WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.940 Now we're going to look at those remaining ones. 00:00:02.100 --> 00:00:04.520 Verse 1 of 1 Peter 4 says this, 00:00:04.520 --> 00:00:04.520 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.640 And that's what he talks about in verse 3. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:36.659 For the time past our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:38.519 Or we just live like the world. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:45.100 We walked in lasciviousness and lust and excess of wine and revelings and banquetings and abominable idolatries. 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:46.439 He said, 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:51.780 Wherein they think it's strange that you run not with them in the same excess of riot speaking evil of you. 00:00:51.879 --> 00:00:52.000 He said, 00:00:52.260 --> 00:00:56.820 Hey, when your life changes, people notice it, but maybe don't understand it. 00:00:56.820 --> 00:00:59.880 But he reminds them in verse 5, 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:02.899 Who shall give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead? 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:06.200 For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:11.680 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:15.000 So really our text this evening is going to come from verse 7 through 11. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:16.700 And we see this verse 7, 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:19.460 But the end of all things is at hand. 00:01:19.960 --> 00:01:21.439 Kind of sounds very somber. 00:01:21.960 --> 00:01:24.719 Kind of sounds kind of like a start of a movie. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:27.959 But Peter's got a lot more truth that he wants us to get a hold of. 00:01:28.019 --> 00:01:29.060 And here's what he tells us. 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:33.120 Be therefore sober and watch unto prayer. 00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:36.700 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:40.480 for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.019 Use hospitality one to another without grudging, 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:46.560 as every man hath received the gift. 00:01:47.060 --> 00:01:53.759 Even so minister the same one to another as good stewards or managers of the manifold grace of God. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:58.160 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:03.500 If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:07.980 that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:12.140 to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:12.900 Amen. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.180 And so Peter's really kind of, as he's coming to the close of this letter, 00:02:17.700 --> 00:02:19.480 he's really driving these truths home. 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:22.459 That time is short and life is difficult, 00:02:22.679 --> 00:02:24.859 but he wants us to get this truth here this evening. 00:02:25.299 --> 00:02:28.319 We have limited time, so let's make the time count. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.280 So that's what we're going to look at here tonight. 00:02:30.379 --> 00:02:32.659 Let's go, Lord, and ask him for help tonight. 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:33.839 Father, thank you for this time. 00:02:34.459 --> 00:02:37.039 Lord, thank you for the songs and just the encouragement that it is, 00:02:37.079 --> 00:02:40.339 that you are worthy of all the glory, all the praise, all the honor. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:42.060 We read it here in this text already. 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:44.560 That every time we get a clear vision of you, 00:02:44.640 --> 00:02:47.379 every time we just stop and are reminded of what you've done for us, 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:49.080 Lord, we can't help but worship. 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:53.759 But at times, I'm sure we feel like the readers in Peter's letter, 00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:56.460 that life is hard and it's difficult, 00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:00.000 and we're wondering just how much longer we have to hold on. 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:02.500 But Peter reminds us you didn't call us to hold on. 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:06.400 Lord, you called us to do some certain things while we have the time remaining. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:09.020 And I pray that we could take these truths, we could apply them to our life. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:11.640 Lord, please help me to say what needs to be said, Lord, 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:13.580 that you would get the honor and the glory. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:14.920 And we ask it in Christ's name. 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:15.680 Amen. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:16.540 Thank you so much for standing. 00:03:16.620 --> 00:03:17.000 May be seated. 00:03:20.820 --> 00:03:24.379 I'm sure you've noticed how productive your family can become 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:28.280 when company out of the blue texts you and says, 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:29.439 hey, we're about to be there. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:34.200 I mean, your house may have been untouched for weeks, months. 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:37.219 I mean, there's just laundry that you intended to fold, 00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:39.639 but now it's just kind of creating a mountain of laundry. 00:03:40.020 --> 00:03:41.719 And you get that text, though, and it says, 00:03:41.819 --> 00:03:43.240 hey, we're going to be there in 20 minutes. 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:44.500 Can't wait to see you. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:47.500 And the atmosphere goes from maybe just relax, 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:49.539 and maybe your kids were watching the show, 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:52.500 and you're just kind of being lazy in the afternoon or whatever it may be. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.579 And now there's just absolute chaos. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:56.419 Somebody's vacuuming. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:00.919 Somebody's wiping down counters and throwing things in the closets, 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:02.340 pushing things under beds. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:07.520 The mom may be running through, yelling, who left this here? 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:10.180 Well, 20 minutes ago it didn't matter that it was there, 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:12.180 but now all of a sudden it's super important. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:12.560 Why? 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:13.840 Company's coming. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:15.960 And we think about it. 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:17.199 What changed? 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:19.120 The house didn't change. 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:21.519 The people didn't change. 00:04:21.899 --> 00:04:24.399 What changed was the awareness of time. 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:26.879 Time is of the essence now, 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:32.719 and things that didn't seem that important all of a sudden are really important now, 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:35.279 are really pressing now. 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.639 Because when you realize that your time is short, 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:42.300 you start paying attention to what really matters. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:46.699 And that's really where Peter is bringing us as we read our text this evening 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:51.139 and really these first 11 verses of 1 Peter chapter number 4. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.920 We mentioned a little bit as we read through it, 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:57.800 but in the first seven verses Peter gives us two categories for our life. 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:02.740 The time that's already passed and the time that is remaining. 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:05.699 And as we kind of walk through those first seven verses, 00:05:05.960 --> 00:05:10.439 we kind of honed in on this idea is that we can't change the past, 00:05:11.020 --> 00:05:14.780 but we can give God the time that we have left. 00:05:15.520 --> 00:05:18.000 And so what Peter does is he's building on top of that. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:21.779 He's going to show us not just what we used to be 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:24.079 and what we used to give our lives to, 00:05:24.459 --> 00:05:26.779 because that's what he showed us there in verse number 3 especially, 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.339 but now he's going to say, 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:30.220 okay, this is where it used to be, 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:31.699 but this is what it should be now. 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:35.879 This is where you should give your lives and service for the Lord. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.439 And verse 7 is really just a sobering reminder 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:40.819 when he says, 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:42.779 but the end of all things is at hand. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:45.300 We don't like to think about that often, 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:47.680 but really the idea is we don't have forever. 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:50.060 I would imagine most of us, 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:52.360 kind of going back to the illustration that we opened up with, 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:54.860 hey, we'll fold that laundry because we'll get to it one day. 00:05:55.340 --> 00:05:58.259 We'll do that honey-do list because we're going to get to it one day. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:05:59.520 It's not that we're saying no, 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:01.819 it's just we think we have unlimited time. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.460 And yet throughout the Bible we're reminded constantly 00:06:04.460 --> 00:06:06.120 our time is so minuscule. 00:06:06.580 --> 00:06:07.879 It's so limited. 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:11.240 And because the end is near, 00:06:11.340 --> 00:06:13.860 we must live differently today. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:17.600 And that opening line there in verse 7, 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:19.360 Peter's not trying to scare them. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:22.100 I mean, they're already going through a difficult time. 00:06:22.220 --> 00:06:24.860 I mean, Nero's the emperor, so that's scary enough. 00:06:25.460 --> 00:06:26.840 He's not trying to frighten them, 00:06:26.960 --> 00:06:27.900 and he isn't telling them, 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:28.900 hey, the end's coming, 00:06:29.020 --> 00:06:30.860 so get your timelines and your charts out, 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:32.040 and let's figure this out together. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.379 No, that's not what Peter is pressing. 00:06:34.520 --> 00:06:36.639 And really, when you look at any prophecy in the Bible, 00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:39.319 God is not calling us to figure it all out, 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:41.240 but he is calling us to live better today 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:42.360 because of what is coming. 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:46.520 And he's reminding them that history is moving toward 00:06:46.520 --> 00:06:47.639 an appointed end. 00:06:48.780 --> 00:06:50.040 I think we look at our world sometimes, 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:50.819 you turn the news on, 00:06:50.900 --> 00:06:52.840 and it seems so chaotic, and it is. 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:55.139 And it seems like there's no control, 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:56.340 but there is. 00:06:57.080 --> 00:06:58.379 God is still on the throne. 00:06:59.020 --> 00:07:01.060 Nothing that's taking place in our world right now 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:02.180 has thrown him for a loop. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.580 It has not taken his plan off track. 00:07:05.840 --> 00:07:06.720 It will happen. 00:07:07.020 --> 00:07:09.160 And we are marching towards the end. 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:12.180 And we're going to see that here in this text today. 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:14.740 And so, Peter wants them to understand this. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:18.200 We have to give ourselves to what matters most. 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:20.500 And that's really the heart of this passage 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:22.200 in verses 7 through 11. 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:25.120 The big idea, if you're taking notes here this evening, 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:26.860 is knowing that the end is near, 00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:28.720 that should make us more faithful 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:31.220 to the time that God has given us. 00:07:31.700 --> 00:07:32.720 We should be more faithful 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.720 to what God has allowed us to have. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.400 So here's the question. 00:07:36.760 --> 00:07:39.540 How should we spend the time God has given us? 00:07:40.200 --> 00:07:41.840 I think the first answer is found in verse number 7. 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:43.960 We should pray seriously. 00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:46.240 We should pray seriously. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:49.420 But the end of all things is at hand. 00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:51.240 Be ye therefore sober. 00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:52.020 Because it is. 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:52.920 Be ye therefore sober, 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:55.020 and watch unto prayer. 00:07:56.300 --> 00:07:57.900 A little conjunction there, 00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:00.580 but it reminds us that Peter's still connected 00:08:00.580 --> 00:08:01.840 to everything he just said. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.179 The previous verses, 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:05.939 as he's describing the previous life, 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:08.679 a life that was controlled by sinful desires, 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:11.519 a life that was just controlled by our appetites 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.139 and what we want to do, 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:14.719 sometimes a life of excess 00:08:14.719 --> 00:08:17.799 and a life spent with just running with the world 00:08:17.799 --> 00:08:19.899 and listening to the world's wisdom. 00:08:20.299 --> 00:08:21.019 But Peter says, 00:08:21.219 --> 00:08:23.739 hey, that's not who you are anymore. 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:26.559 He made that very clear in verse number 4 00:08:26.559 --> 00:08:27.439 and verse number 5 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.500 that God has changed our life. 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:32.080 But we need to understand exactly what he means 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:34.179 when he says the end of all things is at hand. 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.200 Because Peter wrote those words some 2,000 years ago, 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:40.539 and we think to ourselves, 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.820 and people will ask this question 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:43.700 when they hear about the second coming of Christ, 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:44.919 well, where is he? 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:46.779 Is Peter mistaken? 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.759 Because he's writing to a group of believers, 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:50.019 said, hey, the end's here. 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.799 Well, was Peter mistaken? 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:52.899 No, he was not. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.840 But here's what Peter understood, 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:56.720 and the New Testament writers, 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:59.040 and we would be good to be reminded of this, 00:08:59.300 --> 00:09:01.300 that with the death and the burial and the resurrection 00:09:01.300 --> 00:09:03.200 and the ascension of Jesus Christ, 00:09:03.560 --> 00:09:06.800 God's redemptive plan had entered its final stages. 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:08.639 Because when you look at Scripture, 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.000 there's only one thing remaining on God's calendar 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:11.960 when it comes to that. 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:13.259 It is him coming back. 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:15.540 That's what's going to usher in everything else 00:09:15.540 --> 00:09:16.639 when you read the book of Revelation 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.060 and you look at all the judgments 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:19.259 and the bowls and the trumpets. 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:20.920 What's going to set that off 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:23.580 is when Jesus Christ comes back again. 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:27.360 In the New Testament, it repeatedly describes 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.420 believers living in the last days. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.160 Hebrews 1, verse 2, 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.160 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. 00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:36.680 James 5, verse 8, the Bible says, 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:38.720 The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:41.840 Paul told the Thessalonians, 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:44.420 hey, we which are alive and remain. 00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:47.540 I mean, Paul believed in such an imminent return of Christ, 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:49.660 he thought he was still going to be alive. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:52.900 And that wasn't that long after Christ had ascended. 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:58.500 So when we look at this opening sentence of verse number 7, 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:00.840 Peter is not telling us to set a date. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.159 We've kind of looked at this multiple times through this book. 00:10:03.459 --> 00:10:05.860 People start setting dates, run away from them. 00:10:07.079 --> 00:10:09.279 The Bible's pretty, it's not pretty clear, 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.079 it's extremely clear that nobody knows the time of the day. 00:10:12.459 --> 00:10:13.819 Now we can know the seasons. 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:15.360 We can see those things, 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.860 and we're going to get into that in the Gospel of Luke 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:19.399 as we make our way towards the end of Luke's Gospel. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.620 But why would Peter say that? 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:26.139 Well, he just wants to make sure that our perspective is right. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.879 He wants to make sure we're looking at things correctly. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.820 Because when our perspective is right, 00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:32.080 it's going to help us live better. 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:36.899 And he's just reminding of that imminent return of Christ 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:39.299 and that history is moving towards a day 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:41.500 when Jesus is going to make all things right. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:45.799 And this is something that early readers would have really held on to. 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:50.339 Because they're living in a time of suffering and injustice and persecution. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.919 But when our eyes are not on this world, 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:56.620 and when our eyes are not on the circumstances of life, 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:58.500 it's going to help us to live a lot better, 00:10:58.579 --> 00:11:01.199 and it's going to help us to live for things that actually matter. 00:11:02.319 --> 00:11:03.799 And I love that Peter doesn't say, 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.259 hey, the end of all things is near. 00:11:05.979 --> 00:11:06.299 Panic! 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:09.279 That's not what he says. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:11.799 Because the majority of this world, 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:14.099 when they start thinking about the last days and the end times, 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:16.240 you know, their theology comes from movies. 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:20.000 If your theology of the end times comes from movies, 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:21.779 you should be super scared. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:24.899 But that's not what's going on in the Bible. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:26.439 Now, if we know Christ, 00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:29.039 I mean, the end times is going to be a horrific time. 00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:31.759 There's going to be judgment that is poured out on this world. 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.579 The wrath of God is going to be poured out. 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.059 Praise the Lord that we that know Him as our Savior, 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.439 we're not going to experience that. 00:11:38.079 --> 00:11:40.699 We cannot physically experience it. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:40.879 Why? 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:43.480 Because Jesus took that wrath on the cross for us. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.360 We cannot walk through that, 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:48.419 and that's another time that we can really dive into that. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:50.959 But he doesn't say panic. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:52.720 Here's what he actually says to do. 00:11:53.420 --> 00:11:53.620 Pray. 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:56.580 Hey, the end is coming. 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:58.840 The end, it's at hand. 00:11:59.040 --> 00:11:59.700 It's imminent. 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:00.759 It could happen tonight. 00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:01.879 So what should we do? 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:02.960 Peter says, you should pray. 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:08.180 He says, be sober and watch unto prayer. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.220 The idea is, 00:12:10.420 --> 00:12:13.900 Peter is calling us as believers to be clear-minded, 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:16.879 to be sensible, to be self-controlled, 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.740 to be spiritually alert, 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:20.600 not distracted, 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.799 not asleep at the wheel, 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:24.259 not just kind of just going through life. 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.500 I know heaven's my home, 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.680 so nothing else really matters. 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.500 No, we're supposed to do things here. 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:31.019 We're supposed to occupy till He comes. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:32.799 And really, 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:37.480 verse number seven is a complete contrast to verse number three. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.539 That we used to live, 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:40.759 before we knew Christ as our Savior, 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.200 however we wanted to live. 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:46.040 Now, maybe we weren't involved in some of the things that are listed here, 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.280 but before you knew Christ as your Savior, 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.800 you just did what you wanted to do. 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:51.580 You went where you wanted to go. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:53.200 You lived life like that, 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:55.700 but now when Christ has moved in, 00:12:55.900 --> 00:12:57.140 and He's leading us, 00:12:57.160 --> 00:12:57.840 and He's guiding us, 00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:59.040 things change. 00:12:59.900 --> 00:13:01.000 Priorities change. 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:05.200 And the life that was characterized by giving yourself to whatever 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:06.460 is no longer there. 00:13:07.400 --> 00:13:07.960 So Peter says, 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.820 the opposite of that is to be true. 00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:10.759 You need to be alert. 00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:12.259 You need to be sober. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.480 You need to be clear-headed. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:16.440 Don't allow the pressures around you, 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:18.280 or the desires within you, 00:13:18.400 --> 00:13:20.440 to control what you think. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.200 Well, why don't we want it to control what we think? 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.139 So we can pray. 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:28.019 If we're allowing all of these outside influences, 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.720 you know, we're going to get so busy, 00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:30.960 we're going to get so distracted, 00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:32.379 that we don't go to the Lord in prayer. 00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:35.440 You ever been so busy during the day 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:36.440 that you forgot to eat? 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:38.460 Am I the only way? 00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.100 Usually I don't, 00:13:40.140 --> 00:13:41.260 but have you ever been working so long? 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:41.620 You're like, 00:13:41.680 --> 00:13:42.900 why do I feel so weird? 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:44.000 And you look at the clock, 00:13:44.040 --> 00:13:44.780 it's like three o'clock. 00:13:44.900 --> 00:13:46.100 You feel weird because you didn't eat. 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:47.380 You got distracted, 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.380 and you were focused on this, 00:13:48.400 --> 00:13:49.200 and you were focused on that, 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:50.960 and you missed something. 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:53.300 But sometimes that can happen in our life spiritually. 00:13:54.140 --> 00:13:55.980 They were so worried about what's going on in the world, 00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:56.840 and we're watching the news, 00:13:56.900 --> 00:13:57.860 and we got these things going on, 00:13:57.880 --> 00:13:58.640 we got this appointment, 00:13:58.760 --> 00:13:59.340 we got that, 00:13:59.440 --> 00:13:59.860 and this, 00:13:59.920 --> 00:14:00.160 and that, 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.260 and we don't even stop and slow down and pray. 00:14:03.540 --> 00:14:03.900 Peter said, 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.419 we got to make sure that we're clear-minded, 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:06.159 that we're alert, 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:07.539 that we need to get on our knees. 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:09.959 See, 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:11.539 if we were writing the next sentence that, 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:11.919 hey, 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.120 the end of all things is here, 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.939 we would probably add something super dramatic. 00:14:16.459 --> 00:14:16.840 But Peter, 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.759 he just says, 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:18.480 hey, 00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.159 we need to pray, 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:19.860 not speculate, 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.319 not panic, 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:24.419 not obsess over every single headline. 00:14:25.939 --> 00:14:28.600 Because the reality is that knowing Jesus is coming 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:30.319 shouldn't make us frantic. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:35.240 We shouldn't be scrambling all over the place like companies coming over. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:41.060 The Bible speaks of the second kingdom of Christ over and over and over and over again. 00:14:41.260 --> 00:14:42.120 Here's what it should do. 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.240 It should make us more faithful. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:45.920 It should make us more prayerful. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:52.100 Why would Peter put a verse about prayer when we're talking about the end times? 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:57.300 I think prayer has a way of putting things back into perspective. 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:00.620 Because my prayers, 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.500 maybe yours don't feel like this, 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.019 my prayers feel a lot like David in the Psalms. 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.379 The beginning of the Psalms, 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.659 you read David's Psalms especially, 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:12.180 he comes and he just doesn't know what to do, 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.460 and everybody's coming after him, 00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:14.820 and why do the heathen get things, 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.740 and why is this going on? 00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:17.100 But by the end of the Psalm, 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:17.940 he's like, 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.720 I'm going to praise the Lord forever because he's good. 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:21.840 That's what prayer does. 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.399 God invites us. 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:23.800 He says, 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:24.620 bring your worries, 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.440 bring your cares. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:27.340 Peter's going to tell us in just the next chapter, 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:29.080 cast all your cares on him. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.259 Why? 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:30.320 Because he cares for you. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.639 God can handle those things, 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.560 but prayer, 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.820 the more we pray, 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.340 and when we're worried about things, 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.300 and we're looking at the world, 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:37.680 and we're thinking, 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.720 what's going to happen? 00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:39.100 No, 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.139 it reminds us of this. 00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.399 God's in control. 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:44.320 Because prayer, 00:15:44.420 --> 00:15:45.540 we know we're not in control, 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:46.820 but prayer, 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.940 we remind ourselves that we are not in control. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.560 Because we're going to pray things like, 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:50.740 Lord, 00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.440 I need you. 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:52.260 Lord, 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.880 help me. 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:53.420 Lord, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.440 give me wisdom. 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:57.880 It reminds us that this world is not all there is. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.820 It reminds us that our strength is never going to be enough, 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:04.360 and it keeps our hearts focused on the one we're going to see. 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:07.940 It really just kind of makes everything else melt away. 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:11.080 So he tells us, 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:11.260 hey, 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:11.600 listen, 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.380 the end is near, 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.700 so we need to pray seriously. 00:16:14.760 --> 00:16:16.380 We should be praying more and more. 00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:18.840 We should have that constant communication. 00:16:19.140 --> 00:16:19.540 Paul says, 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.700 pray without ceasing. 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:22.220 It doesn't mean we come to an altar, 00:16:22.280 --> 00:16:23.220 and we never get up all day, 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:25.780 but we can be in constant communication with our Father. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:28.060 We can pray about things that bother us, 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:29.420 and things that scare us, 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:31.580 and things that we don't know how to handle. 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:34.639 But if knowing the end is near, 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.540 it changes the way we relate to God, 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.240 and we see that he's in control, 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.860 but it should also change the way we relate to one another. 00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:45.139 That's what we see here in verses 8 and 9. 00:16:45.520 --> 00:16:46.840 Since our time is short, 00:16:46.920 --> 00:16:47.520 Peter says this, 00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:47.920 number two, 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.399 we should love deeply. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.120 Yes, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.959 we should pray seriously, 00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:53.959 but we should also love deeply. 00:16:55.219 --> 00:16:55.899 Verse number eight, 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:58.799 and above all things. 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.679 We've mentioned the setting already, 00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:03.919 but they're under pressure. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.659 They're facing opposition, 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:10.059 and the pressure has a way of affecting relationships, 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:10.500 doesn't it? 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:13.399 I'm sure you experience this just like I do, 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:15.240 but sometimes when life gets difficult, 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:17.159 when work is hard, 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:19.720 when things are not going the way that we want to, 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:22.779 patience becomes shorter and shorter. 00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:25.380 Anybody else experience that? 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.860 And it's not that my kids did it, 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.840 it's not that my wife did it, 00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:31.279 it's not that this situation did it, 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.100 but my patience is so thin 00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:35.220 that it's just not going to last much longer, 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:37.180 and here's what happens when we live that way. 00:17:37.540 --> 00:17:39.400 Little things can become big things, 00:17:40.060 --> 00:17:42.519 and we kind of lose our temper, 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:44.200 or we have some anger issues, 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:45.140 and if we're not careful, 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:48.960 the pressure around us can create division among us. 00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:50.920 And really, Peter is writing, 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:52.880 I hope you notice as we read through it, 00:17:53.060 --> 00:17:54.580 he's writing to a church. 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.380 These are to brethren that are in Galatia, 00:17:57.460 --> 00:18:00.060 so this letter would have been going to all the churches in Galatia. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:03.880 And they would have faced maybe a rough work week, 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:06.800 and maybe somebody they know was thrown into jail 00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:09.360 because of their commitment to Christ, 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.440 because that was a real thing. 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:14.700 And that pressure around them could have crept into the church 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.320 and started causing division. 00:18:18.040 --> 00:18:20.900 Well, how do we guard against that? 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:23.380 Because listen, we're going to face it this week. 00:18:24.040 --> 00:18:25.640 You're going to face it tomorrow. 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:28.900 You're going to face it sometime soon in your life 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:31.340 where all of the world seems to be against you, 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:33.840 and if we don't handle it, we're just going to explode. 00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:36.660 Well, Peter tells us, here's what we need to do. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.460 We need to love persistently. 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:41.620 He said, but above all things, 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:46.480 have fervent charity among yourselves. 00:18:48.300 --> 00:18:51.680 That word fervent has the idea of being earnest, 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:53.340 of being persistent. 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:56.959 This isn't some casual type of love. 00:18:57.959 --> 00:18:59.439 It's just, hey, if it's there, it's there. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.379 If it's not, it's not. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:03.859 No, this isn't a love where only when people are easy to love. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:07.819 The idea, it's a love that just keeps going. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:11.119 And Peter's emphasized this throughout this little epistle. 00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:13.179 Chapter 1, verse 22, 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:17.459 see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.899 We need to be able to come in, 00:19:19.939 --> 00:19:21.699 and I'm so thankful we can come into this church, 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.420 and we can gather as a church family. 00:19:23.840 --> 00:19:27.180 And yes, work may be hard, life may be hard, 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:30.420 but you should feel the love within this local body. 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:30.600 Why? 00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.940 Because we're all on the same team. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:34.680 We all are in the same family. 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:37.160 And Peter knew that if these believers 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.620 were going to stand faithfully against a hostile world, 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.900 they needed to love one another deeply. 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.779 We need each other. 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:46.480 We need to be on the same page. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.080 See, the harder the world becomes, 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:51.559 the more important a church family becomes. 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:53.440 We need to be reminded of that. 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.160 I say it all the time, 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.519 and I see people walk through difficulty, 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.759 and I don't know how they do it, number one, without the Lord. 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.539 And I don't know how they do it, number two, 00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:02.259 without a church family that can be behind them. 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:05.220 That, yes, we celebrate together, 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:07.900 and we rejoice in the blessings of others, 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:09.720 but also we hurt with each other. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.900 We cry with one another. 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.480 We pray for one another. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:16.839 Those are things that just characterize a deep love. 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:19.480 That we're committed, not just to each other, 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:21.779 but we're committed because we're committed to Christ. 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:26.720 And then he tells us one of the ways that love shows itself. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.380 There at the end of verse number eight. 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:32.880 For charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:36.920 Now, this is one of those verses that people take, 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.100 and I'm not really sure where they go with it. 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:43.480 Peter isn't saying that our love can atone for somebody else's sin. 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:46.480 Nobody's love can do that, except Jesus. 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:49.920 Jesus' blood is the only thing that can do that. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:53.820 But Peter is kind of drawing this from Proverbs 10, verse 12, 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.440 where it says, 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:58.960 Hatred stirreth up strives, but love covereth all sins. 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:03.759 See, the idea that he's kind of showing here at the end of this verse 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:06.800 is that genuine love doesn't look for an opportunity 00:21:06.800 --> 00:21:08.940 to expose every single fault. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:12.860 We're already going to experience this outside of these walls. 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:16.600 He's not talking about covering things up and moving on 00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:17.620 and acting like it doesn't happen, 00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:18.980 but here's what he's saying. 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:23.039 As the day is approaching, the time is at hand, the time is short, 00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:25.299 you're not supposed to keep a running scoreboard 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.839 of every wrong you've been done to. 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:29.259 That's really what he's saying. 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:35.019 It doesn't take somebody else's failure and use it against them. 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.500 You may have experienced that in the workplace. 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:40.120 You may have experienced it in certain relationships, 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:42.960 but Peter's saying that doesn't belong in the family of God. 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:47.620 That's not how a believer should operate. 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:50.099 Yes, there are sins that must be confronted. 00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:54.339 We live in a world where the church, and you see it on the news all the time, 00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:55.799 and it's just not a great situation. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.399 We are not to cover anything up. 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:01.279 That is not what God has called us to do. 00:22:01.479 --> 00:22:02.959 There are things that need to be confronted. 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:05.479 There are issues that simply cannot be ignored. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:08.880 But not every irritation requires confrontation. 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.960 That's what Peter's saying. 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.519 That's what he wants us to say. 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:16.380 Not every wrong needs to become a conflict. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:22.099 Sometimes as human beings, we're professionals taking an anthill and making it a mountain. 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.940 Peter says that has no place here. 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.759 That we need to love fervently. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:29.360 We need to understand that maybe they had a bad day, 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.779 and maybe they shouldn't have said that, 00:22:30.959 --> 00:22:32.539 but you don't have to get on Facebook and say, 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:34.740 we need to pray for so-and-so because they said this. 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.000 That's not a prayer request. 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:36.879 That's gossip. 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.979 Peter's saying that doesn't need to be here. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:48.539 See, some things love simply just chooses to forgive and move on. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:52.240 Because sometimes the person doesn't even mean it that way, 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.979 but we received it that way. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:57.740 You ever had to forgive somebody or vice versa, 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.120 and you said, I'm so sorry I did, 00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:00.519 and you said, I didn't even think about that, 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.980 but you've been thinking about it for three weeks. 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:05.180 Sometimes we just got to move on and just forgive one another. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:08.019 I mean, do we really want to spend the time we have left 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.579 keeping score against one another? 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.339 I don't think so. 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.660 I don't think it's the best use of our time. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.740 Peter said that there's a lot more pressing things 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:18.200 that need to be accomplished. 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:23.200 See, there's enough things that try to divide God's people from the outside. 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.720 We don't need to help it from the inside. 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.700 And that's what Peter's saying. 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:30.180 It's what he's reminding him of this great truth. 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.759 So we need to love persistently, 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:33.940 but he also shows us in verse number nine, 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:36.359 we can also just love each other practically. 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:41.740 See, Peter takes love from something we feel 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.740 to something we do. 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.640 Look what verse number nine says. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.079 Use hospitality one to another. 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.680 Okay, I agree with that. 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.480 Without grudging. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.240 Don't you love, sometimes I'm just like, 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.460 when they write those little words at the end, 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:59.120 I'm like, did you have to put that on there? 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.299 Peter, come on, man. 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:04.440 Like, that's the first part's really easy sometimes, 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:07.059 but that second part's a lot, very difficult. 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:12.339 And see, hospitality, we would think maybe the hospitality business 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:15.960 and, you know, food service and hotels and different things like that. 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:19.259 But hospitality in the first century was an extremely important thing. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:24.720 See, believers were really under the kind of the help 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:27.539 and the mercy of other believers. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:32.039 You couldn't travel to a place and just say, 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:34.559 well, just book a hotel on Expedia. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.140 That's not how it works. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.299 There wasn't a lot of things available, 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:41.859 and many of them were extremely poor and unable to do that. 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:45.460 So believers passing through an area would need a place to stay, 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:47.900 and Christians would be the ones that would step up and help. 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:51.200 And Christians facing these hardships, 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:54.000 and they need to help, they just need a practical care. 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:56.319 Just give me a place to lay my head tonight. 00:24:57.480 --> 00:25:01.640 And the churches in these days were most likely house churches. 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.279 It wasn't big buildings. 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:05.220 If there was enough people in the city and there was funds, 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.340 they would be able to build a building. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:08.579 So not only would the church function as a church, 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.819 but it's probably somebody's house. 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:13.639 And the idea is this, that opening your home, 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.980 whether it was in the church or not, 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:20.399 would require genuine sacrifice, just like it does today. 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:23.119 You know, if you're going to open your home for somebody to stay in it, 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:25.179 you're going to have to do some things. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.319 You're going to have to clean some things up. 00:25:26.899 --> 00:25:27.939 You know, for you it's not a big deal, 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.359 but you don't want to be a horrible host kind of situation. 00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:32.639 But here's what Peter, he doesn't say, 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.700 use hospitality and that's all you've got to do. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.720 Just have a place to stay. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:37.439 But he says, without grudging. 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.639 Without grudging. 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:43.899 Because I'm sure you've been told this by your parents growing up like I did. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:46.779 You can do the right thing with the wrong attitude. 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:49.399 Well, I did it. 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.679 Well, I know you did it. 00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:52.700 But we heard you doing it the whole time. 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.899 You know, when you go and clean up your room. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.480 Ugh! 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.179 Ugh! 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:56.700 Ugh! 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.019 And you hear the doors close. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:00.099 I'm like, well, he's cleaning up his room because he loves us. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:02.939 No, that's not how it is. 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:07.939 See, you can serve somebody while resenting them. 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:14.000 You can give while complaining how much it costs you. 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:21.179 You can open your door to your home wishing nobody is going to walk through it. 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:24.620 Peter says we can't have that mentality. 00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:26.900 We've got to be hospitable. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.500 We've got to open up some things in our life. 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:31.400 But we need to do it with the right attitude. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:35.340 He's telling us in verse 9, don't just practice hospitality. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.740 Do it willingly. 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:39.180 With a cheerful attitude. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:42.120 And while we're here, I just want to mention this. 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:44.259 That hospitality isn't about having a perfect home. 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:47.319 Or preparing some impressive meal. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.579 Or entertaining people. 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.960 That's kind of what we think it might be. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.819 Maybe in our culture. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.920 But biblical hospitality. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.980 The hospitality Peter is talking about here in verse 9. 00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:57.720 Is not just about opening your door. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:27:00.440 And having somebody lay their head on a pillow at night. 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.480 Here's what it's really about. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.640 Opening your life. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:05.240 And that's a difficult thing. 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:08.280 That's the thing that we want to kind of keep to ourselves. 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:11.600 It's making room for people in your life. 00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:15.900 It's seeing a need and responding to it. 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:17.860 That you have the ability to meet it. 00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:20.180 It's sharing what God has given us. 00:27:20.300 --> 00:27:22.180 Because he's been so generous to us. 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:24.040 Because every good gift. 00:27:24.280 --> 00:27:26.180 And every perfect gift is from him. 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:28.560 And he doesn't give us those things. 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.480 And gifts and things in our life. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:32.400 So we can hoard it for ourselves. 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.259 Now here's what he says. 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.280 Serve one another. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.580 Love deeply. 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:37.980 And we see that. 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:40.320 And that's what love does. 00:27:41.280 --> 00:27:45.680 Real, deep, biblical love does not remain theoretical. 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:48.240 Peter says if you have real love in your life. 00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:50.640 It becomes very, very practical. 00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.820 So we have to love deeply. 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:58.460 And Peter continues this same kind of one another emphasis in verse number 10. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.900 Because he says this. 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:02.420 Love doesn't only make room for people. 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:04.759 Love serves people. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:07.320 So what should we do with our remaining time? 00:28:07.540 --> 00:28:08.500 We should serve faithfully. 00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:11.040 We should serve faithfully. 00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.780 Look at verse 10 again. 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:16.319 As every man hath received the gift. 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:23.000 Even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:26.180 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:31.460 If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth. 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:35.599 See, there's a lot we could say about spiritual gifts. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:41.839 We could kind of go on a sideways rabbit hole right here and look at all about the New Testament. 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:43.240 There's multiple places. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:47.919 About four places, including this one, where the New Testament discusses spiritual gifts. 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:50.259 And he lists them all out. 00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:51.519 Paul lists them out. 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:53.659 We see he lists them out in Titus there as well. 00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.199 And Romans. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:56.799 But Peter doesn't give us a long list. 00:28:57.919 --> 00:29:00.000 His concern is much simpler. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:03.279 He said, God has given you something. 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:07.140 Use that something to serve somebody. 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.740 That's really the idea here. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:15.019 The language that he uses is, as every man hath received the gift. 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:20.160 So Peter's not saying, hey, only the talented people in the church body. 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:23.119 Only the people with noticeable outward gifts. 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:26.019 No, he assumes and knows based on the word of God. 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:28.240 Every single person here tonight, you know what you have? 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:30.500 If the Lord is your Savior, a gift he's given you. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:39.579 If you're a member of Central Baptist Church, he has placed you in this body with your gift for that sole purpose of using it and ministering it to other people. 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.620 To the edifying of the church. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.700 To the building up of the church body. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:46.140 Not the building per se. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.400 Maybe that is your gift though. 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:50.319 If your gift is building things, come on now, let's go. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.680 It's not mine. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.980 Definitely in Brother Garrett's. 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:56.460 But we need to use it for the Lord. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.579 So really, here's what it means. 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:03.059 That there's no insignificant members of the body of Christ. 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:06.720 That we all have something we can serve faithfully with. 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.680 And Peter says this. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.720 We kind of looked at it this morning. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.980 When it comes to salvation. 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.960 But it's not just salvation. 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.680 He says, we've received it. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:17.180 You think, well, that's just my disposition. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.480 That's just, I've always been good at this thing. 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:21.220 This has always been my personality. 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.799 Maybe you're an encourager. 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.839 Maybe you're this or that. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.699 Yes, that might be your personality. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:27.259 Guess where it came from? 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.319 The Lord. 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.459 And he's used it. 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:32.199 He's developed it in your life. 00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.319 You didn't create it. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.179 You didn't earn it. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.339 God simply gave it. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.879 And so what that means when it comes to our gifts. 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:40.000 Is they should never become a source of pride. 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:42.359 They are expressions of the grace of God. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.639 And they are for other people to see. 00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:46.359 And other people to benefit from. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:48.359 That's why Peter says there in verse number 10. 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:53.019 And even so minister the same one to another. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.219 Why did God give it to you? 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.899 For others. 00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.099 Spiritual. 00:30:59.479 --> 00:31:00.699 I read this in a book. 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:03.139 Spiritual gifts are not trophies to display. 00:31:04.199 --> 00:31:05.119 That's not what they are. 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.779 Well, look at all my spiritual gifts. 00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.799 I got this and I'm this. 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.919 And I'm working on this one. 00:31:09.479 --> 00:31:09.659 No. 00:31:09.919 --> 00:31:11.139 He says, use them. 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.619 They're not something we're just going to keep on a shelf. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:17.339 It doesn't matter if you have this talent. 00:31:17.479 --> 00:31:18.359 Or you have this gift. 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:20.119 If you don't use it, what's the point of it? 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.719 And that's what Peter is saying. 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:24.599 That every member is a minister. 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:27.399 A minister is not just somebody that stands behind a pulpit. 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.959 If you have a spiritual gift, you are a minister. 00:31:30.699 --> 00:31:32.079 God has called you to serve. 00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:34.419 He's called you to give everything you have. 00:31:34.419 --> 00:31:36.419 And I know that sometimes we come to a church. 00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:39.899 And maybe before you joined a church. 00:31:39.979 --> 00:31:40.719 Or whatever it might be. 00:31:40.939 --> 00:31:42.859 You think to yourself, what am I getting out of this? 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.359 And that's an understandable question. 00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:47.219 You don't want to go to a church where you get nothing out of it. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:51.099 But sometimes we even coming to church all our life. 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:53.259 And you may have been a member of Central forever. 00:31:53.659 --> 00:31:56.679 And you can leave a service and say, well, was I encouraged? 00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:59.219 Did I like the music today? 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.759 I really wish we wouldn't sing that hymn. 00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:02.979 Why don't we always sing that hymn? 00:32:03.639 --> 00:32:04.879 Did the sermon help me? 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:06.139 I really wish the preacher was better. 00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:07.119 Can't help you there. 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:13.579 And certainly we should receive something from the body of Christ. 00:32:14.479 --> 00:32:18.239 I mean, our goal in prayer that when you come in on a Sunday morning, Sunday night, or Wednesday, 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:20.759 or whenever we have a service, that you do get something out of it. 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:25.799 I hope you understand there is some intentionality to what God has called us to do. 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:27.719 I think we should do everything with excellence. 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.879 We should do everything for the service of the Lord. 00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:33.039 But Peter reminds us here, there's another question we ought to be asking. 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.199 Who am I serving? 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:36.500 How am I helping? 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:42.620 Was the fact that I was at church today, did that help somebody else out? 00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:46.059 Did I speak to somebody that maybe encouraged them? 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:49.900 See, God didn't place you here just to merely receive. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.360 He placed you here to minister. 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:54.140 That's what Peter's reminding them. 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.819 Hey, life is hard enough. 00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:58.559 And when it's going difficult, you don't just come in and sit down. 00:32:58.660 --> 00:33:00.480 Sometimes there are seasons where that is. 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.080 But you know what? 00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:03.200 Sometimes just being here is a good ministry. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:09.360 I mean, your greatest gift to me, just to be really honest, is the gift of attendance. 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.920 Not so I can count numbers. 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:14.140 But I can just know that you're here. 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:17.240 And know that God can work in your life just like he can work in mine. 00:33:17.360 --> 00:33:21.120 It's just an encouragement to me to look out and to preach to a church that's alive. 00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:22.200 And just being here. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:24.580 I sat back there before church started this morning. 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.539 And just all the hustle and bustle. 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.559 I love that. 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:32.119 It just screams to me, hey, this church has some life to it. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.819 Being here is important. 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:41.539 But you shouldn't be able to just come for weeks and months and years and just really not be super involved. 00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:42.879 No, we have to minister. 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:47.259 Somebody in this church needs what God has entrusted to you. 00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:51.019 Because God doesn't say, hey, use your gift that you're the owner of. 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:53.619 No, he says, as good stewards. 00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:56.240 You don't own your gift. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.700 A steward is a manager. 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:02.779 God has given you that gift to manage wisely. 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:05.119 To use resourcefully. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:10.339 A steward manages what belongs to somebody else. 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:14.039 And that really should change the way we view what God has given us. 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:20.960 That ability, that opportunity, those resources, that gift that you have ultimately belong to him. 00:34:21.859 --> 00:34:23.079 Are we using it for him? 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.500 And Peter calls his grace, God's grace, manifold. 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.599 What does that mean? 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.659 It means diverse. 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:30.500 It means many. 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:33.019 Not everybody serves the same way. 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:35.539 Not everybody has the same abilities. 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.619 Not everybody fills the same role. 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:39.039 And that's the point. 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:43.199 When you look at the church, you look at the body of Christ, not everybody can be the same part. 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:46.159 But we all have to be working together in unison. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:51.440 And God has chosen to display his grace through a varied body of believers. 00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:55.000 And he brings us all together and it makes a beautiful picture. 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:59.980 And so don't spend your life wishing you had somebody else's gift. 00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:02.639 Just faithfully use what God has given you. 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.679 That's what Peter tells us. 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:11.320 And he says when you use that gift, you need to speak, you need to serve in God's strength. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:14.139 Because that's really the two categories he gives. 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:18.500 He doesn't go down administration and encouragement and prophecy and all of these things. 00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:20.800 He said here's a couple things you can use it for. 00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:22.019 Speaking and serving. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:29.119 See, the idea is if God gives you the opportunity to speak his truth, handle it faithfully. 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:33.139 I mean this really would apply to people that stand up and they teach in the church. 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:35.480 They stand behind the pulpit and they open the word of God. 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:39.320 God, the authority that I have as your pastor is not in me. 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:43.400 The authority that I have is solely in the word of God. 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:47.920 And anybody that opens the word of God in this church should have that same mentality. 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:50.420 That we speak as the oracles of God. 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:53.500 Not that we have some vision and prophecy nobody else has. 00:35:53.720 --> 00:35:56.519 No, we just are speaking, thus saith the Lord. 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:58.000 That is the idea. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:03.579 If you serve, don't just serve as though everything depends on your own strength. 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:07.299 Serve with the strength that God supplies. 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.739 It doesn't matter what you do. 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:12.259 It doesn't matter if you make coffee, if you're in the nursery. 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:15.039 Brother Kevin, it seems, yeah, it may seem easy. 00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.880 Brother Kevin just pushes some buttons in the sound booth. 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:19.139 But listen, that's the strength that God gives him. 00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:23.059 Hey, the greeters that are at the door, yeah, we can all open a door. 00:36:23.319 --> 00:36:26.000 But the idea is where you serve, do it for the Lord. 00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:27.559 Use the strength of the Lord. 00:36:27.779 --> 00:36:29.360 Be thankful that you have an opportunity. 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:33.559 Be thankful you have a ministry that you can just use for the glorification of God. 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:38.519 If God gave you the ability and he supplied you the strength, you can't take credit for it. 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.840 Peter says that's what it's about. 00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:43.579 That whatever you're doing, do it to the Lord. 00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:49.420 Paul tells us earlier, for whatever you eat, whatever you drink, do it for the glory of God. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.719 That everything in our life is for that. 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:54.319 So why do we pray seriously? 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:55.799 Why do we love deeply? 00:36:56.099 --> 00:36:57.340 Why should we serve faithfully? 00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:59.500 What's the purpose behind that? 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:07.199 Well, Peter closes this section by reminding us at the end of verse 11, we do that because we live for God's glory. 00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.559 Look at the very end of verse number 11. 00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:20.360 That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.480 Amen. 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:30.480 We see there at the end of verse 11, in the middle actually, in all things. 00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:35.780 See, when we pray with clear minds and we're focused on God, he gets the glory. 00:37:35.780 --> 00:37:43.480 When we love one another fervently and persistently and practically, God gets the glory for that. 00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:49.340 When we forgive one another instead of keeping score, God gets the glory. 00:37:50.080 --> 00:37:58.840 When we open our lives to people and we minister to them, when we use the gift and the strength that God gives us, he gets the glory. 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:04.000 And Peter's just saying, in all things, that's the purpose behind it. 00:38:04.559 --> 00:38:09.820 The purpose why we do these things, the purpose why we have greeters and we do these things, is not to grow the numbers of this church. 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:12.740 Here's the reason, to give God the glory. 00:38:13.680 --> 00:38:17.880 We sang the song, to God be the glory, great things he hath done. 00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:20.700 Listen, we look out and we see what God is doing at Central Baptist Church. 00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:22.340 I'm thankful, but that's the key. 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:23.360 He's doing it. 00:38:23.780 --> 00:38:27.140 This is the Lord's work and it's marvelous in our eyes. 00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:28.500 And that's the goal. 00:38:28.739 --> 00:38:31.559 And when you think about it, he's the only one that deserves the glory. 00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:33.019 It's his gift. 00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:34.239 It's his opportunity. 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.279 It's his strength. 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:36.739 He's the one that provides the grace. 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:39.000 The goal is not to make much of our lives. 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:42.599 And for people to walk in these doors and say, yeah, look at us at Central Baptist Church. 00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:43.500 We got it going on. 00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.679 No, here's what we want to see. 00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:45.379 Jesus. 00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:49.739 We're just here serving Jesus because he loves us so much. 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:52.619 It's to use our lives to make much of him. 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.379 That's what life is all about. 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:57.519 To know him and to make him known. 00:38:58.300 --> 00:39:01.559 The end of the chief end of man is this, to glorify God. 00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:06.019 And Peter becomes so overwhelmed with that truth that the instruction that he's giving, 00:39:06.160 --> 00:39:07.400 it just turns into worship. 00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:12.340 To whom be praise and dominion and forever and ever. 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:12.640 Amen. 00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:14.280 He doesn't know what else to say. 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:16.820 He just says, Lord, thank you so much. 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:19.680 I can't believe I get to worship you. 00:39:19.740 --> 00:39:21.740 I can't believe I get to serve you. 00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:27.979 And see, Peter began this passage by reminding us that the end is coming. 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:34.359 But by the time we come to verse 11, he's just pointing to the one who's worthy of the glory, 00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:39.159 who's worthy of the dominion, and his dominion will never end. 00:39:39.919 --> 00:39:44.659 And he's saying, yes, it might look scary, but let me just point you to the person that actually knows what's going on. 00:39:44.659 --> 00:39:46.980 You keep your eyes on Jesus. 00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:50.179 Life's going to be hard, but trust him. 00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:52.679 Do these things. 00:39:53.139 --> 00:39:54.759 Keep this in your mind. 00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:57.199 See, we don't know when Jesus is going to return. 00:39:58.219 --> 00:40:00.819 We don't know how much time any of us have left. 00:40:01.759 --> 00:40:04.539 Some of us, the Lord may call us home before he comes back. 00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:12.039 Peter doesn't seem to be concerned that we know when he's coming or when our time is going to come to end. 00:40:12.300 --> 00:40:15.500 But he is concerned with what we do until that happens. 00:40:16.340 --> 00:40:18.380 How we live until he comes back. 00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:23.019 And I love the word of God because some people think, well, it's super difficult. 00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:25.000 I think the word of God is super practical. 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:27.480 And here's the instructions. 00:40:28.579 --> 00:40:29.280 Pray seriously. 00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:31.000 Love deeply. 00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:33.380 Serve faithfully. 00:40:34.280 --> 00:40:35.239 And live for God's glory. 00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:38.500 The end of all things is at hand. 00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:40.099 But let's do that. 00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:43.679 Because one day, time will be no more. 00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:46.719 One day, all things are going to be made right. 00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:50.159 God is keeping a scoreboard, and God is just, and he is right. 00:40:50.219 --> 00:40:51.039 He will handle it. 00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:55.480 But Peter reminds us, until then, make the time count. 00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:59.440 Whatever time you have left, just live it for him. 00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:05.840 See, you don't have to know how much time you have left to know what to do with the time that you do have left. 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:07.500 He's laid it out. 00:41:08.279 --> 00:41:09.559 He said, this is what it looks like. 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:12.059 Would we be a church that lives this way? 00:41:12.779 --> 00:41:14.960 Would we be moms and dads that live this way? 00:41:15.259 --> 00:41:17.219 Would we be teenagers that live this way? 00:41:17.639 --> 00:41:20.000 Would we be friends and neighbors that live this way? 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:23.840 Because when we live this way, it's going to affect other people. 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:26.139 And they're going to realize, I want what they have. 00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:34.900 Peter knew that if the readers would, if his readers would really take root of this, it would change not just their life, but those around them. 00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:40.059 That our life should be a sign that just points to Jesus constantly. 00:41:40.659 --> 00:41:42.880 Would God help us make the time count? 00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:43.300 Would you stand?