North Anderson Baptist Church
1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV
Reading what Peter has to say in verse 7, we must think that it was clear to him that Jesus’ return would be soon. In fact, not only did Peter think this but John the beloved disciple, the apostle Paul felt the same and then James, Jesus brother, felt as well, the end was near.
James 5:8 NIV
1 John 2:18 NIV
Romans 13:12 NIV
Each warned the readers of their letters to beware of the end times were coming and prepare for it. When Peter wrote the end is near his thought seemed to be that Jesus’ return was imminent and that He was returning for his church. John, talking of the end, spoke of the lawless one, the antichrist, and the wickedness that would come before the Lord Jesus returned. Paul like John, spoke of the darkness that was to come and that believers needed to be prepared for the battle. But James spoke of the end coming as an event that we need to be prepared for, much like Peter.
So, what is this “end to come?” Was this “end to come” the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as we know it, where the Lord Jesus returns to His creation eliminating the evil influences in that last battle described in Revelation 19:11-18.
Revelation 19:11-18 NIV
And, when that battle is over Jesus finally sets up the Kingdom of God where He reigns supreme over all as seen in Isaiah 9:6-7,
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
Or, is this “end” the beginning of the darkness that builds up until the Father tells His Son to go get His children, the church, as we see in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-18.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-18 NIV
Would it be after that wonderful experience for the church, that the world sees “Revelation darkness and persecution” that will follow? We do not know what this “end to come” will be completely like or when it will come, but one thing we do know is that our Lord Jesus Christ will return and we will be with him forever. So, Peter says be prepared for that end, by living Christ-like now!
Peter is using the thought of the “end is near” to remind his readers to put life in perspective. If the end is near then what?
We must live this life with expectancy!
The shortness of the time remaining is motivation to live for and serve Jesus Christ. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
There were calls for exhortations to perseverance in seriousness and prayer. (TIB)
And that was what Peter was doing in this part of his letter to those he wrote.
Peter begins to give the readers a list of things that they should do and prepare for as they wait for the end to come. It seems that the church was growing static in this life and not facing the challenges with enthusiasm and expectation of what God wanted to do in and through them. Someone needed to point out to believers that they have to make life count during the waiting for Christ to return.
Do you see it any different today than in Peter’s day? I don’t. Even more today we hear that we are in the “end times.” Because of that thought some of us have just laid back and are waiting for our Savior to come and get us. There is no urgency in seeking the lost or living a prepared life. I remember Kiley spoke on this not long ago. We need to have the burning desire to get the message out for the day is coming when there will not be a chance for people to hear and then the judgment comes. So, here in this passage of four verses Peter tells us what we can do to live a “Christ-like life” while we prepare for the end.
If your mind is not clear and your body is not being controlled by the Holy Spirit then you will not be able to pray and there will be no communications to the Father in this perilous time. That is what being sober minded means. Peter says that we should be clear minded and self controlled so our prayers may be heard!
Listen to what Peter says in verse 8, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ”Love is supreme! Why? If we don’t love each other deeply then we are not like Christ! You and I know that even as Christians we sin greatly, and if we do not have others to love us like Christ loves us then we will not be walking in forgiveness one with another. He says that love covers a multitude of sins. Love and forgiveness are crucial for life together as believers and for the church to remain unified and credible to the world.
Are you loving others like Jesus loved?
Are you forgiving others like Jesus forgave you?
Do you hold a grudge so that love can’t flow from your heart and those relationships can’t be healed that were once strong but now are broken.
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
Without this love Peter and Paul speak about, the church can not really exist in unity. We don’t have to think the same way or even do things the same way for us to have unity, but we have to love one another the same way Jesus loved us. If you and I are not living that way today as the end comes, then we are living for ourselves rather than for Christ and His church. We need to be following Christ's agenda which calls for unity, not our agenda.
Peter speaks of hospitality. It has been hard to exercise that gift in these last days! But in normal times, if God has given you the gift of hospitality then one needs to use it with love and joy and not begrudgingly. How does God get glory from that attitude? Peter reminds us to do what we do with gratitude and love. By the way, if you are called on to give hospitality and you know that is not your gift, then we have to call on God to do through us what we believe we do not have. The Holy Spirit can do in you what you can not do; He can help you be hospitable and be happy to do it, too. Sometimes lost people are truly touched by the loving way Christians greet people and care for them in their home. You could be such a great witness by having lost folks in your home.
Remember your ONE. That is a great way to set a foundation to share the love of God with them. Pray about an opportunity that you might have to be hospitable to your ONE!
In verse 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.” Peter reminds us of the gifts God has given us and how we should use them. Our gifts have been given to us not for pride or self indulgence but for a way to serve others and dispense the grace of God to people around us. God primarily gave us the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used in the church of Jesus Christ. No matter what that gift is your church fellowship, and the church universal, should benefit from it more than anyone else. No matter what the gift, we are to display God’s grace with whomever we come in contact. God extends His grace to us freely and we have no right to withhold that grace from others. As we live in these last days God can gain glory in our lives as we share the grace of God with the lost and the saved.
Whether we speak or serve as a child of God we need to do it through the power of the Holy spirit and all for the glory of God. Getting through tough days and hard times we may have forgotten that serving others is a Christlike activity. When God gives us abilities He desires that all we do we do for His glory and praise. Why did Peter choose these gifts to illustrate what he wanted to get across to the people he was writing to? Speaking and serving are two things we can do regularly and without being hindered by circumstances around us. During the time where Peter was reminding them that the end was near it seems he wanted them to realize how important their words were to others. What we say and how we say it may provide for someone an opportunity to know the Lord or to be pushed away from Him by the way we communicate with others.
Again, we are to be loving and kind in the way we express our ideas and are we willing to listen instead of talk, if necessary. Generally serving as Christ served others is something people will point out as an activity they don’t always see, particularly if you are not expecting something in return.
You see, Peter is using these examples to remind his readers that they need to be busy with the Father business during the waiting time before Jesus returns.
What are you doing during the waiting time before Jesus comes back to take us to be where He is?
Do you even live your life with His return in mind?
Are seeking Him, praying for others, opening your home up to those who need a witness?
Are you regularly speaking for Jesus to others who need Him?
When you serve what is your motive?
Is your service for Christ’s glory or to be seen by others?
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Peter shares the great ending at this point in the letter. “...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.”
Peter was so in tune with his Savior and Lord that he wanted all praise to go to Christ. He knew one day that he would wind up on an upside down cross and everything that he did, said and wrote would praise God. Like the others who wrote the New Testament, they did what they did to share the love of God, reach others for the Gospel and bring to Christ the glory and power that He deserved.
How about you? What will you be known for and what will they say about who you were when you are gone from here?