At this time, I invite you to turn in your Bibles with me to 1 Peter chapter 4. I'm going to read from verse 7 to verse 11. If you're using a pew Bible, that can be found on page 1206. We continue our sermon series through Peter's letter to elect exiles who are living in foreign lands, elect Christians, First Peter chapter four, beginning at verse seven. Let us now hear God's word. 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 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 whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Let's ask his blessing in a time of prayer. Father in heaven, we pray, oh Lord, that you would pour out your spirit upon us and that we, oh Lord, would have ears to hear and eyes to see what the spirit of Jesus Christ is teaching the church of Jesus Christ. We pray this in your precious name, amen. Congregation of Christ, with suffering comes the danger of being spiritually and mentally compromised. When we find ourselves in a vulnerable position spiritually, we look forward to the end of the adversity and temptation. Peter reminds a weary audience, weary Christians, Christians who have known suffering and adversity, living as exiles in a foreign land, living as Christians in unchristian lands, non-christian lands, pagan lands. These Christians are in the world, but are not of the world. And so Peter reminds them that the end of all things is at hand. The end of all things is near. The end is upon us. So what now? What now? What are all things? The end of all things is near. What are those all things? The Bible is God's revelation of himself, and it has in there a history of salvation, known as redemptive history, how God works his saving grace throughout human history. And there will be a culmination of all things, the end of all things, when Jesus shall come to judge the living and the dead. At the end of human history, the Lord will bring an end to all things such as sin, death, and Satan. In the end of all things, or at the end of all things, Jesus Christ will bring an end to all evil and all enemies of God. when he comes to judge the living and the dead, will bring an end to all things such as salvation. Well, what do you mean? This is what I mean. Salvation will come in the end. We experience salvation now in part. In part. But Peter is encouraging these weary Christians that the end of all things is near. Your suffering in the faith will come to an end and you will know salvation fully, body and soul, when you are raised with Christ and made like His glorious body. Salvation will come in the end, at the culmination of all things. So on the one hand, the end of all things is near in the sense that evil, sin, and the devil is done away with, and in the sense that we will no longer have to wait for salvation to come because it will arrive. It's going to come. The end goal will be the salvation and redemption of God's people, the church, at the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. You remember at the beginning of this sermon series, the emphasis of the Apostle Peter to focus our attention at the coming of our Lord. For example, 1 Peter chapter one, turn with me in your Bible to chapter one, verse five, he talks about the inheritance. He talks about the inheritance, that undefiled, unfading inheritance kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation, for a salvation ready to be revealed when? In the last time. That's the goal. Salvation, fully, freely. Chapter one, verse 13. Look at verse 13. Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The end of all things is near. At the revelation of Jesus Christ, he will bring salvation. And that is an incredible, incredible comfort when you're suffering, when you're under adversity, when there is uncertainty, The end of all things is at hand. The end of all things is near. Therefore, three things. Therefore, if you have your notes, three things. Discipline yourself mentally, love one another earnestly, serve one another faithfully. Discipline yourself mentally, love one another earnestly, serve one another faithfully first. First, discipline yourself mentally. Look with me in your Bible at verse seven. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Discipline yourself in your mind. Last week, we talked about the mind of Christ. This is a way in which you have the mind of Christ being self-controlled, sober-minded. To be self-controlled means to be here in the right mind, or to have a sane mind, or to be, here's another one, safety-minded. A sane mind is a safe mind. A sane mind is a safe mind. What does this mean? Well, what happens when you're under extreme mental distress and anxiety? What happens in your mind when you're under distress, when you have so much going on in your life? What happens? Isn't it hard to think clearly? Isn't it hard to think rationally? Isn't it hard to think intellectually? Isn't it hard to process information? It's hard. There's a lot of confusion. I remember a time in my life where I was in such a place of distress, I needed other people to make decisions for me. Because I wasn't in the right mind to make a sane, biblical decision. When under such distress, the mind may very easily think irrationally or feel like you're, what, losing your mind. Losing your mind. Perhaps parents with little children know now what I'm talking about. Consequently, a person can have clouded judgment. Peter says, be self-controlled in your mind. In your mind. Because it will be safe for your spiritual life and prayer life. Set your mind, therefore, on things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, says Paul. Set your mind on things that are above, not on earthly things that perish and fade away. Think about those things that are good Think about those things that come from the author of all good. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights, our good Father. Think and dwell upon those things, exercising self-control. Set your mind on Christ, trusting in His power and strength to help you to persevere during distress in this life. Have accountability in your life. You have the communion of saints, the fellowship of the saints, iron sharpening iron, to help one another exercise self-control. Also, discipline yourself mentally, being sober-minded, be self-controlled, In all the adversity, maintain a sane mind. Maintain a safe mind, not compromised by the things of the world, but also be sober minded. And this has the idea of being sober and not drunk. This is a word used to refer to abstain from intoxication. but don't be intoxicated in the mind. So figuratively, figuratively it means to be free from illusions, free from having one's wits about him. Such a person possesses a calm, careful, and cautious mind that's not polluted or poisoned by the world and the world's ideologies or philosophies or the world's way of life. but it is gripped by the word of God. The conscience is gripped by God and his law, his word. The conscience is gripped by the Holy Spirit. Do not get drunk on wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. So this figuratively means to be sober-minded means to have one's wits about him, one free from illusions. of irrational thoughts. For example, the abuse of alcohol, what does it do? When it intoxicates a person, the person loses his ability to think rationally, speak graciously, and live godly. A person loses his ability to use his motor functions. And so to be sober-minded is to have one's wits about him that they're not so Intoxicated with false doctrine, false teaching, a false way of life, especially when you live in a pagan world, which these Christians were living in a pagan world, and how easily susceptible they were able to compromise their faith and convictions. Such a person who's intoxicated loses his wits and perception of reality. Such a person is not sober and is unable to perceive right from wrong, good from evil. And man, do we see that in our culture today, don't we? People drunk on false ideologies. People drunk on false, deadly worldviews. Things that we would call common sense are not so common anymore. The end of all things is near, therefore be sane, be sober. Be sane, be sober. Discipline yourself mentally. It's not that we would be unable to pray if we lacked self-control or sober-minded. It means that we would pray more intelligently, effectively, purposefully in this present age when we are self-controlled, when we are sober-minded. We're able to see things in our lives in a sober way, in a sane way, and bring to God prayer purposefully, intentionally, effectively, as we live in this present evil age. Prayers are hindered when the mind lacks sense and calm or is intoxicated with various disillusions about life and reality. Think about this. How is your prayer life when you are under such distress and anxiety as I spoke of earlier? Is it even existent? I dare to say it's not. I'll just speak personally, autobiographically. I feel like I'm just spitting out sentence fragments. We're called to be self-controlled and sober-minded in our minds, having the mind of Christ. Does this mean that God doesn't answer our prayers or minister to us or help us even when we're not these things, self-controlled or sober minded? No, that's not what I'm saying. Please don't misunderstand. Don't misunderstand the point. He's talking to people who are under great adversity and suffering and they need more than ever to have their mental faculties in check so that they can pray more boldly, effectively, Because let us remember, ultimately, we have an intercessor in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a helper, the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us with words and groanings to deeper words. Even when we can't pray and offer these feeble prayers, he nevertheless intercedes for us and brings them to the Father. One commentator says, what this verse teaches could well be put into practice when reading the newspaper, listening to the news, traveling to work, and so on. I'll also add that this verse teaches that life and health in any church begins with myself exercising self-control and sober mind is, why do I say myself? Why do I say discipline yourself? Because it begins in my heart. It begins in my heart and your heart. Because we're gonna talk about love one another earnestly. You wanna love one another earnestly? It begins in my own heart. Am I able to love my neighbor as myself? Rather than saying, no, he doesn't do it or she doesn't do it. You see what I'm saying? I need to discipline myself. so that I can now love and serve my neighbor in the name of Christ, to the glory of God the Father through Christ. That I can pray intercede for my brothers and sisters in love and service. I wanna give you a text of scripture. Please turn with me to Philippians chapter four. When I do counseling, I often take people to Philippians chapter four, and we do a little exercise, and I'll explain that in just a moment. Philippians chapter four, beginning at verse four. Philippians four, beginning at verse four, we hear these words. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Remember, Paul's in prison. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. And so reflect, think about what are those things? What are those things that are lovely? What are those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, excellent, commendable, praiseworthy? Write them down. Write them down and pray and bring them to God. And then I also encourage them to do this, write those things down that are the opposite of these things. What are those things that are unlovely, unjust? What are those things that are impure? What are those things that are not commendable? And how do I see those things in my life? And Lord, root them out. Root them out. Write them out and root them out, oh Lord, as you offer your prayers to the Lord. Secondly, love one another earnestly. Verse eight, above all or above all things keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins. Love fulfills the law of Christ and it's the constant theme throughout the New Testament letters and writers like Peter, Paul, and John. Love one another. Paul says, so now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love. Paul says to the Colossians in chapter three, put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. To what degree, to what degree, above all things, keep loving one another earnestly, that's the degree to which you are to love one another and I am to love one another, earnestly or zealously. This word has the idea of stretching out, stretching out, stretching out to maximum potential, like a rubber band until you see it start to break in the middle, you stretch it out, That's how we are to love. In other words, don't slack in loving your fellow brother and sister in the Lord, your neighbor. Peter says, love one another fervently, since love covers a multitude of sins. Once again, we have another challenging passage. What does this mean? What does this mean? First of all, love one another. This is a two-way street. In the community of faith, the practice of love ought to be reciprocal. Love one another because God is love and so loved us. We have been born of God and God caused us to be born again to a living hope. He called us by his love to share in union with Christ. We love because he first loved us. Therefore, love one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ zealously, earnestly loved us. Amen? How did he earnestly love us? How did he stretch out his love for us? How did he stretch out his arms, his body, his feet on the cross where he was nailed and pierced? The Lord Jesus, by his grace, shows what it means, what it is to love earnestly. When he gave his own life, stretch his body out for our sins, to bear the weight and wrath and judgment of God. And because of this, we are forgiven. and is therefore indispensable. That is, it's absolutely essential that God's people who are in Christ love one another because of the love we know in Christ and the love that he has for us. It's indispensable for the recipient of God's forgiveness and grace and mercy to stretch themselves out, to extend themselves out in mercy and forgiveness to a brother or sister in the Lord. Do you have some business to do today or tomorrow? Do you have some business to do? By business I mean, who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to ask for forgiveness. The love of God demands that we forgive one another as God in Christ forgave us. And at the same time, love doesn't dismiss sin. It doesn't cover it up. Keep loving one another constantly, keep constantly loving one another fervently, for love covers a multitude of sins. To cover something is to keep something hidden or concealed, right? A person might cover something to protect an object, like a table with a tablecloth. A person might cover a scratch on a beautiful table, you may have this scratch, and it just takes away from the rest of the table. And so you might put something beautiful upon it, just to cover it up so you don't see it. One small scratch on the kitchen table takes away from the beauty of the whole table. A beautiful tablecloth or some kind of polish conceals so that the scratch is concealed. In the life of the church, in Christian fellowship, love doesn't dismiss sin or cover up sin. So then what does this mean? What does this figure of speech mean? How does loving one another cover a multitude of sin? Well, it means this. I'm gonna back it up with the text of Scripture. Love deals kindly and mercifully with sinners. Love deals kindly and merciful with sinners, and it doesn't exasperate the sinner to then go forward and sin more. Let me give you a scripture, if you're taking notes. Proverbs 10, verse 12. Listen to this. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. You have two diametrically opposed sentences there. Love stirs up strife, but the opposite of that is love covers all offenses. What's being said there? Hatred and love are being opposed to one another. They are antithetical attitudes with different results. Hatred produces what? More hatred. Love produces what? Less strife. Less sin therefore, right? So in this sense, love covers a multitude of sin. A harsh word stirs up anger. A gentle word takes away wrath. Love produces less offenses or sins and consequently love covers a multitude of sins. When the Christian community now comes together, loves one another earnestly, it learns to quickly forgive and move on. Forgive and move on. Forgive grievances and sins and forget, move on, not holding the sins of others against them. In the home, a father may remind the child daily of their sins and shortcomings. What do you think that's going to do to the child? Or an adult son or daughter may harp on their parents because they weren't perfect. What do you think that's gonna do to the parents? Every word and action are under a microscope and judged. There's no grace, just law. There's no real forgiveness taking place. Love though, love covers a multitude of sin. I'm sorry, please forgive me. I forgive you as God in Christ forgave me, done. Just like Jesus says it is finished, it is finished between us in the sense that we move on. The end of all things is near. Keep loving one another earnestly as if your Lord is returning today. Now, that said, that doesn't mean that there are not consequences to sin. There are consequences. We need to be reminded of that. But we forgive one another. The end of all things is near. Keep loving one another earnestly as if your Lord is returning today. Make good use of the time that you have. Forgive as God in Christ forgave you and me. Lastly, serve one another faithfully. Verse nine, 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 very grace, whoever speaks is one who speaks oracles of God, whoever serves is one who serves by the strength that God supplies. You see, there's a direct correlation between love and service. Paul even points this out when he says, through love, serve one another, for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, love your neighbor as yourself. Love and service. And one act of service is showing hospitality, which literally means loving a stranger, loving a foreigner. Think about the word he's using there, loving a stranger. Who are they? They are strangers in a foreign land. They are exiles in a foreign land, and here they are called and commanded to show hospitality without grumbling or complaining or murmuring. And this is a characteristic and qualification of an elder of a church, to show hospitality. The author of Hebrews says, And what is this grounded in? This is grounded in God again. It's grounded in God, this commandment. God who chose us, called us, and welcomed us. We were once strangers and aliens, once foreigners, and he welcomed us into his family, his home, his house. Jesus served us, giving himself for us and our sins by his selfless sacrifice. He welcomed us. He welcomed sinners into God's house. Once you were not a people, but you are now a people. Once you did not receive mercy, but now you have received mercy. You are now a spiritual house. You have been welcomed in. Now welcome your neighbor, even a stranger. When we show hospitality, we are showing the generosity and kindness of Christ to our neighbor. and sometimes actions speak louder than words. Hospitality is a gift of God to his people to be used in service of God. However, there are other varied graces of God, as Peter says here. We have one who speaks the oracles of God, the one who speaks truth, could be a preacher, a teacher, a Christian who is anointed by the Spirit, as we'll hear tonight, to know the truth and teach the truth concerning Jesus and the gospel, Congregation, the end of all things is at hand, and God has given you, Christian, God has given you in these last days to use your gifts in service to his kingdom, and you never retire. Elderly people, you may retire from your work, but you never retire from service to King Jesus. Never. Never. You are always, from young to old, serving King Jesus. And we serve him by serving one another. Because notice what he says here, this is an act of stewardship. We often think of just money being an act of stewardship, but this is an act of stewardship to use his gifts to glorify him. This is stewardship, using the gifts and talents he has given to us to bless one another until that day. And so use God's gift to encourage one another until the day of Christ's return. That's why the author of Hebrews writes, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promises faithful, and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. The day's drawing near. Use your gifts to serve him. Encourage your brother and sister in the Lord. Another point of application here Peter gives is use the gifts and God's strength that he provides because he who gave you the gift gives you the strength and ability to execute the gift and live out your life for him. And ultimately, ultimately he says, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, because it's about his glory at work in his church, his blood-bought church, God is being glorified through Jesus Christ, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. This is the ultimate telos or goal of God, that His name is glorified through His people and through His salvation. And this should be our ultimate goal as well. that God has glorified through Jesus Christ in our lives as we discipline ourselves mentally, as we love one another earnestly, and as we serve one another fervently. Because the end of all things is at hand. How are you living your life? Do you even care? Do I even care? Maybe that's the question we need to ask ourselves. Do we care to love our neighbor? Do we care to serve our neighbor? Do we care then ultimately to give glory to God? May our prayer be that with self-control and sober mindedness, we give glory to his name in the way we love and serve one another earnestly and faithfully. Amen, let's pray. Oh Father in heaven, we thank you for the Word of God, which is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword. We thank you, O Lord, for the calling of the Christian to discipline ourselves, to love one another, and to serve one another. O Lord, we acknowledge and confess that apart from you, we can do nothing. Apart from you, we are spiritually discerned. Apart from you, we are wanting. And so we come to you, O God, asking for the strength of your spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to dwell in us and abide with us and work through us that amazing grace so that we, O Lord, may walk in a manner worthy of the calling as we live as pilgrims in this foreign land. And we thank you, O Lord, that we, as a congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ and as the church of Jesus Christ that live particularly in this land, and share the Christ crucified and risen in freedom and in boldness. We thank you for the liberties we have. We thank you for this past week and the election. We thank you, O Lord, for answered prayer. We, O Lord, want to be a congregation that promotes life and not death. We want to be a congregation that promotes The way to freedom in Jesus Christ and without hindrance or persecution, Lord. And Lord, you have offered us opportunity now by your mercy. By your mercy indeed, you have granted us opportunity once again to proclaim Christ to those who are lost and hopeless and helpless. We thank you for your work in our lives, and we pray for your continued leading and guiding in our lives as we commit ourselves to you and your hand of providence. Pray this in Jesus' name, amen.