“A Change of Desires”
1 Peter 4:7-11
A sermon for 8/24/25
Pastor John Bright
1 Peter 4 “1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”
Today, the church has become deeply divided. Some seem to focus on hell and judgement, while others seem to focus on love and grace. We need to remember, it's not EITHER/OR. It's really BOTH/AND. If we are going to lead Sprit-filled lives, we must recognize that a Holy God can (and will) judge us all by His standards, not by what we think or believe.
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We are still in the main section of 1 Peter where he keeps offering advice to the Jesus Followers in his day and in our day. Peter returns to a topic we covered earlier: how are those suffering from Christian persecution to live? This is a topic that we read about frequently in the New Testament:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – Romans 8:17
“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” – Philippians 3:10
When we suffer, we are called to suffer in the same way as Jesus Christ. But why?
So we can obey, v. 1-2
“1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”
I need to deal with that phrase “ceased from sin.” Those three little words keep this text of scripture from being shared in pulpits all over the church. Preachers don’t like tough phrases that are easily open to misinterpretation. Since I tend to oversimplify things, let me explain how I see Peter using this phrase. This is an important conversation for us to have because our new denomination wants to recover a Wesleyan view of holiness.
When Peter wrote that those who suffer will have “ceased from sin,” I believe he meant that Jesus' Followers were done with a lifestyle of sin. The power of the Holy Spirit that lives within you and me is stronger than the desires of the flesh, like addiction.
Peter makes a strong contrast between “lusts of men” (“evil human desires” NIV) and “the will of God.” In Matthew 6:24, Jesus gave this warning: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” The context here is money, but greed is easily seen as an evil human desire. You see, it comes down to a question of obedience.
When we suffer, it can strip away human desires and help us desire the will of God. This can happen in the face of persecution for one's Christian faith. It can also occur when we face intense physical suffering or a time of intense grief.
Let me be blunt here – if you have no change in desire so that the will of God becomes your desire, you will not obey the Word of God. Today, much of God’s Church has made obedience to the Bible optional. That’s not the pattern of the Old or New Testament. We need to recover the Biblical pattern of obedience.
When we suffer, we are called to suffer in the same way as Jesus Christ. But why?
So that we look different than the world, v. 3-4
“3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”
These folks to whom Peter is writing used to look like everybody else. They were a part of the world, so they partied and did all the other things average folks did back then. I have mentioned this before, the Roman world in which Christianity first spread was highly sexualized, and many of the practices today that are different than a Biblical view of sexuality and gender were present in that day. (No details in this sermon!) My point is that when new Jesus’ Followers walked away from these practices and started living holy lives – IT WOULD BE NOTICED!
This is not unique to the Early Church. If a Muslim convert stops praying five times a day, do you think folks would notice? This is what happens time after time during the 2,000 years of Christian history. We are just the latest group of folks trying to look different than the world. If we walk away from the ways of the world, we will also find out what happens. Those folks won’t like us anymore. This is painful because we try so very hard to be liked by everyone. So much so, we will tolerate being around the practices that flow from evil human desires.
You already know I like to illustrate this kind of thing by talking about gossip. I believe it is the most tolerated sin in every congregation. As always, I like to share my definition of gossip. Something is not gossip if it can pass three tests:
? 100% Truth - You heard/saw it directly – can’t be repeated from another source
? You would say it to the person it is about
? It would build up the person it is about
If just one of these tests fails, IT IS GOSSIP!
If a congregation wanted to look different than the world, it could decide to be gossip-free. That would mean members of the congregation would not even listen to gossip. Maybe they could even put it on a sign out in front of the building. Would your friends still call you with all the juicy bits of gossip from the community? Absolutely! When you refuse to even listen, would you be ridiculed? Absolutely! (Holier-than-thou) And you would be in good company because they ridiculed and mocked Jesus.
We should not invite suffering or ridicule just to be more like Jesus, but neither should we avoid doing God’s will just to be liked. It’s a tough row to hoe. What might God be calling you to leave behind in this world? Is there a practice or habit from which God would have you walk away?
When we suffer, we are called to suffer in the same way as Jesus Christ. But why?
So we are ready for the judgement to come v. 5-6
“5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”
Why mention preaching to those who are dead? Some believers in their churches have died. They were probably martyred.
I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 Peter 1:16) We can move toward holiness because of the powerful Holy Spirit working a change of desire within you and me. You have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you because God offered you the free gift of salvation. That gift is offered in place of judgment because of God’s amazing grace.
But that does not leave us free to sin and do whatever we want. Without our obedience to the Will of God, we will suffer for our sinful lifestyles and choices in both the natural realm and the spiritual realm. There are consequences for the evil human desires and the practices that flow from them. Some of these consequences we receive in this life, mostly in the physical realm. Others, we will receive in the spirit realm in the next life. This matters! There is some new research that has confirmed that 10 out of 10 people will die.
The love of God also moves Him to try to draw us away from the junk in the world. Listen to Hebrews
6:5-11 “5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
I look back on all worldly desires that I had to walk away from or be disciplined/chastened by God. While it was hard, it was necessary to be where I am in my journey with Christ today. I have also lost many friends who still do the same things I used to do back in my days of active alcoholism and addiction. I have mentioned that this year is now 40 years clean and sober for me. It has made me look back and remember the folks whom I miss. I tried to stay in touch with some, but those conversations often centered on me coming back for one more party or just one more drink for old times' sake. Of course, I did the right thing walking away, but I still miss a few of those folks. Unfortunately, at least one of them drank himself to death. I know, for sure, I’m in a better place!
In Galatians 1, Paul is writing them because he has received word that they were following wrong teachings. Galatians 1:6-9 “6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Paul is being tough on them and the folks bringing the false teachings. Do you think they might take offense to his strong urging? Maybe so, but Paul did not care: “10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”
It’s time for every congregation to choose between the ways of the world and the will of God! Amen
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. How much do you desire the will of God? How much do you desire the things of the world?
• When was the last time you took inventory of how much your life looks like everybody else out there who is not a Jesus Follower? Should there be any changes?
• Next week: Series: 1 Peter 4:7-11 "Until the End"
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TEACHING SHEET
Sermon: “A Change of Desires”
1 Peter 4:1-6
Teaching sheet for 8/24/25
How are those suffering from Christian persecution to live? This is a topic that we read about frequently in the New Testament: Matthew 11:28, John 16:33, Romans 8:17,
2 Corinthians 1:5, Philippians 3:10
When we suffer, we are called to suffer in the same way as Jesus Christ. But why?
So we can obey, v. 1-2
I need to deal with that phrase “ceased from sin.” When Peter wrote that those who suffer will have “ceased from sin,” I believe he meant that Jesus' Followers were done with a lifestyle of sin. The power of the Holy Spirit that lives within you and me is stronger than the desires of the flesh, like addiction.
Peter makes a strong contrast between “lusts of men” (“evil human desires” NIV) and “the will of God.” Matthew 6:24 When we suffer, it can strip away human desires and help us desire the will of God. This can happen in the face of persecution for one's Christian faith. It can also occur when we face intense physical suffering or a time of intense grief.
If you have no change in desire so that the will of God becomes your desire, you will not obey the Word of God.
So that we look different than the world, v. 3-4
The Roman world in which Christianity first spread was highly sexualized, and many of the practices today that are different than a Biblical view of sexuality and gender were present in that day. When new Jesus’ Followers walked away from these practices and started living holy lives – IT WOULD BE NOTICED!
Something is not gossip if it can pass three tests:
? 100% Truth - You heard/saw it directly – can’t be repeated from another source
? You would say it to the person it is about
? It would build up the person it is about
If just one of these tests fails, IT IS GOSSIP!
What might God be calling you to leave behind in this world? Is there a practice or habit from which God would have you walk away?
So we are ready for the judgement to come v. 5-6
God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 Peter 1:16) We can move toward holiness because of the powerful Holy Spirit working a change of desire within you and me. You have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you because God offered you the free gift of salvation. That gift is offered in place of judgment because of God’s amazing grace.
The love of God also moves Him to try to draw us away from the junk in the world. Listen to Hebrews 6:5-11
In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul is writing them because he has received word that they were following wrong teachings.
Paul is being tough on them and the folks bringing the false teachings. Do you think they might take offense to his strong urging? Maybe so, but Paul did not care: “10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”
It’s time for every congregation to choose between the ways of the world and the will of God! Amen
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. How much do you desire the will of God? How much do you desire the things of the world?
• When was the last time you took inventory of how much your life looks like everybody else out there who is not a Jesus Follower? Should there be any changes?
• Next week: 1 Peter 4:7-11 “Until the End”
