1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
DON'T CONFORM TO OR CHOSE THE OLD PATTERN OF SINFUL PASSIONS
2 Timothy 1:13 (NLT)
Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.
- John Stott
Definition of a pattern:
decorate with a repeated design. A template for a predictable future outcome; a reliable sample of traits, acts, tendencies, or other observable characteristics of a person; a predesigned route to be followed by a wide receiver in football
WHOSE DESIGN OR PATTERN ARE WE DECORATING OUR LIVES WITH?
Matthew 16:13–19 (NLT)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
PETER STARTED ON THE RIGHT PATTERN THEN HE GOT DISTRACTED BY A DIFFERENT PATTERN... A WORLDLY PATTERN OF SELF PRESERVATION
Luke 22:54–62 (NLT)
54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”
“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
THE PATTERN WE CHOSE SHOWS THE LORD WE FOLLOW. THE LORD WE FOLLOW SETS THE THOUGHTS & ACTIONS WE CHOSE.
ALL WAS NOT LOST FOR PETER AND ALL IS NOT LOST FOR YOU EITHER!
John 21:15–19 (NLT)
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
OVERCOMING OLD THOUGHTS STARTS WHEN WE DROP OUR SELVES LIKE PETER, OBEY JESUS AND FOLLOW HIM! THEN WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM AND DO AS WE SEE HIM DO!
Peter chose the right pattern then for a moment chose another! Thank God for His grace - do like Peter go back even though you may fall. Don't stop choosing the Godly pattern even if you have chosen a worldly one before. RUN AFTER THE HOLY PATTERN EVEN IF IT'S NOT POPULAR!