Emboldened by the End

1 Peter 4:7 CSB

The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

INTRO—

“That brings us to the two-minute warning” … “It’s the bottom of the ninth inning” … “We are in stoppage time” … “One lap to go!”

“The end of all things is near!”

Certainly nearer than the day before…and the day before that...and the day before that…

((Lit: “Of all things the end is near, therefore…”))

As much as we joke, and wonder, and study...we certainly know that we look forward to the promised return of our LORD!

The truth about which Peter has been writing—“Conduct yourselves honorably among the nations” (1 Peter 2.12)…as exiles who abstain from sin and are citizens, workers, spouses, church members—is significant, and more pressingly spotlighted as we consider the soon return of Christ.

“…therefore…” — WE ARE EMBOLDENED BY THE END TO…

PURPOSEFUL PRAYER [1 Peter 4.7]

“Prayer” — petition & praise; seeking first… [[for prayer…; first things first]]

“Alert(ly)” —

Clear-minded; Prepared-minded; Sensible; Focused

NOT: Frenzied; Irrationally; Scattered(ly)

“Sober-Minded(ly)” —

Self-Controlled; Restrained; Composed

NOT: Panicked; Hopelessly

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray constantly,”

[WE ARE EMBOLDENED BY THE END TO Purposeful Prayer, AND TO…]

FORGIVING LOVE [1 Peter 4.8]

“Love” — Agape & Affection; [[For another’s good & because they are important to me]]

“Constant” —

Ceaselessly; Eagerly; Urgently

[[1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,”]]

“Forgiving” — (“Covers a multitude of sins”)

‘Covers’: Conceals; Overlooks; Not Recorded (1 Corinthians 13)

Matthew 24:12 “Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.” ((the lawless are most often loveless; but others may choose lovelessness toward the lawless, too.))

[WE ARE EMBOLDENED BY THE END TO Purposeful Prayer, Forgiving Love, AND TO…]

LOVE IN ACTION [1 Peter 4.9]

“Hospitable (Be)” — Lit: “love foreigners”; [[love guests, strangers, others (all)]]

Makes sense to me that exiles would appreciate a welcome smile, embrace, invitation.

“Without complaining”: murmuring; words (of complaint) recited/rehearsed ‘under’ one’s breath

Complaining about the investment…of time or money!

Romans 12:13 “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.” [[Paul said it, too!; with acknowledgment of the readily available opportunity with our brothers and sisters…AND…]]

Hebrews 13:2 “Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.” [[…with outsiders, too. Who knows whom you might meet/serve!!]]

[WE ARE EMBOLDENED BY THE END TO Purposeful Prayer, Forgiving Love, Love in Action, AND TO…]

INTENSE SERVING [1 Peter 4.10-11]

“Received a gift, use it” — a gift of God’s grace (charis, charismata) [[gifted working…for/in life]]

“Steward of the varied grace of God” (4.10) [[of the manifold, multi-faceted grace of GOD!]]

SPEAKING (…God’s words; 4.11b): Preaching, Teaching, Evangelism, [[Tongues, Prophecy,]] Exhortation, Leadership, Wisdom…

SERVING (…from God’s strength; 4.11c): Contributing, [[Healing, Miracles,]] Mercy, Giving, Encouragement, Ministry, Faith…

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:” [[again, another part of the NT affirms what Peter is writing to his exilic brothers and sisters here]]

CONCL—

SOOO—WE ARE EMBOLDENED BY THE END TO Purposeful Prayer, Forgiving Love, Love in Action, Intense Serving…essentially…

HOPE for the FUTURE which makes a difference TODAY!

1 Peter 2:12 “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.”

[Peter likely continually highlights the issue of slander because someone he knew among the Christians scattered abroad Asia Minor had written to him about this issue.]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Future (Do you think (allow yourself to think) about THE future?)

Today (Does what you know—about the future plans God has for his people—encourage [comfort & challenge] you in FAITHFULNESS today? …Prayer, Love, Hospitality, Service…)

1 Peter 4:11 “…so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:11 CSB

If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.