This is a sermon that continues in our Devotional: Becoming a People of Overflow, SURPRISE! 1 Peter You can watch more here.
Perpectives
This morning, we are continuing through a new series called “Surprise!” You notice when
you start to accomplish something you feel good about yourself? Like when I started
working out I somehow managed to work it into every conversation. I started thinking,
“Should I get into personal training?” You pay off some debt you start thinking should I
write a book on financial management? Is that just me? (Anyone else?)
I have found this is true in the spiritual life as well. You start going to a worship service and
you start thinking, “Am I better than everyone else?” You show up to community group?
That’s like when a heaven prize! You stick around to help us fill these care bags today?
You’re going to feel like Nelson Mandela!
In our passage this morning, God’s Word is going to make it really clear that our spiritual
life isn’t designed to make us feel better about ourselves. In fact, I have found the more I
am growing in my relationship with Jesus the more I am going to be called into serving
others and sacrifice.
That’s the focus of our passage this morning. God’s Word is going to hit us hard with dying
to ourselves in the first part, and then hits even harder about serving others, so buckle up.
Remember, I am just a messenger! Let’s start in verses 1-2:
1 Peter 4:1-2, “1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the
same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the
rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”
First, notice the word “therefore.” It is a “cause and effect” word that throws our attention
back to the previous verses, so that we need to ask, “What’s the ‘therefore’ there for?” Heh?
You should know the bible never tells us what to DO except after a “therefore” and before
the “therefore” we typically see something about the glory of God, the glory of the cross, the
glory of this new life we have been given in Jesus, and then, “Therefore.” Does that make
sense?
Back in chapter 3, verse 18 we see “Jesus died for sins once and for all”, so that we are
united to Christ by grace through faith, and then chapter 4, verse 1, “Therefore, arm
yourselves with the same purpose.” Do you see that in verse 1?
In light of what Jesus has done in our life through His life, death and resurrection, bringing
us to the Father (3:18), eternally secure in Him, made new…” therefore, arm yourselves
with the same purpose.” Same purpose? What?
Remember, the Apostle Peter is writing to a people who have spent the majority of their
lives simply doing whatever makes them happy. This is first century in the Roman Empire
where seeking pleasure was the main goal in life.
It would have been socially acceptable to pursue any sexual desires. It would have been
normal for gluttony, sexual immorality and idolatry to all exist at the same place, same
time, at lunch with your friends.
Marriage would have been casual at best. Drunkenness would have been the norm, and by
God’s grace these men and women have come to faith in Jesus, so that the Apostle Peter
writes, “You’re no longer living for the lusts of men, the pursuit of pleasure, but for the will
of God.” And, God’s Word is acknowledging, it’s going to be hard to turn from these
pleasures.
Listen, I didn’t grow up going to church. I didn’t grow up around a relationship with Jesus,
therefore, when I came to faith in Jesus it was awesome, I was excited. I thought, “I will
never sin again!”
I wanted to read the bible, sing about Jesus, be around people and talk about Jesus, but
suddenly I started to have these moments on my own where I felt like the Spirit of God was
like, “Hey, let’s talk about this area of your life?” And I would be like, “What’s wrong with
this area of my life?”
He started poking on me about my friends, how I spent money, how I understood my past
hurts, how I looked at my future, and listen to me, that hasn’t stopped. I have been walking
with Jesus for over 30 years and I have yet to get to a place in life where the Spirit of God
has stopped poking on areas of my words, behaviors, and thoughts! Amen?
Sometimes we treat our relationship with Jesus like a renovation project where Jesus is
going to paint a wall or re-organize some furniture, but really when you come to faith in
Jesus it is like a whole new rebuild. Everything is getting torn down, and being rebuilt in
Christ. Amen?
Also, this phrase “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” doesn’t mean
someone is free from sin, but it means through faith in Jesus we are growing in our habits
and patterns of turning from sin and turning to Jesus. This is a process that started for me
30+ years ago when I first met Jesus, and it is still happening today! Look at verse 3:
1 Peter 4:3, “3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of
the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking
parties and abominable idolatries.”
Just in case there was any confusion about the habits and patterns of followers of Jesus in
the first century, the Apostle Peter lists them off by saying, “You’ve already spent enough
time living for the pleasure of this world!”
I don’t know about anyone else in this room, but I’ve dabbled enough in this world to feel
like I have experienced what the world has to offer. I am not saying I have experienced
everything this world has to offer, but I have experienced enough. I remember reading this
verse for the first time and I was like, “Yeah, that’s true.”
Today we might not have temples with gluttony, sexual immorality, idolatry and
drunkenness, but we still have outlets of this world. We might not be giving into
drunkenness but we have habits of escaping from boredom by scrolling on our phone. We
might not have temples of sexual immorality but we have it at our finger tips.
We have temples of shopping and material indulgence. We might not have wild parties
every night but we have justification to climb the ladder and over work so we can have
titles that impress our friends. In the first century they had the colosseum to watch people
put to death, and today we just do it digitally as destroy people socially, and cheer for their
demise.
We can judge the first century for worshipping false gods like Zeus and Athena, but we
worship control, approval, comfort and when we don’t get those things we feel this rush of
anxiety come upon us.
In the first century, these habits and patterns were loud and visible, and today we have just
learned to hide it better but the invitation to enjoy what this world has to offer is just the
same, therefore, God’s Word is pressing in on our souls, “Haven’t you given enough of your
life to those things?” Therefore, arm yourself, turn from this world, because just as Christ
suffered in the flesh, you too are called to suffer in the flesh!” Look at verses 4-5:
1 Peter 4:4-5, “4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same
excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready
to judge the living and the dead.”
Listen to me, as a follower of Jesus, any layer of our life turning from the pleasures of this
world are going to make the people around us very confused. The word “surprised” in
verse 4 means they are shocked! Literally it means they will think you are strange! Why
would you not? They won’t understand! Why would you not enjoy this little pleasure the
world has to offer?
Remember, these are people who have been enjoying the pleasures of this world out in the
open, then they come to faith in Jesus, and they stop showing up to sexy time at lunch?
What are you doing? (Anyone experienced this?)
The word “malign” means they heckle you, mock you, and speak ill of you. They won’t
understand why you won’t cut corners at work to get ahead. They won’t understand why
you would give yourself “Screen time.” You’re a grown adult! What are you doing?
They won’t understand why you want to read God’s Word. They won’t understand why
you want to be faithful in your marriage. They won’t understand why you won’t keep
drinking. They won’t understand why you give money away, or spend time talking about
Jesus with people from your church. They will think that’s weird!
But, notice the contrast in verse 5. But they will give account to Him who is ready to judge.
It means one day, every person is going to stand before Jesus, and He won’t be a little infant
in a manger. He is going to come as a judge, so that verse 5 is reminding us all those
hecklers are going to be held accountable.
Just like we saw last Sunday, in Christ, we don’t need to defend ourselves. We have the
great Defender in Jesus! We don’t need to retaliate insult for insult when people make
those comments. They can roll off our backs, because we know there will come a day when
all those comments will be held accountable, so that the intent is to bring comfort and
encouragement that those who are in Christ can live out this new life in Christ. Amen?
Look at verses 6:
1 Peter 4:6, “6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead,
that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the
will of God.”
This phrase “preached even to those who are dead” doesn’t mean something like purgatory
but it means the gospel has been preached to those who have gone through the suffering
and the pain to the point of death.
Remember, these are people that are living in a foreign land. These are people who have
lost their homes, and some of them have lost their lives, therefore, God’s Word is
encouraging them, “Death hasn’t won.”
In that moment, we are going to think God doesn’t care. In the moment, we are going to
think we are all alone, but God’s Word is reminding us, in Christ, they have been made alive
in the spirit according to the will of God!
Listen to me, when the follower of Jesus goes through pain and suffering in this life, be it
from turning from the pleasures of this world, hecklers in our life, or even physical death,
the pain and suffering we experience in this life is the worst it will get.
One pastor said it this way, “When heaven is waiting, life on earth is a taste of hell, but
when hell is waiting, then life on earth is as good as it gets.” Amen? In Christ, we can go
through suffering and pain, we can die to the pleasures of this world, we can even lose our
life, because we know heaven is coming, but if hell is coming then you got to make that
night or that moment or that meal the best it can be! Amen?
Therefore, God’s Word is inviting us to know Jesus today! The pleasures of this world are
fleeting. The best this world has to offer is momentary. It’s fun to just keep eating food. It’s
fun to go shopping all the time. It’s fun to get drunk. At least in the beginning. It’s fun
chase after the pleasures of this world, but we know the pleasures of this world are fleeting.
The new clothes from the store eventually become old. The enjoyment of that meal after a
few bites just becomes food. The chasing after sexual desires can be great in the moment
but the next morning you have to start all over. It’s because the pleasures of this world are
fleeting, therefore, Jesus calls out to us and says, “Those who are hungry, those who are
thirsty, those who are tired, come to Me, and you can taste heaven on earth today. When
we turn from the best this world has to offer and trust in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection,
it isn’t just an invitation of heaven, it’s the beginning of heaven. Amen? Look at verses 7-9:
1 Peter 4:7-9, “7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and
sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,
because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
The phrase “the end of all things is near” could sound like Jesus should be returning in any
moment, but verse 7 isn’t a prediction of time but a heart mentality, so that today, as
followers of Jesus, we would live with this sense of urgency, “The end of all things is near.”
This is why in verses 7-11 we see this transition from a call to sacrifice to a call to serve.
It’s not focusing on what we turn from, but what we turn to. Does that make sense? The
reference to “sound judgment and sober spirit” is a call to be judicious and clear in our
prayers for one another.
Sometimes we get impressed with emotional prayers or loud prayers with flowery
language, but God’s Word actually teaches us to be clear and steady in our prayers for one
another.
As a church in Austin, as followers of Jesus, we want to always be on the lookout to grow in
prayer. It’s why we encourage people individually praying with one another. It’s why we
host Prayer and Worship 4 times a year to help our non-denominational church in Austin
grow in prayer.
On the first Sunday of the month we invite our church family to pray. Right now, we have
about 5 people that come, but the heart mentality is “the end of all things is near.” Jesus
could show up any moment, therefore, let us gather to pray.
Our time in prayer isn’t meant to be an emotional pep-rally. It isn’t meant to be a hyped-up
experience. It is a time to die to the pleasures of this world, put Him first, and cry out to the
Lord, “Hear our prayers!”
The charge to “love one another” is because when we are giving up the pleasures of this
world, when we are dying to our flesh, we are going to be irritable. We are going to get
discouraged. We are going to hear the whispers of this world calling us back to those
pleasures of this world, therefore, we need our relationships with one another.
This charge “love covers a multitude of sins” doesn’t mean we can punch one another in the
face and say, “love covers a multitude of sins.” It isn’t a license to be jerks to one another.
It’s a charge to overlook little offenses with one another.
We don’t need to tell each other about every hurt feeling. We don’t need to store up
bitterness because someone didn’t say, “Good morning.” We extend grace to one another.
We assume the best about one another. We cheer for one another as we wobble out this
new life in Christ.
The reference to “hospitality” is specifically toward those we don’t know in the local church
in Austin. On Sunday morning, in our groups, it’s easy to only drift toward those we know,
only spend time with people we know, but, verse 7, “the end of all things is near” therefore,
let us open our lives in love to people we don’t know. Look at verse 10:
1 Peter 4:10, “10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
The reference to gifts in verse 10 is our spiritual gifts. These aren’t natural talents like
playing the guitar. These are spiritual gifts we receive through faith in Jesus. It’s like a
super power!
We have a link on our website for you to take a little test to help you identify the spiritual
gifts like teaching, discernment, encouragement, administration, wisdom, knowledge, so
that these gifts might be used in the serving of one another.
When someone in the local church has the gift of teaching it doesn’t mean they should do
all the teaching. It means that gift is being used so that the local church as a whole is going
to get stronger in teaching. Does that make sense?
It’s why verse 10 gives us a charge to be “stewards of the manifold grace of God!” The word
“steward” means to manage the gifts we have been given, manage the relationships we
have been given, manage the “manifold grace of God” we have been entrusted.
The word “manifold” means many sides, it’s like God’s grace is like a diamond with many
sides of glory, so that it is through our spiritual gifts of serving one another that the local
church, not the building, but the people, become something special, like in the words of
Rihanna, “Shines bright like a diamond!”
When verse 10 happens, the local church isn’t just a sermon and some coffee on a Sunday.
It’s supernatural. It’s a training ground. It’s a launching pad. It’s a hospital for those who
are hurting. It’s catalyst for answered prayers. It’s stories of confession and repentance, so
that God’s Word isn’t calling us to observe. God’s Word is inviting us to engage so that
together something really special can happen.
Because one day, the owner is coming back. Jesus is going to return. Any moment now,
therefore, with urgency, not panic, but clarity, we are preparing for that day. Let’s look at
verse 11:
1 Peter 4:11, “11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in
all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.”
In Christ, we aren’t who we used to be. The old life has passed away, new things have
come. The stories of sin and darkness don’t get the last word. The crowd and comments
doesn’t get the last word. Those who grieve at funeral don’t get the last word. By grace
through faith in Jesus, we are made alive!
Therefore, let us live like those who are alert, those who are armed with purpose. The
world is going to tug at us in different way. Distractions are going to come. Relationships
are going to have ups and downs. There will likely be moments in our life when we feel like
the Lord doesn’t see us or forgotten about us, but the gospel is that Jesus has come to call
you His!
He has given you His life! He has brought you to the Father. He has sent His Spirit. He has
given you His gifts. He has given you His purpose. He has given you His righteousness. He
is going to come back one day, very soon!
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
NVC Online
Unable to attend this Christian Church in Austin? Don’t worry, because, through God’s provision, we have created NVC online, an Online Church streaming a worship service every Sunday from 10:30am Central Time. You can also watch our short, powerful sermons on demand and follow us on Instagram for daily Christ centered content.