WEBVTT

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 As we begin this morning, I was thinking about the passage we're going to look at, which is in the first verses of chapter four.

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 I was thinking back to when I worked in campus ministry.

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 And one of the campuses I worked at, there was an athlete's Bible study that I got to do for two years.

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 And it was a great group.

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 A new believer, a few church kids, one or two really strong believers,

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 one person who was seeking, didn't know where they stood with Jesus.

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 And, you know, it was fascinating to hear some of them talk about their experiences as college athletes trying to be faithful to Jesus.

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 One girl shared about how literally every weekend her boyfriend said,

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 Hey, is this the weekend that we get to sleep together?

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 Just like, why not? You know, what's wrong with this? Can't we do this?

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 Every weekend, this was the question, right?

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 Another guy who was, his teammates, every weekend were like,

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 Hey, what are you going to get this weekend?

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 As he went out into the campus, this was the question.

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 And every weekend, as they gathered again on Monday, be like,

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 Hey, how'd it go?

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 And he's like, it didn't go.

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 But the pressure that they faced every week, week in and week out, to walk with Jesus,

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 not just in that context, but also just the parties, the lack of constraint,

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 the emphasis on drinking beyond what you could handle or control,

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 was an ongoing pressure for them.

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 The world pressed in on them on a daily basis to live not for Christ,

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 but for the passions of their hearts.

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 Their friends would ask them questions like this.

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 What's wrong with the way we live?

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 Are you judging us by not doing this?

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 You're so intolerant.

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 Is it really worth it to do what you do?

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 What are you saving yourself for?

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 What's wrong with you?

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 You're so weird.

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 Who's going to care?

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 Honestly, who's going to care what you do or don't do?

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 Now, I don't know how much you've experienced that in your life.

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 Maybe some of you have.

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 Maybe this is what happens when you go with your family to Memorial Day family reunion.

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 Maybe this is what it looks like at the employee Christmas party.

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 Maybe this is what it looks like when your lab workers or cohort go out for drinks

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 at the end of a long day of study.

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 Or maybe it's mom's night out where you finally get to let loose a little bit.

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 Maybe it's going away to academic or work conferences.

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 And everyone goes with the what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas mindset.

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 And you're thinking, what do I do with all this?

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 Maybe you're a young person and you see what flies across social media on Snapchat and TikTok

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 and those things I don't really know anything about, but I hear they're...

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 But not only what people share, but also what people request that you would share with them.

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 Or maybe you're even younger than that, but you're in school

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 and the pressure is to just think about how can we deceive the teacher?

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 How can we hide from them?

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 How can we do something else?

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 There are so many ways in which we face certain kinds of pressures to live,

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 not for God, but for other things.

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 And you know, sometimes, I don't know if you're like this,

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 but if you're a Christian here today and you're thinking,

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 you know, I'd like to figure out how to do that.

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 And you look at Jesus and you think, Jesus did it so easily.

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 You read the Gospels and he was just perfect at it.

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 He never screwed up.

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 He never messed up.

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 He always did the right thing.

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 But we find it difficult.

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 And so either we engage and feel like we're going to fail

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 or we withdraw and say, we're not going to do...

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 We're going to avoid all of that completely.

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 Wherever you're at this morning,

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 I think our passage has lots to teach us

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 about what it means to live in a relationship with God.

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 Our passage speaks to a Christian church

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 that was living in a culture not that dissimilar from ours.

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 Here's what a commentator, Karen Jobes,

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 writes about the first century context in a Roman empire.

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 It says,

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 The pleasures from which Christians in the first century

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 typically abstained were the popular forms

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 of Roman entertainment,

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 the theater with its risque performances,

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 the chariot races,

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 the gladiatorial fights with their blood and gore.

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 Christian lifestyle in the first century

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 also condemned the other pleasures,

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 the quote-unquote pleasures of an indulgent temper,

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 sex outside marriage,

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 drinking,

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 slander,

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 lying,

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 covetousness,

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 and theft.

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 These attitudes towards the contemporary Roman customs and morals

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 earned Christians the reputation of being haters of humanity

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 and traitors to the Roman way of life.

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 So Peter is writing to people who know these pressures as well.

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 And he writes to them,

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 remember the theme verse of the book of 1 Peter is in chapter 2.

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 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles

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 to abstain from the passions of the flesh

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 which wage war against your soul.

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 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles,

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 that means among the broader unbelieving world,

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 honorable,

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 so that when they speak against you as evildoers,

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 they may see your good deeds

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 and glorify God on the day of visitation.

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 That's the broad exhortation of the whole book of 1 Peter.

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 And we're going to look at what Peter says specifically in this passage.

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 What he's going to tell us is,

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 gear up.

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 Gear up for the life that God has called you to.

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 And the questions are,

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 gear up with what and why?

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 And that's what we're going to look at.

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 So if you want to look at this passage,

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 1 Peter chapter 4,

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 starting in verse 1,

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 we'll read verses 1 through 6.

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 Since then Christ suffered in the flesh.

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 Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking,

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 for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

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 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh

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 no longer for human passions,

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 but for the will of God.

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 The time that has passed suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do,

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 living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties,

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 and lawless idolatry.

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 With respect to this,

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 they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery,

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 and they malign you.

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 But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead,

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 for this is why the gospel was preached,

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 even to those who are dead,

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 that though judged in the flesh the way people are,

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 they might live in the spirit the way God does.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord, we thank you for this word.

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 We thank you for a chance to gather this morning

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 and to hear your word and to sit under it.

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 God, we pray for your help.

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 We pray for your grace.

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 We pray for your spirit to be at work.

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 Lord, that you would enable me to speak clearly,

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 that you would, Lord, turn our hearts to you,

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 that we would be ready to receive your word.

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 And Lord, that in receiving,

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 we may be strengthened and encouraged to know you,

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 to see the glory of the way that you have called us to live

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 as we follow Jesus.

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 And we pray this in his name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So as we look at this passage,

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 as we examine this,

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 structurally, it's kind of simple.

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 There's one main command,

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 and then there are three implications

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 or three aspects of how that plays out.

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 And so if you're taking notes,

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 that's our outline.

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 One command, three aspects of,

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 that are gonna answer the questions.

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 Gear up with what?

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 And gear up, and why do we need to do it?

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 So let's look at this in turn.

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 Verse one.

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 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,

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 arm yourselves.

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 There's the same way of thinking

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 for whoever has suffered in the flesh

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 has ceased from sin.

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 What does he see?

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 The central command is this.

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 Gear up.

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 Arm yourselves.

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 And the word here is a great,

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 it's a, the word is actually hoplite.

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 It's the same thing for the hoplite soldiers.

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 And they had helmets and breastplates and shields

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 and armaments of spears and swords,

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 and they had greaves on their shins to protect them.

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 And Peter is saying, put on this armor.

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 But he's not talking about physical armor.

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 He's not talking about protecting our bodies.

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 He's talking about protecting our souls.

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 And he says, what are we gonna gear up with?

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 We're supposed to gear up with a frame of mind.

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 First Peter said, in this verse,

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 it says the same way of thinking.

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 What is this same,

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 what is this way of thinking that Peter is saying?

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 We are to have the same way of thinking

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 that Christ had as he suffered while he was on earth.

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 This was Christ who came to obey God perfectly,

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 enduring the scorn, the shame, the rejection,

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 so that he might be our savior and our deliverer,

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 who for the joy set before him,

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 endured the cross, despising its shame.

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 And this is what Peter says.

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 We're to say, look at Jesus,

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 because he willingly entered into a life

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 where he would experience this suffering.

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 And you need to gear yourself up

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 with the same mindset of being prepared

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 to suffer for obedience that Jesus did.

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 Now, the end of verse one probably surprised you,

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 just like it surprises me,

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 as when I read it the first time.

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 What does this mean?

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 For whoever has suffered in the flesh

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 has ceased from sin.

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 Well, what can it not mean?

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 Well, it can't mean that if we suffer,

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 we no longer sin at all,

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 sin at all during this life.

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 It can't mean, well, now that I've suffered once,

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 I am no longer prone to sin.

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 Nor can it mean that sin,

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 that suffering purifies us,

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 because we all know that suffering sometimes,

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 rather than purifying us,

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 it embitters us, it hardens us,

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 it makes us more angry.

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 So it can't mean those things.

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 So what does it mean?

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 Wayne Grudem in his commentary says this,

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 whoever has suffered for doing right

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 and has still gone on obeying God

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 in spite of the suffering it involved

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 has made a clean break with sin.

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 When Jesus came, he said,

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 Lord, I have come to do your will.

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 And what Peter's saying here is,

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 we're to arm ourselves with that same attitude.

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 I am no longer enslaved to sin because of Christ.

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 As a Christian, I have been brought into a new place

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 and my determination is to no longer live

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 for those things, but to live for something else.

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 We have chosen Christ over a life of sin.

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 And though imperfectly in our living out of that,

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 there is a fundamental picture here

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 that Peter is saying,

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 that when we have chosen to follow Christ,

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 we've said,

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 no longer will we walk in the ways of sin.

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 We will turn away from it.

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 And we will obey and follow God

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 even when it means suffering.

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 This is Peter's exhortation,

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 to arm ourselves with this attitude.

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 Now, what does it look like to do this?

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 How do we enter into this?

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 Well, I'll tell you what, friends,

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 I've been wrestling with this all week

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 because what I really want is three steps.

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 Here are three easy steps.

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 You do these three things and it's gonna happen.

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 Thank you, Suzanne.

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 I appreciate that.

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 Right?

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 We want a list of to-dos and there isn't one.

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 How do we arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ?

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 It's this simple and this hard.

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 We meditate on Christ himself.

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 We read the scriptures daily.

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 We let it lead us to Christ.

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 And if you're not sure how to do that,

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 go back to our website,

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 look at the last Sunday school class

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 that Laura Bush just taught

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 on Bible reading and scripture meditation

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 and let it fuel your practice

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 of meditating on scripture

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 so that it will lead you to a clear vision of God

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 and a clear vision of Christ.

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 Look to him, remember him every day.

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 Cling to his promises.

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 See his faithfulness.

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 Fix your eyes on him.

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 This is how we arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ.

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 We look at him with our hearts,

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 with our minds every day.

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 It's that simple and that difficult.

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 So Peter says, arm yourselves with this attitude.

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 And then there are three facets,

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 three things that Peter says

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 about why this is so important.

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 So in verses two and three,

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 Peter says, arm yourselves

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 so that we can follow the will of God

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 amidst temptations.

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 Right?

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.060
 Verse two says,

00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:43.259
 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh,

00:13:43.280 --> 00:13:44.740
 no longer for human passions,

00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.940
 but for the will of God,

00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:48.720
 the time that has passed suffices

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.620
 for doing what the Gentiles want to do,

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:54.100
 living in sensuality, passions,

00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:56.500
 drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties,

00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:58.519
 and lawless idolatry.

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.340
 Peter says, we need to arm ourselves

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:04.720
 so that we can do what we want to do,

00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:05.779
 which is follow God,

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.899
 and not do what we don't want to do,

00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:09.300
 which is fall into temptation.

00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:10.320
 Right?

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:12.159
 Peter's presenting this picture

00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.340
 that I've already started with,

00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:15.560
 that there's a before and after

00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:17.460
 that should be true of the Christian life.

00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.820
 Before I was enslaved to sin,

00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.340
 I didn't know anything else,

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:23.620
 and whether I was profligate

00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:25.280
 and completely over the top

00:14:25.280 --> 00:14:26.520
 in drunkenness and orgies,

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.940
 or whether I simply lived

00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:31.080
 a proud, self-righteous,

00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:34.820
 self-serving life,

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:36.960
 I lived for myself.

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.800
 Now I have something else to live for.

00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:40.980
 And this is the distinction he's saying.

00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:42.379
 He's saying, as Christians,

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:44.300
 you want to arm yourself

00:14:44.300 --> 00:14:45.580
 so that you can live the life

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.860
 that you want to live

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:48.540
 and that God has called you to live.

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:49.400
 Right?

00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:50.860
 And Peter says,

00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.360
 we need to do this

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:54.280
 because we know that there's a temptation

00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:56.300
 to fall back into the old ways

00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:57.480
 that we used to live.

00:14:58.660 --> 00:15:00.000
 And then he lists them.

00:15:00.140 --> 00:15:01.020
 And I just want to say,

00:15:01.300 --> 00:15:02.820
 if you think I'm picking on sex

00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.820
 and drinking today,

00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:04.620
 I am.

00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:06.100
 But it's not my fault.

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.620
 It's what the Bible says.

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:11.020
 It's what all of these five verses relate to

00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:12.300
 as they're talking

00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:14.880
 in the first century Roman context.

00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:16.560
 It's saying these are some

00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:18.820
 of the common human patterns

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:21.060
 patterns of how we live

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:24.200
 for self-centered human pleasure

00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:25.600
 and satisfaction

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:27.180
 rather than for God.

00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.220
 Right?

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.720
 Because God, in fact,

00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:32.240
 created us for pleasure

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.100
 and he created us to be satisfied.

00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.900
 But in our fallen nature,

00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:38.180
 we take the things that he gives us,

00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:41.840
 we exalt them to this place of idolatry,

00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:43.240
 and we worship them

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.820
 and they end up controlling us.

00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.220
 And so our passions

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.940
 and our pleasures control us.

00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:50.220
 And sex and drink

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.360
 are two of the historically

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:53.160
 most prominent ways

00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.080
 in which these things

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.840
 have been expressed

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.900
 in human history.

00:15:56.760 --> 00:15:57.320
 Right?

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.900
 And we need to not be afraid

00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:03.000
 of our post-evangelical,

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:05.640
 post-fundamentalist reaction

00:16:05.640 --> 00:16:08.080
 to legalism to say so.

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:10.380
 We need to be self-controlled

00:16:10.380 --> 00:16:11.920
 in the areas of how we live out

00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:13.220
 our sexuality and our drinking.

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:16.460
 And we need to not play around

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:16.899
 by thinking,

00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:18.800
 oh, I'm past that legalism.

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.120
 I can do this and be safe.

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.800
 We need to be wise.

00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.180
 We need to be shrewd

00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:24.879
 in how we do this.

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:28.279
 But we also want to look deeper

00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.500
 because we recognize

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.019
 that sex and drinking

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.340
 are two expressions

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:35.240
 of a deep heart position.

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.000
 One commentary says,

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.840
 all five of these terms

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:40.379
 refer to practices

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.419
 that have in common

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:43.340
 a lack of self-control,

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.919
 a character flaw,

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.439
 leading to behaviors

00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:48.519
 that are self-destructive violation

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:50.019
 of God's standards

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:52.139
 and harmful to others.

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.259
 What does that look like

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.159
 in our lives?

00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.740
 Well, I thought of a couple.

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.460
 They're all electronic,

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.819
 I'll be honest with you.

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.399
 One is social media

00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:10.079
 and the way that our addiction

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.240
 to and use of social media,

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.879
 how often is it characterized

00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:16.519
 by a lack of self-control,

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.919
 a character flaw

00:17:17.919 --> 00:17:18.839
 leading to behaviors

00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.119
 that are self-destructive

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:22.000
 and harmful to others?

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.660
 I think of the number

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.680
 of men and women

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.900
 who are addicted to pornography

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:32.539
 and who look daily, weekly,

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.980
 express this sensual desire,

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.480
 this sexual desire

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.119
 in a destructive place.

00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:45.900
 I think that there are ways

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:48.059
 in which for some of us

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:49.779
 something like computer games

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.920
 and the addiction

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.899
 that that can cause

00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:52.680
 and the way that it can

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.779
 separate us from

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:58.559
 from real relationships

00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:00.220
 with the people around us.

00:18:02.139 --> 00:18:03.599
 However our screens

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.660
 act in our life,

00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:09.000
 often they fall into this

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.940
 self-centered,

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.299
 lack of self-control,

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.819
 destructive patterns.

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.660
 It's not the only way,

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.079
 but I think we want

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:17.119
 to think about this.

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.619
 We want to recognize

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:21.479
 that in our fallenness

00:18:21.479 --> 00:18:23.299
 we have these disordered desires.

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.639
 We look for good things

00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:25.459
 and we look for them

00:18:25.459 --> 00:18:26.379
 in the wrong places.

00:18:26.719 --> 00:18:27.819
 We long for intimacy

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.459
 and pleasure

00:18:28.459 --> 00:18:29.599
 and joy and meaning,

00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.379
 significance and relief

00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.019
 and comfort,

00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:33.299
 but we look for them

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.659
 in the wrong places.

00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:38.779
 And as we do so,

00:18:39.199 --> 00:18:40.959
 we fall back

00:18:40.959 --> 00:18:42.279
 into the old patterns

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.199
 of life of someone

00:18:44.199 --> 00:18:45.259
 who doesn't know God

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.559
 and we miss

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.720
 the calling

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.599
 that God has for us.

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.259
 And Peter knows.

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.019
 Peter is not being hard.

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.960
 He knows how difficult it is.

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:56.559
 We know how difficult it is,

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.660
 how easy it is

00:18:57.660 --> 00:18:59.119
 to fall into the old ways.

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.559
 We know it's easier

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.579
 because the old ways

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.160
 are familiar.

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.599
 We used to do that.

00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:05.220
 I know how that works.

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.559
 I know that that works

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.879
 in a moment.

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.480
 That's going to make me

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.039
 feel better.

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.140
 I want to do that.

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.720
 Sometimes we get weary

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.240
 of just feeling different

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:17.880
 and we just get tired

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:19.240
 of no one understanding

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:21.160
 why we live the way we do.

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:23.220
 Sometimes we just get lazy.

00:19:23.840 --> 00:19:24.280
 We're just like,

00:19:24.360 --> 00:19:25.520
 I don't want to have

00:19:25.520 --> 00:19:27.540
 to work so hard anymore.

00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:31.040
 Sometimes in the midst

00:19:31.040 --> 00:19:31.680
 of suffering,

00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:33.060
 we fall into self-pity.

00:19:33.560 --> 00:19:34.759
 We've suffered so much.

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:36.300
 Can't God just give me a break?

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.280
 Can't I have just this

00:19:37.280 --> 00:19:38.180
 one little thing

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.240
 even though I know

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.120
 it's not what he wants

00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:41.060
 and it's not good for me?

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:44.440
 Sometimes it's as simple

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.140
 as we just don't want

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.340
 to live boring lives.

00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:47.820
 We know we're meant

00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:49.100
 to live passionate lives

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.400
 and we don't quite know

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:50.980
 what it looks like

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.320
 to live passionately for God

00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:53.880
 so we look at the world

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.360
 and we think

00:19:54.360 --> 00:19:55.100
 that looks like

00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:55.900
 a lot of passion

00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.900
 and a lot of fun.

00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.640
 But God has called us

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:03.360
 to spend these passions

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:04.620
 that he has given us,

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.660
 this passionate heart

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.820
 that he's created in us

00:20:06.820 --> 00:20:08.080
 for something else,

00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:09.300
 for the will of God.

00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:10.500
 This is what Peter

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.539
 has been talking about

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.619
 this whole book

00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:14.259
 and we want to just,

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.619
 I just want to remind you,

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.880
 he tells us to live

00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.940
 such good lives

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.579
 and to suffer for doing good

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:21.140
 because it's the way

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.400
 that God has made us to be,

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.960
 to live distinctly

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.599
 in the world

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:26.500
 as God's chosen people

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.880
 so that we might reflect

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.319
 the glory of his grace,

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.539
 so we might reflect

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.859
 the hope of the inheritance

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:33.960
 that we have secure for us

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.500
 in heaven,

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.900
 in heaven,

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.859
 so that we might know

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:38.259
 the love of Christ

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.460
 that has been poured out

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.000
 in our hearts

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.900
 and display that

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.619
 in the world.

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.740
 God has called us

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.619
 to do this,

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.299
 to be ready,

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.880
 to take up this challenge

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.519
 of forging a new way

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.640
 to honor God

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:53.559
 in our particular circumstances

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.879
 and to live with

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:56.659
 gospel-shaped relationships.

00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:59.339
 Some of the hard passages

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.200
 we've wrestled with

00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:01.019
 in the last month

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.899
 have talked about

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:03.179
 how do we navigate this

00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:04.700
 in the realms of politics

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.899
 and family and race?

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.339
 How do we do this well?

00:21:07.659 --> 00:21:08.279
 But remember,

00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:09.879
 this is what God's calling us to.

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:11.559
 How do we honor him

00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.179
 in every circumstance?

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.940
 How do we live for him?

00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:17.859
 And Peter's reminding us

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:19.399
 that there is something

00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.720
 worth our passions

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.120
 and is living for the will of God.

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:27.220
 So this is the first reason

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.200
 we're to arm ourselves,

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.519
 so that we no longer

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.700
 fall back into the old ways,

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.680
 but so that we're ready

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.960
 to face those temptations

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.079
 and pursue the thing

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.160
 that we know God wants.

00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.779
 Verses 4 and 5

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.860
 give us a second reason.

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.539
 Let's look at it again.

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.799
 With respect to this,

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.759
 they are surprised

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:44.059
 when you do not join them

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.880
 in the same flood of debauchery

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.100
 and they malign you,

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.700
 but they will give an account

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:50.259
 to him who is ready

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:52.019
 to judge the living

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.079
 and the dead.

00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.119
 Peter knows

00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:57.059
 that turning from the old ways

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:59.119
 to a new way is hard

00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:00.039
 and the dynamic

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.759
 of every adult convert

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:04.000
 in the world

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.500
 knows this challenge

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.579
 because the people

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.660
 you used to know

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.259
 and the things

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.299
 you used to do

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:12.400
 are now things

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.400
 that you no longer

00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.099
 want to do

00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.539
 and you're trying

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.039
 to figure out

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.859
 how do I relate

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.779
 to these people

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.119
 without continuing

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.099
 to run with them

00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.899
 and doing the things

00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:20.619
 that they do.

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.259
 This is why he says

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.139
 join with them

00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:24.119
 in the same flood

00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:24.839
 of debauchery.

00:22:25.219 --> 00:22:25.919
 Just there's this

00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:27.139
 wide road

00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:28.659
 of really easy living

00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:30.879
 and that's what you know

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:32.079
 and it's what you're familiar with

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.879
 and yet when you come

00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:33.439
 to Christ

00:22:33.439 --> 00:22:34.659
 there's meant to be

00:22:34.659 --> 00:22:35.299
 a change,

00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:36.039
 a shift,

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:37.219
 a transition

00:22:37.219 --> 00:22:39.299
 and these create tensions

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:42.259
 and if you've walked

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.599
 through this

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:42.919
 you know

00:22:42.919 --> 00:22:44.219
 your friends are hurt.

00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.899
 They're confused.

00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.180
 confused.

00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.740
 What happened to you?

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.320
 Where did my friend go?

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.380
 We used to do

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.400
 these things together.

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.420
 We used to go

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:52.940
 and get drunk

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.040
 on Friday night together

00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:55.000
 and now

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.360
 I don't know you

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:57.220
 and I don't know

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.240
 how to have a relationship

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.800
 with you

00:22:58.800 --> 00:23:00.100
 apart from these things.

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.660
 Not only are they

00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.340
 confused

00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:05.259
 and surprised

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.780
 but often

00:23:06.780 --> 00:23:07.880
 they feel condemned.

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.500
 You're judging me

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:10.980
 aren't you?

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:11.960
 You think

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.040
 I'm doing it wrong.

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:17.599
 And often then

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.220
 that turns

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.720
 to

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.519
 as Peter says here

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.159
 maligning

00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:23.359
 or reviling.

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.799
 You're self-righteous.

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.079
 You're a bigot.

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.960
 Why do you hate me now?

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:32.700
 You're so holier than now.

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.839
 Why are you so judgmental?

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.879
 I know some of you

00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:39.200
 have felt these pressures.

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.680
 You've heard those words

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:42.019
 spoken to you.

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.579
 And I think

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.059
 that we feel

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.779
 a greater pressure

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.200
 because in this era

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.559
 in this stage

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.019
 of the church

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.519
 one of the things

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.579
 we long to be

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:52.099
 is a winsome church.

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.180
 We want to be a church

00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:54.680
 that wins people's affections.

00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:56.119
 We want to love

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.740
 well enough.

00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.819
 We want to be gentle

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.779
 and gracious enough.

00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.299
 We think that if we do

00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.279
 those things well enough

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.740
 somehow

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.059
 people are going to

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.700
 accept us

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.599
 and welcome us

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.680
 and celebrate us

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.220
 or at least respect us.

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.700
 Peter reminds us

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.799
 that that's not true.

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:14.019
 These two worlds,

00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:15.139
 these two ways

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:16.919
 are divergent.

00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:17.720
 They're going

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.859
 in different directions

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.339
 and there is a conflict

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:21.359
 between them

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.879
 and this conflict

00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:23.700
 is inevitable

00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:25.700
 and maybe it doesn't happen

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.659
 in every relationship

00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:27.519
 and it doesn't happen

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.639
 in every circumstance

00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:30.619
 but recognize

00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:32.159
 that this is normal

00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:34.480
 that this will be a part

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.799
 of following Jesus.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:40.299
 the conflict will happen

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.079
 and look

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.000
 we're still called

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.919
 to be loving

00:24:42.919 --> 00:24:44.039
 winsome

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.859
 gentle

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.759
 patient

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.799
 and kind.

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.220
 We don't forsake

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.779
 doing that

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.759
 because quote unquote

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.559
 it doesn't work.

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.720
 We do that

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.539
 because it's the way

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.519
 we follow Christ

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.899
 but recognize

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.779
 that we're not

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.759
 always going to get

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.519
 the thing that we

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.940
 I think we hope for

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.359
 which is

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.379
 when we do that

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.599
 then people won't hate us.

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.359
 Peter is reminding us

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.740
 that is not true.

00:25:07.959 --> 00:25:08.979
 And we know

00:25:08.979 --> 00:25:09.959
 that that pressure

00:25:09.959 --> 00:25:13.839
 that fear of blowback

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:15.240
 that fear of those

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.319
 negative responses

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.559
 and conflict to us

00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.459
 we know that

00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.519
 that's a high pressure

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.179
 for us

00:25:21.179 --> 00:25:22.879
 to just go along.

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.479
 We know that

00:25:25.479 --> 00:25:26.339
 the negative response

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:26.779
 may come

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.339
 and we say

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:29.379
 I'm just going to be silent

00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:30.219
 I don't want to deal

00:25:30.219 --> 00:25:30.839
 with people

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:32.439
 just going at me today.

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:35.079
 Sometimes we just go along

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.519
 it's like

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:35.879
 well

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:37.319
 God will understand

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.740
 I'm just going to

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:40.619
 I'm just going to do it

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:42.159
 because it's too hard.

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:46.019
 Peter reminds us

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.500
 however

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.599
 in verse 5

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.479
 of why

00:25:49.479 --> 00:25:51.000
 we can have confidence

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.839
 to stand up

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:53.039
 to that kind of pressure.

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.839
 Because he reminds us

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.819
 as he turns a corner

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.519
 he says

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.579
 he reminds us

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.019
 that look

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.639
 those people

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.919
 and their judgment

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.579
 of you

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.819
 their condemnation

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.279
 of you

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.700
 is not the final word

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.399
 on your life.

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.819
 Peter says

00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.799
 lift up your eyes

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.279
 and look

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.839
 and see

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:10.099
 because you know what

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.759
 they

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.960
 and their judgments

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.839
 will ultimately

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.740
 sit under a greater judgment.

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.960
 They will face

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.599
 the one

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.859
 God himself

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.919
 who is the judge

00:26:18.919 --> 00:26:19.439
 of the living

00:26:19.439 --> 00:26:19.939
 and the dead

00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:20.599
 that means people

00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.460
 who are already dead

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.419
 and people who are alive

00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:22.799
 today

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.720
 and all people

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.539
 will be judged

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.659
 universally

00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:28.079
 by God.

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:30.740
 and what will happen

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.039
 is those who revile

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.199
 you for doing good

00:26:33.199 --> 00:26:34.679
 for following Christ

00:26:34.679 --> 00:26:35.559
 will be shown

00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.319
 at the last day

00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.379
 to be wrong.

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.000
 They will be shown

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.379
 to have misunderstood

00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:42.500
 what is right

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.000
 and wrong

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.699
 in the world

00:26:43.699 --> 00:26:45.279
 and you

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.759
 who follow Christ

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.339
 faithfully

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.460
 will be vindicated

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:50.199
 because of Christ.

00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:52.039
 This is the implication.

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:54.859
 living differently

00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:56.159
 will always feel awkward

00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:57.460
 and it will at times

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.659
 make us feel like

00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.759
 the whole world

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.680
 hates us

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.700
 and condemns us

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.839
 and judges us

00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:04.799
 but just like it did

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.579
 with Christ

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:07.180
 so we will know

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.480
 that the end of this story

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.559
 is not that judgment

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.700
 but ultimately

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.579
 the vindication

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.559
 that comes with Christ

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.519
 as he judges

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:15.180
 the whole world.

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.079
 So Peter says

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.039
 gird up your mind.

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:21.639
 See this long term view

00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:22.960
 know what Christ

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.700
 was looking at

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.520
 as he suffered

00:27:24.520 --> 00:27:26.320
 and look to those things

00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:28.220
 so that in the face

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.840
 of temptation

00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:30.240
 with the great pressures

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.340
 that you feel

00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:31.900
 even the

00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:33.400
 either the pull

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.180
 in your heart

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:35.240
 or the fear

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.000
 of others

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.780
 that these things

00:27:37.780 --> 00:27:38.960
 gird up your mind

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.280
 with this long term view

00:27:40.280 --> 00:27:41.680
 so that you may walk

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.320
 with God

00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:44.440
 and follow his will.

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.880
 So that's the second reason

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.800
 why we're to arm ourselves.

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:50.940
 Verse 6

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.840
 is the third one

00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:54.120
 that we are to arm ourselves

00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:55.039
 so that we remember

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.400
 our gospel mission

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.400
 and hope.

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.660
 Verse 6

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.559
 is not an easy one

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.660
 we'll get into it

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:00.980
 in a minute

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.940
 but let's read it.

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.259
 This is why the gospel

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.779
 was preached

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.500
 even to those

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.059
 who are dead

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.080
 though judged

00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:06.680
 in the flesh

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.600
 the way people are

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.759
 they might live

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.440
 in the spirit

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.400
 the way God does.

00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.940
 Now this is explanatory

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.880
 this is explaining

00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.140
 this long term view

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.019
 and saying

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:19.180
 here's more explanation

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:20.819
 about why this is important

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.619
 but what does it actually say?

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.619
 Now some people

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.180
 in the history

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.819
 of the church

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:27.299
 have seen this verse

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.839
 as grounds

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:29.619
 for post-mortem conversion.

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.579
 What that means

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.420
 is that somehow

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.200
 some way

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.619
 after we die

00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.940
 we can still hear

00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.440
 the gospel

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.519
 and turn to God

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.859
 and after death

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.779
 is a really good time

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.480
 to do that

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.599
 because we can live

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.240
 our whole life

00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:42.059
 no matter how we

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:43.259
 it doesn't matter

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.500
 and then we die

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.299
 and then we see

00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.160
 how bad death is

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.579
 and then we think

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.720
 wow that'd be great.

00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.539
 So we have

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.619
 in our human heart

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.420
 we long

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:52.279
 for second chances

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.240
 we long

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.400
 to know

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.119
 that this life

00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:55.940
 isn't all there is

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:56.599
 and maybe God

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.000
 can like

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.180
 can rescue it

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.440
 even after the fact

00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.900
 and some of us

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.240
 do this

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.839
 because we have

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.740
 lost loved ones

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.500
 and we long

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.900
 for them

00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.980
 to have a second chance

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:08.519
 but the scriptures

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.299
 don't give us

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.279
 that second chance.

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.619
 Hebrews 9

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.099
 17

00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.799
 says that

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.380
 we are to

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:16.640
 to die once

00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.880
 and then to face judgment

00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:22.140
 there is no second chances

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:23.100
 this life

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:24.080
 is what we have

00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:25.560
 in God's sovereignty

00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:27.460
 this is what we're

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.800
 meant to live with

00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:30.240
 the reason why

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.960
 I say this

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.720
 and the reason why

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.440
 I believe that

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.740
 verse 6 is not saying that

00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.580
 is actually

00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:35.860
 the key words

00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.920
 the living and the dead

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:38.040
 and the way that they're used

00:29:38.040 --> 00:29:38.860
 in verse 5

00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:40.560
 in verse 5

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:41.300
 it says

00:29:41.300 --> 00:29:42.900
 they will give an account

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.640
 to him who is ready

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.640
 to judge the living

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.340
 and the dead

00:29:45.340 --> 00:29:46.740
 that is all people

00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.259
 everywhere

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.040
 the people who have

00:29:48.040 --> 00:29:48.740
 already died

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.620
 and the people who are

00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:50.280
 living now

00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:50.900
 right

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:52.160
 he's not talking about

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.180
 spiritually living

00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.360
 and spiritually dead

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:56.000
 he's not talking about

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:58.720
 the people who died

00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.640
 in the days of Noah

00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:01.160
 there are a lot of

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.000
 really interesting things

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.000
 in verse 5

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.020
 it's clear that he's

00:30:04.020 --> 00:30:05.040
 talking about all people

00:30:05.040 --> 00:30:05.600
 right

00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:07.380
 and in verse 6 then

00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:09.240
 he's saying the same thing

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.660
 the dead

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.880
 in verse 6

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.380
 right

00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.279
 the gospel is preached

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.660
 the dead

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.059
 is the gospel was preached

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.599
 to people

00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.839
 who heard the gospel

00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.920
 when they were alive

00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.900
 and now they are done

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.839
 now they have died

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:22.859
 they are physically dead people

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:25.120
 that's what it means

00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:27.220
 why is Peter saying this

00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.460
 well because

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:30.279
 in the first century

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:32.500
 the Roman culture around

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.000
 would say

00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.380
 okay you believe in Jesus

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:35.440
 you're going to be resurrected

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.519
 to an eternal life

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.920
 well look at Joe here

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:39.240
 Joe died last month

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.079
 and what is he?

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.059
 worm food

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.839
 he's just dead

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:45.500
 what good is it

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.400
 to follow Christ

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:46.980
 and to suffer

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.920
 if all you're going to do

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.339
 is die

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.700
 just like everyone else

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:52.680
 and Peter says

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.980
 this is why

00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:56.079
 the gospel is so important

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:57.139
 this is why

00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:58.339
 we preach the gospel

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:58.940
 urgently

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.779
 while we can

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:01.220
 because in this life

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.639
 God is using

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.799
 the preaching of the gospel

00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:05.059
 to call people

00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:07.019
 to life with him

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.659
 and to hope

00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:09.220
 and what he's saying is

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.799
 Joe

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:11.599
 who put his faith in Christ

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.879
 even though his body

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.759
 is in the ground

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:15.500
 he will be raised

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.440
 to new life

00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:16.740
 right?

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.839
 this is what the end

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.599
 of the verse says

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:20.299
 though judged in the spirit

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.720
 or judged in the flesh

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.460
 they died

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.539
 just like everyone else

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:25.200
 yet they will be raised

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.099
 by the spirit

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.039
 in this

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.899
 with God

00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:28.940
 in the spirit of God

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:30.440
 and so they have

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.379
 a great hope

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:34.500
 and this is why

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.800
 the gospel is so urgent

00:31:35.800 --> 00:31:36.720
 and this is why

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.680
 the hope of the gospel

00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.460
 is so good

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:40.420
 because if we suffer

00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.420
 in this life

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:43.840
 for no hope

00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:45.260
 then it does seem

00:31:45.260 --> 00:31:45.840
 like a waste

00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:46.360
 doesn't it?

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.200
 we might as well

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.140
 just live it up

00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:51.600
 but in fact

00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:53.040
 because we have

00:31:53.040 --> 00:31:53.940
 this gospel hope

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.980
 because we have

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.940
 this new direction

00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:57.100
 that God has called us in

00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:58.040
 because we have

00:31:58.040 --> 00:31:58.580
 this kingdom

00:31:58.580 --> 00:31:59.260
 that is coming

00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.279
 because we have

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.319
 this new place

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:03.200
 of being God's people

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:05.619
 and a future

00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.700
 of living with God

00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.839
 in his perfect

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:09.519
 all satisfying

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.740
 glorious kingdom

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.259
 forever

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:12.920
 this is what

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:15.059
 Peter wants us

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:17.059
 to take hold of

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:18.279
 and to arm ourselves

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.920
 with

00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:21.079
 what good is it

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:22.220
 living holy lives?

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.379
 because it means

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:24.599
 we continue with Christ

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.160
 till the end

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.940
 and as we continue

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.440
 with Christ

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.519
 till the end

00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:29.440
 we have this glorious hope

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.740
 and in the meantime

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.980
 we take hold

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:33.059
 of this gospel message

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:33.799
 and we not only

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.420
 take hold of it

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:34.960
 for ourselves

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.059
 but we preach it

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:37.019
 to everyone else

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:39.359
 so that before they die

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.220
 they can too

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.599
 turn from sin

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.420
 and know

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:43.519
 the glorious hope

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.639
 of the gospel

00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:48.279
 friends

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:49.359
 this passage

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.440
 has a great comfort

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:52.200
 and a great sting

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:53.559
 the comfort

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.460
 is that in Christ

00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.279
 we will live

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.960
 in the spirit

00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:57.399
 a resurrection

00:32:57.399 --> 00:32:58.379
 and a victory

00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.599
 awaits us

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:01.619
 no matter what

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.660
 the cost is now

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:04.500
 no matter what

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.519
 suffering we may

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.099
 walk through

00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:06.940
 to be faithful

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.639
 to Christ

00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:09.399
 at the end

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:09.819
 of the day

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.559
 we will rise

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.819
 victorious with Christ

00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:14.859
 and for beleaguered

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.839
 and weary Christians

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:17.180
 this is great hope

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:19.579
 but there is a sting

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.299
 as well

00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:22.319
 for those who continue

00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.500
 being controlled

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.539
 by human passions

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.579
 for those who

00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:26.480
 in their rejection

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.940
 of God

00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.559
 and rejection

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.319
 of Christ

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:30.640
 continue apart

00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.640
 from that hope

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:33.440
 seeking their life

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:35.599
 here in this world

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:37.920
 those who revile

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.980
 believers

00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:40.700
 who malign them

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.700
 who condemn them

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:43.099
 for their faithful living

00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:47.359
 there is not a second chance

00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.660
 once you are dead

00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:50.259
 you are dead indeed

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.740
 and then you will face judgment

00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:54.859
 and we need to soberly

00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:55.460
 hear that

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.460
 to recognize that

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.559
 for us

00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.640
 for our neighbors

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:02.940
 for us to think about

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.740
 how we might

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.700
 hold forth

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.980
 the hope

00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.559
 that we have

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.220
 within us

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.619
 as Peter says

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:10.239
 in chapter 3

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.000
 verse 15

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:13.780
 so friends

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.639
 brothers and sisters

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.460
 arm yourselves

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.860
 arm yourselves

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:18.239
 with Christ's

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:18.659
 mindset

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.920
 so that you might

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.879
 pursue the life

00:34:20.879 --> 00:34:21.420
 that God has

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.159
 called you to

00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.379
 knowing that it

00:34:23.379 --> 00:34:24.099
 will be a battle

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:25.119
 knowing that it is

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.539
 not an easy call

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:28.219
 it is a hard call

00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:30.500
 but that the end

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.000
 is good

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:32.539
 and as we

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.159
 gird ourselves

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:34.000
 up for it

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.059
 we will be prepared

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.559
 for what comes

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.799
 let's pray

00:34:37.799 --> 00:34:38.339
 together

00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:44.579
 Lord Jesus

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.100
 we

00:34:45.100 --> 00:34:47.620
 ask now

00:34:47.620 --> 00:34:48.000
 Lord

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.920
 that you would

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:50.160
 remind us

00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:51.620
 fill our hearts

00:34:51.620 --> 00:34:52.320
 and our minds

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:53.680
 with the glorious

00:34:53.680 --> 00:34:54.579
 truths of Christ

00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.880
 so that we might

00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:58.380
 arm ourselves

00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:59.180
 with the same

00:34:59.180 --> 00:35:00.840
 attitude

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.620
 that he had

00:35:01.620 --> 00:35:02.559
 Lord I pray

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.420
 that if there are those

00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.300
 here this morning

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:05.920
 Lord

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.820
 who have fallen

00:35:06.820 --> 00:35:07.960
 into old ways

00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:09.360
 while claiming

00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:10.280
 to follow Christ

00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.880
 Lord I pray

00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.460
 that they would

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.220
 know the richness

00:35:12.220 --> 00:35:13.059
 of your grace

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.619
 and mercy

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.740
 that Lord

00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.320
 your call

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.059
 to repentance

00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:17.659
 Lord is always

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.139
 open

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.460
 for us to turn

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.119
 back to you

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.740
 and to forsake

00:35:20.740 --> 00:35:21.320
 those things

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:21.940
 and to know

00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.679
 your gracious

00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.260
 acceptance

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:24.820
 and your empowering

00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:25.300
 presence

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.079
 to help us

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.720
 live the new

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:27.360
 life that you've

00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.039
 called us to

00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:30.119
 Lord I pray

00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.860
 for those this

00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:31.659
 morning who may

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.920
 not know you

00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:33.559
 who may be

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.420
 exploring you

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.079
 Lord that they

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.780
 would hear

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:37.720
 Lord the urgency

00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:38.500
 of the gospel

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:41.279
 Lord that they

00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:41.939
 would hear the

00:35:41.939 --> 00:35:42.559
 good news

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.739
 and respond

00:35:43.739 --> 00:35:45.759
 Lord I pray

00:35:45.759 --> 00:35:46.739
 this morning

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.599
 that for all

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.119
 of us you

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:48.659
 would make us

00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:50.359
 wise to the

00:35:50.359 --> 00:35:51.219
 temptations and

00:35:51.219 --> 00:35:52.279
 the pull of this

00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:52.859
 world that we

00:35:52.859 --> 00:35:53.699
 live in

00:35:53.699 --> 00:35:55.219
 Lord that we

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:55.619
 would gird

00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.359
 ourselves up

00:35:56.359 --> 00:35:58.379
 to live

00:35:58.379 --> 00:35:58.839
 differently

00:35:58.839 --> 00:36:00.739
 because of you

00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:02.659
 we pray this

00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:03.399
 in Jesus name

00:36:03.399 --> 00:36:04.579
 Amen

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:06.400
 we in

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:33.199
 we进