LIVING FOR GOD2

1 Pet. 4: 7-11 “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may 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 of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so 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.”

Last time we saw that Peter makes three statements in Chapter 4 that serve as springboards to further instruction as to how we should live pleasing God. The first one we saw was “…since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind…”—Vs. 1

Now this time Peter provides a sobering statement. “The end of all things is at hand.” The saints of the first century eagerly anticipated the return of Christ in their own lifetime. It had been only three decades since the Lord had stepped into the sky from the brow of Olivet. Surely, they thought, He would return in the lifetime of the Apostles!

The Apostle John clearly believed this. John 21:20-23 says, “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

As Peter penned this epistle, the Neronic persecution was in full force. Christians were being martyred by the droves. Times seemed dark for the fledgling church. It is no wonder that Peter would exhort the believers that “the end of all things is at hand.”

This message of Christ’s imminent return has been called “the blessed hope” throughout its protracted time on this planet. In Titus 2: 11-13 Paul writes, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…”

Though it has tarried, it will certainly come. James 5: 7-8 “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

In his second letter, Peter brings up the return of Christ again, along with a prophetic insight into the unbelieving, mocking attitude that will be prevalent in the last days:

2 Pet. 3: 3-11 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The Lord’s seeming delay is in order that many more may have the opportunity to be saved. Nevertheless:

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?”

It is this very question Peter takes up in chapter 4. In light of His imminent return, how shall we then live?

Peter begins by telling us something we must KNOW.

We are urged to know that we must be sober, watchful and prayerful.

SOBER means “to think and act discreetly, to use sound judgment and moderation.” The very thought of Christ returning has a purifying effect on the Christian. “…we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”—1 John 3:2-3

As for watching and praying, Peter could remember his own abysmal failure to do just that in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:41). A few hours after sleeping through Jesus’ greatest trial, Peter tragically denied the Lord.

WATCHING sights the enemy; PRAYING fights the enemy.

With Satan walking about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, no wonder the apostle urged God’s people to be vigilant in prayer!

Next, Peter tells us what we must SHOW:

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”—vs. 8

First, the Apostle quotes an old Hebrew proverb, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”—Prov. 10:12

The word for “fervent” is only used one other time in the N.T. in connection with Peter’s imprisonment by Herod. Peter was to be executed the next morning, but prayer was made for him “without ceasing” (same Gk. word) by the church (Acts 12:5). It means “to be extended” or “stretched out.”

The Christians Peter was writing to were in a world filled with hate and malice toward them. There must be among themselves, therefore, fervent love (agape), intense love, love that goes out of its way to be thoughtful, kind, and forgiving, being gentle with one another’s failings.

Peter may have been thinking about Jesus’ words to him, that he should be prepared and willing to forgive an offending brother not just seven times but seven times seventy. That is what we must show—Calvary love, the love of the indwelling Christ of God.

Next, Peter tells us what we must SHOULDER:

“Cheerfully use hospitality with those who need a meal or a place to stay.”—vs.9

The Greek word for hospitality means literally to be friendly to strangers. It embraced particularly the needs of Christians who, in their travels, needed a bed for the night or a meal. In Peter’s day, there was no public welfare. Overflowing love would find many opportunities to minister to the needy.

Not only that, while there existed inns that traveling believers could use all along the winding Roman highways and in the big cities, Nero’s spies were everywhere. Danger and temptation abounded for traveling Christians.

On the other hand, it was dangerous to open one’s house to strangers. But this was a risk to be encountered and discounted when opportunity arose to help a traveling Christian.

In our day, several words of caution should be stated. First, an unmarried person should not open his or her home to a member of the opposite sex also traveling alone. This would transgress the admonition, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”—1 Thes. 5:22

And questions should freely be asked of the person seeking shelter. “Where are you from? What is your church home? What brings you here?” And there is also nothing at all wrong with verifying what they have said with a few phone calls.

In short, be hospitable, but at the same time “Be wise as a serpent.”

Even so, hospitality was a key characteristic of the 1st century believers. Peter knew all about accepting such gracious hospitality. He could recall the time he accepted the hospitality of Simon the tanner in the seaport of Joppa. God spoke to him while he was in that house and told him to accept the hospitality of a Roman centurion in Caesarea and thus throw open the door of the church to the Gentiles.

Memories of hundreds of homes in which he had been entertained flooded his mind as he now wrote, urging believers to be hospitable!

Finally, Peter tells us what we must SHARE:

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”—vs. 10

First, Peter is clear—every believer has been given a spiritual gift for the blessing of others. And it is God’s grace that empowers us to employ our gift. We have no grounds to be proud of the gifts God has given, for they are received sovereignly from the Holy Spirit.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different kinds of service, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…”—1 Cor. 12:4-7

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”—vs. 11

When a person is born again, the Holy Spirit distributes a spiritual gift according to His will. This clearly shows that the Holy Spirit is not a “force” or some kind of “mist” or random “power.” The Holy Spirit is a Person with all the faculties of a person—feelings, He can be grieved or can rejoice—decision making, He decides what gifts will be yours, and so forth.

Peter tells us that we have a responsibility before God to be “good stewards” of our gifts. The phrase “good stewards” comes from a word that primarily refers to an estate manager. A manager is held accountable for what he does with the things entrusted to his care.

As believers, we have received gifts from God. And our gifts are to be like the Sea of Galilee, which receives water from above itself and then redistributes them all around below, watering vegetation and blessing the land.

We are not to be like the Dead Sea, which receives abundant waters from the Jordan River, yet doesn’t redistribute the waters back out. This is what makes the Dead Sea dead! It’s waters are devoid of life, acidic, bitter and yield nothing but salt.

Finally, Peter tells us what we should SHARPEN:

Suffering for Christ should sharpen our ministry of the Word.

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…”

ORACLES: comes from the Greek word logos, which is a “divine utterance.” It is used of all the Old and New Testament scriptures. Peter is saying that suffering for the cause of Christ should sharpen our ministry of the Word; we should speak with Holy Spirit illumination and divine authority.

Secondly, suffering for the name of Christ should sharpen our ability to wait upon God:

“If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies…”

MINISTER: comes from the Greek word meaning “to serve,” “to render service,” “to wait upon” someone, to care for their needs. It is used of the strength of God given to believers through His mighty Spirit!

And finally, suffering for Christ ought to sharpen our perception about the worship of God.

“…that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”—vs. 11

The goal of all ministry, whether it is the ministry of God’s Word or the ministry of good works, is to bring praise and glory to God. It is an act of worship!

SUMMARY:

In light of Peter’s declaration, “The end of all things is at hand,” how shall we then live?

We are to KNOW to be sober, watchful, prayerful

We are to SHOULDER the ministry of hospitality

We are to SHARE the gift the Holy Spirit gave to us at our salvation

We are to SHARPEN our ministry of the Word, our service to the Lord, and our glorification of Him in all things

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