FIRST PETER

Peter 2:15 – THE WILL OF GOD

***We must all know what the will of the lord is for our lives

will – means the plan, purpose, desires, and wishes of the Lord

a. being in the will of God produces blessing

b. being in the will of God produces a fight with the enemy

c. being in the will of God means following the Word of God

d. being in the will of God is hard at times

          WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?

1. THE WILL OF GOD IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT – v15

-always doing what is right

-you will be tempted not to do what is right

v7 – husbands dwell with your wives

***means to be faithful

***To have a shared home life

***To make time to be home with your wife

                  Why always do what is right???

a. Always doing what is right keeps you right with the Lord

-this produces an open heaven – Matt 6:33

b. Always do what is right even when everyone else is doing what is wrong

-Everyone else is doing it???

Jesus is our example to follow – 1 Peter 2:22-23

2. THE WILL OF GOD IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE FREE – v16

-as born again believers, we are free

        a. we became free at salvation

-speak like you are free

-declare that you are free

        b. We become free by placing our faith in Jesus and His Word – Rom 4:16-17

-declare you are free…receive you are free…you have it even though you cannot see it or the manifestation of it has not come yet

Example:  Abraham and Sarah – had a child when they were 100 and 80 years old.  They had to wait 13 years, but they received and declared they would have a baby as soon as the Lord gave them the promise

***Even though we are free, we still have authority over us as a bondservant…

-Therefore, we can never do what we want to do

-Jesus has some awesome things to say and some of them were His last words

3. THE WILL OF GOD IS TO SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY – vs18-20

v18 – this is the workplace

servants – are employees

masters – are the bosses

submissive – means to place yourself under; to get in line under someone

***We are to submit to the Lord, but also to humans…

-For the Lord’s sake – v13 – as long as they do not tell us to do anything that does not line up with the Word of God

v18 – submit to harsh and gentle bosses – good and bad bosses

good – means mild and bendable

harsh – means unfair/crooked (the opposite of straight)

***The Lord places us under all kinds of authority…

1. to do a work in us

2. to really teach us submission

3. to show us what we are really like

4. to get us to realize the Lord is on control of our lives