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we are in chapter 4 of 1st Peter. And we shall be reading chapter 4 from verse one to 19. verse one. chapter, right? So let's read this section. Let read this chapter responsively. I shall begin with chapter 4, verse one. Forasmuch then as Christ have suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he that has suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. that he no longer should live the rest of his life in the flesh, to the last of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles. When we walked in lasciviousness, lust, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. Wherein they think it's strange that you run riot, no, them, success, speaking evil to you. Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead? For this cause was the gospel preach also them that are dead, that they might be judged according to man in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit. But the end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer. And above all things, a fervent charity amongst yourself, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man has received a gift, even so minister the same one to another. As good stewards of the manifold Greece God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God, if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, thinking not strange according to trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached, name of Christ, happy I e, for the spirit of glory, and God resteth upon you. On that part, he is evil spoken on, but on your part, he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time, it's come, the judgement must begin at the house of God. And if it 1st begin with us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? The last 2 verses together. and have the right scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer, according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Amen, we thank God for the reading of his word. Let us look to God in prayer. Let us pray. Eternal God, our merciful and gracious Father in heaven, we thank thee for thy precious word, and we thank thee, especially, Lord, for this portion, that teach us how we are to carry out and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God, living in godliness and service one to another, and doing our service and duty to the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Help us, Lord, to be illumined and to understand thy word in this time that we spend together. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen. So if you look at the theme, and of course, the preceding sermons that we have covered, you'll find that the general theme of holding fast, right, is what Peter is trying to encourage the believers to do, to hold faster your faith. And the reason for holding fast is because of a huge, irresistible, shifting force that's about to come upon them, right? The shifting force of the persecuting Roman Empire that will come upon Christian churches. And when we apply today, we find that, yes, there are forces that are shifting our faith and our understanding and also our practice of the Christian faith. And it makes us very aware that we must hold fast to the things that have been taught. So, in a very quick recap, now we can see it, the structure of the writing of the apostle Peter. You see in the earlier chapters, all the way up to the middle of chapter two, right? He's pointing the reader towards their knowledge of God. Their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's why in one of Peter's epistles, he will end with grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is about the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. His holiness, his commandment to us to be holy like him. His glory and how we are to glorify him in our lives and our testimony. Right? And that's it, knowledge of God, knowledge of the holy, knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then you see Peter moving on, once you come to the 2nd half of the chapter 2, he talks about God's authority over man. And God's authority over men is in the form of the powers ordained by God. Right? It may be a political power, it may be an economic power, like an employer, employee relationship, right, or a client, contractor relationship. There's someone who has influence over you, right? And that understanding is to be reflected in our Christian behaviour. And then finally, he moves on to the individual question, which is what we covered in the earlier sermon, right? Sanctified living, Sanctified living is seen in the way we conduct ourselves before others, especially those who offend us. In the case of the context in 1st Peter, especially those who are tormenting us or persecuting us. We conduct ourselves in a way that shows Christ likeness, by sanctified living. And that sanctified living is born of a good conscience towards God. I want to please God. I want to glorify God. I know the holiness of God, and therefore I behave in this manner. I want to be Christ-like because Christ suffered for us and left us an example. Sanctified living. And that shows and proves, and you will know yourself. The truthfulness and proof of your conversion. And that was how he ended the last part, right? Our salvation in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The same power that is seen in raising Jesus from the dead is the same power that is able to show that new men or new woman in us. The Christian virtues that shows our conduct towards others and our conscience before God. So now we move on to the chapter 4, which talks about godliness and service. Now, how does Satan try to disrupt the church? Well, he begins by disrupting individuals, and who are his primary targets, well, he will begin with their leaders. Isn't that pastors, elders in church, deacons in church, all prominent figures in the church who are leading ministries or taking roles of leadership. And the devil can disrupt their lives by breaking their sanctification. And if the devil can break their sanctification, they will live a bad testimony. I mean, they live a bad testimony, the church will start to harbour a certain distrust, I use that phrase before. Institutional distrust. right This leader is no good. This church is corrupt. This church, or leaders in this church, are not behaving in a way that is Christlike, so I don't like being in this church. Disruption and discord in the church. And that is what is going to happen. When persecution comes upon these Christian churches that are spread out all over Asia Minor and parts of Europe and parts of the Middle East. They're going to be severely tested, and some of the leaders will fail. The Lord knows that. And so you see, Peter is encouraging. The members, individuals in the church, you and I, and leaders also, pastors, elders, that they must live that sanctified life. So now we come to chapter 4 and he speaks about maintaining that sanctified life. How do you maintain that sanctified life? How does a church become strong in a service and in its edifying influence over the members, by members and leaders, living in godliness and living a life of service. So let us begin with chapter 4, verse one, right? And it says this, chapter 4, verse one. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, you see again, pointing to the example of Lord Jesus Christ, right? So we must truly know him in order to take him as an example for us. How can you learn from someone and say, I'm taking the example of so and so if I hardly know him? I have not read his biography. I do not know of him, and his personal life, and his exploits, and the X and D's in his life. How can I say I can take him as a pattern pattern for my life, for an example, for my I can't? So know the Lord Jesus, right? So verse one, for as much then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, you find Peter repeating that many times, isn't it? We cover that a few times in this epistle. Now, verse one continues, mark this word. arm ourselves likewise with the same mind. Arm ourselves likewise with the same mind. You see that word arm? You know what it means, right? Right? It means to equip yourself. This term has a military ring to it, right? There is another phrase that I use in an earlier sermon that also have a military ring to it. Gird up the loins of your mind. Readiness to go into battle, readiness to engage in very intense labour, that's a military term. Right? It is a term sometimes the military commander will call out alert, and then all the men will be ready. Right? Fingers ready to pull the trigger, all ready to shoot at a particular target. This is another term. Arm yourselves, likewise. You know why? Words in the Bible are chosen for a specific reason. Because this is a spiritual battle. You see, we must not see holy living sanctification. We must not see godliness and service in church as merely a physical act. Because all of it is a spiritual battle. And that spiritual battle means you have to arm yourselves. You need to be, right? If we use the word that the world understands, weaponize yourself. Be able to equip yourself for that battle. But we equip ourselves not with weapons of war. Neither do we equip ourselves with implements of violence. No, none of that. Christianity is a religion of peace, truly, truly, it is, because we do not return reeling for reeling, neither we return evil for evil, but contrariwise, blessing. We just read that this morning, right? Truly a religion of peace. No one can argue against that. But people may say, oh, you look at church history and look at, you know, all the horrors that have happened in the Inquisition, you know? And look at what the false church has done. Look at the persecutions of the Huguenots, and look at all the persecution. At the time of Reformation and before. And don't even begin with the crusades, the ruthlessness and the cruelty with which violence have been conducted. But if you stripped away the politics and the flesh of church history, you will understand that the truth of God's would guide us towards the path of peace with all men. And that verse that we read earlier on this morning, do not return evil for evil, do not return reeling for reeling, by contrariwise blessing. It's our foundation. We do that despite how much we are being offended or tormented. Truly, a religion of peace strikes us here. That what I'm supposed to be like. And that was what Christ showed us an example. So verse one, for as much then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm ourselves, likewise with the same mind. So in this morning's teaching, as we talk about the shift from godliness and service, what Satan would want to do is make every Christian shift away from godliness, and shift away from service and duty towards the Lord. And why? Because by living an ungodly life, you show a bad testimony. You wreck your faith, and you wreck the faith of those around you. Those who look to you as a role model. If you're a leader or you're ahead of a household, that's what happened. If you live an ungodly life, members in the church will be offended, offended in the faith. How can a Christian behave in this manner? How can be a Christian? How can a Christian be seen to be a drunkard? Or an overly aggressive woman, or overly aggressive man, or covers just so dishonest in business, ready to squeeze every diamond penny out of his clients or his customer. Not a good testimony, isn't it? Satan wants to do that. How did he try to do that for the early church, persecute them? When you persecute them, you lose sight of, godliness, much godliness, got to do with me. I'm more concerned with preserving my life for today and tomorrow, and maybe the day after. And hopefully my loved ones will remain alive. and survive this persecution. And same also for service. A persecuted church, right, would hardly think about save by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the members. Hardly will they think about server. Why would you think about service when your life is being threatened? True. Satan is very wily. And although we live in times of calm and peace and plenty, we have lots to be thankful for. But yet, Satan will find ways to shift us away from godliness and service. But the 1st exhortation from God's word is this, arm yourself. Don't be complacent. Don't think that it is a light thing that you stop doing your personal devotion in the morning. Don't think it's lighting, oh, I just missed one or two, you know, never mind. I'll get back to it. True. If you have missed one or two, please get back to your daily reading or daily devotion. But don't dismiss it lightly because that's the beginning of spiritual warfare. And our adversary is very good at chipping away. Taking away little bits, so much so that you do not know. What you have lost, you do not notice that is missing until you finally find... Look at it. You know, many years ago, we had a little problem with our... You notice auto pay facility, right, where the bank's able to pay a customer or client a certain amount every month. Whatever that may be, maybe a, you know, a phone bill or something like that. So, year, decades ago, when we when remember when people used to use pages, nobody used a pager nowadays, right? And except maybe, you know, people in the Middle East. Nobody used pages now. So we had an auto pay facility to pay for our pages service. Now, this was long ago, maybe 3 decades ago. And we forgot about it. But all these years, when we were travelling in Malaysia and throughout the region, the penguins happily paying, right, for those pages, which I never used, actually, the pager was never to be found. I don't know where it is. And it was years after my dear wife picked up... What is this? And then we look back, Hey, what's that? And then we kept looking, man, oh, we mean all these years we've been built for a pager that we never knew that we had, I used it actually for a few months before I left, you know, the home country for my posting. You never know what you're missing or what you're losing until you take stock. And that's how... the power of the wily adversary does to us. He take away a little bit from you. And you don't notice it? He takes away another bit from you. You stop attending prayer meeting. You don't notice it, you know? Oh, I missed one prem. Yeah, I was really busy. I had a project deadline, so, you know, I had to excuse myself. But then it becomes easier and easier for him to take spiritual things away from you without you noticing. And the Bible teaches to arm yourselves. Don't take it lightly, spiritual warfare. Now, I'm yourself with what? With the same mind. That what verse one says. And what mind is that? The mind of Christ. The same mind that Peter has been referring to again and again and again, Christ suffered for us. Christ suffered, and when he was revived, he revived not again. And when he suffered, he threatened not, arm yourself with that mind. That I am ready to do duty for God and to live godly for God. and to engage in spiritual battle. Now, he says this, right? And look at verse two, that he no longer should live the rest of his time. Now, this he here does not refer to Christ, but to the believer, right? Someone who have, who understands the suffering in the flesh that Christ have to undergo for our sins, will cease from sin. That's the ending part of verse one. cease from sin, and then verse to no longer live the rest of his time, in the flesh, to the lust of man, but to the will of God. Now, as I go through the passage today, I want you to remember 3 points relating to godliness and service. Number one, arm yourself with a mind of Christ. Right? Mind of Christ. Another, a letter, a word beginning with the letter M. Arm yourself with the mind of Christ, that you will know how to engage in godly living and godliness. Secondly, live a life that shows ministry to the saints, right? Another word, beginning with M. Live alive in a way that shows that you are ministering to the saints. You are serving those around you. You are serving within the church in one way or another. And not all of us have to be a preacher. Not all of us have to be a teacher. But they are all in sundry and manyfold ways in which you can engage yourself productively in service, ministry, ministering. Number one, harm yourself with the mind of Christ. Secondly, engage in ministry of the church, service towards others. And then finally, right, another M, right? Remember and be mentally prepared. for trials. And I want to put in parenthesis, rejoice, right? Rejoice in your mind as you prepare for trials, right? 3 M's, easy to remember, right? The mind of Christ, ministry towards others, and mental preparation, rejoicing in preparation for trials to come. Now, in this understanding of Christ's mind, right, Christ likeness, and the way Christ suffered for us. What is our response and our reflection to that? Well, this is what verses 2, 3, 2, and 3 is about, right? Verse 2 says that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of man. But to the will of God, and verse 3 continues, for the time past our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walk in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wines, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. You see, having the mind of Christ, and having forgone, I've gone through the earlier lessons about the holiness of God and the commandment of Christ for us to be holy, be holy, for I am holy. And understanding the glory of God. means also that that mind of Christ will drive us to separate ourselves from the world. That's godliness. Because the opposite of godliness, some may say ungodliness, isn't it? Very easy to add a negative particle, opposite of godliness is ungodliness. But there's another synonym to ungodliness. what is that? Worldliness. Worldliness. You are either godly or worldly. Well, of course, you may see you may be godly or ungodly. Yes, the opposites, I know that. But to drive home the point, to understand what being not going, D is, being worldly, and this is what verse 3 is all about. For the time past of our life, may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles. There's enough of it in the past. And what are these parts? Well he brings them up, right? And he would know that the time of the Gentiles, well, the Greeks, well, in the Romans. Now, remember, the Roman Empire was basically, right, if you like, leftover of the Greco Roman culture. And the Greeks and the Romans, as you know, they were, hedonists, right? They love pleasure, they love to eat, they love to drink, they love to. Enjoy all the pleasures of life. So look at that verse three. The seriousness, lust, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, abominable idolatries. Now, This is not just a matter of, you know, having a good meal now and then. When you read about banquetings, revelings, those are what, very intense and very debauched practises, right? Orgies, right? They will eat till they're full, and as if that's not enough, they will go and find a place so that they can regurgitate and throw out what they've just eaten and go back and eat some more. And they would drink, wine to the excess, and more of it. Why? Because that philosophy is humanist. I'm in this life just for once, so I might as well enjoy it. And if you look at some of the, you know, the old engravings or graphics that come off pottery and, you know, different wall freezes of that era, the Greco Roman era. You'll find archeologists have fine. All kinds of sexual excesses. That was practice. And this is what is about. There was a time when ungodliness and worldliness was a part of your life, and that's how Peter used the phrase, the will of the Gentiles. verse 3. Gentile means unbeliever, right? Was an unbeliever, like, was someone who is not living a life of Christ, a life that is Christ like, and being imbued with the mind of Christ, this person is going to live it like an unbeliever. He will speak like an unbeliever. He will use words that the unbelieving world would use. He would think thoughts that unbelieving will think about. He will enjoy pleasures. And when I say he, I mean, he or she, it may be a man or woman. But to be armed with that mind of Christ is to maintain and constantly stay within that path that tells you, I must be godly. I must live a godly life. Why? All the way to the front? Chapter one, verse 13 to 23. Be holy for I am holy. I'm doing it not because I will look good by living a godly life. I am doing it, number one, because Christ commanded me to do so. I'm doing it because Christ has enabled me to do so. He died on a cross in order that I may be cleansed from my sins, and in order that the Holy Spirit may indure me and cause me to live that life of godliness, to bring glory to God. So, you see, we've come a full circle actually. And what Peter has described is a comprehensive booklet on Christian living and glorifying God, in times of adversity. Prepare yourself. And chapter 4, begin to arm yourself, ready, ready for that battle with the mind of Christ. Rethink and ask yourself, always, before you speak that word, before you pick up that phone to make that call. Excuse me nowadays, you don't pick up the phone anymore, isn't it? That is a throwback from times past, when you have a real phone sitting on your coffee table and you pick up the receiver, no more, right? You pick up the phone from your back pocket these days. But before you pick up that phone and you make that call or you say those words, think again. Am I speaking with a mind that is Christ-like? Am I going to speak words? That would be glorifying to Christ. Or will it show the worldly part of me and the fleshly part of me? You know, sometimes I regret intensely. I'm not beyond failing and I feel saying the wrong things, offending someone, sometimes causing people to grieve. For days on end, why would you say that to me? I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I should not have said it. But often words said, right? Even though, you try to retrieve with apology is difficult. Why? Because at times, we forget our need to live godly lives. And our need to be armed with the mind of Christ, not weapons of war, not implements of violence, but a mind that is meek and submissive before God. and loving and compassionate before men, like our Lord and Saviour. And then I tried to put myself in that mind. When the Lord was suffering for me on that cross, what did he think of me? That worthless sinner, why should I die for him? That's not what the Lord thought. What did Lord say, forgive them for they know not what they are doing? Isn't it? That's the kind of mind we ought to have in living a godly life in this life. And our treatment and interaction with others. It takes a lot, isn't it? And you're not going to do it by willpower. You're not gonna do it by discipline training. You can only do it by the power of the Holy Spirit working in your heart. And that is the same power that God has equryptasis. And this is why you find, time and again, through the epistle, I've read it, and sometimes I tell you to underline it. Peter will repeat this phrase, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, right? Through our resurrected Lord, because that power that God has demonstrated in raising the dead to life, in raising our Saviour, buried 3 days in the tomb, memories. Again, that is the same power that can change you and me from a sinner to one who can live a life of godliness. Very powerful and very wonderful. Now, verses 4, 5, and 6 is, if you like, a preparatory caution, right, something to caution the believer, right, you want to live godly. And the reason you only live godly in the context of 1st Peter is, the persecution is about to come. So verse four, wherein they think it strange, right? I think it's strange that ye run not with them through the same excess of right, speaking evil of you, verse 5, who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead? Verse 6, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that I did, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God, in the spirit. So when you separate yourself from the world, those Gentiles, who used to know these Christians, before their conversion, will be wondering why is this person not like what he was before, right? He used to go out for a drink with us. He used to go, you know, partying, and he would say the same things that we say, he would laugh at the same jokes that we laugh at. But why is he different now? Right, they will think it's strange. They will think it strange. But we ought not to be. Because we know that that realm of godliness and that realm of worldliness is totally estranged. It's separate, and we keep that separation, and that's the meaning of the word holy. One of the contextual meaning of the word holy means separate. The mind of Christ, the holiness of Christ, helps us and enable us to keep separate from the world. Now, Peter wrote this for a reason, because when a person is undergoing persecution, there's a very strong temptation that this person has to resist. And that temptation is to go back where you came from, isn't it? I know people that come to church, profess faith in the Lord. But in the course of life, they may face trials of some kind, it may be financial in nature, maybe their issues with their business, and they're facing huge trials. They may be relationship in nature, and maybe they are having conflicts, right, with a partner, with a family member, and it's so vexing and offensive that they find that they cannot live their Christian life, and at the same time, you know, live with that kind of offence. And sadly, these people will leave the church. They will leave the church. And when they do that, you can tell, well, this person have not learned the practice of living with a mind of Christ. The understanding that godliness and worldliness are separate. And that realm that cause us to move, to make that shift, we must be very watchful and aware against. So, the trials are about to come, must not cause us to lose sight of it. And so this is why Peter warns them. They think it's strange, but you must not think it strange. You must think it, think of it as being normal that I maintain that separation. I think many of you would have that experience in your workplace or perhaps in your communities, isn't it? Why did you do that? In fact, my family would be asked me the same question. You know, why did you give, why do you want to go into full-time service? I thought you were, you know, you were having a job and full time occupation, and, you know, you were happy with it, yes. I was happy with it. I was overly happy with it, and the Lord called me. And the reason they will think it strange is because, to them, there is no spiritual life to think about. It's all about the here and now. It's all about the world. So the mind of Christ arms the Christian to make that separation. to make that separation. And this is why, well, verses 5 and 6, again, if you like a hint for the reader that it is important to continue to convey the message of gospel to the unsaved world. Right, Verse 5, who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. And then verse 6 says, for this course was the gospel, preach also to them that are dead. That's the reason why the gospel is for the unsafe. Now the 2nd part of verse 6 needs a bit of unpacking, right? It says this, right? No, follow me as I read. For this course, was the gospel preach also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Now I want to state this as concisely as I can. What this verse means simply is this. The gospel is preached to the unsaved. In order that they know the differentiation, right? That if they do not, Take upon the gospel of salvation by faith, they will be judged in the flesh as men. And when you know them, when men are judged in the flesh, where do they end up? They end up in eternal condemnation? Because by the works of the flesh of no man be saved. But then on the contrary side, if they were to embrace the gospel that is preached, then this is what the last part is about, but live according to God in the spirit. They may embrace life, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Right? So I'm going to explain it as concisely as I can, because this portion of chapter chapter 4, verse 6 have been variously and in some places misinterpreted to mean that a Christian can have a dual life. You can live a life in the flesh, and that will be judged surely by God, but then at the same time, you possess that spiritual life in the spirit, that means you live a dichotomy, right? A dual life, if you like, and that's not what is meant to be conveyed. A Christian or not to live a double life. Remember, I give you that early examples about pastors. Late in their life in the 70s, they confess to adultery, and they've been living there for decades. He's had an adulterous affair for a long time. Maintaining it sustained, and all the time living a dual life. I have a life in the spirit, I can still preach. I can still share the gospel with others. I can still pastor the church. But once I walk out of the church, I live a sinful life. I'm judged as men, and that's the wrong interpretation altogether. Right? So the meaning and the concise explanation of what is simply this, the gospel is preached. If we embrace it, by faith in Jesus, you receive eternal life. But if you choose to reject it, well, there's only one place you can go, and there's judgement as men in the flesh. And you know where that would end, right, eternal damnation. So, the first portion of chapter 4, Peter brings this forth very clearly. Arm yourself with the mind of Christ. Arm yourself so that you will know and differentiate between what is godly and what is worldly. And live that life. So, you see, Peter is now, he first deals with the theological or the doctrinal foundation, glory of God, holiness of God, right? The praise of God in the life of the believer. And then in the latter half of the epistle in chapters 3 and 4, this is where, as you may hear this phrase, the rubber means the road. How you live that out, you live out a life of sanctification. By showing your conduct a good conduct before others, by living a good conscience before God, I covered that this morning. And now as he continues, right, the rubber meets the road again, living a godly life, shedding away those things that are worldly, embracing those things that are godly. And knowing and understanding the power of the gospel to save, knowing the power of the God. And how do you maintain that? How do you put that together? How do you package that and carry with you? Arm yourselves with a mind of Christ. And then he moves on. So this is the ongoing teaching that Peter brings sport, right? Verse 7. But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be sober and watch until prayer. So again, mental preparation first, right? Remember, spiritual battle begins with mental preparation. So it is never just discipline and training. It is never just effort, right, in order to practice that, which is good, because those are physical actions. It begins with a mind, mind of Christ, and then now, right, be sober and watch unto prayer, preparation, right? Verse 8, and above all things have fervent charity amongst yourself, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man have received a gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. He's talking about ministering to one another. In the 1st 7 verses, he talks about equipping yourself with the mind of Christ that you may be able to differentiate what is godly and worldly. Then in verses 7 onwards, right? He talks about how the Christian life ought to be practised in relation to one another as Christians. Earlier on, he talks about our interaction with the world, even those who persecute us. We do not exchange railing for realing or evil, for evil. But now he's talking about our interaction with fellow Christians, people within the church, you and you and you and me. How do we behave one to another? And this is the 2nd M I'm talking about. Ministering to one another. Arm yourself with the mind of Christ so you know what's separate between the world and godliness. Secondly, equip yourself, be sober and be watchful. In order that you do not shift, or you do not allow the adversary to shift you away from living a godly life and a life of service. And what do you do? You minister to one another. And this is what verse 7 is about, number one. Be sober, watch unto prayer. Now, verse 8, above all things have fervent charity amongst yourself. Be very intense and loving towards one another. What happens when a group of people are under intense and severe persecution? The fleshly instinct is to be. I'm going to look out for number one, isn't it? Every man for himself, every woman for themselves. But the teaching of the Bible is contrary to that. It says instead, you must be more fervent in your love. You should love each other all the more. All the more you should show that unconditional love that God has shown us. You know, I talked enough about the persecution that the Roman Empire had wreaked, right? Great havoc amongst the churches, and historians have recorded how some of the Christians respond to that kind of persecution. And one of the historians who wrote about this, right, have this to say, and, you know, talking about the persecution by Nero. Right? He mentioned this, you know, and he's talking about the Christians who were suffering. This is, and this is the exact phrase that is translated into English. See how they love one another. See how they love one another. Look at them. They have been eaten by lions, they have been beaten, they are being beheaded. But yet they still love one another. And those Christians who practice that were obedient to 1st Peter chapter 4, the passage which we have read, verse 8 above all things have fervent charity, that strong and intense love that God has shown us in the unconditional love, in the giving of his only begotten Son for us. Love one another. They would share food, whatever little they have, or whatever little that they can get together. They are Christian leaders, disciples, pastors, who give away direction of food for those who are suffering, for mothers with children. They will offer to go to the beheading block before others. in order to save another's life. And the historians who record the see how they love one another. Fervent charity. And the truth is this. If you do not practice fervent love, in good times, do you think you will practice fervent love towards one another, in times of adversity? Perhaps, yes, by a miracle of God, because God can indeed do all things. But the time to practice fervent charity is now, today, tomorrow, and the day after, and next week, and a week after that, right here and now, when the weather is good, when food is plentiful, when the climate is peaceful, and we are surrounded by calm and tranquillity, that's when you practice love. Because when adversity comes, you almost have no time to think about that. It must become a habit, it must become a Christian virtue, that is a part of every one of us. Again, I speak of myself. I need to learn that lesson, and I need to learn more of it. Because I found myself to be sorely lacking. In fervent charity. I've seen others who give for themselves. And, of course, our ultimate example is who? The Lord Jesus Christ, he gave his all for us. Isn't it? By his tribes, we are healed. A wonderful thing. That's our pattern. That's our example. So verse 8 ends with charity shall cover a multitude of sins. Now this has nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, our Lord, right? This is a covering of offence. If you love someone, there's nothing offensive, right? Because you can overlook it. Parents can quickly overlook the faults of their children, because why? Because it's a multitude of love that covers a multitude of sins. Parents would naturally love their children. So if you were to love one another, you would very easily forgive the offence once of another. Verse 9 says, Use hospitality one to another without grudging. Use hospitality, one to another, without grudging. To grudge means to think, why am I having to serve this person? Or why do I have to be nice to this such and such a person? I really don't have to. Theres grudging. Yes, you really don't have to. Did Jesus really have to die for us? Would he have said I don't really have to? He didn't. He said, Father, forgive them. See the difference? Armed with the mind of Christ. And now that mind of Christ enables you to minister to others. Very powerful weapon, isn't it? That's why the Apostle Peter used the word arm. With that mind, you minister to others. Now how do you minister? Well, verse 10 continues, as every man has received a gift, even so minister. There you go. I use the same word, right? And the word minister here, actually, in his Greek, in the Greek text, actually, means serve, right, to serve someone. Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold Christ of God. Whatever gift God has given you, use that with good intent. Use that so that someone may be edified in the faith. Use it so that someone may be encouraged to love the Lord more. If you ever give up hospitality, show that, in order that others may understand the love of Christ through your act of love. It's a wonderful thing, when Christians obey the word of God, and observers, especially unbelievers, make that observation, and they praise God. That was exactly what Peter said. Right? You are a royal priesthood, right? A chosen people. What happened, about the rest of the acts of the people, to bring forth the praises of him who had brought us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Our life is to show praise to God, glorifying God, there you go. Right? Understanding the glory of God, 1st Peter chapter 2. Arming yourself with the mind of Christ, firstly, secondly, ministering to one another. So pizza does a very smooth transition, isn't it? He tells you what's mentally being mentally prepared, and then he tells you exactly what to do. Minister serve. And then he continues verse 11, and this is, of course, in particular to those who teach the word of God, right? But also to every mature Christian, verse 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God hath given, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. The ministry of Christians one to another must never be missing on this very important element, the oracles of God. What the oracles of God? Well, we know that word article was used in the King James translation, in the book of Romans as well. It means the word of God. Using the word of God to effectively minister to one another. Now, in this context, right, it is believed in many commentators would say this is in relation to, for instance, pastors and teachers ministering the word of God to the congregation. But it doesn't stop there. Because each one of you, if you're a mature Christian, you should know the word of God well enough to be able to use the word of God to edify someone. To comfort someone who is in sorrow, isn't it? To give hope to someone who is disappointed. To give strength to someone who is despairing. That's the power of the word of God. And that's why every Christian ought to equip himself and herself with the word of God. And you may minister one to another. So that's why we have learned in this portion today, and we talk about Satan trying to shift the believer away from godliness and away from service, but Peter points us back towards exactly where the rubber meets the road, exactly what we have to do. Number one, equip ourselves with the mind of Christ. That self-sacrificial attitude towards what we ought to do for the service of the law, because of what he's done for us. Secondly, how we are to minister one to another with fervent love, with hospitality. Remember the word courteous that I explained yesterday? Courteous means what a friendly mind, ready to serve, ready to favour, bestow favour upon others. And then, finally, ministering on the basis of the word of God. Very important, right? Not ministering just because, well, I like doing it. Yes, there's some element of I like doing in service and true. There has to be some joy in your service, isn't it? I know Sunday school teachers enjoy teaching. That's why they teach. That's good. That's a sense of love and enjoyment for what you're doing. I know people sing in the choir because they enjoy singing. That's good as well. There's nothing wrong with that. And then I know people serve in various different areas. People serve in the kitchen ministry, and fellowships, for whatever reason, that may be. But the undergirding and the foundation of that ought to be the word of God and the example that Christ has shown us. The mind of Christ, ministry to one another, love, hospitality, ministry. And then now we come to the latter part of chapter 4, which deals with the mental preparation. So Peter lays out all the necessity of good Christian virtue. Now he comes to, well, this is the difficult part, right? Verse 12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice, verse 13, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy. You may be glad with exceeding joy. And I want to read a 1st part of verse 14. If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye. You see that repetition of the root word joys, rejoice, and happy. When you come across that in portions of writings, or part of the text of the scripture, why we refer to this as a repetition for emphasis. The writer is trying to tell you, hey, pay attention to these words, right? And these words are meant to describe a particular state you're in, a particular action you're supposed to do. And that state and preparation is the state of joy. But how did Peter begin this section of the scripture with, if he begins in verse 12, he says, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the friary trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. Don't think that it is strange. Don't think that it is unusual. You know, it's quite inconceivable, the things that have happened in the course of our life. I'm a man in my late 60s, right? So that tells you how young I am. And, of course, I can look across a congregation and see people of, you know, different age and, you know, different fees in your life. But as you live through life, you will come across things that appear inconceivable, isn't it? No one would have thought, in the 80s or '90s, that the Soviet Union would crumble and fall apart. No one would have thought of it, but it happened, didn't it? No one would have thought, prior to the Second World War, that there would be such a thing called as a nation of Israel, or there's no one. Just as today, you know? No one would have thought the conflict that is happening in the Middle East will cause, right? The polarisation of different forces. True. And if you go back about 30 years, no one would have thought that China would rise to be a true superpower, at least in the region, right? Because 30 or 40 years ago, right, they were still a struggling economy. So many things happened in our life. And when it happens, there's a certain strangeness to it, oh, never thought it happened, but yeah, I did. And this is the same kind of spirit in which Peter puts forth to the Christian. Don't think it's strange, because you know why? I'll tell you why. At this point, when he's writing it, they're probably living a good life like you and me. You know that? You have your chocolate cake at tea break, right? I was very tempted to have one, but I have to refrain. Just for the moment, I'll save one for maybe the afternoon break. We're gonna have lunch very soon, right? Food's always plentiful. We move about with ease. We have blessed with freedom of movement. We are well provided for in every way. Never think prosy Christian is going to come upon us, right? Think it not strange. Because when it comes, people around you will be wondering, why did it happen? How could this have changed? And the answer will be sought in the next sermon, because our adversary is like a roaring lion. When he wreaks that havoc, when that lion pounces upon the gazelle, you think the gazelle knew about it? Obviously, he didn't. Otherwise, the lion wouldn't have caught her by surprise. And there was how the church was going to be like. That's why Peter, think it not strange. Don't think it as something on you. It's gonna happen. Look at how they treated the Lord. Look at how they are dealing with the apostles and the disciples of Jesus Christ. They persecuted them. So don't think that it's going to be strange that will happen to you. But the mental preparation that ought to come is this, and this is what verse 13 is about. But rejoice. Mental preparation. Rejoice when it happens. Do not be fearful. Do not be anxious. Do not be disappointed that God has somehow missed out his protective care of us. No, God is sovereign and powerful and omnipotent. He will never skip a bit when it comes to the will, his will concerning the welfare of the church. Do not be anxious or fearful or disappointed. Instead, rejoice, because you see the will of God at work. Verse 13 says, as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering. That when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Your reward will come. And the persecution is the proof that the word of God is true and faithful. And you will rejoice with exceeding joy. Right? Look at verse 13. In fact, the root word of joy is used in the word rejoice, which is a verb, that you may be glad with exceeding joy or noun. And then verse 14 is repeated again. If we be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye. That sense of happiness, joy, and gladness. Now, it runs countercurrent to our thinking, isn't it? Why should suffering people be happy? Hardly, isn't it? If you're struck with an illness, is there a likelihood that you'll be laughing and singing in the hospital room? Well, not that the nurses will not try and shut you up, you know. All the other patients have to rest, so please keep quiet. Right? But is it likely that you'll be happy and joyful? Well, you'll probably be suffering. You could be in pain. Or perhaps you suffer financial distress. You've just lost your job, and, you know, paycheck's not coming in. Still have your bills to pay. It's not a distress, isn't it? Will you be singing, and laughing, and be joyful? Difficult. Doesn't mean you cannot be. But what Peter is talking about is the mental preparation. Because you're armed with the mind of Christ. You understand immediately that there is joy in suffering. That there is joy in suffering. And I want to mention this, and this is spoken of in God's word itself, right? In Philippians chapter 2, and I read this for you, right? He says, let this mind be in you, which also, which was also in Christ Jesus, who been in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. When Jesus took upon himself to suffer for us, He took upon himself the likeness of man, and he thought it no loss to himself. And the Bible uses a phrase to describe him, for the joy that was set before him. You know where that comes from, right? Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross? That's the mind of Christ. Is the cross painful? Yes, extremely. Is the suffering gonna inflict terrible distress upon me? Yes, intensely. But there is joy out of Christ because the souls of sinners shall be saved. And he's doing it obedient to his heavenly Father. Arm yourselves. Rejoice. It's a wonderful thing to know the word of God, isn't it? So today, we learn three very important things that will help us understand what the apostle Peter is trying to convey to the suffering church. That will help us and it's relevant to us today. Number one, arm yourself with the mind of Christ. Know what is godly and what is worldly and know that separation. Secondly, be able to use your gifts to minister one to another and minister with the attitude of fervent love one for another. Thirdly, mental preparation, rejoice if you have to suffer for Christ's sake, just as Christ suffered for us. And may God strengthen us and help us to be stronger and mature Christians, and hopefully we continue to pray that the church will be strong in the service and the duty to the Lord. Let us pray. Father in heaven, we praise and thank thee for thy precious word, for thy word is, indeed, life and light. Thy word is indeed wisdom for thy people. Strengthen thou, and bless thy people, we pray. Us this in Jesus' name. Amen.