1 Peter 4:7-11

Will Christ Find Us Faithful When He Returns?

The Key theme for the passage is found in verse 7 - the end of all thing is near.

Time is great motivator.

I played basketball in high school and in the SK Barangay League.

In the 1st half of the game, our coach would tell us to play calm and relax.

In the 2nd half of the game, our coach would tell us to step up the intensity of the game and to play with more fire and hustle in order to secure the win.

At school, the students usually exerts more effort on the 3rd and 4th grading.

At work, workers will double their effort to reach their quota of the day when the time or the day is almost done.

You see, time is a great motivator to be alert and to be serious.

The same is true for us Christians…

The nearness of time for the RETURN of our SAVIOR AND KING Jesus Christ should motivate us to be alert and be serious in our Christian walk

Remember...Your Time on earth is short and the time You have enough time spent in the past doing sinful things -(1 peter 4:3), now spend your remaining time to glorify God because Jesus is coming sooner than you expected! That is what Peter wants for the believer in his time to remember!

The shortness of the time remaining is a great motivation to live for and serve Jesus Christ

The same encouragement from the Apostle Paul:

Romans 13:12–14 NASB95

12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

The same encouragement from Jesus:

Revelation 1:3 NASB95

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Peter wanted the believers to put into mind that the final judgment and the return of the King and Savior Jesus is near, thus they must behave in a certain way.

I. Since the end is near, PRAY effectively (v.7)

Prayer is a high priority for a Christian.

What needs to be done in order to be prayerful?

1 Peter 4:7 NIV

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

- Be alert (readiness, to think and live wisely in self control)

- Be clear minded (to get self-control, to be reasonable)

Application: when at home and you talk about each others problems and struggles - you evaluate and you pray for specific concerns.

When you are listening to the news and you hear about the Sogie Bill - you pray about it.

When you are at work and your workmate talked to you about his or her problem - be alert and offer a prayer for him or her.

The goal is not just to pray, but to pray more effectively and appropriately.

Hindrance to prayerful life:

Not mindful / no readiness and firmness to pray. (gana-gana lang)

When the mind is compromised (always pre-occupied with the less important concerns (supposedly not priorities, minors - i.e entertainment, job, business, pet sins)

A warning from Peter - 1 Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 NET 2nd ed.

8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

Illustration: An example from Jesus, with a warning to keep watching and praying - Mat. 26:41-42

Matthew 26:41–42 NIV

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

II. Since the end is near, Love Seriously (v.8)

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

LOVE - agape - a strong regard and affection or care.

Your love prevents others from drowning themselves in sin - the sin of idolatry, the sin of the flesh.

But where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts abound.

Sins to confess: lovelessness towards the brethren (concerns - care , rebuke, prayer, lift up others through encouragements)

Illustration: James 5:19-20

James 5:19–20 NASB95

19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

III. Since the end is near, show hospitality (v.9)

1 Peter 4:9 NASB95

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

To be kind to strangers / guests

sins to confess: not kind to strangers and guests

Application: Offer your home to people / guests.

Illustration: 3 John 5-8

3 John 5–8 NASB95

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

IV. Since the end is near, USE your GIFTS faithfully (v.10-11)

1 Peter 4:10–11 NASB95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Each one has received a special gift (what are these gifts? - Romans 12:6-8

Romans 12:6–8 NASB95

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Eph. 4:7, 11-13

Ephesians 4:11–13 NASB95

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

sins to confess: not using the God-given gifts, not serving.

Use it to serve others as a good steward (to attend the need of others)

Use your gift with grace:

In speaking - let your mouth be the instrument of God’s blessings to others. May the words that comes out of your mouth builds up others.

In serving - let your serving be empowered with the strength supplied from God.

Illustration: Romans 11:36

Romans 11:36 NASB95

36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Example to follow: Jesus

a. Jesus is prayerful, he made use of his time to pray and to do the will of the Father.

b. Jesus loved deeply and seriously as shown in His sacrificial and agonizing death on the cross for sinners and for the glory of the Father.

c. Jesus main goal in living and in dying is to glorify the Father!

The EFFECT of the Gospel to believers:

The Gospel gave us the freedom to think and live not just for ourselves.

The Gospel gave us the freedom and joy to serve others and glorify God.

The Gospel gave us joy to serve even in the midst of suffering.

Proper Response:

Devote a daily time of prayer and seek more intimacy with God by spending more time with God and His Word.

Make time to seek more intimacy with other believers by spending time with them.

Make time to develop and to use your gifts to serve others (teaching, service, administration, preaching)

Conclusion:

You only have a limited time on earth. Use the little time you have to glorify God by using your time, your gift, and your resources to serve others so that when Jesus returns He will find you FAITHFUL.