Wayfaring Strangers Part 17" The Beginning Of The End" Series

Wayfaring Strangers

A Study of 1 Peter

Part 17

“The End of the beginning “

Today in our study of 1 Peter

We come to another scripture that if taken out of context

Can and has led to all sorts of mis- teachings

How many of you have seen street preachers with signs?

Saying

Repent for the end is near?

How about hearing some “con artist “ I mean so-called preacher or “televangelist?

Claiming to have

Knowledge about the end times that no one else is privacy to

Some ever have the boldness

To set dates and times

All this

While even Jesus himself says

No man knows the day and time of my return

To paraphrase he says

I don’t even know

Only God the father Knows

Listen to me

God’s word is the authority on the end times

Jesus in his Olivet discourse

His teachings to his disciples about the end times

Just prior to his death

Said these words

Matthew 24:36

36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.[k] Only the Father knows.

If Jesus does not know when he is returning

I can assure you no one does

In this passage Peter appears to shift focus for a moment

But it is important for us to understand

He is still offering a word of encouragement to those who are suffering and will face persecutions

Trial and hardships

That includes the readers of his day

And that includes the believers of today as well

He is saying simply

Be prepared

Let me remind you

Peter knew something about not being prepared

Jesus told him to watch in the garden and he slept instead

He told him to walk on the water and keep his eyes on Jesus

He looked off

Jesus told Peter the things that must happen

And Peter rebuked him.

Peter made many, many mistakes

And still Jesus used him in mighty ways

Why?

First Jesus forgave him

And then Peter learned to be prepared

Chuck Swindoll says

“We should live each day in the light of Christs’ return”

What does that mean

In common terms

Always be prepared for Jesus to come back

Live each moment as if it may be the last

I can tell you this

I don’t know when Jesus is coming

And neither does anyone else

But I do know this

It could be any time

I also know this

We started living in the end times

When Jesus returned to heaven

And this is a fact

We are patiently waiting on his return

So, we need to live like it

Winston Churchill in a speech to parliament after London had been bombed

Said these words

“This is not the end; This is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning

Peter in this passage gives us some pretty good words that when applied will help us do what we have been called to do

Reach the lost, in the midst of troubles

Let me read 1 Peter 4:7-11 for you and then we can break it down

1 Peter 4:7-11

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Verse 7 a

Says

“The end of the world is coming soon”

We know this to mean the end of the world as we now know it

God’s word says there will be a new heaven and a new earth

It says there will be no tears

No sorrow

No pain

And no sickness

But his word also says

Only those who have placed their trust in Jesus

Will experience these blessings

Those who don’t know Jesus will spend a different eternity

Listen

I do not know when Jesus is coming back

But I do know that he is

And I also know that anyone who has not accepted his gift of salvation before then

Will not be happy about tomorrow

Hell is not a joke

It is also not popular topic