Trusting in the Lord -
Living In The End Times (1 Peter 4:7-11)
Advance Slide 1
Introduction
To start
a discussion on core values, a youth Minister asked his youth group: “What
would you do if your doctor told you that you had only 24 hours to live?” The
students talked about being with friends and family, and the discussion seemed
headed in the right direction. But then one of the young students said “I’d get
a second opinion.”
I like
that answer, because distressing news always warrants a second opinion or
another perspective. It helps us handle the situation wisely.
We are hearing a lot of distressing news these days, and many people are content just to pay attention to the news commentators and simply get a human perspective on things. As a result, they are stressed and distressed and often deceived.
But there is a second opinion available to the believer in Christ. It’s a divine perspective on world events that helps us not only survive, but thrive, in these dangerous times.
Advance Slide 2
In Mark
13, where Jesus, in one of his farewell addresses to his disciples, gives a
divine perspective on the difficult days that are ahead, especially as we near
the end of this age.
Mark 13:1 As he was leaving the temple, one of his
disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent
buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not
one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.
Now,
this temple was built with huge, white boulders (nearly 10-12 feet wide). They
were polished smooth and generously decorated with gold . Herod was building
this as a lasting monument to himself while trying to win the hearts of the
Jewish people. So this temple was massive, covering about 1/6 of the old city
of Jerusalem. If anything spoke of permanence, Herod’s magnificent temple in
Jerusalem did, and it greatly impressed Jesus’ disciples. The idea of its destruction was
inconceivable in the Jewish mind unless it was the end of the world as we know
it The apostles are astonished and ask several questions about when this
would happen. Jesus takes this opportunity to warn them not only of the
coming destruction of Jerusalem, but of the ultimate end of time.
Advance Slide 3
INTRODUCTION
1. In 1Pe 4:2, Peter wrote concerning the Christian that...
"...he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for
the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
2. As an impetus to live out one's time in the flesh for the will of
God, one should remember that we are living in the "end times" -
cf. 1Pe 4:7a ("But the end of all things is at hand;")
3. It might be that Peter actually had reference in this text to the
destruction of Jerusalem
a. Which was the end of the temple, the Levitical priesthood, and of
the Jewish economy
b. As MacKnight points out in his commentary: "This epistle being
written A.D.67, about a year after the war with the Romans began,
which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Jewish
state, Peter, who had heard his Master's prophecy concerning
these events, and concerning the signs of their approach, had
good reason to say, that they had approached."
4. But whether Peter has in mind the destruction of Jerusalem, or the
Lord's second coming, we can still say "the end of all things is at
hand"...
a. For even if the Lord Himself does not return for another two
thousand years, the time is not long when we who are alive today
will be "in the flesh" no more
b. With every passing day, "our salvation is nearer than when we
first believed", and the "end" draws ever closer
5. How then should we live out the rest of our time, living as we do in
the "end times"?
1. In 1Pe 4:2, Peter wrote concerning the Christian that...
"...he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for
the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
2. As an impetus to live out one's time in the flesh for the will of
God, one should remember that we are living in the "end times" -
cf. 1Pe 4:7a ("But the end of all things is at hand;")
3. It might be that Peter actually had reference in this text to the
destruction of Jerusalem
a. Which was the end of the temple, the Levitical priesthood, and of
the Jewish economy
b. As MacKnight points out in his commentary: "This epistle being
written A.D.67, about a year after the war with the Romans began,
which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Jewish
state, Peter, who had heard his Master's prophecy concerning
these events, and concerning the signs of their approach, had
good reason to say, that they had approached."
4. But whether Peter has in mind the destruction of Jerusalem, or the
Lord's second coming, we can still say "the end of all things is at
hand"...
a. For even if the Lord Himself does not return for another two
thousand years, the time is not long when we who are alive today
will be "in the flesh" no more
b. With every passing day, "our salvation is nearer than when we
first believed", and the "end" draws ever closer
5. How then should we live out the rest of our time, living as we do in
the "end times"?
ADVANCE SLIDE 4
Verses 7-11 provide guidance to "Living In The End Times"
[Lesson Text]:
7 The end of all things is
near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can
pray.
8 Above all, love each other
deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another
without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has
received to serve others, faithfullyadministering God's grace in its
various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one
speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the
strength God provides, so that in all things God may be
praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever
and ever. Amen.
We all have ideas of what we should
devote ourselves to in our society but what does Peter say about
how then should we live out the rest of our time, living as we do in the "end times"?
What should we be involved in?
ADVANCE SLIDE 5
I. PRAYER THAT IS SERIOUS AND ALERT (7)
A. PETER STRESSES SERIOUSNESS THROUGHOUT HIS EPISTLE...
1. The word here is sophroneo {so-fron-eh'-o}, which means...
a. To be in one's right mind
b. To exercise self control
1) to put a moderate estimate upon one's self, think of
one's self soberly
2) to curb one's passions
2. Words closely related to this are found in
1Pe 1:13;13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be
sober, and rest your hope fully
upon the grace that is to be
brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
5:8
Be 3sober, be 4vigilant; 5because your adversary the
devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
B. THIS QUALITY IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN OUR PRAYERS...
2. That is, with praying that is "watchful" - cf. Lk 21:34-36 “But htake heed to yourselves, lest
your hearts be weighed down with 8carousing, drunkenness,
and icares of this life, and that
Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For jit will come as a snare on
all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 kWatch therefore, and lpray always that you
may 9be counted mworthy to escape all these
things that will come to pass, and nto stand before the Son of
Man.”
3.
Serious, watchful praying is necessary, therefore, or we might not be
ready for that which will come.
As we continue in our text, we see that "Living In The End Times" also calls for
ADVANCE SLIDE6
II. LOVE THAT IS FERVENT & FORGIVING (8)
A. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME PETER COMMANDS "FERVENT LOVE"...
1. The first time was in 1Pe 1:22
Since you hhave purified your souls in
obeying the truth 9through the Spirit in 1sincereilove of the brethren, love one
another fervently with a pure heart,
2. Where we defined "fervent" as "constant" or "earnest"
3. Here Peter tells us to make such "fervent love" the number one
priority ("above all things have fervent love...")
3. Here Peter tells us to make such "fervent love" the number one
priority ("above all things have fervent love...")
a. This is reminiscent of Paul's words in Col 3:14
But above all these things zput on love, which is the abond of perfection.
b. And perhaps a reflection of Jesus' words in Mt 22:36-40
B. THE NEED FOR SUCH "FERVENT LOVE" IS SEEN IN ITS POWER TO
FORGIVE...
1. "for love will cover a multitude of sins"
2. This appears to be a reference to Pr 10:12 ("love covers
all sins")
3. To "cover sin" does not mean to ignore it, but as used by
James it suggests "fervent love" does what is necessary to
B. THE NEED FOR SUCH "FERVENT LOVE" IS SEEN IN ITS POWER TO
FORGIVE...
1. "for love will cover a multitude of sins"
2. This appears to be a reference to Pr 10:12 ("love covers
all sins")
3. To "cover sin" does not mean to ignore it, but as used by
James it suggests "fervent love" does what is necessary to
19 My brothers, if one of you should wander
from the truth and someone should bring him back,
20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner
from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a
multitude of sins.
As the "time of the end" draws near, and the Day of Judgment looms closer, how important it is that we have the kind of love for one another which will encourage us all to get rid of sin in our lives!
As a further expression of "fervent love for one another", "Living In
The End Times" will also involve
ADVANCE SLIDE 7
III. HOSPITALITY THAT IS GRACIOUS (9)
A. THIS IS AN UNUSUAL USE OF THE WORD "HOSPITALITY"...
1. For the word is philoxenos {fil-ox'-en-os}
a. It literally means "love of strangers" and is normally used
in reference to kindness to those we don't know
b. But here Peter applies it to our love towards brethren
2. But if we are to show kindness to those we don't know, how
much more towards those who are "of the household of faith",
our own brethren! - cf. Ga 6:10
B. THE NEED FOR HOSPITALITY...
1. There is always a need, as our love for one another is a sign
of true discipleship - cf. Jn 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By
this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another."
2. But there may be a special need as "the end draws near"
a.
Our world today is becoming more hostile towards Christians, as Christ warned
would be
b. In any period of persecution, when some Christians lose all
they have, other Christians need to be
ready to provide for
their needs - cf. Mt 25:35-40
"For I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat,..."
C. FOR IT TO BE TRUE HOSPITALITY, IT MUST BE "WITHOUT GRUMBLING"...
1. If one shows kindness with a begrudging spirit, can it be said
they truly have a love of strangers (or brethren)?
2. Only by placing a higher premium on our brethren than we do on
our possessions can we show hospitality without grumbling
Finally, "Living In The End Times" requires that we
offer...
ADVANCE SLIDE 8
IV. SERVICE THAT GLORIFIES GOD (10-11)
A. EACH PERSON CAN PERFORM A VALUABLE SERVICE...
1. By the grace of God, which is "manifold" (multi-faceted),
there are various ways one can serve God
2. And each of us are to be "good stewards" (accountable
servants) of whatever gifts or abilities we may have
For by the grace given
me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than
you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with
the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body
with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in
Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others.
B. WITH TWO EXAMPLES, PETER ILLUSTRATES THE KIND OF SERVICE THAT
GLORIFIES GOD...
1. Those that speak
a. They should speak "as the oracles of God"
b. Understanding that they are speaking for God:
1) They should speak only that which God Himself has
revealed
2) With "sound speech that cannot be condemned" - cf. Tit 2:
7-8
2. Those that minister (serve)
a. With the ability or strength supplied by God Himself!
Love must be
sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one
another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be
lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with
God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
ADVANCE SLIDE 9
CONCLUSION
1. "Living In The End Times", then, is living with the recognition
that to God (and Jesus Christ) "belong the glory and dominion
forever and ever"
2. With that recognition, we will be careful to develop:
a. Prayer that is serious and alert
b. Love that is fervent and forgiving
c. Hospitality that is gracious
d. Service that glorifies God
How are you living now that "the end of all things is at hand"? Are
you glorifying God through Jesus Christ?
No comments:
Post a Comment