Title: Prepared for Action

Text: 1 Pet. 1:13-23

Tracing: Preached December 6, 1992 PM at SDCC

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A. INTRO

In the midst of a world of insecurity and mounting persecution,

we have something firm, solid, and unchanging to hold on to: Our

Salvation! Peter opened his first epistle by describing its glories

-- a new birth, a living hope, an eternal inheritance, and powerful

protection -- promises so great that the prophets and the angels

longed to know more about it until it was finally revealed for us.

That salvation is an anchor for us -- like a foundation, it gives

us something stable on which to build our lives.

B. BODY

1. Prepare Yourself v.13

The Christian life is to be one of battle against darkness.

We battle in the realm of ideas, attitudes and convictions. Paul

said (2Co 10:5) "We demolish arguments and every pretension that

sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive

every thought to make it obedient to Christ." We are not to sit in

the stream of our culture and "go with the flow" but rather to

constantly point the way and strive to change the direction of the

flow away from its rush to destruction.

But such mental and spiritual battle takes preparation! It

requires our own minds to be transformed. It calls for study both

corporate and private. It requires that we become so steeped in

the Word of God that our thoughts are His thoughts!

Yes, that's lots of work! But if the Gospel is the only

stable thing on which to build our lives in a sea of change (and it

is!) then there is no more productive use of our time and

effort!

2. Control Yourself v.13

The Christian walk should be a DELIBERATE one. Our tendency

is to live by the whim of our fleshly nature, flitting from one

thing to another, satisfying only ourselves. But we must conquer

that tendency. We are not our own, we have chosen to not live for

ourselves. Now we must bring our lives under control and submit

them to His will.

3. Commit Yourself v.13

I mean this in the sense of "entrust yourself". Place all

your confidence and hope on God's Grace and on nothing else.

Everything else can, and ultimately will, fail! There is nothing

else to build upon at all.

4. Submit Yourself v.14-15

Not disobedient but submissive and obedient. Not living in

sin but in holiness. Not walking in our own ways but in His ways.

180 degrees different from society -- like aliens and strangers.

Illustrate.

C. CONCLUSION

Finally, LOVE ONE ANOTHER for what we have in common is eternal!

D. COMMENTS

Prepared by Scott L. Purcell

Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church

1501 Stokelan Drive

Malden, MO 63863

(314) 276-2343

Reproduce, modify, and use freely

for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom!

If these outlines are of some benefit to you,

a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!


Index of Preacher's Help and Notes

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