“Prepare Your Minds For Action” 1 Peter 1:13-16 October 11, 2009

I. We are to be self-controlled (13). Self-control is a component of spiritual development.

2 Peter 1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

I. We are to be self-controlled (13). Self-control is a component of spiritual development. – It helps us grow with effectiveness and productivity in the Christian life.

I. We are to be self-controlled (13). Self-control is a component of spiritual development. – It helps us grow with effectiveness and productivity in the Christian life. – It helps us develop our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:10 Paul said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

I. We are to be self-controlled (13). Self-control is fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. – Evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is indicated by the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I. We are to be self-controlled (13). Self-control is fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. – Evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is indicated by the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: – Such discipline as self-control helps us in every area of our lives.

II. We are to set our hope on the true grace of God (13). This hope is fully experienced when Jesus Christ is revealed. – When Christ comes back, we will be in the final state of deliverance from sin. – Our salvation now will be fully revealed in eternity.

II. We are to set our hope on the true grace of God (13). This hope encourages us for what is to come. – Our goal is heaven and spending eternity with the Lord. – We are encouraged that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent.

III. We are not to conform to evil desires (14). We are to be obedient children of God. – We are children of God because we have been born again. – We demonstrate our love for God by our obedience.

1 John 3:23-24 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives is us. We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

1 John 5:3 “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”

III. We are not to conform to evil desires (14). We are to be different from when we lived in ignorance. – Before we come to Christ, we act differently. – There ought to be a change after we become children of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

IV. We are to be holy in all we do (15- 16). We are to be set apart. – Set apart from sin.

2 Corinthians 6:15-17 “…What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.’”

IV. We are to be holy in all we do (15- 16). We are to be set apart. – Set apart from sin. – Set apart to God

Acts 13:2-3 “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

IV. We are to be holy in all we do (15- 16). We are to be set apart. – Set apart from sin. – Set apart to God We are to imitate the Lord’s high moral standards. – Jesus emulated mercy to all. – Jesus epitomized sacrifice for others.