How to Live As Godly People in a Godless World

Intro

Yesterday we saw how to Honor God in Trials

This am we will see how Peter tell us how to live lives for God in a world that does not.

He gives us two attitudes to have, and then two practical ways to help each other live for God.

Living for God Means You Are All In

New Living Translation Chapter 4

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

Explanation:

Have the same “All In” attitude as Christ (He gave us his life!)

Willing to give up your life for living a life honoring God!

They will need it because it will be getting hard to honor God with their lives.

Having this attitude affects the way they deal and look at sin.

To be that all in, means we have place Christ as better than everything

Finding no happiness in sin

They will be so focused on following Jesus that they will ignore sin they used to deal with.

At the end of day they know its not worth it.

Immorality and lust- selfishness and using sex for purposes it was not created for.

feasting and drunkenness and wild parties- so complete weakness and loss of self-control

worship of idols- running to false God to give them hope in all their sin.

Application:

See the Christian life so much about not doing this or that

If we focused on being all in to following Jesus, running from sin would be so much easier

Our lives would be serving and enjoying what Jesus has for us instead of worrying about sin all the time!

Yes you have to be strong in fighting sin, the best way to do that is to fill all your time doing the things Jesus has asked you to do.

Be in his word, be at church and grow, serve others and help them, seek to do good in all situations, look for those who need help, share the good news of Jesus with others

Give yourself little time to even fall into temptation.

Illustration:

High school and college

Never thinking partying, drinking, sleeping around was worth it

Was super busy involved with church, BCM, growing in my faith.

Living for God Means Having The End In Mind

New Living Translation Chapter 4

4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5 But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.

Explanation:

When this turning from this sin happens, those they used to sin with notice.

They see they aren’t at these parties or worshiping other idols and wonder why

These believers now have to explains that its not God honoring and is not in line with following Jesus.

This creates conflict.

These people then speak terrible about these believers

“who do they think they are”

holier than thou

think you are better than me?

This reaction shows they are convicted in some way. bring them down to feel better about sinning.

Peter tells them to remember there is a judgement coming

So don’t be vengeful

God will judge all people, believers and unbelievers, alive and dead.

V 6 seems like it could say that the good news of Jesus is preached to dead people but that’s not what it is saying.

Peter is explaining that judgment comes to all people, even if they are dead

He is speaking of those people who believed in Jesus who are now passed away.

They died, but will still be judged

since they believed in Jesus, they get to “live forever with God”

Application:

This can be one of the hardest things as a believer in High School

New believer- you are having to remove yourself from places and people that are deadly to your spiritual health.

Repentant- Maybe this week God showed you areas of your life full of sin, you will have to also remove yourself to keep growing.

Super hard because

You are leaving what has been comfortable for you and families

Those who you are leaving can talk bad about you.

See it as you thinking your better than them or holier than thou

They will remind you of all the sinful things you have done with them

They do this for various reasons

If you see that it is wrong, should they? Might not want to?

Makes them feel convicted and uncomfortable

Want someone who does that sin with them to not feel bad

Since they do it, I can do it.

But we turn away from it anyway

We know we have to give an account to God about what we did in this life

We are saved for his judgment and wrath if we believe in Jesus, so we don’t earn it

But I want to account for things I did to serve and follow Jesus than the ways I ran from him

I want to honor my savior and Lord.

Illustration:

Lawrence and watching movies with no nudity

Living for God Means We Need Each Other

New Living Translation Chapter 4

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

Explanation:

“the end of the world is coming soon” believers in the 1st century lived with and urgency of following and sharing Christ, knowing that Jesus could come back at any time.

Peter gives these believers three ways to help each other in times of trials and when they begin to be criticized for running from sin.

Prayer- they first are to turn to God and share with Him their needs and struggles

Earnest- sincerity and meaningful, not just out of habit.

disciplined- sober-minded, making it a point to go to him first.

Love for each other- leaving others and sin makes them lonely, so Peter tells them to press into their community of believers, their church.

It covers a multitude of sin- if you are living each other deeply, little things that bother them won’t break up their fellowship.

Love can over look things for the benefit of helping each other.

When you really love each other you can absorb and get over things.

Hospitality- the early church didn’t have big churches like today, so if they met, the did it in a house.

Having a place to come, eat, hang out, and be with other believers is a big deal, they needed that!

Application:

As we are fighting sin and following Jesus, we need to have an urgency about how we live, because the reality is we have a short time, weather Jesus comes back or we pass away, we only have a short time.

We need help to follow Jesus and run from sin also.

Prayer- seek God in prayer when you find it hard to follow or run from sin.

S

Love each other- be sure to surround yourself with other believers who can love you and help you.

Be hospitable- open your life to other believers, take them out for a meal, be willing your relationship to give a place of belonging to other believers.

Illustration:

Chad giving up his house for Patrick to stay in until they got married!

Living for God Means We Serve Each Other

New Living Translation Chapter 4

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Explanation:

Lastly, Peter gives them another way to help each other live this Jesus following life.

Use the gifts God has given them to help serve each other.

Gift of speaking- speaking anytime of message of God

Teaching the scripture to others

Using the scriptures for encouragement toward others

Using the gift of speech to speak God’s word to people

Gift of serving / helping others

This is the behind the scene service that helps people

The hospitality that was just talked about.

And when they are all serving each other with their gifts, God is gloried.

Application:

What are some gifts God has given you for you to use to help other believers?

Teaching

encouragement

ability to help others

background work

We to help each other and serve each the more and more unpopular being a Jesus follower becomes

Illustration

Falls Creek

Me, speaker, TLs use gift of teaching and encouraging you in the Lord

Jayme, cooks, Mark helped get ready for us to go, planned things, organized things, LOTS of background service

Is God glorified in all those things? I think so!

We are using our gifts to help serve you guys this week, so you can go back to school and live a life of following Jesus.

Conclusion:

What are some ways you can live for God in a world that isn’t

What, who, or where do you need to remove yourself from to live for God?