1 Peter 1:13-16 A 3 Dimensional Life
Style
A)In order to bring the picture into focus you had
to wear the right eye wear - / Glasses
cardboard frames / orange/Red Cellophane lenses
B) With out those glasses the picture was blurry and Nonsensical but w/ them the picture
became clear /and compellingly real
1) Disneyland Honey we shrank ourselves Giant snake amazing
C) As Christians we live w/ a 3 Dimensional Perspective /
the scriptures are our glasses that help bring this
life into focus
1)
Integrating the 3 Dimensions or the 3 Kingdoms to which every believer
belongs
D) First there is
the
world or Kingdom around us this planet / our jobs / our friends /
these fleshly bodies / all of which Present challenges
1)This world that we live in is marked by greed /
unfairness / disappointment
E) This world is controlled
by our adversary the Devil god of this
world
1)
He
has an agenda program that is aimed at DESTRUCTION
and
DISTRACTION / Distracting people of
their need of God/ - DESTROY
A)A kingdom in which there will be no more pain / no more
sorrow / no tears / a Kingdom marked by Beauty,
Perfection & Ultimate Satisfaction
B) We are presently longing
for that Kingdom longing for that day when we will enter into that perfect
& complete rest & be w/ our Lord
1) Joy that is beyond anything we could ever experience in this life !!
But
then there is this 3rd Kingdom the Kingdom with in
A)The Kingdom w/in our
hearts where He who is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords is
wanting to reign
B) Jesus made this statement in Luke 17:21 to His disciples
that the Kingdom of God is with in You
1)Meaning that where ever the King is reigning there the Kingdom of God is
C) So when we allow Jesus to reign in our Lives He sets up His Kingdom w/ in our Hearts ( Makes our hearts
His home)
D) As we align our hearts w/ His Heart thru
studying His word He seeks to help us Navigate our way successfully in this
world /
1)
In
a way that is Preparing us for the Kingdom that is to
Come
E)So as Believers we are to be 3 Dimensional
people Living in this world / Longing and Looking for that Kingdom that
is to come
1) Finding the Balance & being affective by being submitted to the King has set up His Kingdom w/ in our Hearts / Directing our lives
Peter
Brings these 3 Kingdoms or worlds together in this first Ch.
A)In v.3 He tells us that we have been begotten again to a
Living Hope
Born again
transferred into a New Kingdom out of Darkness / Light
B) Out of One Kingdom marked by Destruction & Despair into another that is marked by Hope Hope that is alive REZ
1)
Living Hope Because He who rose is alive Living in Us !! as Paul declared Christ in you is your hope of Glory
1)
And
the Spirit of God who is w/ in us is constantly reminding us of that Glory that
is to Come Eternity ( Home is )
D) Where we are going to
receive an inheritance that is incorruptible / cant be defiled / unfading
.
E) But in the mean time we are living in this world where we encounter trials / testings / where we are challenged & Pressed
1) But the Lord is using those
things to Strengthen our faith in the Lord
& Deepen our Love for the Lord !!
A)And the Presence of the King w/ in us Christ our Hope of Glory Our Living Hope should affect the way we think & the way we Live
B)Therefore Because Begotten again living
hope / Inheritance / Great salvation that Prophets studied / Apostles Preach /
Angels
..look into
1) GIRD UP THE LOINS OF ..MIND
B) This is a
deliberately vivid phrase. In the east men wore long flowing robes which hindered
fast progress or strenuous action.
C) But around their waist they wore a broad leather belt called
girdle; and when they needed to move quickly or to work strenuously
1) they would
shorten their long robe by pulling it up within the belt in order to give
them freedom of movement.
D)To Gird up the loins of your mind simply means, Pull your thoughts together! Gather your thoughts together
unto the Lord
1) taking
every thought captive unto Christ
E)Gather your attitudes
and outlooks and place them under JESUS
1)
SO
that you will be Free in your following after Christ not encumbered by other
things that would distract you Pursuit
We might better understand
what is meant by this if we Consider the Opposite Condition ( Opposite of
Gathering up is Looseness/ Laxity
A)Some Christians are very Laxed & Loose in their thinking AND in their approach to life
B) Some are Laxed in their mentality as it relates to their faith (Smorgasbord of Theology) a little of this / little of that
1)
What
ever works whatever New wind is blowing thru the Church / they latch on to
that
C) There is no firmness to their Doctrine
but everything is very experiential experiences are more important than
truth!!!
A)They think nothing of going to places where immoral behavior is promoted where Gods name is Blasphemed
B) Think nothing of sitting down to watch a movie that is going to show
nudity / sex scene / vulgarity ( But it
is such a good story)
1)READ YOUR BIBLE PLENTY OF
GOOD STORIES
C) The internet today is a Plethora for the mind to engage in
immorality
1) We continue to have women
come forward Husbands into Porn. on the net - 4,000 new sites a day (BLOCKER)
D) Some how People rationalize such immoral behavior God is
gracious He will forgive me to it is just not a Big deal
Isa.5:20 Described our Day -Woe
to those who call evil good
and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for
darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Others are Loose or Lax in
their Business dealings Dishonest in their approach / way they treat people /
cut corners
An old preacher was dying.
He sent a message for his doctor and his
lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived
they were ushered up to his bedroom.
As they entered the room the preacher
held out his hands and motioned
for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The preacher grasped
their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at
the ceiling.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the doctor and lawyer were
touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him
during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had
never given them any indication that he
particularly liked either of them.
They both remembered his many long,
uncomfortable sermons about
greed, covetousness and wrong behavior that made them squirm in their seats.
Finally, the doctor said, "Preacher, why
did you ask us to
come? The old preacher mustered up his strength, then said
weakly,
"Jesus died between two thieves.. and that's
how I want to go."
What I find interesting about
that story is those two men squirmed thru many a sermon but never Changed
A)Never girded up the Loins of their Mind by Repenting having a
Change of mind that leads to a Change of Heart
B) Sad but many Christians do the same thing today feel conviction
but never deal w/ it SURRENDER to the Lord
You cannot Change Your heart but
you can change your mind God can Change your heart, but he wont Change your
mind. But if Choose to Change your mind God will Change your heart
Been said that Outlook
determines outcome; attitude determines action. A)A Christian who is
looking for the glory of God has a greater motivation for present obedience
than a Christian who ignores the Lords return.
B)The contrast is illustrated in the lives of Abraham and Lot (Gen.
12-13)
1)Abraham had his eyes of
faith on that heavenly city, so he had no
interest in the worlds real estate.
C)But Lot, who had tasted the pleasures of the world in Egypt,
gradually moved toward Sodom.
1)
Abraham
brought blessing to his home, but Lot brought judgment.
Outlook determined outcome.
J.S. Eternity When we are consumed with the
reality of Heaven, Christ is free to Consume us on earth. When we realize that
final gain is there and then we are free to live for Him here and Now
D) So Peter says Here is where it starts you gird up the Loins of your Mind Change the way that
you think
1)
See
things from that Eternal / heavenly perspective Putting your thoughts in
alignment w/ the King who lives inside
The 2nd thing that Peter says
is Be sober Girding up the Loins of the mind dealt primarily about how we
thought / rightly
A)The exhortation to BE SOBER speaks of How we Act !
B) Sober is the opposite of being intoxicated we have all seen people
who were intoxicated by Alcohol or Drugs
1) We watched how it altered their behavior speech / their walk /
their
ability to operate a motor Vehicle
People also can become intoxicated by
their circumstances / their whole outlook is determined by what is going
on
A)
Their Lives controlled by emotions -their
behavior is influenced by whatever emotion has control of them/ fear /Anxiety / Anger / Doubt / Depression
B) They are Literally intoxicated by their emotions & the way they think / talk / Act/ and deal
w/ other people is Determined by that emotion
1)
Some are Drunk w/ Anger always uptight about something it comes
out in their speech / Negative / cutting / abusive / degrading
C) For Others it is worry / Anxiety
always freaking out over things / never relaxed always analyzing every
situation
1) They constantly are
playing the what if games
D) These people were under going great persecution / by exhorting them
to be Sober Peter was saying Dont be drunk by
fear/ anxiety or revenge
1)
Dont
allow those emotions to control your outlook or your actions
rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Freaking out over this or that REST
A)Rest in the hope that is yours in Christ !!!!
B) In
other words Keep looking towards your Glorification
1) Someone once said When the Outlook is Bad try the Up look
as obedient children Lit As Children of Obedience speaks more of Who
we are not something that we do
, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your
ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in
all your conduct, 16because it is written, Be
holy, for I am holy.£
B) Before you knew Christ
think about all the stupid things that your did things that you thought were going to make you happy
1)
Things
that you Bought / Pursued / clothes
that you wore
C)
Peter says dont fashion your lives after those things But Because You are
Gods Children You have His Nature
/
1) Act Like it by fashioning your life after HOLINESS / nature
of parent
A)Now a lot of people have the wrong idea about the Word Holy !!
Many associate it with some kind of grimness.
B)They think of "holy" people as those who look as if they have sucked a Lemon / or have the bit into a rotten apple!!!
1) Like the little girl who happened to see a mule looking over a fence at her. She had never seen a mule before, and she said to it,
"I don't know what you are, but you must be a Christian --
you look just like Grandpa."
C) HOLINESS SPEAKS OF TWO THINGS PRIMARILY
1ST If you want to get at the meaning of this
word you must go back to its original root.
A)This word is derived from the same root from which a
very attractive English word comes. This is the word "wholeness."
B) That is a Good Description - wholeness, being complete/ It is to have together all the parts which were intended to be there,
1) and to have them functioning as they were intended to function.
C)God is complete; He is perfect. There is no blemish in God; He lives in harmony with Himself.
1) He is a beautiful / He is filled with joy and love and peace. He lives in
wholeness.
D)That word, wholeness, has power to awaken desire within us. We long to be whole people
1) We are so aware of our own brokenness, of our lack of wholeness.
We
know how much we hurt ourselves and each other. We are aware of our inability
to cope with life.
A)We sometimes put up a big facade and try to bluff our way through as though we are able to handle anything.
B) But inside, half the time, we are running scared. That is a mark of our lack of wholeness.
1)Man has lost his way. He was made in the image and likeness of God.
C)When man first came from the hand of God he was whole. Adam functioned as God intended man to function.
1) He was functioning in the image and the likeness of God. But now we have lost that likeness. We still have the image, but the likeness is gone.
D)God determined to heal man's brokenness and to make man whole again.
1) Sent His Son pay the price for sinners ( Holy)
Holiness means something more than the
sweeping away of the old leaves of sin; it means the life of Jesus developed in
us.
B) 2nd Def.
=Be Different The word for holy is hagios whose root meaning is different.
C)The Temple is hagios because it is different from other
buildings; the Sabbath is hagios
because it is different from other days;
1) the Christian is
hagios / because he is different from other men.
D) He has been
bought w/ a Price / Redeemed / New Creation / Part of a New Kingdom
1) He is different in His thinking He is different in His
Passions & Pursuits / He is different in his PRIORITIES
E)Those differences are going to be measured in the way
that He lives His
life !!!
A holy life will produce the deepest
impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.
Dwight
Lyman Moody (1837-1899)
The greatest miracle that God can do
today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world, and make that man holy
and put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.
Leonard
Ravenhill (1867-1942)