Faith in the Faith in the CrosshairsCrosshairs

1 Peter1 PeterSoberSober

What if…?What if…?

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• Shadow of Nero's Shadow of Nero's PersecutionPersecution

• Point: "Live out the faith Point: "Live out the faith in the midst of suffering"in the midst of suffering"

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• What I rejoice in tells me What I rejoice in tells me what I worshipwhat I worship

• We all go through We all go through hardship. The issue is, hardship. The issue is, “Where is my focus? And “Where is my focus? And does it have purpose?”does it have purpose?”

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God will God will nevernever give me give me something to take me away something to take me away from him, his people or his from him, his people or his Lordship in my lifeLordship in my life

−Didn't come from himDidn't come from himOROR

−I'm misusing itI'm misusing it

1 Peter 11 Peter 1

(ESV)(ESV)

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Therefore, preparing your Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and minds for action, and being sober-minded, set being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the your hope fully on the grace that will be brought grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do As obedient children, do not be conformed to the not be conformed to the passions of your former passions of your former ignorance, but as he who ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct be holy in all your conduct since it is written, "You since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am shall be holy, for I am holy"- vs. 13-16holy"- vs. 13-16

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Therefore, Therefore, preparing your preparing your minds for action…minds for action…

"Gird the loins of your "Gird the loins of your mind…"mind…"

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““Gird the loins of your Gird the loins of your mind…”mind…”

That dude looks like a That dude looks like a lady…lady…

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““Gird the loins of your mind…”Gird the loins of your mind…”

That dude looks like a lady…That dude looks like a lady…

Lock away anything that keeps Lock away anything that keeps you from being mentally alert you from being mentally alert and ready for actionand ready for action

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• IntellectIntellect−Be not wise in your own Be not wise in your own

eyes; fear the LORD, and eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil- turn away from evil- Proverbs 3:7Proverbs 3:7

We don't study the Bible to We don't study the Bible to get to know the Bible better. get to know the Bible better. We study the Bible to get to We study the Bible to get to know Jesus betterknow Jesus better

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• The gThe goodood o oldld d daysays−Say not, “Why were the Say not, “Why were the

former days better than former days better than these?” For it is not from these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this - wisdom that you ask this - Ecclesiastes 7:10Ecclesiastes 7:10

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• AAnxietynxiety about the future about the future−Therefore do not be anxious, Therefore do not be anxious,

saying, 'What shall we eat?' saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' …your 'What shall we wear?' …your heavenly Father knows that heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all his righteousness, and all these things will be added to these things will be added to you - Matthew 6you - Matthew 6

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• PPrisonrison of anger and of anger and unforgivenessunforgiveness−Be angry and do not sin; do Be angry and do not sin; do

not let the sun go down on not let the sun go down on your anger - Eph. 4:26your anger - Eph. 4:26

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• GGrumblingrumbling, gossip and slander, gossip and slander−We must not put Christ to the We must not put Christ to the

test…nor grumble, as some of test…nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an things happened to them as an example, but they were example, but they were written down for our written down for our instruction, on whom the end instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall - 1 heed lest he fall - 1 Corinthians 10:9-12Corinthians 10:9-12

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All of these things, like a long All of these things, like a long garment, keep God's people garment, keep God's people from running quick and from running quick and straight mentallystraight mentally

Which did Peter's audience Which did Peter's audience struggle with the most?struggle with the most?

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Preparing your minds for Preparing your minds for action= Gird up the loins of action= Gird up the loins of your mindyour mind

Why my mind?Why my mind?

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My mind is the battlefield of My mind is the battlefield of my spiritual lifemy spiritual life

−Every Every holy actionholy action starts in my starts in my mindmind

−Every Every word of praise word of praise to God to God begins with my thoughtsbegins with my thoughts

−Every Every encouragement to another encouragement to another personperson begins with an idea and a begins with an idea and a motivationmotivation

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No more "Pants on the No more "Pants on the Ground"Ground"

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Therefore, preparing your minds Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-for action, and being sober-minded…minded…

Sober= Sober= nephonepho- abstain from - abstain from winewine

"Keep your "Keep your mindsminds from being from being intoxicated"intoxicated"

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"Keep your minds from "Keep your minds from being intoxicated"being intoxicated"

−Latest craze and newest Latest craze and newest passing enthusiasmpassing enthusiasm

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"Keep your minds from "Keep your minds from being intoxicated"being intoxicated"

−Latest craze and newest Latest craze and newest passing enthusiasmpassing enthusiasm

−Being accepted and cutting Being accepted and cutting edge edge

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"Keep your minds from "Keep your minds from being intoxicated"being intoxicated"

−Latest craze and newest Latest craze and newest passing enthusiasmpassing enthusiasm

−Being accepted and cutting Being accepted and cutting edge edge

−Rationalizations of our Rationalizations of our worldworld

−"Passions of your former "Passions of your former ignorance…"ignorance…"

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……set your hope fully on the set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

When my mind is quick, my When my mind is quick, my thoughts are undistracted thoughts are undistracted and my judgments are and my judgments are clear-headed, clear-headed, I can rest I can rest in in the hope of gracethe hope of grace

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What is the grace What is the grace "that will "that will be brought to you at the be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"revelation of Jesus Christ"??

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What is the grace What is the grace "that will "that will be brought to you at the be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"revelation of Jesus Christ"??

−GGlorificationlorification−And eAnd endnd to struggle and to struggle and

hardshiphardship−FFullnessullness of joy and peace of joy and peace

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What is the grace What is the grace "that will be "that will be brought to you at the brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"revelation of Jesus Christ"??

−GlorificationGlorification−And end to struggle and And end to struggle and

hardshiphardship−Fullness of joy and peaceFullness of joy and peace

Is that worthy my focus and Is that worthy my focus and hope?hope?

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What happens when we lose What happens when we lose focus, become slow, focus, become slow, distracted and intoxicated distracted and intoxicated in our thoughts?in our thoughts?

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What happens when we lose What happens when we lose focus, become slow, focus, become slow, distracted and intoxicated in distracted and intoxicated in our thoughts?our thoughts?

−Lose hope/feel hopeless and Lose hope/feel hopeless and powerlesspowerless

−Give in to that which seeks to Give in to that which seeks to "steal, kill and destroy" our life"steal, kill and destroy" our life

−Lose joy and peaceLose joy and peace

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Any man can endure Any man can endure struggle, hardship and trial struggle, hardship and trial if he is sure it is leading if he is sure it is leading somewhere and will be somewhere and will be worth it in the endworth it in the end

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set your hope fully on the set your hope fully on the grace grace that will be brought that will be brought to you at the revelation of to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ= Jesus Christ=

"Come to final decision to "Come to final decision to place all your hope on the place all your hope on the grace…"grace…"

Literally, "quit wavering"Literally, "quit wavering"

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MMaturityaturity comes from the comes from the commitment of deciding that commitment of deciding that it's worth itit's worth it

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the grace that will be brought to you the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christat the revelation of Jesus Christ

RevelationRevelation- the revealing of - the revealing of Jesus. Jesus. We will be like him We will be like him because we will see him as he because we will see him as he is- 1 John 3:2is- 1 John 3:2

Holiness is a function of Holiness is a function of proximity and grace-driven proximity and grace-driven efforteffort

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As obedient children, do As obedient children, do not be conformed to the not be conformed to the passions of your former passions of your former ignorance, but as he who ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you called you is holy, you also be holy in all your also be holy in all your conduct since it is conduct since it is written, "You shall be written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."holy, for I am holy."

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Former ignoranceFormer ignorance= = GentilesGentiles

IgnoranceIgnorance= foolishness = foolishness and spiritual illiteracyand spiritual illiteracy

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ConformedConformed to the to the passions…passions…

That which captures our That which captures our passion molds our passion molds our ccharacterharacter

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ReplacementReplacement- - do not be do not be conformed to the conformed to the passions… passions… butbut…be holy in …be holy in all your conduct all your conduct (behavior)(behavior)

Holy= Holy= hagios- different, hagios- different, set-apartset-apart

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Different- chosen for a task Different- chosen for a task in this world and a future in this world and a future in eternityin eternity

• Task- glorify God by Task- glorify God by being set-apart/like himbeing set-apart/like him−"You shall be holy for I am "You shall be holy for I am

holy"holy"

• Future- glorified ChristianFuture- glorified Christian

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Holiness is a function of Holiness is a function of pproximityroximity- walk with God- walk with God

Holiness is a function of Holiness is a function of ggracerace-driven effort-driven effort

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Grace-driven effort has Grace-driven effort has nothing to do with nothing to do with earning or paying backearning or paying back

Rather, it is founded upon Rather, it is founded upon God's full and complete God's full and complete acceptance regardless of acceptance regardless of efforteffort

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"The only way a Christian "The only way a Christian can get better is to can get better is to understand that God will understand that God will love him if he never gets love him if he never gets better"- Tullian Tchvidjianbetter"- Tullian Tchvidjian

Christian growth doesn't Christian growth doesn't come by behaving better, come by behaving better, but by believing betterbut by believing better

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Religion= guilt and fearReligion= guilt and fear

Guilt and fear can Guilt and fear can motivate, but not long-motivate, but not long-termterm

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The Pharisees had the The Pharisees had the right behavior, but the right behavior, but the wrong motiveswrong motives

God cares about our God cares about our motivesmotives

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Christ bore our guilt and Christ bore our guilt and removed our fear removed our fear −There is no fear in love. There is no fear in love.

Perfect love casts out fear- Perfect love casts out fear- 1 John 4:181 John 4:18

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"Obsess over your sin and "Obsess over your sin and you'll become a neurotic you'll become a neurotic narcissist. Obsess over narcissist. Obsess over your Savior and you'll your Savior and you'll become free"- Tullian become free"- Tullian TchvidjianTchvidjian

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• Prepare your minds for Prepare your minds for action, allowing nothing to action, allowing nothing to distractdistract

• Set your hope on Jesus and Set your hope on Jesus and your future with himyour future with him

• Replace former passions Replace former passions with holy behavior founded with holy behavior founded upon Christ's love and upon Christ's love and acceptanceacceptance

Putting it all together…

• Is there anything keeping Is there anything keeping me from thinking clearly me from thinking clearly and being ready to follow and being ready to follow Christ? Christ?

• If so, am I willing to get If so, am I willing to get rid of it now?rid of it now?

Takeaways:

• What passions are What passions are producing character in producing character in me?me?

• Is that character what Is that character what God wants for me?God wants for me?

Takeaways:

• Am I serving out of grace-Am I serving out of grace-driven effort or guilt and driven effort or guilt and fear?fear?

• Why?Why?

Takeaways: