Live Glorifying God: The Christian Response to the Nearing End Time

 
Good morning fellow believers. I am grateful to this privilege God has given me to
preach to you God’s word. Before we are going to meditate upon God’s word, let me
ask you a question and try to reflect on this.

If Jesus will come again, will He find you living a life that this glorifying before Him?

Please open your bible in the book of 1 Peter 4:7-11. Let us stand and read the
passage responsively.
Let us pray…

Live Glorifying God: The Christian Response to the Nearing End Time.

Peter said, the end of all things is near. He refers the end of all things as the
consummation of all things in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians before
are very confident that Jesus will come again at their time.
We know that Christ will come imminently. His coming is happening very soon.
How should we live glorifying God as we approach the End Time?
 
I.  Live with Correct Perspective.
(Correct Mental View)
A. The Command
1 Peter 4:7 NASB
The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit.

Sound judgment means be in right mind. Sober spirit means to abstain from wine.
What does it mean? Christians must have a correct and controlled mindset. About
what? About the coming of Christ and the end of all things.

Listen to what Apostle Peter said,

1Pe 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same
way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
(Christians should have the mind of Christ, view suffering and death as liberty from
sin.)
1Pe 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions
but for the will of God. 
1Pe 4:3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do,
living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless
idolatry. 
1Pe 4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the
same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 
1Pe 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the
dead.
In times of adversity, Christians should have a correct perspective. Someday when
Jesus Christ will come again, He will judge all who do wickedness. Christians must not
live in association with unbelievers’ lifestyle.
Stop living like the unbelievers who are to be judged and live for God!

B. The Purpose
…for the purpose of prayer.
Having a correct perspective about the end of all things leads to a right and
purposeful prayer.
 
Application:
What preoccupies your mind? Worldly things? Or eternal things? 
What do you pray? Is it worldly pleasures? Entertainment? Wealth? Or is it God's
will?
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, have a correct Mindset!
 
II. Live with Consistent Love.
A. The Exhortation
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another…
The word 'fervent' means unceasing. Christians should consistently love one
another.
Persecution was the trial experienced by Christians before. Peter encourages every
Christian to love one another consistently. 
That means we should love our fellow believers, not just during Sunday! Not just
during good times! Not just because they have done well for us. But we should love
them consistently no matter what. Even when being pressed down by
trials/adversity, Love consistently!
 
B. The Reason
“...because love covers a multitude of sins.”
What does it mean? Love forgives!
Fellow believers, true love forgives! Whatever wrongs were done by your brother or
sister in Christ, learn to love and forgive. 
 
Application:
Do you love your fellow believer? Have you forgiven your brother/sister in Christ
who had done wrong against you?
Knowing that Jesus is coming soon, Live with Consistent Love!
 
III. Live with Caring Attitude.
A. The Exhortation
1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

When Christians are in need, we need to care for them. That means you are not only
hospitable to your close friend in church, but you need to be caring also to your
fellow church members. You are not just caring for your rich, well-known, respected
brother/sister in Christ, but you are also caring for your less-privileged
brother/sister. 
Hospitality must be without complaint, murmuring, or grudging.
 
 
IV. Live with Competent Service
(proper or rightly service)
A. The Exhortation
1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. 
 
Christians should use their gifts to minister to one another. Peter implied two
categories of gifts: speaking and serving(See Rom. 12).
1. Speaking gifts
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
As God’s speaker, preachers should preach the very Word of God. Preachers should
be competent enough as the ability God supplies.
2. Serving gifts
whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies.
If you have the gift of service, serve competently as the ability God has given you.

Application:
Christians should serve one another according to the gifts God has given.
Are you exercising the gift God has given you?
 
Conclusion:
So that in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
 Knowing that the end of all things is near, Jesus is coming soon, what manner of life
ye ought to live?
May it be glorifying before God.