May 24, 2026

“BE HOPEFUL”

“WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT OF ME?”

1 PETER 4:6-11

1 Peter 4:6-11 “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

*How Should Our Service Be For God?

Peter give us seven commandments in this passage that demonstrates how we can serve God where we work or go to school.

Peter’s motivation:

vs.7 “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”

The motivation for Christian service- Why should I serve God anyway? What’s in it for me?

2 Peter 3:7-9 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

The focus of the believer should be on redeeming the time God will give us.

Ephesians 5:16 “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Romans 13:11-14 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

So we see the motivation for service is that “the end of all things is at hand..” vs.7

*Seven Commandments!!

1. Be Sober- 1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 4:7 “… therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”

Do you have your life under control or are you intoxicated with something? Line yourself up with Biblical principles. “Be serious” vs.7

2.  Watch Unto Prayer- 1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 4:7 “…and watchful in your prayers.”

Peter doesn’t just say pray but to be “watchful in your prayers.”

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”   

Prayer is Christian service-praying for one another.

3.  Fervent Love- 1 Peter 4:8

1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

“Fervent”-Greek word describing the strength and the stamina of an athlete. It is eagerness and intensity.

Ephesians 4:2 “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”

This means to put up with one another in love.

Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”

4.  Hospitality- 1 Peter 4:9

1 Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

Romans 12:13 “distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”

Romans 16:1-2 “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”

In 1 Corinthians 16, Aquilla and Priscilla had a church meeting in their home.

Philemon opened his house to the Colossian Christians, this is called hospitality.

1 Timothy 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.”

Hebrews 3:2 “who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.”

By being hospitable some entertained angels unawares.

5.  Stewards- 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Stewards- managers or ministers, or administrators of that which is not our own.

To be a “servant.”

The whole purpose of this is God gives us His grace to “minister it to one another..” vs.10

6.  Speak- 1 Peter 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Preaching, teaching, evangelizing whether in be in public or private.

7.  Ministry- 1 Peter 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 “…If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Lets be God’s ministers, lets serve God in these seven ways. There is something here you can do!

All of this is for one ultimate purpose, so let’s look at God’s ultimate purpose:

vs.11 “… that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”