Pastor Kevin Weston preaches from I Peter 1:3-5

Here is the latest from 1 Peter. Many were encouraged by the beautiful words of Peter.

The Life of Samson

This was for a men's retreat that I am going to do soon. A great study by the way. Samson was a man of faith. He is often remembered for his failures (which he did have) but God remembered him as a man of faith. His life should be both a caution and an inspiration to us.

The Life of Samson

The Pitfalls of His Life

1. Samson’s Commission
1. He was chosen before his birth to be a savior for God’s people

                                                               i.      Christ appeared to make the announcement of his birth to his parents.

1.      Judges 13:20-22 

2. You have been chosen by God to be a demonstration of God’s power.

                                                               i.      1 Peter 1:2-3 

3. He was given the power of the Holy Spirit.

                                                               i.      Judges 13:24-25 

4. You have been given the power of the Holy Spirit.

                                                               i.      John 15:26-27  

5. He was given a great enemy to fight.

                                                               i.      Judges 14:3-4 

6. You have been given a great enemy to fight

                                                               i.      2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

2. Samson’s Courage
1. Samson’s Philistine wife is taken from him and given to the best man at the wedding.

                                                               i.      Judges 14:20 

2. Samson retaliates by burning the Philistine Fields, and the Philistines respond by burning his father-in-law and wife with fire

                                                               i.      Judges 15:6 

3. Samson comes back and slaughters the people responsible for the murder of his family.
4. He is then pursued by the Philistine Army that sends the men of Judah to bind him.
5. Samson by the power of the Holy Spirit slaughters a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey

                                                               i.      Judges 15:14-16 

6. Samson is delivered by the miraculous water that is provided by God for him. God’s help is his true source of power.

                                                               i.      Judges 15:17-19 

7. Samson gives the Israelites 20 years of freedom from the Philistine oppressors.

                                                               i.      Judges 15:20 

3. Samson’s Compromise
1. Samson’s faith changed from trusting in God to deliver him, to an over confidence in his abilities. His greatest compromise was placing his trust in himself rather than in God.

                                                               i.      This caused him to fall into immorality.

1.      Judges 16:1-3 

                                                             ii.      His immorality caused him trust in a deceptive woman.

1.      Judges 16:4-5 

                                                            iii.      His trust in an immoral woman led him to be taken captive by his greatest enemy.

1.      Judges 16:20-21 

                                                           iv.      Because of his great compromise he was unaware that the power of God had left his life.

1.      Judges 16:20 

4. Samson’s Contrition
1. Samson is given one last chance to give his life for his people.

                                                               i.      Judges 16:27-30 

2. Samson is honored in the New Testament as a man of faith

                                                               i.      Hebrews 11:32-40 

1 Peter 1:6-9

1 Peter 1:6-9

The Testing of Your Faith is More Precious than Gold

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

1. Rejoice, Because Sorrow is Fleeting. – vs. 6*
1. 1 Peter 4:12-13 
2. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 
3. James 1:2-4 
2. The Trials of Your Faith are Precious to Your Savior. – vs. 7*
1. Job 23:10 
2. James 1:12 
3. Look Forward to the Joy of Seeing the Savior’s Face. – vs. 8*
1. John 20:27-29 
2. 1 John 4:13-19 
4. The Savior Will Provide all that is Necessary for Your Faith Until You Come into Eternal Rest With Him. – vs. 9*
1. Romans 6:22 
2. Hebrews 11:13-16 
3. Hebrews 12:1-2 

1 Peter 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3-5

To an Inheritance Incorruptible

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

1. You Have Been Begotten Again Unto A Lively Hope. – vs. 3*
1. Christ’s blood purchased your freedom from the power and penalty of sin.

                                                               i.      Ephesians 1:3-7 

2. Christ purchased you with His precious blood even when you were still rebelling in your sin.

                                                               i.      Romans 5:8-11 

3. Christ will raise you up to walk in the freedom of the spirit, you will no longer be chained by sin.

                                                               i.      Romans 8:10-11 

2. You Have Been Given An Incorruptible Inheritance. – vs. 4*
1. We will be resurrected to a new life that is unencumbered by the toil and pain of this life.

                                                               i.      1 Corinthians 15:52-54 

2. Heaven will be a glorious place of eternal peace with the Son.

                                                               i.      Revelation 21:1-6 

3. You Will Be Preserved by the Power of God Through Faith Unto the End. – vs. 5*
1. All those that believe the Word of God will receive life through faith.

                                                               i.      John 5:24 

2. All those that have been given faith will not be lost.

                                                               i.      John 10:27-30 

3. Christ the one that gave you faith in the first place will be faithful to complete that work.

                                                               i.      Philippians 1:6 

4. Christ will keep and preserve you unto the end.

                                                               i.      Jude 1:1 

                                                             ii.      Jude 1:24-25 

1 Peter 1:1-2

1 Peter 1:1-2

You are the Church and God’s Elect

1Pe 1:1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 

1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

1. You are Specially Favored and Chosen by the Father. – vs. 2a*
1. You are a holy people set aside for God’s purpose

                                                               i.      Deuteronomy 7:6-8 

2. You are chosen to be a people of God’s love

                                                               i.      John 15:16-17 

3. You are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son

                                                               i.      Romans 8:29-30 

4. You are chosen to be the light of the world

                                                               i.      1 Peter 2:9 

2. You are Sanctified by the Work of the Holy Spirit. – vs. 2b*
1. You are made holy by the word

                                                               i.      Acts 20:32 

2. You are made holy and set free from the power and penalty of sin

                                                               i.      1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

3. You are  Justified by the Blood of Christ. – vs. 2c*
1. Your iniquity was laid on Him

                                                               i.      Isaiah 53:4-6 

2. He Gave You His Righteousness

                                                               i.      2 Corinthians 5:21 

4. You are Armed with the Multiplied Power of Grace and Peace. – vs. 2d*
1. Isaiah 54:17

Zechariah 4:3-7

Zechariah 4:3-7

He Shall Bring Forth the Cornerstone

Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 

Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 

Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 

  

1. The Two Olive Trees – vs. 3-5*
1. The meaning of the two olive trees in the immediate contest of history.

                                                               i.      One represents the governmental power

                                                             ii.      The other represents the priestly power

2. The big picture meaning of the two olive trees throughout the story of history.

                                                               i.      One represents the Jewish Nation

1.      Romans 11:25-28 

                                                             ii.      One represents the Church

1.      Romans 11:11-17

                                                            iii.      In the end of time both olive trees will submit to Christ

1.      Revelation 5:9-14 

2. Message to Zerubbabel – vs. 6-7*
1. While Zerubbabel was to protect the Kingdom of God with the force of arms and the power of his might, there would come a day that the Kingdom of God would be advance by the power of the Spirit of God and no longer through force. – vs. 6*

                                                               i.      Matthew 11:11-12 

                                                             ii.      2 Corinthians 10:4-5 

2. Zerubbabel’s dynasty will be leveled and ultimately the Messiah will assume His rightful place on the throne of David. – vs. 7*

                                                               i.      Genesis 49:9-10 

                                                             ii.      Zechariah 3:8-9 

                                                            iii.      Acts 4:10-12 

                                                           iv.      1 Peter 2:4-9 

Pastor Kevin Weston preaches from Zechariah 4:1-2

We love Christ and His precious people the Church. We are the light of the world which cannot be hind. Preach the gospel to all who will listen.

Zechariah 4:1-2

Zechariah 4:1-2

The Church of Christ is the Light of the World

Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 

Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 

1. The Chosen People the Jews
1. The Minora was to be a reminder to the Jewish nation that they were to reach the world for God.

                                                               i.      Exodus 25:31 

2. The Chosen People the Church
1. Christ is the Purity of His People

                                                               i.      Candle stick of gold

1.      Revelation 1:9-20

2. Christ is the Head of His People

                                                               i.      Bowl upon the top of it

1.      Colossians 1:15-23

3. Christ is the Flame of His People

                                                               i.      His seven lamps thereon

1.      Matthew 5:14-16 

4. Christ is the Source of Power for His People

                                                               i.      Seven pipes to the seven lamps

1.      John 16:13-15