January 26, 2012

“The End of All Things Is Near”

Blessings Folk!!

The end of all things is near.

This was written by the Most High God some 1900+ years ago.

How much nearer is the end today?

What should we be doing?
How should we act?

Read.
Heed.

1 Peter
1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;

5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
 
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.

Be prepared to suffer in the flesh as Christ did.
Arm yourself with the same purpose.

What purpose?
Holiness.
Death to self.
Determined to live the balance of this life in the flesh for the will of God, not the lusts of man.

Leave behind the activities of the past life…that time was enough.

• sensuality
• lusts
• drunkenness
• carousing
• drinking parties
• abominable idolatries

If you leave these behind, those with whom you had formerly run will be surprised..
They will malign you.
Worry not. They will be judged by God.

We are to live in the Spirit according to the will of God.

How will this be manifest?
What are we to do?

• Be of sound judgment
• Be of sober spirit for the purpose of prayer
• Above all…get that? Above all...keep fervent in love for one another. Why? Love covers a multitude of sins.
• Be hospitable without complaint
• Serve one another. How? Each true believer is gifted by God. Two major arenas of spiritual giftedness are revealed here - speaking and serving. They are not mutually exclusive. If one speaks, may he speak the utterances of God. Whoever serves, do so by the strength the Lord provides.
• Be a good steward of the grace of God released in us.

This is so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.

How different would our world be if the Body of Christ lived like this?

Let us do so.

The end of all things is near.

Blessings!