then the final salvation for your souls. The final outcome of genuine faith is complete salvation. Soteria from the Greek word Soteria. Well, salvation is a present reality. It also unfolds in the fullness of Christ's return.

Speaker 1: 34:37

God uses trials now to prepare us for his glory. Then, okay, what's the perspective from the warrior side of this? What's our perspective? Trials are training. Accept them as your spiritual boot camp. A soldier untested by conflict remains unproven. Refuse, defeat. Trials are not obstacles to your destiny. They are stepping stones towards maturity and ultimate victory. Don't look at obstacles as a wall. They're a ladder. They're a ladder. So, application, endure hardships with resolve. Let adversity drive you deeper into scripture and prayer.

Speaker 1: 35:25

Cultivate joy in the fire. This is almost impossible, but we're called to do it and some do. Like I said, I've seen it once and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever saw. This joy sets us apart from panicked despair, from a panic, despairing world. People see your resolute hope and wonder about the king you serve, if you and that fire can find joy. This is why Christianity exploded in the Roman Empire when people were getting fed to lions, when people were being lit on fire in sconces on the street the Roman candles, when they were having all these things and they went there with joy. When they were having all these things and they went there with joy, they knew that their fake gods could not produce that in them. They knew Aphrodite or Apollo or whatever. Zeus did not do that to them. Yet these Christians had something real.

Speaker 1: 36:34

Psalm 66.10 says For you, o God, have tested us, you have tried us as silver has tried. God's refining process is both biblical and benevolent. Proverbs 17.3 says the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold. And the Lord tests hearts. Trials reveal the genuineness of our devotion and love for him. And then Tertullian said the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church. Suffering for Christ yields expansion and deeper faith. Christianity explodes in persecution. It dies in comfort. Let's go to verses 10 through 12.

Speaker 1: 37:20

Prophetic longing and angelic wonder, wonder Concerning this salvation. The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you and the things that have now been announced to you, things into which angels long to look. Prophets searched and inquired the Old Testament prophets Isaiah, isaiah, jeremiah, david received glimpses of the Messiah, his suffering and subsequent glory, and yet yearned to see his fulfillment. They were like scouts reporting from afar, awaiting the final invasion of grace in Christ Peter. The Spirit of Christ Peter clarifies. The same Holy Spirit at work in the prophets was testifying about Christ. God orchestrated Scripture's unity across centuries. 66 books across thousands of years. Books across thousands of years.

Speaker 1: 38:53

What's the post-mill significance of this? We live in an era the prophets foretold, witnessing the unstoppable advance of the gospel. The baton is in our hands. God's chosen means to spread Christ's domination or dominion is the preaching of the word and the obedience of the church. God's chosen means to spread Christ's dominion is the preaching of the word and the obedience of the church. So if everyone says that we're losing, how are we losing? Twelve knuckleheads are now billions of Christians.

Speaker 1: 39:38

The conquering of this world by a Christ Savior doesn't go in a straight line. It goes like this you want to know how the church is winning. Where do you think every hospital came from in the beginning? Church planted them. Where do you think Harvard came from? Church planted college, seminary, oxford, on and on. The church taking ground.

Speaker 1: 40:04

Now, in our secular world, have we lost some of that? Have we dipped? Yep. Have our seminaries become cemeteries? Yep. But we're still progressing upward. We're still progressing upward. So our application we must marvel at Scripture. We hold in our hands what prophets and angels could only glimpse from a distance. David didn't have this, moses didn't have this, joseph didn't have this. We can pick this up at any time they would have died a thousand times over for this and join the mission.

Speaker 1: 40:52

Scripture reveals God's redemptive blueprint. Our generation is called to push forward, trusting the unstoppable victory of King Jesus. So if you want to see the foretelling of Christ's crucifixion, you can go back to David in Psalm 22. David's prophecy prophesies Christ's suffering centuries before fulfillment. It talks about piercing his hands. It talks about dividing his clothes. It talks about it's so clear, father, father, why have you forsaken me? That's where that comes from. That's Psalm 22. Christ, when he says those words, is describing the scene from Scripture in front of him, fulfilling prophecy after prophecy after prophecy. And in Proverbs 35, every word of God proves true. The prophets' words stand confirmed in Christ Jesus, or it'd stand confirmed in Christ Jesus.

Speaker 1: 42:10

Athanasius gave us some guidance on this. The Holy Scriptures have been proclaimed by the Spirit of God. Let us then rightly interpret these sacred tests concerning Christ. Rightly interpret them. 13 through 16, a call to action, holiness and more time. Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Speaker 1: 42:43

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. But as he who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct. Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy. So prepare your minds. The Greek phrase literally means gird up, gird up the loins of your mind. Referencing now soldiers or travelers would tuck their robes in to move swiftly, to get ready to fight. This is mental discipline.

Speaker 1: 43:20

Christian warriors must not allow sloppy thinking or moral compromise. Clear biblical thinking is essential for spiritual battle. Be sober-minded. Sober-mindedness contrasts with spiritual drunkenness, being alert versus careless. The world tries to intoxicate us with idols, false doctrines and secular illusions. False doctrines and secular illusions. Don't fall for them. Set your hope fully on future grace. We are forward-facing soldiers, eyes on Christ's final revelation, anchoring our present actions in the certainty of a future glory.

Speaker 1: 44:01

And now the hard one, the hardest of the hard ones. A life of holiness, the hardest of the hard ones, a life of holiness. The standard be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11.44. Holiness means separation from sin and devotion to God. This is the warrior's code of conduct strict, uncompromising loyalty. Uncompromising loyalty. How unfaithful and how disloyal are we to Christ? We betray him with our tongue constantly, our minds often, our actions too frequently. If we started looking at that as betrayal, since all we all want, every person wants loyalty. It's the thing we want most, yet do we give it. So our application mental check are you girded up for spiritual warfare or entangled in worldly distractions? Yes, both times. Practical holiness. Identify areas of moral compromise, repent, then discipline yourself like an elite soldier.

Speaker 1: 45:32

Psalm 119.9 says how can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it. According to your word, the more time in this, the less you're going to do anything else. Proverbs 4.23. Keep your heart with all vigilance for from and flow the springs of life. Sobriety and vigilance go hand in hand. You can't be drunk and vigilant. It doesn't work that way. You can't be high and vigilant it doesn't work that way.

Speaker 1: 46:06

Ignatius of Antioch said it is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians but to be so in reality. For your holiness is a terror to the evil one man I love language like that so much of the church is hiding and in fear, and here we have our holiness is terror, like an evil to the evil one. Wrap it up now 17 through 21. Conduct in reverent fear, blood-bought and battle-ready. So I'll pick it up in verse 17. And if you call on him as father who judges impartially, conduct yourself with fear throughout the time of your exile. Exile meaning your time here on earth, knowing that you were ransomed from the feudal ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb, without blemish or spot. He foreknew before the foundations of the world but was made manifest in the last time for your sake, who, through him, are believers in God, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Speaker 1: 47:27

Fear. A lot of people have a hard time with fearing God. This fear is not a cowering terror at a monster, but a deep awe and respect for God's holiness and his role as judge. We're not fearing some bad guy. We're not fearing some bad guy. We stand in awe and respect. It anchors us in accountability. We do not want to fight according to our whims, but under the watchful eye of a just and loving Father Ransom from our futile ways. What are we talking about here? Many of us come from generational curses. I come from many of them Alcoholism, lying, atheism, unbelief, sexual promiscuity.

Speaker 1: 48:25

Our sinful traditions, pagan philosophies or personal vices have been broken by Christ's redemption. It was broken and paid for by the currency. Was Christ's blood a sacrifice beyond measure? You were paid for and bought at great cost, christ foreknown.

Speaker 1: 48:55

Again we see God's eternal plan. The Lamb was chosen before the world's foundation to redeem us. There is no plan B. In the kingdom, god does not fail. Be in the kingdom, god does not fail. Through Christ, we trust God fully. Our fear is tempered by love and our love is fueled by awe.

Speaker 1: 49:19

Application, blood-bought identity. You are not your own. You serve under the blood-sprinkled banner of the cross. Conduct worthy of the price. Psalm 2, 11 says Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. This reverent fear is the posture of a loyal subject Proverbs 14, 27,. The fear of Yahweh is the fountain of life To turn aside from the snares of death. Fear anchored in God is life-giving, not crippling, and Martin Luther said this. No one can imagine or estimate what it cost our dear Lord and Savior to redeem us from sin, from the devil, from death and hell.

Speaker 1: 50:17

Okay, last three verses Brotherly love through the enduring word, having purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love. Love one another earnestly, from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of an imperishable, but an imperishable through the living and abiding word of God. For all, the flesh is like grass, but the word of the Lord remains forever and his word is the good news that was preached to you. Purified soul and brotherhood is love. Holiness always manifests horizontally as well, leading to genuine sacrificial love for fellow saints.

Speaker 1: 51:01

The spiritual war is not waged by lone wolves. You will fall, you will fall, and you will fall if you are alone. We conquer by an unbreakable army of believers, united in truth, born again through the imperishable word. The word of God is living and abiding, carrying a creative, regenerative power. The more you read this book, the more times you read this book, the more you regenerate, the closer you get to God.

Speaker 1: 51:34

Magic is the wrong word. It's miraculous. Human glory faints like grass, but scripture stands in charge. Kingdoms rise and fall. The word continues to conquer hearts and nations. And then, finally, the word preached, the good news is the unstoppable gospel, the means by which the kingdom of Christ expands.

Speaker 1: 51:59

For a post-mill worldview, the preached word is an unstoppable force bringing every knee to bow to Christ over time. Unstoppable force bringing every knee to bow to Christ over time. So, application, army of love, fight your battles in unity with the church. Let brotherly affection mark your fellowship. Stay in the word. If the word endures forever, feed on it daily.

Speaker 1: 52:22

The neglect of scripture is spiritual suicide in this war. Let me say that again. Neglect of scripture is spiritual suicide in this war. Let me say that again, neglect of Scripture is spiritual suicide in this war. Psalm 133.1 says Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. True unity in the church is a force multiplier. And then one of my favorites Proverbs, 27.17, iron sharpens iron. One man sharpens another. We cultivate each other's strength and brotherly love. Jerome said ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ. We must root our fellowship and growth in the imperishable word. So conclusions Stand victorious.

Speaker 1: 53:07

First, peter reveals our holy identity and glorious destiny. We are elect exiles drafted by the King of Kings. We possess a living home secured by Christ's resurrection. Our trials refine us, not destroy us. We stand on the shoulders of prophets and under angelic observation, fulfilling God's redemptive plan in history. Holiness is our call. Reverend fear our posture. Fear of the Lord. If you fear the Lord, you need fear nothing else. Brotherly love cements our unity and God's word is our immortal weapon.

Speaker 1: 53:41

So your final charge is this Embrace your election, rest in God's sovereignty, but never grow lazy. Every soldier answers the call to arms. Cling to the resurrection when the darkness taunts, you reminded that Christ crushed the grave. Endure the refinery. Wear your scars as marks of grace. No training is wasted. Pursue holiness. Draw your lines in the sand. Let no sin cross. God demands no less than full loyalty. Love the brotherhood. Lock shields with your fellow warriors. The enemy cannot break a united front. Proclaim the word. Preaching the gospel is the unstoppable siege engine of Christ's kingdom. The earth is Yahweh's, as well as its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24. He reigns now and we press his victory forward until every knee bows to him, with Peter as our apostolic field commander and the Holy Spirit as our power. Go forth, soldier of Christ, unwavering, unashamed, starting the final triumph from Jesus' mighty name, solely to Gloria. Glory to God alone.

Speaker 1: 54:57

All right, we're going to do the Lord's Supper, okay. Okay, here comes the hardest part. There we go. Okay, we do the Lord's Supper every week, so remember this is for baptized believers. If you're doing it at home, make sure that you understand the consequences. 1 Corinthians, 11, 27 through 32. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and the blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup, for anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks, judgment on himself. All right, so go ahead and close your eyes.

Speaker 1: 56:18

First, let's remember that this is a victory celebration that Christ came and fought for us here on this earth, by serving as the perfect sacrifice. Born of a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit, through the Holy Spirit, lived a perfect life, was crucified on the cross, bore the wrath of God and paid for our sin, rose from the grave three days later and ascended to the right hand of the Father where he serves as king and judge over the entire, all of existence. He won, and that is why we do this. But we also do this now to judge, as we were warned in Corinthians. Are we judging accurately?

Speaker 1: 57:11

Search yourself out now. What sin do you have? What impatience, what unkindness, what disbelief. Where have you been a traitor to God? Where have you stabbed him in the back, whereas he has been eternally loyal to you? Where have you failed him? Repent now. Lay it down in him now, before we drink, be cleansed of it. Leave it behind Now.

Speaker 1: 57:48

As they were eating, jesus took the bread and, after blessing it, broke it and gave it to the disciples and said Take, eat, this is my body. Go ahead and eat. And he took a cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Go ahead and drink. Heavenly Father, lord, we thank you for your word, we thank you for your son. We thank you for Peter, who at times in the Bible was a knucklehead but who continued on and endured to be a great, mighty man of God. Lord, we thank you for your patience with us. We thank you for your supreme love that, even while we still betray you on a daily basis and we fall short, you still love us. Forgive us, lord. Help us to do better. Help us be more patient, more loving. Give us discernment. Give us the strength to resist our temptations and our sins and our vices. Help us be shining lights to others in this world. Be shining lights to others in this world.

Speaker 1: 59:13

I pray a prayer of protection and peace and blessing over this congregation and fellowship now, here in person and elsewhere around the world and the interwebs, the persecuted church for our troops overseas, our first responders at home and our veterans of yesteryear. I pray for the world that we don't go into World War III. I pray for our leaders, including President Trump and others, that they would be useful tools for our Lord and Savior, that he would use them to do great, just things, things that would glorify Jesus and only Jesus. Lastly, I pray for my beloved America. I pray that she would humble herself, turn from her sin, hit her knees and seek your face, and that you would see her and heal her, so that we could once again be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 1: 1:00:08

Now I call this fellowship to attention, to put on the full armor of God, Strap on the shield of faith, pick up the sword of the Spirit and to boldly step forward to join the shield wall locking shields to our left and right, marching forward to take ground for His kingdom, for His glory forever. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Go ahead and rise. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. God bless.