In the Midst of Wickedness

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn the first of our key verses for today, we will see Peter state, “the end of all things is u003cemu003eat handu003c/emu003e.”  This is to say that u003cemu003ethe end u003c/emu003eof all things is really close.  When people speak about u003cemu003ethe endu003c/emu003e, the thought is often taken in three different ways.  Some hear talk about the end and take it very seriously.  Others will hear talk about the end and either pay it no attention or take it lightly and mock it.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:pullquote u002du002du003enu003cfigure class=u0022wp-block-pullquoteu0022u003enu003cblockquoteu003eu003csupu003e7 u003c/supu003eBut the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. u003csupu003e8 u003c/supu003eAnd above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”nnu003cciteu003eKEY VERSE – 1 PETER 4:7-8 NKJVu003c/citeu003eu003c/blockquoteu003enu003c/figureu003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:pullquote u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennMe?  I take a look around at the present condition of our world and I choose to take it seriously that the end of all things is at hand.  Again, gas prices and the cost of living is out of this world high.  Hatred and wickedness, again, abounds as our society and the world seemingly tolerates it.  While I preach earnestly about the condition of the world and others labor earnestly to do something about this world, few actually listen to the calls and work for change, growth, and progress — peace.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo be frank, we live in the midst of wickedness and trouble!  I am reminded of what John the Baptist and Jesus said when they describe the world that they live in as a brood of venomous vipers (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+3%3A7%3B+Matt.+12%3A34%3B+Luke+3%3A7u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 3:7; Matt. 12:34; Luke 3:7u003c/au003e).  You see, we still live in a world that seeks to poison and u003cemu003ekill u003c/emu003eits prey, especially we who are a child of God!  So how does the one who truly believes in the Lord go about living in the midst of wickedness and trouble?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eThe Midst of Wickednessu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs you have heard me say as recently as last week’s message – u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/the-rebuild-time-to-be-better/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u00229378u0022u003eThe Rebuild: Time to Be Betteru003c/au003e – it can be easy for us to be u003cemu003efearfulu003c/emu003e of the world we live in.  Yet, as we know, “God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Tim.+1%3A7u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e2 Tim. 1:7u003c/au003e).”  So, we already know that in the midst of wickedness, we should stand steadfast with that spirit of power, love, and a sound mind — that spirit of u003cemu003ehopeu003c/emu003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eHard on the believeru003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennYou and I, along with those of Peter’s day, live in the church age; this is the age of the gospel being present and ministered throughout the world.  We minister the gospel in the world today because the Lord has commissioned us to do so.  The reason for the ministering of the gospel is because we u003cemu003eknowu003c/emu003e that the end of all things is at hand – the day of the Lord’s judgment is fast approaching.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe end of all things is something that has been prophesied about since God spoke of the serpent’s defeat in the garden (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+3%3A14-15u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eGen. 3:14-15u003c/au003e).  I would suggest to you that the u003cemu003eend of all things u003c/emu003ewas signaled at the cross when Jesus shed His blood for the world.  God was putting the world on notice that it is time to repent because my judgment is at the front door.  So, because the day of the Lord is fast approaching, we minister to the world to u003cemu003eget ready.u003c/emu003ennu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus, when He described the signs of the end being near to the disciples, He stated the difficulties that the believer would face while living in the midst of wickedness (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+24%3A3-14u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 24:3-14u003c/au003e).  Jesus first said that many would come in His name to deceive; there are many false teachers in our world today who go out and deceive many.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus then said that there would be u003cemu003erumors u003c/emu003eof wars and great conflict between nations and kingdoms that will u003cemu003ecome to pass u003c/emu003e(they will happen) but that we should not fear.  We have seen so much conflict in our world and we are the children and grandchildren of those who lived through world wars.  Jesus also spoke of there being famines, pestilences, and earthquakes (natural disasters) in various places.  These are, again, things that are very common in the world today.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLastly, Jesus spoke of the u003cemu003espiritual u003c/emu003econdition of the world as a sign of the end of the age being near.  Jesus said that believers would be u003cemu003ehated and persecutedu003c/emu003e for His name’s sake.  Jesus then said that lu003cemu003eawlessnessu003c/emu003e would abound and love would u003cemu003egrow coldu003c/emu003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennHow can I and you u003cemu003enotu003c/emu003e take the signs of the time seriously?  Some will suggest that the world has u003cemu003ealways u003c/emu003ebeen this way but, to me, something seems u003cemu003edifferent u003c/emu003eabout these days.  These days are very troubling as lawlessness certainly abounds and little love is left in the world!  These days are hard on all people, but especially difficult on those who walk for the Lord.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eMinistering in this world of wickednessu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAgain I say to you that we are living in the u003cemu003emidst u003c/emu003eof wickedness – lawlessness abounds and love has grown cold!  The world is so lawless that, again, we don’t take seriously the day of the Lord being at hand!  To ignore or mock the Lord’s final judgment is to not take u003cemu003eHim u003c/emu003eor His judgment seriously – that’s very troubling.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen Jesus sent His disciples out to minister for the first time, Jesus said to them that He was sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+10%3A16u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 10:16u003c/au003e).  Sheep are innocent and helpless creatures, especially when opposed to wolves.  Wolves are highly intelligent and incredibly dangerous predators that u003cemu003ehunt u003c/emu003eits prey in packs.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI believe that this analogy speaks again to the kind of world we live and also minister in – it is u003cemu003edangerous u003c/emu003eand very troubling.  The image that we have of living in the midst of wickedness, according to scripture, is living among a brood of vipers on the hunting grounds of wolves.  So, how do we go about living in the midst of wickedness that is filled with venomous vipers and wolves?  Also, how do we minister in a world that would rather tolerate wickedness and lawlessness than fear the Lord?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eFollowing the Mindset of Christu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn his first letter, Peter gives us the answer and I believe that it is one that we know very well.  Peter advised that we should u003cemu003earm ourselves u003c/emu003ewith the u003cemu003esame mind of Christu003c/emu003e who suffered for us in His service of His Father (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A1u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:1u003c/au003e); Christ, who we should remember, was the Lamb of God who lived in this world – so He was a lamb living in the midst of wolves.  It is certainly best for us to look at the frame of mind that Christ had in His approach to living among the wolves and the vipers because Christ did it the right way.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eWise as serpents and u003cemu003eharmless u003c/emu003eas dovesu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus advised the disciples when He sent them out to be as u003cemu003ewiseu003c/emu003e as serpents and u003cemu003eharmlessu003c/emu003e as doves (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+10%3A16u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 10:16u003c/au003e).  Think about that:  we have to be wise as a serpent in a world filled with vipers, yet we have to be like a dove in a world filled with vicious wolves?  Let’s consider this for a moment because this speaks to the approach that Christ had in this world and we need to understand this approach.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSerpents, as dangerous as they are, are also considered to be one of the most cunning and clever creatures in the world; they know u003cemu003ewhenu003c/emu003e to strike and when to avoid danger.  Considering that we live among a brood of vipers that seek to do nothing but kill and destroy, the believer must know when to move and when to be patient.  With this frame of mind, Jesus was always in the right place at the right time, with a word to share that u003cemu003efit u003c/emu003ethe moment.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennu003cemu003eNow, u003c/emu003eas for the harmless dove.  Doves have always been seen as u003cemu003epeaceful u003c/emu003e- soft and gentle, innocent, and harmless.  When you see a dove, the last thing you are filled with is fear, right?  In a world filled with dangerous wolves and vipers, the harmless dove would be an image of u003cemu003ereliefu003c/emu003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, I want you to pay close attention to the fact that Peter was u003cemu003ecombining u003c/emu003eboth of these natures together into one – the mindset of Christ.  We cannot just be the cunning serpent because the serpent’s mindset only seeks to consume and devour.  We also cannot be just the soft and gentle dove because we would eventually be overcome and destroyed.  So, we must u003cemu003ecombine u003c/emu003ethese two natures of being wise and humble.  By combining these two natures, we will know u003cemu003ewhenu003c/emu003e to move and how to move in this world.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eLive for the will of Godu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, Christ had this mindset as He was on a mission to carry out the u003cemu003ewill u003c/emu003eof His Father.  God desired and still desires for mankind to know His mercy, u003cemu003esalvationu003c/emu003e, and gloryu003cemu003e.u003c/emu003ennu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennFor us, to carry out the will of the Lord while being in the midst of wickedness is not an easy task.  Yes, we must do it with the wisdom of a serpent and the harmlessness of a dove, but Peter also shared some helpful advice with us that we should listen to.  Peter wrote that the believer should no longer u003cemu003elive in the fleshu003c/emu003e for the lusts of men, but rather, for the will of God (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A2u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:2u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo say that one should u003cemu003e“no longer live in the flesh” u003c/emu003ewould mean that one was once wicked.  Peter writes that some of us may have spent our days walking in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, and abominable idolatries (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A3-4u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:3-4u003c/au003e).  Yes, this is true, all of us who genuinely believe today were most certainly living in sin (wickedness).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennHowever, the child of God, is no longer one of those that make up the midst of wickedness.  We live surrounded by wickedness but we are not one of the wicked ones.  Therefore, now is not the time for the child of God to conform and run u003cemu003ewith u003c/emu003ethose living in wickedness!  No, we should be carrying out the Lord’s will in sharing the message of repentance and salvation in the midst of wickedness because every second that passes by is a second closer to God’s judgment.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eBe prayerful in the midst of wickednessu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn our key verse, Peter touched on this thought when he wrote, “the end of all things is at hand; therefore u003cemu003ebe seriousu003c/emu003e and watchful in your prayers.”  Let’s put emphasis on the words u003cemu003e“be serious” u003c/emu003ein this statement from Peteru003cemu003e.u003c/emu003ennu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennYou see, unlike those who take u003cemu003elightlyu003c/emu003e the days we live in, we should be the ones who take these days seriously and with great concern for the hearts (souls) of those around us.  Peter, again, had the day of judgment in mind when he wrote this as we see him say, “They (those living in wickedness) will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A5u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:5u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennMany people are sadly u003cemu003elosing their soul u003c/emu003ewhile living in the midst of wickedness because they aren’t taking God’s judgment seriously.  So, we should minister with u003cemu003econviction u003c/emu003ein order to save a soul.  Again, let us consider Jesus, the Lamb of God, as He certainly took it very seriously to let the world know about God’s judgment.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThough He was hated and people sought His life, He never relented.  To remain strong in the midst of wickedness, Jesus would fast and often u003cemu003epray u003c/emu003eto the Father to help Him in carrying out His will.  With all that we are up against in this world, we too should be both watchful and prayerful as Peter advised.  Be prayerful so that you withstand all that may bring harm upon you physically, mentally, emotionally, and definitely spiritually. Being prayerful will help us to u003cemu003eendure u003c/emu003eand persevere while living in this world of wickedness and it will also help us to do the Lord’s will.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eMoving with fervent loveu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLastly, with the mind of Christ in his mind, Peter advised us to move with u003cemu003efervent loveu003c/emu003e.  This will certainly sound crazy, even to the one of faith, because how can love work in a world of vipers and wolves?  Our problem is that we underestimate the power of love – especially fervent love.  If love does not work, that would be to say that the Lord does not work because God u003cemu003eis u003c/emu003elove.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen He was surrounded by the brood of vipers and the wolves that sought to antagonize Him and even destroy Him, Jesus moved with love and saved many souls.  The vipers and wolves view love as a weakness, but as Paul said, love u003cemu003enever u003c/emu003efails (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor.+13%3A8u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Cor. 13:8u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennProphecies, Paul said, will eventually be fulfilled and be no more.  Speaking in tongues will eventually be nore more.  Knowledge, Paul said, would eventually pass away because this world is temporary.  However, love will never cease – it will be eternal – which is why love is the greatest of them all (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor.+13%3A8-13u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Cor. 13:8-13u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs Peter said, the fervent love of others will “cover a multitude of sins.”  This is a thought that we see repeatedly mentioned throughout scripture.  Solomon wrote that hatred stirs up u003cemu003estrife u003c/emu003ewhile love, on the other hand, covers sin (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov.+10%3A12u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eProv. 10:12u003c/au003e).  James echoed this same thought when he wrote that one who turns a sinner from the u003cemu003eerror u003c/emu003eof his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sin (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jas.+5%3A20u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJas. 5:20u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennYou see, this is the point for us, the true believers – u003cemu003esaving a soul from death u003c/emu003ein the midst of wickedness!u003cemu003e  u003c/emu003eThis is why you hear me often share the message of having fervent love for one another.  We know what fervent love is able to do because of Jesus!  u003cemu003eJesusu003c/emu003e, the Lamb of God, is the manifestation, the u003cemu003eexpressionu003c/emu003e, and the proof that love can save!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThough we were once lost in the midst of wickedness, through His love, Jesus found us and u003cemu003efreed u003c/emu003eus from the bondage of sin (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.+2%253A1-5u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eEph. 2:1-5u003c/au003e)! Paul said to the Ephesians, “you u003cemu003eHe made alive,u003c/emu003e who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world … But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eDoing Good in the Midst of Wickednessu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIt may seem difficult to live and then minister in the u003cemu003emidst u003c/emu003eof this world of wickedness but Jesus has shown us how and Peter has reminded us how to do so!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWith a mind that is for Christ, we should be the light in the darkness!  With a mind that is of Christ we should run against wickedness with all hope and righteousness for the world to see.  The writer of Hebrews said it best when they encouraged us to stir up love and good works, and u003cemu003eexhortu003c/emu003e one another as we see the Day approaching (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.+10%3A24-25u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eHeb. 10:24-25u003c/au003e) – the Day referring to the Day of the Lord – His final judgment.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo add to the thought of stirring each other up to carry forth the good work of God while we are in this world, we will see Peter encourage the believer to u003cemu003ebe hospitable u003c/emu003eto one another without grumbling.  The last thing that we ought to be to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ is an adversary!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennPeter encourages us to be as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A10u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:10u003c/au003e).  We do this by, again, being wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.  We do this by living for the will of the Lord and carrying out His will in fervent love.  Peter encouraged us to minister with the u003cemu003eability u003c/emu003ethat the Lord supplies us with (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A11u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:11u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennDoing these things will glorify the Lord in the midst of wickedness for the whole world to see.  Let us not be afraid of the time that we live in because we have been made and readied for these times.  I tell you today that we are going to make it through the midst; we are going to overcome.  God has said that we will overcome all things through our faith in Him.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e