Arm Yourselves, It's War

1 Peter 4:1-11 Arm Yourselves, Its War Introduction: Peter tells us to “arm ourselves” This is a military term. Christians are to arm themselves with a mindset, an insight. -Christ suffered in the body (flesh) - Therefore, life for the Christian is a life of suffering. This is a characteristic, it doesn’t mean that it is constant, it simply means that it is the normal pattern. Since this is true I think that these verses should be read through a war minded lens. “In earlier days… men conceived the world to be a battleground. Our fathers believed in sin and the devil and hell as constituting one force; and they believed in God and righteousness and heaven as the other. These were opposed to each other in the nature of them forever in deep, grave, irreconcilable hostility. Man, so far as our fathers held, had to choose sides; he could not be neutral. For him it must be life or death, heaven or hell, and if he chose to come out on God’s side he could expect open war with “God’s enemies”. The fight would be real and deadly and would last as long as life continued here below. Men looked forward to heaven as a return from the wars, a laying down of the sword to enjoy in peace the home prepared for them. Sermons and songs in those days often had a martial quality about them, or perhaps a trace of homesickness. The Christian soldier thought of home and rest and reunion, and his voice grew plaintive as he sang of battle ended and victory won. But whether he was charging into enemy guns or dreaming of war’s end and the father’s welcome home, he never forgot what kind of world he lived in. It was a battleground, and many were the wounded and the slain”. -A.W. Tozer Although Peter is not yet talking specifically about the spiritual battle that we are engaged in, he is talking about an armed alertness, a sobriety of life, thats keeps it’s edge, and a need to be continually strengthened by the power of God....I believe that we the Church need to get back to this mindset, that we are at war, to have a full effectiveness in our lives in society, as well as for our lives in community. 1. A Call to Arms. a. 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. -1 Peter 4:1-2 i. The NT promises many times and in many ways that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 1. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” -Philippians 1:29 2. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” -1 Peter 4:12 a. This persecution will not necessarily be physical (abuse, imprisonment or death) but often as in our situation it is social or emotional/mental persecution. The loss of friendship, family, support, work, social status or social advancement. Sometimes I think it can even be narrowed down to the fact that our priorities, opinions and voice is not wanted or accepted, therefore we feel out of place (pilgrims, or aliens) in our community and culture. i. Christians are suffering whether we realize it or not. 1. When we get to glory I believe that it will feel as though we were living all our lives in a foreign land where we did not speak the language, fully understand and identify with the culture, felt lost or out of place socially and geographically.... This whether you realize it or not is a kind of suffering, suffering because this is not your homeland, suffering because you are a son of God and not a son of this world. ii. According to Peter we should know that suffering is a part of the program and be prepared mentally and spiritually to suffer. Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t suffer for my faith in Jesus Christ”..... Don’t worry, you will. Therefore every Christian needs this word from Peter, whether we have suffered, are suffering, or are suffer is still before us. b. Peter says that those that suffer in the flesh cease from sin. What does he mean? There are a few different views on what this means. I think it is clear that Peter is making a connection with us and our Lord Jesus... Those who are Jesus’, suffer, because he suffered. i. Those who do not sin by honoring men over and above God will suffer or those who have made a decision to break with a lifestyle of sin need to know that they have chosen a life of potential suffering....in order to live for the will of God. ii. When believers endure suffering for the sake of Christ they show that their purpose in life is not to live for their own pleasures but according to the will of God and for his glory. 1. So Peter says, you have chosen a life and identity with Christ, wonderful! Get ready (armed) to suffer. 2. Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That. a. “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.” -1 Peter 4:3-6 b. If we are at war, and we are promised a life of suffering hardship, and persecution there are just certain things that we simply do not have time for. i. Paul put it like this, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. -2 Timothy 2:3-4 ii. Peter again appeals to logic. We have spent enough of our time living for ourselves and fulfilling our sinful desires. Therefore have nothing to do with this worldly way of living. c. The vices that Peter mentions here all have an air of flippancy/carelessness about life. Whereas the Christian is to be sober minded and aware of the shortness of life, the eminent return of Christ, and the Judgment of all. i. I think what Peter is really warning us against here is those moments when our guard is down and we wonder if it is all worth it? Running against the crowd is not easy or comfortable, it takes work, we do not drift into obedience to righteousness. ii. Not only that but the death of the righteous is no different than people that live all their lives in sin and wickedness, the righteous and the unrighteous die alike.... iii. This is why Peter reminds them again, of the End. “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.” 1. These people heard and believed the gospel when they were alive but had subsequently died. Unbelievers viewed the death of believers as proof that there is no advantage in becoming a believer, for all without exception die. Peter indicated, however, that unbelievers do not understand the whole picture. Even though from a human perspective believers seem to gain no benefits from their faith since they die, from God's perspective, they live according to the Spirit. -Schreiner a. Proverbs reminds us of this truth. “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” -Proverbs 23:17 b. I guarantee, if you haven’t already experienced it, there will come a time in your life where you will wonder if all the hardship and sacrifice that you face being a Christian is really worth it... Peter weighs in to tell us that it really is. c. Don’t forget this life is a breath...and there is waiting for us a far and exceeding eternal weight of glory. 3. The End of All thing is At Hand. a. The need for mutual aid and care through the gifts and power that God supplies b. “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. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. -1 Peter 4:7-11 i. Christians are those that are to be living in constant expectation of the return of the Lord and the Day of Salvation. ii. Peter was not necessarily expecting Christ to return in a few weeks or months. He means, rather, that all the major events in God’s great salvation plan—culminating in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost—had already occurred. Therefore Christ’s return could happen at any time: it was “at hand” in Peter’s day, and it still is today. But the imminent arrival of the end is not a call simply to look into heaven and wait for Jesus’ return. Instead, believers are to be self-controlled and sober-minded, so that they may be devoted to prayer and maximize their usefulness in God’s kingdom. c. It would seem that as Peter tells us to arm ourselves, to be self controlled and sober minded and Pray, he is desiring that the Church would operate as a kind of outpost in enemy occupied territory to build up and encourage endurance in believers. i. The idea is that the body of believers would be concerned to support one another through mutual care. Making sure that no one falls short of the grace of God, we using the gifts (speaking and serving) that God has given us to serve one another and the needs of one another. ii. Again picture a military outpost. War torn soldiers would come disillusioned, afraid, shocked, and all sort of other needs from being in constant battle. The outpost supplies for them ammunition, medical aid, counseling for shock, sleep, food, water, general supplies, rest, encouragement, new orders, hope..etc. iii. Peter expects the church to be practicing and guarding fervent love, hospitality, and mutual service. iv. This is one way that we should be viewing our gathering together, that each of us has come together to give and receive strength and encouragement, to our lives so that through us God might have the glory through Jesus Christ..... Conclusion: 1. Recognize: a. If you are a Christian, you are at war, for the rest of your life, this should be your mentality, never let your spiritual guard down b. What is at stake - the glory of God, eternal reward, the souls of men and women. 2. Resist: a. When you are tempted to sin, answer that temptation with “no longer”. i. Remember what our sin did to our beautiful savior.. He suffered and died because of it. b. There are all sorts of things, people and circumstances that the enemy will try to throw at you to get you down, to get you to give up. Resist him, resist these thoughts and urges to sin and satisfy yourself. 3. Redeem: a. Think if we viewed the Church as not only a haven, a “refuge”, but a place where we come together to be strengthened mentally and spiritually only to be sent back out into the world to testify to our Hope in Christ. Our community should be a place in which we are constantly reminding one another of our Hope, where we are constantly encouraging each other to grow in the grace and love of God. That we are pointing one another to and reminding each other of our perfect King, to the new creation, to the perfect city, with a perfect government, with a perfect justice, with absolute peace, with total prosperity, that goes on forever and ever and ever and ever. i. We should be doing what the writer of Hebrews encouraged us to do, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:19-25 ii. Of Course in the very outset of this section Peter points to Jesus as our ultimate example. He is the one that set his face like flint toward Jerusalem, he is the one that endured great hostility, and mocking from sinners. He is the one that finished his course. He is also the one that freely served others in word and in deed...... “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”