WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.600 scriptures this morning and you want to follow 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.660 along will be towards the end of the New Testament, 00:00:04.820 --> 00:00:07.740 1 Peter. The book will be in chapter 4, verses 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:13.599 7 to 11. Just a few verses today, very powerful. 00:00:14.659 --> 00:00:17.300 We find in this book, Peter identifies himself 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:19.899 as the author in chapter 1, verse 1, very quickly. 00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:23.000 And we would hold that Peter wrote this book 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:27.600 around 64, 65 AD from Rome. And a very important 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:30.539 event happened in 64 AD, and that was that Rome 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:34.020 burned. And as Rome burned, Emperor Nero blamed 00:00:34.020 --> 00:00:37.539 Christians who were already despised. As a result, 00:00:37.619 --> 00:00:40.700 vicious persecution breaks out against believers, 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:43.200 against Christians in this first century. And 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:45.899 that began to spread throughout the Roman Empire. 00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:49.579 As a result, Peter writes this letter to a group 00:00:49.579 --> 00:00:52.140 of believers who were already suffering from 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:54.619 escalating persecution for one reason, for their 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:57.429 faith in Jesus Christ. Now these believers of 00:00:57.429 --> 00:00:59.710 the first century experienced a wide range of 00:00:59.710 --> 00:01:02.049 persecution, from everything as small as insults, 00:01:02.049 --> 00:01:05.950 slanderous accusations of wrongdoing, beatings, 00:01:05.950 --> 00:01:09.189 social ostracism, sporadic events of violence, 00:01:09.450 --> 00:01:11.989 with some ultimately ending in their deaths. 00:01:12.430 --> 00:01:15.790 Now this letter, this epistle that we find, is 00:01:15.790 --> 00:01:18.170 addressed to Christians scattered across six 00:01:18.170 --> 00:01:21.769 Roman provinces in Asia Minor. And the purpose 00:01:21.769 --> 00:01:23.409 of this letter was to teach them how to live 00:01:23.409 --> 00:01:26.359 victoriously. how to endure, how to stand firm 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.239 in the midst of that persecution without two 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:32.700 things, losing hope or becoming bitter. And that 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:34.980 in that, they would trust God and His promises 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:38.540 for their ultimate deliverance. Today, in our 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:41.540 small section of text, chapter 4, verses 7 to 00:01:41.540 --> 00:01:44.299 11, we'll find Peter encouraging his readers, 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.620 exhorting them to live in a particular way, despite 00:01:47.620 --> 00:01:50.400 all that's going on around and even in their 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:53.709 individual lives. This book has a direct application 00:01:53.709 --> 00:01:56.349 to us. It is an encouragement. It is also an 00:01:56.349 --> 00:01:59.849 exhortation for us today as well. We see three 00:01:59.849 --> 00:02:02.230 main divisions in this text. First of all, living 00:02:02.230 --> 00:02:05.870 with the Indian mind. Let's read verse 7 together. 00:02:07.230 --> 00:02:11.110 But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, 00:02:11.270 --> 00:02:16.650 be serious and watchful in your prayers. So let's 00:02:16.650 --> 00:02:20.310 lay some context and qualify this verse. Peter 00:02:20.310 --> 00:02:22.909 starts with this phrase, the end of all things 00:02:22.909 --> 00:02:25.469 is at hand. And we want to be good students of 00:02:25.469 --> 00:02:27.650 God's word here. We want to interpret this passage 00:02:27.650 --> 00:02:31.250 correctly. And we would start by saying this, 00:02:31.310 --> 00:02:34.770 that the world in which we live in now will not 00:02:34.770 --> 00:02:39.969 continue on forever. When this age ends, Christ 00:02:39.969 --> 00:02:43.229 will return and creation will then reach its 00:02:43.229 --> 00:02:47.310 proper end. Peter speaks of the end as near, 00:02:47.509 --> 00:02:50.979 not... primarily in a chronological sense but 00:02:50.979 --> 00:02:54.840 in a theological one. Now what is true is we 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:57.979 do not know when the last day is to be revealed 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:02.060 but the Bible warns us to be ready and uses this 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:04.879 exact phrase that it will come like a flood in 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:08.180 the days of Noah and we are encouraged to wait 00:03:08.180 --> 00:03:12.219 expectantly. Peter spoke just in chapter 3, one 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:14.900 chapter prior to our text, that as God saved 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.810 Noah through the flood, So those who are in Christ 00:03:17.810 --> 00:03:20.689 will be saved through his judgments. Now it is 00:03:20.689 --> 00:03:23.069 important to recall that Peter wrote these verses 00:03:23.069 --> 00:03:26.250 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit almost 00:03:26.250 --> 00:03:32.509 2 ,000 years ago from today in 2026. And we would 00:03:32.509 --> 00:03:35.629 rightly affirm that he spoke and recorded in 00:03:35.629 --> 00:03:38.370 text correctly that we have been brought into 00:03:38.370 --> 00:03:41.349 this final phase of God's plan of redemption 00:03:41.349 --> 00:03:45.980 by the resurrection of Christ and the gift. But 00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:49.139 Peter uses this choice of words to balance his 00:03:49.139 --> 00:03:53.219 exhortations. Because the end is near. In this 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:56.500 sense that because it could happen at any time, 00:03:56.699 --> 00:03:58.819 he will encourage his readers to do several things. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:02.500 First of all, to endure unjust suffering now, 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:05.080 because they will obtain the outcome of their 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:08.120 faith, the salvation of their souls. And he wants 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.740 to expound how the local church should live together 00:04:10.740 --> 00:04:13.860 in light of this nearness. what he refers to 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:17.000 as the end of all things. Now through this text, 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.980 we're going to be called to live our lives together 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:23.019 as a local church body in a way that displays 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:25.959 the character of God to the outside world, some 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:28.970 who are unbelievers. And we must remember that 00:04:28.970 --> 00:04:32.170 as believers, we have placed our hope in a glorious 00:04:32.170 --> 00:04:35.490 future so that in everything God may be glorified 00:04:35.490 --> 00:04:37.790 through Jesus Christ. Look at the second half 00:04:37.790 --> 00:04:40.829 of verse 7 specifically. It says, Therefore be 00:04:40.829 --> 00:04:44.230 serious and watchful in your prayers. That's 00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:46.629 the new King James. The King James would say, 00:04:46.769 --> 00:04:49.290 Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer. 00:04:49.550 --> 00:04:52.629 The ESV would say, Therefore be self -controlled 00:04:52.629 --> 00:04:55.310 and sober -minded for the sake of your prayers. 00:04:55.449 --> 00:04:57.629 I like all three. one does a different thing 00:04:57.629 --> 00:04:59.250 and gives us a little different perspective of 00:04:59.250 --> 00:05:02.550 what Peter's driving at there. Therefore, because 00:05:02.550 --> 00:05:04.790 of, in light of these truths, in light of these 00:05:04.790 --> 00:05:07.889 facts, live in a particular way. Let's summarize. 00:05:08.649 --> 00:05:11.449 Because we are in this current age theologically, 00:05:11.689 --> 00:05:14.209 our life should be serious. It should be self 00:05:14.209 --> 00:05:16.970 -controlled. We should be sober -minded. To what 00:05:16.970 --> 00:05:19.509 end? Peter would say for the sake of our prayers. 00:05:20.569 --> 00:05:22.829 Peter encourages his readers to keep their heads 00:05:22.829 --> 00:05:26.759 about them, to be clear -minded, to be mentally 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:29.740 disciplined as this promotes a life of prayer, 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:32.779 which is vital in the life of the believer. Now, 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:36.639 when it comes to talking about the end is near 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.620 and things like this, some have not been clear 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:42.160 -minded at all. We have seen in our culture, 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:44.560 most of us in the time we've lived or even just 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:46.899 prior to our lives, things that happened in the 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:51.220 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, early 2000s, some have been 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:54.100 obsessed with setting dates. I don't generally 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:56.300 give humor when I preach, but the day my wife 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:59.300 and I were to be married in 2011, the Mayan calendar 00:05:59.300 --> 00:06:01.399 had said the world was going to come to an end, 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:04.740 as if the day wasn't stressful enough, you know? 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:08.959 And here we are, 15 years later, and we're still 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:13.259 here. Some find labeling every conflict that 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:15.660 goes on in the world as some sort of sign, trying 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:18.339 to just seek signs out of all the worldly events. 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:21.579 Some withdraw from society and focus very much 00:06:21.579 --> 00:06:25.199 so inward. and lose that outward focus of ministry. 00:06:25.779 --> 00:06:28.120 Peter is clear here. We're not to set dates, 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:31.459 but we are to be ready. We're not to withdraw, 00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:34.860 but we are to proclaim God's goodness. And we're 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:38.579 not to panic, but we are to pray. Daniel Doriani 00:06:38.579 --> 00:06:40.100 would say this in his commentary, that this is 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:42.139 no generic prayer. This is not something robotic. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:44.839 It's not something methodical. But this is prayer 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:47.519 that calls upon and submits to God in light of 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:51.120 the reality seen all around us. If we were to 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:52.980 look for just a moment and consider how Jesus 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:56.379 prayed when he knew his end was near, Luke 22, 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:59.560 verse 41 and 42, Jesus, and he was withdrawn 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:01.639 from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:04.899 down and prayed, saying, Father, if it is your 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:07.540 will, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:12.850 not my will, but yours be done. That is specific 00:07:12.850 --> 00:07:14.870 prayer. That is powerful prayer. That is not 00:07:14.870 --> 00:07:17.290 do my will prayer. In fact, it is the opposite. 00:07:17.370 --> 00:07:19.410 Jesus said, Lord, I would have it this way, but 00:07:19.410 --> 00:07:23.069 your will be done. Through prayer, we learn to 00:07:23.069 --> 00:07:25.850 express our anxieties. We learn to express our 00:07:25.850 --> 00:07:29.129 emotions. That is healthy to do in prayer. Our 00:07:29.129 --> 00:07:31.730 prayers should be hopeful. They should be trusting. 00:07:32.050 --> 00:07:34.250 We should pray that God's name would be recognized 00:07:34.250 --> 00:07:38.300 as holy. Being believers. Peter's saying the 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:42.519 time is near, theologically speaking. We should 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:44.819 have an awareness or even an acute awareness 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:47.819 of the theological times in which we live, and 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:50.420 it should push us to pray urgently for those 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:54.220 who have not already yet expressed faith in Christ. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.899 Paul would say in the New Testament on the matter 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:59.560 of prayer to be steadfast in prayer, to pray 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:03.000 without ceasing. The prayer is not an elective 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.199 activity of the believer, but to be a normative, 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:10.019 active part. of our walk with Christ. We should 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:11.620 pray for the needs that we have in our daily 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:14.399 lives. We should pray for perseverance. As we 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:16.079 pray, we should repent of our sins and we should 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:18.720 thank God for His graciousness to forgive them. 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:23.879 And in prayer, we should seek God's face. That 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:27.060 is genuine prayer. A great example that would 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:28.860 be from the book, The Valley of Vision, Puritan 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:31.500 Prayers, is very simply, if we were to seek God's 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:34.960 face in prayer, the author there says, let me 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:38.899 learn by paradox. Let me find thy light in my 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:43.679 darkness, thy life in my death, thy joy in my 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:48.580 sorrow, thy grace in my sin, thy riches in my 00:08:48.580 --> 00:08:54.200 poverty, thy glory in my valley. Notice the contrast 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:58.279 there between thy and my each way. Praying in 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:01.279 this way teaches us to be dependent. It teaches 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.460 us to be leaning. It teaches us to be hopeful. 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:08.659 Peter is calling us as believers to live with 00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:11.580 eternal perspective, to live with the end in 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:13.440 mind, that this life that we are living now, 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:15.639 while it's wonderful, can be wonderful, this 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:20.659 is not it, that this is not the end of the road. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:25.360 Many other seemingly important things will be 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:27.799 burned up from our lives and will be labeled, 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:31.100 as Paul would say, as wood, hay, and stubble. 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:35.399 Things that seemed all important now. will one 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:38.000 day be burned up. They will pass away because 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.820 they did not matter in the kingdom of God. And 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.360 that is a hard truth that each one of us must 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:47.100 deal with and reconcile in our day -to -day lives. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:50.399 How to balance time, how to balance energy, how 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:54.480 to balance focus. on the things that are eternal, 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.779 on the things that do have eternal value and 00:09:57.779 --> 00:10:01.080 will last once this temporary world and temporary 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:06.159 life is over and passes away. The second thing 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:08.500 we see in this particular passage, beginning 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:11.840 in verse 8, is loving and serving one another. 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:18.049 Let's read verse 8 together. Peter says, keep 00:10:18.049 --> 00:10:21.250 loving one another earnestly since love covers 00:10:21.250 --> 00:10:25.289 a multitude of sins. If you're taking notes, 00:10:25.389 --> 00:10:27.230 you're going to notice a repetition here in verses 00:10:27.230 --> 00:10:31.210 8, 9, and 10 of that phrase, one another. We'll 00:10:31.210 --> 00:10:33.169 see it in three different facets. Throughout 00:10:33.169 --> 00:10:34.929 1 Peter, if we had time to read the whole book 00:10:34.929 --> 00:10:36.750 this morning, we certainly don't, we would notice 00:10:36.750 --> 00:10:40.450 that there is a constant emphasis on love characterizing 00:10:40.450 --> 00:10:43.210 the local church throughout the entire epistle. 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.860 And let's briefly survey Jesus' words on the 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:51.139 topic. John 17, 23, Jesus writing, I am speaking, 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.779 I in them and you in me, that they may be made 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:58.220 perfect in one, and that the world may know that 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:00.759 you have sent me and loved them as you have loved 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:04.039 me. John 13, 35, Jesus speaking to his apostles 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:07.379 now, by this all will know that you are my disciples 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:12.200 if you have love for one another. Now we're going 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:13.860 to pause here and consider these words of Jesus 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:17.700 for just a moment. Because there are many things 00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:20.279 that could have been qualifiers for someone to 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:23.460 know that one of the apostles was a follower 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:27.240 of Jesus. But the identifying mark that Jesus 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:31.559 calls out here was if they had loved one another. 00:11:31.629 --> 00:11:33.990 for another. And we consider these apostles, 00:11:34.210 --> 00:11:36.629 they had been with Jesus for at least three years. 00:11:36.889 --> 00:11:40.570 They had forsook everything, job, career, and 00:11:40.570 --> 00:11:44.700 family to follow him. They had been taught by 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:48.539 Him to preach. They had been doing miracles on 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:51.500 their own under His authority and power. He had 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:54.039 sent them out multiple times to preach and heal 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:56.720 and all these things. They had credentials, if 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:58.639 you will, at this point as being apostles of 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.779 Christ, but that wasn't going to be the identifying 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:02.740 mark. It wasn't, could they have named all the 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:05.629 miracles Jesus did? Sure, they were there. They 00:12:05.629 --> 00:12:07.450 sold him. It wasn't could they preach, even though 00:12:07.450 --> 00:12:09.909 they well could. It wasn't did they love the 00:12:09.909 --> 00:12:11.870 Lord, because they certainly did. It wasn't did 00:12:11.870 --> 00:12:13.789 they give their lives for him, because all but 00:12:13.789 --> 00:12:19.669 John were martyred. The qualifier was love. One 00:12:19.669 --> 00:12:23.509 for another would be how someone would know this 00:12:23.509 --> 00:12:26.889 is someone who is a true believer of Jesus Christ. 00:12:27.110 --> 00:12:29.029 Now Peter is not saying that in light of that 00:12:29.029 --> 00:12:31.690 that we don't take sin seriously. He spent a 00:12:31.690 --> 00:12:34.490 lot of time in this epistle urging us to display 00:12:34.490 --> 00:12:37.909 the holiness of God. But what he is saying is 00:12:37.909 --> 00:12:41.129 that when we truly love one another as a local 00:12:41.129 --> 00:12:45.350 church body, we will overlook a multitude of 00:12:45.350 --> 00:12:49.000 sins. Peter focuses on love within the Christian 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:52.100 community, within the local church, and he encourages 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:54.559 us, and we would certainly echo these sentiments 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:57.159 this morning, that we certainly should not spend 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:01.720 our time looking for faults in others. We shouldn't 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:04.320 spend our time lingering over past flaws and 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:07.980 disappointments and mistakes of others. Why? 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:10.000 We have to ask ourselves a critical question. 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:13.059 What is the church made up of? Who comprises 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:18.970 the church? Sinners. I am one and so are you. 00:13:19.730 --> 00:13:23.669 Sinners who have been redeemed by God's grace. 00:13:23.870 --> 00:13:26.190 You say, well then why do we forgive? Because 00:13:26.190 --> 00:13:28.850 of the great grace and forgiveness that has already 00:13:28.850 --> 00:13:32.730 been shown to us through Jesus Christ. Through 00:13:32.730 --> 00:13:35.590 his atoning death and through his powerful resurrection. 00:13:36.529 --> 00:13:39.230 What's the challenge when that type of love isn't 00:13:39.230 --> 00:13:43.470 present? Conflict arises. Our flesh wins out, 00:13:43.470 --> 00:13:46.009 it takes over. The unfortunate events of church 00:13:46.009 --> 00:13:48.269 splits and dissension and things like this that 00:13:48.269 --> 00:13:51.629 occur are the effect of when the grace that Peter 00:13:51.629 --> 00:13:55.549 calls for is missing within a local body. Now, 00:13:55.590 --> 00:13:58.269 Paul would concur in Ephesians 4 .32, he would 00:13:58.269 --> 00:14:02.490 say this, and be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, 00:14:02.649 --> 00:14:05.409 forgiving one another, even as God and Christ 00:14:05.409 --> 00:14:09.889 forgave you. Now, while love includes feelings, 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:13.460 In this particular context, it is more than just 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:17.240 feelings. It is a resolve. A resolve to do good 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.100 to others, including forgiveness. We are called 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:24.399 not just to love one another, but also to forgive 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:26.899 one another. Take it a step further. To bear 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:32.220 one another's burdens. To pray with and for one 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:35.139 another as a local church body. To stand at the 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:39.500 casket with one another. To stand at the gravesite. 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:43.919 with one another. Church, God will not waste 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:48.480 your pain. He will not waste your tears. Tim 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:50.860 Challies put it this way, the hard providences 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:54.100 in your life are to be used for the encouragement 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:57.519 and strength within the local church. God does 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:00.259 not ask you to sorrow for yourself only, but 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:03.679 it is for the benefit of the local body. Why? 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:08.190 So that unbelievers may see that the church and 00:15:08.190 --> 00:15:10.990 those who make it up, those who compose it, are 00:15:10.990 --> 00:15:13.149 radically different because they have been transformed 00:15:13.149 --> 00:15:16.570 by the amazing, wonderful grace and goodness 00:15:16.570 --> 00:15:19.710 of God. And it is that grace that allows us to 00:15:19.710 --> 00:15:22.710 love and forgive and support one another because 00:15:22.710 --> 00:15:26.529 in our flesh we have the exact opposite. We have 00:15:26.529 --> 00:15:29.690 the exact opposite leanings in our natural man. 00:15:30.149 --> 00:15:33.269 We once possessed hearts of stone, but because 00:15:33.269 --> 00:15:35.669 we've been radically transformed by Christ, we 00:15:35.669 --> 00:15:38.330 have hearts of flesh that are then opened. We 00:15:38.330 --> 00:15:40.389 understand the grace of God, the love of God, 00:15:40.470 --> 00:15:42.610 and only then can we extend that grace, that 00:15:42.610 --> 00:15:45.909 forgiveness, that love to one another. Only then 00:15:45.909 --> 00:15:47.970 does the Holy Spirit impress upon our hearts 00:15:47.970 --> 00:15:50.409 to go and be with one who is sorrowful, to go 00:15:50.409 --> 00:15:55.279 to the funeral home, to go to the cemetery. Because 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.980 we love our brothers and sisters that much. That 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.940 the Lord has impressed upon us that we are together 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:03.360 in this life. Verse 9. Peter would go on to say, 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:06.940 show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:11.720 Today, if we're going to travel somewhere on 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:14.820 a trip, we book a hotel. We book a place to stay. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.200 In the first century, that was not the case. 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:21.580 Christians depended on one another. Hospitality 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:23.539 was not just a matter of convenience. It was 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:25.740 a vital part of the Christian mission. Missionaries 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.960 were going out all over and they needed a place 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:30.759 to stay as they traveled to distant regions to 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:32.940 share the gospel. They depended on other believers 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:36.000 to host them on their journey. But this verse 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:38.799 still has clear implications for us today. We 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.840 are still called to hospitality even though the 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:45.019 context has changed. Why? Because hospitality 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:47.240 is a form of the love that Peter wrote about 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.950 in one verse prior in verse 8. What is the challenge 00:16:50.950 --> 00:16:53.350 in hospitality? We, by nature, are individualists. 00:16:54.029 --> 00:16:56.289 We look at our homes, we look at our properties 00:16:56.289 --> 00:16:59.370 as ours. They're a place to retreat. We bought 00:16:59.370 --> 00:17:01.190 it, we're making payments on it, we own it, whatever 00:17:01.190 --> 00:17:05.210 the case might be. But in the same token, we 00:17:05.210 --> 00:17:08.589 also acknowledge that all good gifts come from 00:17:08.589 --> 00:17:11.829 God, which would include our homes, our pantries, 00:17:11.849 --> 00:17:15.829 our budgets, and our time. Peter says we are 00:17:15.829 --> 00:17:18.769 to show hospitality, and this can be challenging. 00:17:19.349 --> 00:17:22.890 in our modern Western society and culture with 00:17:22.890 --> 00:17:27.490 busy schedules, work demands, sports schedules, 00:17:27.670 --> 00:17:30.089 other community commitments and things like that. 00:17:30.549 --> 00:17:33.349 But Peter also says here a very key part that 00:17:33.349 --> 00:17:36.710 is when we show hospitality that we should do 00:17:36.710 --> 00:17:39.109 so without grumbling. Now I find it very interesting 00:17:39.109 --> 00:17:41.250 that Peter puts that in there under the inspiration 00:17:41.250 --> 00:17:43.759 of the Holy Spirit. But that specific charge, 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:46.500 being there to do so without grumbling, reminds 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:51.200 us that hospitality can be burdensome. That it 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.559 is work. That it is not easy to just invite someone 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:57.160 over to your home. It isn't always easy to just 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:59.640 even carve out time to meet someone out somewhere 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.920 else for a meal. Every person in this church 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:05.779 is in a different stage of life. No two people 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:09.140 are exactly identical. And I'm not sure how it 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:11.799 happens. But if you've raised children, you're 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:15.259 going to be able to know and understand what 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:18.960 I'm about to say. With children, a house can 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.480 be clean, and in less than 24 hours, it can look 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.180 like a tornado's ripped through there. And I'm 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:27.859 still not sure how that happens, but it is frustrating, 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:30.700 and it can feel defeating that we just worked 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:33.099 so hard, we just cleaned this up, we just had 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:35.200 everything picked up, and now it's a mess again. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:38.420 But yet we're still called to show hospitality 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:41.839 one to another. It is a joyful thing to host 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:44.700 someone. It is a joyful thing just to take someone 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:48.680 out to dinner, to talk to one another, to do 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:52.519 life together, to open our homes, to open our 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:55.220 properties for the express purpose of kids playing 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:58.119 together, for fellowship, for encouraging one 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:59.819 another, just inviting someone over to swim at 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.680 your house and just talk for a little while, 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:04.380 to share a meal on the patio. And I would encourage 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:06.779 you with this. Even though it is a lot of effort, 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:09.119 and as Peter says it can be burdensome, it is 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:13.240 more than worth the effort on the backside. You 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.440 will find yourself blessed as you grow closer 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:17.359 to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:20.160 and God is ultimately glorified in that act of 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:23.200 hospitality. The last section we see this morning 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:26.160 is in all things God is to be glorified. We'll 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.900 read these two verses and hold them together, 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:32.859 verses 10 and verse 11. As each has received 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:36.450 a gift, Use it to serve one another as good stewards 00:19:36.450 --> 00:19:39.690 of God's very grace. Whoever speaks as one who 00:19:39.690 --> 00:19:42.529 speaks, the oracles of God. Whoever serves as 00:19:42.529 --> 00:19:44.430 one who serves by the strength that God supplies 00:19:44.430 --> 00:19:46.950 in order that everything God may be glorified 00:19:46.950 --> 00:19:50.529 through Jesus Christ. To him being glory and 00:19:50.529 --> 00:19:52.950 dominion forever and ever. Amen. Now, if you're 00:19:52.950 --> 00:19:55.829 taking notes, we've reached the end of... Peter's 00:19:55.829 --> 00:19:58.390 one another's. Verse 8, keep loving one another. 00:19:58.549 --> 00:20:01.130 Verse 9, show hospitality to one another. Now 00:20:01.130 --> 00:20:03.910 in verse 10, exercise or use our gifts to serve 00:20:03.910 --> 00:20:07.349 one another. Peter is speaking to every single 00:20:07.349 --> 00:20:09.470 Christian with these two verses. I want to encourage 00:20:09.470 --> 00:20:12.329 you with that. This is not a particular group 00:20:12.329 --> 00:20:16.259 that Peter is calling out. Every single believer 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:18.640 is encompassed in these two verses. Now there's 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.519 several facets that we need to cover. First of 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:23.319 all, we read that each believer, each person 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:27.900 has received a spiritual gifting. Why? The purpose 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:30.839 of the gifting is to serve others. That is the 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.660 express purpose. Whatever spiritual gift... you 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:36.539 have received as an individual, we are to use 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:39.559 it to serve others. It is not about us. It is 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:42.059 not giving ourselves a platform. It is not about, 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:44.279 you know, drawing some sort of attention to ourselves. 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:46.680 Any spiritual gift you have been gifted with, 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:50.380 it is to be used to serve others. Hard stop. 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:55.420 As much as God has created us uniquely, God has 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:58.200 also varied his spiritual graces, his giftings, 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:02.339 among us. to enable us to be a multifaceted, 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:06.099 effective local church. Now, I do find this interesting. 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:10.039 What we have generally called spiritual gifts, 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:14.309 if we look in the Greek... In Paul's writings 00:21:14.309 --> 00:21:16.809 and in Peter's, we'll find a couple different 00:21:16.809 --> 00:21:19.890 words that are used there. And even though in 00:21:19.890 --> 00:21:22.269 our English translations it generally comes out 00:21:22.269 --> 00:21:26.130 spiritual gifts, most generally in the Greek, 00:21:26.170 --> 00:21:29.569 we would render it as the word graces or grace, 00:21:29.809 --> 00:21:36.670 spiritual graces. Why? Scripture calls us, calls 00:21:36.670 --> 00:21:39.769 our capacities graces because they are more than 00:21:39.769 --> 00:21:43.259 abilities. God has given them graciously to us 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:45.839 to then be a means of grace to our brothers and 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:49.160 sisters in Christ. Now, of these graces, there 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:51.759 are two main categories, speaking graces and 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:55.319 service graces. Paul spoke in the local church 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:59.140 as a body with many members in Romans 12. Paul 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:02.099 would say, for as many members, as we have many 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:05.420 members in one body, but all members do not have 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:08.710 the same function. So we, being many, are one 00:22:08.710 --> 00:22:11.589 body in Christ and individually members of one 00:22:11.589 --> 00:22:15.890 another. Having then gifts differing to the grace 00:22:15.890 --> 00:22:19.730 that is given to us, let us use them. So what 00:22:19.730 --> 00:22:22.430 are we to do with these giftings, these graces 00:22:22.430 --> 00:22:25.329 that we've been given? Well, first, we've been 00:22:25.329 --> 00:22:28.609 entrusted with them by Almighty God, which is 00:22:28.609 --> 00:22:30.630 heavy, but it's also powerful and encouraging 00:22:30.630 --> 00:22:34.000 at the same time. We have to exercise them, not 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.440 for ourselves, but use within the local church 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:39.859 for one another. Let's go further. Because each 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.740 believer, Peter says, has received a spiritual 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:46.799 gift. The church functions best when every single 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:50.539 member is properly exercising their gift within 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:53.519 the local church. There are many things that 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:56.779 are needed in this church on a weekly and monthly 00:22:56.779 --> 00:23:00.309 basis here at Mamre. Some are visible. Some are 00:23:00.309 --> 00:23:04.369 almost invisible, but all are needed. All are 00:23:04.369 --> 00:23:08.950 essential. There is not a single member of this 00:23:08.950 --> 00:23:12.309 church who cannot contribute something with their 00:23:12.309 --> 00:23:14.349 spiritual gift, and there is not a single member 00:23:14.349 --> 00:23:19.910 of memory not needed by the body. We are better 00:23:19.910 --> 00:23:22.910 together, never separate, never in isolation. 00:23:23.470 --> 00:23:27.190 All that we do in service to our Lord is noticed 00:23:27.190 --> 00:23:31.319 and seen by... Him. God has the record. I don't 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:33.119 need anybody keeping a record. You don't need 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:35.160 anybody keeping a record. God has the record 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:37.799 and all that is done unto His glory will have 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:41.279 a profound positive impact on the congregation. 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:44.200 H .B. Charles Jr. would say this about gathering, 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:46.920 serving the body. He said the local church is 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:50.160 not merely an optional activity but an essential 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:53.819 community where believers are discipled, sharpened, 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:56.740 and sent. Why is it important that we gather 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:59.660 together and serve one another? Because in God's 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:02.920 unique creation of each one of us, he has gifted 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:05.480 us with insights. You have insights that I don't 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.720 have, and I'll have some that you don't have. 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:09.579 He has given us unique capabilities. He has given 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:13.960 us unique experiences that then lead us to unique 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:18.039 spiritual service within the local body. Because 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:21.480 of our individual uniqueness, giftings, and graces, 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:24.319 we can each, each and every member of this body, 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:29.140 make an impact and uniqueful contribution to 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:32.400 God's work. These varied graces are given amongst 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:35.819 the congregation to bear fruit within the local 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:38.720 church. What about the speaking gifts, though? 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.160 We talked about the service gifts. What about 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:44.380 the speaking gifts? Well, Peter's saying that 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:47.180 there are some that God has chosen to speak. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:50.559 within the church to speak his word, he said, 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:53.640 not their own. And they have the responsibility 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:59.099 to diligently study, to prepare, to pray, to 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:02.059 rightly divide the word of God, striving to exercise 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:06.119 a good exegesis of scripture, that the content 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:09.220 of the speaking and teaching in the church should 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:13.970 be the living and abiding word of God. Never 00:25:13.970 --> 00:25:17.009 opinion, never conjecture, never unbetted sources. 00:25:17.509 --> 00:25:20.990 The Apostle Paul referred to that living and 00:25:20.990 --> 00:25:24.630 abiding word of God as the whole counsel of God. 00:25:24.710 --> 00:25:26.890 To speak God's word on his behalf, to teach a 00:25:26.890 --> 00:25:29.450 class or speak from the pulpit is very serious 00:25:29.450 --> 00:25:33.170 business because those who do speak will be held 00:25:33.170 --> 00:25:37.390 accountable for every single word that is uttered. 00:25:38.190 --> 00:25:40.589 Haddon Robinson said this, it's been quoted many 00:25:40.589 --> 00:25:43.990 times, there is no greater betrayal of our calling 00:25:43.990 --> 00:25:48.390 than putting our words in God's mouth. What I 00:25:48.390 --> 00:25:50.450 have to say on the matter doesn't mean anything. 00:25:50.630 --> 00:25:53.990 When we speak, we are to speak the words of God. 00:25:54.029 --> 00:25:56.789 They are living and they are abiding. Now, while 00:25:56.789 --> 00:25:59.509 certain individuals have the primary responsibility 00:25:59.509 --> 00:26:02.190 of speaking grace or speaking gifts within the 00:26:02.190 --> 00:26:06.490 church, why? The express purpose of a speaking 00:26:06.490 --> 00:26:09.970 gift to teach or to preach is that as we do so, 00:26:10.069 --> 00:26:14.309 we will equip those who are in the body to serve 00:26:14.309 --> 00:26:16.930 one another, to begin to show up for one another 00:26:16.930 --> 00:26:20.490 in different seasons of life. That as you take 00:26:20.490 --> 00:26:22.910 in good content, that there would be spiritual 00:26:22.910 --> 00:26:24.549 maturity, that there would be sanctification 00:26:24.549 --> 00:26:27.029 that occurs from the regular right preaching 00:26:27.029 --> 00:26:29.210 and teaching of God's Word, and that then you 00:26:29.210 --> 00:26:32.420 would then be able to speak words of life. to 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:35.440 one another, to encourage one another, to come 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:37.519 alongside one another, not with your own opinion, 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:41.240 but with the words of God in the big, high moments 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:44.980 of life and in the deep, dark sorrows and hard, 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:48.859 dark seasons of life. Miguel Nunez in his commentary 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:51.380 would say that oracles of God should reverberate 00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:53.779 throughout the church so that it builds itself 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:58.099 up in love. As we gather each week on top of 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.640 Kitts Hill right here, and we hear from the preached 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.329 word, It should spur us into action, not just 00:27:04.329 --> 00:27:06.289 in our daily lives, not just in our individual 00:27:06.289 --> 00:27:09.109 Christian walk, but also in the lives of those 00:27:09.109 --> 00:27:12.450 around us in our local church body. God's intention 00:27:12.450 --> 00:27:16.430 for weekly congregational worship was not that 00:27:16.430 --> 00:27:19.509 you would just come and consume content and just 00:27:19.509 --> 00:27:22.349 learn more about him and consume information, 00:27:22.569 --> 00:27:26.900 but that... As you are feeling God's grace as 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:30.119 an individual believer of this local body, it 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:32.460 is proclaimed through preaching and teaching. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:35.359 You then take that word and then it is reciprocated 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:38.460 back out within the body. Peter continues saying, 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:41.819 whoever serves is to serve by the strength that 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:44.640 God supplies. This is an encouraging line and 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:47.019 I'm thrilled Peter put it in here. Because we 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:52.420 are all broken, fallible humanity. At times, 00:27:52.909 --> 00:27:55.690 Serving can be exhausting. We were just talking 00:27:55.690 --> 00:27:58.109 about Bible school. It's three days. You know 00:27:58.109 --> 00:28:00.230 what? We still have to go to work. We still have 00:28:00.230 --> 00:28:01.730 children. We still have schedules. There's still 00:28:01.730 --> 00:28:05.890 things going on. It can be hard. And it can be 00:28:05.890 --> 00:28:08.589 tiring. And in our own strength, we could not 00:28:08.589 --> 00:28:12.069 do it. But thankfully, we do not serve in our 00:28:12.069 --> 00:28:15.170 own strength. As much as Almighty God has given 00:28:15.170 --> 00:28:16.849 each one of us a spiritual gift, a spiritual 00:28:16.849 --> 00:28:19.849 grace, He also provides the strength we need 00:28:19.849 --> 00:28:23.690 to serve. He has given us a heart that allows 00:28:23.690 --> 00:28:26.430 us to love one another. And when we truly love 00:28:26.430 --> 00:28:28.650 one another, when it's not just about me and 00:28:28.650 --> 00:28:32.509 my family anymore, we will then serve one another. 00:28:32.930 --> 00:28:35.869 As a church body, we need both graces of service 00:28:35.869 --> 00:28:40.990 and graces of speaking. Both are essential. Church, 00:28:41.089 --> 00:28:44.349 we can only work in one way effectively, and 00:28:44.349 --> 00:28:47.109 that is through His strength and for His glory. 00:28:47.509 --> 00:28:49.960 You say, what about me? What about the saints 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:53.059 gathered here on Kitts Hill this morning? I would 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:55.579 say first that we must be ever aware that God 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:57.920 has placed us at this specific point in history 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:02.940 in 2026 by His sovereignty. He makes no accidents. 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:07.400 You are here in this last times, theologically 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:10.599 speaking, for specific purposes. And in our flesh, 00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:13.799 we tend to tense up when we think about the end 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:17.309 drawing near. We may even retreat. But in the 00:29:17.309 --> 00:29:20.890 Spirit, we are encouraged that day by day, there 00:29:20.890 --> 00:29:24.230 is a day drawing near when Christ will return 00:29:24.230 --> 00:29:28.329 for His church, His bride, where He will judge 00:29:28.329 --> 00:29:30.349 the quick and the dead, where He will make all 00:29:30.349 --> 00:29:34.069 things right, and so shall we ever be with the 00:29:34.069 --> 00:29:35.970 Lord. Those words were given to first century 00:29:35.970 --> 00:29:38.150 believers as a great encouragement, and we still 00:29:38.150 --> 00:29:42.150 echo them even to this day. But we do take great 00:29:42.150 --> 00:29:45.930 encouragement in this, that while we are homesick, 00:29:46.430 --> 00:29:50.329 As our citizenship is in heaven, we know that 00:29:50.329 --> 00:29:56.329 our exile one day is coming to an end. Our prayer 00:29:56.329 --> 00:29:59.029 would be that the Lord keep us walking steadfastly 00:29:59.029 --> 00:30:04.089 towards a country that is full of everlasting 00:30:04.089 --> 00:30:08.670 delights. That promised land that he has said 00:30:08.670 --> 00:30:11.970 would be our eternal home and inheritance as 00:30:11.970 --> 00:30:15.950 his children. We are exhorted all through this 00:30:15.950 --> 00:30:17.970 text to be several things. First of all, to be 00:30:17.970 --> 00:30:21.309 clear -minded, to be aware, to be vigilant, and 00:30:21.309 --> 00:30:23.609 to be prayerful. While prayer is a discipline, 00:30:23.750 --> 00:30:26.250 and it is that, it is a privilege, and it is 00:30:26.250 --> 00:30:28.970 sweet fellowship and communion with Almighty 00:30:28.970 --> 00:30:32.230 God. To seek Him in all of His holiness and all 00:30:32.230 --> 00:30:34.789 of His richness and all of His beauty. Many saints 00:30:34.789 --> 00:30:36.710 before us, as we read the Puritan prayers earlier, 00:30:36.910 --> 00:30:40.750 knew and understood the power and fervency of 00:30:40.750 --> 00:30:43.640 prayer, its humbling effect. within the heart 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:45.960 and the life of the individual. And we too, Peter 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:49.019 says, should lean heavily into individual prayer, 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:51.000 that it should be steadfast, that it should be 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:54.359 without ceasing. And finally, our aim of one 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:56.619 another. It was so important, Peter mentioned 00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:59.759 in verses 8, 9, and 10, to love one another, 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:02.039 to serve one another, to be hospitable to one 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:05.319 another, to exercise our spiritual gifts for 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:08.259 one another. And then in all things, we must 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:12.349 glorify Christ. Miguel Nunez again. We glorify 00:31:12.349 --> 00:31:16.289 God by living a normal, ordinary Christian life, 00:31:16.470 --> 00:31:19.369 which is the life of a believer who knows the 00:31:19.369 --> 00:31:23.369 end is near, who keeps his or her head, who prays 00:31:23.369 --> 00:31:27.470 hard, loves well, and welcomes much, and uses 00:31:27.470 --> 00:31:30.529 their spiritual gifts for the church. I like 00:31:30.529 --> 00:31:32.269 that, don't you? That's in terms we can understand. 00:31:32.690 --> 00:31:35.269 Friends, if we live like that, God is glorified. 00:31:35.490 --> 00:31:37.309 This isn't some sort of all -star effort. This 00:31:37.309 --> 00:31:39.869 is not a check -the -box type activity. Because 00:31:39.869 --> 00:31:42.490 we are displaying the fruit of the Spirit and 00:31:42.490 --> 00:31:45.609 loving Christ's church. God is glorified in that. 00:31:45.730 --> 00:31:48.549 We cannot do any of this by trying harder or 00:31:48.549 --> 00:31:51.210 being better. Peter's not telling us to manufacture 00:31:51.210 --> 00:31:55.750 holiness by sheer effort. No, he's saying the 00:31:55.750 --> 00:31:59.390 same Christ who saves his people also supplies 00:31:59.390 --> 00:32:02.789 the grace that transforms them. Because we belong 00:32:02.789 --> 00:32:05.809 to him, his Spirit indwells us and enables us 00:32:05.809 --> 00:32:08.430 to pray. It's the Spirit that enables us to serve. 00:32:08.549 --> 00:32:10.730 It is the Spirit that enables us to love. And 00:32:10.730 --> 00:32:13.049 it is His Spirit that enables us to persevere 00:32:13.049 --> 00:32:17.849 until the end. God grants graces, gifts to each 00:32:17.849 --> 00:32:21.910 believer for the purpose of one another, for 00:32:21.910 --> 00:32:24.890 the building up of the body. And every aspect 00:32:24.890 --> 00:32:28.670 can only be accomplished through His strength 00:32:28.670 --> 00:32:32.710 and for His glory. May God be greatly praised. 00:32:32.890 --> 00:32:37.059 And may we show love one for another. For His 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:42.900 sake. Amen. Good word today from Peter. I pray 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:46.759 that we reflect on it. Let us settle on our hearts. 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:51.180 And that it's very good for us. As we transition 00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:54.920 now from preaching and we start to set our minds 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:58.460 on the Lord's table, this is a time that we come 00:32:58.460 --> 00:33:01.900 to a specific time that we set aside each Lord's 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:04.279 day. And we would attest that the table should 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:06.910 not be separated. from the preaching of God's 00:33:06.910 --> 00:33:10.049 Word on this day of Lord's Day of Worship. We've 00:33:10.049 --> 00:33:13.569 taken time to observe these sacraments, and we 00:33:13.569 --> 00:33:15.509 want to invite you to the table this morning. 00:33:16.549 --> 00:33:19.269 Not only as a memorial, but we engage in this 00:33:19.269 --> 00:33:22.210 table as a means of grace. We attest that it's 00:33:22.210 --> 00:33:24.410 good for us, that it's a renewal of the promises 00:33:24.410 --> 00:33:27.210 of God as we hold the bread and we drink of that 00:33:27.210 --> 00:33:30.569 cup. By coming to the table, we participate in 00:33:30.569 --> 00:33:33.410 an institution that was established by the Lord 00:33:33.410 --> 00:33:36.210 Jesus Christ Himself. with his apostles. And 00:33:36.210 --> 00:33:38.390 we would invite you to the table with a couple 00:33:38.390 --> 00:33:40.349 qualifiers that our Lord gave. That is that you 00:33:40.349 --> 00:33:42.230 have expressed faith in Christ, you are a believer, 00:33:42.890 --> 00:33:45.130 and you have been marked out, you have been baptized 00:33:45.130 --> 00:33:48.309 in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy 00:33:48.309 --> 00:33:51.069 Spirit. We'll have the deacons come now, if you 00:33:51.069 --> 00:33:53.730 would, and begin to pass out the elements. And 00:33:53.730 --> 00:33:55.990 as they begin to come and pass them out, Shelby 00:33:55.990 --> 00:33:58.329 is going to come and play for us. We would ask 00:33:58.329 --> 00:34:00.890 that you hold those elements, and at the conclusion 00:34:00.890 --> 00:34:03.410 of the distribution, we will take them together.