WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:35.820 Today's scripture reading is from 1 Peter 3, verse 18, and chapter 4, verses 1-11, as printed in your liturgy. 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:41.560 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, 00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:48.219 that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the Spirit. 00:00:48.219 --> 00:00:54.019 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, 00:00:54.519 --> 00:00:57.219 because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:02.640 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, 00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:04.960 but rather for the will of God. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.780 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do, 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:18.140 living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:23.739 They are surprised that you do not join them in their recklessness, wild living, 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:26.340 and they heap abuse on you, 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:32.539 but they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:37.079 For this is the reason the gospel is preached, even to those that are now dead, 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:41.960 so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, 00:01:41.960 --> 00:01:45.039 but live according to God in regard of the Spirit. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:47.319 The end of all things is near. 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:51.339 Therefore, be alert and sober of mind, so that you may pray. 00:01:52.119 --> 00:01:57.780 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 00:01:58.559 --> 00:02:01.379 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:05.899 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others 00:02:05.899 --> 00:02:09.019 as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 00:02:09.020 --> 00:02:15.240 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 00:02:15.700 --> 00:02:19.320 If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 00:02:19.700 --> 00:02:23.260 so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 00:02:23.640 --> 00:02:28.580 To him be the glory, the power, and the power forever. Amen. 00:02:28.580 --> 00:02:28.700 Amen. 00:02:29.700 --> 00:02:29.940 Amen. 00:02:31.820 --> 00:02:33.040 Thank you so much, Will. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:35.280 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:35.380 --> 00:02:40.120 It is really good to be back here with our church family today. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.680 If I haven't met you yet, I work here. 00:02:43.380 --> 00:02:49.260 And my name is Jonathan, and I've been away for a little bit with our extended family. 00:02:49.259 --> 00:02:54.819 We visited 45 family members in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. 00:02:55.519 --> 00:02:59.259 And so that was a great respite, but, you know, it's good to sleep in your own bed. 00:02:59.459 --> 00:03:01.519 And we're glad to be back home as well. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:06.859 So, since I've been gone, has anything happened in the world? 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.539 Any new stuff going on in the news cycle? 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:10.359 I don't know. 00:03:10.739 --> 00:03:12.459 I haven't really been paying much attention. 00:03:13.239 --> 00:03:18.680 But I know enough to know that we're living in some precarious and unpredictable times. 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:23.819 And we're going to be praying about that later on during this service. 00:03:24.540 --> 00:03:32.040 But as, you know, as we open up this letter from one of Jesus' apostles, his chief apostle, Peter, 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:39.780 we're reminded that Peter was living in some precarious and unpredictable times. 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:40.860 Right? 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:45.500 He was writing this letter in the middle of the first century in the Roman Empire, 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:53.039 a time and a place that was, if you can believe it, way more topsy-turvy than the time that we're living in. 00:03:53.259 --> 00:04:00.419 And here's this Christian, this leader in the church, who's giving us incredible wisdom 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:03.960 about how to live in precarious and unpredictable times. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:13.580 And so, as usual, what Peter does is he draws our attention to this word that he uses in verse 6. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:15.200 It's the word, the gospel. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.660 That's the focus of this entire letter. 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:26.379 It's the gospel, the good news of what God the Father has done through his Son and by his Spirit 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:30.019 to save human beings, to redeem his creation. 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:36.579 And Peter wants us to think, in this passage today, he wants us to think about the gospel 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:40.479 in relation to three critical aspects of our lives. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:43.139 He wants us to think about our desire. 00:04:44.159 --> 00:04:45.939 He wants us to think about suffering. 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.219 And he wants us to think about Christian community. 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:51.359 And so that's what we're going to talk about. 00:04:51.419 --> 00:04:53.379 The gospel and desire. 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:55.459 The gospel and suffering. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:57.680 And the gospel and Christian community. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:04:58.779 You ready to dive back in? 00:04:58.779 --> 00:05:01.699 I've got to kind of relearn how to preach, so I'm going to need your help today. 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:03.039 Can you guys help me out a little bit? 00:05:04.419 --> 00:05:06.599 Let's talk about the gospel and desire. 00:05:07.159 --> 00:05:08.539 And I'll start with verse 1. 00:05:09.539 --> 00:05:09.759 It says, 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:14.819 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:18.059 because those who have suffered in their bodies are done with sin. 00:05:18.719 --> 00:05:23.339 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.099 but rather for the will of God. 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:31.879 You see, the apostle Peter, he's writing to a group of people like the one that's gathered here today. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:36.520 And he's engaging them with this question that you heard in verse 2. 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:37.020 It's in there. 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:37.400 It says, 00:05:37.820 --> 00:05:41.040 How are you going to live the rest of your earthly lives? 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:46.160 Whether you're 9 years old or 90 years old here today, 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:51.920 all of us have a limited number of days with breath in our lungs and life in our bodies. 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:58.620 And, you know, none of us knows how much time we have left to live our earthly lives. 00:05:58.640 --> 00:06:04.400 And I've been thinking about that quite a lot this week because my mom passed away on August 2nd. 00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:07.860 That's the anniversary of her death. 00:06:07.900 --> 00:06:09.280 And she was 50 years old. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:12.019 And I'm turning 46 this month. 00:06:12.659 --> 00:06:16.779 And as I think about that, you know, how much longer do I have to live? 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:18.239 I have no clue. 00:06:18.599 --> 00:06:19.399 And neither do you. 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:24.039 I mean, maybe I've got four years, four months, four weeks. 00:06:24.119 --> 00:06:24.479 Who knows? 00:06:24.559 --> 00:06:28.379 Maybe I've got 10, 20, 30, 40 more years to go. 00:06:29.419 --> 00:06:32.879 But how many of us know how much longer we have to live our earthly lives? 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:33.599 Anybody know that? 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:41.060 And so Peter's asking us this question, how are you going to live the rest of your earthly lives? 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:48.760 And what he does is he says underneath all the apparently endless options of how we could live, 00:06:48.820 --> 00:06:51.540 he says there's really only two ways to live. 00:06:52.320 --> 00:06:54.080 And did you see that contrast in verse 2? 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:59.060 He says on the one hand you have sinful human desires. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:02.680 And on the other hand you have the will of God. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:05.920 He makes the same contrast in verse 6. 00:07:06.020 --> 00:07:11.700 He says you've got life according to human standards and you've got life according to God. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:19.400 And what's the difference between these two life systems, these two operating systems? 00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:24.900 What's the difference between their structures of motivation and volition? 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.960 Well, I want us to take a closer look. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:34.739 This word in verse 2 that Peter uses when he talks about desire, it's this great word called epithumia. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:39.339 Epithumia is not just desire, epithumia is over desire. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:51.459 Epithumia is inordinate desire, disordered desire, desires that are misaligned with the will and the desire of God. 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:57.560 And Peter gives us some examples of epithumia, of over desire in verse 3. 00:07:57.659 --> 00:07:58.439 Look at it with me. 00:07:58.539 --> 00:07:58.719 He says, 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:11.019 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:19.339 And for Peter, this is a list that basically sums up the dominant paradigm of the prevailing culture. 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:25.339 This is how the majority of Greco-Roman, Gentile, pagan culture was living. 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:29.759 This is the way of life that was accepted and normal and expected. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.079 And notice how Peter begins and ends his list. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:35.220 What's the first word and the last word he uses? 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:41.700 The first word he uses is this word debauchery or in classical Greek it's often translated brutality. 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:43.700 Brutality. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:47.639 To be brutal is to be harsh. 00:08:48.300 --> 00:08:49.460 It's to be cruel. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.320 It's to be heartless. 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:54.840 It's like it's Twitter, right? 00:08:54.840 --> 00:09:07.560 Brutality is when you cast off restraint and self-control and you give full license to unbridled, shameless self-interest. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:13.060 Anybody ever done that in the past 24 hours at home with your family? 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:23.759 Brutality is when you treat people as an object to be used rather than as a creature made in the image of God to be cared for. 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:31.940 Brutality is when you relate to other people in a way that debases and dehumanizes them. 00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:42.220 Does that connect a little bit with how the dominant operating system of the culture that Peter's talking about? 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:48.200 And then notice the final word, the climactic word in this series that he gives us. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:53.720 He says the cause of all of our human vices is idolatry. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:10:00.300 And idolatry is when you turn a good thing into an ultimate thing. 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:07.940 Idolatry is when you take a created thing and you elevate it and you put it at the center where only God deserves to be. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:12.940 And what Peter's doing is he's looking out about him at Greco-Roman culture 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:18.200 and the way that people have elevated the money god Mammon. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:22.520 And they've elevated the sex goddess Aphrodite. 00:10:23.180 --> 00:10:28.920 And they've elevated the power god Mars and the political god Caesar. 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:29.420 Right? 00:10:29.660 --> 00:10:34.600 And Peter's saying, look, if you're looking to these things, 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:41.139 if you're looking to these idols, expecting them to do for you what only the living God can do for you, 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:47.680 if you take all of your hope and you load it into your money and into the markets, 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:52.259 if you load all of your hope into romance and sex, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:11:01.319 if you put all of your hope into your career and your achievements that can garner social power for you, 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:09.899 if you're looking to politics and to the state or to the comfort and pleasure that food and drink can give you, 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:14.360 Peter says you're going to have a broken heart. 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:22.279 If you're looking to any of these things to give you your sense of identity and belonging and meaning and purpose, 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.139 it's going to break your heart. 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:24.460 Why? 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:27.419 Because it's contrary to your human nature. 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:31.419 It's contrary to how you were made. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:37.860 You were not made to put created things in the center where the creator is supposed to be. 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:38.279 Amen? 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:38.420 Amen? 00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:38.500 Amen? 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:45.199 So, what happens when we live against our human nature? 00:11:46.099 --> 00:11:50.659 I was reading a book a few weeks ago on a very hot beach in Florida, 00:11:50.959 --> 00:11:55.379 and I came across this sentence, and I just want to read it for you. 00:11:55.479 --> 00:11:57.059 This line stood out to me. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:57.339 It says, 00:11:57.339 --> 00:12:03.360 A man thought he could fly, so he jumped off the top of a ten-story building, 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:07.639 and as he fell past the fifth floor, flapping his arms in the air, 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.759 he was heard to say, 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:10.419 So far, so good. 00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:13.600 So far, so good. 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:17.899 When we live according to our fallen human desires, 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:23.600 when we give ourselves to over-desire, to debauchery, brutality, idolatry, 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:27.740 we're not actually liberating ourselves in the way that we think we are. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:29.120 We're destroying ourselves. 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:32.539 We're jumping off that building, and we're not flying. 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.500 We're falling. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:39.340 And Peter's telling us that if you want to be free, 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:42.559 if you want to be truly liberated, 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:45.440 it's not about living according to your human desires. 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:48.720 It's about living according to the will and the desire of God. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.759 And he says, 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:53.320 When the gospel comes into our lives, 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.240 when we become Christians, 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:59.639 that means that you've been transferred from one life to another life, 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:03.420 from one operating system to another operating system, 00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:05.840 and you are no longer living for human desires. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:08.120 You're living for the will of God. 00:13:09.160 --> 00:13:10.060 Just to remind you, 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:11.379 back in chapter 1, 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.420 verse 3 of this letter, 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:14.039 Peter says, 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:18.519 God in his great mercy has given you new birth into a living hope. 00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.819 And later on in that chapter, 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:21.439 verse 23, 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:21.819 he says, 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:27.039 You've been born again by the imperishable seed of the living and enduring word of God. 00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:28.419 And what he means when he says that, 00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:28.879 he says, 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:31.279 When the gospel comes into our lives, 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:35.079 and when you experience the new birth, 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:36.679 when you're born again, 00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:38.779 born not physically, 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:39.779 but spiritually, 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:42.100 born not from your parents, 00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:43.939 but from God, 00:13:44.579 --> 00:13:49.679 you realize that God the Father has given you a new nature. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:52.259 He's given you a new life. 00:13:52.339 --> 00:13:54.059 He's given you new desires. 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.600 He's given you a new will. 00:13:55.720 --> 00:14:00.419 He's given you a new power to live according to the will of God. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:01.559 Right? 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:06.120 When you've been regenerated by the grace of God and by the power of God, 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:09.600 and you've been united to the resurrected Christ, 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.580 you've been filled by the very spirit of God, 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:16.259 it kind of starts to dawn on you. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.800 And you begin to say with Peter, 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.180 You know what? 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:20.899 I think that, 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:25.259 I think I've spent more than enough time in the past 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:27.899 doing what pagans choose to do. 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:30.820 That's like a line that sort of comes across your heart. 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.279 You say, 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:32.720 You know, 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:34.740 Now that the Holy Spirit's living in me, 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:42.019 I think I've spent more than enough time doing what my culture says is normal and acceptable. 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:45.240 And you begin to say with Peter, 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:45.639 You know, 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.639 I want to be done with sin. 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.500 Do you hear Peter say that? 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:49.980 He says, 00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:51.000 People who are done with sin, 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.980 I want to be done with brutality. 00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:56.000 I want to be done with idolatry. 00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:59.820 I want to be done with over-desire and self-interest. 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:03.039 I want to be done with me, myself, and I. 00:15:03.300 --> 00:15:06.080 If I have any more days to live my life, 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.420 I want to live the rest of my earthly life, 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:10.639 not for these sinful human desires, 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.840 but for the desire of God. 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:14.680 I want to live not for my will, 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:17.000 I want to live for the will of God. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:19.279 And the question Peter's putting to us is, 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.960 Has this happened for you? 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:25.240 Have you experienced this vast difference 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:29.200 between these two totally different operating systems? 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:34.000 Peter says when the power of the gospel comes in, 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:36.600 it goes all the way down into our desires. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:39.980 It goes all the way down into our human nature, 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:46.120 into the warp and the woof of how we are made as creatures in the image of God. 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:48.779 And it moves into those structures of motivation, 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:50.100 those structures of volition, 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:54.560 and it removes the old and it brings in the new 00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:58.440 so that we want to live the rest of our earthly human lives 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:00.639 for the will of God. 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:02.139 That's our new desire. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.580 Does that make sense? 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.220 The gospel and desire, 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:09.940 that's something Peter wants us to think about. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:15.320 But he also is talking here about the gospel and suffering. 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.860 This is a great theme of this letter, 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:22.159 actually is how to suffer well, 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.840 how to suffer as a Christian. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:27.279 And I want to bring you back to verse 1. 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:31.019 Peter introduces this great idea. 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:31.360 He says, 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:34.299 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:37.700 arm yourselves also with the same attitude, 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:40.879 because those who have suffered in their bodies 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.620 are done with sin. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.980 What is Peter saying? 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:48.379 Well, he's saying that the Son of God, 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:51.379 when he stepped out of eternity into time, 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:53.639 when he came from heaven to earth 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.279 and he took on human flesh, 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:58.679 he did that with a certain attitude. 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:00.279 He did that with a certain mentality, 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:04.400 knowing that this was not going to be a walk in the park. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.120 Right? 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.320 Jesus knew that in the incarnation, 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.380 when he became a human being, 00:17:11.800 --> 00:17:14.019 that he was entering into a war zone. 00:17:15.300 --> 00:17:17.540 That he was going to be living in this battlefield. 00:17:18.800 --> 00:17:21.460 And that he was going into this cosmic conflict 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:23.720 where the powers and principalities 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:26.060 are arrayed against the living God. 00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:28.380 And he knew that he was coming into a situation 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:33.540 where humanity had tragically given itself up 00:17:33.540 --> 00:17:35.480 and over to these desires 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:39.640 that led to brutality and idolatry 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:41.720 and all kind of destructive self-interest. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.880 And so what did Jesus do? 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:46.120 Peter says he armed himself. 00:17:47.520 --> 00:17:48.740 Jesus armed himself. 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.120 And of course, you know, 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:52.400 this isn't the way that the world is supposed to be. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:54.780 God the Father made the world good 00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:55.880 and he made it pleasant 00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:57.380 and he made it wonderful. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.980 But the world's fallen, hasn't it? 00:18:01.020 --> 00:18:04.340 The world has become this harsh and cruel place. 00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:08.560 This place of unbridled, shameless brutality 00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:11.300 that requires you, 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:13.880 if you're going to be holy like Jesus, 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.360 to be armed 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:17.580 and to be equipped 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:19.280 with a certain mentality 00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:20.640 and a certain attitude. 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.800 You see that? 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:24.760 Jesus needed a spiritual armor 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:26.980 to carry out his mission. 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:28.779 And what was that mindset? 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.379 What was that attitude 00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:32.299 that Jesus armed himself with? 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.839 I think it was basically this. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.079 When Jesus came into the world, 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:38.339 he said, 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.339 if I'm going to come 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:41.440 and live the way 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.819 that the Father wants me to live, 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.019 if I'm going to come 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.680 and be a nonconformist 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.039 to all the ways of this world, 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.119 if I'm going to come 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.859 and I'm going to live 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:53.400 not for me, myself, and I, 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.359 like everybody else, 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.059 if I'm going to come 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:57.819 and live not for human desires 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.779 and according to human standards, 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.819 if I'm going to come 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:04.559 and rather submit myself 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.539 to God's desires 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:07.960 and live a life in obedience 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:09.319 to the will of God, 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.319 if I'm going to live, 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:11.859 Jesus says, 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:14.720 as if sin has absolutely 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:16.079 nothing to do with me, 00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.180 as if self-centeredness 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.059 is not going to be 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.940 a part of my life, 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.519 then I'm probably going to suffer. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:24.259 then people probably 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.099 aren't going to get 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:27.059 what I'm trying to do. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.200 And Jesus says, 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.480 living to, 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.839 living that way, 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:32.319 living to obey God 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.639 rather than sin 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.920 is going to cause me 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:37.200 to suffer in my body. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.779 That's what Peter says. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.720 That's the attitude. 00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.579 That's the mentality 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:44.119 that Jesus armed himself with. 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.539 Are you tracking with me so far? 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.159 Now, I just want to 00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:48.559 make a little aside here 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.420 because some Christians 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:52.279 so overemphasize 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.599 the divinity of Jesus 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.859 and so underestimate 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:57.559 the humanity of Jesus 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.460 that we think 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:00.039 it was easy for him 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.639 to live a righteous life. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.200 That, 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.379 anybody ever 00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:06.139 had a conversation like that 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.579 where it's like, 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.639 yeah, of course Jesus, 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.299 he was an obedient 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.659 and sinless person 00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.480 because he's the son of God. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.619 But he was a fully human being. 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.619 And the full humanity 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.500 of Jesus meant 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.079 that he actually was 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.339 tempted in every way 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:20.319 just as we are. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.019 He was tempted 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.219 at every turn 00:20:23.219 --> 00:20:24.879 to live for himself 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:26.099 and his desires, right? 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.619 To take the easy path 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.599 of least resistance, 00:20:29.919 --> 00:20:31.259 to sit loose 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.559 to his calling 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.279 from the Father. 00:20:34.459 --> 00:20:35.419 And because of these, 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.099 this constant barrage 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.719 of temptations 00:20:37.719 --> 00:20:38.679 from the very beginning 00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:39.539 of his ministry 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.839 in the wilderness 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.639 all the way 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:43.079 to the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.659 Jesus constantly 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.839 had to decide 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:47.139 that he was going 00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:48.659 to obey God. 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.299 He constantly 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.159 had to decide, 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:51.939 you know what, 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.319 I would rather suffer 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.559 than sin. 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:56.779 And repeatedly 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.619 throughout his life, 00:20:57.739 --> 00:20:58.559 Jesus deliberately 00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.519 had to embrace 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.879 his calling 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:02.439 by God the Father 00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:03.679 even though it would mean 00:21:03.679 --> 00:21:04.699 suffering for him. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.939 Even though it would mean, 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:06.839 you know, 00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:07.739 if I do this, 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.959 I'm going to be misunderstood. 00:21:09.959 --> 00:21:11.659 I'm going to be maligned. 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.320 I'm going to be mocked. 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.279 I'm going to be rejected. 00:21:14.540 --> 00:21:16.460 I'm going to even be 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.960 tortured to death. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.960 And Peter's commendation 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.640 to us 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.259 is that we need 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.400 to arm ourselves 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:25.180 with that same attitude. 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.840 If we're going to live 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.540 the Christian life, 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.100 we've got to have 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.000 the same attitude 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.460 that Jesus had. 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.019 Why? 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.279 Because he says 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.920 in verse four, 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.320 they, 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.860 the Greco-Roman, 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.440 Gentile, 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.900 pagan family members 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.759 and friends 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.440 and coworkers 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.660 that you have, 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:47.940 they're going to be surprised 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.880 that you're not 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.640 joining in 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.420 to their reckless, 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.279 wild living 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.880 and they're going to 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:54.840 heap abuse on you. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.019 They're going to 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.800 malign you. 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:59.060 We'll talk more about that 00:21:59.060 --> 00:21:59.720 next week, 00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.820 but basically 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.560 what Peter's saying 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:03.099 is that when you decide 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:04.960 that you're going to be 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.220 a non-conformist 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.039 like Jesus, 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.240 when you decide 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.839 that you're not 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.759 going to go along 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:12.500 with self-centered 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.779 over-desires 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.039 and idolatries 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.200 that are all around you, 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:18.119 but rather that you're 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.859 going to obey 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.740 the will of God, 00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:21.480 when you decide 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.059 that you're going 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.679 to abandon 00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:23.899 the norms 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.779 and practices 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.240 that people 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.619 are participating in, 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.500 then Peter's saying 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.679 do not expect 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.539 for people 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.220 to approve 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:32.660 of you. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.799 Don't expect 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.360 their approval. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.140 That's not 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.680 the mentality 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.259 Jesus had. 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.500 Jesus armed himself 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.160 with a mentality 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:39.940 that expected 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.900 suffering. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.660 Jesus expected 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.620 that when he didn't 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.640 join in, 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:46.380 when he didn't 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.519 go with the flow, 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:48.120 when he didn't 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:49.440 just conform himself 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.180 to the crowd, 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.160 he was going to 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.019 suffer people's 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.680 disapproval. 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.340 He was going to 00:22:54.340 --> 00:22:55.779 suffer their criticism. 00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:57.160 He was going to 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.880 suffer contempt. 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.460 He was going to 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.539 suffer condemnation. 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.519 And Peter says 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.460 to the church, 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.500 arm yourselves 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:07.220 with that same 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.879 way of thinking, 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:10.000 that same resolve 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.740 of living. 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.399 Friends, 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:12.960 if we want to 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.519 be united 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.359 to Jesus Christ, 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:14.839 if we want to 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.319 be filled 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.119 by the Holy Spirit, 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.599 if we want to 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.899 obey the will 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.759 of God the Father, 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.539 if we're going to 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.500 live as if we 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.980 are done with sin, 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.859 then we're going to 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.200 feel some 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.259 unpleasant discomfort. 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:28.019 That's what Peter 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.960 wants to tell us. 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.400 That unpleasant 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:32.180 discomfort is what 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:33.140 Jesus experienced 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.400 his whole life long, 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:35.099 all the way to the 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.500 cross. 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.220 And if we're going to 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.299 follow Jesus in his 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.079 way, if we're going 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.160 to apprentice ourselves 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.279 to learn how to 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.779 live as he lived, 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.319 if we're going to 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:45.400 do what it says 00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.680 in 1 Peter 2.11, 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.920 to abstain from 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.000 sinful desires which 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.119 war against your soul, 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.519 if we're going to 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.160 do that, 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.339 then we need to 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.480 arm ourselves 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.039 with that same 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.079 attitude and same 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.160 mentality of Jesus 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.259 that expects 00:23:58.259 --> 00:24:00.819 unpleasant discomfort. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.799 In a world that's 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.480 not sympathetic 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.319 to being done 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.819 with sin, 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.819 in a world that's 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.759 rather irritated 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.660 about this notion 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.819 of the will of God 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.599 and obeying the 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.140 will of God, 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.240 you're going to 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.460 feel some unpleasant 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.819 discomfort as a 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.120 Christian. 00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.779 In a culture that 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.740 is going to give you 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.700 some pressure and 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.720 some heat, 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.980 when you refuse to 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.079 assimilate to its 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.059 norms and values 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.720 and practices, 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.539 you're going to 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.579 feel some unpleasant 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.380 discomfort. 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.599 In an environment 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.380 where you're going 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:36.680 to abstain from 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.920 human desires that 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.559 society deems totally 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.680 normal and 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.640 acceptable but that 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.620 are actually out of 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.259 step with the will 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.720 of God, 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.559 you're going to feel 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.299 some unpleasant 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.140 discomfort. 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.299 And in a social 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.240 situation where you're 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:52.319 living according to 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.339 the dominant metaphor 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.339 of this entire letter 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:54.879 we've been talking 00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.759 about for months and 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.059 months, 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.720 if you're living as 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.720 elect exiles, 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.779 if you're living as 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.980 visiting strangers, 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.019 or living as resident 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:05.259 aliens in our broader 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.619 culture, 00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:06.459 you're going to feel 00:25:06.459 --> 00:25:07.879 some unpleasant 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:09.579 discomfort and that's 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:09.899 okay. 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.980 That's what it means to 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.679 be a Christian, 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.579 Peter says. 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.919 So arm yourselves with 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.199 that. 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.619 Equip yourselves with 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:17.799 that. 00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:19.959 Prepare yourselves for 00:25:19.959 --> 00:25:21.459 unpleasant discomfort 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.420 because that's what it 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.880 means to follow a 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:26.180 crucified Christ who 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.000 said to himself, 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.579 I'd rather suffer than 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.059 sin. 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.799 Wow. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.740 The gospel and our 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:40.100 desire goes all the 00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:42.519 way down internally to 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.579 our relationship with 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.920 ourselves and our very 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.579 desires and it changes 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:48.940 what we actually want in 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.480 our lives. 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.720 But the gospel not only 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:53.120 changes us internally, 00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:54.660 it changes us externally 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:56.620 in our relationship with 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.779 our society and our 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:59.660 culture and it gives us 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.880 this new mentality that 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.640 says, you know, I'd 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:04.039 rather suffer than sin like 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.360 Jesus. 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:08.900 But it also changes one 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.039 final relationship and 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.940 that is the relationship 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.759 with the church. 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.259 And I want to talk for a 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.320 little bit as we close 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.299 about the gospel and 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.759 Christian community. 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.659 And here's Peter's 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.000 logic. 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:23.319 He's talking to people in 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:25.460 a social situation in 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:26.419 which their Christian 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.319 beliefs and their 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:29.279 Christian way of life was 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.939 not greeted with 00:26:29.939 --> 00:26:31.099 approval but with 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.759 disapproval. 00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:35.000 It was not greeted with 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.159 kindness but with 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:36.599 contempt. 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:39.460 And he's saying in that 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:42.079 situation, how much more 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.059 do you need the church? 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:45.220 How much more do you need 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.400 the church to be a refuge 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:47.620 for you and a source of 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.640 strength for you and a 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.900 place where you can be 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.200 sustained and supported 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:53.019 in living this life 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.279 according not to human 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.559 desires but according to 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.680 the will of God? 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.660 How much more do you need 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.240 the church? 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.360 And so Peter goes on and 00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:01.819 he says, well, here's how 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.640 to strengthen your local 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.460 Christian community. 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.360 And here's what he says in 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:06.779 verse 7. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.319 He says, 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.360 the end of all things is 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.660 near. 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.900 Therefore, be alert and of 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:13.960 sober mind so that you may 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.759 pray. 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.660 He says, if we're going to 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.600 live with the end in mind, 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.860 if we're going to live as if 00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:21.440 verse 5 is true, that God is 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.480 ready to judge the living and 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.200 the dead, if we're going to 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.079 live in light of that coming 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:27.420 reality, then the church as a 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:29.880 whole needs to be sober and 00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.319 alert. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.600 We need to see things clearly. 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.279 We need to correctly apprehend 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.140 reality. 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.440 And it's that sober-minded 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:40.279 attentiveness that is essential 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.539 if we want to be a strong 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.920 church that engages in the 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.099 following priorities. 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.460 First of all, prayer. 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.960 Peter says, so that you may 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.559 pray. 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.339 It's the very first thing in 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.720 his list. 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.980 And Peter learned from Jesus 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:54.399 that this is always number 00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:56.480 one on the list of our 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.139 priorities as disciples. 00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:00.899 Because without corporate 00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:03.639 prayer, the church will be 00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:04.720 without the vision of the 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.019 Holy Spirit and will also be 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:08.200 without the power of the 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:10.160 Holy Spirit to carry out that 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.500 vision. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.840 And so the primary places 00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:15.319 where we pray corporately at 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:16.500 Christ Church is in our 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.779 midweek community groups. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.100 It is every Sunday at 930 in 00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:22.680 our boiler room just as you 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.900 come in those outer doors and 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.620 down the stairs. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.960 Everybody's welcome to come 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.819 and pray at that time before 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.680 our worship service. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.840 We pray in a monthly prayer 00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:33.360 meeting on second Wednesdays at 00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.100 7 p.m. 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.940 And I just want to encourage you 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.940 this morning as we're 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:39.220 establishing, you know, our 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.519 habits and our predictable 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:42.620 patterns for this new school 00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.299 year ahead. 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:48.080 Prayer is on the top of Peter's 00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.840 priority list. 00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.960 Where is it on your priority 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.380 list? 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.500 And I want to encourage you to 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:56.180 make it a number one priority in 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.059 your life this year. 00:28:58.340 --> 00:29:00.539 But what should we, what should 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:02.160 be our next priority after prayer? 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:06.380 Peter says in verse 8, he says, 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.440 above all, love each other 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.540 deeply because love covers over a 00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:10.740 multitude of sins. 00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:13.600 He says the kind of love we need 00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:15.360 to be actively cultivating among 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:17.200 ourselves is what he called back in 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:20.100 chapter 1, sincere brotherly love, 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:22.800 loving one another earnestly from a 00:29:22.800 --> 00:29:23.880 pure heart. 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:26.460 And he says this is the kind of love 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:28.360 that covers over a multitude of 00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:28.800 sins. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:31.980 Now let me be clear that that does 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:34.319 not mean that love ignores sin or 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:36.500 that love denies sin or that love 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:38.119 hides sin. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.839 But what he's telling us is that this 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:42.779 kind of love that Christians have for 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:44.399 one another as brothers and sisters in 00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:47.960 Christ is so gracious, it's so 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:51.159 forbearing and patient and kind that it 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.879 forgives offenses. 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:55.260 And it extinguishes sins. 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:58.760 And it breaks the cycle of wrongs among 00:29:58.760 --> 00:29:58.960 us. 00:29:59.040 --> 00:30:00.780 Peter, you might remember, he asked 00:30:00.780 --> 00:30:01.780 Jesus at one point, he said, 00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:03.340 Jesus, how many times should I forgive 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:03.840 my brother? 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.420 Wouldn't it be really generous of me, 00:30:06.540 --> 00:30:08.360 Jesus, if I forgave him seven times? 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:11.180 And what did Peter say, Jesus say to 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.460 Peter? 00:30:12.520 --> 00:30:15.640 He said, no, try 70 times seven times. 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:19.060 So the primary place where we put 00:30:19.060 --> 00:30:20.740 ourselves in the position to practice 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:22.920 this kind of forgiving love where we're 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:25.980 actually encountering other sinners who 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:28.100 are following Christ is in our community 00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:28.500 groups. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:31.100 And again, I just, we're relaunching those 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:32.240 soon. 00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:34.860 And I hope that as you're making plans for 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:36.940 this next year that you would find a 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.920 community group during the week where you 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:41.560 can practice priority one, which is prayer, 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:45.520 and priority two, which is forgiving love. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:48.720 And then Peter says this, he says in 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:51.120 verse nine, if you want to have a strong 00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:53.200 church, you got to not only pray and love, 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:57.420 but he says, offer hospitality to one 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:59.160 another without grumbling. 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:02.140 And the word he uses there is an 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:03.800 interesting word, it's phyloxenia. 00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:07.060 We all know the word xenophobia, that's 00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:07.900 fear of strangers. 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:10.660 Philoxenia is love of strangers. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.800 And what he's telling us is that we've got 00:31:13.800 --> 00:31:15.620 to keep an open heart and an open 00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:18.359 door and an open table for the new people 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.399 that come into the church. 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.979 And if you've ever been a part of an urban 00:31:21.979 --> 00:31:23.759 university church like ours, you know that 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.879 there's two kinds of people. 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.500 There's annuals and perennials. 00:31:27.719 --> 00:31:28.079 Right? 00:31:28.199 --> 00:31:30.399 There's sprinters and there's marathoners. 00:31:30.479 --> 00:31:31.739 There's people who have been here a long 00:31:31.739 --> 00:31:33.419 time and people who are going to be here a 00:31:33.419 --> 00:31:34.039 short time. 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:36.659 And the way to make a church like this work 00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:38.439 is to love strangers. 00:31:39.479 --> 00:31:41.739 It's to look for all those new people. 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.920 And he says, I want you to do this without 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:46.099 grumbling, which means with gladness. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:49.980 That you come early and you look for the people 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:51.200 who are new. 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:54.579 And you find them at the passing of the peace 00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:57.079 and you introduce yourself to them and you bring 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.960 them to the coffee hour and you introduce them to 00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:00.640 other people and you invite them to lunch and you 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.960 have them over to your house. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.400 And basically this love for strangers is about 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:06.880 turning those strangers into friends. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:10.860 That's how the church works, Peter says. 00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:14.860 And then finally he says, each of you should use 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:17.600 whatever gift you've received to serve others as 00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:19.820 faithful stewards of God's grace in its various 00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:20.300 forms. 00:32:21.260 --> 00:32:23.480 If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.440 the very words of God. 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:27.420 If you serve, you should do so with the strength 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:27.880 that God provides. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:32.940 Peter says, if you're a Christian, the God of all 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:35.560 grace has given you a gift or he's given you many 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:38.740 gifts to build up the common good of the church and 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:40.919 to enrich the life of the church. 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:44.819 And you have this incredible privilege to be a 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:48.559 steward of God's grace to God's people. 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:52.339 That through you the grace of God might flow out more 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:54.740 and more to the people around you. 00:32:55.500 --> 00:33:01.139 And Peter says, if you have a speaking gift and you can 00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:04.539 teach a class or you can lead a community group or you 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:07.899 can pray for other people or you can provide counsel for 00:33:07.899 --> 00:33:08.159 them. 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:12.059 He says, when you speak, make sure you're speaking in 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.740 line with the truth of the word of God. 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:16.420 It's not just a word for the preacher. 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:20.299 It's a word to all the people of God who speak. 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:25.220 And then he says, if you have a serving gift to care for 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:28.859 other people, you know, be sure you do that not in reliance 00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:30.659 upon yourself and your own resources. 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:35.879 But be sure you do that with the strength that God provides. 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:39.039 And what's the point of all this? 00:33:40.219 --> 00:33:44.599 What's the point of having this new operating system where our 00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:47.799 chief desire now is to do and obey the will of God? 00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:52.059 What's the point of arming ourselves with this attitude that 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:54.079 Jesus had that we'd rather suffer than sin? 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:59.599 What's the point of investing in a church that prays corporately and 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:04.220 loves forgivingly and welcomes strangers gladly and speaks God's 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.679 truth and serves with God's strength? 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.740 What's the point of all of that? 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:14.380 Peter tells us in verse 11, so that in all things God may be 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.679 praised through Jesus Christ. 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:18.699 To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. 00:34:18.819 --> 00:34:19.019 Amen. 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.039 That's the end game. 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:26.400 The end game is that through our lives and through our church, more 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:31.500 and more people would see and hear and experience just how 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:36.500 praiseworthy, just how glorious, just how powerful God in his 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:39.320 gospel of grace actually is. 00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:45.420 May God enable us to be this kind of church. 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.480 church. 00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:49.119 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:49.980 Amen.