Take your Bibles and turn to 2 Peter chapter 1. 2 Peter chapter 1. I want to make mention of something before we go into this. You know, this is getting to be a kind of a time when we can almost feel an overload of prayer requests. I know I'm one of those. And all of a sudden there's just, there are people, there are situations. And then when we get to thinking about our nation, and we think, oh my soul, look what's going on. We're thinking about our future, the future of the nation, the future of our church, our personal future. There's all that that isn't play. Folks, I'm telling you in the quietness of the time that I've had with the Lord, and please don't be mistaken. Your preacher goes through challenges too. I'm going to the Lord and I'm asking, you know, Lord, what are you doing? Lord, I wanna follow that, whatever it is that you're doing. But you look back at even this last year, at situations that so many of us, you've gone through. Aren't you glad for the prayer closet? I'm telling you, it becomes more and more precious. It just does. And as I get to studying certain things in scripture for messages, for Sunday school, and for my own personal walk, it's like, wow, this is just amazing what God is speaking to. Can I encourage you in this? Please, please, can I encourage you in this? Don't choose bitterness. Don't choose discouragement. God is good. Let me repeat that. God is good. We don't always know why he does what he does. I had plans and then God sent something else. I don't know what he's doing. My prayer is that if the Lord tarries 10 years from now, I could be found someplace in a pulpit as a guest speaker preaching. But then again, I might be in a choir in heaven looking down at y'all. Whatever it is, God is good. Now, that doesn't mean, well, since God is good, he knows all, he sees all, I'm gonna kick back. After all, the 49ers are playing. I don't know if they are or not. And so I don't need to pray. Yes, you need to pray. We need to be engaged there. He commands us in that prayer. He commands us. For God's, because of God's grace, I should say, because of God's grace and his mercy, and the fact that he tells us, come unto me, call unto me. We were talking about Jeremiah 33, three yesterday. Call unto me. I will answer thee. And not only that, I'll show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. Now we get afraid to do that. You know why? We think God's gonna let us down. Wait a minute. God doesn't let us down. He builds us up. In the building of it, he challenges us to some things. which is exactly where we're going to this morning. Now, before we get into this, remember that passage in Philippians 1. You don't need to turn to it. It's one of my favorite places. If I wind up preaching someplace else, it's one of my favorite passages to preach. Philippians 1.6, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it under the day of Jesus Christ. Do you realize what that means? Folks, right now, as you are sitting here, The Spirit of God, if you are born again and the Spirit of God indwells you, if you're born again, He does. He desires to take His word and He desires to do a work in you. Hello? Right? Amen? How many of you want that? I don't, listen, a week ago when the ladies got up and they talked about this challenge that they got from the ladies meeting that they had in Nevada. I mean, I don't know. I think they did a better job than my message. I'm telling you, but it got me so excited because it fell right in with the message and it falls right in with what we're looking at right now, right here. Folks, God is trying to tell us something. Let's listen this morning. So that message, when I would preach it, the four points were this, be confident, be cognizant, in other words, be aware, be cooperative, be courageous. May I encourage us this morning to be just that. Be confident, you are here on purpose. Be cognizant. In other words, be aware. Your God has you here to do a job. Your Bible is open. The Spirit of God is ready to work. We need to be attentive, which means be cooperative. If he points something out, obey him. Amen? Cooperate. And by the way, in the cooperation, be courageous about this. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. All right, now, go if you would again, 2 Peter 1. In these verses right here, verses two through four, we have the divine provision and enablement. given the believer in salvation. Now look, if you're not seeking to be active in your Christian walk, if you're not seeking him, as far as you're concerned, really what it comes down to sometimes is your Christian life is something that you do on Sunday morning and then that's it, it's over. Fine with me, I'll go home and I'll watch the football game. No, you don't. This is a daily thing. This is growth. Amen? Folks, I'm looking at you and y'all need exercise. You're sitting there, so we'll just get your lungs to do it, okay? All right. Amen. You preach it, I'll turn the pages, Joyce. So we have this enablement. Look at verse two. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God. See, that's what it takes. and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power, we get to know him, he has the power, all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Are we there? If I call out a few names, what do you think, Brother Dave, are we there? Listen, amen, we there? Larry, you there? All right, Dan, you there? Okay, praise God. Fly with it. Look at verse four. Wherefore are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. We understand now more. This is why he's given these things through us. This is why they need to be in us, because there's a life to be lived. You see? You know, it gets fascinating with this. It kind of gets fascinating when, you know, you go into the doctor, we went in Friday morning, and he didn't know what to expect. And so he called and he said, and I apologize. And it's not that I'm a super big bastion of faith. You know, I get to praying, you know, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. I got 12 grandkids. And like I told her, you know, I want to be around to irritate my grandkids. Still continue to be an irritant to my three kids. Boy, I'd be a, no, I just love them. You know what I mean? So he's not sure. My wife and I walked in, oh, okay. You know, this is what God has allowed, but it gets you to reevaluating some things. Lord, be it a short time or be it a long time, whatever I have, it makes this list even more precious. Because what really matters, what really matters is what we do for the Lord Jesus Christ. We can get wrapped up in this world and we can forget that 2,000 years ago, the Son of God died on a cross, was buried, rose again. Why? I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. And this teaches us how to have that life. You do these things, you'll never fall. You won't fail. Listen, the divine nature, if you have trusted Christ, the divine nature is in you and he can't help but make a change. Right, ladies? You learned it. You challenged the church. I loved it. Praise God. So we continue then. Look at verse five. We start out with this. And beside this, literally, for this very cause, for this, It hearkens back to verse three. According as the divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. So this is for this very cause. But then he says this, giving all diligence. Now see, before he starts getting into the list. He says, okay, for this very cause, giving all diligence, that means it's an exertion. That means we are to be working at it. Now hold on, don't let your thoughts run to one place or another. You're gonna see what that means. We're looking at this. The faith that you have is what got you into Christ. You trusted him. That faith is not to be left dormant. It doesn't just sit there. There's something that needs to take place. Faith is the daily trust that God will do all He promised for His children. Now, our problem is this. We can get this idea, all right, look, Lord, I've trusted Christ. I'm there, I'm going to heaven, I rejoice in that, but I have plans. Well, like I just said, God can sometimes come along and change your plans. As we used to say when I'd be visiting family in Alabama, God comes along and changes the plans. Now, if he knows best, we want to choose his. I'm doing the Sunday school for Brother Whiteside right now this morning. This morning and next Sunday morning and maybe the Sunday after that. No, not the Sunday after that. Tim Schmidt's got it. But next Sunday morning, we're looking at man's way and God's way. You go to Romans 1, you see man's way. You don't want that way. What you want is God's way. You don't wanna hesitate there. We need to remember, okay, if we're gonna live this Christian life the way we're supposed to, we've got to remember what Christ told us in John 15. Verse five, I am the vine. ye are the branches, he that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. He abides in me, I abide in him, what happens? For without me, ye can do how much? Nothing. Now, there's a lot that the Lord needs to do in this world right now. There are people that are discouraged. By the way, somebody, Wayne, I think was telling me, there's another hurricane heading towards Florida, a bad one. Boy, let me tell you, America needs help. Because, you know, how deep does our faith go? I praise God hearing about, you know, how God's people and others, have really been, you know, I mean, just reaching out and giving a hand to these folks. The destruction there is stunning. I read one story among many, I thought, you know, this is great. There was a story about a pastor in a church and they showed the small church, destruction around it and stuff, but they said, what do you need? And he says, I need a generator. for Sunday because he knew people were gonna be coming for answers and needing help. And I thought, praise God for that guy. He didn't ask for anything comfortable for himself. He prayed for it. He asked for a generator. I say, have at it. Absolutely have at it. I think Paul explains this, what we're trying to get at. Take note of this if you wanna look it up. It's 1 Corinthians 15.10. This thing, okay, giving all diligence. This is an explanation. 1 Corinthians 15.10. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain, but I labored. Now listen to his words. But I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I. but the grace of God, which was with me." Listen, if you give all diligence, it's not your exertion. You start going in a direction, God gives the power, he helps you, you can do it. God keeps his promises. Paul said, look, you know, people see what I'm doing and they think, man, Paul, What a super Christian. No, he had God. He was willing to go out and God gave him the power. It was the grace of God. He was doing what he told the people in Rome to do. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God. So he says this, 2 Peter 1.5 again. Beside this, giving all diligence, doing what Paul did. Hey, I'm setting my sail there. Add to your faith virtue. What is virtue? The best way to describe it is this. Virtue is excellence, excellence. Now the Greek word for virtue is used only five times in the New Testament. Three of them. In this chapter, we've already read it, verse three, according as his divine power again has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that's called us to glory and virtue. It's also mentioned in Philippians 4.8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, et cetera, et cetera, if there be any virtue, And if there be any praise, think on these things. It keeps the same meaning all the way through wherever it's found. It means excellence. Listen, a knife has excellence if it can cut the way it's supposed to cut. If it's dull, it's not. Excellent. It's not, in this word, virtuous. A soldier, a soldier can be well-trained and well-equipped, but if the enemy comes and he turns tail and starts running, he's not excellent. He's not virtuous. Listen. We're told this by Christ, Matthew 5, Sermon on the Mount. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. That's being virtuous. That's being excellent. What you have You now display, you show, it's an excellence in your character. Paul talks about the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5, but the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. That is the equivalent of a virtuous or an excellent Christian when he displays those things that come of him by the Spirit. You know, there's a lot about purpose statements today. I remember when the Lord gave me, when I first got here, I don't know where it came from except this. It was four o'clock in the morning. I was in my old lazy boy in the parsonage over here and it just hit me. seeking to win the lost, teaching to change lives, equipping the saints for service, pressing for the prize. That's what I wanted for this church. You talk about companies, there's ministries, there's individuals, you might even have a purpose statement. I have purpose verses in my prayer journal. Peter gives us our purpose statement as believers. Would you please go to 1 Peter chapter two. 1 Peter chapter two. Look at verse nine. But ye, talking to believers, but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. and holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises, literally, the excellencies, same Greek word, of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. We used to have a young man in the Christian school when I was a youth pastor, official youth pastor for the first time. We used to have a young man in our Christian school there. I'm not going to say exactly where it was. But at this point, he would say something like this. Can I ask you a question? How many of you ever talked like that? Oh, come on. Paquito. Yeah, exactly. Can I ask you a question? How many of you have ever looked at a verse like this and your fleshly response, your fleshly response was, that's a burden. We do, we get that way. Wait a minute. I'm looking at that which God wants to grow me into. Again, I have my own plans. Folks, the world is being taken away from us. It's time to recognize God's plans. Jesus Christ saved you for something incredibly precious, to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. This right here, along with other verses, but we're gonna focus on this, is a mission statement for us. Again, when he says that you should show forth the praises, it's the same word that translates virtues, and it means excellencies. Excuse me, Peter here is describing this, two basic facts. Number one, what God has done to us by his son, but then number two, what God desires to do through us. May I take the next few minutes and guide us through. This is what God is seeking according to this verse. Now, once again, by the way, welcome back to July. Take this down if you're taking notes. We are a new creation. Now, to the believer, when we hear that, we get excited about it because we have purpose. We are a new creation. Look at what he says again. But ye are a chosen generation. That term, chosen generation, has to do with the truth that God has reached into the masses of humanity, has chosen a people for himself. We have responded. He's responded. We belong to the King. Amen? I forgot to have you saying that. Get our exercise in a little bit. That generation, the word generation, it's from a Greek word that means a race, a body with a common life and descent. Now, please understand this. It's amazing how, and people are doing it on purpose, It's amazing how people are trying to fan the flames of quote unquote racism. How many of you, when you bleed, you bleed red? There, we're human. That's a race. But there's something that's said here. We are a chosen generation. That means race. When God looks at the world, He sees saved, lost. Saved, lost. Those who are truly saved that are born again, we are a distinct race. We're a distinct race. We might be the same as others physically, but on a spiritual level, folks, you gotta see this. On a spiritual level, we are very different. When the person of Jesus Christ is spoken of, we get joyful. Others, it just isn't there. Next, we have a common communion. Now watch this. Not because I'm in love with the letter C. Look at the next phrase. A royal priesthood. When we were lost, we were totally separated from God. But now in Christ, we've been brought nigh, Ephesians 2.13. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. In this new relationship, We have unrestricted access to the throne, to the king of kings. That's royalty. That's absolute royalty. Paul told the believers through the book of Hebrews, let us therefore come boldly under the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The word royal is a translation of the Greek word for king. The Levitical priesthood were only priests. Believers are king priests. We are a royal priesthood. Don't let that slide by. And by the way, one more thing, don't let Satan talk you out of that. I'm a sinner saved by grace, but I reign with Christ right now. You do too. You do too. That's not a thing of pride. We didn't earn it. It was given to us. Don't lose it. Number three, we have a new character. Look at the next phrase, and holy, Nation. Now that nation. Greek word, a multitude of people of the same nature. The word holy literally means set apart for service to deity. He has set us apart. Why? Because we're so good? Isaiah 64, six. But we are all as an unclean thing. And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. We do all fade as a leaf. Our iniquities like the wind have taken us away. No, instead, we're new creatures because of him. Remember verse four, you don't need to turn back to it, in 2 Peter 1, whereby are given unto us and exceeding great, unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these things ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." We escaped Isaiah 64.6. That's not us anymore. Not because we're so good, but because he's good. That's it, bottom line. 2 Corinthians 5, 17, rejoice in it. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. All things have become new. That's Bible. You know what Satan wants to do? Again, and eluding it. I just started rereading my Bible. I started in Genesis 1 through 4 this morning. Yea, hath God said. I'm telling you that dirty dog is going to get to you before the hour is over. And he's going to be whispering in your mind. Yea, hath God said. That's why I say, you know, I rejoice in this. There is one person in this universe I can hate, I can despise, I can spit on, I am angry with him, and I don't care, that's the devil. I'm gonna smile, I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna pass the popcorn, I'm gonna help do the wave, I'm gonna do all that when he's cast into the lake of fire. I despise that guy. Gotta be careful. Now listen to this. Go to this. Folks, this is us. Look at the next phrase in that verse. A peculiar people. Now you might think, oh yeah, Peter got it right now. I'm looking around in my church right now and let me, no, that's not what that word means. It's a new classification. The real meaning of the word peculiar is a purchased, Possession, a unique possession. Something that is rare. It has a rare beauty. It's priceless. That's you. Now, when you got up this morning and you looked in the mirror, you might not be thinking, boy, that's priceless. You might think some other things. I do. Oh man. But when God sees us, We're priceless. Jason, you're priceless. Ralph, you're priceless. Hey, Mike, you're priceless. Ladies, you're, and we know you're priceless anyway. But you know what I mean? He's looking. We're a peculiar people. The same verb, in fact, that is used here in the Septuagint in Isaiah 43 translates this. This people have I formed, for myself. Malachi 3.17, this is fascinating. Listen to Malachi 3.17. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spared his own son that serveth him. That word jewel there means the same thing as the word peculiar does in the Greek. That's us. We are jewels. We're precious in Him. That's what He's done to us. Now, listen to what He's doing through us. Go back to that verse. That ye should show forth the praises. Number one, we're to declare the truth about our Savior. Did you get an opportunity to talk about your Lord this last week? Isn't it great to be able to share with people what God has done? You know, to be able to tell a doctor, hey, this is why I have the attitude that I do. To be able to tell somebody else who's struggling, hey, I know whom I have believed, you can too. What we need to be doing is we need to be praying specifically that we get the opportunity to share with people that which has blessed us, because right now there's a lot of people that are uncertain. Folks, do you realize that one month from yesterday, there's an election? I believe with all my heart that no matter which side wins, It's not gonna be pretty right after that. It's not gonna be pretty. I believe with all my heart that the wicked one is pushing and pushing and pushing people, his minions, do more, do worse. What is it, tomorrow is the one year anniversary for what happened in Israel? They've already warned, be alert, there could be terrorist things going on in America tomorrow, starting tomorrow. I don't know. I don't know what God will allow, but there's more to what is going on in the world than what wicked people are. We've got a savior that changes lives. We've got a Jesus that we love. I love what he's doing through us. Secondly, we are to demonstrate the truth of our salvation. Go back again, that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Into, when he uses that word, into his marvelous light, refers here, it doesn't mean locality. It means result. You were this, now you're this. It wasn't a thing that you moved from this area to this area. It means that you are now different. Different by God's design. Listen, true human excellence. And I'll finish with this. True human excellence is Christ likeness. It's not you living the law, it's you living Christ. And in doing so, you are following him who fulfilled the law. And now we're different. We're a peculiar people. We're a holy nation. Romans 12, so familiar. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. See, that's what needed to take place today and continue. The renewing of the mind. I'm gonna walk out and because of what I saw in God's word, not because of the preacher, but because what I saw, I'm gonna walk out a little different because I'm yielding. because I recognized what I got translated from, what I was transformed into, because I'm a peculiar people. I'm a holy nation. That's why. And so I want to add to my faith, copiously, in abundance, I wanna add virtue. I want to add excellencies. I want to be Christ. I want to live him out. Amen? Heavenly Father,