Gird up the Loins of Your Mind

1 Peter 1:13-23

INTRODUCTION: The world, the flesh, and the Devil have a strong battle plan to limit your effectiveness in the work of Christ. Each of the saint’s enemies understands that the ground most crucial to the overall condition of the war is that of the mind. For that reason, the area most frequently attacked and most important to protect is the mind.

I. THE MOTIVATION OF GIRDING (1 Peter 1:13)

A. The Gift Received—Salvation (1 Peter 1:1-3)

1. According to the foreknowledge of God the Father (1 Peter 1:2)
2. Through sanctification of the Spirit (1 Peter 1:2)
3. Begotten by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3)

B. The Gift Awaiting—Inheritance (1 Peter 1:4)

1. To an incorruptible inheritance
2. To an undefiled inheritance
3. To an unfading inheritance
4. To a reserved inheritance

C. The Gift at Present—Trials (1 Peter 1:6-7)

1. The heaviness of temptations (1 Peter 1:6)
a. The source of our rejoicing
b. Temporary in nature
c. Heavy due to their complications
2. The purification of your faith (1 Peter 1:7)
a. The preciousness of the trying of our faith
b. The process of the trying of our faith
c. The product of the trying of our faith

D. Conclusion

1. We do what we do because WE ARE SAVED.
2. We do what we do because WE WILL BE REWARDED.
3. We do what we do because WE ARE IN THE TRYING FIRES.

II. THE OBJECT OF GIRDING (1 Peter 1:13)

A. The Purpose of Girding

1. The girding of loins speaks of preparedness (Exodus 12:11).
2. The girding of loins speaks of effectiveness (1 Kings 18:46).

B. The Object to Be Girded

1. Minds that can be evil affected (Acts 14:2)
2. Minds that can be ready to receive the word of God (Acts 17:11)
3. Minds that can be the source of humility (Acts 20:19)
4. Minds that can choose to serve the Lord or the flesh (Romans 7:25)
5. Minds that can glorify God (Romans 15:6)
6. Minds that can be willing (2 Corinthians 8:12)
7. Minds that can be corrupted (2 Corinthians 11:3)
8. Minds that have desires (Ephesians 2:3)
9. Minds that affect one’s walk (Ephesians 4:17)
10. Minds that can be defiled (Titus 1:15)

III. THE OUTCOME OF GIRDING (1 Peter 1:13-23)

A. Sobriety (1 Peter 1:13)

1. Not thinking more highly of oneself than a man ought (Romans 12:3)
2. Not sleeping in mind (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
3. Alert and aware (1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8)

B. Hope (1 Peter 1:13)

C. Obedience (1 Peter 1:14)

1. As obedient children
2. Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance

D. Holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16)

E. Fear (1 Peter 1:17-23)

CONCLUSION: Is your mind vulnerable to Satanic attacks? If so, you need to gird up the loins of your mind and equip it for sobriety, hope, obedience, holiness, and fear.