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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. MESSAGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY
A. THE JUDGE
I Peter 4:5a They will give account to Him
1. “THEY” (I Pet 4:4; Is 5:20; Ps 3:1-8)
2. “GIVE ACCOUNT”
3. “HIM” (Mt 12:36; Rom 14:11-12; Mt 7:17-23)
B. THE JUDGMENT
I Peter 4:5b Who is readily able to judge the living and the dead.
1. CAPABLE (II Tim 4:1 Heb 9:27; I Thes 4:13)
2. DUAL JUDGMENT (Jn 3:36 Mt 7:24-27)
II. MESSAGE OF RELIABILITY
A. THE GOSPEL
I Pet 4:6a Also, for this reason the Gospel was preached to the dead [in Paradise],
1. JUDGMENT (I Pet 3:19)
2. HOPE (Lk 16:22; Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8; Is 61:1; Lk 4:18)
B. FAITHFULNESS
I Pet 4:6b that although condemned by people in their physical lives, they might [now] live in their spiritual lives to God.
1. PHYSICAL (Lk 18:1 I Thes 5:17)
2. SPIRITUAL (Phil 4:7)
III. MESSAGE OF RESPONSIBILITY
A. ETERNITY
I Pet 4:7a But the end of all approaches;
1. IMMINENT
2. COMING (Acts 1:7)
B. DUTY
I Pet 4:7b accordingly, be serious and observant in your prayers.
1. SOUND MIND (I Tim. 3:2)
2. WATCHFUL (Mt 3:2; 4:17; 26:41, 45; Mk 13:33; Lk 21:36)
~~ Added:
**When we think of how Planned Parenthood as an organization that gets over a half a BILLION dollars in just federal tax money alone and all the defenders they have in Academia and main-stream media, we join in reading Psalm 3:1 “LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.”
**As we engage in the battle, there will be some on our side who quickly tell us that our efforts are futile, and again we cry out with David in Psalm 3:2: “Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ Selah”
**We must then quickly join with King David in Psalm 3:3 remembering Who is really in control, while also praying for those on the front lines of this battle like the producers of the videos. “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head”
**Next, we know from Psalm 3:4 that God hears our prayers! “I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah”
**Since our battle to once again see abortion as an illegal and abominable act will likely be a long one, we need the comfort of knowing from Psalm 3:5 that God will outlast our enemies! “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.”
**When the whole world seems to be against us in such matters, we then cry out with the King in Psalm 3:6 “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around”
**God, defeat our present enemies, is the cry of Psalm 3:7 “Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.”
**This breaking of our enemies can come in one of two ways: Conversion or judgment! The early Church prayed such prayers against their enemies like Saul of Tarsus or King Herod who were both persecuting and killing the Saints.
Their prayers were answered in both cases – with King Herod dying after being eaten by worms, and Saul being struck down on the Damascus Road and born again as Paul the Apostle. Thus we don’t try to tell God just how to move history forward, but rather cry out with King David in Psalm 3:8, knowing that God’s people will prevail in the end! “Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people.”