Arm Yourselves w/the Mind of Christ #1

1 Pe. 4:1-2 1 Peter

In 'Arm Yourselves w/the Mind of Christ #1,' Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds 1 Peter 4:1-2, urging believers to adopt the mindset of Christ in the face of suffering. He argues that just as Christ suffered in the flesh, believers must arm themselves with the same resolve to do God's will, even if it means enduring hardship. This mindset demonstrates that sin's dominion has been broken in their lives, enabling them to live no longer for the lusts of men but for the will of God. Martin uses the analogy of America as a 'pantheon' to illustrate the cultural pressures believers face and emphasizes that suffering for Christ validates genuine faith.

3 illustrations in this sermon

America's Pantheon: The Pressure of Idolatry

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The Pantheon and the Converted Neighbor

In this part of the sermon: Using the analogy of a pagan pantheon and a converted man, Martin illustrates how American culture, with its gods of pleasure, possessions, and spectator sports, exerts pressure…

Two men worship different gods in a pantheon. One converts to Christ, repudiating all idols. His neighbor's initial tolerance turns to resentment and persecution when the convert insists on the one true God, illustrating the social pressure faced by believers.

Do you know what a pantheon is? That's not a kind of snake. The kind of snake is a python. But do you know what a pantheon is?

5:37 - 5:48 Read in full sermon

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America as a Pantheon

Martin likens American culture to a vast pantheon where people worship gods of sensual pleasure, material possessions, and spectator sports, demonstrating how believers who worship the one true God will face similar pressures as the converted man in the previous story.

Well it says this. America has its pantheon. I don't know of any physical pantheons. But American culture is one vast pantheon.

10:25 - 10:42 Read in full sermon

The Goal of Exhortation: Living to the Will of God

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Slavery to Fads and 'Cool' Language

The point: When contemplating any action, ask two questions: 'May I do this?' (Does God's revealed will permit it?) and 'Ought I to do this?' (Does God's revealed will demand it?).

Martin critiques the 'miserable bondage' of being enslaved to intellectual, social, and verbal fads (like the overuse of 'cool'), arguing that it reflects a failure to bear reproach and stand as a free person in Christ.

blessed freedom blessed freedom what miserable bondage to be a slave of every passing fad intellectual social fashion fads what a horrible misery that when somebody at the citadels of dictating fashion says you gotta widen your tie a quarter of an inch or you're out of step to stick your tongue out and says who are you to tell me what I've gotta do and when it's fashionable to prove you're cool kids please God's given us a rich language don't get into the cool to death mentality I'm so sick and tired of cool cool I thought cool was something the opposite of hot didn't you everything cool cool ...

53:22 - 54:51 Read in full sermon

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