1 Peter chapter 4 today. Versus 1 through 6 is our text. I'll ask those of you that are able to stand.

You can join me and follow along as I read. If not, where you're seated is fine.

The Apostle Peter, by the Holy Spirit, is writing and says, verse 1, therefore, since Christ suffered

in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

As a result, verse 2, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires,

but rather for the will of God. For you, verse 3, have spent enough time

in the past, doing what pagans choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies,

carousing, and detestable idolatry. They think it's strange, verse four, that you do not plunge with them into the same flood

of dissipation and they heap abuse on you. But, verse 5, they will have

to give an 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 men in regard to the body, but live according to God

in regard to the Spirit. Let's pray if you would, please join with me. Father in heaven,

thank you for your word and this portion that we have before us here in your word this morning.

Lord, we once again readily admit that unless the Holy Spirit is our teacher and our guide, we're

not going to get it. We're not going to see what it is that you want to show us. We're

not going to hear what it is that you want to speak to us. Our minds are going to wander.

We're going to get distracted. And the enemy would love nothing more than to do that.

So we're going to ask you, Lord, as only you can, for the Holy Spirit, who is really the

only one that can get our attention and keep and hold our attention to do that?

Lord, settle our hearts and clear our our attention to do that.

Lord, settle our hearts and clear our ever busy minds with all the voices clamoring

...