Introduction

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on November 28, 1993. Peter begins by saying, therefore, having girded up the loins, the hips of your mind,. It's an image of, in those days, people wearing flowing clothes and reaching down between their legs to tuck a skirt into their belt. That's His first image. Do that to your mind. The second image is, and being sober. So two images, girding up the mind, ready for action, and avoiding mental inebriation. And then the third thing, hope fully. Fix your hope completely. Now, this is the first command in 13 verses. Up till this time