Preparing Your Mind for Action

We sojourn as warrior-pilgrims. We will confound man's predictions as we conquer God's enemies in faith.

Scripture:  1 Peter 1:10-16

Sermon Notes:

1. Christ has set a pattern for us of suffering before receiving glory.
2. The Christian life involves suffering, which comes in many forms.
3. This suffering, however, is not redemptive, like Christ’s suffering was for us.
4. The animal sacrifices of the old order were insufficient to save, so Christ had to suffer to work salvation for us.
5. The disciples did not anticipate Jesus’ suffering, and Peter even tried to deny that it would happen.
6. We need to take up our cross, and deny self for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.
7. Beyond the suffering, there is a glory to be revealed.
8. The prophets suffered for the message they brought.
9. We must beware when all men speak well of us. Part of our calling is to suffer.
10. We are not betrayed or abandoned by God in experiencing suffering. Rather, we are fellowshipping with Christ.
11. The great Jubilee has come through Christ. He has brought transforming renewal.
12. We must not look for renewal of the past. We must look for renewal for today, and for the future.
13. Jesus is the end and the goal of history. He is not just spoken of by the prophets, He spoke through the prophets.
14. The Spirit of God was the fire in the bones of the prophets, spurring them on to proclaim the word of the Lord.
15. The prophets longed to know more, to know the when and how of the prophecy’s fulfilment. They did not understand all the implications of what they were saying (vv. 10-12).
16. Peter instructs us to prepare our minds for action (1 Pet. 1:13).
17. Peter is not just considering human hindsight; he is telling us that God’s word prevails in every age.
18. We need insight before and during the trial. Foresight is more valuable than hindsight.
19. Our calling is not to predict changes, but to change predictions.
20. Predictions are man’s attempt to exert some control over the future. However, there is no security apart from God.
21. Prophecy is God’s word, which will come to pass.
22. We act in the present as an expression of faith for tomorrow (cf. Rom. 8:28).
23. We cannot live off the past. We can step out not on predictions but on faith.
24. If we do not act for fear of failure or mistakes, we will never do anything. We need to act on God’s word.
25. God’s word makes mockery of man’s predictions.
26. Peter’s prescription: readiness and holiness (vv. 13-16).
27. Child-like obedience confounds the world.
28. We sojourn as warrior-pilgrims. We will confound man’s predictions as we conquer God’s enemies.
29. God will give us light at evening time (Zach. 14:7).

Application Questions:

1. Contrast the purpose Christ’s suffering and our suffering?
2. What is the renewal that Christ is working?
3. What is the difference between hindsight and foresight and what is the value of each?
4. As God’s servants, how can we “change predictions”?
5. Is my life characterized by child-like obedience to God’s word?