Introduction:

Last month, we encountered what could be called, "The 4th Dimension" or "the next level." This month continues in that vein, but with an added ingredient, "the mind of Christ." The highest level of mind for the believer is Jesus' example. Strangely, in Revelation, we see the world giving their mind to the beast."

Single-mindedness is powerful, whether united in evil or melded by love in the church.

There are three references in 1 Peter which advocate having the mind of Christ.

Simon knew the power of being Jesus-minded, that was why he displayed such joy in Chapter One.

Armament for the mind is important for stability in a chaotic world.

Jesus said He only spoke what the Father spoke and did only what He did.

Arm yourself with those truths.

There are 47 passages from Romans to Revelation that address the "mind." Paul used simple statements with profound significance in those three postulates:

Having Christ's mind incorporated all He spoke and everything He did.

When He heard the disciples rebuke the "children," He rebuked the Disciples. Simon was present when Jesus called the little ones to Him and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not for such is the kingdom of heaven."

This is how Christ's mind worked and we are to have His mind. Think of the mindset that taught about the lost sheep, the lost coin, the Prodigal son. Look at Him weeping over Jerusalem, "I would have gathered you as a hen doth her brood."

That kind of mind!

He spoke kindly to the woman caught in adultery and gave a woman at the well His wisdom.

That kind of mind!

Jesus overturned tables and warned Temple leaders of their charades.

That kind of mind!

Jesus rose up and pointed to Scripture in Luke 4:18-19 and declared He had fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy.

That kind of mind!

Jesus taught from God's word openly.

Whether it was Zacchaeus or the woman with an issue of blood, He was aware of His surroundings and people's needs. He healed them all.

That kind of mind!

When Simon said, "ARM yourself with His mind," it was that kind of mind.

Peter was a witness to those churches, like Bithynia, for he had been present and had seen the miracles, heard the rejoicing, felt the presence of total healing of everyone surrounding him — no one could take those experiences away from him.

Arm yourself by emulating Him as He emulated the Father.

Again, Paul joined Peter with this passage:

Current events are enough to warrant arming ourselves in readiness for what lies ahead (Revelation has its martyrs crying out "How long?" Hebrews 11 chronicles the suffering of the saints in its' faith hall of fame.).

Now, delve into the rest of this verse (first, the NKJV and second, the NLT).

At this point, it would help if we could board our spiritual helicopter and rise above the world scene, while observing the "carryings on" below. We would look down on all the world with its uncontrolled madness summed up as a "flood of dissipation." (The bold type shows definitive words which fit the description.)

Let us now look at the text in the NLT.

Peter uses some heavy words to express the ways of the world. When we encounter the word "Gentile," we must translate it as "Heathen" or "Pagan."

It would seem that Simon was formatting his second epistle, as well as setting the stage for further words concerning seeking the higher walk.

The closer one walks with the world, the further away one is carried from the erudite life.

The answer to everything in life and death is Christ and His position of authority.

Simon transitions to his role as elder in these next verses:

Because these are the last days, we can testify alongside him, "the end is at hand."

Remember "therefore" means "based on the preceding facts." We are to be serious and watchful in our prayers. (Pin-point accuracy is necessary in such a time as this.)

The apostle is setting things in order, when he begins with "above all things." The highest priority is "fervent love for one another." (In a society where the atmosphere is charged with hate and division, Simon touts "fervent love for one another."

Take a moment and examine "Fervent love"

According to the Bible, in the last days, there will be betrayers from many sources: neighbors, family and those with religious leadership.

Peter reaches into the heart of the matter with "love will cover a multitude of sins."

He then begins a series of directives for the church to implement.

It would seem that the love directive being ranked first would not have "be hospitable" as a sequel. However, it needed to be verbalized.

"Fervent love" evidently, did not include "stay at our house for 3 months, while you find work." Maybe one of the house churches needed a house and there were no volunteers.

The next directive extended the hospitality arena to include ministry.

Recognizing every believer received a spiritual gift, they should use it.

Churches across the world suffer from the loss of member-ministry.

When the modern church comes to grips with ministering to one another as a stewardship of the manifold grace of God, it will find itself in revival.

The next directive is most interesting:

Honestly, this mandate comes to mind whenever I stand to preach. There is a certain "sweep" that joins the oracle-message, giving assurance that the words being spoken come from an altar not made with man's hands. There is a sense of power that is garnered from the heavenlies — an irresistible verbiage that has healing, deliverance and love flowing with it.

O' that pulpits and pews would witness such God-Speak.

Next,

There have been times when this verse is so very relevant. Take for instance, the service in a gypsy congregation outside Brasov, Romania, where a special church dedication had an outlined program of speakers — but one, not on the program, was called to give a word, and instantly, the Spirit of the Lord fell across the congregation and there were manifestations of the glory of God that confounded the designated speakers and brought the service to a place that was unplanned but greatly blessed. Hallelujah!

Simon dredges deeper into spiritual matters, partially prophesying and partially relying on personal experience.

How to interact when experiencing persecution is most relevant today. We are seeing almost daily instances where pastors are jailed or churches are burned and congregations slaughtered. Peter is saying, "this is not a matter of IF, this is a matter of when."

The suffering of Christ is the standard of measure in this arena. Consider the physical suffering He endured and then combine that with the great spiritual gamete He wrestled with and verbalized, "why have You forsaken Me?" Being linked to Jesus causes two reactions: "On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified."

Go with me to Brazil and consider a large church with 1200 or more attendance which had many seminarians as members, for there is a theological school associated with it. Our focus is on the final service in a series of evangelistic meetings. I am moved by the Spirit to preach a specific message from Jeremiah 5. (A prophetess had foretold me this would bring great repentance.) It did!

With it came much consternation. People were weeping as they hugged family as relationships were healed; folks were confessing their sins openly. It looked like a melee.

What it tendered was the pastor weeping and thanking me for being used by the Spirit. He told me he knew the lifestyles of his congregation, and I had tasked everything he knew, but was frightened to confront them. However, a seminarian invited me to her home for the sole reason to tell me, "I will see to it you never speak in our churches again, because you tore our church asunder."

I told her I knew that God had mandated that message, but I would leave that for God to decide — "let Him judge between me and you…." I continued ministering in Brazil!

Persecution comes in many forms, just remember this scripture.

Simon surveyed persecution's many facets and said, "be glad and rejoice."

I thought it interesting, when Peter listed bed fellows which should not cause the believer to suffer rightly.

Peter closes this chapter with a strong question — one that applies to the end-time church.

Throughout Scripture, there appear many similar examinations that people and nations have had to answer (a cursory reading of the prophets reveals this), but none of them are as important as this. How do you answer?

Until Next Month,

Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.