MINISTRY
“A Deepening Love For Christ”
Text 1 Peter 1: 13-16

Introduction
During his lifetime, there were those who thought that David Livingston was giving too much time and attention to travel and too little time to Evangelism. His defence to such criticism was --that the end Exploration would be the beginning of Evangelisation.
In 1 Peter! We find a similar sequence. In the first twelve verses the Apostle Peter has explored and expounded some of the history and teaching of the Gospel. He has reminded these Believers, who were scattered abroad because of their faith, of their--
Position in Christ as the Elect of God”. Verse 2.
He reminds them of their--
Prospect in Christ— Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Verses 3,4
The Purpose for the testing of their faith in Christ
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: verse 7
The Purpose of the Believers testing is-- that they might be refined in the fire to remove all dross, and then glorified when the Lord of the Church comes to take His people home. On that day there shall be, praise, honour and glory at His appearing’
Peter has presented to them “The Glory of the Gospel” in all its fullness
Having now expounded some of the History and the teaching of the Gospel, Peter now goes on to speak of the result of the gospel in its practical consequences.
The Facts of Faith are to proclaim the Fruits of Faith; Doctrine must ever be translated into Deed and Precepts into Practise.
Therefore we find in verses 13-16, the Apostle is making the point that the experience of Salvation leads directly to the promotion of a Holy Life.
The appeal contained in these verses was very much needed in the first century; it is also one that needs to be made today to all who profess the name of Jesus.
How many Believers personify and practise the happy, holy and useful life of which Peter speaks? Many professing Christians are living on a low level of Spiritual experience. The sad thing is that they are content and satisfied to stay there.
They may be satisfied, but God is certainly not satisfied with them. God calls for a Holy Life and Holy living from His people. Peter having already described Salvation in terms of having “Love for Jesus”. V8 “Whom having not seen ye love”
He now develops this thought, by highlighting --that the experience of Salvation necessitates a growing and a deepening love for Christ, a love that will result in Holiness of Life.

Love’s Great Requirement
1 Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
This verse begins with the word “Wherefore” This is a link word. It a word, which links, what has just been said, with what is about to be said.
Peter is saying-- In the light of what I have been saying to you with regard to the Gospel, that you are the Elect of God, Sanctified by the Spirit, washed in the Blood of Christ, kept by the power of God, and have an inheritance reserved in heaven for you.
Therefore having received the Gospel, you are required to live the Gospel. This is Love’s Great Requirement” and it is a three-fold call to every believer.
Concentration of the Mind V 13 “Gird up the loins of your Mind”.
The first call the Apostle makes is to the mind, for he knew, what a man thinks so is he.
This word gird would be a familiar word to those whom he was addressing.
The Eastern dress for men in those days was a loosely hanging Garment, which reached down to the ankles. It was customary for men to gather up this loose garment and to fold it within the girdle at the waist. When this was done the wearer could put energy and haste into his stride. When the garment had been girded up, that which would impede and hinder was removed.
Friends--As the girdle was needed to lift up the garment that would hinder the physical walk, so our minds need to be girded. They need disciplining; that our Spiritual walk is not hindered.
The Gospel of the Grace of God must control our Minds. We need to guard our minds lest they become the Playground of the Devil.
The Believer must learn to guard the mind, for the Devil can put Doubts in the mind” He can make us to doubt our Salvation and to doubt God’s Word.
He stills says to men and “Yea Hath God said”?
He also puts “Fear into the mind, that we might worry more than we should, instead of trusting the one who said’
Fear not, little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
Yes, the Devil can put Doubt, Fear, Worry, and even “Hatred” into the mind of the believer.
Jesus says to His own “Love one another as I have loved you”

The Devil can pollute the Mind , with Jealousy, envy, and malice. There are a lot of things, which he can put into the mind, and he will place them there to stick there.
Peter is saying that the Believer needs to be aware of this, and he needs to gird up the loins of his mind. He needs to guard his mind against all the pollution the evil one would seek to place in it.
Beloved--The Gospel of the Grace of God must control our thought life, so that we might be a spiritually minded people. Rom 8: 6 for to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Let us see what The Apostle Paul says on the subject. Phil 4:6-9
Be careful for nothing (Anxious) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
If you begin to worry about something, or someone, who is making you anxious, the best cure is highlighted in this verse. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Talk to the Lord and tell Him all about it, A little talk with Jesus makes things right, and all right. We must learn to cast our care upon the Lord, just tell Him how we feel and what is troubling us, and what will happen?
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Surely this is a wonderful thing, the peace of God keeps the heart, and keeps the mind. Let me remind you that the peace of God is yours and should be yours for it belongs to you.
How can you know it? You can know it by girding up the mind, and speaking to God.
Don’t let the Devil control the mind, for the mind has no rubbish disposal.
Be careful of your thoughts; they may break into actions at any time. He who cannot control his thoughts will soon lose control of his actions.
We need to be careful what we think because we are becoming what we think.
Don’t let the things of time and sense saturate your mind so that this is all that you see.
Listen to what Paul says to the Colossians.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things, which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth . Col 3:1-2

Turn--your eyes away from the problems, which crowd your mind at this moment in time and gird up the loins of your mind, look above and like the disciples of old you will see Jesus.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the cares of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and Grace.
We all can sing this but so often we fail to put into practice what we are singing.
Paul exhorts the Saints
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8
All these things, of which Paul is speaking are to be found in Christ, He is True, Honest, Lovely, Pure, of Good report.
Friends, if we fill ourselves with the Lord, with who and what He is, and with all that He is able to do, what a wonderful change there would be in our lives.
How can we gird our Minds?
(a) Speak Up. Have a little talk with Jesus.
(b) Look up. Set your affection on things above.
(c) Fill up. Fill the mind up daily with Christ.
(d) Prop up Prop up the Mind with God.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee . Isa 26:3
Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blessed finding as He Promised Perfect Peace and Rest.
Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper , Heb 13:5-6
Let us lay hold afresh of the Great Promise contained in this verse.
I Will never leave thee It’s a Verbal Promise, the Lord Himself made it. It is an Unconditional Promise; some promises are conditional; but not this one.
It is also a Dual promise. The Lord is saying I will never leave you in Time, I will not forsake you in eternity”
It is an Eternal Promise, “I will never leave you

Loves Great Requirement …
We are to gird up the mind.
1. Concentration of The Mind
2. Control over The Body 1:13
”Be sober”…. In Biblical terms sobriety does not mean a long face that never is able to smile.
It means, to be moderate in all things, to be in control of all things for this is essential for holy living.
There is much in this world, that is flippant, and Temporal, which the Devil would use to distract us from that which is spiritual and eternal.
But the sober man passes through this world, and he does not allow these things to distract him away from his love and affection for his Lord.
The Christian life is to be one of “Self Discipline ”
The Believer must not have a dominating love for the world or the things of the world.
The Apostle Paul exhorts.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom 13:14 If we really the Lord- our bodies will be under subjection and we will present them to Christ as a sacrifice.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Our Daily Prayer should be.
All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him in His Presence daily live
God can make you anything you want to be, but you have to put everything in his hands. As one of old has said, “If you don’t surrender to Christ, you surrender to chaos”
Concentration of the Mind
Control of the Body
Confidence in the Spirit verse 13
Be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
Hope to the end. Is the Phrase to lay hold of Peter is exhorting those who are going through difficult times not to loose hope but hope to the end.
It is not as easy to maintain our love for the Lord at times in toady’s world because of the frailty of the flesh. But we must never loose hope, or our confidence in the work of the Spirit.
A Confidence, which looks forward to the end of all things, when Jesus shall come to receive us unto Himself.

Set your Hope Perfectly; go fearlessly as far as hope can go, knowing --
“That He that hath begun a good work in you will perfect it to the end … Claim His Promise “Though I am with you always even until the end of the age.
Now we must never confuse Faith and Hope. Faith is concerned with the Person of Christ, Hope, is concerned with the things of Christ.
Faith, fixes its sight on the Promises, but Hope sets its sight on that which is promised.
Faith, accepts, but Hope expects. Faith appropriates, Hope anticipates. Hope therefore is our great stimulus to holiness of life in this present world.
Peter exhorts the believers “Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Behind the cloud the starlight lurks,
Through showers the sunbeams fall;
For God, who loveth all his works
Has left his hope with all!
Love’s Great Requirement
Gird up your mind.!. Be sober.!. Hope to the end!..
Love’s Great Relationship
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
You will notice how Peter, addresses his readers as “Obedient Children”
He reminds them of their standing before God. Once they were strangers to Grace and to God, but now they are the children of God, and as such, they are to be obedient children.
Obedience makes for a good relationship between a parent and a child.
The same is true for those who are the children of the Lord.
Jesus said , “If any man love Me , he will keep my words, and My father will love him”
The Issue of Obedience for the Believer is both a Negative and a Positive one.
There is to be an Emptying and then a Filling. An emptying of all that is sinful and a filling with all that is holy.

1. A Forsaking of Former Lusts
All things that are outside and contrary to the will of God must be abandoned. We are not to do the former things that we did when we were in our sin.
We are not to do the things that we once did in ignorance. Lust is the natural inclination to run wild. As Christians, we are to fashion ourselves according to the will of God, in obedience to His revealed word. The old Nature must not control the life
Col 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds
Peter and Paul are both on the same line, because they know that it is possible for a professing Christian to be guilty of things that pertain to the old Nature.
The Licence and the lust of the Old Nature must be put off, for they are not compatible with the Gospel of Christ.
Peter is speaking of “Obedient Children” because he knows, that not all of God’s people are obedient to what the Lord says to them. Verse 14
Gods speaks in His Word, of the need for Believers Baptism, yet many have not been obedient to His command. The Lord commands His people to Remember Him on the first day of the week, and yet they are disobedient to this command.
The Lord speaks in His word, warning His people are not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. Yet many come to worship God just as and when it suits them, at whatever time is convenient.
The Lord sets out the need for His Church to meet for prayer, yet the prayer meeting is usually the smallest meeting of the Church.
How do we stand, as the Lord would challenge our hearts, under the scrutiny of the searchlight of His word?
Are we included among those who are called-- Obedient Children?

Loves Great Relationship. .
1.Demands the Forsaking of Former lusts
2. Following as Children in Obedience
Illustration-- I am reminded of a Pastor, who preached a series of sermons on what he called
“The Sins of the Saints”
A Member of his congregation challenged him, and suggested that it would be better if he preached these messages to the lost. After all sin in the life of the Christian is different from the lives of other people. “Yes”, said the Pastor, “it is worse”. For if we ARE united to Christ in a relationship of love, then we will want to forsake our former lusts and sin.
Obedient Children are Happy children, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Illustration. Some years ago, when North Korea fell to the Communists, the Christians in a small township were rounded up and marched to their Church.
The Building was very plain and simple. The People had placed a picture of the Lord Jesus on one of the walls.
When the soldiers walked into the building and saw the picture, they placed it on the floor.
All, who did not want to be shot, had to come forward and spit on the picture. The first few people did just that and were set free.
Next came a young girl of about fourteen years, who bent down and wiped the spittles from the picture. Then she embraced it tenderly and said, “ My Jesus I Love you, my Jesus I loved you”
Immediately, she was dragged outside the Church and was shot
The issue with this little girl was not the desecration of a sacred picture, it was her deep love for the Person the picture represented.
Her Love for Jesus was so great, great enough to obey Him unto death. Obedience to the demands of Christ upon our lives ought ever to be our way of saying.
“ My Jesus I love Thee”