In this sermon, the preacher urges the congregation to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives among non-believers. The preacher emphasizes the importance of Jesus Christ as the foundation and cornerstone of the church. Believers are encouraged to trust and believe in Jesus, as those who do will never be put to shame or criticized. The sermon concludes with a call to draw closer to Jesus, surrendering all and building our lives upon him as the sure foundation.

Let's open our Bibles to 1st Peter chapter 2 and we read from verse 6. We'll read a couple of verses from 1st Peter chapter 2 from verse 6. For in scripture it says, see I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious, but to those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. And a stone that causes men to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into the light of the Lord. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. But my friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Lord, here is your word. We beseech you, O Heavenly Father, that you would bless it to us. May it be, Lord, that when we leave here, each one of us will be able to leave having received some treasures from your word. Amen. There is a lot that has blessed me from this passage that we have read. God here takes a heavenly comparison and he gives it to us here as his congregation, as his church on earth. And he gave us his son, Jesus Christ, that from him we may learn that which we need to know. And today he presents him to us as the foundation, as the cornerstone of the church. He presents Jesus to us as that stone on which we may build without being ashamed. He presents to us Jesus, the foundation of the church, someone who is our example and of whom we need not be ashamed when it is said we should take after him. And he has presented, placed on a mountaintop for the whole world to see as the chief cornerstone and that anybody who builds without this cornerstone will never be successful. We must build upon him. And those who build upon him need to believe in him who has been sent to us. The Bible says that if we believe in him and we trust in him, we will never be put to shame. The one who trusts and believes in Jesus will never be put to shame. That person will never be disappointed. That person will never be criticized or found fault with. Now you can look at your life and see the way in which you live, the way in which you believe in the Lord Jesus. Are you perhaps put to shame? The word says draw nigh unto him. Even though in the past you were negligent, you didn't pay attention, now pay close attention to him. I don't know how you see the Lord Jesus in your life, how you take him after having heard so much of him. What is he to you? Is he just someone who is passing by? What is he to you? Has Jesus become precious to you? Has he become your closest friend? The one in whom you put your full trust and where you say that he is all and all in your life? Those who love him surrender their lives to him. Those who love him surrender all, they forsake all for his sake. They deny even their very own lives because of him. Those who love him deny the pleasures of this world due to him being king. Therefore we also need to draw closer to him and come and fully surrender our lives to him. Then build upon this foundation which is Jesus Christ. And we are given this guarantee that if we build our life of faith upon this cornerstone, upon this foundation, we will never be put to shame. That building will never collapse. What is of prime importance is that you believe on the Lord Jesus. When I say believe on him, I don't mean that you just come to church and just listen to sermons and God's word, even though that isn't bad in itself. I know there are such people that are satisfied just by the fact of going to church. But in their going to church, they don't believe. They've never surrendered themselves to him. They've never denied their lives for the sake of Jesus. They haven't separated with their pet sins because of Jesus. They still hold on to their old lives that is leading them straight to perdition instead of surrendering to Jesus. Aren't there perhaps such people in our midst? Aren't there perhaps in our midst young people, maybe even older people that are just attending church, but they've never given their lives to Christ? And then it is said that to you who believe this stone is precious, those to those who believe this stone is precious, he is all in all to them. They love him and they trust in him. I don't know whether you believe in Jesus. I don't know what this belief of yours in the Lord Jesus, this faith of yours in him, whether it's caused you to fully surrender your life to him or not. But here's God's promise. The one who trusts or believes in him will never be put to shame. Look carefully at your life. How long haven't you disappointed people? Perhaps you've disappointed your parents as a young person. Maybe you've disappointed the church. Maybe you've disappointed God. Maybe you've disappointed your family. All that happened because you hadn't yet believed on the Lord Jesus. But after having surrendered your life to him, believing on him, God says, he who trusts and believes in him will not be put to shame. In other words, those who had been disappointed in your life, new hope can arise when you now believe in Jesus. Those who have given up on you, who said, well, there's no help for this person, they receive new hope when they see you believing in Jesus. Maybe your parents are wondering, I wonder what will become of this child of mine when I see the kind of life that he or she is leading. They've lost hope concerning you. They've got no hope of something good coming from your future. All that is like that because you haven't yet identified with the Lord Jesus, he who gives hope to those who are hopeless. Surrender to Jesus. Identify with him. Be one with him. Believe on him. And something amazing will happen in your life. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare and preach the praises of him who called you. I said earlier on, it might be that you don't understand for what reason you're in this world. It might be that you're in church and you don't know what the role is, what the function is that you should fulfil in church. Maybe you're a young member of the church, a new member, and you don't yet know and understand what is your function, what role should you fulfil in church. Let me remind you that as God's church, there is a calling that he has for us in this world. There is a great task for each one of us that we should accomplish. Maybe you look down upon yourself. Maybe you have some inferiority complex. Maybe you say, now who am I that I should do anything or could do anything for God? Maybe when people are mentioned that work for God or do something for God, you say, well, I'm the last one to be mentioned, and maybe I'm not even mentioned, my name doesn't even count. Let me tell you, those are whisperings of Satan. Here is this great and important task that God has got for you. As you are seated here this morning, you have been called of God. And you need to accomplish that task. You need to do it. Nobody else is going to do it for you and on your behalf. It's not your child, it's not your parent that is going to fulfil that task and that calling for you. You need to do it. A person who has been given a task or a work is trusted and it's expected that he will do it. God expects and God trusts that you will be able to accomplish that task that he has given you to do. God hasn't just called ministers and it's not just the preacher's job to work for God. There is something that God has got for each and every individual and for you included to do. And you need to understand what position God has allocated to you as he has given you this important task that you've got to fulfil. That you need to understand how important it is to God that you should really fulfil that task. We have been given the task to declare the gospel, to preach the gospel. Here is the task that we've been given. Go out and declare this message to the people. It's not just the person next to you who's been called to do that. You have been called. You need to put your name in there that you have been called. You who have been called, you who are built upon this cornerstone which is Jesus Christ, you have been chosen for this task, for this work, for this ministry, you have been chosen for this task. God has called you to do this calling, to go out and to preach. Therefore, get up, go out and fulfil that which God has called you. Don't make excuses like Moses did when he said, but Lord, who am I? I can't speak. I've got a speech defect. I can't go out and speak to people. God knows that as well. But God knows for what he can use you. God knows how he can use you. But what is essential and what is important is that you are faithful to that for which God has called you. I don't know whether you have fulfilled that task, whether you have accomplished that which God has called you, where he has trusted you and he's allocated this task to you, trusting that you would be able to accomplish it. Now, let us look at the calibre of this church through which God wants to accomplish his work on earth. God hasn't called the church just to sit down and be spectators. God hasn't called his church to be spectators and to be judges just to see whether people are doing things in the right way, whether they're doing them in the wrong way. But God has called us to do. Because if we're just spectators, we will see only the faults of others and we'll say, oh, that person has done it in the wrong way. He should have done it like this. He should have done it in this way. He should have spoken in that way. But it's because we are outside, we are onlookers and spectators, we are not involved. Let's understand, God hasn't called us to be spectators. He's called us to be involved in his work and busy propagating his gospel. Now, what kind of people are these who preach the gospel? What kind of a person should you be? You are in the church, you have Jesus as your leader, as your cornerstone. Here in this passage, there are four characteristics that Peter mentions of the kind of person that you should be, that I'd like to lift out. What is this person like who declares the praises of God? First of all, Peter says he is a chosen person. He belongs to a chosen people. Secondly, he is a royal priesthood. Thirdly, a holy nation. And fourthly, a people belonging to God. A chosen people. People that have been chosen and selected out from amongst other people. Do you understand that as you are here this morning, you have been chosen out, you have been selected from many others. You are chosen, not because you are better than others, but as bad and as evil as you are. God chose you out from amongst other people that you might be changed. And God has chosen you with the expectation that there is something that you are going to do for Him. I've seen some might have an inferiority complex, thinking, well, they aren't able to do anything. But nevertheless, Jesus took you out of your sin. He chose you there where you were, and He took you out of your sin, that you might be able to do this work. He washed you with His blood. And you were indeed cleansed. That your feet might be ready to now go and proclaim the good news. I don't know whether you're faithful in this work. Whether you are taken up by your own things. I want to tell you this. There are those who are perishing right now. People that are dying in their sin. Just go out and see what is busy happening. Go to hospital. And you see how people are busy dying there. As they are dying, have they heard, do they know God? And you have heard of Jesus. You have heard of this foundation. What have you done concerning these souls that are perishing? You've been called. You are trusted. But what are you doing concerning God's calling in your life? Or have you taken your calling and you've discarded it? And now you're just paying attention to your own interests. Your own work. Those things that tie you up daily. You're just busy with your daily work and your daily cares. There is not that urgency in your heart when you wake up that you say, God, what do you want me to do for you today? Maybe you don't have that prayer in your heart any longer. When you wake up that you say, oh God, may I be able to do something for you today before the sun sets? Lord, may I be able to tell somebody of you before the sun sets today? Remember the story of Samson? You had been blessed of God. Been given power. Where he could perform miraculous things through that strength that God gave him. In all those miraculous things that he did, there was nothing that he did from his own strength. He was only enabled to do those things through the power and the strength that God gave him for the purpose that God wanted to glorify his name. But you know how it went and how he was caused to deviate and he was sidetracked by a woman. He saw a woman and he became infatuated. He loved her. He went closer to her. And then the enemy worked through that woman. They wanted to obtain to their objectives through her. And this woman started nagging him saying to Samson, now tell me, where is the secret of your strength? And then Samson started by just saying something else saying, if you would do this then you would subdue me. And then they did it. And the enemies were close by to observe whether that which he said would happen or not. And then Delilah would say, but Samson, you don't love me. Why don't you tell me what the real secret is of your strength? Now, if you tie me up with fresh strings and in this way, then you'll subdue me. Then you'll be able to overcome me. Samson, don't you realize that you're busy talking to your enemy? Samson, don't you realize that you are busy conversing and chatting with Satan himself? Samson, don't you realize that this woman, Delilah, is only out to make a mockery of you, to overcome you and to defeat you? Now, I've said it might be that you've been called of God. But instead of you being busy with your calling and doing that which God has called you, you are busy holding a conversation with Satan himself. Satan has no compassion on you. There is nothing that Satan can give you. Even though so many people are faithful to Satan, but there's nothing good that he'll give you. If you've forgotten your calling that God has given you, it would be good that you wake up out of your sleep, that you come to the Lord and say, Lord, please enable me, give me that which I need, that I can do that for which you've called me. Samson died a terrible death. He died with his eyes having been removed, where he could no longer discern. He could no longer see the light of the sun and the light of the moon. He could no longer discern between colors. Why? His eyes had been taken out. And those eyes of which his enemy was so happy. If you are busy toying around with Satan, then realize that Satan won't rest until he's removed your eyes, until he's harmed you and discapacitated you. If your eyes have been removed by Satan, then you start finding fault. You start to criticize. You start to feel sorry for yourself. Nobody takes note of me. Nobody is really interested in me. Even if I'm ill, nobody comes to visit me. The way in which they speak to me, is that the way in which one should speak to somebody? Everything that anybody else does is no longer acceptable to you. You only find fault with everything. Your eyes have been gouged out. And you've lost your spiritual sensitivity. Even if you say something that's wrong, even if you act or respond in the wrong way, and even if somebody comes to try and assist you, you don't see your mistake. You don't see your fault. You've lost your spiritual sensitivity. Your eyes, your spiritual eyes have been taken out. Samson, remember that you're a Nazarite. You are a chosen vessel of God. God has got a special calling for you. You're a chosen people, loved by God. And he wants to be identified with you, trusting in you. That indeed, you will do that task that he's got for you. A royal priesthood. Here is the church of God. Being united with Christ. And your position now is a royal priesthood. Because we have now been united with Jesus Christ. Jesus has got both these portfolios or positions. That of being a priest. And that of being a king. All of that is contained in Jesus. And those who are living stones, build upon this chief cornerstone, which is Jesus Christ, cannot have any other character different to that of that chief cornerstone. They are one with him. Being united with him. They feel that which he feels. And they also recognize that they belong to the royal family. They love the place where they are. The life which they live, his life they live. Young people, you are here living at this place. I don't know whether you realize how much God has loved you in that he's chosen you to grow up in this place. You should have realized how privileged you are that God has chosen you to be at this place where you are protected from so many things that other young people are exposed to. You are protected from many diseases. You are protected from many things that could wrought havoc in your life and damage your life. Or wreak havoc in your life as God has got a purpose for your life. You have been called to this royal, to this heavenly priesthood. And we need to be proud of it. It is said that you are not like everybody else. But then Satan takes out our eyes and we think we are missing out on so many things. The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence and it seems to us as if we are deprived from so many things. What is it that's so wonderful on the other side of the fence? What is it that's so wonderful there in the world that's drawing you? Don't you realize that you are loved of God, that he has chosen you out? What is it in the world that attracts you so much? Maybe you think those on the other side of the fence are the ones who are going to be those in the world, they are so much better off. Maybe you feel in church you are bound. There are so many rules and regulations that you can't do what you like. I'm not allowed to speak to so-and-so. I can't just do what I like. But when will it dawn on you that you belong to the heavenly family and that those who are in the world need to take from your example and not you from theirs? Those who belong to the royal priesthood, they obey God's word. They obey God's instructions. That's their very life. They don't know anything apart from that. Do you remember and do you realize that we should be a holy nation? Now, it costs to be part of a holy nation. For us, as young and older people, to be part of this holy nation, it costs us something in our lives. They, such people, wash and are cleansed. And they are washed. And they are washed in the blood of Jesus. Their sins are forgiven. All their disgrace and blemishes in their lives are taken away. They are separated from the world. Separated to live for God. Separated unto God. Holy. And that holiness is part of their everyday lives. And they love that kind of life. Now, brother, sister, tell me, as you are here, do you love walking in holiness? If you love walking in holiness, then you will love walking in the light and coming for prayer and coming for counseling that God's servants might pray together with you. Let me ask you, when last did you confess your sin and get right with God? When last did you draw nigh unto God? Or do you see that now as something that's old-fashioned? Something that's not necessary for you any longer? When last did you put things right between you and God? When last did the blood of Jesus cleanse you from your sin? No wonder that you're living the kind of life that you're leading. No wonder that there's no determination in your life to live for God. Because you haven't been forgiven from your sin. You haven't been forgiven of the lust of the flesh. You are just going according to your own mind and your way of seeing things. You say what you like when you like. Whether it wounds others, whether it builds others up, you don't care. If you live that kind of a life, you've lived the right way. Gran, when did you last put things right between you and God? I'm not speaking about coming to church. Yes, you do come to church. But when last did you stop a bit? Before going out of church, make sure that your matter with God is sorted out. But maybe you look at things in your life and you evaluate them and say, well, this is a sin, but it's not really that bad. This is just a little sin. It won't separate me that much from God. I don't need to really be concerned about it. But listen to this. With one sin that's in your life, that is unconfessed, that will separate you from God and destroy that fellowship that you have with God. And that which God wants to give you and that which God has given you will disappear from your life, being finished off by that sin that you're allowing in your life. A holy nation takes in and eats that which is holy. Spiritually speaking, that which they take in, that which they eat, spiritually speaking, is holy. And that which then emanates from their lives is also holy. Now, technology has made rapid advances recently. We are now living in an age of cell phones. If one would ever look at some of the messages that some of you are receiving on your cell phones, we perhaps discover that it's only filth. And some of you use your cell phones to send dirty messages to others. What kind of a nation are you if you're like that? Is that the kind of nation that belongs to God? Is that the kind of nation that should declare the praise of God that has become so defiled? But those who are walking with Jesus, they are easily discernible that they are different. They walk with God. They obey God. They are separated unto God. They submit to him. They have been won over. They belong to him. They are now his possession. And they do that which pleases God. A child of God, as you're listening, I trust that you are busy discerning concerning your own life and examining your life to see how you are walking before God. Are you doing it in a way that is well pleasing to him or not? Peter writes to the church and he says to them, Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from those sinful desires which war against your soul. Oh, the lust of the flesh. It starts by destroying you. Destroys your life. It destroys your testimony. Some are spiritually dead. Their testimony has been destroyed because of the lust of the flesh. Some have been disgraced because of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh that started with their eyes, lusting after something which they saw. And it also then destroys the church. The Bible says abstain from those things, from those desires. Young person, flee the evil desires of the youth. Young man, start living for God. For how long haven't you been sitting on the fence where it's not clear where you stand? And it's not clear what you are and where you stand. One doesn't know where you stand. Come out into the open. Serve the Lord. With all your heart, serve the Lord. Having done away with all those things that are filthy and dirty with only one purpose and goal in your life, and that is to live for God. If we were to produce a project or a display on heaven to present heaven to people, if we had to perhaps go out and do marketing, marketing heaven to other people, what would we present to them? We would need to start, first of all, that it becomes part of our lives, that we know what we're talking about, that we know it and have experiential knowledge of it in our lives. Then we can go to others and tell them about it in such a way that they will realize they are busy with something which is in vain, which is worth nothing. I hope that you now realize that to which you've been called. Now leave your own things. Leave and stop being just a newspaper. The daily news, that you're just the daily news. Start doing God's work. Preach the gospel. That you will be someone who is acceptable before God. How will we stand before God? Having heard so much, having been told so much, how will we stand before God? Not having completed that task that God has called us to. People are passing away in this world. When we close our eyes in this world and we open them and the world over there on the other side, what will we say before God? What will we be able to say before Him? The word says, let us forsake our sin. And let us do that which is important. And if you have failed in times past, then be reconciled to God. Say, oh God, have mercy on me. Lord, I was taken up by my own interests. I was taken up by the cares of this world. But now surrender yourself afresh to God. And that which you know is not right in your life, put that right. Get things right between you and God. That you will be able to experience the joy and the wonder of being in fellowship with God, being one with God once again. May God help us. Shall we pray? Our Heavenly Father, your word is amazing. Teach us, oh Lord, to do your will. Your will is sweet. It is sweeter than anything else when we do it. Lord, may unbelief be far removed from us. May we believe and trust in you, oh Lord, who never disappoint anyone. We thank you that you have sent us the Lord Jesus Christ into this world as our example, over which we may be proud, from whom we learn so much. And if we would follow his example, that he lived here on earth explicitly, we would also portray heaven whilst on earth. We would be a church of whom you would not be ashamed. We'd be a church, oh Lord, that you have chosen out, through whom you'd be able to accomplish your purpose here on earth. Lord, as we are together here, as your church, young and old, there are young men and young women, mothers and fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers. We ask you, oh Lord, that not one would be excluded. We pray, oh Lord, that you would work in us, that we would understand that we've been chosen. Thank you that you've trusted us. Help us not to disappoint you. But Lord, that we would make your word to be alive and display it as such to others. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.