Don't Let the Flame Go Out

Notes
Transcript
Intro

“Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.” - C.S. Lewis

The problem with suffering is that it hurts and we think it a bad thing. However, the most extraordinary event happened about 2K years ago. This event altered the course of all eternity and all of creation, the entirety of the universe. This event sparked the beginning of the end, however it gave birth to the Best News Ever Told. It was the event of salvation and it only came about through suffering! How we view suffering reveals a great deal about how we view our savior in says in:
1 Peter 4:1 NASB95
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Prayer
A young man was hired to paint his local church. He knew he could make his money stretch just a bit more by thinning the paint a bit. As he was finishing the job one morning the skies opened with a great rain and the boy was disheartened. The minister happened to be walking by and the boy asked, pastor, what do I do. The pastor promptly replied, well you must repaint and thin no more. Sin is always a danger in our lives. It is always looking to devour us, but we must combat sin. For sin is the enemy, that’s where I want to start this morning from 1 Pet 4.

Sin is the Enemy

1 Peter 4:1–3 NIV
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives 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.
A. Always a battle
1. Do we suffer?
a. Christ suffered, why should I be different
b. Suffering often times is seen as bad
i. lowers our passion for God
c. Because we think of self more than the big picture
i. Suffering sometimes is sin leaving the body
Told Francesco the other day we had a saying in the military, pain is just weakness leaving the body
James 3:16 NIV
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
d. What makes ME feel good
i. Not about our feelings
ii. About what we know
iii. These things lead to death but Christ leads to life
2. Serve God instead with passion
a. In the suffering
b. Leads to repentance
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
c. Brings the Fruit of Spirit
B. Sin Can Effect Our Light
1. Sin seeks to dampen the light
a. Take away our passion for God
b. It doesn’t care for us only for our death
2. Waiting for us
a. Looking to put out our light
b. Because evil wants company
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
3. But we are not trapped
a. We have control over sin
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
b. Because we have God
c. We use His tools
d. Besides we have been down that sin path and know where it leads
1 Peter 4:3 NIV
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.
i. leads to death
ii. Leads to guilt
iii. lead to hard heartedness

The Battle Takes its Toll

1 Peter 4:4–5 NIV
They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, 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.
A. Reminds me of Rich Young ruler
1. There is a struggle
a. Like a fire when it gets low
Turn lamp low
b. Like when a flame starts to sputter a bit
2. You have to keep on fighting
a. Don’t give sin a place to work
b. Remember
Deuteronomy 6:12–13 NIV
be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
B. Don’t Listen to Evil
1 Peter 4:5 NIV
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1. Remember Evil will have to give an account
a. Stand with God
b. Be the Light, don’t let it be put under a bowl
Matthew 5:14–15 NIV
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
2. Lamp is under the bowl of sin
a. Eventually it be starved out
b. Not feeding the soul the right stuff
c. It will die
Place flame under a bowl
3. Faith calls us to action against sin
a. Calls us to shine our Light
b. Put the light up where it can feed on what is righteous and good
Matthew 6:22–23 NIV
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Because even when our flame is low it can always be rekindled by our passion for God which defeats sin’s motivations.

Because There is Victory

1 Peter 4:6–8 NIV
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
A. It may be low now but with action
1. Repentance causes the flame to burn brighter
Matthew 4:17 NIV
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
a. Turn our eyes to Christ
b. Remember His deeds upon the cross
c. Remember that suffering bring about perseverance and blessings
i. Grants us true knowledge
ii. Feeds us with good things from God
2. Move away from evil
a. Meditate on what is good
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
b. The Good News stokes the flame
Turn flame up to med
B. What are you feeding your flame
1. Three things a fire needs
a. Every fire needs to be fed
b. If not it will go out
2. We also need three things
a. Prayer
b. Reading
c. Faith
C. God stokes our fire and passion –
1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1. It is a continual renewal of fire
a. Why they give to us
b. Reminds us in the hard times
i. When seeks to destroy
ii. God gives us the Spirit of victory
Hebrews 10:22 NIV
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
2. He gives us the fuel we need to be full
1 Peter 4:13–14 NIV
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
a.Rejoice in sufferings - You are like Christ
i. if I have never suffered
ii. Confidence in suffering
b. Live in the blessing
c. Less room for sin
d. More room for love, grace and mercy
Conclusion:
Don’t always have to have the biggest of flames. We all have times in the struggle that causes our flame to burn low. Remember this is not a sprint but a marathon; this is a life long race. In our sufferings we will rejoice and in our victories we will rejoice. Our flame will stay steady and light up the world around us. It is our steady light that the world cannot believe. The steady march toward victory that entices them to hear the Gospel and be forever changed!
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