TITLE: Living for God TEXT: I Peter 4:1-11 THEME: The believer should live for God and not the world.

Questions Do you ever fear things that seem bigger than you?

Questions Do you ever fear things that seem bigger than you? Do you wonder why you are here?

Questions Do you ever fear things that seem bigger than you? Do you wonder why you are here? Do you ever want to thank something or someone for something, but it doesn't seem quite adequate to thank someone around you?

Questions Do you ever fear things that seem bigger than you? Do you wonder why you are here? Do you ever want to thank something or someone for something, but it doesn't seem quite adequate to thank someone around you? Do you ever wonder if there is more to life than just eating, drinking, sex and leisure that have become your major pursuits?

Questions Do you ever fear things that seem bigger than you? Do you wonder why you are here? Do you ever want to thank something or someone for something, but it doesn't seem quite adequate to thank someone around you? Do you ever wonder if there is more to life than just eating, drinking, sex and leisure that have become your major pursuits? Do you ever lose hope when hardships come because you have nothing more to live for?

Questions Do you ever fear things that seem bigger than you? Do you wonder why you are here? Do you ever want to thank something or someone for something, but it doesn't seem quite adequate to thank someone around you? Do you ever wonder if there is more to life than just eating, drinking, sex and leisure that have become your major pursuits? Do you ever lose hope when hardships come because you have nothing more to live for? Do you wonder why the drugs, drinking sex and lose their thrill you first experienced?

How should the suffering of Christ model how you should live?

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6)

I Peter 4:1-6 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

I Peter 4:1-6 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 think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

I Peter 4:1-6 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered:

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: (New Living Translation) “Since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.”

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: –This command can be stated in two words, “arm yourself.

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: –This command can be stated in two words, “arm yourself.. –This is a command.

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: –This command can be stated in two words, “arm yourself.. –This is a command. –His purpose was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work.

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: –This command can be stated in two words, “arm yourself.. –This is a command. –His purpose was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work. –Arm yourself with the same purpose.

John 4:34 “My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work.”

Garden of Gethsemane “Father, if there be any other way then take this cup from me. But let your will be done.”

John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”

Matthew 7:32 “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 12:50 “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: Not living for evil human desires.

I. You will live for the will of God (1-6) Be willing to suffer like Christ suffered: Not living for evil human desires. In doing so you will avoid God’s judgment.

Suntrekontown It means to “run in a pack.” People who indulge in the flesh are like a pack of animals that run that go from place to place bringing destruction. They have an expectation that others will engage in their behavior and resent those who do not.

Romans 1:26-32 “ 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.

Romans 1:26-32 Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

Romans 1: They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;

Romans 1: they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

Impunity “to be exempt from punishment or “immune from the detrimental effects of an action.”

You will be clear minded and self controlled. (7)

I Peter 4: 7 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

The End is Near We could die at any time.

The End is Near We could die at any time. The lord could come at any minute.

The End is Near We could die at any time. The lord could come at any minute. –We are to live everyday as if it were our last. Because of this the Lord expects us to do four things- three of which will be listed in the other points (love, hospitality, serve). The first of these is prayer. Let’s restate this, “Evaluate things in light of time and in light of eternity.”

How should the suffering of Christ model how you should live?

II. You will be clear minded and self controlled. (7)

I Peter 4:7 7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

II. You will be clear minded and self controlled. (7) So that you can pray.

II. You will be clear minded and self controlled. (7) So that you can pray. Principle: Confusion and lack of self control hinders our prayers.

How should the suffering of Christ model how you should live?

III. You will love and serve others. (8-10)

I Peter 4: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

III. You will love and serve others. (8-10) Love covers a multitude of sins.

III. You will love and serve others. (8-10) Love covers a multitude of sins. Love offers hospitality without grumbling.

III. You will love and serve others. (8-10) Love covers a multitude of sins. Love offers hospitality without grumbling. Love uses ones gifts to serve others.

You will love and serve others. (8-10) Love covers a multitude of sins. Love offers hospitality without grumbling. Love uses ones gifts to serve others. Love guards ones speech.

How should the suffering of Christ model how you should live?

IV. You will use the strength God provides to serve others (11)

I Peter 4:11 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

IV. You will use the strength God provides to serve others (11) So that God gets the glory

IV. You will use the strength God provides to serve others (11) So that God gets the glory Principle: Living for the will of God will lead to bringing glory to God.

I Corinthians 14:12 “Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”

Christ’s High Priestly Prayer John 17: “ 1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

Christ’s High Priestly Prayer John 17: 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”