All right, go ahead and take your Bibles and turn to 1st Peter. As you're turning back to 1st Peter, 1st Peter chapter 4. Last week as we began chapter 4, we looked at verses 1 through verse 6. And this week, we're going to be looking down from verse 7 to verse 11. Again, 1 Peter, this is Peter's very first epistle to what he refers to as the elect exiles. They were believers that were dispersed across Asia Minor. And Peter is encouraging the believers that their lives must stand out in the culture in which they lived. And the same admonishment exists for us today as believers. We live in an increasingly dark age, and we exist to be a testimony to the lost. This idea is really at the crux of Peter's epistle, and he writes what is essentially his purpose statement in 1 Peter 2, verse 12. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. This is really Peter's overarching purpose. This one verse, it actually encapsulates many of the themes that we've observed through Peter's writing. Peter's encouraged the believers to submit to their authorities, even when authorities were abusive. He's encouraged them to show mercy and bless, even when they have been maligned. They were to live holy and pure lives. And they were to do all of this that the Gentiles might be driven to Christ through their godly testimony. This was the primary thrust of our passage last week. Again, in verses 1 through 6 of chapter 4, Peter, he went into details regarding the types of activities that describe unbelievers, just to demonstrate how believers ought to live. He says, this is what used to describe unbelievers, and this is what even used to describe you, but this shouldn't be descriptive of you anymore. These individuals, they had been saved. They'd been transformed. And so because they were recipients of God's grace, because they had been saved, their lives ought to look like it. They were responsible to live as if they were recipients of God's grace. So scripture is clear that the grace of Jesus Christ is what saves us from sin, but that same grace that saves us also sanctifies us. That's really what we're looking at in verses 1 through 6 last week. Today, are you being sanctified by the grace of Jesus that was purchased for you on the cross? If you claim to be a believer, you must be sanctified by grace. And so this is Peter's continuing purpose as he begins in verse seven of chapter four. Again, we're gonna be looking at verses seven through 11, and we'll see today a continuation of this theme. As stewards of God's grace, we must faithfully love the body of Christ as we hopefully await the second coming. I'm gonna say that again, because it's really important. As stewards of God's grace, we must faithfully love the body of Christ as we hopefully await his second coming. So we'll begin reading our passage this week as we normally do. Let's read together verses seven through 11 of 1 Peter chapter four. Peter says this. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another. As good stewards of God's varied grace, whoever speaks as one who speaks oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies. In order that in everything, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him be honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Let's go ahead and pray. Ask for God's grace as we look at his word this evening. God, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the message of grace. We thank you for grace that we have received from Jesus Christ. And we pray this evening that grace would transform the way that we live. And we see in our passage, again, this continuing building theme of grace and how it ought to change our lives. We also see the reality that Jesus Christ is coming again, and this is what ultimately motivates our sanctification. God, would you give us grace to live with eyes that look upward, that look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, as we strive to walk with Him closely each and every day. In Jesus' name, amen. Some current events from the last 10 days around the world. Istanbul earthquake displaces thousands. On April 23rd, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Istanbul, Turkey. This earthquake injured over 350 people. It forced tens of thousands of people to seek shelter in parks and mosques. The quake caused widespread fear and highlighted the vulnerability of even the most historic and resilient cities. A historic blackout paralyzed Spain and Portugal on April 28th. This massive power outage pludged much of the Iberian Peninsula into darkness. It disrupted transportation, hospitals, and communication networks. The causes remain under investigation while they think this may have been a cybersecurity attack. This event exposed the fragility of modern infrastructure. It also left millions without essential services. We also have escalating gang violence that is taking place to the south of us in Haiti. Haiti is experiencing a surge in gang-related violence with over a million people displaced and widespread hunger affecting more than half the population. The United Nations profoundly revealed that the country is nearing total chaos as political instability and violence continue to escalate. India-Pakistan tensions rise after a deadly attack. This brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22nd resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily Hindu tourists. The incident has intensified relationships between India and Pakistan, which led to diplomatic expulsions and the suspension of key treaties, which could lead to even full-scale war in the area. Finally, a Vancouver festival attack killed 11. Another terrorist attack on April 26. During a festival in Vancouver, Canada, a man drove an SUV into a crowd, killing 11 people and injuring over 30. The suspect has been charged with multiple counts of murder and authorities have not identified a clear motive, but clearly the community is in shock and mourning. These are just a couple of headlines that I took from the last 10 days or so of the global news cycle. And truly, you could look at this and say, we really do live in a scary time. We really do. On top of all these headlines is the looming reality that currently our nation, we are in the midst of a global arms race towards super intelligence, towards AI dominance. What is gonna happen with this? There's so much uncertainty. Tensions between the United States and China, they're rapidly approaching cold war status. Countries in the Middle East seem determined as ever to exterminate Israel from the face of the earth. There's so much going on around us And why do I bring all of this up? In addition to all of these current events, we also live in a time where our access to information is really, it's unprecedented. We hear updates daily, hourly of terrorist attacks, cyber attacks, government corruption, and heightening tensions with foreign countries. the access to information that we've had, it really has had a huge impact on our culture. We've seen a dramatic rise in depression, anxiety, addiction, hopelessness. And amid all the noise, as we look at this epistle, Peter is calling on us as believers to be faithful Christ followers. In the midst of everything that's going on around us, in the midst of all the uncertainty, Peter calls on believers to be faithful examples of Jesus Christ, the work that he has done in their lives. Evangelize the lost, love your fellow believers, faithfully fix your hope on the second coming of Jesus Christ. These are just a few of the imperative commands that Peter gives us through this epistle. So Peter begins in our passage this evening in verse 7. He highlights what he calls the end of all things, the end of all things. And certainly as we look at our world around us, it would seem that we are nearing the end of all things. So let's begin our study in verse 7. Beginning of verse 7 reads this, Now Peter wastes no time diving headlong into the motivation for our holy living, and really that's what this is. In verses one through six, Peter has encouraged us, live holy lives, live holy lives, live holy lives, and here's all the ways that you should live a holy life. And now in verse 7, the beginning of verse 7, we have this building on top of that context, on top of verses 1 through 6, and we see the reason that we should live holy. We should strive to walk with God and to live lives that please Him because we are living in the last days. The end of all things is at hand. Clearly, this statement, it is all-encompassing. Peter says the end of all things is at hand. This isn't some things. He's not referring specifically to certain things in their lives or the Roman Empire or even the persecution that they're facing. He says the end of all things. What exactly does this mean and what is Peter saying? referring to. One commentator writes this, And this is how the Jews looked at God's divine timeline. They looked at everything as leading up to Messiah. Now, the apostles clearly teach us that after Jesus comes, and establishes his spiritual kingdom, which is what he did on the cross. He defeats death. He establishes a spiritual kingdom, but he has not established a physical kingdom. And this is what we are waiting for. This is what we as believers are waiting for. We are living in the last days. The Jews, the apostles would have viewed anything after the coming of Messiah as living in the last days. Peter's opening statement, it is intentionally gripping. Believers must understand you serve a sovereign master who has commanded you to live in a certain way, and he's coming back soon. How will he find you? I'll tell you one thing, Peter wrote this epistle some 2,000 years ago. If the end of all things was near then, it's even closer now. So today, are you ready to meet your savior? Are you ready to stand before Creator God and give account for the decisions that you have made? All throughout Scripture, we find references to the last days. We find references to the second coming of Christ and what that means for us as believers. Peter has even broached this topic earlier in the epistle. In 1 Peter 1, verses 15 through 17, he says this. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Since it is written, you shall be holy for I am holy. And if you call on him as father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear. throughout the time of your exile. That's just a couple weeks ago. We looked at that text back in chapter one, and essentially Peter's communicating clearly to the believers. If you call the sovereign judge of the universe your father, know what he expects of you. Know how he expects you to live. Align your life accordingly. Align your actions accordingly with what he requires of you. Be holy because He is holy, and ultimately, you understand that you will be judged if you're not. Peter says clearly, this Father judges impartially according to each one's deeds. We know that even believers will be judged in the last days according to their actions. Romans 14, 10 through 12 says this, But why do you judge your brother? Or also, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me and every tongue will praise God. So each one of us will give an account concerning himself. Once again, this command is clear. Paul writing to the believers in Rome, Jesus is coming back. Are you ready to stand before him? It should be such a burden to us as believers that so many believers live with their eyes down, focused on themselves. They're focused on materialistic things. They're focused on pursuing hedonistic desires. And what do I mean when I say that? That simply means pursuing selfish pleasures. We've been given a mandate by God and he's going to return Live with your eyes up, ready and prepared for the second coming. This is what Peter is referring to. This is what Paul is referring to in Romans 14. It's interesting, any time the end times are discussed in Scripture, we're not given a date, we're not given a specific year to tell us when Jesus is coming back. Prepare, because Jesus is coming back at this specific time. In fact, many so-called pastors have ruined their ministries, they've discredited themselves by trying to predict the second coming of Jesus. It'll come back at this time, and he doesn't. No, okay, I missed on that one. He'll come back at this time. And then he doesn't. And there's only so long that people will listen to that before they say, yeah, you know what? You really don't know what you're talking about. And they don't. Because scripture's clear, no one knows. No one knows when Jesus is going to return. And we don't know because God doesn't want us to know. And Peter doesn't tell us here either. And the reason for that is that we have a constant motivation as believers. When you've been given a mandate by God, and God says, live this way, and while you do, know, I'm going to return. This is motivation for us. We're called to a certain standard of living and at some point, we don't know when, God's going to come back. How will he find us? Will he find us doing what he's called us to do? Jesus himself tells us that in his incarnation, he willingly limited his knowledge in this specific area so that not even he knows when the second coming will be. Jesus says in Mark 13, 32, but concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Once again, this is a constant reminder for us. Live as if every day is your last opportunity to glorify God and evangelize the lost. Because frankly, based on this text, based on many other texts, it very well may be. Pastor John Wesley was an excellent example of this style of living. In fact, on one occasion, he was asked what he would do if Jesus knew he would, or if he knew Jesus would return the very next week. He's asked, how would you live? How would you respond? And he responded, why, just what I have scheduled to do. I would preach tonight and then again at 5 a.m. tomorrow. After that, I would visit this person and then that one. I would go to bed at my usual time and I would rise to preach again. I would want him to find me doing what he has given me to do. Could you honestly say the same? If someone told you, Jesus Christ is returning next week, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he is returning next week, how would you respond? How would you live your life? Would you be prepared? Is the way you're living now preparing yourself for the second coming of Christ? Believer, the end of all things is at hand. Again, if you truly believe that, it should impact how you live. These are truths that should practically transform our lives. And so when we look at God's word and we're admonished over and over again, the second coming is fast approaching. Jesus will return. The end of all things is at hand. How does that practically tomorrow change the decisions you make? Peter tells us this knowledge should drive us to live holy lives, to be radically transformed in our walk with Jesus Christ. Again, Peter, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, says this information should change our lives. In this opening phrase in verse seven, it again, it's building off of the context that we studied in verses one through six. Having the mind of Christ when faced with suffering, living not for our own passions, but for the will of God. preaching the gospel to the lost. All of these commands find their motivation in the reality that Jesus Christ is coming soon, and you can trace all of those commands back in verses 1 through 6. But Peter doesn't stop there. He actually tacks on several more commands for us as believers. Notice the very next phrase in verse seven. And here we see our important transition word. This plays such a critical role in the preservation of the context. And somebody talked to me, what word is that? Verse seven, therefore, exactly. So this is, again, this is such a critical word to highlight. As you study your Bible, as you're working through your Bible, 99% of the time that you see the word, therefore, it is being used as a logical connector. Peter is building an argument and he's saying, because of what I've said here, therefore, your life should practically be transformed. end of all things is at hand. Therefore, because the end of all things is at hand, do this." Again, that word, therefore, it's tying two concepts together. It's preserving that context. We also see two more imperative commands for the believers. This is something we've looked at throughout Peter's epistle many, many times. You should be holy, or whatever the other commands have been, Peter says in this case, be self-controlled, be sober-minded. Again, it's fascinating that the first characteristics that Peter lists in verse 7 is that the believers must put on self-control. And actually, I want you to look back at verses 2 and 3 of last week's text because I want to demonstrate how this context is building and how this is so critical. So notice, verses 2 and 3, we have the vice list given in verse 3, which we noted last week. Peter says in verse 2. so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh, no longer dominated for human passions, but for the will of God. 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." And so Peter lists off, you should live the rest of the time in your mortal body, not pursuing your own desires. Not living for yourself, but for the will of God. And why should we do this? For, again, important context word, the reason you should obey is because the time that has passed suffices. You have lived in sin long enough. And what kind of sin is he talking about? He lists them out. Sensuality and passions. drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. And as we looked at these words last week, you see sensuality and passions, this is clearly referring to just a total lack of control, a total pursuit of hedonism in this way. And Peter says, this certainly, these sensuality and passions, this has kind of an undertone also of sexual sin. Peter also says drunkenness Orgies, and that's kind of referring to the same thing, actually. Drunkenness is obviously giving yourself over to this intoxicating drug and not being controlled by the spirit, but being controlled by a foreign substance. And orgies and drinking parties, this is essentially the same thing, just this idea of carousing and wild partying that's also probably combining drunkenness and sexual sin is what's likely happening, and lawless idolatry. And so, as you remember, all of those activities, You remember what we said last week? There's a common thread in each one of those sins. Common thread is a total lack of self-control. Sensuality, passions, I am just pursuing sexual sins and activities whenever I want, with whoever I want, however I want. Drunkenness, just the giving over of my body to this substance abuse. Partying wildly. Again, this is likely combining the sexual lust and drunkenness, and then lawless idolatry, just demonstrating zero concern for the laws of God, placing other desires and even items, materials, above God. Just a total lack of self-control. So understanding that Peter's building off of that previous context, he says, in stark contrast to the way that the Gentiles live, defined by these sins that demonstrate no control, Peter says, be self-controlled. The end of all things is at hand, therefore, because of this, you be self-controlled. Be marked by self-control. is your life marked by self-control in this way. And so just in case you didn't catch his earlier point that he makes in verses one through six, he's making it abundantly clear. And then he also admonishes the believers to be sober-minded. And this characteristic is very closely tied with self-control. But the idea of sober-mindedness, it carries more of an intentional approach to Christian living. It's not so much being self-controlled and abstaining from certain activities because you're self-controlled. Sober-mindedness carries the implication of I'm actually taking action now to grow. Peter writes in chapter one, verse 13, used this concept before. He says, therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded. Do what? Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And so again, in chapter one, verse 13, we have sober-mindedness commanded in connection with the second coming of Christ. This is what chapter one, verse 13 does. And I think Peter wanted the believers to be thinking heavenly thoughts. This is the second time he's mentioned these two concepts in direct connection with one another. Being sober minded and looking for the second coming. Preparing your mind in this way. He wants the believers lives to be consumed by their preparation for the second coming of their Lord. This word sober, when you think of the term sober, you most likely think of probably alcohol and physical drunkenness. And so while physical drunkenness, this is certainly an issue, and soberness physically is a biblical mandate, as we just saw in verses two and three, Peter now, he's not talking about physical soberness so much. Peter's actually hoping to utilize the imagery of soberness to communicate the sharpness, the awareness that should describe believers as they live life. When an individual is physically intoxicated, Their senses are dulled. Their mind is inebriated. They're unable to function at a high level. They don't have clarity. They don't have soundness of mind. This is why governments all over the world have restrictions in place for if you are this certain level of drunk, you can't operate a vehicle. Why? Because it clouds your mind. This intoxicated state, it leaves people vulnerable to costly mental lapses. It even leaves people vulnerable to physical attacks. And this is the same case with spiritual inebriation, to be spiritually intoxicated. This is to be so distracted, so bound up with worldly pursuits that you're left in a spiritual sense, not a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense, you're dull, you're insensitive to the war that is raging around you. we would all recognize to wander a battlefield, a physical battlefield, and be physically drunk, that would be the epitome of foolishness. And yet think about this for a second, so many Christians find themselves in that place spiritually. You're spiritually drunk, your mind is clouded, because you're not focused on the things that you should be. And so many Christians wander a spiritual battlefield, spiritually drunk, consumed with worldly passions, not living with their eyes up. This is dangerous. Peter clearly commands in this opening verse that spiritual soberness must be a mark of a true believer. This type of mental sharpness, the spiritual acuity, it comes as a direct result of our obedience to God's word. It comes only as a direct result of strict spiritual discipline in our own walk with God. What are you doing to actively discipline your mind in this way so that you have that spiritual clarity that Peter's talking about? As we go through life, we should be defined by our eternal focus to glorify God in all that we do. And ultimately, it is the imminent return of Jesus that motivates our behavior. If the knowledge that Jesus Christ will return at any time doesn't galvanize your desire to grow spiritually, if you can sit and listen to a passage, read a passage, or hear a message on a passage that's talking about the imminent return of Jesus Christ, He is coming back, and how will He find you living? And you kind of walk away like, that's not really that big of a deal. I really don't know what would grip you. This is exactly what Peter's trying to do. This is a shocking statement at the beginning of verse seven. The end of all things is at hand. How are you living? What defines your life? Your spiritual exile. Recognize that and live like it. This is what Peter's saying. This needs to be a little bit of a spiritual gut check for us. Does this stir you to action? Do you care at all about the second coming of Christ? Does it impact the way you live? Does it impact the decisions you make? On a daily basis, it should. Peter thinks it should. He's writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and he says, this should be impactful. This should change how you live. And that's why he says, therefore, be self-controlled and be sober-minded. And he finishes this thought saying, for the sake of your prayers. And so we have this, again, this, why should we do this? Why should we live this way? For the sake of your prayers, Peter says that our self-control, our sober-mindedness, it not only strengthens our walk with God, but it enables, it empowers our prayer life. This is clearly a critical piece of the Christian walk. And unfortunately, it's an area that is oft overlooked by believers. John MacArthur notes that Christian growth is an overflow of direct communion with the living God. When you think about prayer, you should look at it that way. This is me as a believer directly communing with the God of the universe. And many times, we don't value that communion at all. Peter says when you're sober-minded, when you recognize the imminence of the return of Christ, you value that communion. You care about prayer. It empowers your prayer life. It empowers your walk with God. So in this opening verse, and really in verses one through six as well, Peter has focused primarily on what we would call vertical holiness. And by that we would mean the believers walk with God. How are they living before God? This is a vertical relationship. And now in verse eight, Peter's going to transition and he's going to speak to the believers horizontal holiness. And clearly that's referring not to their walk with God. Are they walking uprightly before God? But how are they interacting with their fellow believers? And so notice verse eight as he transitions in this way. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. And love has been such a frequent theme through Peter's epistle, and I think not without Warren. Jesus taught clearly, by this will all men know that you are my disciples. By your what? Love for one another. Peter previously wrote in chapter one, verse 22, love one another earnestly, same command as verse eight. Keep loving one another earnestly. In chapter one, verse 22, love one another earnestly from a pure heart. He uses the same word imagery. And this word, it's actually very vivid. This idea of earnestly carries the idea of straining or stretching out for something, pursuing something doggedly. The idea is of an athlete straining and reaching out towards the goal. The reason we're supposed to strain and strive after love in this way, it's actually explained clearly in the following phrase. Peter says, since love covers a multitude of sins. What's he talking about here? Peter notes the power of love really to maintain the unity of the body of Christ. Love is quick to forgive. You truly love a fellow believer and they sin against you, love is quick to throw a mantle over that sin and forgive and forget about that. One author writes, this kind of strenuously maintained love, and note that, it is strenuously maintained. It is not easy to come by, it's not easy to keep. This author says, this kind of strenuously maintained love is not blind, but sees and accepts the faults of others. Now, as we consider this idea of sin covering a multitude of sins, we also need to be careful how we evaluate this verse. Because it would definitely not, at the same time, it would definitely not be loving to see another believer in sin and simply ignore that. And to say, I'm kind of gonna brush that issue under the rug, and we'll just, we just love that person. And so they can kind of go on sinning in this way, and that's certainly not biblical. That would be the opposite of love. Jesus himself in Matthew 18 explains that believers love one another most earnestly, by taking the time and demonstrating the care to push that person back towards their relationship with God, to say, no, no, no, you're sinning in this way, and here's how you're sinning. You may not even realize it, but this is sin, and it's gonna impede your walk with God. I love you enough to confront that sin and say, you need to be walking with God more fervently. You need to cut that sin out of your life. The love that Peter is advocating here, it's not a stupid or a blind love. Oh, I'll just pretend that I don't notice that sin. This love is quick to forgive. We have to interpret this passage in light of other passages of scripture that we see that refer to love and that refer to our relationships, our unity in this way. Again, we have to be willing to confront sin. That's not the idea of love that Peter's talking about here. But this is love that is quick to forgive it. It accepts the faults of others. And it says, you know what? You've clearly repented of that sin. And so we're going to cover that over. We're acting as if that didn't happen, just like God did with our sin. You see, as believers, we love because He first loved us. We learn love from God. And demonstrating by sending His Son, His love for us, we learn to love others despite their faults, despite their shortcomings. This type of love, it doesn't allow room for bitterness to spring up and sow discord in the church between believers. This type of love, it leads to real, tangible transformation in the way that we treat one another. Notice verse nine. Peter will demonstrate what that transformation looks like. He says, show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Peter has never advocated for love in word only through this epistle, and neither does he do so here. Peter wants the love that the believers had for each other to be so real, to be so tangible, that it could be readily seen in the way that the believers treated one another, even in a hospitality sense. James actually advocates for the same type of love. In James 2, 15 through 16, we read this, if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? And as you read James, as you read 1 Peter, I love both of these authors, because they just speak so boldly, clearly, there's really not a lot of room for misunderstanding. James literally says, what good is that? Your so-called love is useless. If someone is in need and you look at that need and you say, man, that's really unfortunate. I hope that things work out for you. That's not real love. That's not earnest love that strains and strives for unity. Earnest love is love that acts. This is love that acts. Verses 10 and 11 then continue this theme of unfolding what earnest love really looks like and how it functions in the body. So Peter says in verse 10, as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another. As good stewards of God's varied grace, whoever speaks is one who speaks oracles of God, whoever serves is one who serves by the strength that God supplies, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12 that each believer has been given a gift by the Spirit. And this gift is actually a result of grace, as we see here in Peter's epistle in verse 10. The believer, after receiving this gift from the Spirit, it's this gift of grace, they are responsible to administer that gift within the body of Christ for the benefit of the entire body. This is why you have the gift, to strengthen the body of Christ. In fact, you might argue that A body of believers cannot be what it's called to be without each and every individual because of their gifts. Peter says we're to use our gifts for the glory of God as a good steward. Notice this idea of the word steward. This is a really a perfect word picture. You might imagine a steward of a household. If you understand anything about a steward, they have really no wealth of their own, but they're responsible to faithfully commit the resources of their master in a wise and careful way. They distribute those resources. This is what a steward does. They are entrusted something, and they care for that thing. In the same way, believers must be similarly committed to stewarding the grace of God in this way. These are not your own gifts. You don't get to decide how or when to use your gifts or if you'll use your spiritual gifts at all. This isn't your own grace that you get to use it as you see fit. God has given us gifts and we are responsible to use those gifts for His honor and glory within the body of Christ. Perhaps you might be wondering, what gifts exactly is Peter talking about? He doesn't list them all out in the same way that Paul does in 1 Corinthians, and so instead he splits them up into two major categories. In verse 11, we see those categories. One of the gifts is gifts of those who speak, and the other is serving gifts. And so, actually, if you notice just briefly, turn over with me to 1 Corinthians 12. Just quickly turn over to 1 Corinthians 12, and let's look at the listing of gifts as Paul lays them out a little bit in more detail. And it's certainly not that Peter doesn't understand what the gifts are, but rather he just breaks them up in this way. They really cleanly divide into gifts that are speaking and gifts that are serving. And so Paul says this, now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to mute idols however you were led. Therefore, I want you to understand no one is speaking in the spirit of God ever says Jesus is a curse. So no one can say Jesus is Lord except the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit. There are varieties of service, but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all and everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, for to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another, the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, and to another, faith by the same Spirit, and to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another, the working of miracles, and to another, prophecy, to another, the ability to distinguish between spirits, and to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All of these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. And so once again, you'll notice as you look at that text, and you can flip back with me to 1 Peter chapter four, that those gifts really do, they split perfectly into serving gifts and speaking gifts. Those are the two major categories. And so Peter first addresses those who speak. What should they do? Those who speak, speak the oracles of God. that they speak the words of God. That's what Peter's saying. That they're not to be caught up in sharing their own wisdom. This is really what I think about your situation, and so this is what you should do. No, no, no, Peter says, you speak the words of God. These are what bring real, true comfort. Real change can only be found in God's word. These individuals that are gifted speakers, they're not to be caught up in this prideful pursuit of gaining a following, or again, sharing their personal wisdom, but faithfully to administer God's word to his people. This is the gift of a speaker. Paul regularly exhorts his pastoral understudies, both Titus and Timothy, that they were to do likewise, faithfully preach the word. The Word is a definite article. It is the only Word, the Word, as given by the inspiration of God. Those who serve, they're similarly instructed as those who speak, not to do so for prideful gain of their own strength, but literally, Peter says, they must serve by the strength that God supplies. for God's glory. Again, service by any other means and for any other purpose will quickly become tiresome. These individuals are to serve by God's strength and for God's glory. Any other type of service is worthless. Peter's focus on the glory of God and Christ Jesus, it continues and really it culminates at the end of verse 11. Notice verse 11, Peter finishes with this doxology, and dominion forever and ever. Amen. This is a beautiful concluding doxology to Jesus Christ, who Peter knew in the incarnate Son of God. And here, Peter ascribes to Jesus all glory and dominion forever. They belong to him innately. The New Testament authors, they never shied away from the reality that Jesus Christ was fully God and deserving of all the same worship that was due God the Father. And you see this several times. Some scholars will attempt to argue that Jesus Christ isn't really fully recognized as God until even a hundred, or excuse me, even hundreds of years after the early New Testament church is established. This is simply not the case. You can read their writings. that they regularly write poetic doxologies that are attributed to the person of Jesus Christ and his work. And these are worshipful doxologies. Only God is to be worshipped. And here again, we see a beautiful demonstration of the reality that the apostles, the early church, definitely believed that Jesus Christ was God. I love this, Peter even concludes this doxology with the word, amen. This serves as a double affirmation. And Peter's essentially saying, to Jesus alone be glory and dominion forever and ever. Truly, this is a true statement. He definitely deserves this worship. Truly, as you consider this text, it is a rich, rich text. It draws our focus as a whole back to Peter's overarching theme. His big point throughout the epistle is to live with your eyes up. Fix your gaze on Jesus Christ and live your life only for his ultimate glory. And only when we live this way, only when we live this way, can we echo the words of John the Evangelist who says, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. This is what we wait for. This is what we hope in as believers, the second coming of Jesus Christ. It motivates our attitudes and it motivates our holiness. Let's go ahead and bow and close with a word of prayer. Dear Lord, we thank you for Jesus Christ. We thank you for his sacrifice on the cross and we thank you for his second coming Lord, we trust and we wait. Hopefully in the second coming in God we ask for your forgiveness as a corporate body of believers this evening that many times we do live with our eyes down. We focus on. Temporal needs on temporal wants, desires and pleasures to the neglect of our spiritual sober mindedness. God, would you give us grace, would you forgive us for the times that we fall and struggle in this way, and would you give us grace to walk closely with you, to pursue you, even through direct communion with prayer, that we would live self-controlled, sober-mindedly, pointing the lost to Jesus Christ. Truly, God, we are thankful for Jesus Christ. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever, amen.