We have two groups of people and neither are at peace, because they are either living in a sense of self-reliance, or a place of being constantly bombarded with a wave of despair. We as believers say we have the answer that will address both groups but in all honesty, we have failed at getting this answer to the world. The church is fractured and compromised. We have been so focused on ourselves and separating ourselves from the world and even those other believers who don’t align themselves to our way of doing things or our distinctives. We have become so determined to remain safely within our own group that we have forgotten our primary objective.

This now leads us to the leadership of the church. We have the exhortation for the body, but in order for the body to move forward in this charge, the leadership has to lead. This is where we pick up in 1 Peter chapter 5.

He didn’t tell us that when you get your life together, I will come for you, He came knowing that we are broken and cannot fix ourselves. So when we come together to celebrate, it’s not just tradition, but it is a joyful time of remembrance, when God came down to us to give us the only gift that matters. The gift of life for all who would believe. If you don’t know Jesus, I encourage you this evening to consider this wonderful gift that is presented to you. It’s yours for the taking if you receive it by faith. This is not an intellectual choice. This is a spiritual choice because God is Spirit and truth.

We come to an interesting verse in 1 Peter 4:17-19 that causes us to look inward both personally and corporately regarding the church as the bride of Christ. Keeping this in context, Peter reminded us to be alert and diligent regarding our faith. Separating ourselves from those who try to bring us back into the ways of the old man and still be the light in the darkness. As the church we cannot be effective if we haven’t examined ourselves to first know who God is and what He expects from us. So as the suffering of the saints of God increases for believers, Peter brings us to this place.

We will see what faith over fear looks like.

In some circles, suffering is all from Satan and you if you have enough faith, you can cast it off and if it doesn’t leave then it’s your fault for not having enough faith. In other circles, we are told that we can strategically avoid, change or eliminate suffering by manipulating things or people to become what you think they should be or how they should act to keep us comfortable. Picking up in verse 12 this morning, we see neither of these views regarding suffering line up with scripture.

We now pick up in verse 6, which stays on this very point of God’s judgment

1 Peter 4:6-7,

6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

I want to talk about thanks giving not just the holiday that we celebrate, but rather the attitude of thanks giving, an ongoing mindset which can only come with a transformed mind and heart.