Depend on God & Work Together

PRAY: Infinite God, we echo this morning the words of Moses in Psalm 90:12 and ask that you teach us more today of how we may number our days to gain wisdom in our hearts. Amen.

INTRO: It’s the end of the game (5 mins left, two mins left) - Coach says, “Give it your all. Rest is coming soon.” - Negative reinforcement as well: Kids lollygagging around when it’s time to clean up. Dad says, “You have 5 mins to get this all picked up.” (Hopefully resulting in improved performance rather than panic… :-))

Peter springboards into this next section with that very notion of “the end is near” to shape the mentality of God’s people:

1 Peter 4:7–11 ESV

The end of all things is at hand; therefore 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, 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.

Context: Suffering like Jesus - How to patiently endure unjust treatment while doing good

Now Peter will tell us…

Live like Christ’s return is drawing near. (7a)

… or at hand, or imminent… in other words, It’s-a-gonna-happen. - We’re in the final quarter.

Since Christ has come and inaugurated the Church age, the time in which we live is now near to the end—near to the return of Christ. - Now the point of course is NOT to try to set a time for that end specifically, but rather to live in a godly way in light of the fact that it draws near. As Tom Schreiner notes, in the NT…

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (4) Living in Light of the End (4:7–11)

Eschatology is invariably used to encourage believers to live in a godly way

Short time = motivation to live for and serve Jesus - There’s a sense of urgency here. - Focused and Fervent

Pray Alertly (v. 7)

Self-controlled and sober-minded… are so closely tied here as to be synonymous, taken together as a whole.

σωφρονέω (sōphroneō): to be sane, to be sensible/reasonable, to be clear-minded for sober judgment - In other words, to be soberly wise — to think and live wisely in self-control over one’s passions and desires.

νήφω (nēphō): to be sober-minded (in the sense of clear-headed and not drunk, also to be restrained and self-controlled. It means both to get self-control and to sober up — to curb the controlling influence of inordinate emotions or desires (thereby being reasonable), conceived of as sobering up from the influence of alcohol.

What they seem to have in common is clarity of focus and keeping your passions and emotions in check. They imply focus, watchfulness, urgency, etc. … a clear mind. - These are things we need when being treated unjustly, to be sure. But Peter turns that need toward our dependence on God… that’s what prayer does. It keeps us connected with God in dependence on Him.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (4) Living in Light of the End (4:7–11)

The realization that God is bringing history to a close should provoke believers to depend on him, and this dependence is manifested in prayer, for in prayer believers recognize that any good that occurs in the world is due to God’s grace.

Dependence on God is paramount in the Christian life. Prayer is the proof and the avenue. (7b)

Prayer is the proof of your dependence on God. And prayer is the avenue of your dependence on God.

Don’t be swayed by your emotions or desires. Stay tethered to God in prayer. - We want our prayers to be level-headed according to God’s will, no matter what the circumstance.

Prayer is your wartime radio. You use it in the still of the night to rest in God before the battle resumes tomorrow, and in the heat of battle, you use prayer to request orders and reinforcements as the bullets are whizzing near your head. But even in the heat of battle (ie., suffering unjustly for righteousness), you must keep your head even in your dependent prayer, remembering that you may already have some clear orders from your commander… you just need to review them… and remembering that God may reinforce you through his power to withstand the suffering rather than relieving you from the current situation.

Prayer is the proof of your dependence on God. And prayer is the avenue of your dependence on God.

To live with focus and fervency in the urgency of these last days, pray dependently on God with a clear mind.

Love Earnestly (v. 8)

“Maintain fervent love for one another”

- with intensity, urgency, and constancy

“Above all...”

Selfless love is the Church’s glue. (8a)

My Dad understands Christian love—sacrificially giving without expectation of reciprocation.

Selfless love allows us to work together beyond everybody’s shortcomings. (8b)

Here seems to be the sense of what Peter is saying...

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (4) Living in Light of the End (4:7–11)

When believers lavish love on others, the sins and offenses of others are overlooked.

And here seems to be the application:

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary (i) Pray More and Love Each Other More (4:7–9)

Where love abounds in a fellowship of Christians, many small offences, and even some large ones, are readily overlooked and forgotten. But where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts abound

Love one another earnestly, with constancy, because love is the glue that holds us together in tough times and it allows us to work together and get along in spite of each teammate’s quirks and shortcomings.

And as one example of this selfless love, Peter says next to…

Show Hospitality (v. 9)

Hospitality in its broadest sense is the quality of kindness and generosity toward others. However, I think Peter has something more specific in mind. In their contemporary context...

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 4:1–11—Persevere in the New Life

Hospitality was receiving others, especially taking in travelers of the same faith who needed a place to stay.

Hospitality was incredibly important to the mission of the church in a day when inns could often be dangerous or immoral and unpleasant, and such lodging could be difficult to afford. So not only was hospitality required for churches generally, which often met in people’s homes, but you can see how this would be critical for mission efforts, as well as particularly during times of persecution when believers could become displaced and needed to journey to new areas. Traveling Christians were to be generously welcomed and provided for by fellow believers—that’s hospitality.

Perhaps that backdrop helps us to see that…

Hospitality is a supreme example of how love builds the Church.

Hospitality invites others into our personal space to share with them the abundant grace with which God has blessed us.

Hospitality shows preferential treatment to visitors. It treats guests with the best.

Hospitality takes effort and sacrifice.

There’s time involved, and expense involved - which is why we’re reminded to do so without grumbling.

- Don’t take hospitality for granted. When someone shows you hospitality, thank them profusely. And give them breaks! (Don’t take advantage of it. Also, I guess, don’t assume people are inhospitable just because they don’t do it exactly the way you think it should be done.)

And now, along with being clear-headed and alert to remain dependent on God in prayer, and showing hospitality as an example of earnest love… Utilize the Grace Gifts as Faithful Managers to the Glory of God.

Grace Gifts (v. 10)

By saying “each,” Peter implies that every believer receives at least one spiritual gift… something Paul teaches explicitly in 1 Cor. 12:7-11.

You may also find it helpful to have a working definition of a spiritual gift. Here’s one offered by Wayne Grudem: “A spiritual gift… is any talent or ability which is empowered by the Holy Spirit and able to be used in the ministry of the church.” -Wayne A. Grudem, 1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 17, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 182.

The other key thing to notice is that these gifts have been received and that they are to be used to serve others.

Spiritual gifts are gifts of grace—gifts received by God’s grace and to be a means of God’s grace to His people.

This means at least a couple of things:

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (4) Living in Light of the End (4:7–11)

Believers cannot boast about the gift they have, for otherwise they contradict its gracious character, thinking that somehow they merit its bestowal.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (4) Living in Light of the End (4:7–11)

Gifts are not given so that believers can congratulate themselves on their abilities. They are bestowed “to serve others.”

(Are you withholding grace by a lazy lack of sincere love and intention to bless the body?)

When believers use their gifts for the purpose of blessing and strengthening others, they are acting as “good stewards of God’s grace.”

Good managers honor their Master through faithful administration of His gifts.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:10

A “steward” was one who served as a house manager; he had no wealth of his own, but distributed his master’s wealth according to his master’s will and direction.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (4) Living in Light of the End (4:7–11)

Spiritual gifts are not fundamentally a privilege but a responsibility, a call to be faithful to what God has bestowed.

Varied grace… (10b) - “The diversity of gifts reveals the multifaceted character of God’s grace.” -Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 214.

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary (ii) Glorify God in Using Your Gifts (4:10–11)

In fact, since there are various types within any one gift (people with the gift of evangelism may differ in the kinds of evangelism they do best; similarly with teaching, helping, etc.), one could say there is an almost limitless variety of different spiritual gifts, all manifestations of the richly varied and abundant grace of God.

But rather than give a smattering of some of the possibilities, which the Apostle Paul does in Rom 12, 1 Cor. 12, and in Eph 4, (BTW, if it helps you to remember when thinking about spiritual gift passages, try to remember 12-12-4-4. That’s the previous three plus this one in 1 Peter 4.) Peter puts the many varieties under two general categories:

Speaking & Serving (11a)

I find Peter’s way of categorizing and explaining spiritual gifting really helpful, as well as a good reminder that all of us should be serving and speaking with the opportunities that the Lord provides.

Again… Those who speak must not promote their own ideas but rather faithfully present God’s words. Those who serve are to do so in the strength that God provides.

We can confidently speak hope and help to one another from God’s word.

We can cheerfully & consistently serve with the strength that God provides.

Friends, we ought to be finding joy in serving one another, in sharing truth from God’s word.

We aim to let God’s grace be manifest through us, speaking God’s words and drawing on God’s strength, so that all the glory will go to God alone.

Soli Deo Gloria (11b)

ALL GLORY TO GOD - “in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

(In this immediate context…) If your motivation isn’t to build God’s people to the glory of Christ, then it isn’t from the Holy Spirit… it’s from yourself and for yourself.

But if you prayerfully maintain a motive to be used of God by His grace and for His glory, He desires to bless that kind of speaking and serving.

Can I tell you what line of thinking helps me to be both encouraged and to have courage concerning God spiritually gifting us? - These gifts are empowered by the Holy Spirit, springing from the inexhaustible riches of God’s grace. So all you really have to manage well is yourself, being sure that you speak and serve in various situations and opportunities with the aim to do good to others for the glory of God. It is God who does the rest. He is the living water that quenches parched souls, and it is he who showers comfort and compassion on the one who needs relief. It is God who overwhelms with his holiness… and goodness… and power… and glory! We simply and obediently open the tap.

Are you obediently and cheerfully making yourself available to be a tap for the abundant and overwhelming grace of God in Christ Jesus? God’s people are waiting to be blessed by Him through your simple obedience to speak and serve. And those who still need Christ don’t know they’re waiting for you to obediently show up and shine a light so they may be transformed by the grace of God to the glory of God.

And Peter fittingly ends the paragraph with a doxology.

I’m picturing Peter here, talking out loud as Silvanus (known elsewhere as Silas) writes down what he dictates, and finishing the statement about God being glorified in Christ Jesus, and then just erupting right into a doxology. “To him belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” And Silas and anyone else in the room say, “Amen—I’m in agreement—Amen. … Let’s keep that doxology in the letter right here. It is fitting. Amen.”

We’re gonna wrap things up there for the sermon this morning as well. It is a fitting end: (As the praise team comes, say it aloud with me.)

“To Him belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

COMMUNION -

[Closing… at the end of the service]

Live in Light of the End

We have a reminder from Peter to live with an urgency that generates in us a clarity of focus and a fervency of spirit. How do we patiently endure unjust treatment and keep on doing good?

First we arm ourselves with Christ’s mindset concerning suffering: to pursue the will of God even if the path is through suffering, and to seek to do so without sinning, knowing that how we may be treated unjustly in this life is not the last word.

Secondly, we live with a focus and fervency that reminds us to desperately depend on God in prayer and to work together in love, letting God’s grace work in us and through us to the benefit of others.

Are you living every day in light of the end? Pray like you desperately depend on God for today and tomorrow, love like Christ’s love is literally the glue that holds God’s people together, and speak and serve as people who aim to see God glorified every day, with as many days as he sees fit to give us.

Pray with me: “Oh Lord, we depend completely on your guidance and strength. We remember today that this world and our very lives are not about us but about you, and we thank you for your grace to reveal that to us. Continue to shape us into people who suffer willingly if it be your will, if it makes us like your Son, if it bears witness to the gospel of your salvation offered to mankind. Teach us God to love others and one another well by hospitably sharing your care for us with others, and to speak your words and serve your people… for your glory. We ask these things through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may all the glory and dominion be yours forever and ever. Amen.”

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