No time to waste

1. Church Dinner and Fellowship Food, Fun, Music, and Singing November 14 at one o'clock September 23, 2009

2. 1 Peter 4 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the Will of God. A made-up mind is powerful armor. Fully determined to do the Will of God , no matter what the cost , we are victorious.

3. Jesus suffered much, but He never quit . He was tempted just as we are, but He never sinned. We must make the Will of God the Rule of our life; The determinant of all our deeds. That's the mindset that took Jesus all the way to the cross.

4. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you : 5 Who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. Lasciviousness = filled with sexual lust; lewdness; a filthy mind. NIV -- Debauchery = a wild party with excessive drinking and sex; an orgy

5. (NIV) 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do -- living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. Our own will , our own desires , our own way

6. A Christian who lives like a sinner is a hypocrite. Wasting God's time and effort on him. Besmirching the Lord's Name. Besmirch = to make dirty; tarnish someone's reputation. It's past time to live like what we are: The children of the Most High God, born of the Spirit of God, saints .

7. It's past time that Christians deter-mined to live our lives God's Way . 2 Corinthians 6 (NIV) 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the Power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

8. A true Christian, who has his foot on the Rock and his mind made up, lives like God's son or daughter. With great endurance. Troubles, hardships, and distresses. Beatings, Riots, Imprisonments Sincere Love, Truthful Speech Hard work Sleepless nights and hunger Purity and understanding Patience and kindness Holy Spirit, and Power of God

9. These weapons of righteousness in our right hand and in our left Enable us to fight the good fight of faith as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. A good soldier is always on the battlefield with a smile on his face And a song in his heart.

10. (NIV) 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. Sinful people will never understand why we reject that in which they find pleasure. They will make fun of us and be mean to us. At least partly because our pure lifestyles make them feel guilty .

11. Have you ever wondered why a drunk will try so hard to persuade a non-drinker to drink with him? Booze is expensive; why try so hard to give it away? He feels guilty about his excess in the face of your self-control .

12. (NIV) 5 But they will have to give account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Everyone will stand in judgment before God. Godly choices will be proven superior.