The End is Near! 1Peter 4:1-11
The Bucket List is a movie about two men, Edward Cole - a corporate CEO on top of the world and Carter Chambers - an auto mechanic, who met in a hospital room as cancer patients and there find out that they had a short time to live. Carter (Morgan Freeman) had once taken a college course where the professor gave the assignment to fill out a Bucket List of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Carter starts his list. Edwards (Jack Nicholson) sees it and starts writing his own list. They decide to leave the hospital and embark on fulfilling the things on the bucket list. They did things like sky dive, race classic American muscle cars, and try to kiss the most beautiful girl in the world...all pretty frivolous things in this life or in eternity.
However, if you knew your time on earth was limited, what would you do?
It is! (1Peter 4:7) What will you do?
GETTING TO VERSE 7
“Since therefore” or “Forasmuch then” re. 1Peter 3:18-22
Jesus' suffering ushered us (believers) to God.
God is gracious and patient, but the opportunity to accept salvation in Jesus alone, by faith alone is a limited time offer.
To reject the gospel is to choose eternal punishment.
Salvation is from sin and death, to life and holiness, by God, involving faith and faithfulness, demonstrated by water by which Noah was buoyed and in which believers are ”buried”
Jesus, at the right hand of God, with angels, authority, and power is the reason for our hope (v.15) and our leader in victory.
Start packing a weapon / prepare for battle.
the same intentions (“mind” also Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.) as Christ...even a willingness to die Luke 9:23, 24 23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Expect to surprise the world by not acting like them.
Physical death to those who have accepted the gospel of Jesus only delivers them to a new level of life.
THE END IS NEAR (We knew in the '60s and '70s - the Jesus Movement, new Bible translations, new churches, church growth.)
End = fulfillment, consummation, attained purpose...
Near = approaching Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Be Ready Luke 12:35-37 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Personal Holiness 4:7b
Sound judgment – self-control, sober mind – spiritually observant. 2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; , 2Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
For the purpose of Prayer - forsake the world, cling to God's truth, seek God's purpose 1Corinthians 14:15 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. /Jude 20 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ; Hebrews 10:22 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.; 1John 5:14-16 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Mutual Love 4:8-9 Since believers still sin, only love that forgives and reaches out will maintain unity.
Above all ... fervent(stretching or straining)... love for one another
Hospitality (philoxenoi)= love strangers
Without murmuring
Spiritual Service 4:10-11a
Each one (superlative) has received a special gift...1Corinthians 12:7,11 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Gift of grace – not of merit – free and gracious sovereignly superintended by the Holy Spirit
Use to serve (deacon) one another
Good stewards – wise, obedient, managers of entrusted affairs
NOTE: The analogy and 1Corinthians 12:15-25 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? make obvious that to NOT use one's gifts weakens the local church because others cannot replace the unique giftedness of those who are not ministering.
Two categories: 1)Speak – ie. teach, wisdom, knowledge, discernment...not human opinion
2) and Serve – administration, prayer, mercy, helps...not in human power
SO THAT GOD IS GLORIFIED THROUGH OUR SAVIOR JESUS
