Rhyming Sermon Notes: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 & 1 Peter 3:18-22

The Thessalonians thought the rapture they missed,
with trials and persecutions they were now living stressed.

Paul writes to encourage, to strengthen, remind
that this tribulation was promised. They’re not left behind.

For Christians to suffer, to struggle, to bleed
is normal in life, to be expected, received.

In the struggles of life, we’re to live for the Lord.
Lives to point to the Savior, whom we trust and adore.

Now may the God of peace, sanctify, preserve and not blame
He will crush Satan and keep you from shame.

This “peace” is not worldly, not based on the times.
It’s based on the knowledge of His peace in our lives.

To be at peace with God, that relationship there
helps to comfort, relieve and remind He does care.

God Himself is the actor, only He can.
His power is shared with no spirit or man.

Justification by faith, before Christ to be right.
Sanctified, Holy, then Glorified by His might.

Jesus lived, Jesus died, Jesus prayed in the night,
That we’ll be sanctified by God’s power and might.

Set apart for his purpose, for his Glory to live.
Instant and Progressive, both are his gifts to give.

To live without blame, sexually pure,
being like Christ, in the world we endure.

Our likeness, desires, and fellowship should not be
based in the world, we need to come out, holy and free.

Justification is instant in Christ,
not on our works or our good lives.

Sanctification, by which we do grow,
this is progressive, as our Savior we know.

Our spirit, soul, body, preserved, complete,
As he is the head, we the hands and the feet.

Part of our sanctification is to be preserved.
This sure salvation, all from him, not deserved.

In the world we face dangers, deceived and attacked.
Jesus prays for preservation that nothing would be lacked.

Eternal salvation, God completes what he starts.
God quickens our spirit, forms and quickens our hearts.

The saints perseverance, perseverance in Him.
God keeps us in him, even when we do sin.

This is not an excuse or a reason to fall.
It just lets us know his power over all.

The Church should be holy, presented without blame
when Jesus returns! Praise his holy name!

If his people keep sinning, then what does this mean?
“Perfected sanctification” for those he redeemed.

In Jude we’re reminded that through him we can stand
in the presence of his glory, with great joy raise our hands.

God’s faithfulness, lasting, it will not pass away.
His purposes standing, we can trust him each day.

If possible to lose our salvation we would.
Praise God he is Peace, He is faithful and good.

The proud be brought low, exalted the humble,
Jesus death on the cross, over this do not stumble.

We as his children, called to suffer as he,
And then receive glory, when his face we see!

Jesus at the right hand of the Father above
exalted in power, glory, and love.

Jesus’ exaltation, how did it come to be?
Step one, the honorable burial, shown in Isaiah 53.

“Assigned a grave with wicked men he will be.”
“Yet buried in a rich man’s tomb, decay did not see.”

Step two, the resurrection, Christ’s work all fulfilled
Fulfilled the prophecy, completed all God willed.

Step three, when all authority on heaven and on earth
was given to the Savior, of inestimable worth.

We can rest in God’s power, his will is always done.
as the world turns deep to sin, the victory is won.

Step four is Christ’s ascension, to heaven he did go.
In this same, glorious way he will come, this we know.

Seated at the right hand of God, is where he is today,
and to this glorious God, we know we can boldly pray.

The significance of Christ’s Exaltation, what could this mystery be?
He now lives in God’s presence, praying for you and me.

Christ in the Holy of Holies, as a man overcame sin and death.
He overcame the devil, and by this we’ve been blessed.

Freed of the slavery of the fear of death,
Christ overcame, sat down, and gave us new life and breath.

He’s raised us up with him, sitting at God’s right hand
the place of power, joy and victory, this place does command.

His exaltation is our victory, he the victory won.
Gave his life, suffered and died, now exalted, God’s own Son.

The ministry of Jesus, is now to intercede.
He does call us brothers, we do call him Lord,
only in his death and life can we be truly freed.

He is the mediator, standing between God and man,
unique as Melchizedek, eternal he does stand.

Christ is now our advocate, mediator and high priest.
He stands for our cleansing, removing sin, for us, the least.

He pleads on our behalf, with the power of his blood.
it’s not that we are holy, or that we’re bad or good.

He is the only advocate, our hope in him alone.
Only by his holiness, his sacrifice did us atone.

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light
we fellowship with each other, and by his blood are then made right.

If we say we have no sin, truly we are blind
but if we humbly confess our sins, from sin he does unbind.

(Pastor Dean then read large sections of the following hymn, by Charles Wesley (1742), before continuing the sermon.)

1 Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears;
the bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands, before the throne my Surety stands;
my name is written on his hands, my name is written on his hands.

2 He ever lives above, for me to intercede,
his all-redeeming love, his precious blood to plead.
His blood atoned for ev’ry race, his blood atoned for ev’ry race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace, and sprinkles now the throne of grace.

3 Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me.
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry, “forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“nor let that ransomed sinner die, nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

4 My God is reconciled; his pard’ning voice I hear.
He owns me for his child, I can no longer fear.
with confidence I now draw nigh, with confidence I now draw nigh,
and “Father, Abba, Father!” cry, and “Father, Abba, Father!” cry.

Daily on our knees, draw near with a pure heart,
we come by the blood of Christ, our power and our start.

Good things we should do, to him be glorified,
but these things do not save us, only in his blood we hide.

“What then shall we say? If God is for us, who against?”
Christ Jesus is the one who died, his intercession is immense.

Every trial, every blessing, in all that comes we can trust,
That God is always for us, and his blessings are the best.

What do you need to live for him? His blessings do provide.
Provision for and freely given, as we are by his side.

Purchased at the cross, and now at God’s right hand
he intercedes for our provision, he leads us through dark land.

As Christ is our shepherd, in his presence we will be
Glory, glory! Hallelujah! His glorious face we’ll see!

Prayer is the means by which the benefit received.
The evidence of Christ’s intercession is that we intercede.

Christ teaches us how to pray, that we may pray, confess.
It is in our prayers, to be like him, in this we are blessed.

The Spirit helps our weakness, we do not know how to pray.
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and teaches what to say.

This is how we do receive, all that he has to give.
Not just the words, but a change of heart, that shows in Him we live.

Rock of ages, I hide in thee, in the tempests of life
I flee to my refuge, when dealing with all strife.

Where do you go when dealing with the pains of life?
That is your idol, if anything but Christ.

Teach us day by day that Christ our Rock and Refuge be,
that now and at the end of life, our precious Lord we’ll see!