Sermon Tone Analysis

*Between a Hard Place and The Rock – Part 2*

 

 

*1 Peter 4:7-11*

* \\ 7 *The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober /spirit /for the purpose of prayer.

* \\ 8 *Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

* \\ 9 *Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

* \\ 10 *As each one has received a /special /gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

* \\ 11 *Whoever speaks, /is to do so /as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves /is to do so/ as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen.

We are to live as if Jesus’ return is right around the corner.

How much differently would we live our lives if we thought Jesus would be returning this week?

We are to live in the light of the coming of Christ.

We are to focus our minds on the coming of Christ, and therefore be focused on prayer.

*Motivation*  To live in the light of Christ’s coming.  1 Peter was written about 6 years before the fall of Jerusalem.

The siege of Jerusalem was conquered by starving them.

This resulted in acts as horrible as people eating their infants.

It is estimated that 1.1 million people perished.

Even though Peter wrote this 6 years before this happened, and although he likely had this on his mind at the time, what he’s really looking at is The ultimate end of things, not only the destruction of Jerusalem.

*Mission*        We are to be deadly *serious about prayer*.

If you a serious about faith, you will be a man (or woman) of prayer.

As we pray, the content of our prayer should evolve.

Away with trivial prayer!

We pray for silly things – good weather for a ballgame, etc.

We forget to give thanks for God’s mercy, for those who are lost.

We are to prayer radically & urgently – as if Christ we coming right away.

The people who grow most are those who are “busy” in prayer.

We are also to be *selfless in our love*.

This is the love that’s found among the brethren.

This is the love that’s found among true believers:

 

                  *There are 7 aspects of this love:*

 

1.

*Priority*.

The number one priority is love.

This is genuine love.

This is clear in numerous passages of scripture.

2.    *Nature of Love*.

There’s a uniqueness to it – genuine love between believers.

Again, supported by numerous scriptures.

There is a cause and effect; conversion to Christ is the cause, love for the brethren is the result.

*1 Peter 1:20*

* \\ 20 *For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

 

*                          *In churches where this type of love doesn’t exist, it would appear that they may be unbelievers.

True conversion /will/ lead to this type of love.

This love is fervent.

00:35:07 – plus 3 minutes.

Tony said he was loveable – remove?

00:41:40 – similar to above – “sometimes even I can get on your nerves”

 

 

Evil is overcome by good – something has to replace it.

Even sin has to be replaced with love.

Persecution and suffering is healthy for the church.

One thing persecution will do is chase a lot of the tares out of the church.

It will also blow a lot of the pettiness out of the church.

00:54:17