Holiness - A Higher Calling (4/4)

Holiness - A Higher Calling - 1 Peter 4:14-16 - Series 4/4

Well we have arrived to our last message in the Book of 1 Peter…

And as always… I am very excited for dive into it with you all this morning…

The passage we will be unpacking is 1 Peter 4:1-9…

Last evening we looked at 1 Peter 2:1-8 and had three important take aways:

You must CRAVE and LONG for the things of CHRIST

You are a STONE of God’s SPIRITUAL HOUSE and a apart of his HOLY priesthood

Jesus Christ is the CORNERSTONE

This morning we will be turning our attention to 1 Peter 4:1-9 which says,

1 Peter 4:1–9 (ESV)

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

POINT #1: You have been CALLED to LIVE for the WILL of GOD

1 Peter 4:2 (ESV)

so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

What do I mean by the will of God…

I mean = to live a life that God intended for you to live as his creation…

- a life that lives for God’s purposes

- a life that is obedient to God’s Word

- a life that finds fulfillment in Christ

As someone who is saved by faith in Jesus Christ… the will or that you had for life is no longer the will that runs your life… you submit that will to the will of God…

Example:

One thing that I love to do is workout…

In fact. when I was in high school… I was small guy…

I weighed 130 pounds and was probably 5’7 as a senior…

I watched a documentary called “pumping iron” that featured the old school classic body builders…

In that documentary… there was a guy who changed my life… his name is Arnold Swartzenagur…

One of the greatest body builders of all time… I remember watching that documentary and thinking…

Arnold arguable has the greatest Chest and Biceps in his prime… his chest was wide and his arms had a very pronounced peak…

This guy - Arnold Swartzenagur gave me a hope and inspired me to get into body building…

I remember I got a set of 15 pound dumbbells my sophomore year of high school and I could hard pick them up…

All this to say… I started working out when I was a sophomore in high school… 8 years later I weighed 188 pounds and I was lifting weights that I never thought I would be able to lift…

You see I had a will for my life… that I was going to get bigger… that I was going to get stronger… that I was going to look like Arnold no matter what…

But when my Son came along… it completely changed my life…

The working out that I cherished and chased after… began to not be as important to me…

the value I got in working out… did not compare to the value I receive as being a Father…

My will changed because something more important happened in my life…

I submitted my old way of living and my old will to the new will of being a better father and husband to my wife and son…

When Jesus Christ saves you… your life drastically changes… your will is no longer the priority… rather, the life that Jesus is calling you to is what you should cherish and live out…

I want you to know… that Jesus Christ also did this…

John 5:30 (ESV)

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Jesus Christ was obedient to the will of the Father…

My question for you is… are you seeking out the will of the Father… and are you being obedient to it? Are you willing to set aside your will and the plans that you have for you life in exchange for the God’s will and the plans that he has for your life?

POINT #2: You will give an ACCOUNT for your ACTIONS and PAY BACK the debt that you owe GOD

1 Peter 4:7 (ESV)

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

The Return of Christ is at hand - it is near…

The word “end” is not referring to chronological end… as if something just suddenly stops…

Rather… the word “end” is referring to a goal that is achieved… or a result that was attained and accomplished…

Jesus will Return… and accomplish a triumphal second coming…

This is meant to encourage us as believers… this is ment to spur us on and keep us going…

The Second coming of Christ should help motivate you to endure, love others well, and fight the good fight faith… why… because you know for certain that Christ is Returning…

I hope the reality of the second coming of Christ will encourage you to live a holy life that is honoring and please to God… even in the midst of difficult circumstances and situations…

Remember… these Christians Peter was writing to were facing extreme persecution… that they did not deserve… and he is using the Second Coming of Christ to encourage and lift them up to continue the fight the good fight of of faith and live a holy life that is pleasing to God…

The Second Coming also reminds us that… we will be held accountable for what you we do… and payback the debts you owe to the Lord…

1 Peter 4:5 (ESV)

but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

That word account is a verb an action that means = “to answer for, understood as providing an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered”

You and I will have to stand before the Lord and will have to answer for the itemized list of the sins we committed and the debt we owe…

The question is… has your debt in been in full? and is your answer Jesus Christ?

The actions and things you do today matter to God… I urge and beg you… to live a life that is holy… life a life that is worthy of the higher calling that have been called to…

Please pray with me… a