A Doxology To God 1 Peter 4:7-11, Robert AuBuchon KERUX SERMON DATABASE Number: 14032 http://www.holwick.com/database.html

1. A Doxology To God 1 Peter 4:7-11 Robert AuBuchon KERUX SERMON DATABASE Number: 14032 http://www.holwick.com/database.html

2. 1 Peter 4:7 NET For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. 8Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. (Proverbs 10:12) 9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

3. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God's words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

4. In my heart there is a fear that grows. The fear that, preaching today, to God's people, is becoming or has become an exercise in "RHETORIC." It is simply words, to the majority, that fill up the expected hour. We hear the words, we may even agree with them and give a hearty AMEN! But do we do them? Do we do the word of God? Is this a legitimate fear?

5. Ezekiel 33:30 NET "But as for you, son of man, your people (who are talking about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses) say to one another, 'Come hear the word that comes from the LORD.' 31 They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.

6. 32 Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey them. The prophet Hosea warned the people of God. Hosea 4:1 NET Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites! For the LORD has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land, nor do they acknowledge God.

7. Hosea 4:6 NET You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me! Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests. Because you reject the law of your God, I will reject your descendants.

8. There was once a lady who always came to church with a pitch fork. As the preacher preached, speaking the truth of God's Word, she would fork it up and pitch it at someone, whom she thought needed it. Her words were, “HERE, YOU NEED THIS!” By the end of the sermon she had pitched the entire sermon, Title, Points, Sub-points and Conclusion into someone else’s lap and life, thinking they needed it.

9. But one Sunday was different, for she came to church with a rake. As the preacher preached God's Word, she took her rake and began to rake the truth of God's Word into her own life. Her words were, “OH I NEED THIS!”

10. I am afraid that the majority of us, preacher included, come to church with pitch forks and not rakes. We want the words pitched into the laps of others, hoping it will straighten them out. While all the time, we are the ones who need to be raking God's refreshing word into our lives. Is there a living, breathing knowledge of God's Word in your heart today?

11. Today we continue our study of 1 Peter. We come to a passage that is oh so necessary for us to apply to our own lives, rather than fork it off into another's life. We come to a study of praise ... "A Doxology To God." The Necessity of Praising God. 4:11cGod will be glorified through Jesus Christ.

12. The Greek word used in the New Testament for "glory" is doxazō meaning: to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, to honour, do honour to, hold in honour, to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour

13. "praise" is "doxa" meaning to bring glory and praise to, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace, majesty, a most glorious condition, most exalted state. From these words we derive our word "Doxology", literally "A Study of Praise."

14. When it comes to "PRAISING GOD" the Bible is clear. To put it simply, WE ARE TO PRAISE GOD! Psalms 148:1 NET Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the sky! Praise him in the heavens! Ephesians 1:12 NETso that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. Philippians 1:11 NET filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

15. Hebrews 13:15 NET Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. Revelation 19:5 NET Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!" Peter gives us the ultimate dynamic of the Christian life. 11c "God will be glorified through Jesus Christ..."

16. Here’s the words of the Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NET So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Just as it was Jesus’ goal, it should be ours also! In all we do…EVERYTHING we do, no matter how BIG or how small it is, do it ALL for the GLORY of GOD.

17. SING WITH ME THE DOXOLOGY Don’t sing it by rote, pay attention to the words! Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

18. Peter gives us three areas to bring ultimate praise and glory to God. Praising God 1. Through Living Expectantly 2. Through Loving One Another 3. Through Serving

19. Praising God Through Living Expectantly 4:7 NET For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. In verse 7, Peter is not making a prediction, he is stating a fact. People like to talk about the "End Times." We like to study the book of Revelation that deals with the "End Times." If possible we would even like to make a prediction ... perhaps this year! How about today?

20. The point Peter is NOT making, is to get all caught up in the study of the "End Times." Rather, Peter is promoting the constant living of the Christian life day in and day out, with a glance ever now and then to the Eastern sky, knowing in our hearts that Jesus is coming again! 1 John 2:18 NET Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.

21. 1 John 2:28 NET And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. Peter gives us two means of living expectantly. 1. Living Seriously 2. Living Watchfully and Prayerfully

22. Living Seriously “So be self-controlled and sober-minded." The word speaks to sobriety. Paul, in his epistles (Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 5:13, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 2:6) admonishes the Christian to “besober-minded, self-controlled.” No other person, place or thing in this life should intoxicate us to forsake a diligent serious life in Christ Jesus.

23. Are we in our daily Christian walk with Christ being “self-controlled and sober-minded” thus allowing Him to be in control so that we can be serious and sober minded in the disciplines of the Christian life? Christians are to be characterized by reason; are to make wise, mature decisions; and are to have a clearly defined, decisive purpose in life. (NIV Study Bible)

24. Living Watchfully and Prayerfully 1Peter 4:7 NIV The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. If we are “clear minded and self-controlled” in Christian discipline, we will be watchful and pray. Christians must be aware of the conditions of their lives, the lives of others, our nation, and world, And pray about it!

25. Peter was giving first hand advice. Remember back in the Garden of Gethsemane, it was Peter & Co. who fell asleep. Then he (Jesus) came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? Mark 14:37 NET The life that is sober, watchful and praying will be a life that praises God.

26. Praising God through Loving One Another 8Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. (Proverbs 10:12) Wouldn't it have been great if Peter didn't have to remind those first century Christians to love one another? And wouldn't it be great if you and I as Christians didn't have to be reminded to love one another?

27. But we must, and we must be reminded today that "Love is the badge of the believer in this world." It is our mark of identification. Jesus says, Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples — if you have love for one another."John 13:35 NET Peter exhorts that "Above all..." referring not to the disciplines of the Christian life, but rather above all the things that happen to you in this life have a fervent love for one another!

28. Christian love is not. loving the way you want to be loved in return, but loving others the way God has loved them. Unselfishly - Forgivingly - Endlessly Then he called for them to keep that love fervent. I looked up fervent to see exactly what it meant. 1) stretched out 2) metaphorically intent, earnestly, assiduously (Thayer’s Greek Definitions) I looked up those words too.

29. Earnestly: Warmly; zealously; importunately; eagerly; with real desire, with fixed attention; with eagerness (Webster’s) Assiduously: showing persistent and hard-working effort in doing something (Encarta Dictionary) So putting this all together we get a picture of someone stretching out zealously, eagerly, focused intensely, persistent with real desire, & effort working hard with fixed attention on the goal which is love.

30. Where the Bible gives teaching about love, the centre of love is usually the will, not the emotions. Such love is a deliberate attitude, not an uncontrollable feeling. This characteristic is seen in both divine love and human love. The Bible commands people to love; it commands them to act in a certain way, regardless of how they feel.

31. Christian love does not mean that Christians try to create certain feelings towards others, but that they act towards others the way they know they should. The reason why they so act is that God’s love rules their lives, making them want to do God’s will. The more they act towards others in love, the more favourable their feelings will become towards those people. (Bridgeway Bible Dictionary)

32. Christian love is a love to God and to man that is the result of God's love shed abroad in the hearts of his people. Since the incarnation, mere longing and yearning have given place to a love that not merely desires but that also possesses the one loved. (Trench)

33. Peter says that since the culmination of all things is at hand, we as believers should be that focused, and that intent, in our love for one another. Now that is not a passive kind of love. It is to be active, assiduously applied, deliberate and thoughtful. Why? This is interesting. He says, ‘…becauselove covers a multitude of sins.’ (Proverbs 10:12)

34. James uses the same phrase in chapter 5 verse 20 of his letter. James 5:20 NET he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. What does that mean? That if I love fervently enough it’ll make up for a multitude of my sins? No, it does not.

35. Does it mean that if I demonstrate love strongly enough it will save me from my sins or save the object of my love from their sins? No, it does not. Neither of those approaches could be supported by New Testament doctrine.

36. When Peter says that love covers a multitude of sins, he simply means that those who love in the way described overlook one another’s transgressions. Offenses fall by the wayside. It speaks of the forbearance that comes with love: Christian love is patient and forgiving toward the offenses of a fellow Christian. (NET notes)

37. Not a man's own sins, but the sins of others; and not from the sight of God, for from that only the blood and righteousness of Christ cover sins, but from the sight of men, both of those against whom they are committed, and others; since charity, or true love, thinks no ill, but puts the best constructions upon the words and actions of fellow Christians. (Gill)

38. And in like manner we are to look upon our brothers and sisters offenses toward us and others, and love them. You can't love this way in your own strength, but it must come through a life that so concentrated on being like Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about it. Think about the Christians you know. We really have a lot more differences than we have in common.

39. In many cases the only thing we have in common with some Christians is the fact that we’re Christians. But that is the most important thing, because the fervent application of agape love makes being fellow believers the only really important thing, and when we understand the wonderful grace of God with which He has graced us, that enables us to overlook differences and even offenses and apply that same grace to one another.

40. There's a danger in striving to love others. Here it is, we have the tendency to say, "Okay! Okay! When you put it that way, I guess I'll love them, but I don't have to like them!" We're sometimes like the child who is forced to share his toys. We do it reluctantly and grumbling. Peter puts us on notice about doing this. 1 Peter 4:9 NET Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

41. This is God's Word knowing our thoughts, and cutting away the fat and getting down to the meat of it. Maybe that's why we have trouble really loving one another, because we don't really get down the meat of God's word. Don't just love, but love so as to be hospitable. It refers to treating and loving all people like "Friends." John 15:13 NET No one has greater love than this — that one lays down his life for his friends.

42. Praising God through Serving 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11a,b,c Whoever speaks, let it be with God's words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ.

43. A life that is bent on living expectantly for the Lord's return and striving to love one another, will be a life full of serving. 10Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Serving Up Your Spiritual Gift

44. Notice Peter puts the emphasis on "has received." It is not a question of whether or not you have a gift(s), but rather it is a question if you are exercising your gift(s). A gift is a God-given ability for service to the body of Christ. Discover your gift and then serve!

45. 11aWhoever speaks, let it be with God's words. If we have a speaking gift, then speak as if it were God speaking through you. Human words are fallible, they are not infallible like God's living Word. But if we pay heed to God's word rather than our opinions, (1&2 Opinions are not books in the Bible!) we will speak the oracles, the words of God. Edify the body of Christ through your words.

46. 11bWhoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, If we have a serving gift that calls for action, seek out opportunities to serve up your gift. Serve the Lord with gladness of heart knowing your gift is building up the body of Jesus Christ. And that all of it brings glory and praise to God.

47. Peter closes us today with these incredible words 11c,d “so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” Can you say Amen! to that? Do you agree? Then let's pick up rake, rather than a pitch fork, and begin to rake it into our lives right now! Amen!

48. This lesson includes gleanings from: KERUX SERMON DATABASE Number: 8076 PREACHER: Dr. James A. McCullen NOTE: Cross & Crown Ministries; DRjim@preachhim.org MAIN TEXT: 1 Peter 4:7-11 SERIES: 1 Peter TITLE: End Times Conduct http://www.holwick.com/database.html