Title: "Living Holy in a Fallen World"
Big Idea: (I) Be Sober (II) Be Obedient (III) Be Holy
Intro Illustration: Converted by Livingststone's life
Henry M Stanley found Livingststone in Africa and lived with him for some time. Here is his testimony: "I went to as a prejudice as the biggest atheist in London. But there came for me a long time for reflection. I saw this solitary old man there and asked myself, how earth does he stop-is he cracked, space or what? What is it that inspires him?
"Four months after we met them myself wondering at the old man caring at all that was said in the Bible- "leave all things and follow me". But little by little his sympathy for others became contagious; my sympathy was aroused and seeing his piety, his gentleness, is the, is earnestness, and Harry went about his business, I was converted by him although he had not tried to do it." (Source: The Australian Baptist, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 3101, P.737)
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." NKJV
The Book of Acts is a record of the coming of the Holy Spirit, it records the great numbers of people coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and describes of the use of the term "Christian" and more. Acts 11:26 states the Word Christian described disciples of Jesus Christ.
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NKJV
Christian. Believers in Christ were first called Christians (christianos) in Antioch of Syria (Acts 11:26). What the term intended to convey is uncertain, but the Greek papyri provide some help. There, a comparative form is kaisarianos, a slave or soldier of the divine Caesar;
christianos then would signify a slave or soldier belonging to the divine Christ. Such persons are bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19,20) and are "born again" or "born from above" (John 3:7) through faith in Christ (John 3:16; Eph 2:8,9). (from Dictionary of Christianity in America, edited by Daniel G. Reid, Robert D. Linder, Bruce L. Shelley and Harry S. Stout. © 1990 by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA; published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.)
1. Be Sober
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; NKJV
a. Peter called believers to "holy living". In the first century people wore long flowing, loose robes which became impractical when a person was called upon to work or even run. These robes because of their length would hamper the activities of the person wearing the garment. Peter's pictures this long flowing robe to illustrates the need for us to cinch up that which keeps us from a life of "holy living".
b. Paul stated it in a very similar fashion (Romans 12:1-2) he calls us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice by the renewing of our mind. We need to renew our mind on a daily basis which brings us to Godly living.
The early day disciples who were in Antioch were identified as "Christians" because people observed Christ in the disciples lives. Are as a follower (a disciple) of Jesus should present our bodies as a "living sacrifice". If a sacrifice was to be offered to God it must meet the strictest requirements. It should be without "spot or blemish". Because of the blood of Christ which paid the price for our disobedience we are able to approach the Father (Heb 9:12), that payment satisfied the redemption price once and for all. But, it must not stop there as a living sacrifice we must live a life that is acceptable to God.
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. NKJV
c. Only the truly repentant heart is capable of Godly living.
Matt 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. NKJV
But the person who has made a commitment to follow Jesus in word only and has not truly committed their lives to Christ as a living sacrifice and has an unrepentant heart, Jesus said in Matt 15:19 out of the (unrepentant) heart will produce evil. I once knew a lady who gave her life to Christ on Sunday and on Monday she told me the things she wasn't going to give up or change in her life.
Matt 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. NKJV
Text Illustration: Words, just words I was reading the other day. The famous American author, Samuel Clement, Mark Twain, attended a Sunday service. He met the preacher at the door afterward to shake his hand. And he told him that he had a book at home with every word he had preached that morning. The minister assured him that his sermon that morning was an original. But Twain was adamant. The preacher asked to see the book. So, Twain sent it over the next day. When the preacher opened the package he found a dictionary. And inside the cover Twain had written, "Words, just words." Application Some sermons are like that. Many lives are like that, just words. No real testimony, just empty words. Paul is telling us we should pay attention to godly men and women who lead by example and pattern our life after them. We shouldn’t listen to just anyone. And we shouldn’t follow just anyone’s example. (Sermon Central)
2. Be Obedient
1 Peter 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; NKJV
a. Disobedience is the thing that started all the problems we face today, hate, anger, sickness, heart ache, and loneness to name just a few. All these and more are result of "sin". Romans 5:19 states that sin came as a result of "one man's disobedience" and we were made righteous by the act of obedience through Jesus atonement for our sin.
b. Peter's statement "as obedient children" is not a command or even a demand but our obedience comes from a love for Christ (Jn 14:15). The word "obedience" implies that we should live as "children" who do the will of their Father. Our obedience comes as a demonstration of our love for Christ. Our obedience is a choice we make, a choice to each day get control of our mind to bring the mind under control of Christ Jesus to " gird up the loins of your mind". Bill and Gloria Gather authored and published a song entitled "The King Is Coming", the lyrics of that song state "the battle is over". we must realize that there is a battle raging for the control of all mankind and it start in our mind. Eph 6:12 states that our battle is not with men but with "spiritual host of wickedness."
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. NKJV
2 Cor 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, NKJV
John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. NKJV
Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man." NKJV
Text Illustration:
Eugene Peterson in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction writes, “It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier Christians called holiness.” (From "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction", Eugene Peterson)
3. Be Holy
1 Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, NKJV
a. As a Christian we are called to live a life of holiness, a consecrated life, a life that is pure and blameless before the world not for our recognition or praise or honor. But a life that is holy, a life that is a reflection not of the things of the world but a reflection of our Heavenly Father. Just because a person uses words to identify themselves as a part of God's family words are not enough.
b. The Apostle James states that words are not sufficient we must live our lives with both, we must have faith and we must have works (or obedience). If we are going to "talk the talk then we must walk the walk." Thus when Peter writes "be holy" he is encoring us to let God be seen not only in our words but also in our actions. By our being "sober" and living as "obedient children" and living a life that is "holy" we will glorify our Heavenly Father and do His "will" (Matt 7:21). There is an old saying that says "a picture is worth a thousand words" but, live that not uses the words but a life that projects a life of holiness must be worth million. 1959 a television show began entitled "The Twilight Zone" it's host, Rod Serling introduces the program to the viewer's by telling them that they are moving into " a dimension of sight, sound and mind (Twilight Zone, Rod Serling). If we as Christians can let those around us, see (sight) our lives, hear our words (sound) by the renewing of our minds (mind) then we can let them not see a "another dimension" and can know that we are "Christians".
James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. NKJV
Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. NKJV
Text Illustration: FILLING UP WITH THE SPIRIT
Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
SOURCE: Today in the Word, September, 1991, p. 30.
EMPTIED OUT AND FILLED UP-D. L. Moody said,
“I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts.
But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled.”
Conclusion: Peter is calling us to a point of knowing, loving and living a life that does not reflect or conform to the this sin racked world. As pilgrims and strangers we to like should be longing for that City not built with hands but spoken in to existence by God. A city that has been prepared for us in order that we may have eternal fellowship with our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Words are not enough we must love God with our whole heart and body. Matt 5:16 states that we must let our light shine, not our light but the pure light of His Son, and we must strive to letting the pure light reflect in and through us and not be dimed by the things of this world.
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV
