R458 Who Am I?

Whether you're a Christ follower.

Not everyone of us at some point times asked the question, who am on my beautiful today Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word's gonna take us to the book of first Peter there beginning in first chapter 1st verse as we answer this question, who am I opening God's word together is what we do on a regular basis and we encourage you to do it every single day. Have a wonderful tool that will help you do that an email from Dr. Wilton sign up for online right now. CW online.org that's right. Visit our website EW online.org sign of the daily Encouraging Word email wonderful bit of insight course and it will be there every day we would have a free copy. That's a hard copy if you're interested, you can always call us at 866-899-WORD for your copy as well. Would you please strike your Bibles this morning and maybe first Peter in chapter 1 in the New Testament. First Peter chapter 1 each one of us and those watching by way of television and worshiping with us. We find also in life by such multi-nature of struggle circumstances every kind of imaginable thing that comes upon us in our lives and marriages how family lives who our finances.

My very good friend David Mathis lost my playing a game of baseball in the hood. I identify with that. But those are the things that we have to deal with because David Mathis is a great ballplayer to play a game of baseball is a very important part of our lives and we enjoyed that.

I know that he enjoys that and so you get injured in any kind of lien it interrupts the enjoyment it puts you out of sync with God's plan and purpose. Even though we cannot see it. I want you to know beloved friends that we receive many letters hundreds of letters as you can imagine. And it's a blessing beyond description. I want you to know that I would never and I never have and I never will ever violate the confidence of any later, or any matter that is ever shared with me personally is your pasta. We will never do that. I do not even share personal requests without stop we hold confidentiality's exactly where they need to be held 100% but I received the letter on Thursday and move me to such a deep level that are clearing the lady who wrote me this later.

Little did I know what a blessing was in store for me.

Not only had she written me this incredible later but as I lost her I said to her. I wonder whether you and your husband would anyway give this pasta permission to read this letter to this congregation into television audience and I believe that what happened to you so deeply touches our lives that we not only identify with Mary and with Max and with their family. We want you to know that God is the God of grace. Please allow me to read this letter with their permission. This morning, lost you don't know me but I have watched television worship program so many times I'm writing you with regard to the tragedy that is happened in our family and I pray that you might have a word of comfort and encouragement for us 24-year-old son Jason and his father had worked on a vacation trip planning things they needed for Jason to take destinations, campgrounds, etc. that written on these plans for several months he wanted to see some of the country Western states before he came back to a new and exciting job. He told his dad, now is the time for me to do this.

I'm still single and it is something I've always wanted to do. Of course, as a man usually is. I wasn't quite ready for him to go as he was leaving he stopped in the middle of the driveway and yelled back to me man Doug Loring.

I'm going to be all right. As it happened, my husband Max was assigned to work for two weeks out in Texas and I went with him. We made plans to meet Jason in the town in New Mexico on the weekend of September 12 and 13 this past month we did and we spent those two days with him.

I helped him pick out some gifts for the family back home, including baby gifts for his new left whom he had no we lift them on Sunday afternoon he was going to pick some groceries and continue his trip although he said he was really homesick and wanted to hurry back home to his family.

He has an older brother Greg and older sister Lisa younger brother Keith younger sister, Sharon.

We all such a close family on Monday morning I decided to start a Bible study by cutting off the ring talking only you can change me.

I wrote in my notebook that I want to be read on the inside as well is on the outside not a hypocrite. I wanted to be Christ like. I wanted others, especially my family to see Christ in me and in error that I do and say I wanted to be the wife and mother. He wanted me to be. I wanted a real close personal relationship with him. Only you can do this in Jesus name. Then I prayed for my children.

We been out of church for several years because of something really important now that happened Monday night around 11 o'clock.

The phone rang at the place we were staying in Texas how precious son Jason was gone home to be with the Lord Jesus in an effort to study room that night he slept in the van. He was driving placed a can of charcoal lubricates Ones in the van with him.

He went to sleep my dear that has seemed to me mom gone so gently all how my heart aches for my sweet Jason I carried him beneath my heart for nine months and labor to give him booth.

I heard him saying, Jesus loves me and I heard him tell about the little black box when he was saved.

He said it was a little boy who had a little black box and he rested and shined a rollup clean and pretty soon.

This is what happens when you give your heart to Jesus. Jesus takes that old black hawk and brushes and cleans a very up and makes it whiter than snow. I saw him helping his four-year-old nephew, catching his first fish I saw him going to such a dear young man. You said so many times to so many people. My purpose in life is my family. I want to do for them whenever they need.

I had told him we didn't need things just to have them as a son was enough pasta written at Jason's my Jason's funeral 11 people prayed the sinners prayer is Lifetouch. So many people that he never even knew one of the songs he son was if you could see me now. Jason would be saying to us, mom and dad if if you could see me now. I know this should be such a comfort to us and it is but is it okay for me to office. Why, you know it's not my lips will smile again loftily come from my mouth again, but not have to sign. I miss him so just to touch his face again. Give them a hug again. Look at those twinkling eyes again will I know him in heaven. Can you give me Scripture. Would you also pray for us.

We will be driving back to New Mexico next week to get his van, personal belongings and gifts he had. I realize that you are not out pasta but we believe you to love God and his people and would appreciate so very much. Your prayers and any Scripture that you could give us at this time.

We thank you so much for listening without love.

Thank you for writing that letter to all of us today. It's okay to ask a whole lot of questions when we hurt and I really believe with grandma Mary. I'm just one person but I believe that it's okay the awesome God, why I think he understands the question. I think the Lord Jesus knew why he went to the cross country. He had every reason and I think the Lord Jesus knows that we struggle and we hurt and we go through life with their least things and we know how much you must miss Jason.

He must've been a marvelous young man and congregation. We just send all of our love to you today and to every person today who finds themselves in circumstances perhaps not too different from what Max and Mary find themselves in because life is filled with every kind of conceivable challenges that when the Bible does the word of God say that we become exempt from these challenges, but one thing the Bible does say is that we can stay strong in difficult times. You know the most remarkable thing about first Peter is that the home of this wonderful letter was written to people like you and me. We later discovered that these were remarkable people here in the first Peter, this time at which Peter was writing because we going to discover that they were strangers and unusual kind of name declaring a group of people. These people" strangers in the word stranger.

They literally made a lot of these people were they relate to people that was scattered. They were sojourners in the land that were being persecuted.

In fact, I'm going to tell you that Peter wrote the sending chapter 5 in verse 13 and I'm not going to dwell on this if you don't mind this morning he actually says that he's writing from Babylon and so people like me who are interested we go back and ask ourselves where was he writing this because maybe it will help us to understand why he was writing this, there were three Babylon's in Scripture that was first ancient Babylon in Mesopotamia. We read about it in the book of Revelation, but ancient Babylon in Mesopotamia became disintegrated in A.D. 41 under the attorney of Emperor Caligula was such a persecutor of the faith that the Jews ran the end of the persecuted in an incredible way. In essence was saying to them, listen my people. I want you to know that you can stay strong in difficult times. The other Babylon was in Egypt is no record of Peter having gone down there.

The third Babylon we read about in Revelation chapter 17, which is road. We know that Peter was eventually crucified upside down in Rome.

His wife is malted. Peter didn't want to be executed the same way as the Lord Jesus and so tradition tells us that he was crucified upside down because Dottie's ministry in Rome even though he didn't find the church of Rome is written in the next of the Roman empire. So let's read the first two verses Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Conchas, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and botany and those were the five provinces of Rome who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father through sanctifying work of the spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling by his blood, grace and peace be your in abundance and that a wonderful word is another wonderful thing to think we can say not only to Max and Mary, but to every one of us today.

No matter what circumstance we find ourselves in the meadow where we believe that no matter where we have to still go grace and peace be yours in the bus. I seems to me it's almost as though the apostle Peter was saying let's just back up an 18 wheeler get unloaded up with grace and peace. It's your right and we move you into your life, and mixed mode and abundant amount of grace and peace. It's yours now. How's that made possible. How can we stay strong in difficult times when we go when it seems to me rather interesting.

The other Peter had to thank us for writing. This is for this purpose was in order to challenge and strengthen people like you and me. I love that when I read Peter and when I when I begin to study God's word. I'm not only strengthen but I'm challenged but there was a second purpose for writing, Peter, and it was simply to reenter the truth we going to discover that I love that word to reinforce means to give it some extra protection means to God to provide a greater sense of protection for our service. Peter was writing this note I need to challenge and to strengthen us but to really in to remind us about serviceable that we have solid rock upon which we stand, and I think it's obvious that God chose Pete to go to because Peter was the rock upon which the church is if anybody could understand the ups and downs we can understand Peter thinking about staying strong in difficult times. In fact, I think Peter had the audacity to write this note to he was the one who denied Jesus three times.

Talk about staying strong in difficult times. Anyone here ever wanted to give up. Peter had every reason anyone here ever having to lift the lid down and give a bite about involving a broken staying strong in difficult times, and he asked the question why God because something is happening, then felt bad because you asked that question. Staying strong in difficult times by I submit to you that we need to discover who we all am I that's what we need to look at this morning from God's word in these first two verses Peter under the inspiration of the Spirit of God goes so deep that we could never justify any study in this passage because God takes us into the triune God and trying to answer the question, how can we come in difficult times. He says let me see where can we begin, we will begin begin in the top of the triune God is out three points this morning, God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit. But we gotta put it in this context I am chosen by man I am sanctified by his spirit and I'm sprinkled by his blood is on the father of God the spirit there is the book of God the son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am chosen by broad, I am sanctified by the spirit and I'm sprinkled by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and in to say you have an abundant amount of grace and peace made available to you. He puts that on the surface was about very existence, and he believes everything in the triune God.

God the father, God the son of God.

The whole and he says: before we even start to try to discover how we can stay strong in difficult times. I want you to know who you will.

I want you to know that. So let's have a look at this and when we look at these two things are going to happen when we have a fresh look at an understanding of the triune God the father son and the Holy Spirit will not only going to be challenged and strengthened, but God is itself going to read our ability and capacity to continue despite the hood in the plane that we will forgive the eruption. But that's worth seeing again the truth of who God is going to reinforce our ability and our capacity to continued despite the pain and the hurt we have to endure wow you're listening to Dr. Don Wilton forgive the eruption.

He insists I remind you where they will not just during this broadcast for 24 hours a day in two ways on the phone at 866899673. That's 866899673 or online@twonline.org that's TE W online.org. Now back to today's teaching line chosen by law, I'm chosen by Bob Ruta.

God says that investor, you have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the friends really getting into deep area election and predestination.

I pray that no one in the skull relation will ever become bound by the use of the triune God. Let me tell you, folks, there is no greater potential for you as a believer to be bound and restricted and to lose your joy in the Lord Jesus Christ other than an in proper and incorrect understanding of election and predestination. I did develop an improper understanding either to one extreme to another interface group of sanctified Christians become more noonday Pharisees. Let me help you to understand this just very brief. Basically what side Peter is saying that he was saying. I am chosen by broad upgrading to the knowledge of God and the elect of God. Some people say we let means that some people are good to go to heaven and some people are elected to go to hell. That is not what the Bible says Jesus said those who come to me I will in no wise cost out Jesus said, whosoever moved to the right, Jesus said, I have come to save the lost outcome to see inside those gone from the that is the very end of this dimension of God is to say, but God is given you and me an opportunity to turn them down. The free will of man, you cannot be saved outside of the spirit of God, because this is you to himself. Someone told me one time and I love this illustration when on I'm traveling down the highway and in front of me as a bridge and on that bridge is written, whosoever wound to the Lord. Like, I'm part of the whosoever will, because I'm very interested in my soon to save man I'm been with the potential to be saved because of what Jesus Christ has done in the past for me having lady died upon the cross and so I traveled on Linux the spirit of God is me himself. I received Jesus Christ, I exercise my faith in him.

I painted my sin.

I trust in him and not close under the bridge of salvation. Whosoever will let's me as I pass on the whosoever will bridge of salvation. I turn around and I look back and written on the backside it says you all God's you chosen one.

My election is based upon the fact that I have responded to the spirit of God, who is in me and growing me to do and friends with am struggling and when I'm going through difficulties and sharp turns a blind eye. Thank God that I can be kind of that I'm chosen by broad does it mean it means that has a plan for me means that God has a spindly. It means that God has a place for me. That's what it means to be chosen of God. I love that I love that God has a plan for me.

That's what it's all about folks. God has a plan for you and me and you know what he sees. He says I am providing you my aircraft my plan. I want you to know that I know the end from the beginning. I know the final destination.

I know I'm going to get in there who's with me, and be led you the pilot. I'm with you. I just believe God is going to get anywhere. I need a man that I want to think about this. Staying strong in difficult times. By knowing who I am. I am chosen by God on God's plan and feeling is that he's the pilot is the one who's driving the ship.

God has a plan for me. God has a purpose for me. He sees the future future. He has a place for me. Why because I'm a stranger as a believer I must come to a fresh understanding that my focus must be on heaven when Naaman and ask these questions I must remember that I'm just here for a little while. Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 13 died in faith and confess they were strangers and premiums on the first Chronicles 2129 in verse 15 we are strangers, as will allow for a fabulous blaze on shadow and there is not a body about the psalmist and saw my hundred 19 and verse 19 I am a stranger upon the I'm chosen by broad is that remarkable is the second thing Peter reminds us of to give us strength to encourage us to reinforce truth is I'm already chosen by Bob but I'm sanctified by the spirit. I look at the Trinity, the whole triune God is being built in me. Can you imagine that even though I'm down in the dumps and I'm by myself and the sky was the God says you are someone who has been completely by broad before the son of God the Holy Spirit. That's what strengthens me strength comes in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Have you made that decision before we get away closing thoughts from her pastor and chief encourager Dr. Don Wilton are you ready to give you a heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my Jesus name.

My friend welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting. You God is moving your life you tell somebody if you give your life to Jesus Christ. You need to tell somebody and why not us to put free resources in your hands and you can do that through our prayer line.

Here's loose to give you all the details we'd love to hear from you at 866-899-6733. Let's pray with you and praying for you Encouraging Word the 24 hour live prayer line you can call 866899 married to a library, said he would be glad to trailing 9993.

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