Satisfaction, Part 1

Welcome to Delight in Grace, the teaching ministry of Rich Powell, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. What if you could have deep satisfaction in your heart, even in the hardest circumstances? What if our joy did not hinge on having what we want and being rid of what we don't want in our lives? 1 Peter 5 10-11 reminds us of the truths that, when we fully embrace them, will bring that kind of joy and satisfaction. The kind that we find only in the person of Jesus.

Let's listen in. We're continuing our series in 1 Peter, and we're in chapter 5. This Sunday, next Sunday, we will conclude 1 Peter. This series, this is the fifth series in the series of the whole book, and it's the community of the free. The community of the free. First of all, let's review what our freedom is in Christ. If you are in Christ, if you have surrendered yourself in faith to Jesus Christ, you are free from the penalty and the power of sin. You are free from the wrath of God. You are free from that. You are free from the bondage of sin, the ball and chain that will hold you from becoming what God has designed you to be. You're not just free from some things. You are also free to. You are free to do the very thing you were created for, and that is to know God and walk with him and delight in him.

You can't do that if you're not in Christ. This is our freedom, and this is why Peter is telling the Asian Christians, live as people who are free. Live that freedom. In chapter 5, he's describing the community of the free. Servant leaders, submission, security, and today, satisfaction. See, Rich, you use that word a lot. Yes.

Let me tell you why. You know this verse, all things were created by him and for him. You know what that means? God is your highest good and your deepest satisfaction. We were created to be satisfied in him to the degree that we are satisfied in him. We live our freedom and we glorify him. I use that word a lot because God designed us for it, and we are kidding ourselves and robbing ourselves if we think our highest and greatest satisfaction is going to come in stuff.

No. God. Satisfaction is a characteristic of the community of the free. Look at chapter 5, verses 10 and 11 with me today, and after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you to him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. And that's where we will realize our full and complete ultimate satisfaction because we are in Christ.

That's what we have to keep in mind. That is the ultimate end of the gospel, that we are with God. Now, he's writing this letter to the Christians of Asia Minor, Asia Minor. In the Roman Empire, the Christians were dispersed. They were cast out of Rome. This letter was probably written shortly after the great Roman fire of 64 AD. The Christian, many of the Christians were possibly displaced, but they were definitely disdained empire-wide.

They had a bad name, not because they deserved it, but because rumors were spread about them. And so that's why he says in verse 10, and after you have suffered a little while. I want to begin today with reminding us of some crucial contrasts that we need to keep in mind as people who are free. As we who are in Christ, we keep the big picture in view, the crucial contrast.

The first one is contrasting the dot and the line. If you're visiting here today, some of you are saying, what on earth does he mean by that? Let me tell you what I mean. All of eternity, from eternity past to eternity future.

All of that. Let that be represented from a line from that wall to that wall, and even that's a misnomer, right? That's not accurate.

That's not adequate. But in your mind, in your thinking this morning, let that represent a line from that wall to that wall. Now, what is your life on that line?

A tiny speck that you can barely even see. That's what we need to contrast. Notice what he says in verse 10. Look at verse 10 with me. After you have suffered what?

A little while. That little dot is a little while compared to all of eternity. Notice what the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light, momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. As we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

That's the nature of faith. It's not a leap in the dark. Not any more than a the pilot of an airline is flying like a leap in the dark.

He's not. He has all the information he needs. We have the information we need.

We can't see the future, but we certainly have information about it, and information about what has happened in the past that guarantees us a secure and fulfilled future. That's a contrast we need to keep in mind, because the adversary of your soul in the flesh will demand that we become focused on right here, right now. And when we do that, we lose perspective.

That's what he wants from us. But as Peter said, you got in 1st Peter there, turn back to 1st Peter chapter 1. Look at verses 6 and 7 with me. 1st Peter 1 verses 6 and 7. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you've been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

You see, there's the big picture, and the big picture has a reference to it, doesn't it? It's what God has promised us. The eternal forever and ever, he says in verse 11, to him be dominion forever and ever. That's the line, and we get to enjoy that with him. The infinite being, the infinite one who is the benevolent sovereign, he is unfailingly good, and we get to enjoy him forever.

Keep that in view. This is why I wanted us, this is why I wanted us to memorize 1st Peter chapter 1 verses 3 to 9. So here it is.

For those of you who have not memorized it, it's on the screen. For the rest of us, all three of us, and I have to cheat some too, read this together with me, or say this together with me, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his great mercy. He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to a living evidence that is unperishable, unmitile, and unbating, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him.

Keep going. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. You need to know that passage. That is the big picture. That is understanding our current reality in light of the big picture. Christian, you need to know that passage.

That is a crucial contrast that we must keep in mind, the dot versus the line. The second crucial contrast that arises from this text is the contrast between the consumer and the creator. The consumer.

Who is the consumer? Peter was talking about him. Look back at verse eight. Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him firm in your faith. Resist him firm in your faith. After you've suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to the eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

To him be dominion forever and ever. We're so glad you've joined us for Delight in Grace, the teaching ministry of Rich Powell, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. You can hear this message and others anytime by visiting our website, www.delightingrace.com. You can also check out Pastor Rich's book, Seven Words That Can Change Your Life, where he unpacks from God's word the very purpose for which you were designed. Seven Words That Can Change Your Life is available wherever books are sold. As always, tune in to Delight in Grace weekdays at 10 a.m.