Arm Yourselves 1 Pet 4:1-5 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In 1 Pet 4:1-5, Peter tells us to arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, the mind that Christ had. As Christ suffered in the flesh for sin to free us from sin, so we have suffered in the flesh and are also to cease from sin in him. Christ was minded to do the will of God in his life. He said, “I do always those things that please him.” So, likewise we should do the will of God in our lives [1 Pet 4:2]. So, arm yourselves:
In the will of God – 1 Pet 4:2 – “but to the will of God”. God has a will for your life and after you get saved you need to be armed with a mind to do his will. You find his will in the step by step process of following him daily. Through prayer and Bible reading and attendance to good preaching and teaching, God keeps you in his will and directs you through the maze of enemies who try to pull you away from his will.
Against the will of the flesh – 1 Pet 4:2 – “he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God”. Before salvation you just did whatever came naturally, whatever you wanted to do and whatever you thought was right. You were the servant of sin. Now you are the servant of God and it doesn’t matter what the flesh wants. Yield to God and do his will [Rom 6:12-18].
Against the will of the Gentiles – 1 Pet 4:3 – “for the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles”. This world offers all kinds of things that appeal to the flesh. And society always tries to eliminate any restraint to those things it calls fun. Consequently, the “pleasures of sin” run wild in the world, offering people their choice of sin. Of course, the world doesn’t call it sin. But God does. And when you do God’s will you cannot do the will of the Gentiles in the world because they are contrary. That’s the way to keep that stuff in the PAST.
Against the will of your friends – 1 Pet 4:4 – “wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them… speaking evil of you”. They say bad things about you to pressure you to go with them and not with God. This is called peer pressure and it works. But if you are armed in your mind to do the will of God you will refuse their pressure and respond to God’s leadership in your life, instead. It really doesn’t matter what they think.
Conclusion: the Lord Jesus Christ died in the flesh at the hand of the Gentiles after he was betrayed by his friend. Gentiles, friends and your flesh are just as ready to take you down as they did Jesus. You must be armed with a mind that seeks the Lord’s will only. Jesus said, “Not my will, but thine be done.” And he did it without sin!!! According to 1 Pet 4:5 you are going to give account to the Lord who will judge you. How are you going to explain to him at your judgment that the will of your flesh, the will of the Gentiles and the will of your friends was what kept you from doing his will?