Billy Hellmark.

Είμαι ο Βασίλης and this is Billy. Nice to meet you all. It’s good to be with you, and to look at the Word of God together. During this time, we’ve been looking at 1 Peter. In Swedish we say the letter or the epistle. So, we’re going to look at 1 Peter 4: 7-11. So, we’ll read through it together. “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
This is a letter that was directed to a scattered group of believers, then they live like strangers scattered. And we’ve read about this before, that Peter encouraged them to be aware of how God had called them to be a holy people and to live holy lives. He reminded them that Christ suffered and that they would suffer, and it seems like they were suffering. Then Peter writes, “The end of all things is near.” I don’t know how you would react if you had to hear it on the news, ‘The end of all things is near.’ We hear this continuously, but we don’t listen to it with too much emphasis.
But Peter said, “The end of all things is near.” And Peter wasn’t just anyone. He had walked with Jesus; he was one of the apostles. Many times, he was the spokesman for the disciples, the apostles. So, if you hear that from Peter, you would take it seriously, wow. So, it must have been quiet a starling thing to hear from him, “The end of all things is near.” And I don’t think that it was a strange thought for the Christians at that time. Jesus had spoken about the end of things, about that he would go away, that He would return. And I think it was close to their thinking.
But what would be your reaction if you would hear now, ‘The end of all things are near?’ And they knew that they could expect suffering before the end. I’m sure there were mixed emotions. Maybe some fear; What will happen? What will it be like? Or maybe some of them were rejoicing; ‘Maybe this is the end of our suffering!’ And Jesus will return and restore all things. It’s almost like you know some people get the message that, well you only have 3 weeks to live. It becomes quite serious. What do I do? I don’t think you continue life as you have always done. I think there are probably a lot of things that go on. You want to settle things that are unsettled with other people. And you want to settle them with God. Some people become paralyzed and think, what shall I do? And if we think that the end is so near, what’s the point of doing anything. I’m just waiting to get out of here. There’s no point in doing anything. I think it can trigger all kinds of response from us.
Peter wrote this almost 2000 years ago, “The end of all things is near.” Was he wrong? What do you say? No? Well, there are a few things we can consider. What was he talking about? If you know your history a little bit, I’m not an expert in history, but some very dramatic things happened, not long after this, actually in that part of the world. The Romans occupied Jerusalem, and they destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Maybe he was referring to that. Or could it be that he was speaking on different levels? There was a day of destruction, of judgement, coming very close to that time. But we know that Jesus spoke about, one day when He would return. When we would all be faced with Him. When He would restore everything.
Maybe he spoke about both. Well, that’s what happened that year, year 70 A.D. In some ways it shows how important the change was that happened with Jesus Christ. Because you know, when the temple was destroyed, the whole ritual of sacrificing in the temple ceased. And in a way it is a sign that the old has passed and the new has come. Jesus was not just one prophet that appeared on the scene, one of many. He was the Son of God Himself coming and the old passed away and He brought in the new, the New Covenant. And when you think about it, it is quite a significant thing that happened. Now, we have access to God through Jesus Christ. The sacrifices ceased; the perfect sacrifice had been made.
Well, perhaps these two dimensions I don’t know if I’m stretching, saying that we can think of both these two ends; what happened then and what we are looking forward to and what we are waiting for. If the end was near, 2000 years ago, I think it’s pretty near now. And I think that when we speak about periods of time, we see it from our perspective, a human perspective, and for God, 1000 years is like one day. So, maybe in God’s perspective, it’s 2 days ago.
The old passed away and something new came. But I don’t think it’s only those two times, (Year 70 A.D. and now) that we are aware that there is an end. Through history there have been disasters, there have been wars, all kinds of things and it seemed like the end was near. And we are quite curious to know when the end is going to happen. And in my lifetime, this is the time when I have seen the most trouble in all kinds of areas. Wars, natural disasters, climate change, there are so many things going on. I’ve never experienced it like this before, on a global scale.
But you remember what Jesus said, He did not know the time of His return. No one knows the day or the hour; not even the angels, only the Father. Not Peter either. I wish we knew. But we can see signs, we should not be taken by surprise and we should be prepared. So, it’s not like we just sit around thinking, we don’t know anything about what’s going to happen. We know some things. We know we’re going to have trouble, so, if you have trouble, you’re OK. Jesus knew we would have trouble. Peter knew we would have trouble. But we don’t know how close we are to the end. Closer than we were yesterday and closer than when Peter wrote this.
But the promise never fails. Jesus will return. He will restore all things. He will bring us to be with Him for eternity. Peter even writes about this, not in this passage, but he even writes that people were losing their hope. Will he not come? So, even a few decades after Jesus went to heaven, people were thinking, will He not come? What about His promise? So, we’re in good company thinking that it’s taking a long time. But the promise will never fail, it will not fail. We can have hope, and it will be a great day.
I think, maybe because of faulty teaching, many Christians have a fear for that day when Jesus will return. We need to have a healthy respect for it, because we will be held accountable with what we have done with our lives. But we know that God is gracious, He’s good, He’s loving. I’m not saying that there may be some things that we will be aware of that we shouldn’t have done or that we should have done that we didn’t do. But I think God’s love and His grace, will overshadow all of that. So, it’s a day to look forward to. It’s not a day to be afraid for us.
We know God, we know His love, we know He died for us, Jesus died for us, so His love carries through into eternity. It’s described as a wedding feast, and we’re invited, we’re actually the bride. Can you imagine that being the bride of Christ? It shouldn’t cause fear in our hearts, it should cause joy.
Well, I talked a lot about the first few words in these verses. But before I move on, I want to say this, don’t lose sight of the rest of the verses we’re going to look at now, because you’re trying to figure out what does it mean, ‘The End is near.’ Maybe you think it’s going to happen tomorrow, maybe you’re doubting it’s ever going to happen. Maybe you’re think Peter was only speaking about what happened at that time. But I think the point is the fact that we believe that Jesus is coming, requires us to live lives that are worthy of that, whether it happens tomorrow, or in 2000 years.
So, after it says that the end of all things is near, it says, “Therefore” so, those words are important, “Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” Because you know things will change, there are going to be difficult days, but there’s also going to be a day of celebration.
What’s the first thing we should do? Be alert and sober, so that we may pray, and I think prayer is always a priority. As times are difficult, as suffering comes, more than anything else, we need to learn to pray. And praying is not only asking for things that we want. It’s living a life turned towards God. A conversation face-to-face, rather than just asking for things. So, knowing that the end is near, we need to develop a life of prayer. Action is needed. But prayer first, or at the same time.
The second thing is, and now he says, “Above all…” wow, “Love each other deeply.” Above all. If you don’t know what to do, love other people deeply. I don’t think we can go wrong if we do that. It says here, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.” And it’s probably true in many different aspects. If people sin against you, be angry with them? No! Love them. Pray for them and it covers a multitude of sins. But it covers things in our lives as well. If we choose to love, to pray for, we are covered, we change. It can release others and ourselves. So, praying, above everything else, love each other deeply.
It says, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Hospitality, I don’t know about you but in my language, it’s got the sense of yeah, invite someone over for coffee, that’s hospitality. But I think it’s a lot more than that. For sure, coffee is great. But I like the Greek word, about loving the stranger (Philoxenia). Sometimes it’s easy to love those who are close to you. I’m looking at Brian and he’s smiling. It’s easy to love you when you smile. But it’s not so easy to love a stranger, someone who is different from you. Someone who maybe annoys you; someone who has even hurt you. But we are challenged to offer hospitality.
And here he goes on to say that, “we should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Sometimes, we look at others how they serve God, and we think, ‘Oh, I wish I could do like…whoever, I wish I could sing like Cielo, then I would really serve God.’ And many times, we are not pleased with what God has given us. Sometimes, we’re not even aware of the gifts God has given us. But the truth is that God has given each one us gifts, and let’s use what we have, instead of desiring others’ gifts, to serve others.
And I don’t know if you noticed, that there was a word that came back here many times, on all those different points, “Others”. If we think that we are approaching the end of something, and if we’re going through difficulties, it’s very easy to focus on ourselves, to pray for ourselves, which of course, is not wrong, but also to do things for ourselves. But Peter is challenging us to do things for others, to of course, keep God at the focus in our prayers, but to love others, to offer hospitality to others, use gifts to serve others. So, he keeps on repeating this. And I think it’s a good key for us in difficult times. Don’t just focus on yourself, or myself, but serve others.
He also speaks about, “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” It’s important how we speak, and especially at difficult times, speak as though we speak the very words of God. I don’t think that means that we go around just quoting Scripture all day long, but speak from the heart of God; give hope to people that are struggling; comfort people that are having a difficult time; speak about the hope we have in Christ. Be kind, encourage, build people up. If we do that realizing even that when we speak to someone, let’s do it as if we were speaking the very words of God.
He goes on, “If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides.” We serve in different ways, and we get tired. Does anyone get tired from serving sometime? Let’s see some hands. No one – good! But God gives strength. And sometimes, we need to find that path of not doing a lot of things in our own strength. On the other hand, not holding back, yeah, I don’t want to waste my energy on this. But finding our strength in God, not burning out in our own strength, or not doing nothing. But doing those things that God gives us strength for. And He gives us His Holy Spirit. We need times of recovering and rest. And God is there, to refresh to renew, to retore.
And then finally, in these verses, Peter writes, “So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” So, that’s the purpose of living in a time near the end. However close we are to the end, we should live for the glory of God. Maybe we will end our days and still be waiting for that day. Maybe it will come very soon. None of us know. But we can live as if we were very near. And we will not be disappointed, because that promise will hold.
So, where are we now? The world is shaking, for sure. Some, even in this room are that much closer to home than many of us are. The wars and troubles, is this the end? We don’t know. But it’s a time to take Peter’s words seriously. It’s certainly a time which calls for being alert, and sober. It’s a time to pray. A time not to focus on ourselves, but to focus on one another and the others. A time to love the stranger. More than anything else, a time to pray and to love. And I wish for all of us, that this day that we’re somewhere in the future, would be a day of hope for us. But that would also come with a responsibility. The day of great responsibility on how we live our lives, “in all things God may be praised through Jesus To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen”.
So, before I end this, I want to say to you, ‘Do not fear’. When you hear about wars and troubles, don’t be afraid. Have hope. Be alert. Pray and love others. If you’re afraid, come close to God. He’s never going to leave you. He’s never going to forsake you. He’s going to be with you until that last day. When we enter into that wedding feast, He’s with you. He’s close to you. So, don’t be afraid. Pray and love, and receive His love in your life. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Brian van Deventer

Thank you, Billy. There’s a shorter passage of Scripture that basically says the same thing that came to my mind today. If you are one to memorize Scripture, I’d tell you this is a good one. The writer of Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”. Let me push you forward to do good stuff. Encourage one another forward in these things. Not aggressively, but, ‘Hey, brother, sister let’s do more.’ And I’m not going to reproach the sermon, but I did have a couple of thoughts I believe the Lord gave to me.
The first one and we know this, ‘whether that day is near or far, our day is not far off.’ I don’t really know the reason, but lately, for about last 3 months, I’ve had a very increased sense of my own mortality. Not in a weird or bad way, maybe, because my parents are getting older and sometimes it’s hard to live thousands of kilometers away, when they’re in and out of hospitals. That’s maybe because that generation of my family is like… they’re all gone now. But I can be watching a movie or laying on my bed and I just have a sense of my time. I’m still young, but I’m old enough to know that I’m in the last half of life, not the first one. And I also know that I could walk out the door and be done today. More than a few of the people I grew up with, are already home.
But the sense of that, is not to say, be afraid you’re going to die. I’m not going to lie and say, I know how I will feel when I get there. I do know, that today I’m not afraid of death. It’s not about that. It’s about the fact that I know, I have less and less time to make my mark. I have less and less time to do more good. And I need my brothers and siters to spur me on. You’ve still got life Cecilia, you’re young. Do more! Be more! Victor, you have a whole life ahead of you, with God’s grace. Do more! Leto! Not wearing ourselves out, it’s not about works, but do more! Because the day is on us. It may not be the day of His coming for the Church, but it might be the day of His coming for me, or for you.
Spur one another on. Be light. Anton, we have a little time left. But with that time, we can change our world. So, we’re not afraid, it’s not a fear message. It’s a faith message. Because one day, my life will be done, but that will just give me the opportunity to stand in front of my Lord and hear Him say, ‘Well done, Brian, My good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.’ Isn’t that a good message? Love one another deeply; serve each other without grumbling. Let me register that one in my brain real quick. Serve without grumbling; use your gifts. Don’t just sit there and let other people be light, use your gifts, and change your world to the glory of Jesus and to the glory of your eternity. Because He’s going to reward you. Well done, enter into joy.
Lord, we receive Your grace today, to be everything You’ve called us to be. Lord, we receive the touch of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may reach with the hands of Jesus Christ. Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit so that we can speak with the words that come from heaven to those around us. Lord, as I mentioned earlier, I pray that this would be a season that we are called to you and that we are called to call others. Take us deeper in that journey Lord. Thank You Lord.