Gracepointe Church (Dover, OH)
Gracepointe Church (Dover, OH)
What's Your Purpose? | Shawn Miller
Are you ready to arm yourself with the mindset of Christ and stay spiritually prepared amidst today's challenges? Join us as we explore 1 Peter 4:1-11, diving into the historical context of Peter's message to exiles facing intense persecution under Nero. We'll discuss how contemporary believers can maintain vigilance and self-control while reflecting on the humanity of Jesus' suffering. Discover the significance of living according to God's will and how His Word can be our strongest weapon in fortifying our faith and resolve.
As we anticipate Christ's return, we emphasize themes of judgment, repentance, and the urgency of living a renewed life. Reflecting on Peter's exhortations in 1 Peter 4:5-11, we highlight the importance of prayer, fervent love, and hospitality within the Christian community. We'll share personal stories and biblical insights to underscore the necessity of being watchful and clear-minded. Learn how to be a good steward of God's grace and utilize your spiritual gifts to honor Him, while fostering a culture of evangelism and discipleship at Grace Point. Let's prepare our hearts and minds for the ultimate fulfillment of seeing God face to face.
There's a possibility of a huge worldwide event happening today. No, I am not a conspiracy theorist. This event is totally out of our control. It is only in God's control. This event will be an a joyous occasion for the fulfillment of the hope for the Christian. This event will be disastrous for anyone that has not put their faith in God. This event is the second coming of Christ. I would be curious please don't raise your hand, but challenge yourself until 30 seconds ago, did you think about that? This morning? If I wouldn't have been studying for my sermon, I must admit I would probably stand before you not having thought about the possibility of Christ returning today. It is a real possibility.
Speaker 1:Turn your Bibles to 1 Peter 4, and today I'd like to go through verses 1 through 11. The reason I led with that illustration or that question is Peter. Here in 1 Peter 4, he leads his hearers through the first number of verses and then in verse 7, he hits them with the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self-controlled, be sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. And in today's sermon, I kind of look at that verse as the climax of the sermon. Everything Peter is saying up to verse 7 is for them to know, to be waiting and watching for when the end is about to come. Am I ready? Am I waiting? Am I watching? If for the without having studied for this sermon, if I probably wouldn't have thought about the possibility of Christ returning this morning, what am I watching for? What am I waiting for? If I don't think about it, I'd like to read the text this morning 1 Peter 4, verses 1 through 11. 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. And, though judged in the flesh the way people are, even to those who are dead. 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 very 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 morning, so let it be.
Speaker 1:Having the mind of Christ. As I was sitting here thinking this morning about Franklin's theme on having the mind of Christ and also rolling through my mind the possibility of his return today, a crazy thought came into my mind. Do you think Jesus, on our way of thinking daily? Do you think Jesus, on a daily basis, thinks about when can I go, bring my people home? Scripture tells us that not even the Son of God, not even the Son, knows when this will be. Do you think he wonders, sits beside the throne or stands beside God and wonders? Is today the day? And I know Jesus probably doesn't look at a 24-hour day as we do, but I will use it for our simple language Do you think it crosses his mind? When is it go time? When is the day? Verse 1 and 2. Since, therefore, christ suffered in the flesh. Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
Speaker 1:We're all aware that Jesus went through more than we ever have. We haven't gone nearly through what Jesus did. But here Peter is saying we need to start thinking like Jesus. We need to start thinking as if we might suffer someday. We need to start thinking what if we might suffer someday? Am I willing to go through that if persecution comes?
Speaker 1:Let's remember the setting of this text. Peter was still writing to the exiles that were sent out into five different regions. Right before the persecution that Nero was in charge of. Right before the persecution that Nero was in charge of, they were in some hostile lands. They were witnessing a lot of sinfulness day in and day out. They were probably suffering persecution at this point already. They could probably identify with this a lot more than we can. He was telling them in your sufferings, just think like Jesus.
Speaker 1:What was it that Jesus was able to go through what he did and to carry out his mission? Why was he able to do that? Christ suffered here on earth because he was willing and determined to do the will of his Father. Christ suffered in the flesh. Now I know Jesus was divine, yet human, but I choose to believe this morning that in the suffering that he did, it was entirely human. He felt the pain. He felt the hurt from the words. He felt the pain. He felt the hurt from the words. He felt the hurt from the disciples leaving him. He felt the suffering in his flesh.
Speaker 1:Philippians 2, 5-8. Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. He emptied himself by taking the form of his servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Peter says arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
Speaker 1:The term arming ourselves is a borrowed term from training that soldiers get. It's a borrowed battle term. Arming ourselves with what? With a weapon of some kind, we have God's word. Borrowed battle term. Arming ourselves with what? With a weapon of some kind, we have God's Word as a weapon. Do we read God's Word? Am I arming my mind by daily taking a portion of God's Word and reading it? Am I memorizing to where, if this is ever taken away from me, that I still have God's Word in my heart and in my mind, that I still have God's word in my heart and in my mind Way of thinking, intentionality, intentional thinking, having our mind prepared for what may come, not only in physical persecution but also in temptation of sin.
Speaker 1:Knowing what I will do before that temptation comes. Knowing that if that temptation comes, I will say no longer, that was back then. I no longer do that. Get behind me. Is my mind prepared for what may come, for what may come? Too often I've been defeated in my battles because I wanted easy victories. Too often we want victories that don't need sacrifice, victories that are comfortable. Now here's a question that I was trying to challenge myself with yesterday and, as I was preparing for this sermon, that I'd like to throw out to you, like to throw out to you.
Speaker 1:Could it be that our struggle with sin is more intense for those of us that have never suffered physical persecution? If we look at the persecuted church in other countries and if we hear testimonies of people that have gone through strong physical persecution, it always seems that for some reason they're able to be more defiant against the allures of today's world than those of us that have never gone through that. Is there something to that? I had to ask myself that. And if that is the case, if we do never have to face persecution, then how can we get to that level of self-denial, how can we get to that level of carrying the cross? As Jesus said, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me? What does this mean for us that have never faced physical persecution? How can we live lives that are dead to sin? How can we live lives that are dead to sin? Charles Spurgeon said this I beg you to remember that there is no getting quit of sin, there is no escaping from its power, except by contact and union with the Lord, jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:I think physical persecution, as these hearers were experiencing and as many that have gone before us have experienced, I think physical persecution brings a dependence on God that I have never felt yet. It brings a dependence on God that totally takes me out of control, and I think through that, our ancestors, our forefathers, those that we read about in Scripture, might have been able to reach levels of discipline, levels of worship that I don't know if I've ever felt. How do I get there without physical persecution. What does this mean for me today? What do I hear God telling me to deny myself of? Where do I get my fulfillment? Rather than God? Is it my hobby? Is it my work? It might even be my family. Jesus at one point says you need to leave family. Love me more than family Doesn't say we have to hate our family, but is it coming in the way of my relationship and my devotion to God of me carrying the cross?
Speaker 1:Peter gives us two time references in verse two, referring to our life in the flesh Verse 2, so as to live for the rest of time in the flesh, no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The two time references are this the rest of time, which would be today, september 1st 2024, at 11.04. From here on out is the rest of time no longer, would be from 11.04 back. This way, that is past. Two references the rest of time no longer references the rest of time no longer. The earthly life of a Christian is divided into two parts our past lifetime and the rest of our lifetime. Peter admonishes that we are not to live the rest of our lifetime as we have lived the past lifetime. As a Christian, there needs to be a difference. The Christian's aim is no longer to gratify the flesh after we've come to him and after we profess to be a Christian, but it is to fulfill God's will that he has called us to. It is impossible to accomplish both. We cannot fulfill God's will for our lives if we continue to gratify in the flesh. So what is he talking about here? Verses 3-4.
Speaker 1:I'm not going to go through this morning and the intent of this sermon is not to preach a hellfire and brimstone sermon and to take anybody, everybody, on a guilt trip this morning. The intent of this sermon is to maybe stir us awake, those of us that are sleeping, not figuratively or not. It is figuratively, not for real, here. None of you are sleeping, that I've noticed but the intent is to maybe stir our minds to what may come while we're here and what is coming someday. And that is the end of time. I'll let you answer the question in your own heart.
Speaker 1:Are you pulled into any of this list that Peter just talked about? Sensuality or lust, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, lawless idolatry? It's interesting that all of these, with the exception of idolatry, have to do with self-discipline. All of these have to do with self-discipline disciplining my mind, disciplining my actions, the New King James Version. Instead of sensualities, it says lewdness. What is lewdness Denotes excesses of all kinds of evil involving a lack of personal self-restraint.
Speaker 1:If I think of the setting they were in, I would in America today. I would probably view that as our church here. Being sent out to probably Las Vegas, to where we would be at our doorstep day in and day out, would be everything that I just read. I know in this area we're to a degree, sheltered to an extent, but I also know in our area there's a lot of this going on. What are we doing? Where am I? Am I living in the life that was, or am I living in the life that is to come? Am I ready for the time that is yet till the end of time, or am I still lagging into what should be no longer? Where am I? What is pulling me? What is pulling me? Which way is pulling me?
Speaker 1:When we look at this list, we see just how little man has progressed in the last 2,000 years. These problems have not been solved. Even when this was written, the things he mentions here is still what's going on in today's world. You have to ask the question how long will God put up with this? If I find myself attracted to this list of things, if I find myself involved in the things that were listed, it is time to take inventory of my life. It's time to take inventory of your life and to ask God to show you why am I attracted to this, why am I attracted to this?
Speaker 1:When a Christian quits running with the old crowd and stops doing what they do, they will not understand and may speak evil of you, and that may well be what a great part of our persecution will be. In our age today, we might never endure physical persecution, but mental, spiritual, emotional, and you might have experienced that counted joy to be able to walk through that for your obedience to Christ. One of the songs we sang this morning that Franklin led, had the phrase cleanse and refine my thought and affection. That is the mind of Christ Cleanse and refine my thought and affection. Persecution may come in the form of being ridiculed for our obedience to Christ. Am I living a life that is worth ridicule? Am I living a life that people can see that I have something that they don't have?
Speaker 1:Go to verses 5 and 6. 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. All people, dead or alive, will someday be judged according to how they live their lives. Our past will not be a problem if we've repented from it and are living our new life. If we have not repented from the no longer, then we will be judged accordingly. Both John and Paul Apostle. John and Paul reference Jesus Christ as being the judge. Peter does not reference him as being the judge here, but John and Paul do so. We know that Christ will be the judge. God himself will not judge. Christ will be the judge. God himself will not judge. Christ will be the judge Now, in verse 6, for this is why the gospel was preached, even to those who are dead.
Speaker 1:There are numerous translations or interpretations of that scripture. Traditionally it was linked to chapter 3, verse 19, where it references and mentions that Christ went and preached to the spirits in prison. One plausible explanation to this verse it could be referring to their friends, maybe even their church people, maybe even some of the exiles that might have, at this point, already been martyred or suffered for their faith. Verses 7 through 11. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. There are four things that Peter encourages the believers here to do as they watch and wait for the second coming. Those four things are these Be faithful in prayer, be fervent in love, practice hospitality and be good stewards of the grace that God has given you. Be fervent in prayer when he refers to the end of all things in verse 7,. The end in this case, in this meaning, would mean completion, completion of all things, completion of all things. Completion of all things is at hand. Now, this was a few thousand years ago. If they already back then thought they were in the last days, where are we at? What are the last days? I'm not here to discuss that, but just to stir your thinking. We're a lot closer than they were, but we don't know when the end will be here. It's not as important for us to keep wondering when is it than it is for us to be watching and waiting for that.
Speaker 1:This morning at about 4 o'clock, my wife said there's something going on outside and we have a guy staying in our apartment, back behind our house, in our shop, and a car drove in and she could hear the music of the car. Somebody was wide awake hearing the music from inside the house and they were back there and they turned around and then our renter came out and there was another car back there. It looked like they were gathering to go on some kind of a trip. To my knowledge, the people that arrived and they didn't spend much time there, so it didn't appear like they had to go in and shake Trevor or wake him up, get him out of bed, but it appeared like he was waiting for them, he was watching for them and in a matter of five seconds, five minutes, they had their belongings loaded and out the driveway they went. Am I waiting? Am I went? Am I waiting? Am I watching? Am I expecting In order to wait, in order to watch?
Speaker 1:I can't be in these sins that Peter mentioned. I can't be entrenched and not be sober-minded. I can't be entrenched in these and not be self-disciplined in waiting and watching for the return of Christ. That's what Peter's saying. Where am I? Am I watching and waiting for the return of Christ. Matthew 24, 42 through 44. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Speaker 1:Peter is telling us to be free from these things he mentioned so that we can be watching and waiting for his return. The NIV states it this way Therefore, be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. It's hard to pray if we're entrenched in sin. Be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Fervent love, he tells us, as we watch and wait, keep loving each other fervently, or, as the um, the esv, puts it earnestly. It is of utmost importance that we, as Christians, have an earnest love for each other. There's not a lot of room for bickering and complaining while we're waiting for the return of Christ, or if we're waiting for the return of Christ.
Speaker 1:Earnest in this text means continual and intense. Have an intense love for each other. John 13, verses 34-35. A new commandment I give to you that you love one another Just as I have loved you. You also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples. If you have love for one another, then he says that very familiar statement that we oftentimes use where love covers a multitude of sins.
Speaker 1:Wayne Grudem I'm not familiar with him, but he's a theologian. He says it this way where love abounds in a fellowship of Christians, many small offenses, and even some large ones, are readily overlooked and forgotten. But where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding and conflicts abound, to Satan's perverse delight. Let's defeat Satan by loving our brother with an earnest, continual love. Practice hospitality, he says, as we wait and as we watch, practice hospitality, be friendly to each other, have people over, have a watch party. Always be thinking about it. It's hard to do, but he's calling us to this. Have people over without grumbling. I can be guilty of this. We enjoy having people over at our house and my wife even enjoys it more than I do, and I'd be lying to you if I wouldn't say that I've grumbled at times if she made the suggestion of having company for dinner or company for supper. Oh, such a busy week. Peter says don't do that. We have a fervent love for each other. Let's hang out together. Let's hang out together. Let's encourage each other.
Speaker 1:It's so easy to talk about what we're involved in our work, our hobbies, our families. When's the last time I've asked Marcus have you thought about the return of Christ today? When's the last time we've talked about that? When's the last time we've challenged each other? If we're ready for the return of Christ, are we anticipating it? Be hospitable. We are not to be stingy and unwelcoming.
Speaker 1:Hospitality is a way of ministry to others. One of the core values of Grace Point is evangelism and another one is discipleship Hospitality having your neighbors over having people over you you've never met before. Even though it might be a little bit awkward to begin with, there was always a blessing in that. Be hospitable. And then the last one be good stewards of the gifts God has given us. We all have spiritual gifts that God has given us. The gift is not to exalt the person that has the gift, but the gift is to rather be used for the benefit of the church, the benefit of the Christian assembly. Each of us are responsible for the gifts that God has given us, and someday we'll give account for how we use those gifts. These gifts are used as our way of dispersing God's grace to other people. God's grace to other people. I'm going to read verses 10 and 11. 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. As we serve one another, we do it with the strength God provides and with the ability which God has supplied each of us with. By using the gifts and being good stewards of what God has given us, we in turn bring honor and glory to Him, who is the only one that deserves that honor and glory.
Speaker 1:This morning, how is your mind? Can you think clearly? Are you sober-minded? Are you self-disciplined? Are you waiting and watching for the return of Christ?
Speaker 1:The whole epistle of 1 Peter is an epistle to the ones that were dispersed in, encouraging them to hold on to the hope through your suffering. Sometime this will come to an end and you'll all have the opportunity of seeing God, the Father in heaven. Your hope will be fulfilled, but at this time it was not yet. And that is for us today. Our hope has not yet been fulfilled, but are we waiting and watching and expecting it to be fulfilled someday and that could be today, we don't know. Let's bow for prayer. Our Father, god, thank you for being with us this morning and, lord, help us to ever keep in front of us the hope that is in us and that will someday be fulfilled. Lord, we don't know, will that be today or will it be a thousand years from now? We don't know. But, lord, help us to be watching and ready and waiting and prepared for when you return. I pray this on your name Amen.