Title: The Privileges of God's People
Contents
Sermon Day-070429 Sunday Day
Text - 1 Peter 2:9
Title - The Privilege of God's People
Not long ago, I saw a pastor who was very upset when he came to get a visa from the US embassy for a trip to the US.
According to the pastor, people were lining up to go to the United States as if they were rationers, and I was ashamed of how difficult the visa issuance process and screening was.
Traveling to the United States is just as difficult, but how proud must the American citizens be?
However, the text testifies that the more glorious people and people are the saints.
The saints are precious and blessed people who have been chosen as God's people among all nations.
The saints should be firmly aware of their supreme status like that.
Illustration - Artisan and God
A rich girl came home to greet her lover.
After dinner, the maiden's father and the young man began to talk.
"Yeah, what are your plans for the future?"
“Yes, I want to become a Bible scholar.”
"Okay, respected, but can I get my daughter to live in a good environment?"
"God will help us."
"Then how do I get a wedding ring right now?"
"If I put all my energy into my studies, God will help me."
“Then how are you going to feed the children?”
“God will help you with that too.”
After the young man returned, his mother asked.
“What do you think of that young man?”
Then the husband said this with a dark expression.
No job, no plans. If you've found one more thing...
“It means that he thinks of me as God.”
1. Receive God's love and protection
God, the Lord of heaven and earth, loves and protects all mankind he has created.
He provides and protects life resources so that they can lead a happy life.
However, the saints receive special love and protection among all human beings. It is to protect the faith and souls of the saints with their love, righteousness, and truth.
He protects us with the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of truth so that we can grow, act, and live as the people of God's kingdom and provide us with spiritual gifts from heaven.
Although God ignores unbelievers even if they live with sin, He prevents them from falling into sin and protects them from losing their faith.
The love, concern, and protection that the saints receive from God cannot be enjoyed by others.
Only the saints enjoy the privilege of such protection of God.
Yehwa - holy couple fight
A young butler couple had a marital quarrel.
It was dinner time, but the wife got angry and went to the other room without cooking and locked the door.
My husband and children, who couldn't even get dinner and were bored, went to the door and asked to open it, but there was no response.
At this time, the husband suddenly noticed that his wife was memorizing Bible verses while receiving discipleship training at church, and read the following verses to the door.
"If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him---"
After a while, the Bible's reply to the Bible's words flowed out of the room.
“Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15).
In the end, the couple burst out laughing at the same time and came out to cook and lead a normal routine.
p.s Husbands who can't do anything apart from their wives... Be nice to your wives.
2. Inheriting Heaven for Eternal Life
“Has it been granted to you, but not to them, to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11).
Only the saints were given the qualifications and privileges to inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The privileges of life that the people of the world gain are a model and a shadow of the heavenly inheritance.
No happiness in this world can be compared with the happiness and privileges of the kingdom of God that the saints will enjoy in the future.
The saints will inherit the kingdom of heaven with Christ and will “reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).
Only the saints are the privileged class with a guaranteed tomorrow in the true sense.
First-class citizens must have the attitude and dignity as first-class citizens.
Being rich and strong does not make you a first-class citizen.
Even if both the United States and Japan are prosperous, the reason why Japanese people are not evaluated on an equal footing with Americans is because they lack the tolerance, sincerity, and love of a first-class citizen.
As such, the saints who are the people of the kingdom must not lose their dignity not only to God but also to their neighbors.
We must be recognized by the world as citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Like Jesus Christ, we must be people of generosity, love, and mercy.
Since they are those who have received the privilege of eternal life from God, they must be people who give and give to others.
Also, as people of the holy nation, we must turn away from sin and set an example for good deeds.
Paul exhorts us to remember “but our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).
I hope that you will always remember those privileges and obligations and become believers who lead a life full of joy and truth.