Living Differently

1 Peter  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Living a way that would be different from this world

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Introduction

How do you live your life?
(Use the anthem words)How do you live your life?
These words that the choir just sang were written by Gloria Gaither.
I Then Shall Live
I then shall live as one who’s been forgiven;
I’ll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child, and I am not afraid.
So greatly pardoned, I’ll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
I then shall live as one who’s learned compassion;
I’ve been so loved that I’ll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I dare to see another’s point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I’ll be there to care and follow through.
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me,
Your pow’r and glory let them shine thro’ me.
Your hallowed name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come within me.
The Bread of Life O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world thro’ me.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
1 Peter 4:1–6 NIV84
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 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. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The Example of Christ

Christ suffered in His body. He gave Himself up for us.
He suffered that we might be free from sin. We may suffer for Him, and with Him…and as we do, we learn to hate sin and love Him more!
Peter encourages here in this passage to have the mind of Christ and to realize that as we identify with Christ we are victorious over sin! This is Peter’s version of !

Life is Short

Often you and I take life for granted until we have to suffer. Then, our priorities and values change.
This past week, there were over 50 families that realized just how short life is! And over 500 folks that have had their priorities and values changed! Sometimes sickness changes our thoughts and sometimes it is an idiot consumed with evil for whatever reason.
Suffering will happen in this world!
Paul talked about suffering on many levels. He even mentions about a continual thorn in his flesh:
2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV84
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
2 Corinthians
Jesus bleeding and dying on the cross
The great English pastor Charles Spurgeon is credited with saying, “Our thorns in the flesh are as nothing when laid side by side with the nails and spear.”
The great English pastor Charles Spurgeon is credited with saying, “Our thorns in the flesh are as nothing when laid side by side with the nails and spear.”
1 Peter 4:1–2 NIV84
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
I Peter 4:
You and I are called to be different! You and I are called to live differently!
Romans 12:1–2 NIV84
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Our passage in 1 Peter this morning also tells us to be done with a sinful life.
1 Peter 4:3 NIV84
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.
Verse 4 reminds us that there will always be those around us that are asking us to return to sinful habits and perhaps even try to do new ones!
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There will be a time coming when they and us will have to face the judgement of a Holy God!

God’s Judgement

1 Peter 4:
1 Peter 4:5–6 NIV84
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
One day God will judge everyone who has ever lived. Jesus entrusted Himself to the one that judges justly!
1 Peter 2:23 NIV84
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Verse 6 can be paraphrased this way:
“There are people now dead physically, but alive with God in the spirit, who were judged by the world. But they heard the gospel before they died and they believed. They suffered and died because of their faith- but they are living with God! It is better to suffer for Christ and go to be with God than to follow the world and be lost.”
As Christians, you and I are to arm ourselves with the same attitude toward the world, sin, and suffering that Jesus had while on this earth.
WE MUST FACE SUFFERING WITH A SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE. IF WE FACE IT WITHOUT A SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE, WE WILL BE BITTER RATHER THAN ALLOWING IT TO PURIFY US!
Today, we are remembering the body that was broken and the blood that was shed as we observe communion. As we do so, my invitation to you is to consider moving away from our sinful past and strive towards Holy Living as Peter has described for us.
Prayer
Communion
Communion
Dismissal
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