This Could be the Day

This Could be the Day

This could be the day or the week or the year that Jesus returns!

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1Pe 4:7-11 

• Peter expected Jesus to return in his own day

• If the return of Christ seemed so near to Peter, how much nearer should it seem to us? (Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. )

• What if it were today, or this week, or this month? What are the implications? How should we live?

• If we knew for certain that we were the last generation of Christians on the earth, would it make a difference in our lives?

• Peter wrote, “The end of all things is at hand.” (If you stress out over one thing coming to an end – you haven’t seen anything yet.) – All things are coming to an end!!!!

Do we really believe that Jesus is returning soon? Do we really believe that this could be the day? If we truly believe that the return of Christ is imminent, our lives will be affected.

  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5:2-9

Peter gives us instruction on how we who wait for the return of Christ should live and conduct ourselves.

1. Be sober and watchful in prayer -

   • The word sober means “to be of a sound mind, to be in a right mind, to be moderate.”

   • The word watchful implies staying sober as opposed to being drunk.

   • These two words together indicate that we need to get ourselves together, to keep our wits about us, to be alert, clear headed and self controlled.

   • God puts more value on our prayers than we do.

   • God considers prayer a serious activity that can influence world events

   • Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunkwith wine, wherein is excess; but be filled (to be satisfied, to level up a hollow) with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

   • We are not called to be drunk in the Spirit but to be filled with the Spirit!

   • Excessive drinking deprives persons of the use of reason

   • The disciples on the Day of Pentecost were accused of being drunk; because of the tongues they were speaking in. When you look at Peter’s sermon, you see that it was a sermon birthed from a sober and clear mind. He certainly was not rolling on the ground in fits of spiritual epilepsy – how can God use us when we act like that? Acts 2:15 – “These men are not drunken as ye suppose”

   • Peter clearly states that they are not drunk- not drunk in the Spirit and not drunk in the flesh.

   • The root of drunkenness is one of selfishness – people get drunk not to benefit others but to benefit themselves! Drunkenness brings attention to one’s self and takes the focus off of God.

   • When God created Adam he created him in His own image- he never displayed carelessness – Jesus never displayed spiritual intoxication!

2. Love one another fervently

• The word fervent implies intent and persistence- intentional love without ceasing – it conveys the idea of strenuous effort

• This love helps us to minimize the faults of others and maximize their strengths

• This love transforms relationships

• Hatred stirs up strife but love covers all sins Pr 10:12

• Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned 1 Tim 1:5

• Pro 27:5-6 Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

• Lev 19:17-18 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

3.  Be hospitable to one another without grudging

• Hospitality -The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.

• Without complaining or murmuring

• Hospitality almost always refers to our dealings with strangers

• Exo 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Lev 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

• Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

• Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37- Jesus refers to strangers as our neighbor

4. Minister to one another using our spiritual gifts

• Speaking gifts and serving gifts

• Minister as good stewards to others – Our stewardship is for the benefit of others – we are stewards of the grace of God

• We are to serve in the strength he provides

• Serve with the strength of attitude he provides Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

• Serve with the strength of effectiveness he provides

Prayer, Love, hospitality, and ministry- The result will be the glory of God!