5. In All Things, a Spiritual Wakeup Call

1 Peter 4:7-11

1 & 2 1 & 2

PeterPeter

1 Peter 4:7-117 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind

so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 11 If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Preceding section (4:1-6) Looking at the preceding section (that we don’t want to get into today) we see

that being a Christian means something. It means being different. 4:1-6 Reminds us

o That because Christ suffered we ought to arm ourselves with a similar attitudeo Those who have suffered in their bodies are done with sino Christ’s suffering ended sin in the big picture, our similar attitude toward suffering

interrupts sin in our daily lives, because we live for God, not human desireo We used to be that way (debauchery, lust, drunkenness, carousing, idolatry)o We’re not now, and it even surprises those who are to the point of persecution

Preceding section (4:1-6) But we have the good news, and because of the good news, even though the

world may judge us, we live according to God! (Important to clarify 4:6) That is Good news indeed! Happy Thanksgiving. Take heart! Others have gone before you, and others will come after you.

Christ’s suffering will save you.

Purpose of this section (4:7-11) The section we are studying today is the brass tacks of 1 Peter It serves to flesh out everything we read in 2:11-4:6

o We have already read about our mission to be excellent in the worldo We have already read about living with respect and mutual submission in work and

marriageo We have already read about the significance of being vindicated for our suffering in

Christ, ando We have already read about the benefits of desiring life and what it means to seek

Shalom. And now we come to this little passage that basically says, this is what all of that looks

like. This is not all of what it means to be Christian, but it is not any less than what it means

to be Christian

The verbs are mostly in the 2nd person plural

Heavy emphasis on “we” With the exception of the verbs relating to our gifts in vv 10 & 11,

all the verbs pertaining to us in this passage are in the 2nd person plural

This is a Y’all passage. I love y’all linguistically and from a teaching perspective

The end of all things is near – we must be ready.

The end of all things is near. What does this mean? (is the world coming to and end? Is this a bad prophecy?)

Echoes Matt 3:2 and Mark 1:15o “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe

in the good news.” (NRSV) Whether it means impending salvation, or coming judgment, or the end of all

things, it means the same thing then and today: we must be ready! This is not spiritual nagging, not meant to make you feel bad It is our chance to check in. Are we ready? Are we different? Are we

functioning like the church at all?

1. Prepare ourselves mentally – sober and alert, with full attention

For the purpose of prayer How often do we do this? So many distractions. Monastery…

2. Love - Love each other intensely (above all having an intense love for one another)

An Intense Love How does Love cover over a multitude of sins? Not covers up, not

atones for… But literally obliterates… …How? Good friend Story Pornography I’m sure you can think of many ways, but in all ways love covers

up sin.

3. Hospitality - Offer hospitality without complaining

We need hospitality, then and now Early Church – necessary for survival Church in Vancouver – necessary for survival

o Fred and Kathy (sorry for picking on you)o Home Groups and Studentso Different kinds of hospitality - Karen and Ralph and Grant and Shirleyo Olympics

4. Ministry - Use our gifts to serve as stewards or administrators of God’s grace to one another

The key word here is “each”. The emphasis shifts here from each of us to all of us

Various gifts – God’s gifts are numerous and varied – not listed here.

Χάρισμα (Charisma) – “special gifts of a non-material sort, bestowed by the grace of God on individual Christians”

A gift is a grace – the use of any grace from God to another is the use of spiritual gifts.

Each of us should use our gift to serve, that brings up the point, what is our gift?

4. Ministry - Use our gifts to serve as stewards or administrators of God’s grace to one another

Lunch storyo What are you good at?o What do you like?o How do others answer these questions?

We need to know our gifting. When we use our gifts we are the administrators or stewards of God’s grace. (make no mistake, God wants to give grace).

Warning: avoid the phrase, “that is not my gift”…

4.1 Whoever speaks, speak as if you are bringing words from God

“if you speak” – Not conditional. Probably better translated whoever or when… What kind of speaking? (teaching and preaching, public worship, everyday speech?) Wide view – Whenever we have the opportunity to speak as Christians in a way that

affects (i.e, exhorts, encourages, teaches, challenges) others.o The kind of speaking that comes from God.

The point: Speak Intently, with purpose. Realize that if you’re on the ball with your words they carry the weight of prophecy.

4.2 Service - Whoever serves, serve with the strength that God provides

Again, not conditional, when you serve A lot of ways to look at this, but ultimately it is God who gives you

strength to serve. God’s power enables us to serve and to keep serving. Because we

probably don’t want to serve. Family thanksgiving.

So that God is glorified in Christ in All things

In a time characterized by, “the end is near” the church is going to need to look excellent.

Colossians 3:17

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

“We never need to apologize for being excellent” Not that we are better, but that we have a reason for living together in a ways that

transcends the norm. And Remember, this was all written in the context of suffering. We are not “suffering”, can we strive to this level of Christian excellence?

Brass Tacks

Be Ready Be Alert Be Intensely Loving Do ministry using your special gifts Speaking intently Serving powerfully

With the notion that what we’re doing is out of thankfulness to Christ for the Glory of God.

Psalm 34

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed are those who take refuge in him.

9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.