Sermons - 2008 Week 29 - Jul Wk 3
End Time Living
1 Peter 4:7-11
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The reality is the end time is near.
Are we ready?
Are we storing up treasures here on in heaven?
What are our plans?
The need for leading an authentic Christian life is a clear one.
a. An authentic Christian living involves being serious and watchful in prayer. James 5:16b - The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Are we in the right (frame of) mind?
Are we spiritually observant?
If we reflect on how powerful our God is, we would be living differently today.
Are our prayers limited to thanking God for our food?
Are we embarrassed when called upon to pray?
Is prayer / God the first thing we turn to when in trouble?
b. Authentic Christian living is having fervent love for one another. Prayer is important, but love is what drives prayer. Without love, prayer does not have life. Fervent love is ‘stretched out’ love – like giving 100% of our effort when running a race. The best illustration of love is Christ dying for us.
c. Authentic Christian living is being hospitable to one another, and this is not limited to just having guests over at our homes. Being hospitable is being generous in our giving.
d. Authentic Christian living is also ministering individual gifts to one another. Romans 12:3-8: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
When we speak the Word, we should be speaking the pure Word. The act of ministering includes acts such as administration and praying. Just as a body can be edified when we exercise our gifts, so can it be hurt if each member of the body denies the use of his spiritual gifts. We need to ask ourselves if we are serving in God’s strength or our own, and are we ministering with our gifts.
God’s glory is man’s greatest goal. Believers should do all things for God’s glory. We may not have much time left. In all that we do, we should be asking ourselves if each action serves to glorify God.
The end time is near. We must be ready for Christ’s coming.
Mr & Mrs E T Chua
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