1 Peter 4:7
31 Dec
2011 New Year’s Eve
Pastor
Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction
A.
We Bible believers believe
there was a beginning
1.
Not a big bang that took
billions of years to cool off and form the stars and planets
2.
But in an instant, the
entire heaven, and this earth were created
3.
Then through six days, God
moulded and fashioned a perfect world
4.
It was perfect at the
beginning!
5.
The Bible says it. We
believe it. Science is constantly discovering it to be true!
B.
Well, we also know there is
going to come an end
1.
The end of money
2.
The end of all the millions
of world religions
3.
The end of all the different
sovereign governments
4.
Just as the Bible so clearly
predicts!
5.
So many books and movies are
produced about “the end of the world”
6.
Well, it’s all true – not
7.
I don’t set a date (like
2012, etc) – but as a Bible believer, I am always ready!
C.
Listen to how clear God’s
word is:
1.
Romans 13:11 “knowing the
time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation
nearer than when we believed.” Our salvation being our deliverance from this
world
2.
1Peter 4:7 “the end of all
things is at hand” – it is right within reach!
3.
Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is
he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those
things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
4.
Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I
come quickly”
5.
Revelation 22:10,12 “And he
saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time
is at hand... And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give
every man according as his work shall be.”
D.
How should we feel about
things wrapping up? How should we be preparing for “the end?”
II.
Message
A.
Some things NOT to do.
Some things a Christian SHOULD NOT do, knowing what we know:
1.
Don’t start hording food in
a bomb shelter
2.
Don’t try and buy a ride on
a space ship to live away from earth
3.
Don’t start living
underground
4.
Don’t freak out and start
panicking
5.
And don’t ignore all the
warning signs! Most people live only for “now” – they spend themselves into
deeper and deeper debt, thinking everything will get better with time!
B.
No! Look up – get excited –
rejoice (Luke
21:28)!
C.
According to 1 Peter 4:7,
there are TWO very important things that every believer must be doing, right
now!
1.
Get Sober, and Watch Unto
Prayer!
a.
You would think there would
be dozens of things to be doing
b.
But God boils it down to two
very basic and yet so vital activities that will make the difference in your
life!
2.
Get Sober
a.
It means, get serious about
your life
1)
Stop acting like it doesn’t
matter – or like you are just ignoring things
2)
Stop living on drink, drugs,
entertainment, and emotional highs and lows!
b.
Get serious about “God” in
your life
1)
Is he even THERE? (Rev 3:20)
2)
2Cor 13:5
3)
Is He in your thoughts,
plans, problems and praises?
c.
Sober up about eternal
things
d.
Get serious About winning
our generation before it is too late – actually winning souls to following Jesus
Christ as THEIR Lord and Saviour!
e.
Sober up about how the devil
works, and attacks, and ruins lives (1Peter 5:8) EVEN YOUR life!
f.
Sober up about how much time
we are all wasting (Eph 5:16-18) – a drunkard wastes years of his life! Don’t be
like him at all!
g.
Sober up!
3.
Watch Unto Prayer
a.
To Watch is to be ALERT – on
GUARD – AWARE of things
1)
Aware of the times we live
in
2)
Discerning the spiritual
needs – externally, people can LOOK like they don’t need anything, but
spiritually, they usually are ruined
b.
Unto Prayer
1)
Every worry should drive is
TO PRAY
2)
Not panic
3)
But to pray about everything
a)
About our own cold, hard
hearts
b)
About our needs – without
complaining
c)
Pray for spiritual strength
d)
Pray for spiritual
protection
e)
Pray for your husbands,
ladies
f)
Pray for your FUTURE
husbands
g)
Pray for your wives,
gentlemen
h)
Pray for your FUTURE wives
i)
Pray for your children –
pray over your children
j)
Pray for souls to get saved
k)
Pray for courage to be a
SOUL-WINNER
l)
Pray for a job! That you
would be worthy of one!
m)
Pray for your boss! That he
or she would be blessed by your labours, and see a difference in your life like
Potiphar did of Joseph’s life!
n)
Who and what else should we
all be praying for?
4)
Pray about everything! I
mean pray about everything!
a)
Pray for our government
leaders
b)
Pray against the devil and
his plans
c)
Pray against the sin that
just flows in our streets, and on our TVs
5)
While you’re praying about
everything, make sure you listen to God’s Holy Spirit
a)
That’s why your prayer time
is a quiet time
b)
That’s why you need to have
an alone time with just you and God, where you cast all your care upon HIM, and
then listen to His will to you
c)
Year for God to speak back
to you, comforting, encouraging, directing you – He does still speak (John
10:27)
6)
THIS is where our strength
will come from – our time with the Lord Jesus! Our time in PRAYER! Our time
where we just abide with Him, and linger, and talk with Him, and listen to Him
(Mt 26:36-40)
III.
Conclusion
A.
We Bible believers believe
there was a beginning
B.
Well, we also know there is
going to come an end
C.
How Should We Feel? How
should we be preparing for “the end?” Panic? No!
D.
Some things NOT to do
1.
Don’t start hording food in
a bomb shelter
2.
Don’t try and buy a ride on
a space ship to live away from earth
3.
Don’t start living
underground
4.
Don’t freak out and start
panicking
E.
No! Look up – get excited –
rejoice (Luke 21:28)!
F.
And according to 1 Peter
4:7, There are some things a Christian SHOULD do, knowing what we know:
1.
Get Sober
a.
It means, get serious about
your life
b.
Get serious about God in
your life Is he even THERE? (Rev 3:20)
c.
About winning our generation
before it is too late
d.
Sober up about eternal
things
e.
It is not an emotional
feeling – but a truth that overtakes you, and motivates you
f.
Sober up about how the devil
works, and attacks, and ruins (1Peter 5:8)
g.
Sober up about how much time
we are all wasting (Eph 5:16-18) – a drunkard wastes years of his life! Don’t be
like him at all!
2.
Watch Unto Prayer
a.
To Watch is to be ALERT – on
GUARD – AWARE of things
b.
Do it UNTO Prayer
1)
Every worry should drive is
TO PRAY
2)
Pray about everything
3)
That means, Pray about
EVERYTHING!
4)
And while you are praying
about everything, make sure you listen to God’s Spirit