Are you expecting Christ to Return!

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7–11, especially verse 11: But the end of all things is at hand; therefore …

1 Peter 4:7 (KJV 1900)

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Introduction: This may be the year! Peter expected Jesus to return in his own day, and if the return of Christ seemed imminent to Peter, how much more to us! Peter longed for the Lord’s return; and if we’re alert, we’ll wake up every morning saying, “Maybe this is the year Christ will return. What if it were today?” What, then, are the implications? How should we live? If we knew for certain that we were the last generation of Christians on earth, would it make a difference in our lives? Peter wrote: “The end of all things is at hand …” And he went on to specify four activities that should mark our lives as the coming of the Lord approaches.

1 Peter 4:7–11 KJV 1900

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 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. 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.

1. Be Serious and Watchful in Prayer (v. 7).

“The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober (serious)and watch in your prayers.”

1 Peter 4:7 (KJV 1900)

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

The Greek word for “sober” is serious means “sane, sensible”, “be reasonable”.

The word “watchful” meaning “restrained” or “self-controlled” was used for staying sober as opposed to being drunk.

Together, these two terms indicate that we need to keep our wits about us, to be alert, clear-headed, and self-controlled.

I get the idea here that God puts more value on our prayers than we do. He considers prayer a serious activity that can influence world events. The prophet Daniel was aware of current events and it influenced the way he prayed (see Dan. 9).

Daniel 9:1–5 (KJV 1900)

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

What can we give up in order to have more time to pray?

Are you a person who watches quite a bit of television? Try offering one of your programs as a sacrifice. Tell the Lord, “I’m giving up this show to devote that hour or half-hour each week to praying over national and world events.” Have you ever used a newspaper as a prayer guide? Have you ever prayed through a copy of Time Magazine? Pray for current events and world leaders. Become a world prayer warrior this year.

2. Have Fervent Love for One Another (v. 8).

“The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore…

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV 1900)

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

The Greek word for “fervent” means “eager” “intense” and conveys the idea of strenuous effort, like a horse on a full stretch barreling toward the finish line.

It has the idea of burning and boiling and of being passionate about loving one’s brother in Christ.[1]

Note how a fervent love is far more than the human love of warm feelings and attraction. It is far more than sentimental and caring feelings for a person.[2]

Fervent love is to be put before all else. It is the most important duty of the believer. We are to strain every ounce of energy in our minds and hearts to love.

This means that we love others even when they …

• hurt us

• persecute us

• oppose us

• ridicule us

• abuse us

• speak evil against us

• injure us

• mock us

The most wonderful thing happens when we love each other with a fervent love: a multitude of sins is covered.[3]

This kind of love covers a multitude of sins. This kind of love enables us to minimize the faults of others and to maximize their strengths. It can transform our relationships this year.

3. Be Hospitable to One Another (v. 9).

“The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore…

1 Peter 4:9 (KJV 1900)

1 Peter 4:9 (KJV 1900)

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

When Jesus left Nazareth, He spent three years sleeping in homes other than his own. He didn’t own a house, and there were few hotels in those days. For about a thousand nights in a row, Jesus either slept under the stars or borrowed a bed in someone’s house.

Hospitality was an absolute essential for the early church, and it is an absolute essential within the church today. Why? For love and care and ministry and close fellowship. It is almost impossible to maintain a loving and caring church and a dynamic ministry unless believers are fellowshipping together in their homes. In fact, Christ taught that we are to use our homes as centers of Christian love, fellowship, and outreach.[4]

When was the last time your home was open to Jesus? for His purposes? I know that sometimes we can’t bring people into our homes. But if you can’t bring your neighbor into your kitchen, take your kitchen to your neighbors. Bake a pan of brownies for them and invite them to church.

4. Minister to One Another (vv. 10–11).

“The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore…

1 Peter 4:10–11 (KJV 1900)

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.

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.

“The end of all things is near, therefore …” we should minister to one another using our spiritual gifts.

The word gift (charisma) means the very special ability given to the believer by God. Note that the gift is from God; it is not a natural talent. The believer could not have attained nor secured the ability himself. It is a spiritual gift; that is, it is given by the Spirit of God for spiritual purposes. It is given to the believer so that he can fulfill his task on earth.[5]

Two basic types of gifts are mentioned here: speaking gifts and serving gifts.

Some have speaking gifts: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” Whenever you tell someone about Christ, it is Christ Himself using your mouth to speak His message. When God gives you an opportunity to teach, preach, witness, evangelize, or encourage someone, it’s as though Jesus Himself were personally speaking to those people.

The other kind of gift is the serving gifts.

This would include such gifts as hospitality, visiting, mercy, giving, and the other gifts of ministering to people.

But notice: We’re to serve in the strength He provides.

How?

First, we serve Him with the strength of body He provides. Second, we serve Him with the strength of attitude He provides (see Phil. 4:13 where Paul writes about his ability to serve with an attitude of contentment).

Third, we’re to serve with the strength of effectiveness He provides.

Conclusion:

The point is this:

How can we handle and conquer suffering in this life?

By living under the expectation of the return of Christ.

By being so occupied and set upon our ministry and task upon earth that nothing deters or sidetracks us.

We are to be obsessed with God’s gift and call, with the mission and task He has given us. We are to be so obsessed that absolutely nothing, not even suffering and persecution, can keep us from using God’s gifts and from completing our task and mission.

In the light of Christ’s return, let’s devote our time to prayer, love, hospitality, and ministry. The result? It’s all for His glory!

The paragraph ends at 1 Peter 4:11:

1 Peter 4:11 (KJV 1900) 11If 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.

1 Peter 4:11 KJV 1900

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.

[1]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1 Peter–Jude. Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996, p. 112. [2]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1 Peter–Jude. Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996, p. 112. [3]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1 Peter–Jude. Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996, p. 112. [4]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1 Peter–Jude. Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996, p. 113. [5]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1 Peter–Jude. Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996, p. 113.