#5-I Peter 4: 1-11 Ready in these Times
Teaching Pages
I Peter 4:1-11, Lesson #5
Focus: On practices and heart that establish us as 'ready to suffer for Christ'
Note: You may use part or all of these teachings as you wish.
Note: I was requested to teach this text at the last minute: Here's a Summary of our Lesson.
Scripture: I Peter 4:1-11
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2 NIV).
Q: What are some of the possible meanings that Peter is alluding to?
Answers given:
a. Attitude of Christ excludes addictive patterns of sin.
a. Attitude of Christ excludes addictive patterns of sin.
Reviewed Maslow's Hierarchical of Needs Theory that humans
move from lower to higher in a triangle.. Only as the lower needs are met can human's re-focus on higher psychological or spiritual needs
Maslow's Hierarchical Needs
1. Spiritual needs for Meaning
2. Identity needs (Well being, growth, skills)
3. Social needs for Community
4. Safety Needs (Harm, Environment, Housing)
5. Biochemistry/Physical Needs
(Food, Sleep, Sensual Experience)
C. Inward Resolution: It strikes me there may be an even deeper reason that Peter is describing from within his own journey in Christ, as described in John 21: 15-19.
move from lower to higher in a triangle.. Only as the lower needs are met can human's re-focus on higher psychological or spiritual needs
Maslow's Hierarchical Needs
1. Spiritual needs for Meaning
2. Identity needs (Well being, growth, skills)
3. Social needs for Community
4. Safety Needs (Harm, Environment, Housing)
5. Biochemistry/Physical Needs
(Food, Sleep, Sensual Experience)
C. Inward Resolution: It strikes me there may be an even deeper reason that Peter is describing from within his own journey in Christ, as described in John 21: 15-19.
Peter's Resolution: John 21: 15-19
Now, Forward from AD 33 to AD65, from Jerusalem's failure to Peter's current pastoral ministry at the heart of the Empire, Rome itself:
The Context
Now, Rome on fire (or nearly on fire, depending when this was written) and thus raises the specter of facing down power once again. This Peter, A.D. 65, is far more hopeful because Jesus told him, years before, that when he is old others would lead him where he does not want to go and he would, in fact die for Jesus Willingly (per John's interpretation).
So, maybe part of what Peter's saying is, "when you are willing to suffer for Jesus it is evident you no longer need sin in the body".
That's actually quite profound and simple and maybe the simplest explanation.
Q: Have you ever failed deeply and in your restoration received from God an assurance that you would not fail in like manner in the future? How did that assurance help you, change you?
Rome AD 65--Eden (Pre-Written History)
“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” (1 Peter 4:3 NIV).
“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” (1 Peter 4:3 NIV).
Q: if death to these social mores creates freedom over sin, what of "life" lived in appropriate pleasure? Is that not a very powerful antidote to sins of the flesh?
It clearly is supposed to be.
It clearly is supposed to be.
The original garden comes to mind.
“The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”” (Genesis 2:9, 16-18 NIV).
T: The pleasure principle in all of life, in every part can be very powerful. Evidently "pleasure isolated" is never enough.
“The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”” (Genesis 2:9, 16-18 NIV).
T: The pleasure principle in all of life, in every part can be very powerful. Evidently "pleasure isolated" is never enough.
Addiction to sensual longings is incredibly isolating via shame, which (as with our 1st parents) isolated them even further, again by shame.. So God killed the 1st animal to cover their shame. Shame and addiction are powerful reinforcers of each to the other. The self-centric focus on addictive pleasure and the hiding of the need work together to inhibit 'natural pleasure', addict to ever heightened orgasms of pleasure and re-direct all of life increasingly around the pleasure; Simultaneously hiding from self and others the increasing focus of super intense experience. The hiding means the soul is not participating in the experience, only the body. Hunger of appropriate human needs for intimacy increase, again reinforcing the need for addictive cover.
The evidence for the human need for shared pleasure is in the Biblical 2nd story of creation. Yet even before Adam and Eve's shared sin, the delightful, healthy pleasure of the garden were insufficient and for the first time God acknowledges "it is not good" (Gen 1:18). So God creates anew to allow the delight of Eden to be shared.
The tragedy of Eden's loss is that human suffering instead of human pleasure became the primary means of restricting corrupting pleasure; that necessitated by the simple introduction of surviving work instead of the 'discovering work' that was essential to the garden experience.
(biologists, astronomers).
d. Pleasure as Renewal: conversely the idea of Legitimate human pleasures can also function as redemptive if play is healthy & life giving.
Played Zilch: 15 minutes to play a round of zilch (1k points)
Noted: Unlike AD 65 we enjoy lots of leisure time..
Q: What is the strength and danger of leisure?
Introduced King David... "At a time when Kings go into battle, David was at home."
T: Review Workaholism & the occasional blowing off steam verses the balanced, healthy joy in service & play verses driven workers who cannot relax.
“But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit” (1 Peter 4:5-6 NIV).
The evidence for the human need for shared pleasure is in the Biblical 2nd story of creation. Yet even before Adam and Eve's shared sin, the delightful, healthy pleasure of the garden were insufficient and for the first time God acknowledges "it is not good" (Gen 1:18). So God creates anew to allow the delight of Eden to be shared.
The tragedy of Eden's loss is that human suffering instead of human pleasure became the primary means of restricting corrupting pleasure; that necessitated by the simple introduction of surviving work instead of the 'discovering work' that was essential to the garden experience.
d. Pleasure as Renewal: conversely the idea of Legitimate human pleasures can also function as redemptive if play is healthy & life giving.
Played Zilch: 15 minutes to play a round of zilch (1k points)
Noted: Unlike AD 65 we enjoy lots of leisure time..
Q: What is the strength and danger of leisure?
Introduced King David... "At a time when Kings go into battle, David was at home."
T: Review Workaholism & the occasional blowing off steam verses the balanced, healthy joy in service & play verses driven workers who cannot relax.
“But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit” (1 Peter 4:5-6 NIV).
Returned to last weeks theme
God's purpose is for God's sons and daughters to live not under the constraint of prison (outside controls) but free within loving free service, full of joy.. even to the point of preaching to those imprisoned by bad choices, ultimately
Reviewed: In Jesus going back The Father evidenced justice within human perception and Gods deeper grace in offering freedom "to live according to God in regard to the spirit.”
“The end of all things is near. Therefore let us be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray" (I Peter 4: 7 NIV).
...reviewed JFK's Cuban Missile crises & we, who arer part of the Empireof our times.
God's purpose is for God's sons and daughters to live not under the constraint of prison (outside controls) but free within loving free service, full of joy.. even to the point of preaching to those imprisoned by bad choices, ultimately
Reviewed: In Jesus going back The Father evidenced justice within human perception and Gods deeper grace in offering freedom "to live according to God in regard to the spirit.”
“The end of all things is near. Therefore let us be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray" (I Peter 4: 7 NIV).
...reviewed JFK's Cuban Missile crises & we, who arer part of the Empireof our times.
Q: Where were you at this time?
Q: How did you feel?
Q: Like the Romans before us, we are often quite proud of our country. ...Do we practically believe, Jesus saves our souls but America saves the world?
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God" (I Peter 4: 8-11 NIV).
Q: Turn each phrase in the text above over... which stand out to you right now?
Q: Finally just walked thru .. each phrase and how each re-focus the heart and mind?
Q: Which bring you pleasure?
Illustrated: by asking persons in our group who evidence gifting, how works of service change our soul/spirit?
"If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV).
"If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV).
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2 NIV).
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