SERMON GMT15-041
SERIES: Topical Messages:
Special Days – New Years
SETTING: North Kelso Baptist Church
SERVICE: Sunday AM (December 27th, 2015)
SUBTITLE: How to Live in View of the End (Part 1)
SCRIPTURE: 1
Peter 4:7-11
SUBJECT: The impact of the end of all things
SUMMARY: The
realization that the end is now here serves as the motivation for Peter’s call to
prayer, love, and service towards one another which leads to the glory of God
through Christ.
SCHEME: To enable my people to transcend unbiblical means of motivation for the
ministry they are to have for one another in view living at the end of all
things
_____________________________________________________________
Our theme is: The end motivates our ways
Proposition: The Christian’s awareness of the end
of all things impacts their present daily conduct
Interrogatory Sentence: How does
the awareness of the end of all things impact your daily conduct?
Transitional Sentence: Our passage describes three (3) aspects
of how the awareness of the end of all things has an impact on your daily
behavior; The Assertion of the Apostle, The Application of the Apostle, and The
Admonition of the Apostle.
[The Title of the Message]
How to Live in View of the End (Part 1)
[Announce the Text]
Please open your Bibles to 1 Peter
4:7-11
Prayer for illumination & understanding
Our gracious Father, help us to
hear your holy Word that we may truly understand; and that, understanding, we
may believe and believing, we may be in all in all things faithful and
obedient. Father by understanding your word may we seek your honor and glory in
all that we do; through Christ our Lord. So Father we ask you, through your
Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds for the sake, the honor, and the glory
of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, so that as the Scriptures are read and your
Word explained, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. We ask you
Father to show us all that Christ is and what He has done for us. Amen.
Re-announce and read the text
Our text for today is 1 Peter
4:7-11
[Main Introduction]
On a warm summer day in June a teen-age boy lost one of his
contact lenses while he was playing basketball in the driveway. After a lengthy
fruitless and frustrating search he went inside his house and told his mother
that he could not find his contact lenses anywhere in the driveway. So his
mother, stopped what she was doing and went out to the driveway in order to
search for his lenses.
This morning I want to speak to you about the impact of the
presence of the end of all things – or more specifically how the Christian’s awareness of the present end of all things
impacts their present daily conduct by serving as a practical motivation.
In a short while she came back into the house with the lenses
in her hand. While her son was putting it back into his eye, he asked her why
she could find it and he couldn’t. She said it was because they were not
looking for the same thing. She said, “You were looking for a small piece of
round plastic, I was looking for 150.00.” She was motivated by the cost of
the lenses!
Orient the Text:
Motives shape and determine our strategy, our service, and
our success
It is obvious that any number of means and methods can be
made up to force, command, demand, or persuade believers how to treat one
another.
You are all aware of the legalistic means of motivation –
·
God
will love you more,
·
God
will accept you more,
·
your prayers will be answered the way you want
them answered,
·
the
church will accept you,
·
you
will feel good,
·
and
on and on it goes.
Others motivate
believers by harping on what is expected of believers.
Whatever motivation you accept or utilize will shape your
strategy or your plan of ministering to one another, it will affect your actual
service or ministry to one another.
Raise a Need:
Christian priorities and their detractors
There are an innumerable types and kinds of distractions that
are designed to derail your responsibilities toward one another and your
interpersonal relationships. Satan, your flesh, and this world seemingly works
“over-time” to change your priorities.
When our priorities are wrong we fail to
relate to one another as God intended and we focus on our own personal desires.
It is the failure to maintain Christ-like priorities or maintain godly
motivation that causes believer to fail one another.
How else can you explain, for example, believers living in
sinful patterns of unbiblical behavior toward other believers in the same
fellowship? Any time your priorities fall on yourself or your motivation is
turned from God’s glory and the good of other believers it robs fellow
believers of what they need to maintain biblical priorities and motivation.
There is only one response to the care, welfare, and benefit
of God’s people, and that is being fully aware of and responding properly to
the awareness that the end is here.
The Christian’s awareness of the end of all things impacts
their present daily conduct.
State the Purpose
My purpose today is to challenge you to rise above any and
all unbiblical means of motivation for the ministry towards one another and
live biblically in view of the fact that the end is now here. I want you to
resist any and all unbiblical reasons for ministering to one another by seeing the
real reason we are to minister to one another.
Let’s look at the impact that the realization of the end of
all things has on the daily life of believers.
[Sub Introduction]
[Scripture Introduction]
First Peter is considered as one of
the General Epistles in the NT. Peter’s letter was written to provide
encouragement to the Christians who lived in northern Asia Minor who were
undergoing intense persecution. This letter was designed to encourage these
persecuted believers to remain faithful and obedient under this persecution.
Peter particularly emphasized the
holy lifestyle that they were to maintain since they were only temporary
residents in a foreign land. Peter wanted his readers to know that as they
suffered for Christ’s name and for his sake in a hostile non-Christian land, they
were to always remember that they were citizens of heaven and the children of
God.
Peter urged his readers to stand
firm against the persecution by focusing on their spiritual privileges,
promises, and preservation. So Peter reminds his reads that they are called to
holiness, a life of sacrificial love, a life of ministry and service to fellow
believers, which ultimately culminates in the glorification of God through
Jesus Christ.
And so I remind you, The Christian’s awareness of the end
of all things impacts their present daily conduct
[Analytical
Question]
How does the awareness of the end
of all things impact your daily conduct?
Transitional Sentence: Our passage describes three (3)
aspects of how the awareness of the end of all things has an impact on your
daily behavior; The Assertion of the Apostle, The Application of the Apostle, and The
Admonition of the Apostle.
A fruitful,
faithful, and obedient Christian life is inspired or motivated by the hope of
the future. The strength to endure persecution and hardship is also inspired or
motivated by the hope of the future. Of course the future is the release from
this world by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. So we look for this release
and this return.
Your
anticipation of the end of all things should have an impact on your present day
conduct and Christian experience. So, as believers experience persecution and
as we wait for Jesus Christ we should be motivated to band together and
minister to one another to the glory of God. The justification for this premise
is found in
Peter’s
opening statement in verse 7.
[So, let’s look at the first aspect
of how the awareness of the end of all things has an impact on your daily
behavior which is made known to us through…]
1A The Assertion of the Apostle
(Vs 7a)
“Now the
end of all things is at hand…”
This
statement, the end of all things is here summarizes every Christian’s
anticipation in regards to the future.
The first
words of this sentence in the Greek is “of all things.” This is what is called
“the emphatic position.” Peter did this in order to demonstrate just how
comprehensive was the end that he was talking about.
The word telios or end refers to the absolute completion or consummation of
this present course of history. It refers to the goal that this present age has
been moving toward.
[For example:]
1
Corinthians 15:24-28 states, “Then will be the end, when he hands over
the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he abolishes every ruler and every
authority and power. For he must reign till puts all his enemies under his
feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For he has subjected all things
under his feet. But when that this is except for him who subjected all things
to him. Now when all things are made subject to him who subjected all things to
him, in order that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28,
English Majority Text)
The
Christian’s hope is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ who will put an end to
every wicked person, all wickedness and will even put an end to death.
The verb “at
hand” or in some translations, “is near” is used often in the NT. It
is used in relation to the coming Kingdom of God. (Matthew 3:3, 10:7’ Mark
1:15; Luke 10:9, 11) It means “to
approach, to draw near.”
The
exciting thing to take note of here in 1 Peter, Peter uses the verb in the perfect tense. This means the end of
all things is here, the end is impending. The end of all things has drawn near and is now in the position to “break in.”
Peter’s
assertion that the end is here was the belief of the early church.
[For example:]
Paul told
the Roman believers, “The night is advanced, the day is at hand…”
(Romans 13:12, English Majority Text)
The author
of Hebrews said, “…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, just as is the custom for
some, but exhorting one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing
near.” (Hebrews 10:25, English Majority Text)
Philippians
4:5, “Let
your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians
4:5, English Majority Text)
[Let me give you one more if I
could]
James, the
Lord’s brother, and Pastor at Jerusalem told his readers, “You also be patient. Establish
your hearts, because the coming of the Lord has drawn near. Do not murmur
against one another, brothers, lest you be judged. Behold, the judge stands
before the door!” (James 5:8-9,
English Majority Text)
Where is
Jesus standing? Right before the door. He is sitting at the right hand of the
Father in heaven, but he is poised to appear instantly.
Remember Jesus’s parting words, “Therefore,
you also be ready, for in that hour you think not, the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew
24:44, English Majority Text)
Nathaniel Williams wrote this in
his commentary, “His anticipated return was ‘always near to the feelings and consciousness
of the first believers. It was the great consummation on which the strongest
desires of their souls were fixed, to which their thoughts and hopes were
habitually turned.” [1]
Now, we are well aware of at least
four things:
·
The delay in Jesus’ return caused some problems in the
early church. For example in 2 Peter 3:4-5 the believers were questioned about
where the coming of the Lord was and what was the delay. You said he was
coming, where is he?
·
Some 2000 + years have gone by since Peter used the
perfect tense verb stating the end of all things was here, present, at the
door, ready to break in to our age.
·
We know that
this “delay” is part of God’s plan. This delay does not destroy our hope or
render it impotent. We do not give up, become discouraged, disobedient, or
unfaithful because God’s timing is much different than our timing.
·
We are instructed, just as the early believers were,
to be faithful, to be ready and to be waiting with great expectation and
anticipation!
Listen Peter stated that the end of
all things is here and remains here. The HS inspired Peter to use the perfect
tense of the verb. Human history has always been moving toward this goal. As of
late it seems as if history is plummeting at an uncontrollable and unstoppable
breakneck speed. The time separating God’s timetable and ours is razor thin.
Proposition: The Christian’s awareness of the end
of all things impacts their present daily conduct. How does
the awareness of the end of all things impact your daily conduct? We have been
made clearly aware that the end is here by the assertion of the apostle. The end of
all things is here!
Your
anticipation of the end of all things should have an impact on your present day
conduct and Christian experience. As you experience persecution and as you wait
for Jesus Christ you should be motivated to band together and minister to one
another to the glory of God. The justification for this premise is found in the
second part of Peter’s opening statement in verse 7.
[We have looked at the first aspect
of how the awareness of the end of all things has an impact on your daily
behavior, now let’s look at the second aspect of how the awareness of the end
of all things has an impact on your daily behavior, which is made known to us
through…]
2A The Admonition of the Apostle
(VSS. 7b-11a)
First of all, the word “therefore”
was used by Peter to fully or completely plant the duties of every
believer deeply into the soul of each believer since they have been made aware
of the presence of the end of all things.
Second, Peter intends to use this truth
and this hope to motivate the conduct of his readers.
[There two specific areas in which
Peter admonished his readers to be controlled by their awareness that the end
is here, their personal life and their public life. Let’s look at…]
1B
Peter’s admonition to their personal life Vs. 7-b)
“…be of sound mind and self-controlled in
your prayers.”
1C Sound mind
This could
be translated as “be clear minded.” It is a Greek imperative, it is a command. This is not a choice or a suggestion.
Peter is commanding that all believers be clear minded. This word was used for
a person who was in his right mind rather than someone who was under the power
of demon possession. (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35)
Later it
came to be used of one who was reasonable, sensible, or even prudent. It
characterized someone who maintained a clear mind.
Peter was
admonishing or urging this people to be self-controlled, to have a proper
perspective of the persecution they were suffering and how they were to respond
to it.
What does
“sound mind” mean?
This phrase is taken from the Greek word sophroneo, which is a compound word combining sodzo and phroneo. The Greek word sodzo means to be
saved or delivered. It suggests something that is delivered, rescued, revived,
salvaged, and protected and is now safe and secure. One expositor suggests that
the word sodzo
could actually depict a person who was on the verge of death but then was
revived and resuscitated because new life was breathed into him.
The second
part of the phrase “sound mind” comes from the Greek word phroneo, which carries
the idea of a person’s intelligence or total frame of thinking — including his
rationale, logic, and emotions. The word phroneo refers to every part of the human
mind, including all the processes that are engaged in making the mind function
and come to conclusions.
When the
words sodzo
and phroneo are
compounded into one word, they form the word sophroneo, which pictures a mind that has
been delivered, rescued, revived, salvaged, and protected and is now safe and secure. So, even if
your mind is tempted to succumb to fear, as was the case with Timothy, you can
allow God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to work in you to deliver, rescue, revive,
and salvage your mind.
This means
your rationale, logic, and emotions can be shielded from the illogically
absurd, ridiculous, unfounded, and crazy thoughts that have tried to grip your
mind in the past. All you have to do is grab hold of God’s Word and His Spirit.
A sound
mind is very essential and important in living the Christian life. Right thinking leads to correct Living.
The heart refers to our emotions and feelings whereas the mind refers to our
thoughts, thinking, imaginations, comprehension and logical reasoning. Having a
sound mind is very important because we move, make decisions and act according
to the perception and comprehension of the mind.
The concept
of a "sound mind" has more to do with our attitude than we may
realize. If our mind is sound, it is not cluttered up with the cares of this
world. Its processes start with God and end with God. It recognizes the power
of God and His love for us.
However,
having and maintaining a sound mind requires constant work, a positive
approach, and an acceptance of both the good and the bad. It needs continual
stirring, like a simmering pot on the stove. We have to guard it and exercise
it at all times.
D. J.
Kenyon in his book, He That Will Love
Life, wrote, “The sound mind is equally far removed from the worldliness and
unbelief of those who think to explain away the promise Christ’s coming again,
and from the fanaticism and sensationalism of those who would fain predict the
hour of it and the manner. 2
[So, Peter’s readers, even in the
midst of confusion and persecution were to be of a sound mind. And so are we! Our mind has been
delivered from the clutter, trash, foolishness, and fear found in this world. Secondly,
Peter’ readers were also to be…]
2C Self-Controlled
The second
verb, nhfw, is translated as sober-minded, watchful, or circumspect. The
verb does not mean to abstain from the use of alcohol but to refrain from abusing alcohol which leads to
intoxication. Peter is admonishing his readers to be alert, self-controlled not
alcohol controlled. He wants them to be in their full possession of their
rational or thinking mind.
There are
two reasons for these commands:
·
First – regardless of the circumstances that surround
us by the way of persecution, trials, tribulations, temptations, and such, the
believer is to be clear headed in regards to his/her relationship to these
things. IOW, Peter’s concern is that
they respond properly to the events that overtake them.
·
Secondly, - for some reason, storms, trials,
persecutions stop or at the very least hinder a believer’s prayer life.
Peter
writes, “…in your prayers.” These Christians were expected to have a
balance of clarity and wisdom as they prayed.
What does
it mean to be self-controlled? Self-control is defined as the ability to
manage your actions, feelings and
emotions.
In the New
Testament the word is used figuratively: "to be free from every form of
mental and spiritual 'drunkenness,' from excess, passion, rashness, confusion,
etc."
What this
implies is that prayer is a normal and
an expected activity of the
Christian life. But it is easy to get distracted and have a distorted prayer
life if one does not remain clear in their thinking and self-controlled in
their responses.
Kenyon
writes, “It does not take much in the way of carelessness and disobedience to
turn our prayers into confession sessions to clear ourselves with God rather
than into communion sessions to increase our strength in Him.” [2]
Wayne
Grudem said, “…the idea is not simply so that you can pray, but in order to pray
more effectively, more appropriately; Christians should be alert to events and
evaluate them correctly in order to be able to pray more intelligently. [3]
When trials, temptations,
persecutions, or difficulties overwhelm you, stay clear headed, maintain
control of yourself, and pray intelligently. Peter urged his readers to
maintain the practice of prayer in relation to their personal lives.
Christians can become intoxicated
with materialism, idolatry and worldly pursuits in order to pacify themselves
during trials, and therefore, not have soberness in viewing the events
happening around them. Trials also tend to be a catalyst in drawing people into
addictions to alcohol, drugs, mood swings, or ideas that are worldly rather
than biblically instead of dependence solely on God. None of these actions or
attitudes are appropriate responses to trials. The Christian must have a sober
mind that is “awake” and “alert” so it can properly interpret the events
happening and be drawn into intercession.
The Christian must have a right
mind which is full of the Word. He must be alert--not given to intoxicants
whether physical or spiritual. He must be alert to the attack of the devil,
things that are happening in society, the needs of others, and he must be
self-controlled. All these things are necessary in order to be focused in
prayer.
Focused-prayer is the only type of
prayer appropriate in these last hours. Lord help us to have a right mind and
be sober so we can pray in order that your will may be done on the earth.
So Peter admonishes these believers
concerning their personal life because they are aware the end is here, it has
arrived. Peter wants these believers to know how to live in light of the fact
that the end is here. So he gives them instructions concerning their personal
life.
Peter also gives some instructions
and admonitions to his readers concerning their public or communal life also.
However, we will have to look at next week, Lord willing!
[What do you say we wrap this up?]
[CONCLUSION]
Fundamental to the Christian view
of self-control is that it is a gift. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . . self-control” (Galatians
5:22–23). How do we “strive” against our fatal desires?
Paul answers: “I labor, striving
(agonizomenos) according to His power, which mightily works within me” (Colossians
1:29). He “agonizes” by the power of Christ not his own.
Similarly he tells us, “If by the
Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live” (Romans 8:13).
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts”
(Zechariah 4:6). We must be fierce! Yes. But not by our might. “The horse is
made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD”
(Proverbs 21:31).
And how does the Spirit produce
this fruit of self-control in us? By instructing us in the superior preciousness
of grace, and enabling us to see and savor (that is, “trust”) all that God is
for us in Jesus.
“The grace of God has appeared . .
. instructing us to deny . . . worldly desires . . . in the present age” (Titus
2:11–12). When we really see and believe what God is for us by grace through
Jesus Christ, the power of wrong desires is broken.
Therefore the fight for sober-mindedness
and self-control is a fight of faith. “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold
of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Timothy 6:12).
Let’s pray! :)
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