1 Peter 4:7-19

Sermon:

good morning, brothers and sisters.Today we're going to be going through first.Peter chapter four versus seven through nineteen.And I would ask that you all stand with me for the reading of the word of god. 1Peter 4:7-19 ""The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and so8ber-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. ""

The word of god, you may be seated. So last week we talked about what it looks like to do.GoodDefend the faith while doing it with gentleness and respect to trust in christ's ultimate victory. And pay more attention to the judgment of god rather than the judgment of the world.And this is all through the lens of looking, how christ did it?And following his example so that we might keep adding to the family of god. Now I know when you start reading this week's first verse.It sounds like that peter's on a street corner.Preaching with an end is near sign.He says """The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.""" what does he mean by that. Is he saying that if we are not alert And sober minded that god won't hear our prayers. Well, not exactly, it's more like if we're not having our minds on the right things And alert to what actually matters in the world, because we don't realize that the end time has already started because christ's death, that our prayers won't be oriented towards the right things.The things of godThe things that god wants us to pray about. Because remember christ said in John 15:7 ""If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."" So when you take all of our seven in context, he's saying that because of christ's death, the end times have begun.And that we need to keep the things that matter in mind.So our prayers will not be hindered.How many times do we actually sit there?And pray for the wrong things, pray for the things that we think.We want or think that are good for us.Because of the world that we're in, because of all the craziness around us, because we think this will make my life better.This will make me happy.This will help me when in reality.All we need to do is keep our minds on christ and the things he wants for us.Because he wants our good even more than we do. I just really feel like that.Verse needed some special attention.Because when I first read it a long time ago I thought it said something completely different.I thought it was saying that god wouldn't hear my prayers.If I prayed for the wrong thing or if I wasn't acting a certain way, that's not the case. Now the entire next part i'm going to read is a giant love bomb, and it's pretty awesome.Let's take a look. 1Peter 4:7-11 ""Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."" These three verses are an amazing picture of what it likes to actually live out.God's love in our life.I love that it starts by saying above all, keep loving one another and do it earnestly.Do it with vigor now there is one part I want to pay special attention to before we look at the the versus as a whole.It says love covers a multitude of sins.What does he mean by?It covers a multitude of sins.You know the way I always heard it.When I heard this verse was that the more we show love, the more our sins are forgiven.But that's not what he's saying here.What he's actually saying is that our love covers the sins that others sin against us. You know, it was only 4 years ago that I came to Christ, and so I have an easy time remembering what it was like. When people would sin against me and I didn't have that godly love for them. It was so easy to hate them. And just revile them for what they'd done to me. And just forbear my forgiveness to say no, you don't deserve to be forgiven because you hurt me. But now I've experienced this a bunch that when someone hurts me. I first remember that their a sinner, just like myself, and that like I was forgiven by God in my sin. I should forgive them in theirs so that They might accept god's love and be truly forgiven. There's two verses.I want to show you the first is Proverbs 17:9 where it says """Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses""" which is a perfect old testament example, showing that god has always held this position. And the second is Luke 7:47 where Jesus says """Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”""" now some of you are probably looking at me a bit confused saying, well, mike doesn't that verse say the opposite of what you just said. But pay close attention to what jesus actually says here.Yes, he says that she is forgiven for she loved much but what does he say in the next part of the verse. For he who is forgiven, little loves little. You see, jesus is saying that when we experience the love of god which has the actual power to eternally forgive our sins we show the fruit of that and it leads us as a matter of fact.We can't help but display that same love, which covers others sins in our own lives. So I would say we who are forgiven infinitely are to love infinitely.That's what peter's trying to say here. And then he goes on to talk about how godly love, actually is shown to one another in the church. I love that he says show hospitality without grumbling. Is anybody here ever been at a church function?When someone is serving, you a plate of food or something like that.And you ask them for something, and they're like, yes, no problem. And then as they walk away to do it, they're kind of huffing and puffing, and you know, shuffling around and you can tell, they're not happy, they have to do it. And peter's saying, don't be like that.If you're going to serve one another be genuine, be genuinely ready to jump up.And help one another. You know, I think of a worldly saying that we have fake it till you make it.I'm not saying that's exactly what peter's trying to say here, but he is saying that you're representing christ.If you're going to serve somebody, serve them as christ would christ never would have washed its disciple's feat and been like jeez.Peter, your feet are awfully dirty.You could have at least cleaned them up a little bit before I washed them.That's not the image of our savior. And God gives us all sorts of gifts.That's what he means by varied grace.He's saying whatever gift god is giving you.Use it to love one another through the power of christ. If someone's asking you to do something, because you're good at it, we have to remember that gift came from god gave us that gift to serve one another.And serve him. I'm going to show you a verse that you might not think relates to this, but I want you to think about it when we read it through. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 """The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, r God loves a cheerful giver.""" Now, yes, paul was talking about the gift that was to be given to the saints in jerusalem. But whether it's giving a monetary gift to saints in another church or giving to your brother and sister, who's in need of your gifts that you have the principal still applies. We are to give from a heart and serve one another from a heart of love and joy. That's what god wants to see from us.We're doing no service to him by begrudgingly serving one another with the gifts, he's given us.We're not reflecting the character of christ when we do that. Cause remember, he says to do all this. ""In order that in everything, god may be glorified through jesus christ because to him belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever amen."" I want to show you one more verse before we move on its 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. it says """Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.""" If we take these two sets of verses together, it shows just how complete and total god's love is when you actually act.It out in real life.The love that he's shown us when we actually bring it forward to the rest of the world, And especially to our brothers and sisters in christ. Now on to the suffering part. Let's look at verses 12-13 """Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.""" How many of us when we do face a trial, we begin by asking the question, why is this happening to me?How many of us are actually guilty of this?If you're brave enough, raise your hand. I know I have been. Peter said don't be surprised. also we went through a lot of the verses last week we heard Christ himself say , hey, you're going to be persecuted when you proclaim my name.When you're doing my will and my works.But then he goes on to tell us to rejoice, because we're sharing in the sufferings of christ.Now we already went through this once in colossians.But for those of you who weren't here. In Colossians 1:24 where Paul says """Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,""" paul was talking about how he was rejoicing for sharing in the sufferings of christ and well, of course, the question comes to mind were christ's sufferings, not complete.If he's filling up what is lacking in it, right. That's not what he's talking about, though. He's talking about how being rejected for the gospel is further suffering that christ has to endure.And because we are being rejected, preaching his gospel, we're sharing in that. And peter's going on to expand upon that, saying that we, as we are doing the will and work of god that when we suffer while doing that, they were also sharing in these sufferings, and that we should rejoice in that suffering. Because we're showing that we directly belong to jesus. And I'll say it again, peter walked with jesus.So he heard this come from jesus' mouth as well. Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus says """Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.""" So this is further proof that we should trust that we will obtain a blessing as we suffer for christ. Now peter goes on to explain what type of blessing we will get, and the difference between those who will obtain a blessing and those who won't in verses 14-16 where Peter says """If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.""" so the beginning of this verse tells us that we're going to have the same spirit that carried Jesus through his sufferings and trials. The spirit of glory and of God resting on us when we suffer the ridicule from the world for proclaiming jesus to the world. Then, he goes on to say, just cause you suffer doesn't mean that you're suffering a christian suffering.If you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or a meddler, then that's not the type of suffering he's talking about.It's talking about those who suffer for god's righteous cause, and those who suffer well blessing the world and repaying good for evil like we've talked about before. You know, it's very tempting when I do something wrong.And have something bad happen to me that I suffer.It's tempting for me to say, oh well, jesus said I would suffer. But when I do that, i'm totally getting the context wrong, i'm completely butchering, what god has been saying through the entire bible.When I lie to myself and to others saying that i'm suffering for christ when I know I did evil. Do You know what Christ would call me in that moment ? PHARISEE!!Lets look at Matthew 25:1-15 """Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.""" You know One of the things I really struggled with early on is just how brutally honest the god cause us to be with ourselves.We're asked to pray prayers like god, I don't like good.I don't like the things that i'm supposed to like.Please change my heart or god.Find any iniquity in me and Please destroy it things like that.That's brutal honesty.It's really hard to pray those things. Because in the moment you're praying those things you're recognizing.I still have evil in me.I still have a man that I have to finish.Letting die?And I need god's help to do it because I can't do it myself and peter's saying that if you suffer, because you're letting that dead man come out.Then, that's not suffering a christian suffering. And then he goes on to say, that if we do suffer as a christian, we should glorify god in the name of jesus. Now peter's not getting this idea from anywhere.He actually experienced this firsthand himself.I'm going to show you a pretty long scripture from

Acts 4:23–31

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.""" This was right after they proclaimed the truth of christ in front of the san hydron and they told them that they were not allowed to speak of jesus.Anymore and they went and proclaimed god boldly after glorifying god in the name of jesus. So peter's being the farthest thing from hypocritical here.When he tells us that we are to do the same. Now he finishes up the chapter in verses 17-19 with """For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. So the way that starts out can be a little worrisome.When you just say it out loud and don't actually go through and think about it in context.Judgment begins in the household of god. I hope not. But he's not talking about the type of judgment that is to come to an unbeliever. When he speaks of judgment for us.He's talking about refinement the fatherly love that god shows his children through allowing them to be refined through hard times trials persecution. This is written in Proverbs 3:11–12 ."""My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights in. """ so peter is saying, if the discipline that we get from god as his sons, a k a believers is hard and unpleasant.Then, how much more for those who are rebellious and do not obey the gospel? He then quotes a Proverb. Proverbs 11:31 """ If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!""" We all know the suffering and judgment That is to come for the person who doesn't accept the gospel.And that's why our hearts are so filled with the desire from god, of course to go out and proclaim the gospel.So that he might save as many as possible from the judgment. And he's emphasizing here that we don't have to worry about that judgment.So that's why it is written there “”for let those who suffer.According to god's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good””.Because if we were suffering in this world and we still had to worry about the judgment to come, then yeah, it would be easy to be tempted to not follow god.To not do good, that's why I was talking about doubt last week.And how that is the killer of evangelism and obeying god, that's one of the biggest things the gentiles have.In their way is that there is no ultimate salvation.There is no passing away of all this terrible, horrible things that we have to deal with sometimes on a daily basis. I mean, our hope is so set in stone.We even have a book about the end coming and us being delivered in Revelation 21:4 it says He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. That's the picture we're to look forward to so as to take our minds off of this world.That's what this whole chapter is about is taking our minds off of the things of the world that are persecuting us, occupying our times taking us away from the things of god.Because we have an eternity to look forward to with no judgment in the presence of god.All these things will pass away.This suffering is only temporary remember in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 it says """For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.""" So if you're sick of suffering for no good reason, because you still haven't accepted christ into your life.There's a better way ever since coming to christ.When I suffer, god brings good out of it.And when I look at even my past before coming to christ, god brought good out of that suffering during my walk that good was made manifest. If you want to see this type of change in your life, I implore, you come to the cross, repent of your sins except christ into your life. I can promise you two things.You will continue to suffer while you're in this world.But more importantly, you won't regret it. Let's pray.