In HUNTINGTON, Utah -Crews were forced to halt their desperate underground search for six trapped coal miners after a cave-in killed three rescue workers and injured six. "We have suspended indefinitely the underground portion of this rescue effort," said Richard Stickler, head of the U.S. government’s Mine Safety & Health Administration. Rescuers will continue to drill bore holes down through the top of the mountain to try to find the miners, who have not been heard from since a collapse Aug. 6 and are thought to be located 550 metres underground. If the miners were found, a larger hole would be drilled in from the surface in a long, slow effort, he said. One of those killed and one seriously injured in Thursday evening’s collapse were federal employees, Mr. Stickler said. The collapse raised fears that tunnelling to try to find the men trapped in the central Utah mine was too dangerous to continue without further casualties. "Yesterday we went from a tragedy to a catastrophe," Jon Huntsman, the Utah Governor, said outside the Crandall Canyon Mine, south of Salt Lake City, as he called for new efforts to make mining safer in his state and the country.
(http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/world/story.html?id=87214791-a659-4b4c-b021-a7dbdd743037)
Was the action of the rescuers foolish? Could you see yourself taking the risk? Is there anything that you would risk all for? How far would you go for a stranger? How far would you go for a loved one? How far would you go for yourself?
In our study on Thursday’s, John Piper stated: “Risk is woven into the fabric of our finite lives. We cannot avoid risk even if we want to. Every direction you turn there are unknowns and things beyond your control. The tragic hypocrisy is that the enchantment of security lets us take risks every day for ourselves but paralyzes us from taking risks for others on the Calvary road of Love. We are deluded and think that it may jeopardize a security that in fact does not even exist”. (Don’t Waste your life: 2003. Crossway Books. p.81).
In our study on Wednesday nights we saw the Apostle Paul proclaim:
Acts 21:13b For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." (ESV)
Paul had two choices: he could waste his life or live with risk. He answered this choice clearly:
Acts 20:24 [24]But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (ESV)
When something great may be achieved for the cause of Christ and for the good of others, it is right to risk. This is duty and in 1 Peter 4:7-11 the apostle Peter in this passage instructs Christians concerning three very basic aspects of our duty: 1) the incentive to our spiritual duty, 2) the instructions for our duty, and 3) the intention of our duty.
1) THE INCENTIVE TO OUR SPIRITUAL DUTY 1 PETER 4:7A
1 Peter 4:7a [7]The end of all things is at hand
The word rendered end (telos) does not necessarily indicate cessation, termination, or chronological conclusion. Rather here it means “consummation,” “fulfillment,” “a purpose attained,” or “a goal achieved.” In this context, it refers to Christ’s second coming. His reference to the fulfillment of all things indicates he is speaking of the Lord’s return (cf. Acts 3:21; Col. 3:4; 2 Thess. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 20:11–13).
• We are living in the final age of redemption.
The verb translated is at hand/near (çggiken) means “approaching.” The perfect tense indicates a consummated process with a resulting nearness —the event (Christ’s return) is imminent; it could occur at any moment (cf. Matt. 24:37–39; Rom. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 16:15; 22:20). Therefore believers are to live with an ongoing attitude of anticipation or expectancy, as a mark of faithfulness. The early church was already in the last days (1 John 2:18), which had begun with Christ’s first coming (Heb. 1:1–2).
The author of Hebrews exhorted his readers:
Hebrews 10:24-25 [24]And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25]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. (ESV)
The apostle John, as he neared the end of his life, was firmly convinced that the return of Christ, with all its attendant events and phenomena, divinely revealed to him in the visions of revelation, could occur very soon. Under the Spirit’s inspiration, he testified to that truth and to the blessing of Christians’ living in daily anticipation of it (cf. Rev. 1:3; 22:20).
Revelation 1:3 [3]Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (ESV)
Revelation 22:20 [20]He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (ESV)
• The danger in considering these things is that we tend to coast. We take assurance in salvation. We become escapist, and aloof. The frozen chosen
• The sobering reality that should kick us into gear, is that when Christ comes, it’s game over. No more opportunity to witness. Think about your unsaved family and friends (Mt. 24:14).
Our business is not to be about guessing days of hours, but being ready for the Lord’s Return. Just prior to His ascension, Jesus told the apostles:
Acts 1:7 [7]He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (ESV)
Matthew 24:36 [36]"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (ESV)
Even though God wants believers to focus on the hope of Christ’s return, He has chosen not to reveal its exact time. If they knew the specific date of the Lord’s return was far off, believers could lose motivation and become complacent or, if they knew it was near, engage in frenzied, panicked activity as the day approached.
Illustration: The Fire
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it.
“And so,” concluded Kierkegaard, “will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators.”
Resource, July/August, 1990
Three very basic aspects of our duty: 1) the incentive to our spiritual duty,
2) THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR DUTY 1 PETER 4:7b–11a (will be read with each section)
This section contains three basic elements saints need to build godly lives and stand strong and effective in witness to the world through: A) Personal holiness, which concerns their relationship to God; B) Mutual love, which concerns their relationship with each other; and C) Spiritual service, which concerns their responsibility to the church.
A) CONCERNING PERSONAL HOLINESS
1 Peter 4:7b therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (ESV)
It is axiomatic that godly thinking is at the heart of communion with God, since the more one knows a person’s mind, the richer the relationship will be (Rom. 12:1–2; Eph. 4:23–24; Phil. 4:8). The word rendered be self-controlled/of sound judgment derives from a term that literally means, “be in one’s right mind” (sôphroneô)—to be under control and not be carried away by an errant view of oneself (Rom. 12:3; cf. Prov. 23:7), or undue emotion, or uncontrolled passion. Mark used it to describe the maniac Jesus freed from the legion of demons (Mark 5:15). The verb also refers to guarding the mind (cf. Prov. 4:23) and keeping it lucid. The Christian mind must be clearly fixed on spiritual priorities and righteous living (Josh. 1:8; Matt. 6:33; Col. 3:2, 16; Titus 2:11–12).
Holy living also requires spiritual alertness. Sober-minded (nçphô), closely related in meaning to self-controlled/sound judgment, denotes being spiritually observant. Jesus expressed a similar sentiment when He warned the apostles:
Matthew 24:42 [42]Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (ESV)
Matthew 26:41 [41]Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (ESV)
Godly thinking and spiritual alertness are crucial for the sake of/purpose of your prayers.
Prayer is the access to all spiritual resources, but believers cannot pray properly if their minds are unstable due to worldly pursuits, ignorance of divine truth, or indifference to divine purposes (cf. 1 Cor. 14:15; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 5:14–15).
• I plead before the throne of God for you every day that you may be awake to the spiritual realities around you, that you may grow in holiness and love, and we may together as a congregation do battle and wake up to the life and death issues all around us.
• Everton Community Church will never rise above the prayers of its leadership and congregation: It’s my role and it’s your role. I can’t carry you over the threshold of God but I pray there may be a revival in this congregation and community to the God who is in our midst.
Quote: J. C. Ryle’s observations on holy living still apply to all believers living in a world hostile to Christianity:
A holy man will follow after spiritual-mindedness. He will endeavor to set his affections entirely on things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not neglect the business of the life that now is; but the first place in his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to come. He will aim to live like one whose treasure is in heaven, and to pass through this world like a stranger and pilgrim travelling to his home. (Holiness [reprint; Hertfordshire: Evangelical Press, 1987], 37)
Saints need to build godly lives and stand strong and effective in witness to the world through: A) Personal holiness, which concerns their relationship to God; and
B) CONCERNING MUTUAL LOVE
1 Peter 4:8-9 [8]Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. [9]Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (ESV)
Mutual love primarily concerns believers’ relationships with each other. Above all refers to the supreme importance of that virtue in the Christian life (cf. 1 Cor. 13:13; Phil. 2:2; Col. 3:14), and the participle rendered keep collects “self-controlled/sound judgment” and “sober minded for the purpose of prayer” under the priority of loving one another.
Earnestly/Fervently (ektençs) denotes stretching or straining and pictures a person running with taut muscles, exerting maximum effort. Ancient Greek literature used the word to describe a horse stretching out and running at full speed. Peter previously mentioned:
1 Peter 1:22 [22]Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
Such love is sacrificial, not sentimental, and requires a stretching of believers’ every spiritual muscle to love in spite of insult, injury, and misunderstanding from others (Prov. 10:12; Matt. 5:44; Mark 12:33; Rom. 12:14, 20; 1 John 4:11; cf. Rom. 12:15; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 5:2; James 1:27).
Love derives from the well-known Greek word agapç (cf. 1:8, 22; 2:17; 3:10), which carries a strong volitional significance. How can we be possibly commanded to Love? Because, it is not primarily an emotion here, but a decision of the will leading to action. The “whole Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:40) hinges on doing so (vv. 37–39), as does our witness (John 13:34–35).
In 1 Peter 4: 8 there is the unusual expression that love covers a multitude of sins. It should not be taken as a doctrinal explanation of how sins are put away. The guilt and penalty of sins can only be removed by the blood of Christ. Neither should the statement be used to condone sin or to relieve an assembly from its responsibility to discipline an offender.
Some commentators say it refers to God’s love covering sins, whereas others say it describes believers who are lovingly overlooking each other’s transgressions.
Proverbs 10:12 [12]Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
• He is reminding us that love does not stir up sins. We can demonstrate our love for our fellow believers by truly forgiving them and not talking openly about their past sins.
It speaks of the forbearance that comes with love: Christian love is patient and forgiving toward the offenses of a fellow Christian (Matt 18:21–22; 1 Cor 13:4–7)
• The meaning of “covers” in its context in 1 Peter is neither to conceal sin illegitimately (as in Ps 31[32]:5 LXX), nor precisely to atone for it, but rather to obliterate it or make it disappear.
• It means that true love is able to overlook minor faults and failures in other believers.
James 5:20 [20]let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (ESV)
The command to show hospitality (literally, “to love strangers”) takes that love beyond the circle of Christians’ friends to other believers they do not even know (cf. Heb. 13:2).
According to the Mosaic law, the Jews were to extend hospitality to strangers (Ex. 22:21; Deut. 14:29; cf. Gen. 18:1–2). Jesus commended believers who provided food, clothing, and shelter to others (Matt. 25:35–40; cf. Luke 14:12–14). However, the spirit of hospitality extends beyond the tangible acts of providing meals or a place to stay.
It includes not just the act, but an unselfish attitude, so that what is done, no matter the sacrifice, is done without complaint.
Quote: Arnold H. Glasow said: Some folks make you feel at home. Others make you wish you were. (Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002)
C) CONCERNING SPIRITUAL SERVICE
1 Peter 4:10-11a [10]As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: [11]whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies
Every Christian has received a gift (spiritual gift), listed in Rom. 12:3–8 and 1 Cor. 12:4–11. These are a divine enablement for ministry to the body.
Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 12:7 [7]To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (ESV) [11]All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (ESV)
As each part of the human body has a particular function, so does each member of the body of Christ (cf. 12:14).
Each believer’s spiritual giftedness is unique, as if each were a spiritual snowflake or fingerprint. It is as if God dips His paint brush into different colors, or categories of gifts, on His spiritual palette and paints each Christian a unique blend of colors. Not only does God grant spiritual gifts and arrange them in different ways (Eph. 4:7), but He also gives believers the necessary faith to exercise them (1 Cor. 12:4–6).
When believers use/employ their gifts to serve one another, they minister in a fashion that mutually benefits the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7).
Good stewards are those who manage their spiritual gifts wisely and use them obediently (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2; Titus 1:7). Peter’s readers were familiar with stewards who handled an owner’s land, funds, supplies of food, and other resources. The apostle’s analogy was obvious, and not using one’s gifts weakens the local church because others cannot replace the unique giftedness of those who are not ministering.
• If you do not know what your spiritual gifts are or are unsure as to how you can use them, it would be my honour to personally work through this with you.
• If you know what your gifts are but are failing to utilize them, then you are not a good steward of what God has given you. It will adversely affect both you and this congregation (1 Cor. 12:15–25).
The variety of spiritual gifts is expressed in the word varied/manifold, which literally means “many colored” or “multi-faceted.”
• Even though you may have the same spiritual gift as another, God has uniquely equipped and trained you for particular service.
Spiritual gifts result from the grace of God. Only God can give you them, we can help you recognize them and productively use them.
The two broad categories of spiritual gifts are speaking gifts and serving gifts. Whoever speaks will minister through categories of preaching and teaching, wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Whoever serves will minister through areas such as administration, prayer, mercy, or helps. And those who speak must communicate not human opinion but the oracles of God, as revealed only in Scripture (cf. Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2). Similarly, any serving gift is to be exercised, not by human power, but by the strength that God supplies (cf. Phil. 4:13), that is, in dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Illustration: Kindness to an Old Man Opened the Door
Doug Nichols, said that “While serving with Operation Mobilization in India in 1967, I spent several months in a TB sanitarium with tuberculosis. After finally being admitted into the sanitarium, I tried to give tracts to the patients, doctors, and nurses, but no one would take them. You could tell that they weren’t really happy with me, a rich American (to them all Americans were rich), being in a government sanitarium. They didn’t know that serving with O.M., I was just as broke as they were!
I was quite discouraged with being sick, having everyone angry at me, not being able to witness because of the language barrier, and no one even bothering to take a tract or Gospel of John. The first few nights, I would wake around 2:00 a.m. coughing. One morning as I was going through my coughing spell, I noticed one of the older (and certainly sicker) patients across the aisle trying to get out of bed. He would sit up on the edge of the bed and try to stand, but because of weakness would fall back into bed. I really didn’t understand what was happening or what he was trying to do. He finally fell back into bed exhausted. I then heard him begin to cry softly.
The next morning I realized what the man was trying to do. He was simply trying to get up and walk to the bathroom! Because of his sickness and extreme weakness he was not able to do this, and being so ill he simply went to the toilet in the bed.
The next morning the stench in our ward was awful. Most of the other patients yelled insults at the man because of the smell.
The nurses were extremely agitated and angry because they had to clean up the mess, and moved him roughly from side to side to take care of the problem. One of the nurses in her anger even slapped him. The man, terribly embarrassed, just curled up into a ball and wept.
The next night, also around 2:00 a.m., I again awoke coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle sit up to again try to make his way to the washroom. However, still being so weak, he fell back whimpering as the night before. I’m just like most of you. I don’t like bad smells. I didn’t want to become involved. I was sick myself but before I realized what had happened, not knowing why I did it, I got out of my bed and went over to the old man. He was still crying and did not hear me approach. As I reached down and touched his shoulder, his eyes opened with a fearful questioning look. I simply smiled, put my arm under his head and neck, and my other arm under his legs, and picked him up.
Even though I was sick and weak, I was certainly stronger than he was. He was extremely light because of his old age and advanced TB. I walked down the hall to the washroom, which was really just a smelly, filthy small room with a hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his arms, holding him so he could take care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up and carried him back to his bed. As I began to lay him down, with my head next to his, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something which I suppose was “thank you.”
It was amazing what happened the next morning. One of the other patients whom I didn’t know woke me around 4:00 with a steaming cup of delicious Indian tea. He then made motions with his hands (he knew no English) indicating he wanted a tract. As the sun came up, some of the other patients began to approach, motioning that they would also like one of the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day people came to me, asking for the Gospel booklets. This included the nurses, the hospital interns, the doctors, until everybody in the hospital had a tract, booklet, or Gospel of John. Over the next few days, several indicated they trusted Christ as Savior as a result of reading the Good News!
What did it take to reach these people with the Good News of salvation in Christ? It certainly wasn’t health. It definitely wasn’t the ability to speak or to give an intellectually moving discourse. (Health, and the ability to communicate sensitively to other cultures and peoples are all very important), but what did God use to open their hearts to the Gospel? I simply took an old man to the bathroom. Anyone could have done that! -
Doug Nichols WORLD, March 12, 1994, p. 26
Three very basic aspects of our duty: 1) the Incentive to our spiritual duty,
2) THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR DUTY 1 PETER 4:7b–11a
3) THE INTENTION OF OUR DUTY
1 Peter 4:11b in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In everything, in all matters of Christian responsibility, the goal of everything for believers, the purpose of their fulfilling the obligations of Christian duty in the midst of a hostile world is that God may be glorified. These final clauses of the passage constitute a doxology—an expression of praise and glory to God (cf. Rom. 11:36; 16:27; Eph. 3:20–21; 1 Tim. 1:17; Jude 25), which Christians can correctly utter only through Jesus Christ.
Commentators have long discussed whether to him refers to God or Jesus Christ. It is best to view the designation as a blessed and inspired ambiguity—the glory and dominion belong to both God in Christ and Christ in God, forever and ever (cf. Pss. 104:31; 113:4; 138:5; Hab. 2:14; Matt. 17:2; John 1:14; 10:30; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3; 2 Peter 1:16–18).
Believers should want to glorify God in all they think, say, and do. The apostle Paul said:
1 Corinthians 10:31 [31]So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
The more you are motivated by certainty and nearness of the Second Coming, resulting in personal holiness, mutual love, and spiritual service within the church, the more you will glorify God
Amen, a term of affirmation that means “so let it be.”
This is the duty of our calling. It is not the impulse of heroism, or the lust for adventure or the courage of self-reliance, or the need to earn God’s favor. It is simple trust in Christ-that in him God will do everything necessary so that we can enjoy making much of him forever. This is the road that leads to fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. (Don’t Waste your life: 2003. Crossway Books. p.897-98).
