1 Peter 4:7-19

Intro - Ben Sass

Good Morning Church Family,

Hope everyone is well this morning,

If you’re new here this morning, my name is Austin Ussery, I’m the student pastor

Pastor Randy is out this weekend but will be back next week

Anyways before we get in to it, just wanna say thank you Church family for letting me be up here,

filling in for Pastor Randy while he is out.

So lets get in to it,

Does anyone know who Ben Sasse is? Probably some of you do

Ben Sasse is a former republican senator from Nebraska and was the president of the University of Florida.

This isn’t about politics or anything

some of you know this if you know who he is,

But Ben Sasse was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December it had spread to just about everywhere and they gave him about 4 months to live, it’s been four months now, so he’s on borrow time.

For most of us, this would rock our world, and rightfully so, he’s like mid 40’s good health

all the sudden, here is your death sentence.

and that is what he called it, he knew from the beginning it was a death sentence.

But Ben has not let this thing rock him.

He’s fighting it,

but he’s doing something that we should take note of

and as the church we should applaud and hope to see more of this kind of thing

Ben has taken this death sentence and has honestly turned it in to a tool for the Glory of God.

Earlier this month he did an interview with the new york times and you should go and watch this,

You can listen to it on a podcast, but go to youtube and watch it,

The visual is striking

He’s on this interview, and his face just looks mangled from the chemo, and it’s startling.

He can’t grow new skin cause of the meds,

you should watch it.

———

because this is what he is doing,

He’s doing these interview and using his mortality

To bring Glory to God.

and he is doing that by taking the time he has left and living well, and dying well.

He has chosen to die in public, and on the way he is pointing others to the glory and reality of who God is.

in the interview they asked him if he was angry at God for allowing this suffering this evil that is cancer to kill him and this is what he said, it’s a little long,

But he said this:

“No, Not at all,

I wouldn’t want a sovereign God to defer to all of my prayers with a yes, because I’m not omniscient. I don’t know what the weaving together of the tapestry of full redemption should look like, but I going through the period of suffering that I’m going through is a benefit, because it is a winnowing. I’m filled with dross and this suffering is not salvific.

But it’s sanctifying, and I’m grateful for it.”

I tell you this because, this is an example of someone living out their theology and living out their faith.

Not just saying it but doing it.

This is someone in the public, who is shaped by their belief in God and their whole life is being used as a tool to further the Glory of God.

So that is where we are gonna live this morning.

If you have a bible open up to 1 Peter 4:7-19

if you need a bible there are some in the pews right there, if you need a bible at home take that one with you, we want you to have the Word.

so 1 Peter 4:7-19

lets read this together, but before we do that, let’s pray for our time in the word

pray

Okay read this with me.

1 Peter 4:7–19 ESV

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-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.

Thanks be to God

Context - Mainly converted Pagans

Peter is writing this letter to a mainly gentile audience, in what is now modern day turkey,

and we know from early parts of the letter, these people were facing all sorts of persecution,

not from Rome or any state sponsored persecution here,

but from the people they lived around.

their neighbors people they worked with, people they bought stuff from, all that sort of stuff

——

And the whole purpose of this letter is meant to encourage them

and tell them to endure and to hold fast to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus for the Glory of God.

——

Peter calls them exiles,

this is old testament language,

Strangers living in a strange land.

This is written for people in a place where Christianity is not advantageous for you.

Being a follower of Christ in this time and place was frowned upon,

It was the culture itself that was attacking the Christians.

——

The whole letter, Peter is encouraging them to endure,

to remain,

to be steadfast,

to live in a certain way,

in spite of and in the face of persecutions and sufferings brought about by the surrounding culture.

This letter is joining in the story of God’s people by reminding them and us, that we are not going to be loved by the world or by the broader culture.

——

In the Old Testament, the people of God were constantly at war with someone or being taken over by someone,

There is not a lot of peace, not a many long stretches of history where they’re left alone.

That doesn’t change much in the New Testament, most of the letters after the gospels are encouragements to remain steadfast, to endure.

SO the main goal in Peter’s first letter is to show the Glory of God —

in how we live

and through our lives we show the hope we have in the faithful creator.

So what is cool is Peter gives us a rich theology of God’s glory.

And that theology is played out in how we live our lives.

So where we are this morning

there is not much left in the letter.

Peter is landing the plane and is giving his last thoughts,

he is recapping where he’s been.

and he is summing it up.

——

Through this series, Pastor Randy titled this, Living in Uncertain Times.

For the people this was written to, it was uncertain times,

and for us today, Peter’s letter feels fresh, because right now,

we are living in uncertain times.

For my generation the joke has been I’m tired of living through once a generation events every 5-10 years.

But that has been every generation.

If you know your history, you know that the world has been uncertain for a long time.

So this is for us, as much as it was for the people in the 1st century.

Not written to us, but it was written for us.

SO here is the main idea this morning that I want you to see:

We reflect God’s Glory in how we live, and in how we die.

Our lives should point others to the goodness and faithfulness of the almighty.

Let’s unpack this,

The first thing i want you to see from this text this morning.

P1 - The End gives purpose to the present - Lewis, Living in the Atomic Age quote. v. 7

The End gives purpose to the present.

Look at verse 7 here, 1 Peter 4:7 first thing he says is,

1 Peter 4:7 ESV

7 The end of all things is at hand;

Peter starts a new thought and sums up the last paragraph in a phrase,

The end of all things in at at hand,

I love how the Message puts it, everything in the world is about to be wrapped up.

The plane is landing.

God is moving to bring about the redemption and restoration,

be ready.

and then he says, because of this, you should act in this way

he follows this up with

1 Peter 4:7 ESV

therefore

the end is at hand, therefore, act in this way,

everything that follows this, is in light of the phrase, the end of all things is at hand.

look what he says to do.

1 Peter 4:7 ESV

be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Self-controlled and Sober minded, for the sake of your prayers.

The end of all things is at hand, because of this, in light of this, therefore, be self controlled and sober minded.

Every now and then and right now its mainly on facebook,

but you’ll have people announce such and such is the fulfillment of End Time Prophecy.

AI is the Beast! The rivers are dry! The whoever is last democrat president is the Antichrist! i t might be

and people will be in the comments and it a hot mess.

We start making charts, we got a wall of yarn.

we panic, or we want others to panic,

we get nervous,

but even with real things

I know when COVID started we all got pretty nervous, thats a valid response.

What we like to do,

We tend to think the brokenness in the world

the crazy events

are the start of the end times and not the result of living in the End Times.

this is where our view of the end of all things matters,

The End Times aren’t about to start, we have been living in them for 2000 years,

The Beginning of the End was the day Christ rose from the dead and ascended

Christ’s resurrection ushered in the beginning of the end of all things.

SO for us,

Peter is saying — Don’t panic, don’t loose your mind.

Don’t worry about the end of all things,

but

have hope that God is at the End of all things.

For the sake of your prayers, that you don’t get bogged down in worrying about the end, but your prayers reflect the fact that God is the one who is there.

That God is the one who is the one who is bringing all things to the ultimate end

Our prayers are focused on the kingdom expansion that happens up til the end of all things.

So what this does it re-orients out lives.

The end gives purpose to the present.

How many of you, if you knew the way something was going to turn out, would act differently opposed to if you didn’t know the outcome?

Anyone like to be in control? Where are my control freaks?

Why do you like to be in control?

So that you can control the outcome right?

You can make sure it shakes out the way you want it to.

Peter is saying here, God is in control, Christ is ruling and reigning,

— You don’t have to control everything, —

you just have to control yourself,

Be self-controlled, be sober minded.

Don’t lose your head worrying about what is going to happen,

we know what is going to happen, God is going to be with us

God is in control.

Church family right now we are in an uncertain time, yes the world is crazy, but right now in the life of the church,

we are going through a transition,

Leadership is changing, our polity has changed in the last couple years.

Things sometimes feel uncertain,

we are baptist, we are not known for our ability to handle change well.

We like our routines, we like our sense of normalcy.

But through the certain and uncertain times, God is telling us,

be self controlled, be sober mined.

CS Lewis in a essay he wrote not long after the world came to the reality of the Atomic Bomb, when everyone was worried about how a couple of those things could destroy all civilization. He basically answered the question, how should we live knowing that the world could end at any second.

This is what he wrote, and I think it is helpful for us even to day.

he writes,

If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

The end is going to happen, the end of all things is at hand,

As followers of Jesus, we know that the end of all things will be at the return of Christ,

So when he comes let him find us doing sensible things, things that matter.

We know what the end is, let us live in light of that, not is spite of it.

Peter is saying to us, live with the end in mind.

Our lives are a reflection of God Faithfulness.

So what does the text say do?

P2 - How we live shows God’s glory - Gifts and Grumbles. We are all guilty of the grumbling and we all have gifts we can use.

Here is the next thing I want you to see,

How we live show’s God’s glory,

Look at verse 8 and 9 1 Peter 4:8-10

1 Peter 4:8–10 ESV

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling

So he is speaking to how we should act in the church, towards one another,

Love each other, and do it with out grumbling.

two words, love - agape - unconditional love,

and grumbling, its the same word from exodus, the people of God grumbled, complained, sighed, what ever you want to put

Peter is saying love one another with out terms, without conditions, and do it with out complaining,

And in these two verses he gives something we have all heard,

love covers a multitude of sins,

and this is what he means,

if we are rightly loving one another, then we will not be set off by some slight or perceived slight or offense.

He is saying love and don’t take things so personal, serve one another for the sake of the kingdom.

and this is hard for us,

we live in a world were outrage is the default.

Social media is wired to make you mad.

to throw you off, because you know what gets the most interaction

outrage, rage bate.

Just go for jonesing for the good, or real jones countians, its a hell scape of outrage and pettiness.

Heaven forbid someone open up a new place in town.

The only place that I’ve seen not get crucified on facebook is Giganti and that’s cause it is objectively good

Nothing brings people together like Pasta.

but for real,

we have been conditioned to react like that,

the algorithm is molding your reactions and affections to be just mad.

outrage gets clicks

but

Look at Peter’s argument,

the end is at hand, so don’t lose your mind

be self controlled,— love one another without grumbling, —

and here how,

use the gifts God has given you.

Look at verse 10,

1 Peter 4:10–12 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

All of us, if you have been redeemed have been given a unique gifting that can edify the church,

which means two things,

You have a gift, and you cannot be passive in the life of the church.

You are not called to come to church and just sit on your blessed assurance and go get Mexican after.

That is just not what the life of the church is about.

You are called, and have been gifted in a particular way to serve the church for the Glory of God.

If you aren’t sure where you are supposed to serve, or how the church can even use your gift, come and talk us,

And i’m not even saying volunteering but thats a good place to start

tell us what you like doing and we will help you use that gift.

God has gifted you to serve and to serve well to his glory

Look at verse 11

1 Peter 4:11 ESV

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.

I could deep dive this, but let me sum this us,

Peter is saying, you serve well, you live well you bring Glory to God, when you use the gift and operate in his power.

speaks as oracles, speaks from what God has said, in his word, not from our own opinion.

Cause our default is selfishness and self-centeredness.

Here is the reality,

we could probably do church from our own power.

We have enough business people, we have enough money, we have enough pull in town, we can make things happen, we could get people here,

and what will we have done if we do this in our own power.

We will have created what Christ calls a white washed tomb.

If we operate from the place of I know what’s best, we are no better than any other civic group.

honestly we are worse because what we are doing is lying to ourselves and leading people away from the truth, that we hjave to rely on the Lord.

God did not create the church in a way where 20 percent of the people to 80 percent of the work,

He called the church to do the whole work of the church

that is why we need one another in the work of the church.

you might can run something all by yourself,

but you rob the rest of the church from the ability to serve along side you,

you rob the church of reflecting the glory of God if we just say,— i know what’s best, I will do it myself, I don’t need help.

And I’m including myself in this, there are a lot of things that I can do on my own,

but over the last 6 years of serving here I have learned that you can’t really do it on your own and you need help.

and It may feel easier to just do it on your own, because you don’t have to deal with other people,

but that is why Peter tells us to love one another, above all.

People are messy, but we are better together, because we can reflect God’s glory when we live and work for the kingdom together.

we reflect god’s glory to the outside world when we are all on the same page in here, out there.

and when we are out there, we are going to experience suffering, persecution, hard times,

And do not be fooled,

the culture even in the south is raging against you.

because there is a real enemy, who is seeking to destroy the people of God.

so —

when we live rightly together in here, when we are all on the same page in here,

we can suffer faithfully together out there.

P3 - How we die shows God’s faithfulness - We can endure because of the cross. Christ told us we were going to experience these things Matt 5:11

Here’s the last thing I want you to see from this text,

How we die, shows God’s faithfulness.

look at the last thing Peter says, he shifts gears here in verse 12

let me read it again for you to the end

1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV

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.

What does he say, two things, don’t be surprised, and it’s not strange.

We suffering comes, we persecution happens, when what ever kicks you in the teeth lands, expect it and know that it’s not weird.

It’s coming

Think about it for a second. and stick with me.

a lot of time has passed so hopefully know one will get mad. Stay with me

But y’all remember Steve Irwin?

Famous tv personality, likable guy on tv.

What was the title of his show?

The Crocodile Hunter!

And he famously died making one of his documentaries. right?

I’m not making light of it. He died doing what he loved, and what he was good at.

It was tragic, it was sad, it was not a good thing. we agree right?

but you know two things it wasn’t

surprising and strange.

the only thing surprising and weird was that it was a sting ray and not a crocodile that got him.

Its bound to happen, dude is jumping and being close to these dangerous animals.

We knew it was gonna happen

See what I mean,

We live in a culture and a world that is marred by sin, and some of us think that it’s just gonna be fine all the time.

Christ tells us this in Matt 5:11

Matthew 5:11 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

it’s gonna happen, its okay when it does, the Lord is Faithful.

Peter is saying, don’t be lulled in to a sense of exemption from suffering

but instead be ready for when it comes.

And when it does come, suffer well, suffer like a Christian

I love the answer that Ben Sasse gave when asked if he was angry at God for allowing this cancer to destroy him

he said, no, I’m not omniscient, and I don’t know how God can use this to save someone.

Peter is saying suffer with your sword in hand.

Glorify God in the manner in which you handle suffering.

fight until the last moments for the glory of God.

The enemy does not win, the end of all things is at hand, live like that.

Truth - God is the only certainty in uncertain times - Don’t lose your head. Don’t Panic. Have Hope

so here is the truth this morning, I want you to be encouraged, because that is what peter is doing here, he is encouraging us.

but here is the truth, God is the only certainty in uncertain times.

Don’t lose your mind, don’t panic when thing go side ways, when suffering finds you let it find you doing sensible things. Let is find you reflecting god’s glory in how you live, and reflect god’s faithfulness in how you go in to eternity.

App - Be good stewards of the life God has given you. How are you stewarding your gifts? How are you stewarding your life? The Gospel should bring urgency to how we live our lives. We will be judged by how we steward our the life we are given. Define reality, there is a Heaven and there is a Hell. Does your life reflect God’s glory? Living for God’s glory requires us to fully rely on him. (we are prone to sin, grumble, busybody) When we right orient our lives its gonna do two things, bring glory to God, and give you a hope that not even death can take away. leveraging for his kingdom or your kingdom?

so what do we do with this?

first thing, be good stewards of the life God has given you.

God is sovereign over all things, there is not one atom in the universe that is outside of his control,

So as long as you are breathing, you have purpose. There is a reason for your being here.

so ask yourself, how are you stewarding the gifts that he has given you? are you using them for His glory and the sake of the body?

if we steward our lives well

then God reorients our lives to live for His Glory.

it forces us to fully rely on Him.

and when you do this, it will do two things in and through your life.

One - your life will bring Glory to God, your life will be a force for something that will outlast this present world.

Two - your life will have a hope that cannot be killed, and that not even death can take away.

so ask yourself, who’s kingdom are you leveraging your life for? his kingdom or your kingdom?

P2Christ - Two groups here, the righteous and the ungodly.

Because here’s the reality is, the gospel should give us some urgency, that we must steward out lives well and live for his glory.

because the end of all things is at hand.

eternity is real, there is a heaven and there is a hell, and everyone one of us are going to end up at one of those two places.

Peter closes this chapter by basically saying, there are two groups in this world.

the righteous and the ungodly.

Judgment is at hand in verse 17

He says, 1 Pt 4:18

1 Peter 4:18 ESV

18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

the greek there is literally, where will the ungodly appear?

So there are only two real groups in the world. The saved and the unsaved.

People of God and the People against Him.

So for us in here, as the people of God, we want to see the kingdom expanded.

We want to see people saved.

But some of you in here, you may not know what you are, you may think that just because you live here, are a good person, pay your taxes and vote red you are a Christian, you aren’t.

Only those who are made new, who are actively following after Christ are the ones who will see Him in eternity.

Those who know him as savior and as lord.

It is one thing to want to know him as savior, everyone wants to not go to hell,

it is a whole other thing for him to be Lord.

Where he is the one in control of your life.

So if that is you, you don’t know jesus but you want to, come talk to me, talk to a friend, talk to someone.

The Hope that we have as followers of Jesus is available to you becasue of the Good News of the Gospel.

That Christ has defeated death, and paid your debt that you could never pay, you could never earn you could never, but freely gives it to you.

And this changes your life.

Have hope that God is the only certainty in this uncertain world

come see Christ as Lord, come see Christ as king.

Pray with me.

Communion set up.

This morning we are going to partake in Communion

So as we prepare to come to the Lord’s table,

remember what Jesus has done for us

The same thing Jesus offered to the disciples at the last supper,

But what Jesus gave them was different through the bread and the wine,

Jesus offered

a representation of his body and his blood poured out for us on the cross.

So that when we eat of this, we are to be reminded of what he has done.

In whatever situation. We all come to this table to remember with gratitude what He did

and wait with anticipation of his return.

In 1 Corinthians Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Pray with me.

Thank you Jesus that through your death and resurrection you made, all who obey you brothers and sisters.

Help us to make Your Name known until the day you return.

In Jesus’ Name so that we know you hear us, amen

If you have been baptized after your salvation, you are invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper with us.

We’d ask you exit your pews to the left and come to the station closest to you.

The gluten free wafers are on the middle table.

We know this may be awkward for a few of you who aren’t eligible to participate.

We pray first that you may know Jesus as your savior like we do

And we’d ask that you enjoy watching a family having a very important moment together.

If you would all stand and come to the Lord’s table.