Practical Steps to Hope
1 Peter 4:7-11
This last month, while our family was in the States, most of our time was not very restful. After leaving our van in Wyoming where it broke down all the images of reading a couple of books, getting some extra sleep, watching a sunset, those ideas began to disappear into the sunset. We suddenly found ourselves with a lot to do, a lot of uncertainty of how to get it done and the reality that time was running out. We needed to get Justin settled in a new place, and a new life. Sarah was returning from Turkey and now we had to also buy a vehicle - there was suddenly sense of urgency. There was a lot to do and not much time to get it done in, and a fair bit of uncertainty along the way.
We have all found our selves in similar situations, a lot to do, not much time and not everything is figured out.
Peter is writing to Christians who have endured suffering of many different kinds.
Last week we looked at
1Pet 4:2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. ...
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Our text this morning is
1Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
"the sun will come up tomorrow" Annie
Peter writes "the end of all things is near" - He is reminding us this morning - Jesus is returning, there is a judgment coming, All things will be made right, justice will prevail, the righteous will win. Just knowing that helps to give light at the end of the tunnel.
When a couple is getting married and they are dealing with all the decisions and emotions, and issues of the wedding, things get stressful, uncertainties arise, I will tell them, regardless of what happens by the end of the day, you will be married.
Peter starts this passage with a wonderful reminder in the midst of the struggles - the end is near, Jesus is coming back -for you- justice will prevail, the right will win.
Until then here are:
4 Practical steps to build hope in your life
Nothing brings discouragement like confusion. Unrequited certainty destroys hope. When I don't know how things will work I have little to hang on to
Ø Think Straight - "Be clear minded & self-controlled"
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
o sound judgment and sober spirit (NAS)
o stay sane - evaluate situations maturely and correctly
Right mind - sensible - right thinking
Not influenced by self seeking, irresponsible, damaging, distracting and infiltrating ideas, agendas, philosophies, people.
Be sober thinking - not somber - oh the world is crashing in - but sober. The alternative of sober is drunk - we have all seen drunk people. They have taken something into their body that distorts their ability to think, act, reason, they may not feel pain or respond to potentially dangerous situations - they get in fights, they don't act normal. The worst part is they always think they are thinking and acting straight - but everyone around them knows they are drunk. You don't trust a drunk person, you don't know what they will do.
Peter is using a similar picture in our thinking. Be in the right mind. Don't let unwholesome things into your mind, your thinking. Just because everyone else around you is drinking in this idea or philosophy doesn't mean it is good and something you should let into your mind. There are attitudes, ideas, music, movies, books, theories that will cloud your mind and make you insensitive to reality. You end up not knowing which end is up. Others around you can see your not thinking right, but you can be drunk in your own ideas and be hurting yourself and others around you.
When an airplane pilot is in the midst of a storm and he is surrounded by clouds he is in a dangerous situation, and if not careful can end up crashing into a mountain. That is when the pilot has to rely on his or her instrumentation. The instruments will tell him which end is up, where the ground is, what is altitude is. If the pilot ignores her instruments, she is putting the passangers and crew at great risk, the instruments are crucial to the airplane.
As Christians we have some guides that help us stay clear thinking:
God's Word - the Bible; other mature and wise Christians; The Holy Spirit; these will help us when our thinking is not clear.
When we discovered our van's transmission was dead and we were in the middle of nowhere - we relied on these three to help us think straight. I had been reading in Ruth at the time and Ruth provided a lot of hope to me. Diana & I prayed - a lot, together and independently, and I sought outside council, I called several people I knew who could help me think. I talked to my friend Jim, in Wichita several times, Diana & I were both impressed after praying together that I should call him. I talked to Paul several times. I talked to a pastor in the area... I didn't try to work through this alone and in the midst of it God used each of them to keep hope alive in us.
So that you can pray - more effectively, more appropriately, intellegently
Pray - 2 kinds of prayer
"God help me think" - this is my agenda, this is my circumstance - help me know what to do
"God help me know what you think" - what are you upto?
Discover the mind of God
Purposes,
Accept the mysteries of God
What this verse teaches could be put into practice when reading the newspaper, listening to news, traveling to work, shopping...
Ø Love Strongly - "Love each other deeply"
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
love earnestly, deeply.
On-going - better transl "keep loving one another deeply".
Reason to do this - BECAUSE love covers a multitude of sin...
Where love abounds in Christian relationships, many small offenses - and even large ones - are readily overlooked and forgotten. But where love is lacking - every word is looked at with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts abound - to Satan's perverse delight.
Prov. 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.
Ø Extend grace
Ø Forgive freely
"we are most like beasts when we
we are most like men when we tolerate
we are most like God when we forgive
Deep love seeks the good of others before one's own and a practical way of expressing this is through hospitality.
When you forgive - you are actually restoring hope
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
John 21:16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
John 21:17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Peter had just experienced the love of Jesus - Jesus just restored hope to Peter and now Jesus says give yourself to my sheep
Ø Live Openly - Offer hospitality
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Share your life with others - Let people in
Care for others without grumbling.
When we grumble it is actually a complaint against God and the circumstances He is bringing into your life.
When I say "oh, I wish I didn't have to do this for this person...", "or "it's not right that I should have to do this ... for them..."
I am closing my heart up to them and to how God wants to use me
I am closing my heart to the hope God wants to restore to me.
Guy who stopped to help us on the side of the road
The tow truck driver - gave us his cell phone, took Diana / kids to hotel, then me after dropping off the van at the garage
Hotel desk clerk - took me to Wal-mart to get boxes at 11:30 pm
None of them said "that is what I am paid to do"
Hospitality always costs something
It takes time to look after someone else
It takes money to offer a meal or an evening
It takes energy to stay up late or get up early
To meet someone in their area takes hospitality on my part - I do it because I care about them, not what is most convenient for me.
When someone brings you a meal, watches your kids, drives to meet you so you don't ride a bus, picks you up and takes you somewhere - they are offering you hospitality - and it is costing them something, time, energy, money, gas, food,
Perhaps God wants to use you to restore hope in that person who has just offered you hospitality
Ø Use your gift(s) to serve others
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides,
God gives each of us gifts - spiritual gifts. These are wonderful and special ways God uses each of our lives to bless others.
We receive them to use them for the sake and blessing of others. There are many and different types of gifts, God's grace comes in many and various forms. No one has them all - God uses his people to bless others.
These are gifts you did not have a part from Gods presence in your life. They are not talents that you innately have, but they are abilites God brings into your life.
As you use the gifts that God gives you, you realize God is using your life to bless someone else, that is a good and right feeling, it builds confidence, not in yourself, but God and your relationship with him. That confidence that God brings into your life builds hope in you. And God uses you to bring hope to others in the church. Hope is multiplied when God's people use the gifts God has give them to administer His grace in various forms.
Encouragement / motive:
o The end of all things is near
o "...so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ"
Peter ends this passage in a most encouraging way,
It is almost a doxology, a blessing
...so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
The end is near, it requires sober and clear thinking
It calls us to love one another deeply
It calls us to put the needs of others ahead of myself and offer hospitality
It calls me to use the spiritual gifts God has invested in me to bless others and let God use me to demonstrate his grace to them.
These build confidence and hope into my life and yours.