Living in Light of the End

1 Peter 4:7-11

1 Peter 4:7–11 CSB

The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Introduction

Throughout the years there has been many dooms day theories. 20 years ago we had the Y2K scare that had everyone thinking about the end of the world, or the Mayan calendar of December 21 2012. Along with that there have been movies portraying the end of the world. Movies such as: The Day after Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, Deep Impact, and even the Christian Classic, Left Behind.

Both in and out of the church people have been fascinated by the end of the world. Specifically, I remember for the Y2K scare here were people running all over the place, buying up food, bottled water, gas and everything else they could think of, just in case something happened. They did all of that just in case they were without power, or open food stores for a few days. Sad, how few of them had prepared for what we all know is coming.

The fact is, unless Jesus comes again, we are all going to die. You can either face that fact with fear and uncertainty, or you can face it with assurance and peace. It all depends on how you prepare. The passage we are looking at today reminds us of this idea of preparation, this idea of living in light of the anticipation of something. Here’s the main point of today’s passage: We must live our everyday lives as if Jesus is coming back tomorrow.

Main Point: We must live our everyday lives as if Jesus is coming back tomorrow

To give you some context, Peter was writing to a people who were under intense persecution, and this persecution caused believers to spread around the known world. And Peter writes this letter as a reminder that we are pilgrims, that heaven is our true home, that as long as we are on earth, that we are to live as exiles. Exiles who are eagerly waiting for Jesus to return. And because all Christians are exiles from our heavenly home, then we must live our everyday lives as if Jesus is coming back tomorrow. And this passage teaches us 5 ways on how we should live in light of that reality, in light of the return of Christ.

1. Be Prayerfully Alert (v. 7)

1 Peter 4:7 CSB

The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

Peter begins with the end of all things is near. When people think of the last days, they think about the times we are living in. But Scripture paints it in a different light, the reason the end is near is because the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has ushered in the last days. John told Christians in the first century in 1 John 2:18 that they were living in the last hour. At Pentecost we see a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: That in the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. So because the end is near, Peter is exhorting us to live in the following way. Because the end of all things is near, we must be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

So what happened to these Christians, what happens to us sometimes, that caused Peter to write this? Because of the intense persecution, they thought that this was the end. The nearness of the end has led some believers to lose their heads and act irrationally. Therefore, he commands them to be alert and sober-minded. To be alert and sober-minded is to have a clear-mind, to be able to think straight, to exercise self-controlled.

Ephesians 6:18 also says it like this, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

As the people of God, we ought to be the most alert and sober-minded people out there. Because when you do, it’ll help you pray more effectively.

Have you ever been around someone who is acting irrational? You know making a big deal out of something small? For example, like a child, kicking and screaming because their favorite toy is sold out. The child is making a big deal, but you as a parent know it isn’t a big deal. I’ve been that child. But you know why you see it that way and child doesn’t? It’s because you have a different vantage point, because of your wisdom and experience you know it isn’t the end of the world.

When we Christians see things from God’s perspective, we will be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

In this same way, brothers and sisters, being prayerfully alert causes us to see the world in the right way. Having a clear mind will help us pray for those people in the right way. It’ll help pray the right prayers.

Instead of God take me out the situation, your prayers will be God help me understand what you are trying to teach me through this situation.

Instead of God, please don’t send me difficult people today, but rather God will you strengthen me to be a light today so that when I encounter difficult people, I may be a witness for you.

And listen part of being alert and sober-minded is surrounding yourself around people who will help you think in this way. So question: Who are you surrounding yourself with? Do you have people in your life who will challenge you when you’re thinking foolishly? Do you have people who will point you back to Jesus?

Transition: So Because Jesus can come back at anytime, we must be a people who are devoted to prayer and people who are alert and sober-minded. But Peter not only shows us that we should be prayerfully alert, he shows us the second way of living in light of Jesus return is to Be Loving, look at verse 8 with me in your bible.

2. Be Loving (v. 8)

1 Peter 4:8 CSB

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Peter continues his exhortation by now reminding believers that Above All, maintain constant love for one another. This isn’t a one time thing, the verb maintain constant love, in the Greek, is written in a way that it means it is a continual action. The idea is that you are to keep loving one another. This is the continuous posture of the Christian life. Jesus warned his disciples, Peter being one of them, that one of the signs of the end is that love will grow cold. When believers contemplate how to spend their lives in light of the Lord’s coming, in their few days as pilgrims, they should remind themselves of the priority of love.

We should continue to love in this way, because as Peter says, love covers a multitude of sins. The clear meaning is that love covers over the wrongs of others, while those who are full of hatred use the sins of others as a springboard to attack them. Now this does not mean that we don’t address sin and sweep it under the rug. It means we pick and choose our battles wisely when relating to others in our journey to heaven. After all, Jesus did say that the world will know we are his disciples by the way we love one another.

Nicole and I have been married for 3 years no, and if there is something that I can tell you is that marriage is a blessing. Marriage is the one relationship that sanctifies you. One of the beauties of this sanctification in marriage is that it reveals all of your blindspots. However, because our marriage is rooted in the gospel and we love one another, there are many times where we overlook our offenses. We realize that some issues aren’t worth fighting.

In the same way, that a husband and wife overlook some offenses, believers are to not look for every way to catch their brothers and sisters in Christ sinning. Our response is to love them in such a way that it leads them back into a restorative relationship with Jesus.

It’s easy to love those who love you back. It’s easy to love those who are easy to be around with. But being around difficult people will show how loving you really are. Can you love the individual who asks you for advice but never takes it? Are you able to have a loving response when your teenager gets in a car accident for being on their phone? Are you able to love that next door neighbor who has the music loud every night at 10pm? Are you able to love and forgive the friend who has wronged you? Are you able to love someone who votes differently than you do? Are you able to love someone who views mask wearing and COVID-19 restrictions different than you do?

If you really want to show someone you love them, point them to Jesus. Share the gospel with them. Sharing the gospel is the most loving thing you can ever do to another human being. Not sharing the gospel is like having the cure for cancer and refusing to give to to someone who has cancer.

Listen, we love because God loved us first and another aspect of loving others is forgivingness. As Christians, we should forgive the faults in others’ lives because we have experienced God’s gracious forgiveness in our own.

Transition: So not only are we to be prayerfully alert and be loving, Peter shows us the third way of living in light of Jesus return is to be hospitable. look at verse 9 with me in your bible.

3. Be Hospitable (v. 9)

1 Peter 4:9 CSB

Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

Now to be hospitable, means, to love strangers, to love them enough that it welcomes them. Hospitality in the first century is what set Christianity apart from the other religions. Hospitality was also needed because during times of persecution, hospitality was especially welcomed by Christians who were forced to journey to new areas.

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2 CSB

Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

The point is that greater blessings are often received by those giving hospitality than by those receiving it.

Rosaria Butterfield, in her book, the Gospel comes with a house key says this, “Those who live out radically ordinary hospitality see their homes not as theirs at all but as God’s gift to use for the furtherance of his kingdom. They open doors; they seek out the underprivileged. They know that the gospel comes with a house key. They take biblical theology seriously, as well as Christian creeds and confessions and traditions.”

She also says, “Radically ordinary hospitality characterizes those who don’t fuss over different world-views represented at the dinner table. The truly hospitable aren’t embarrassed to keep friendships with people who are different.”

So we are to be hospitable, As Peter says, without complaining. The reason we are not to complain about it is because hospitality can be hard work. Some guests will be more difficult than others, and there may be times when it is more of a duty than a joy.

I remember a few years ago I was on my way to church to do the sound for a women’s event at the church. While driving to the church, I saw a young man asking for a ride on the side of the road. As I drove past, I felt a strong conviction that the Lord was telling me to pick him up.

Now, I would be lying if I said, I pulled over, but I kept driving and wrestling with God, like I don’t know this man. What if he tries to kill me and steal my car, but I obeyed and just trusted that the God who was commanding me to do this was going to protect me also.

So I turned around, asked him if he needed a ride and he hopped in super thankful that I was willing to drive him to the train station. I responded, no worries man, Jesus told me to pick you up. When I said that, he said what? Jesus? And I said yea Jesus Christ. Immediately he started to weep and began to confess that he was raised a Christian and stopped walking with him. Immediately I recognize this was a sovereignly orchestrated.

This simple act of obedient hospitality was a tool that God used to remind this individual of his unique love he has. I can imagine that simple act, impacted this person’s life and even, hopefully, was used to bring him to Christ.

The reason we are commanded to be hospitable is because God was hospitable toward us. We were lost, we were his enemies, and he welcomed us in. And God uses hospitality to let the unbelieving world know what Christ-Like love looks like.

Now there is a difference between being hospitable and entertaining people:

Entertaining says, “I want to impress you with my home, my clever decorating, my cooking.” Hospitality, seeking to minister, says, “This home is a gift from my Master. I use it as He desires.” Hospitality aims to serve.

Entertaining puts things before people. “As soon as I get the house finished, the living room decorated, my housecleaning done—then I will start inviting people. Hospitality puts people first. “No furniture—we’ll eat on the floor!” “The decorating may never get done—you come anyway.” “The house is a mess—but you are friends—come home with us.”

So let’s create a culture of invitation. Invite people over that you normally don’t hang out with over for dinner. Consider opening your home up to a struggling young adult or couple to help them get on their feet. I remember back when Nicole and I got news that our landlord was selling the house and that he wanted to sell it fast, a couple in our church decided to invite us to live with them for the next 7 months rent free. Now were those 7 months easy, no. But God used it in both our lives to grow us in his love for us and our love for one another.

Let’s be other focused, as individuals and as a church. Consider serving on the building team, hospitality team, welcome team, and usher team to show hospitality toward first-time guests as a church. These are just a few ways you can show hospitality to others in small ways.

Transition: So not only are we to be prayerfully alert, loving, and hospitable, the fourth way of living in light of Jesus return is to be a servant. look at verse 10-11 with me in your bible.

4. Be A Servant (v.10-11a)

1 Peter 4:10–11 CSB

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Peter continues his exhortation by now reminding believers to use the gifts God gave them to serve others. This means that every single person has received a gift from God. Some gifts are natural skills and abilities and other gifts are supernatural. Both type of gifts have been given to you by God so that you can use them to serve others. Since they are gifts, believers cannot boast (brag) about the gift they have. We are servants because we use these gifts to serve others, as the passage says, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

The word translated stewards could also be translated as managers. Meaning you're in charge of something that doesn’t really belong to you. Since God is the owner of everything, we are simply manager’s of all he has given us. Now this varied grace speaks into the varying nature of the gifts God gives.

Peter continues in verse 11 to say, “If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.”

Peter wrote so that those who speak will speak in a way that it is faithful to scripture and not their own opinions, and, those who serve others must not rely on their own strength. They must serve “with the strength God provides,” relying on his power to carry out their tasks. Why are we to do it in this way? Peter concludes with in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. The point is that use your gifts in such a way that it brings glory to God and not yourself.

We use our gifts to serve others the gifts ultimately belong to God. He is the one who gave them to you. There we should use them the way he intended, and it’s to serve others. And listen, Don't allow someone else's opinion about you stop you from functioning in the gifts God has given you. God gave you those gifts not so that you can show how awesome you are, but so that you can show the world how awesome he is.

When MJ retired (the first time) in 1993 to play baseball, the world watched with eagerness to see if MJ was going to be great in this sport as well. But as the months went by, the world noticed that the skills MJ had on the basketball court didn’t translate to the baseball field.

It wasn’t long before MJ noticed that he wasn’t using his gifts to serve the sport of baseball. In 1995 he came back and between 1996 and 1998 he won 3 championships and 2 MVPs all because he sought to use his gifts in a way that blessed himself, his teammates, and also the city of Chicago. And in the same way MJ learned to rightly use his gifts, we need to understand that God created you to use the gifts he gave you to serve others. And when you function in the gifts God gave you, you will experience his grace in fresh ways.

Some gifts are easy to see and some take discernment. If you don’t know what your gift is, here are two ways to discern what that gift is. What are you naturally good at and enjoy doing? And what do others say you are good at? Some children enjoy science, some children enjoy math, others enjoy sports, Others like to read and research. You may be aware of these things but it is typically when others point out a common talent that agrees with our passions, internal convictions, gifting and what God has already revealed to us, it can be a solid indication of our God-given gift.

If you know what your gift is, then develop it. Find mentors who will coach you through the process. Read books that will help you grow in your competency. Serving is a key way of growing in your gifts. Ask God in prayer to give you wisdom on the best ways to grow your gifts. Then display your gifts by putting them into practice by serving the local church. Use your gifts to point people to Jesus at your work place.

Transition: We use our gifts to serve others and not for our own pride because Jesus is coming back at any moment. So as we are prayerfully alert, loving, hospitable, and are a servant. The last way Peter reminds us to live in light of the return of Jesus is to be a worshipper. Look back at the end of verse 11.

5. Be a Worshipper (v. 11b)

1 Peter 4:11 CSB

If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Peter finishes this section with a doxology. A doxology is the offering of worship to God in ‘wonder, love and praise’, exalting him, glorifying him and proclaiming his greatness in ‘humble adoration’. This brief praise is referred to Jesus Christ. To Him, to Jesus, belongs the power and the glory forever and ever. We worship God because of who He is, because God rose Jesus from the dead. We worship because He is the God who provides for all of our needs. WE worship because He is the God who protects us from the evil one. We worship because we were created to worship him.

All is to be done to God’s glory because his are the glory and power for ever. Peter’s exhortation becomes an affirmation: God is to be praised in everything. God is praised when we are alert and sober-minded for prayer, God is praised when we are loving to one another, God is praised when we show hospitality to one another, God is praised when we use the gifts he gave us to serve others. God is to be praised in everything.

I’ve never understood some people though, they may say they're Christians but they seem to never get excited about Jesus. They’ll say things like it’s my personality type, I’m a reserved person, I’m not emotional, BUT the same people who say that will be yelling with excitement over a sports game. To those people, if you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, then you will realize that none of those things compare to who God is.

But let me be clear, worship is not something we do on Sundays. Worship is something we do everyday. Worship is the lifestyle of the Christian. We worship God through the way we spend money, by the way we use our time, by the way we relate with others, as 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, whether we eat or whether we drink, do it all for the glory of God.

Conclusion

If you have 24 hours to live? How would you spend that time? What would you do? Who would you go see? As God’s chosen people, How much more should we steward our time well? How much more should we be in prayer? How much more should we love our neighbors? How much more should we be hospital? How much more should we use our gifts to serve others?

Because Jesus is coming back soon, lets live like it. We must live our everyday lives as if Jesus is coming back tomorrow.

And if you don’t know Jesus personally, I would invite you to receive him and know him for yourself.

He knows you better than you know yourself and loves you in spite of your imperfections. He came to live the perfect life you could not live and died the death you should have died.

He died that death because your sin separates you from God. God sent Jesus to pay for the penalty of sin and to bring into a right relationship with him.

Receive him now, so that when Jesus comes back, you may spend eternity with him and not separated from him in hell.

Because Jesus is coming back soon, lets live like it. We must live our everyday lives as if Jesus is coming back tomorrow.

Let’s Pray..