03-01-06 - Live like you believe it - 1 Peter 4.7-11- NSB
Stay off of UB Floor -
Live Like You Believe It
NSB 03-01-2006
SS Lesson on 1 Peter – Dixon’s Notes - Wiersbe’s BE Series – TBKC - McGee
Romans 13:12 (KJV)
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [1]
Do you believe that Christ is coming again?
Do you live like it?
Do you have an attitude of expectancy or are we lazy daydreamers.
I will always remember the group that was in MT when we lived there.
Although we do not know the date we should be ratcheting up, not down.
Why?
The return of Christ is going to usher countless souls into eternity
As that time grows near, there are things we should be doing.
Context:
The apostle Paul will be dead in a couple of years.
Peter is getting old, coming to the conclusion of a 20 or 30 year ministry, and headed for a crucifixion of his own.
God’s people are suffering for the cause of Christ.
Nero is on the throne in Rome and he is a tyrant. Certainly no friend to the Christians.
And
In the midst of all this, Peter writes a letter of encouragement to Christians.
In our passage we find that …
What he offers them as encouragement is the fact that Jesus is coming again.
This is not the same ashamed Peter who denied the Lord Jesus.
This is the Peter who is headed to a cross of his own grounded and rooted in the belief that Christ could step out of the clouds at any moment.
He believes it so strongly that he will die for it
And so he writes this letter to me and to you to tell us that
No matter what happens, no matter is going on in your life, I am writing to encourage you to remember Jesus is coming. No matter what happens. No matter how bad it is remember, Jesus IS coming!
And not only does that mean that when He comes, all things will be made right
But it also means how we are live today should be affected by His imminent return.
James 5:8 tells us that as well
Let’s read 1 Peter 4:7-11 (KJV)
Peter remembered well the words that Jesus spoke in John 14:3
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
[2]
He remembered them so well because Jesus spoke these words immediately after telling Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crow.
Oh, how Peter had learned to believe the Lord in the days following those words.
In the years that had passed since Peter’s denial, he had indeed become Petros, the rock.
If there was ever a person who would not and could not be swayed again, I believe it was Peter.
Peter had come to know first hand about denial, forgiveness, and persecution.
In the midst of everything that was going on in the first century and indeed in the midst of everything that is going on in your lives tonight, Peter offers the return of Christ as hope for the future and as a guide for how we should be living today.
So, what we find in this passage is that as we live in the light of Christ’s return, there are some things we should be doing.
Look in verse 7 -
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
First of all…
The end of all things is at hand – Christ is coming again as He said He would
THEREFORE
If you believe Jesus is coming soon…
Be serious, sober, clear-minded
IN a world of chaos and confusion
In a time when there is suffering in your life
As godlessness and antagonism toward Christ continue to grow
Be clear-minded.
Be intelligent regarding God’s Word
Nail down what you believe
Hold on tighter than ever to the truths of God’s Word.
Now is not the time to for Christians to compromise and coast but it is the time to for us to carry the Word and compel others to hear what Jesus has to say.
If you believe Jesus is coming soon…
You need to quit compromising
And separate yourself from sin
If we believe the Lord is returning soon – We need to be working harder than ever to rescue the perishing.
As the time for Jesus’ return draws nearer…
The church should be like a bee hive
Activity everywhere
Killer bees have so many more workers
Have you noticed that a lot of churches are built close to graveyards and often times the activity in the two is about the same?
It should indeed make a difference to us that the Lord is coming soon.
But it should not cause us to coast or relax
We must renew our efforts to take the Gospel to our friends and our families.
Next, still in verse seven, if we believe that Jesus is coming soon then Peter says we will be people of prayer.
Now is the time to be disciplined in your prayers.
Peter says, the end is at hand – this is the time to be disciplined in your prayer life.
As time grows shorter, the urgency increases for serious, sober communication
with God.
We are to pray always
Jesus prayed to His father
Paul prayed always
Peter admonishes us to be disciplined in our prayers even more as we approach the time of the Lord’s return.
You say what good does it do?
LISTEN -
God hears His children
The Bible says that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much.
We are not to pray less as the Lord’s return nears, but more.
Our prayers ought to be a reflection of the fact that Christ is alive.
You don’t pray to some lifeless idol.
Listen to people who pray to a living God…
You ought to come and join with us on Sunday mornings at 0830 just to hear Stan and Cliff talk to their Father.
Now…
Some of us have a prayer life that pleases the devil
I’ll prove it.
If you had a regular prayer life, would that please God?
If you did not have a regular prayer life, would that please the devil?
Do you have a regular prayer life?
No? Then you have a prayer life that pleases the devil.
You believe Jesus is coming back soon?
That belief should be reflected in your prayer life.
Ask God to forgive you for being slack in your prayer life – Get on your knees and pray to the only One who can change your life and save your friends, amen?
Warren Wiersbe is right when he says that our belief in the doctrine of the return of Christ is not demonstrated by how well we can draw charts and graphs but in how we think and pray.
Then, Peter says:
If we believe Jesus is coming soon, we will love one another
Not just love but fervent love.
Eager love
Intense Love
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
We should be treating one another the way that God treats us
We should be unselfish and sacrificing for one another.
There should be a spiritual love feast going on among followers of Christ.
But you know what…
There are some people in the church don’t even like each other.
You go to church with people that you will not even speak to..
You think God ought to give you extra credit points for not telling them off.
Hey man, you have got sin in your life.
You need to ask them to forgive you tonight
And on your way over to them, ask God to forgive you.
And don’t tell me what the other person did to you.
As they were killing Jesus, He said, “Father forgive them.”
And then Peter says…
Love covers a multitude of sins
I look differently at the people I love.
If I love you I am going to do what is best for you
Not take advantage of you when you are down
Not promote your weaknesses.
I am even going to defend you as much as I can.
Love may not be blind, but it does help me to accept the faults of others.
Now…
Love does not condone sin – that would not be love at all.
Peter says Jesus is coming again – love one another. Fervently
Then – next in verse nine– we are to like one another
You say, “Now wait a minute. I may love ‘em. But I ain’t gonna like ‘em.”
Be hospitable
How do you expect to win people to Christ when you are known as a grouch and a curmudgeon?
Go over and talk to your neighbor.
Now don’t confuse nice with nosey. Just be nice.
It is not a bad thing to look like you are a Christian.
Some people, when they see you they think all Christians are like that.
“Joe, don’t you want to be a Christian?”
“I Bob a Christian?”
“Why yes, he is.”
“Then , no I don’t want it.”
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
We have two ICU ministries that you can be involved in – If you believe Jesus is coming soon, use hospitality one to another.
Then look at verse 10
If we believe the Lord is coming soon, we should be busy about His work.
You should be using the gift God has given you.
Many of you are so good at encouraging, helping, ministering
If you would just let God use you.
But…
There are some people in our churches who are not doing ANYTHING
I mean they are the spiritual equivalent of a tic on a dog or
Blubber on a belly.
Technically, they are a part of the church
But, really all they do is…
Consume valuable resources
Listen, children – I believe it is a sin to be a lazy church member.
You say that is not in the Bible –
It sure is
You know to do good and you do it not.
God has given you a spiritual gift to use in this church or some other church.
You are not using it and so the body of Christ is not all it is intended to be.
And you are not being all that God intended you to be.
And I believe you could be in danger of losing what God has given you to use in His body.
The Bible says,
Woe to you who are at ease in Zion.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Then in verse 11, if we believe Jesus is coming soon, we will speak boldly in His name.
Just tell the truth – Don’t be rude – Just tell the truth
I don’t know what to say – Use God’s words.
Be a mouthpiece for God.
Many times telling the truth is not the easy way…
Some of you would be very uncomfortable to be in the situations that Stan and I have been in or that Ted is often in.
I believe Jesus is coming soon…
I have told my elders in the church
What you have done is a sin, and if you do it again, we will begin church discipline.
I really believe He is coming back…
I have told my friends.
You have defiled the marriage bed and are living in sin.
I believe He could come back next week…
I counsel that God hates divorce.
Now sometimes He allows for it, but He hates it.
And I don’t believe you can have a divorce without sin being somewhere involved.
It is possible that He will return before I finish speaking with whoever it is I am talking to so I have told many people…
Friend, if you die right now, you will go to hell.
Now, God may not ever put you in a position where you have to deliver what I call, “hard truth.”
But everyday, He puts you in a position where you can tell people how much He loves them.
Amen?
Then, lastly if we believe Jesus is coming soon then
Lets do all of these things to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. [3]
So…
Let me ask you two questions in light of what Peter has told us here.
Do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
Are you living like you believe it?
Perhaps Jesus will tarry until Friday
If He does, what will you do with Thursday?
Let’s Pray.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
[4]
Purpose to Pray v. 7
Practice Agape Love v. 8
Present Hospitality v. 9
Prepare your ministry v. 10
If you believe that Jesus is coming soon…
Proclaim The Word v. 11
Present The Son v. 11
Preach Christ to the glory of God
Praise His name v. 11
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[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA
[2] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA
[3] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA
[4] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA