Eyes on the Prize
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Great quarantine lesson!
26.5 million people filed for unemployment (Thurs.)
What does that mean?! We have a lot of time on our hands...
So far we’ve mentioned what not to do
Don’t be afraid, don’t panic, don’t turn away from God
But what are we supposed to do?
YouVersion: Eyes on the Prize
We’re in 1 Peter 1:13-25
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Yours might say “gird up the loins of your mind”
Tunic had bad mobility
Gird them up to fight or work
Show how to gird
Peter says to get your mind ready to fight/work
This is perfect for right now!
Ready to fight and work for what?
I’m talking to 2 groups this morning
Group 1: Bored people
Jeremy Haynes: If you don’t come out of this quarantine with either 1) a new skill, 2) starting what you’ve been putting off like a new business, 3) more knowledge - You didn’t ever lack the time, you lacked the discipline
When has there ever been a point in your life when you’ve had more free time?
What are you doing with it?
That’s what we’re going to be mentioning for Group 1
Some of you may think, I don’t have free time!
Nurses, police officers, IT people, FedEx delivery...
This is Group 2: Busy people
You guys are all still working, you get a pass on learning German
BUT You still have to gird up the loins of your mind!
Group one has to figure out what to do with their time
Group two has to figure out how to keep God first
Peter tells us both groups focus on GRACE
F.B. Meyer - Grace is the unmerited love of God, stooping to save and bless; the source of all those bright and holy gifts which come from his infinite heart.
Focusing on this is how we get through
What does that look like:
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
What does the world seek in ignorance?
Bad stuff!
Do you think people are seeking bad stuff now? YES!
Depression, boredom, freedom… leads to temptation
Idle hands are the devil’s play things...
Alcohol sales have gone up 55% (liquor stores are essential)
Online alcohol sales up 243%
Who else is open? Marijuana dispensaries - $36 million in sales
Major pornography site has gone up 11.6%
New thing called the “quarantine 15”
Result of the Oreos, Spam, Burger King and 430 Scones you’ve been eating
What do mullets, pistols, ligers, burning buildings and homosexual polygamy have in common
How many of you have watched Tiger King? Good Lord!
Netflix steaming has doubled since this time last year
One more thing: servers are crashing
Specifically gaming servers
Kids don’t have school so they’re doing one thing: video games
Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox have all crashed
Steam set record of 20 million users online at once
Take away jobs, restaurants and church… what do we do? Nothing...
Or, group 2, you work your tail off! Your mind might be fried!
Are you angry, stressed, frustrated and scared?
That’s understandable!
But don’t go back to sinful routines
There are ways to handle that!
Practically, likely others in your home playing video games
Those in the household should be helping
Kids from school, spouse off of work, roommate working from home
OR call the church! Tell us how we can help relieve stress!
We ALL need to seek holiness in this time
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Robin Sharma said, “Hard times produce your greatest gifts.”
This is so true
WWII produced amazing inventions
Radar
Penicillin
Rockets and jet engines
Nuclear power
Even the first computer
Decode the Lorenz machine - step up from enigma
Peter mentions exile
This is our exile!
Exiled from vacation, church gathering and pickleball
Not fun, but we have to stay focused
God has provided our ultimate rescue
From sin and death
He will provide rescue from this too eventually...
But we cannot forget that our true redemption is paid for
As we struggle and takes hold of our thoughts...
Don’t get tired of focusing on Christ
Don’t get lazy and try to find fulfillment in Hulu or donuts or GTA 5
Don’t cave to your stress, lashing out at your coworkers or your family
Remember the thing that fulfills us best is God
We may be isolated, but He hasn’t been taken away
Let’s look at v.20 to see what that is
20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
He is your hope! Your ONLY hope!
If you aren’t experiencing that, maybe you’ve been wasting time
Back up to this idea of foreknowledge
The plan for Jesus’ to die for us was made at the beginning
His death seemed hopeless to Peter
In the end, He saw the purpose of God’s plan
I wonder what God’s plan is this time
I think He wants to accomplish something with COVID
We won’t see it now, but later it will make sense
Can you put your hope there…?
Trusting that God knows what He’s doing
Betty HATED our house
But now it’s coming together, she’s much happier
I don’t know God’s entire plan, but the important part is done!
It’s all about perspective
Peter then compares this in light of Isaiah 40
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
As people seeking holiness, we love one another
Have you made any effort to love each other?
Our next door neighbor Eric has mowed our lawn twice
He’s got nothing else to do, and he loved us well
Didn’t even break the 6 foot barrier!
I love that we have new opportunities!
We’ve increased our online presence and I want to continue after
We have an opportunity to love now like never before!
As a church, we should be excited for the chance to try new things!
How can you love your spouse better? How can you love your neighbor better? How can you show that you love COVID patients or the elderly in isolation?
What unique situation has God put you in that you can use to love?
We are the church! This is our time to be the light!
Even with all of that, don’t forget that the gospel, the good news hasn’t changed.
Whatever is going on, the word of God will always be there
COVID dies, the word of God endures forever
Conclusion
Conclusion
Group 2: The busy ones
Thank you
You are keeping our society afloat
We appreciate your sacrifice
Don’t stretch yourself out of holiness
If you need help, call the church
We want to help
Group 1: The not so busy ones
Set a goal for yourself
We’ve got some time left...
Will you learn a skill?
Will you start something you’ve been putting off?
Will you seek knowledge?
Maybe you’ve wanted to learn the guitar. Do it!
Maybe you’ve wanted to start a new ministry. Set it up!
Maybe you want to study Greek. Register online!
Use this time to do something good
Make it a goal to be better through this
Not just fatter, lazier and more tired
Honestly, what else do you have to do?
Prayer
Prayer