BROADCASTS.com

Sunday, March 22, 2020

1. The Church has never been a building... now it's time to prove that.
2. Parents, you have what it takes to lead your kids through this.
3. God already knows how this will play out and He's not shaken.

Since therefore\xa0Christ suffered in the flesh,\xa0arm yourselves with the same way of thinking for\xa0whoever has suffered in the flesh\xa0has ceased from sin,\xa02\xa0so as to live for\xa0the rest of the time in the flesh\xa0no longer for human passions but\xa0for the will of God.\xa03\xa0For the time that is past\xa0suffices\xa0for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.\xa04\xa0With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of\xa0debauchery, and\xa0they malign you;\xa05\xa0but they will give account to him who is ready\xa0to judge the living and the dead.\xa06\xa0For this is why\xa0the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. 7\xa0The end of all things is at hand; therefore\xa0be self-controlled and sober-minded\xa0for the sake of your prayers.\xa08\xa0Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since\xa0love covers a multitude of sins.\xa09\xa0Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.\xa010\xa0As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,\xa0as good stewards of God's varied grace:\xa011\xa0whoever speaks, as one who speaks\xa0oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves\xa0by the strength that God supplies in order that in everything\xa0God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.\xa0To him belong glory and\xa0dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:1-11 (ESV)

1. Be self-controlled

2\xa0so as to live for\xa0the rest of the time in the flesh\xa0no longer for human passions but\xa0for the will of God.\xa03\xa0For the time that is past\xa0suffices\xa0for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 1 Peter 4:2-3 (ESV)

2. Be sober-minded

Since therefore\xa0Christ suffered in the flesh,\xa0arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for\xa0whoever has suffered in the flesh\xa0has ceased from sin\u2026 1 Peter 4:1 (ESV)

3. Love one another earnestly

8\xa0Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since\xa0love covers a multitude of sins.\xa09\xa0Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.\xa010\xa0As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,\xa0as good stewards of God's varied grace\u2026 1 Peter 4:8-10 (ESV)

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don\u2019t jump to the conclusion that God isn\u2019t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you\u2019re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It\u2019s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they\u2019re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that\u2019s a different matter. But if it\u2019s because you\u2019re a Christian, don\u2019t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! It\u2019s judgment time for God\u2019s own family. We\u2019re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it\u2019s going to be like for those who refuse God\u2019s Message! If good people barely make it, what\u2019s in store for the bad? So if you find life difficult because you\u2019re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he\u2019s doing, and he\u2019ll keep on doing it. 1 Peter 4:12-19 (MSG)