1 Peter 4:7-11 • How to Live
Verse seven
the end of all things is at hand. therefore we talked about this word there for several times and any good Bible commentator will always ask you and tell you to say what's it there. Or try it again watch it there for okay. So the end of all things is at hand definitely the words. You want to hear from an apostle right there Ford. Here's why he's saying this this morning be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers above all keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins show Hospitality to one another without grumbling as each has received a gift use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied Grace. Whoever speaks is one who speaks Oracles of God River serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that an everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong glory and Dominion forever and ever. Amen. Amen. Peter has spent a good portion of this letter that he's riding to these recipients same look as you've received Christ Jesus as God move in your heart and this Grace has shown you his salvation and his mighty work. There is a result that comes from that he says this is living really then looks like this is what living looks like in a hostile world where people had great angst in hatred towards followers of Jesus. Because of the ways in which they live their lives in the face in the belief that they held it put them on the outskirts of society and others around the painted them and persecuted and stole their lands a cheater is giving us this wonderfully Written Letter saying even in spite of those things happening to you. This is how followers of Jesus supposed to laugh and then all of a sudden we see in this letter the kind of words that we expect to see on the street corner in a guy with sandals and a long beard you got his Sandwich Board out and a few crayons and markers and maybe you've seen this kind of person weather in our town or in others and he begins to just simply say the end is at hand. It's coming towards us. Peter's words can feel a little bit intimidating here or maybe even a little bit off. What are you talking about Pete being is at hand. How long ago did you write this letter? And we're still here and what theater is doing in this is he's both presenting a rheology that the work of Jesus Christ what Genesis 3 and the story of God we eating its way throughout history has been pointing toward this Redemptive history that God is able to save has finally come in. The person of Jesus has fulfilled its complete which means there's nothing else that has to happen that we're waiting on her for this Ching to return Yes, the end is at hand, but it's a little bit like Sunday morning for some of you guys you see maybe your wife takes a little longer to get ready than you and maybe you get the wonderful responsibility of getting the kids ready as well and you're still ready a little bit early and you load the kids up into the car. The car is running and the kids safe Daddy. Can we just take a quick drive around the block? Can we just go to a park? And you say know your mother could be here any minute? And sure enough 5 minutes 10 minutes and your son or your daughter says daddy. We totally could have sat on the swings mom. Could be here. Any minute. Are you lying to your children know you're not lying to your children? Because she actually could be there any minutes. You don't know when she's going to come out those doors and you sure went to be ready when she's ready. Otherwise, I'll never be able to hold that one over her for the rest of your life right there. That's what it is. It's always late cuz of you will that not today that's because of you and is at hand. Where is it? It's closed Peters emphasis though in the section of scripture is not necessarily the moments the day the hour that Jesus returns, but it's how we live in light of that news. How is that going to change us and it's not a scare tactic this morning. It's not a way to say he's coming back better. Make sure you're nice when he shows up. Otherwise, you're getting fried. We live on a pretty fast-moving Road and I use scare tactic with my children. We put up a fence in front. And as people are flying around that corner and has received accidents along that road. I tell my kids stay away from the streak of the car could fly out there and hits you say obey out of fear. They don't obey out of love. And this is not a scare tactic to say obey God or else but it's an obedience out of love because of what he has done. And this is what Peter has been writing to us. Look at this wonderful glorious salvation. Look he stood in our place. He reigns Victorious capture grab your hearts and may you walk in at living in and moving it here this morning for me to be heartfelt obedience in this and the reality is as followers of Jesus. Your heart's been changed in transformed. Now what Peter is doing for us as he's discipling us. He's teaching us he's training us. She has a parent I diply love and care for my children. But I have faced situations. I've had to call people up who have lived a little bit more life and their children have grown up and said, how do you handle this? And I get instruction. So to as followers of Jesus we're receiving instruction and instruction is not legalism instruction comes from a place of love. It says this is how our to live our lives in this world here this morning. We still need discipleship in our lives. And this is what Peter is going to say this morning your best life today actually doesn't evolve. Excuse me revolve around you. And your selfish desires? Would you want to live life to the fullest if you want to know how you're supposed to act and behave he says you're going to have to guard yourself with truth and think clearly which leads us to showing love and hospitality and serving one another the best way to spend your life is to spend it on others this morning. The best way to spend your life is to spend it on others and I can be very hard and difficult because the way in which were wired since man has fallen and we've reached for the fruit. So to speak and said I want life on my terms and I want it how I want it and that is what's going to most satisfy. Me and Peter saying you have been created into a counter Society. You've been created as you come into the faith of Jesus Christ, you live in such a way that is so different from the way the world lived. I'm calling you to love others, even when it hurts, even when they persecute you even when they come at you the best way to live your life is to spend your life for others. And as we see in here, so Lady of Salvation that Peter's presented the same idea that Paul has talked about is not just this idea that I get saved to avoid hell and put away into a bank. Can I just kind of get to hold that over here? But we're saved from God to God so coined by John MacArthur saved from his wrath to his glory but also means that we're not just saved and stashed or stink defied which is something that happened but we're growing in the sanctification. Azra Living For The King and in the Kings ways. So how are we to live? Now one of them about scripture is there's not just these Divine steps that he says his check one hears check to his check 3 his check for that's Western American way of doing things but a little bit ambiguous because he says love others, but I'm not going to tell you exactly how you're to love others. Could I tell you exactly how to love others will check it off turn it off and be done for the day of the week to month to hear there. Are these General Collins and how we're actually supposed to live We'd she is belief belief in Jesus belief in the truth belief is what create action. Action does not produce belief. action produces legalism I do therefore I'm accepted. I obey therefore I'm accepted. Idea of belief that moves us into action because we believe something deep within our hearts do it again to act on it. You will not live out what you do now deeply belief. you want If you do not deeply believe that Community is important I can preach on the idea of community week after week after week and you can know every fine point and reason why we should be engaged in community, but you won't participate in it because it's not a deep belief that is embedded within you. Belief creates action, you will not live out what you do not deeply believe that here is a stark reality. In Romans chapter 1 Paul says a human's exchanged the truth for a lie. What that means is the vast majority of people go around believing a lie, and because that's a deep embedded belief within them than those the things that precedes in the belief in the lye your belief creates conviction which influences your action. Let me just kind of portray this with the thought process of the American dream first remember hearing about the American Dream in High School get to write some papers and do some things on this and what does the American dream mean to me? What does American dream mean to somebody else? This comes from the wonderful world of Wikipedia? So take it for what it's worth. The American dream is a national ethos of the United States the set of ideals democracy rights Liberty opportunity and equality and which Freedom include the opportunity for prosperity and success. I think those two words to sum up the American dream prosperity and success. That's kind of our idea of what is available at our hand in America as well. Social Mobility for the family and children achieved through hard work and Society with you.
The American dream has convoluted idea of what really living actually is. The American dream is a belief that says an idea that says if you work hard you will find success anyone can achieve the status. And so what happens is that gets embedded into us at a very young age and we think all right. This is the path to happiness. This is the path to Supreme Joy if I just work hard and do the right things. And then I'm going to make it and then I'm going to be satisfied and I'm going to have everything that I want at my disposal.
Religious I give the American dream. Sweat it comes down to a microcosm of Eden Eden. It's a promise of Heaven on Earth Shalom and peace. An American Dream is the way that we achieve it but we do what happens to make us happy. Now I grew up as a teenager in the late 90s early 2000s an American Dreams portrayed all over television at this time MTV. My parents blocked it. I have friends we would go and watch a show called cribs. Anybody seen cribs?
So you got cribs. We also watch a show called Pimp My Ride with exhibits and what they were saying in the shows not explicitly, but you can get the house. Look how cool they are. Look at the Crystal that they have to drink look at the cars they have in their driveway. This is a way to be happy and satisfied for all of these teenagers. And the reality is the vast majority of people that were on that show where people that were celebrities and rappers and models and all of these other things probably jobs the vast majority of us will never walk in.
Sing this is how you get happiness. Also that time was the poor man's MTV is called VH1. You never heard of VH1 parents it and block that wasn't as bad as Poor Man's MTV and they had a show called. Where are they now? And it would take these. Celebrities and people who have made it in the American dream and they're depressed. They're broke their broken their Entourage and left them because their money has left them. I know they achieved all successes of this world. They found themselves. Very very empty. Is a design pattern here that I want us to see in at the design pattern that is all throughout scripture and the American dream is the idea that look see this will make you happy. So what do we do? We see it and we desire it then what do we do? I will be happy on my own terms. What scripture says but I'm going to go ahead and say this is actually what's going to fulfill and satisfy me. So we try to take it because God isn't cutting it we touch we take for our own by any means necessary. Watch this Abraham and Sarah. What did they want more than anything in the world? What do they think would make them so incredibly happy fulfilled and content the desired a baby and that. Even promised them. God promised in the very thing they wanted but it wasn't coming through on their terms are their timeline. So what did they do? The wording is uncanny and it correlate with Genesis 3 he saw haggar. Chuck Yeager and then they had a child through hagare. I will shortcut God's ways to find fulfillment success and happiness. Genesis 3 the woman Eve saw fruit was good to eat. She desired it. She saw that this is so good for me. And God is a holding something for me. So there she took of that fruit and she ate and this narrative place out all throughout scripture. I've seen Desiring and then taking live on our own terms to get what we think will make us happy and successful in this life that my friends is a lie. Can I bring some comfort? Oh, you bet few years ago when somebody wants him Megabucks lottery Mark Cuban. He's some big billionaire owns the Dallas Mavericks and a host of other companies. He said, you know It's not really going to change you sure you won't have to worry about your bills anymore. But you're still going to have the same problems. He's not a follower of Jesus, but he hits it on the head because you're going to have some extra comfort in life. But you're still going to have troubles and struggle because it doesn't bring contentment. It's a belief in the lie. So what Peter is doing here this morning. Is he saying I want you to think clearly about the truth be self-controlled and sober minded.
These words mean so isn't my definition having a sound mind thinking about and evaluating situations maturely and correctly indicates. The attitude of mind that is the opposite of drunken stupor or delusion. Sobriety means watchful waiting for the Lord's return realistic living. Having the truth and thinking clearly is seeing the world as it is and having realistic living than enter into our world into our lives. We're constantly to be on guard their minds are told to see clearly why in 1st Peter 5 in 2 weeks were going to talk about the devil any fun and fantastic. I've been prepping and prepping for this cannot wait for getting introduced to acetone or the Satan as we all know him.
Seeking whom he may devour.
Most likely consist of driving to Bible study and the nail left in the road pops retired. You think that's our idea that we should actually have of him. It might be that on the way to church this morning. Satan is really want to interrupt your morning. And so you and your wife you and your children you and your friend. You drove here got into a fight. I'm pretty sure that was just you and your sinful nature or we see in the gospel possessions in disease and it certainly consists of some of that stuff. But he'd flip over to John chapter 8. We see how Satan primarily works. inverse of 39 John chapter 8
he answered him Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them if you were Abraham's children, you'd be doing the works of Abraham Abraham did but now you seek to kill me. Okay, you seek to kill me. A man who was told you the truth, but I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did you are doing The Works your father did what is the works their fathers day? He'll that's what they said to him. We were not born a sexual immorality. We have one father. Even God. Jesus said to them. If God were your father you would love me from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? Is it because you cannot bear to hear my word you are of your father the devil What did Jesus say you seek to do your father's will you seek to destroy to hurt to kill? He says he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him when he lies. He speaks out of his own his own native language. He is a liar. He's been a liar since the beginning freeze a liar and the father of lies because I tell you the truth you do not believe me which one of you conviction of sin. If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me sayings main strategy and trying to rack and ruin and destroys to influence through lies sheet. murder Satan's main goal is to influence this world in such a way that it creates division through lies. And so we have this Stark Reality by Peter because he says I want you to think soberly I want you to understand what reality is because a lie is something that does not correspond to reality present a false reality. I can go upstairs. My kids aren't supposed to eat upstairs. They do not supposed to be crumbs all over the ground. Any who did this Eleanor Eleanor? Who did Addie Addie who did this Benny or she's hiding and eating the food still. So here's the deal. There's a false reality.
They're trying to present an alternate reality that even they themselves want to believe in order to escape some kind of trouble because they think Dad knows it's me in the punishment is going to be horrible. If I just lie about it that I can escape whatever problems are going to come my way. It's a false reality when the line is believed Genesis to destroy hurt harm and kill us. In both Mark chapter 5 in Luke chapter 8 does a man that we know as of the demoniac he's in the tombs and he's beating up on himself. He's got chains and he's cutting himself and he meets with Jesus and Jesus says, what's your name legion for? We are many this is split. lot of personalities Actually demons that are in him Jesus casts out those demons and we read that the man is sitting and he's saying the same word that Peter is using he's in his right mind the fog the static around him. It has been lifted and now he's in touch with reality.
Peter is very very strong on this. I want you to know the truth. I want you to understand what reality is. Otherwise, we're just driving around Bird Box Style with a blindfold on her eyes. You haven't seen it. It's an apocalyptic film. It's crazy and some teenagers in Utah are they actually tried to drive with a blindfold on it? Didn't end well, so teenagers watch out you going to crash you're going to get hurt. It's going to destroy you CS Lewis said the truth is objective. If we live in a world where did not create and cannot change merely by thinking if the world is not really a dream of Our Own in the most destructive believe it could possibly believe would be the denial of this primary fact and what he's talking about in light of that is truth in this creator that has a way when she says I want you to come under me and I want you to live but we continue as people to go outside of what God has for us taking of the fruit for a live singing this will satisfy me. No, no the truth. What will it do? We're going to finish this shortly with a few points. He says know this the end is near think clearly and I should do that. I want you to love one another. Is an echo of Jesus's words, you'll know they'll know. Excuse me. You are my disciples by your love one for another. Where love is lacking there's going to be suspicion. It's going to be misunderstanding of every action that's taking place is going to be conflict that abounds. You see were told to love one another for a very real reason and he goes on to say this love covers a multitude of sins to actually grip and grab hold of Paul's words that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and darkness. There's an enemy behind who we think is the enemy that doesn't mean they're possessed. Sugarhouse on Alvin taking over so we can be influenced by with the way the world and culture says this is her your happiness lies and so we can lie and cut each other down and be deceitful rather than loving because we're self-preserving self-protecting and we went to live for ourselves cuz I think that is where happiness rest. Happiness will not rest and some ultimate success or achievement that you may put in truly loving one another and in loving one another we can imitate God's mercy and show the very forgiveness that he has given us. She even in areas that are very difficult and hard to let go of. But like Steve and we can say as he had rocks being hurled at him father forgive them for they know not what they do. I don't know if we understand how powerful Stevens words are because he's there sitting being murdered by these false accusations that are thrown out of people saying he is a liar. He was speaking truth to put him to death and he says forgive them forgive them. Stems from knowing our creator. and loving one another we love one another we put others before us even when they wrong and hurt us. It has to be the hardest human struggle that we wrestle with on a daily basis because who in here is not been hurt and had Deep by someone close to them when he has not had this feeling where it feels good to make them pay for what they did to you at least know a little bit how I felt or maybe even worse than how I felt But but to love one another riddle to forgive and show love our culture is crying out for this kind of love seems like every other song on the radio is Carrie Underwood some how love wins. I love the idea, but she has no basis or she's coming out in singing that song. I think we're just going to somehow get nicer and Kinder overtime. I think we seen more wars in the last 200 years in the history of the world. We need something from outside of us to transform and change our heart our culture crazy. Once it desires it and that radical change comes from King Jesus. We need men and women to move off the Throne of their hearts into place the king as the one who's on the throne of their hearts. That's what needs to move into our lives. Jesus didn't freeze us to serve other people to show kindness to show this love in a very tangible way next he says there to show hospitality. Hospitality is a way to not only say but to show you belong. Hospitality reflects the gospel would encourage you all even if you're not a reader to get Rosaria Butterfield book The Gospel comes with a house key. Short good. It's engaging culturally relevant. These are her three points that I took from it. There's also a host of other point in there, but it's an invitation when I invite you into my house no matter what you believe. United Way of differing opinions you belong at my table. We lost the idea of table Fellowship in our culture cuz we eat fast food near on the run and go to the next event table Fellowship meaningful. And so we want to recapture some of that as we have people in our homes Hospitality say no matter what Walk of Life you come from you belong and I want to be there for you. It reflects the gospel in that way. Jesus is able to sit and eat with even Zacchaeus the tax collector. When he was hated by Israel and most likely despised by the Romans because he was really a traitor to his own people. He was such an outcast and didn't belong anywhere in Jesus's. No you belong at my table. This is why we emphasize Community groups here because we say you belong at the table. You may not even believe what we believe but you still belong at the table cuz we want to show you the good news of Jesus Hospitality makes room for different kinds of house. And guess what? This means. This is some nights you get to play the one who is hospitable and other night you get to be the recipient of that. That's a Hospitality truly ought to be working even within our own church as we're saying come on over come in and then out of another time. I'm having you back over so we get to play both host and guest in that Jesus doing this in his life. Hospitality is the first steps for friendship. My point not hers Hospitality begins with an invitation to come in my home to spend time with me to begin to build a friendship because we long for that Hospitality something that Peter says as followers of Jesus we need to be practicing. Hospitality is not extravagant decked out to the nines. They can be simple potato soup that's gluten-free probably but I can still be simple potato soup. Alright, somehow someway make a list of people but you know, they need to be encouraged and you'd be encouraged by I seek them out in the next couple of weeks.
seek out people individuals in different walks of life What are there single or married are young or old and say I want to encourage you and I want to show Hospitality want to build friendship because people are going through a horrible hard and difficult things and often. There are very Neighbors. These neighbors even know that you are a follower of Jesus that you have help and you can offer that to them. Begin to walk through these idea saying I'm going to start simple. I'm going to pray for this heart of hospitality. I'm going to remember that it takes energy in time to make memories.
My barber we're getting ready to head down to Disneyland in 3 weeks. So excited I won't be here for two. So pleased when I'm gone call James, so here's the deal. She's like you guys are going to have a blast him. Like we definitely are but I'm going to be exhausted. This is not a vacation vacation was last week with my wife for our 10-year anniversary. We just did whatever you wanted walk and wonderful, but we're going to exert energy and tauren time and we're going to make memories hospitality is the same way. Yes, it's going to be some work, but get after it Peterson go for it. Finally use your gifts. So God may be glorified. He doesn't give an exhaustive list of a kind of gifts that we have been given his followers of Jesus and talk to each and every person has some signs that some kind of natural gift that I need to know Christ is also the spiritual gifts or touch on the scripture is never an exhaustive list and it may not even be conclusive from what we know of Paul writes about them and Peter mentions them here, but he categorizes them into areas serving and speaking and speaking is not just something that happens upfront and here. He talks about in 1st Corinthians. Those have to skip to prophesy to speak truth into somebody's life that resonates with them. That should be happening to be an encourager. That should be happening even outside of Sunday. The only way you can use these gifts. If you're actually relationship with people serving as something that ought to happen. Just Sunday morning as setup and teardown are weak and one Community with other people use these gifts so that God might be glorified.
That we might lift his name up because Christianity is not a one day a week kind of thing. Your whole life. I've been changed their for this morning think clearly about the truth. Are there areas where you're buying into the LIE? What are you looking at in light of what Genesis three sides are with Abraham and Sarah are even in light of the American dream. I'm going to go outside of what God has because I think it's ultimately going to satisfy me. I see I desire I take I can tell you it's going to bring Devastation and destruction. May he like we talked about last week capture the desires of your heart for Him Jesus. Thank you. That you rule that you rain if you're seated at the right hand of the father. Thank you. Holy spirit moves on the hearts of women and men. And you grab a hold of us?
And that you have placed yourself within us. And that we don't have to be enslaved to the lies of this world of thinking what was satisfied make me whole that you have done it. And this morning I asked that redeemers church would reflect on that and response with seeing into your name for what you have done. You've changed us you've saved us you've worked in us are dead has been paid you stood in our place. As a result we say we love you, and we're thankful for you. But moving our church today encouraged us nasty things in your name Jesus. Amen.