Untitled Sermon (5)

Unshakeable Resolve

Conviction: Jesus was militant about sin. Peter was militant about sin. I too must be militant about sin.

1 Peter 3:22–4:2 ESV

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. 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.

Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

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

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Conviction: Unsaved people have a present that is controlled by their past, but Christians have a present that is controlled by their future. -Hendricks

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.

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 will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead[i]—so although they were destined to die like all people,[j] they now live forever with God in the Spirit.[k]

Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

Conviction: We wait expectantly for Christ’s return preparing ourselves and the church for the day of His return.

1. Be Sober-7

2. Watch Unto Prayer- 7

3. Have Fervent Love- 8

4. Use Hospitality- 9

5. Minister Your Spiritual Gifts- 10-11

6. Think It Not Strange- 12

7. Rejoice- 13

8. Glorify God- 16-18

7 (1) The end of the world is coming soon. (2)Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 (3) Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (4)Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

10 (5)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.

(6)Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 (7)Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

Conviction: God uses trials to refine my heart and help me more deeply identify with Jesus.

14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”

Conviction: Our Suffering is temporary but our reward is eternal.

You must choose today who you will serve and hit the hard line.

17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,

what will happen to godless sinners?”

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.