1. Life is too important to stand still
August 24, 2016
Steve Larson

2. Background to 1 Peter 2
22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

3. 1 Peter 1:23
23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

4. 1 Peter 1:24
24 For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off,

5. 1 Peter 1:25
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

6. First Message
Before I approach God’s Word, I need to take inventory of my life. I must lay aside the things keeping me from loving others and pursuing Jesus Christ.

7. Sins that keep us from joy
Malice – Feeling of hostility, desire to do harm
Deceit – Intentional dishonesty
Hypocrisy – Pretending
Envy – Anger or hatred towards others because they have what you want
Slander – Speaking evil of others

8. Questions
Are there people in your life towards whom you feel malice or envy?
Are there people in your life to whom you’ve lied?
Are there people in your life around whom you are pretending?
Are there people in your life whom you’ve slandered?

9. Put these things aside!
The call of God is to turn from your sin. It is destroying your joy and keeping you from experiencing the transforming power of God’s Word!

10. 3 steps Awareness – Psalm 139:23-24 Confession – Psalm 51
Repentance – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, James 4:6-10

11. Second message
Crave for God’s Word like a newborn babe because it will stir you to grow to experience your salvation more than ever before.

12. Key Concepts
Hide God’s Word in your life – Psalm 119:11 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 (NASB95)

13. Key concepts Hide God’s Word in your life – Psalm 119:11
Meditate on his word day and night Psalm 1:1-3

14. Psalm 1:1–3 (NASB95)
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

15. Psalm 1:2
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

16. Psalm 1:3
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

17. Key concepts Hide God’s Word in your life – Psalm 119:11
Meditate on his word day and night Psalm 1:1-3
Let the Word of Christ dwell richly within you – Col 3:16

18. Colossians 3:16 (NASB95)
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

20. Key concepts Hide God’s Word in your life – Psalm 119:11
Meditate on his word day and night Psalm 1:1-3
Let the Word of Christ dwell richly within you – Col 3:16
Be a doer of the Word – James 1:21-25

21. James 1:21–25 (NASB95)
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

22. James 1:22
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

23. James 1:23
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

24. James 1:24
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

25. James 1:25
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.