February 2022 ~ Matt Mitchell

Sunday, February 27, 2022

“Under God’s Mighty Hand” [Matt's Messages]

2/27/2022 11:45:00 AM 1 Peter, Lanse Free Church, Matt's Messages 0 comments

“Under God’s Mighty Hand”

As Foreigners and Exiles - The Message of 1 Peter

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

February 27, 2022 :: 1 Peter 5:5-7

I’ve got a long sentence that I want you all to repeat after me. This sentence has two parts to it. It’s very theological and very practical. It’s very reassuring, and it’s very convicting at the very same time. Are you ready?

Okay, repeat after me.

“There is a mighty God, and I am not Him.”

The phrase that really jumped out at me from these three verses was in verse 6.

“Under God’s Mighty Hand.”

Just think about those words.

There is a God, and He is mighty! He is strong. He is powerful. The theologians say that He is omnipotent. “Omni” means all. “Potent” means powerful. All powerful. Almighty.

And His “hand” is figurative language to describe His power at work in the world.

That phrase, God’s “mighty hand,” was used over and over again in Old Testament, especially to describes God’s acts of judgment and salvation in the Exodus.

Yesterday, the Elders met for our monthly shepherding meeting, and we studied Deuteronomy chapter 6 together. And it talked about how the LORD brought the Israelites “out of Egypt with a mighty hand” with “miraculous signs and wonders–great and terrible!” (vv.21-22)

God’s mighty hand. Just think about it. The plagues. The Red Sea Rescue. The giving of the Law. “God’s mighty hand.” What the Almighty can do.

And you and I are to live our lives, Peter says, “under” that mighty hand. What does that mean? It means to recognize that God is God and we are not. We are under His mighty hand. His sovereignty and His salvation.

Last week, the Apostle Peter gave instructions to the elders, the leaders of these churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. He told them how they needed to be shepherds of God’s flock that was under their care. They needed to be eager to be examples, and one day they would be rewarded.

Now in verse 5, Peter turns, in the same way, to the followers. The younger folks. Verse 5.

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.”

Peter is basically turning to all of the followers, not just the young men. The Greek word there basically means the “newbies” as opposed to the “oldbies” who are the elders. We have a word “elders,” but we don’t have word a “newbers.” The point is that those who are up and coming should be submissive to those who are further along and are faithfully doing the work of shepherding.

Peter has been big all along on submission, hasn’t he? Remember what he said about it in chapter 2 and chapter 3?

Submission to human authority is always qualified and never absolute. And it’s often uncomfortable, especially when the leaders are not great or even bad. But it’s also a mark of Christlikeness to submit to human authorities in the world and here we find also in the church.

“Be submissive” to the elders. How are you doing at that? Last week, we said that whatever the elders are supposed to be doing, the flocks has a corresponding responsibility to match.

If the elders are to shepherd, are we allowing ourselves to be shepherded?

If the elders are supposed to be eager to serve, are we making it easy for them to be willing to do the work?

If the elders are supposed to be examples, are we following their examples?

Did anybody contemplate that this last week?

As one of the elders, very aware of my own shortcomings, I hesitate to bring it up, but I didn’t raise the issue. The Apostle Peter did. How are you doing at being submissive to the elders?

What does it take to do that? The Apostle Peter says that it takes a big heaping dose of humility. V.5 again.

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

This is a short message. I only have two points. And this is the first one.

Under God’s Mighty Hand:

#1. PUT ON HUMILITY.

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another...”

Now, notice that Peter says for everybody to do that. Not just the flock but the shepherds. He means both the elders and the newbers. Both the old’uns and the young’uns. Not just the followers but the leaders, too. Everybody needs to put on humility.

I love it that he recognizes that this is not natural nor normal. We have to be told to do it. We are not naturally or normally humble. We have to put it on.

Not like an act. Not fake, but like our true clothing. “[C]lothe yourselves with humility toward one another...” Like when our Lord Jesus washed His disciples feet (John 13).

When was the last time you humbled yourself before another believer? Maybe gave up your preference? Your way of doing it?

A leader saying, “I’d rather we all did this, but I sense that everybody would be better served if we did this other thing instead.”

A follower saying, “I don’t like the way you planned this out, but I’ll go along with it, because it’s not a matter of right or wrong. I’ll humble myself and go your way.”

Do you see how peaceful and joyful a church can be when everybody is putting on humility?

But that’s not why Peter says we ought do to it. Did you notice Peter’s logic? Peter’s reasoning?

Why should we put on humility? V.5 again.

“...because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

Because God is God, and I am not.

What a phrase, “God opposes the proud.”

That’s right out of Proverbs 3:34 and James quoted it in his book, too, in James 4:6.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

What a scary thing to say! I don’t know about you, but I do not want God to be in opposition to me. This is how God feels about pride–He opposes it. He opposes those whose lives are marked by it.

Because when we act all proud, we begin to act like we are God, right?

“There is a mighty God, but I am not Him.” Look at verse 6.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” God has a mighty hand, and we need to recognize that we are under it. We are not over God’s hand. We are under it. And so we need to accept what we receive from it.

Including hardships and trials. We’ve learned the last few months that God is sovereign over our troubles and trials.

Even persecution. Remember chapter 3, verse 17? “It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

Or chapter 4, verse 19. “So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

That’s what it means to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand.

To not rail against God and say that He’s doing it all wrong. And if we were put in charge, we’d do it differently. We ought to be god! Not Him!

God won’t stand for that. God stands in opposition to that. God is God, and we are not.

Let me put it this way: Under God’s mighty hand, pride makes no sense at all. Put on humility. Get over yourself.

The good news is that under God’s mighty hand, humility makes all of the sense in the world. Humility is sanity.

And God blesses it! Verse 5 says, that God gives grace to the humble. And verse 6 says that if we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, He will lift us up in due time. Could be soon or could be in the Kingdom. Either way, it’s for certain. God blesses the humble.

Why wouldn’t we want to be humble?

One of my sons is a blacksmith and he pounds on steel all day with a big old hammer. I type all day long with my hands. He’s twenty years old. I am almost forty nine.

Which of us would do you think would win if Drew and I were to arm wrestle? Now, he is a lefty, and I am right handed. So what if we were wrestling with our right hands? I shouldn’t even try except for a good laugh.

So let me ask you this, which hand would you rather lifted up you? Your own hand? Or God’s mighty hand? I know which one I want (at least when I’m being sane!).

“There is a mighty God, and I am not Him.”

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he (with His mighty hand!) may lift you up in due time. Isn’t that awesome?!

But it gets better! Not only are we called to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and then be lifted up, but we are invited to put ourselves and our all of our worries and cares into that mighty hand! Look at verse 7 and marvel at it!

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Under God’s Mighty Hand.

#2. CAST OFF ANXIETY.

Put on humility and cast off anxiety.

I hope you have memorized verse 7. If you have not yet, you really should.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Take all of your worries, all of your (King James calls them “cares”), all of the things that scare you to death and throw them onto the Lord.

The Greek word there is the same one that Luke used to describe the people throwing their cloaks onto the donkey that Jesus rode into town on Palm Sunday (19:35).

We’re supposed to be putting on the cloaks of humility, but to be casting off the cloaks of anxiety.

And not just off of us but onto the Lord. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

This is not “Don’t be worry, be happy.” This is not “Hanuka Matata.” This is taking the things that are bothering me and hurling them onto Jesus. Putting them on Him.

And it’s not a one-and-done sort of thing. It’s not something you do once and then your worries are all gone. “They’re on Jesus now!” You’re above them all. You’re “too blessed to be stressed.”

No. This is something you do every day. All day long. You keep doing it. You have to keep doing it. Because the worries keep coming. But you keep throwing them onto Jesus.

Because He can handle them, right? Because He has a “mighty hand.” The same hand that can oppose the proud but lift up the humble can also handle any of the things that are worrying you today.

Now, there is a subtle rebuke here, isn’t there? There is a connection between pride and worry. Verse 7 is actually tied in the Greek grammar to verse 6. It could be translated, “Humble yourselves...by casting all your anxiety on him...” There is a connection between pride and worry. Just as there is a connection between humility and faith.

If we are unwilling to let go of our cares and hold tightly onto them, then we are in effect saying, “I’ve got this God, I can handle it better than you.” That’s what worry says. Worry says, “God doesn’t have this. I have to hold onto it.”

Anybody been there recently? This is me every day right now. God is having to pry my fingers off of my worries. And He keeps calling me to toss them onto Him.

So I hope it’s obvious that there is nothing sinful or wrong about being hit with anxious thoughts and having things that you are concerned about, worries that come your way. Every. Single. Day. Maybe every single moment.

But there is something sinful and wrong about holding tightly onto those worries and refusing to toss them onto your Lord. That is like saying, “There is a mighty God, and I am he!” Or even worse, “There is no mighty God; there is only me.” “It’s all up to me.”

No, beloved, no. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Remember, these people had a lot to worry about. Genuinely.

They were foreigners.

They were exiles.

They were being persecuted.

They were experiencing painful trials. Fiery trials. Burning!

This isn’t “easy for them to say.” They had it hard.

Peter had just said to them, “[Beloved dear ones,] do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Somebody might have been coming that day to kill them.

And Peter says to them, “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand...[and]...cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Isn’t it interesting that he tells people who are hurting to humble themselves? I think that’s counter-intuitive. I would never have done that. But Peter knows that hurting people can react to the pain by filling up with arrogance and pride as a way of dealing with it all.

So, instead, Peter says to put on humility and cast off anxiety. And onto your Lord.

And here’s the most beautiful phrase of all (v.7), “because he cares for you.” That mighty hand? It’s a caring hand. It’s a gentle hand.

It’s like that image of God as a shepherd we learned about in Isaiah 40 back in December.

“See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him [He’s got a mighty hand! Listen to what He does with it? Isaiah 40:11]. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40:10-11).

His mighty hand is a caring hand. Caring for you. All of that omnipotent power is at work caring for you!

Put your name in verse 7 because it belongs there.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for...you.”

Put your worries there in verse 7 because they belong there.

What are you worried about? Genuinely. Peter’s readers had a lot to worry about, and I’m sure you and I do, too. We live in a broken world and there are many genuine cares and concerns coming at us all day long.

Think about the Christians in Ukraine right now. Our brothers and sisters in Christ living in a war zone.

God invites them to put their genuine worries in His mighty hand.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

You might want to do that on the front of your bulletin, right? You see those big words that Marilynn put there for you? Next to anxiety put down what is worrying you right now. I know mine. I think about them more than I think about God’s mighty hand. And then next to the word “you,” write your name.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

You know He cares for you, right? You know it because of what Jesus did for you on the Cross. And not because you had done anything for Him first. You were still a sinner when He did that. He just did it for you out of love and care.

And if He would do that, then you know that He can handle whatever is worrying you today...by His mighty hand.

There is a mighty God, and you and I are definitely not Him.

Under God’s mighty hand pride makes no sense at all. So put on humility.

And cast off anxiety, because under God’s mighty hand, faith makes all of the sense in the world.

***

Previous Messages in This Series:

01. "Elect Exiles" 1 Peter 1:1-2
02. "A Living Hope" 1 Peter 1:3-7
03. "Angels Long To Look Into These Things" 1 Peter 1:8-12
04. "Be Holy In All You Do" 1 Peter 1:13-16
05. "Live Your Lives As Strangers Here In Reverent Fear" 1 Peter 1:17-21
06. "Love Each Other Deeply, From the Heart" 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
07. "But Now You Are..." 1 Peter 2:4-10
08. “As Foreigners And Exiles” 1 Peter 2:11-12
09. "Submit Yourselves For the Lord's Sake 1 Peter 2:13-17
10. "Follow In His Steps" 1 Peter 2:18-25
11. "Do What Is Right And Do Not Give Way To Fear" 1 Peter 3:1-7
12. "Inherit a Blessing" 1 Peter 3:8-12
13. "Even If You Should Suffer For What Is Right" 1 Peter 3:13-16
14. "To Bring You To God" 1 Peter 3:17-22 (esp. 18)
15. "To Suffer for Doing Good" 1 Peter 3:17-22
16. "Done with Sin" 1 Peter 4:1-6
17. "The End Of All Things Is Near" 1 Peter 4:7-11
18. "Do Not Be Surprised" 1 Peter 4:12-19
19. "Shepherds of God's Flock" - 1 Peter 5:1-4

“Shepherds of God’s Flock” [Matt's Messages]

2/20/2022 01:36:00 PM 1 Peter, Lanse Free Church, Matt's Messages 0 comments

“Shepherds of God’s Flock”

As Foreigners and Exiles - The Message of 1 Peter

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

February 20, 2022 :: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Being a pastor can be a very hard job, but when it’s done right, it’s totally worth it.

The title of this message is lifted from verse 2 of the NIV which says, be “Shepherds of God’s Flock.” And there are two kinds of shepherds of God’s flock mentioned in these four verses.

There’s the Chief Shepherd there in the last verse, verse 4. That’s Jesus Christ. He is the Chief Shepherd of God’s flock, the church. He is the Lead Pastor of the Church.

And then there are these other men who are called to also be shepherds, or another word for “shepherd” is “pastor.” There are these other men who are also called to be pastors of God’s flock, and they are called “elders.”

And this passage is particularly addressed to them.

“To the elders among you.”

That’s a certain group of church leaders. The New Testament refers to them over and over again. Acts, 1 Timothy, Titus, James. 2 John. 3 John.

The elders (or in Greek the “presbuterous” You can tell what English words we get from that!) are the chief leaders of the New Testament churches.

Whenever a new church was established in the New Testament, one of the marks of the health of the new church was the installation of godly elders to lead it.

And apparently, the churches scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (remember chapter 1, verse 1?) were led by these “elders.”

And now Peter wants to talk directly to them. And he talks to them as one of them. V.1

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder...”

“I’m one of you. Yes, I’m an apostle, and what I say to you is authoritative. But I’m coming to you as one of you. As ‘a fellow elder,’ so what I’m about to ask you to do is something that I am also doing. I’m not asking you to do something which I do not understand how hard it is or which I am not willing to do myself.”

I think that Peter comes in like this because he knows that he’s asking them to do something difficult.

He knows that leading the church, especially during times of persecution, is really really hard.

We cannot forget the context here.

Remember what Peter has just told all of them: “[Beloved,] do not be surprised at the painful trial you are [unjustly] suffering...”

Do not be surprised that you are being persecuted.

Instead: rejoice, represent, and re-commit, right?

One of you texted me this week and said that is your “new mantra” as you go to work out there in the big bad world each day. “Rejoice, represent, and re-commit” in the face of unjust suffering for the name of Christ.

And Peter ended that section by saying, “Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (4:19).

And then he goes right into talking to these elders in particular.

He actually says in the Greek, “therefore” or “SO to the elders among you I appeal...” There is a direct connection

Who is probably going to get hit with the first blast of persecution? The leaders, right? They’ll go after the leaders. If it’s “time for judgment to begin with the family of God” (4:17), then it will probably start with the leaders of that family, the elders.

It certainly started with the top leader in the first place. Peter says that he is not only a fellow elder, but he’s also (v.1 again), “a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed...”

Jesus doesn’t ask the elders of the church to do anything He’s not been willing to do first, either. Jesus was willing to suffer unjustly. He was willing to be crucified.

Peter saw that with his own eyes.

But Peter also knew that Jesus’ sufferings were not the end. How many times has he said something like this in this letter?

First, suffering. Then, glory.

That’s the pattern. Jesus suffered and was raised victorious and will return in glory. And so will Peter, and so will we.

Peter saw the suffering, and he knows that he will share in the glory. And so will all of the faithful elders. It’s a hard job! But it’s worth it.

The elders of our church right now are Keith, Joel, Cody, Abe, and myself.

Abe has been an elder now for almost two whole months, and he might be a little worried now that he’s heard verse 1!

These other guys have been in the battle a little longer. Keith and I are the only two men still on the Elder team who were on the team then when I preached this text before, twenty years ago.

At our first Elders meeting this January 2022, we started the year by reading and praying over this passage to remind ourselves what we have gotten ourselves into and what we are supposed to be doing as elders.

In many ways, this passage basically is my job description as a vocational elder.

This passage along with a short list of other key passages in the New Testament gives me my job description as a church elder by vocation. This is what I’m supposed to do. As well as all the other church elders and, in principle and by extension, all other church leaders.

And I see about 4 main things that Peter is saying to us here.

#1. BE SHEPHERDS.

Be shepherds of God’s flock.

That’s what Peter says to the elders in verse 2.

Elders among you, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care...”

That’s the main thing that a church elder is supposed to do. We are supposed to shepherd or another word for that is “pastor” God’s flock.

The Greek word is “poimanate.” To care for a flock.

Yesterday, at Shannon Allen’s memorial service, I talked about shepherds and sheep.

Sheep need shepherds. They need to be fed and led. They need to be cared for, comforted, and protected.

Sheep need tending. People need pastoring. And, in the church, that’s the job of the elders, at least to see that it gets done. Be shepherds.

The most important thing that we do as elders is not develop a budget or lay out vision or hire a new administrative assistant or make policy decisions–though all of that can be a key part of faithfully leading a flock. The most important thing we do as elders is to act as shepherds of God’s sheep.

When the pandemic began two years ago, I put four goals in front of myself to remind myself of my most important job as everything was changing.

#1. Number the sheep. So we tried to make sure we had a good list of everybody that called this church their home. We updated the church directory and the all church notification email list. And we divided up all of the families in lists under each one of the elders. Number the sheep. We just did that again at the first of the year. Updated the directory. And made sure that each family had an elder that was responsible for shepherding it. Number the sheep.

#2. Feed the sheep. No matter what, we all need the Scripture taught to us. So when the pandemic began, I made those sermon videos and tried to get them in front of your eyes. Feed the sheep. That’s what I’m doing right now, right here, trying to feed you the Scriptures for your spiritual growth. Feed the sheep. That’s what Stay Sharp is all about starting tomorrow, trying to make sure that our churches are fed with thee good stuff. Feed the sheep.

#3. Tend the sheep. When the pandemic began, that was phone calls, and texts, and messaging, and emails, and video chats, and Zoom fellowships, and porch and driveway visits. And now it’s home visits again and nursing homes and funeral homes and hospital rooms and playing fields. And it’s thinking of all of what our flock needs and trying to lead them to it. Tend the sheep.

#4. Repeat. Number, feed, tend, repeat. Number, feed, tend, repeat. Number, feed, tend, repeat.

Be shepherds.

How am I doing? For me, the hardest part of covid has been trying to shepherd well and knowing just how often I failed to do that.

Elders, be shepherds.

You know, the most important words in that phrase in verse 4 are not the command but who the command is about. “Be shepherds” of whom? Of “God’s flock that is under your care.”

That is so important for church elders to remember.

The flock is not yours.

It is God’s!

This church is not mine. It’s God’s.

This church is not Keith’s or Joel’s or Cody’s or Abe’s. It’s God’s.

This church is Jesus’ church. He bought it with His blood!

Now, sometimes, I’ll say, “At my church, we do it this way.” And you’ve probably said, “I go to Pastor Matt’s church.” And we all know what we mean by that. We say this is “our church.”

I say, you are my beloved flock. But what I better mean by that is that you are “the flock under [my] care.” And I better treat you that way, as God’s flock. I don’t get to do with you what I want. I only get to do with you what I know God wants.

Elders, be shepherds.

#2. BE EAGER.

Be eager to serve God’s flock.

I get that also from verse 2. “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve...”

Be eager.

This one can be really hard because church leadership is not always fun.

Especially in times of persecution!

Church leadership has been hard during the pandemic. I read a reputable statistic yesterday that 38% of pastors in the US have seriously considering quitting the pastorate during the pandemic. Nearly 2 out of every 5 have seriously thought about quitting.

But if we thought that pastoring in a pandemic was hard, just wait until we find out what pastoring during persecution is like!

Peter says that these elders should pastor as overseers, the Greek word for that is “episkopountes” (and you can tell what English words we get out of that, overseers).

The elders should give oversight to the whole church, providing direction and leadership. Not just doing everything but seeing that everything gets done.

But they should only do that work of overseeing only out of a certain kind of heart! Look at verse 2.

“Not because you must, but because you are willing.”

Not because of compulsion.

Not just because it’s your duty.

Not just because it’s your job.

Not just because you signed up for it or they elected you to do it or your name is on some list.

But because you really want to.

You see why that’s tricky? Because we don’t always want to, do we?

Church leaders don’t always want to lead churches! But God doesn’t want us to do it begrudgingly. He wants our hearts to be in it.

And not in it for the money. Verse 2 again. “...not greedy for money, but eager to serve...” There are some really twisted reasons why some people get into church leadership. Or stay in church leadership.

They do it for the money. Or perhaps some other form of payment like the popularity or the power trip.

At Lanse Free Church, I am currently the only elder who is on staff and receiving a salary for being a vocational elder. So this could be a major temptation for me.

You guys support me really well, and I could fall into the temptation of doing my shepherding so that the paychecks keep coming. Writing the next sermon or going to the next meeting just because you’re paying me.

Please don’t stop paying me well just to test me!

But I have to interrogate myself on a regular basis to make sure that my heart is in it. Because my job description says that I need to shepherd God’s flock eagerly. And that’s true for all church leaders. We all need to make sure we’re doing it for the right reasons.

And if we are not...we need to have our hearts changed.

We don’t just say, “I don’t feel like it any more. So I quit.”

We say, “I don’t feel like it any more. So I repent.”

“...not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be...”

See how God is going after your heart? Yes, if you are not really willing and eager, then you should get out of that leadership position. We don’t want people to serve in church leadership who are not eager. But don’t miss that God wants you to be eager!

And in verse 4, He’s going to give us a much better motivation.

But first there’s verse 3.

And that’s the third way that He wants elders to shepherd.

#3. BE EXAMPLES.

Be examples for God’s flock. Verse 3.

“Be shepherds, serving as overseers...not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

One of the major ways that pastors pastor and shepherds shepherd and elders...eld?

Is to lead by example.

One my pastor friends pointed out to me long ago that sheep cannot be driven, they have to be led. The shepherd goes first and the sheep follow. You can’t get behind of bunch of sheep and say, “Go, go, go!” and they go where you want them to go. No, they scatter. The shepherd has to show them where he wants to go.

Peter remembered when Jesus said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [That’s the corporate structure!] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).

Even Jesus led by example!

If anyone could rightly lord it over someone else, it would be Jesus. But even He showed the way by being a servant.

Keith, Joel, Cody, Abe, and I want to be good examples for you. We are not perfect. Oh boy, are we not!

But we desire to live lives worthy of emulating. We desire to set the pace.

I want to live my life as an example for you. It makes me tremble to say it, but watch me. I’m trying to show you how it’s done. Be like me.

I’m trying to live as foreigner and exile and abstain from the sinful desires that wage war against my soul. I’m trying to live such a good life among the pagans that though they accuse me of doing wrong, they may see my good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Be like me.

By the way, if you are not an elder, you can apply this passage to yourself in lots of different ways.

Some of you should aspire to being a church elder (1 Timothy 3:1).

Whether or not you ever actually serve on the official church elder team, guys, you should want to be this kind of a godly man.

Or if you are lady, you can take these principles and apply them to the areas of church leadership to which you might be called.

But another way to apply this to your own life–if you are not currently an elder–is to flip around each point and think about how to help your elders do their job–as one of the sheep in God’s flock.

So if we are supposed to be shepherds, you could say to yourself, “Am I allowing myself to be shepherded? Am I a good sheep?” Have you asked yourself that?

If we are supposed to be eager to serve, you could ask yourself, “Am I making it easy for them to be happy to serve us? Am I supportive?”

If we are supposed to be examples for you, you could ask yourself, “Am I following the example they are setting for us? Am I trying to be like them?”

In verse 5, Peter will tell the younger church members to be submissive to the elders.

The sheep should regularly ask ourselves if we are allowing ourselves to be shepherded. The flock should regularly ask ourselves if we are allowing ourselves to be led. And, remember, except for the Chief Shepherd, all human shepherds are sheep, as well. We all need pastored. And we all need to ask ourselves if we are allowing ourselves to be pastored.

Are we allowing ourselves to be numbered?

Are we eating what our shepherds are feeding us?

Are we following their lead?

Because we are God’s flock.

We are entrusted to certain shepherds.

Did you see that in verse 3 again?

“Not lording it over those entrusted to you.”

Abe and Cody and Joel and Keith and I all noticed that repetition when we studied it in January. And we felt it deeply. We have been given a trust to keep. May we be found faithful to shepherd this particular group of sheep.

Because if we are faithful, we be rewarded. That’s the last point.

#4. BE REWARDED.

Be rewarded by the Chief Shepherd of God’s Flock, verse 4.

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I want to find out! I want that unfading crown of glory.

The world’s rewards and accolades will all fade away. But Jesus who loves His flock–like nobody loves a flock[!]–is offering unfading rewards to those who love His flock for Him.

We will “share in the glory to be revealed” (v.1)!

Being a pastor can be a very hard job, especially when the persecution hits, ut when it’s done God’s way, it is totally worth it.

“Do Not Be Surprised” [Matt's Messages]

2/13/2022 12:26:00 PM 1 Peter, Lanse Free Church, Matt's Messages 0 comments

“Do Not Be Surprised”

As Foreigners and Exiles - The Message of 1 Peter

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

February 13, 2022 :: 1 Peter 4:12-19

“Do Not Be Surprised.”

The Apostle Peter wants his readers to not be shocked or astonished or taken aback at the unjust suffering that they were currently experiencing and could continue to expect in Asia Minor.

Peter doesn’t want them to be floored, or confused, or flabbergasted that things have gotten tough in following Jesus Christ.

He’s really been saying this all along, ever since chapter 1. Peter’s been helping them to get ready for persecution and telling them how to live under persecution. And encouraging them to keep on doing good even when they get accused of doing bad.

Like our memory verse, right?

“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Notice that in our verse 12, Peter addresses them the exact same way as he did in 2:11, “Dear friends.” In Greek that’s “agapatoi,” and you hear the word “agape/love” in there. “Loved ones.” “Beloved.”

Peter has some hard things for his readers to receive in this paragraph, but he’s saying them all in love, out of his great love for them. “Dear friends [beloved], do not be surprised.”

In the previous paragraph that we studied last week, Peter reminded them that time was short, that the end of all things is near and so we should keep calm and pray and show love for each other and practice hospitality and serve each other with whatever gifts we’ve been given so that Jesus Christ gets all the glory. And then he couldn’t help but praise Jesus: “To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

But Peter wasn’t done in verse 11.

He comes down off of that doxology, returns to what he’s been trying to get across for the last 4 chapters, and really drives it home.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Beloved, do not be perplexed. Do not be dumbfounded. Do not be absolutely shocked that you are suffering a painful trial–and he’s not talking about just any suffering (covid or cancer or an accident). He’s talking about unjust suffering. Suffering for the name of Christ.

Do not be surprised.

The word there for “painful” in verse 12 could be translated “fiery.” “Purosis” a fiery ordeal, a painful test.

Peter says that this kind of suffering is not strange.

It’s normal.

Now, I’m not happy about that. That’s not how I would want it. I don’t like suffering.

And I’ll bet you don’t either. And the foreigners and exiles in Asia minor didn’t like it either. And Peter didn’t like it!

One time, Jesus told Peter He was going to suffer, and Peter rebuked Jesus for saying it! Yes, you heard me right. Peter rebuked Jesus. Not smart! But Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan...you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23).

Well, Peter got the message. And now he’s telling the things of God to the beloved people of God.

Unjust suffering is normal.

Do not be surprised.

And yet, we still often are. There’s something about suffering that almost always surprises us.

Even though even Jesus told us to expect it. “In this world you will have trouble...” (John 16:33).

I think that one good reason for that is that we know in our hearts the way things ought to be. We have vestiges of Eden in our hearts, and we have longings for the Kingdom.

We know that unjust suffering is un-right, and we feel it in our bones.

But during this present age, unjust suffering is not actually strange. It’s normal for disciples of Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons why so many of us Americans are surprised when it happens to us is that Christians (at least white Christians) have enjoyed an exceptionally favored status in the short history of the United States.

Some Christians played a role in the founding of our nation, and some Christian concepts and ideals provided a few of its original foundations. And for a long while we benefitted from a privileged status.

But that’s actually unusual in the history of the world, and over time it almost always comes unraveled.

It’s not what we should expect. In fact, most of the time, we should expect the exact opposite. “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Don’t expect a Christian nation. Expect persecution, Christian.

We are strangers here, so suffering shouldn’t be strange to us.

Are you ready to suffer because you are a follower of Jesus Christ?

In the next seven verses, Peter tells us how we should respond when we experience this kind of unjust suffering.

What he says might surprise you. We shouldn’t be surprised when we experience unjust suffering, but we should respond in perhaps surprising ways.

I see at least 3.

#1. REJOICE.

Do not be surprised, but instead rejoice. Look at verse 13.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

“Rejoice.”

That is surprising, isn’t it? I mean it shouldn’t be. Our Lord Jesus taught us this in His Sermon on the Mount. Peter is just echoing the teaching of His master.

But it’s still shocking, I think, to read. Because it’s so counterintuitive. Don’t be surprised that you are hurting, instead rejoice that you are hurting!

Now, of course, Peter doesn’t baldly say, “Rejoice that you are hurting.” What does he say?

“[R]ejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ...”

Participate. The Greek is “koinoneite” a sister word of “koinonia.” Fellowship.

Yesterday, I read my sermon on this passage from 20 years ago, and I said it this way then, “Suffering for Christ is Suffering With Christ, So Rejoice In It!”

It’s fellowship. When they hurt you, He is with you. Just like when they hurt Him, you were with Him.

Suffering FOR Christ is suffering WITH Christ, and that’s so worth rejoicing in!

I would rather be suffering with Christ and in Christ than having a “pain free existence” outside of Christ, wouldn’t you?

So, Peter says don’t just endure this suffering. Rejoice!

Not just now, but forever. Did you catch that in verse 13?

“[Re]joice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

We live now in light of then.

Rejoice now for greater rejoicing then.

Because, remember, Jesus didn’t just suffer and die. He was raised to life and vindicated. And now He’s reigning in glory.

And when Jesus Christ is revealed, we will be vindicated and share in His glory.

We learned this back in chapter 1. Remember when Peter said, “In this [inheritance] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1:6-7)?

When Jesus Christ is revealed, we who have rejoiced to suffer with Him now will be overjoyed then!

Which gives us all the more reason to rejoice now!

How’re you doing at that?

Anybody here taking some flak for following Christ?

If we aren’t taking any flak, maybe we’re doing it wrong. Don’t go looking for it! But be ready for it. And be ready to rejoice. Look at verse 14.

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

Wow! I don’t want to suffer. I don’t relish the idea of persecution, but I sure love that word “blessed.” I want that! And I want the “Spirit of glory and of God” to rest on me! Yes, I do.

The same Spirit that rested on Jesus (cf. Isaiah 11, Matthew 3).

This is important to understand because it is not obvious. It’s not the way it seems. When you and I experience persecution, it might feel like the Spirit has left us.

If you go into your public school and live as a Christian, you might feel alone.

If you go into your secular workplace and live as a Christian, you might feel alone.

If you go visit with your unbelieving family and live as a follower of Christ, you might feel abandoned.

But this says what’s really true. You are not alone. Quite the opposite. You are with and in Christ and the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you!

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed!”

Now, I almost want to be insulted for the name of Christ, just to have another reason to rejoice.

Do not be surprised, but instead rejoice.

#2. REPRESENT.

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, but instead faithfully represent Jesus Christ to the watching world.

Those words “because of the name of Christ” in verse 14 are super important. We aren’t supposed to rejoice just because we are in pain. We are not masochists. But we are supposed to rejoice because we wear His name. This is the point of verses 15 and 16.

“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Do you see the logic?

Peter says that if we suffer, it shouldn’t be because we deserve it.

It’s not a blessing to suffer the consequence of your own sin. Whether it’s extreme criminal stuff like murder, robbery or something like or garden variety sins like being a busybody or some other kind of meddlesome troublemaker.

It’s not persecution if you deserve it.

That is poorly representing Jesus.

And, sometimes, we will be accused of all of those things even if we haven’t done them.

But Peter says don’t be accused of them because you have done them!

That’s not where the blessing is. The blessing is suffering when you don’t deserve it. When all you’re doing is good in the name of Christ. When that happens, don’t be ashamed (v.16), “but praise God that you bear that name.”

“Praise God that you bear that name.” Represent. Bear that name. Fill your mouth with that name. And don’t be ashamed.

You know it’s easy to feel shame when you’re being persecuted. The whole point of persecution is to make you feel shame. They were heaping shame on Jesus at the Cross. And at the exact same time, He was unashamed.

You know there are only three places in the Bible that use this word “Christian” (like in verse 16). You and I go by a lot of names in the Bible, “disciple,” “believers,” “brothers and sisters,” and so on. Only 3 places where the word “Christian” is used.

And interestingly, it could be a negative word hurled at us by the world. “You Christians.”

I think it’s likely we’re going to see more and more hostility towards Christians in this country.

Of course, as I said last week, I am a not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, and I work for a non-profit organization (thanks, Walt Kaiser!).

But genuine biblical prophets have told us to expect persecution because we bear the name of Christ.

So I think it likely that more of that is on the way.

Right now in our neighbor to the north, in Canada, there is a new law that criminalizes certain practices that aim to challenge a person’s homosexuality or aid a person with gender dysphoria to live in alignment with their biological sex.

Now, it’s possible that this law is only aimed at coercive treatments called “reparative therapy,” and I think they are an ineffective and unhelpful way to go.

But the law is sufficiently vague and potentially ominous enough that many pastors in Canada are concerned that it may end up criminalizing all Christian teaching and counseling on sexual ethics. Making it illegal to teach that “God created human beings uniquely in His image as male and female, and He has designed marriage to be a covenantal relationship between one man and one woman” (EFCA Resolution on Biblical Sexuality and the Covenant of Marriage).

Our Lord Jesus taught us that (Matthew 19:1-6), and we must be faithful to continue to teach it to our children and to the Lord’s church. No matter what the world says.

Now, hopefully, it’s not as bad in Canada as it might seem to some.

And, thankfully, it hasn’t even reached that point here in the US as of yet. [Though see this ordinance that was recently proposed in Indiana.]

But there is no reason to believe that it won’t.

And in some parts of the world, it is simply illegal to teach any Christian doctrine including the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And right now in our nation, even if we have all kinds of legal freedom of speech and legal freedom of religion, we still have hostile neighbors.

There are lots of ways to “suffer as a Christian,” not just as the hands of the government, but Peter says to not be surprised and to not be ashamed, but to praise God that you bear that name.

Represent Him well.

By the way, that includes how we teach about Christian sexual ethics. We better not be getting into trouble over sexuality and gender because we have been rude or impatient or unkind or envious or boastful or proud or self-seeking or easily angered.

We better not be getting into trouble over sexuality and gender because of a cold-hearted failure to love.

But only because we are full of love for God and full of love for our sexually struggling friends, neighbors, and loved ones (re-read verse 15!).

Represent Him well.

And then if you get into trouble, rejoice.

“Do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

In verse 17, Peter says judgment is coming and has already started. Verse 17.

“[Praise God that you bear that name.] For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’”

I get tripped up on these verses because I always think that judgment is a bad thing. I equate it with condemnation which is one outcome of judgment.

But Peter knows that God’s judgment is perfect.

Remember just few verses ago he said the Lord is “ready to judge the living and the dead” (v.5).

And I think that he’s saying that these trials reveal how real we are. Just like he said in chapter 1, verse 7. “These [trials] have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine [judged genuine, judged to be real] and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

So, mysteriously, as the world comes in and brings their fiery persecutions, God is using them to both purify us and confirm us in our faith.

It’s painful. So painful that we say, “It’s hard for the righteous be saved.” It hurts!

But it shows that we are real, that we really love Jesus.

And that we really are done with sin and really living for Jesus.

And, of course, it shows the opposite, as well.

That’s what Peter means when he says “what will the outcome [of this judgment] be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, [paraphrasing Proverbs 11:31] ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'”

Eternal punishment, that’s what.

Justice is coming, and all will be revealed.

So here is how we should live:

#3. RECOMMIT.

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, but instead rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ.

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, but instead represent well the name of Christ.

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, but instead recommit yourself to your Creator and recommit to doing good. Look at verse 19. Last verse.

“So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

There he goes again with that “doing good” thing! [agathopoiia]

Peter’s a broken record.

Continue to do good.

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Continue to do good.

Even when you suffer for it.

Especially when you suffer for it.

It’s not easy. If it was easy, Peter wouldn’t have written this letter for us. But it’s what we are called to. “Continue to do good.”

And the only way we can do that is to trust that God knows what He’s doing.

It sure doesn’t seem like it sometimes. I mean, this verse says again that it is sometimes “God’s will” that we would suffer this kind of persecution.

Not that He says to our persecutors, “Go, hurt my child.” He actually says the opposite to them. But, mysteriously, that pain is still in His plan for us as His children.

And so we have to believe that He is sovereign, and He knows what He’s doing.

He made us, and He is faithful.

He is our faithful Creator, and we can trust Him.

We can put ourselves in His hands.

And continue to do good.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering or are about to suffer. It’s not strange. It’s normal. It’s to be expected.

Instead of being surprised, be thankful. Rejoice that you are in Christ and His Spirit rests on you.

Represent Him well. Do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear His name.

And recommit yourself to trusting yourself to Him because you know that He knows what He’s doing and continue to do good.

17. "The End Of All Things Is Near" 1 Peter 4:7-11

“The End of All Things Is Near” [Matt's Messages]

2/06/2022 08:38:00 PM 1 Peter, Lanse Free Church, Matt's Messages 2 comments

“The End of All Things Is Near”

As Foreigners and Exiles - The Message of 1 Peter

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

February 6, 2022 :: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Last week, we entered into chapter 4 of 1 Peter where the apostle urged his readers to arm ourselves with the attitude of Jesus Christ, that is, to be willing to suffer for doing good and in doing so we would be effectively, decisively “done with sin.” Over it. To decide in advance to make a break with sin and to follow Jesus and to desire to do God’s will. To make a break with our past, expecting to take some flack for that from the world, but deciding in advance to not turn back.

Because it’s all worth it. Following Jesus is worth it. Forever!

Because of the gospel. Because Jesus Christ who is “ready to judge the living and the dead” was Himself dead and is now living! So that now, even if we become dead through persecution and martyrdom, we will always be living because of Jesus and His Spirit. And having brought up the final judgment, Peter now finds himself saying something about how near we all are to it.

He says in verse 7, “The end of all things is near.”

Perhaps somewhat ironically, this is the fourth time that I can remember preaching this particular passage to this church family.

On January 6, 2002, exactly twenty years and one month ago (241 months ago), I preached a message entitled, “What To Do When the End Is Near” as we walked through 1 Peter together back in the day. Then on November 27, 2005 I preached a message entitled, “The End Is Near” on this very passage. We were doing a study of the end times, and I said that this is how we should live in light of them.

And then on March 15, 2020, I preached a sermon with the very same title as my message today, drawn right out of verse 7, “The End of All Things Is Near.” And that was the last Sunday before we stopped meeting in person for 12 weeks. Remember that? Some of you were here that day and many of you were not.

In many ways, it felt like the end of the world.

Of course, it also didn’t feel like that on March 15, 2020. It felt like perhaps a great overreaction. At the beginning of that message I said, “I’m actually thinking that in a few months, we’ll all be worrying about something else than this novel coronavirus. We will have, Lord-willing, moved on. I hope.”

Sadly, I was wrong about that one. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, and I work for a non-prophet organization (as the great Walt Kaiser is wont to say).

We have not moved on, though we have not been stopped. We continue to be on the move with our mission as we said last Sunday at our vision meeting.

If anything, that feeling that the end of all things is near has grown for many of us. These days, I am regularly asked by people if I think we are living in the end times.

And, of course, the answer is “yes.” We have been living in the end times for about 2,000 years. Peter wrote this nearly 2,000 years ago. “The end of all things is near.” The “culmination” of all things is at hand. Time is short. We are closer than ever to the day when God visits us (2:12).

And that was true when Peter wrote it.

And it was just as true when I preached it in 2002.

And it was just as true when I preached it in 2005.

And it was just as true when I preached it in 2020.

And it is just as true today. And maybe even true-er because we closer than ever.

Now, are we at the end of the end times? I have no idea. I do not know the day or the hour. And none of you do, either. Our Lord Jesus did not know when He was going to return when He taught us about His return! Of course, we don’t know when.

The New Testament emphasis on the nearness of the end of all things is not on date-setting but on godly living.

We know that it is coming and soon.

We don’t know when, so we live ready.

Because...“We’re almost home! We’re almost home.”

“The end of all things is near.”

Our inheritance is almost here. It can “never perish, spoil or fade.” It’s “kept in heaven for” us “who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1:4-5).

“The end of all things is near.”

People laugh that we have been saying this for 2,000 years. But it’s just as true now as ever and even more true because we are so much closer than ever. We are almost home, and “the end of all things is near.”

So, if that’s true then how should we live now? That’s what Peter gives us in the next five verses. These are some priorities we should set because the end of all things is near. And they might be little surprising to you and me. Not because they are so crazy, but because they are so...normal.

Let’s look more closely at them together. Verse 7 again.

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”

I’ve got four points this morning, and they are all very simple even if they are not all very easy. Here’s number one.

The end of all things is near, therefore:

#1. THINK CLEARLY AND PRAY.

Does that sound kind of anticlimactic?

“The end of all things is near!”

Therefore, “Keep calm and pray on.” Like the red British posters?

“Keep calm and pray on.”

Peter says that his readers should be “clear minded and self-controlled.” They should keep their wits about them. They should be sober-minded.

In the Greek these words mean, “Don’t freak out!”

Not really, but that’s the basic idea. Don’t let yourself panic.

I think that that’s the exact opposite of what we think we ought to do when we’re living in the end-times!

Things are spinning out of control, so we should be out of control.

No, we should be self-controlled. The opposite of how the world acts (as we saw last week in verses 3 and 4).

Are we known for that?

Are followers of Jesus known for being clear minded and self-controlled?

Peter says that the goal of that kind of clear thinking is prayer. “So that you can pray.”

Don’t freak out. Focus.

Don’t panic. Pray.

How does that hit you this morning? Were you hoping for something a little more...exciting? Peter’s readers were suffering, and he reminded them what he’s reminding us, everything is coming to a head, and we need to stay clear minded and self controlled so that we can pray.

One of those sinful desires that wage wars against our souls is the desire to be frantic and anxious and worry and fret and let ourselves lose it over how bad things are. I have done it again and again.

But Peter says, “Settle down. Keep calm and pray on.” Not because everything is okay, but because everything is going to be okay. Right? Ultimately. You are loved and the One who loves you is in control. And He has invited you to pray to Him asking Him for things. He wants you to. So settle down and ask.

Anybody need to hear that this morning. Can I get an amen? Can I get a honk-amen?

The end of all things is near, therefore think clearly and pray.

#2. LOVE DEEPLY AND FORGIVE. V.8

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

That’s an interesting priority when the world is ending! “Love each other deeply.”

Peter says that this a top priority. “Above all...” Whatever you do as the world is coming to its end, make sure you love other Christians deeply, fervently.

The first one was internal and upward, right? Clear mind, prayerful heart.

This one is external and side-ward. Loving each other.

Look around at the people in this room right now. Go ahead.

If you are outside, look at the people in the cars next to you or across the way.

Peter says that end of ALL THINGS is near and because of that he wants you and me to show love to each other. One reason is because we’re all going to be together forever. We probably ought to start loving each other now!

And, remember, love is not primarily a feeling (though feelings are involved), love is a heart commitment to seeking the best for others even at a personal cost. This means action. This means doing stuff. Love is a verb. It’s something you do.

How are you showing love to the other Christians in your life right now?

Remember, we are foreigners and exiles, and foreigners and exiles gotta stick together. We need each other. How many used your church directory this week to reach out and show love to another Christian in your church family? How many sent a text or made a call? Or shoveled a walk? Or whatever?

Love takes many forms. For the last two years, it has often taken the strange form of keeping your distance or wearing a mask. And, of course, more often in history love has meant not keeping your distance and moving towards someone else to meet their needs. Seeking their best interests even at a personal cost. Just like Jesus did.

Notice how we are not supposed to be passive even if the world is falling around our ears. We don’t just sit back and grab the popcorn and watch the world end. We get busy loving each other.

The kind of love that Peter emphasizes here is a forbearing, forgiving love. Did you hear that in verse 8?

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

He doesn’t say that love “covers up” sins. This is not sweeping sin under the rug or making excuses for someone or hiding sins from those who need to know about them.

This is loving somebody and forgiving them, often before they even ask! He’s emphasizing how love overlooks an offense. I’ll bet that many of you have done that this morning already. Somebody has sinned against you, and you have already unilaterally forgiven them and are treating them freely as if they have not offended you. I’ll be that’s going on right now in this very room.

Love is a powerful force.

And eternity is really long.

And time is really short.

Too short to be nursing grudges.

King Solomon said, “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs” (Proverbs 10:12).

Time is short. Whom do you need to forgive?

The third priority is another specific way of showing love to one another. Hospitality. Look at verse 9.

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Peter says the world is going to end so open up your homes.

#3. SHARE FREELY AND HOST.

Think clearly and pray.

Love deeply and forgive.

Share freely and host.

Peter tells his readers that they (and therefore we) ought to offer hospitality to one another.

And that means to open up your home and share your personal resources with others. In the first century, it often meant giving a fellow Christian a night’s lodging. Being a bed and breakfast for them as they journeyed. Offering hospitality means opening your hearts and your homes to other Christians.

Of course, this can take different forms in differ circumstances. And it doesn’t mean that every single time somebody needs a place to sleep or dinner that you have to open your door for them. But it does mean that we ought to regularly be opening our doors to other Christians! And sharing of personal resources.

This week, you all showed hospitality when you helped pay for a night in the Kwik Fill motel for a family that was just about stranded here traveling along route 80. I got a call on Friday about a family with 5 adults and 3 little ones (and 2 dogs) who had been burned out of their home in Massachusetts and were moving across country in a moving van pulling a truck behind them trying to get to Missouri where they have family. Anybody remember what the weather was like on Friday?

I got up there and met the folks and bought them dinner and a tank of gas from your compassion fund here and then they got back on the road the next day. That’s hospitality.

And Peter says that we need to show it “without grumbling.”

I admit that I did a little grumbling when I got that call. The weather is bad, and I have to go out in it because of these people? But I repented of that attitude and went and came back joyful and blessed.

“The end of the all things is near.” That’s scary, isn’t it? Well, we Christians need to stick together and pool our resources and host each other in our homes. As we are able and as it is loving to do, we need to have each other over.

Maybe you don’t have a houseful of people right now. Some of you will. But especially if you are meeting someone else’s need, open your hearts and open your homes.

Twenty years ago, when I first preached this passage we had not yet moved into our home in Lanse. It was almost done, and we were going to move in first week of February. And we couldn’t wait to open it up to you.

And you had just bought us a big dining room table as a housewarming gift. It opens up to 10 feet long! And over the years, it has been our joy to have so many of you around that table. And we look forward to many more.

Yes, hospitality is costly. And we don’t always feel like it. It’s easy to get tired of guests. Heather’s grandfather used to say that guests were a lot like fish. After 3 days they stink.

But Jesus opened His heart and His veins for us. We can open our hearts and our homes.

#4. SERVE FAITHFULLY AND PRAISE.

Apparently Peter’s emphasis on hospitality has prompted more thoughts about serving. Look at verse 10. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.”

The world is ending, and Peter wants us to serve each other.

Notice that he does not say, “if you have received a gift, use it.” He assumes that everyone has received a gift, and says that we are to use whatever gift we have received to serve others in love.

Our gifts, everybody’s got them, are not for ourselves. They are for others. My gifts are not for me. They are for you. Your gifts are not for you. They are for others. So we don’t use them selfishly, but faithfully. We are stewards of them. Managers. And we use them for the good of the whole body.

I love that it says that these gifts come in various forms. King James Version says, we are to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

There are so many gifts in this room. You all have received gifts, not to hoard, not for yourself, but for the whole church.

Some are obvious up-front loud gifts. I’ve got some of those. And if you have them, too, we have a great responsibility in how we use them. V.11 “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” That’s a weighty responsibility!

But speaking gifts are only one kind of gift. There are lots of different gifts to be used in service of the Body of Christ. V.11 again. “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” The gifts are from God and so is the strength to use them faithfully.

We trust in the Lord to empower us to serve others. Are you doing that? How are you using your gifts to serve other followers of Christ?

Church is not a spectator sport. We are not supposed to be fans in the stands, but players in the game.

Time is short. Really short. We don’t know how long.

And so we need all hands on deck. So that God gets all the glory.

Did you see how this all ends up? V. 11 again.

“If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things [like the end of all things? In all things...] God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” And that’s where all this is headed.

“To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

“This journey ours together

We’re almost home

Unto that great forever

We’re almost home

What song anew we’ll sing ‘round that happy throne

Come faint of heart

We’re almost home

Almost home

We’re almost home

So press on toward that blessed shore

O praise the Lord