Hope to Live Differently
A Living Hope - 1 Peter
Hope to Live Differently
1 Peter 1:13-16
June 10, 2007
One of the most difficult things we can do as human beings is to try to live differently. We want to be unique - but not too unique. We want to be ourselves, to be distinguished from others around us but at the same time we want to fit in.
Look at Phil 2 NAS
Phil. 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life,
Ray Stedman put it this way "we live among crooks and perverts"
We live in a world going in an opposite direction from God, and it was by design, Jesus knew what it was like to live in the world and where he was leaving his followers ...
John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus left his followers as lights in the world, (Phil 2:15)
Like salmon running upsteam - going against the flow
The world we are talking about is not the geographic world like you can see on google earth, but the invisible yet very powerful living systems in the world.
Marketers learned along time ago that there was a power they could tap into and that people would respond to - the power of enticement, values, where we respond to a lure like a fish responds - and there are hooks that will snag us.
1John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
This is a world where we are not in control, but where the one who is in control knows that if he lets us think we are in control, we will bite all the more
1 John 5:19 ... the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
God has deliberately chosen to leave us in the world - and not take us out of the world. He has set us up to go against the flow. The flow of the way the rest of the world thinks life and world systems should work.
The world has some significant flaws in it; and it has a philosophy that is designed to appeal. it draws our physical, intellectual, emotional faculties towards pleasure. The world wants to make your flesh fell good and trap us in a cycle of hunger.
Watch commercials, they are designed to make you dissatisfied, with what you have, who you are.
Archibald D, Hart, Ph.D., FPPR.
Senior professor of Psychology
"Thrilled to Death"
Anhedonia, is becoming the experience of a lot of ordinary people like you and me! Increasingly, we are finding it difficult to extract ordinary enjoyment out of our chaotic world- the inability to find pleasure in the little, simple things of life. Only "wow" experiences have the ability to provide a thrill, and this is true for both our Christian and our secular world.
We persistently pursue stimulation - through work and even in our leisure time. People walk around with cell phones and iPods stuck in their ears so that they can be constantly stimulated. The problem is that he brain has a pleasure system and a center that tells us when something is pleasurable
This is going on in the world around us all the time,
Peter says there is a different way to live life:
Remember, Peter is writing to churches who are coming from very worldly, secular backgrounds. These new followers are experiencing the challenge of following the true God in a world that says no God has all the truth, but that whatever way you want live is okay. They were not so different from us today.
1Pet. 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Peters first challenge is to live differently; a different attitude about life
Prepare your minds for action - not closed, not open, but ready to go to work, exercise your minds - you think you know all you need ot know about God, who he is , what he has done, who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, - the moment you think you know enough to get by in life, you have closed your mind down, don't mentally shut down.
Prepare your minds for action - push your own understanding
No one can do that but you.
Sarah is in an outdoor ed class and talking about equipment she will need - she is preparing for action - have to think ahead, consider needs,
Too often we want to just make it through the day, we go into auto pilot, do the things I have to do so I can fall back into bed and sleep.
That is unengaged living - God says kick it into gear
Take Initiative
Maintain the big picture, don't loose sight of what is going on around you.
Be self controlled - keep sober in spirit - ‘nepho' abstain from wine, keep sober - know when to say ‘stop' - ‘enough' not just wine, but all areas of life, being self controlled
Peter is challenging the attitude of our minds - "don't let your mind wander into a kind of ‘mental intoxication' or addiction which inhibits spiritual alertness. Our minds can become spiritually lazy which can lull a Christian into sin by carelessness.
Peter uses the same word in 4:7 & 5:8 encouraging spiritual alertness for prayer and resisting the devil. Peter knows how easily Christians can loose their spiritual concentration through ‘mental intoxication' with things of the world. (Mk 4:19, Col 3:2-3)
So he says ‘gird your mind up' ‘control your mind'
The same idea as in
2 Cor 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Today we can easily get captivated by inherently ‘good' things - careers, possessions, recreation, reputation, friendships, school, authority -
Purpose -the ‘big picture' ‘vision' ‘reason' - to set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Live Confidently ~ Set your hope
A confident expectation - that is strong enough to act on - the kind of hope that a bank lends you money with
Peter strengthens this hope with the next word - Fully
He is challenging us to reorder our priorities to God's agenda, which will inevitably lead to ethical changes in our lives. God's agenda is revealed by His grace - his goodness, kindness, generosity extended to us.
On the grace - Peter wants us to get the great truths of salvation and begin to visualize ourselves personally on a path of unimaginable heavenly reward. This is crucial - because it readies us for a life of holiness.
To be given - the phrase could also be translated ‘that is being carried to you' - something brought and given to you.
When you go to a wedding you bring a gift and give it to the couple, they do not have to do anything but take it to their new home.
Look Ahead ~ When Jesus Christ is revealed
Jesus is returning - ‘just as he left' - the return of Jesus is not a popular topic today, in either our world or Christian circles. The salvation He provided and extended will be the subject to the judgment He exercises when He returns. We should live as people who have nothing to worry about, while the rest of the world does.
We can live like he is not returning.
DO YOU LIVE:
Live ready, ready to get ready, I will get ready when I have to, I will get ready if I have to, I don't need to get ready, really no reason to be ready.
HOW YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHERE YOUR HOPE REALLY IS
The hope of our salvation is in the reality of Christ's return, we should live expectantly.
Peter goes on...
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance
Sets the Bar
As Obedient Children - positive - peter is establishing the expected bar
Obedience is prominent in Peter's mind, v2, v22
In his wording - he has a vision of his readers as obedient children,
We learned early in our parenting that if we spoke to our children in the way we wanted them to be they became those qualities, not only that but it built confidence in them for making good choices.
He reminds us we are in a Father / Child relationship and Children should pick up the nature of their parents.
Raise the Bar
Do not conform - This type of phrase is also used in Rom 12.2
Peter (& Paul) called followers of Jesus to raise their visions, values and attitudes above the natural ways of living and embrace a radically different way of life.
Peter calls us to remember our pre-Christian lifes , of ‘former ignorance' - ignorance of God and his ways, a time when passions dominated our way of life
But now, because of God's grace, he gives us a new and different way to live life, a life of holiness - like himself.
We are responsible for what we know
Now we know the grace of God, what that is and what that brings into our lives and he calls us to live holy.
LIVE HOLY LIVES
Set apart, sanctified,
Jesus said:
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Peter writes:
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Perhaps the idea of living holy kind of scratches at you, I am just not sure I want to live HOLY, Good sure, but Holy is something else.
That may be because we have some picture of someone else who tried to live a holy life and we saw their splat after they fell off their pedestal.
Or someone who seemed so holy minded they were of no earthly good - and I don't want to be like that.
Or, I know my own capability and capacity to fail and I want to leave room for my own failures, so that compromises any idea of holiness.
2Tim. 2:20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
2Tim. 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart
A relationship with God is a Holy Relationship
When we decide we want to live a holy life, we are getting into a position to be used by God to bring blessing to the world around us, we become the ‘lights' of Phil 2. We actually have something to contribute to the world.
When we are a holy people
1Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
We are ready to be used by God to bring goodness into life, we know how to become peace makers. People of significance and great value to the world
Matt. 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
THAT IS HOLY LIVING - IT IS LIVING COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD
JESUS GIVES US THE LIVING HOPE TO LIVE HOLY
THIS MORNING CAN YOU STAND BEFORE GOD AND SAY "YES, LORD, YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN LIVING HOLY. A LIFE THAT IS USEFUL TO YOU,
BEARING LIGHT TO THE REST OF THE WORLD OF GENUINE GOODNESS ~ YOUR GOODNESS
I AM LIVING IN THE HOPE OF YOUR RETURN JESUS, IT FILLS MY HEART AND SETS THE STANDARD FOR MY DAY
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN LIVING THIS WAY,
TODAY YOU CAN LEAVE THIS PLACE WITH HOPE - THE CONFIDENCE TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY,
NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON AND NOW YOU HAVE THE BOLSTERED FORTITUDE AND CONFIDENCE TO MAKE A RUN AT BEING A GOOD PERSON,
BUT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LIVING GOD - RECEIVE HIS GRACE, THE GRACE THAT COMES ONLY FROM HIS SON JESUS.