"Sober-Strength"

"Be sober" verse 13. Does not mean "don’t drink", but rather means an outward manifestation of the strengthened mind. Peter instructs us to "gird up the loins" of our minds, and there are some things that will go along with the strength of our mind.

1. A sober, strengthened mind maintains "hope" or "confidence" in Christ.

Psalm 31:24 - "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

Psalm 33:18 - "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;"

Psalm 33:22 - "Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee."

Psalm 42:5 - "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Psalm 42:11 - "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

Psalm 147:11 - "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy."

2. A sober, strengthened mind is obedient to Christ. verse 14

This speaks of our disposition, or our behavior. We should have the behavior the shows obedience to Christ.

Luke18:17 - "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."

Ephesians 5:1 - "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;"

Hebrews 2:13 - "And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me."

3. A sober strenthened mind thinks holiness for Christ. verse 15

In Spanish, they say one is never truly fluent until they think in that language. Same way with holiness, we are never truly holy until we think holiness.

1Chronicles 16:29 - "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." A holy life is a beautiful life.

Romans 6:22 - "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." A holy life is a fruitful life.

Ephesians 4:24 - "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." A holy life is a Godly life.

We already have within us the possibility of living a holy life.

Christian people should not be worldy, loose living people. Christ has called us to separate ourselves from the world.

4. A holy life is a glorious life. verse 17, 21.

Ephesians 5:27 - "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."