1 Peter 4:7-11 Clear-Minded Persevering Loving

Introduction: Illustration There is a whole movie genre about the world ending and everyone panicking and changing their behavior. Is this what Peter wants from us when he says, the end of all things is at hand? (So-called prophets, sell your home).

No, it’s about clear-minded, persevering love. Follow the Standard Operating Playbook until Christ returns.

Read: 1 Peter 4:7–11

[7] The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. [8] Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. [9] Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. [10] As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: [11] 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. (ESV)

Outline:

#1: The inhale before the final exhale

#2 A Mind-Focusing worldview, helps us answer in four areas: “How should we then live?” Four traits of a rightly focused life. He will address our mind, love, hospitality, and service.

First, our mind in prayer.

Second, our hearts in loving forgiveness.

Third, our community life-giving hospitality done sacrificially without grumbling.

And fourth, our serving based on the kind of person God made, designed, gifted, and strengthens you to be in word and deed.

#3 All these things are for the glory of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to our Triune God.

#1 The final inhale before the final exhale, v. 7 The end of all things is at hand.

[Talk about all the things God was doing from Genesis, Abraham, Moses, Exile, Return, 400 years of silence, and then… Christmas, Ministry, Cross, Resurrection, now it is finished, the church, and the gospel going to the ends of the earth is the final inhale before the great and final exhale. That is to say,

There are no more significant redemptive historical events before the return of Christ. Of the same nature of going from the Old Covenant to the new covenant.

It is simple, but all-encompassing.

The word end does not just mean termination, like it’s the “end of the movie”; think of it as the final stage in fulfilling a purpose and goal.

It means you are at the final item on the list, which aims to achieve the goals and purpose for the day.

If we were to create an oversimplified chart: First Coming ———- Second Coming.

· Sorry the Bible’s end times chart in the big picture, is a boring chart. (Yes a few more details can be added, such as the trumpet, judgment, the great white throne, and other features, but it all leads to one grand finale.)

Therefore, the gospel being preached, people being gathered into the church, and wise governance—where we seek to live by principles and courageous lives is the mode of living we stay in. So many times people based on a hyper-pessimistic or hyper-optimistic view of the end times, will say that while the New Testament encourages us to focus on the Word, prayer, sacrament, loving our neighbor, building families, and spreading the gospel until Christ returns, they now have fancy charts dictating how we should live the way I the preacher say you should.

This world is neither a sinking ship nor a carnival cruise. It is a large, well-equipped passenger-cargo ship, that is well-rounded and equipped with people as passenger, and cargo, and defenses in place.

So we simply live in the new covenant with the whole word of God to direct us how to glorify and enjoy him. And this is done in the community of the church which is the kingdom of God in earth which Christ reigns over from heaven.

Peter is not saying, that Jesus must be returning in the next 30yrs. For the Lord a day is a thousand years (Which peter says in 2 Peter 3:8).

Think of the difference when we say, the final purpose of the world is at hand – imagine, For us if there is just one more piece of the puzzle you have been working on that is happening immediately. I’m finishing that puzzle now.

For the Lord a day is a thousand years. we know is he is gathering his elect from the four corners of the world in every generation and we do not know when he says that is it. We do not know when The time of patience will be past and Christ returns on the white horse triumphant and conquering. We do not know.

2 Peter 3:7–11 [7] But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. [8] But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day i