Believers in a Hostile World to Live with Expectancy of The Return of Christ

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ]

 

John 11:17-27;  First Thessalonians 4:15-17; 5:1-9;  2 Thessalonians 2:1-3;  Titus 2:11-13;  Hebrews 10;24-25;  James 5:7-9;  First Peter 4:7;  First John 2:18 and Revelation 1:1

The contemporary church as I am told and read urgently needs spiritual revival, and that will only occur when believers get beyond personal desires and long to think, speak, and live in the ways Scriptures outlines.. 

 

As I understand this, when believers do, the church, the true believers, will be more than a crowd, on Sunday, but it will become spiritually powerful before this hostile world that we live in.

 

 

 

So what then is the incentive for Believers to be about their duty as Chrisitans believers?

 

Peter says "The end of all things is near.  First Peter 4:7a.

 

Now I will admit that I struggled with this word "End", and what it meant, until I began to study the meaning of the word. The word rendered END is the Greek word "telos" (5056 Strong's)

 

 

(Eccl 7:2; Jer 5:31; Eze 7:2,3,6; Mt 24:13,14; Ro 13:12; 1Co 7:29; 1Co 15:24; Phil 4:5; Heb 10:25; Jas 5:8,9; 2Pet 3:9, 10, 11; 1Jn 2:18,19)

 

 

Telos refers to a consummation, a goal achieved, a result attained, or a realization. Can refer to that which is final as well as that which is completed. This term does not refer to annihilation (although indeed this present earth and heavens will be burned with intense heat . Peter 3:12) but is used in Scripture to refer to the end of the age. Jesus Himself used the term in this way (e.g.,  Matthew 24:6, Mark 13:7, Luke 21:9  The sense of "end" as a point in time appears also. The kingdom of Messiah has no "end" Luke 1:33). Telos as the "outcome" of something is the idea in   Luke 18:5 and Luke 22:37       it denotes the "fulfillment" of prophecy about Jesus

 

The Greek word group (teleō [verb], telos [noun]) has two basic emphases. The primary concept of "end" is that of achievement of an intended goal. Particularly in eschatological passages the NT picks up the thought of process implicit in the OT. But the NT draws our attention to the conclusion of the process. That end is an extremity, but it is an extremity infused by purpose. Nothing is random; nothing is purposeless. When the end comes, it will bring the achievement of all of God’s purposes. The end will be marked by the consummation of God’s plans. The other concept implicit in the Greek words indicating "end" draws our attention to persons or to things that have reached an intended goal. In a limited but real sense, achieving a goal means that a thing or person is completed, or perfect. Thus "perfect" in the NT does not suggest sinlessness or flawlessness; rather, it is a mature stage of development in which one’s potentials are achieved.

 

The word Telos, does not necessarily indicate termination or chronological conclusion

 

Rather has a learn means "fulfillment",  or "a purpose attainted,"  or a goal achieved."  Here in the text of First Peter, Peter is speaking of the fulfillment of all things, that is the Lord's returned.

 

Acts 3:21, Colossians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Timothy 4:1, and 8; Hebrews 9:28 and Revelation 20:11-13.

 

The term " is at hand"  or "is near"  means "approaching.  Its a perfect tense which indicates a consummated in this text it means to complete make perfect, .  process with a resulting nearness that -the event (Christ's return) is imminent: i.e. about to happen, near, coming forthcoming.  Could occur at any moment as in Matthew 24:37-39; Romans 13:12,  First Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 16:15 and 22:20.

 

Here is the incentive: ie.e. a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something, which is well needed among Christian Believers today, would you say?

 

We thus need to live with this ongoing attitude of anticipation or expectancy, as a mark of faithfulness.

 

Dad preached this all my life,  I believe every single day that Jesus Christ could return and take us all to heaven.

 

Mark 13:35-37; Luke12:40; 21:36; 1 Corinthians 1:7, as well as 1 Timothy 6:14, Titus 2:13 and James 5:7-9

 

 

Five major patterns in First Peter

1. The believer's behavior.

2. The believer's unfair circumstances.

3. The believer's deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior out of respect or reverence.

4. The believer's motivation by Christ's example.

5. The believer's anticipation of future glory.

i.e. The behavior of believers when they encounter unfair circumstances reflects a spirit of deference in all relationship as they follow Christ's example and anticipate future glory.

6. The believer's resource of God's grace. i.e. we must understand and apply what he wrote about God's grace as our resource in order to obey His exhortations. As in 5:12 "Stand firm in the true grace of God."

God's grace is sufficient for all our needs. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
1. Grace proceeds from God. 1:2
2. Grace produces confidence: 1:10
3. What proclaims God's grace is our conduct: 2:19-20
4. Grace perfects character. Grace is the source of service: 4:10; Grace is the source of humility: 5:5. God's grace is the secret of both the attitude and activity.

5. Grace promotes courage: 5:10. To resist the devil, to give us strength to defend ourselves agains his attacks. 5:8-9

This epistle exhorts us to "stand firm" in this grace (5:12). This is Peter's appeal to his Christian readers.

1. When God tries our faith, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "strength" in God's grace (2 Cor. 12:9).

2. When our faith is trembling, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "confidence" in God's grace. This is not simply positive thinking, but real external help.

3. When our circumstances are difficult, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "conduct" in God's grace, not just "pep talks."

4. When we suffer for conscience's sake, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "character" in God's grace, not just self-effort.

5. When assaulted by the adversary, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "courage" in God's grace. Some need courage to evangelize, others need it to do other forms of ministry.

We "stand firm in the true grace of God" when we respond to suffering for Christ's sake as Peter directed. God's grace is what we need to rely on, as we commit ourselves to continue to walk in the will of God. We need to trust and obey!

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Meditation and Communion With God is the Christian Life Fuel

Bringing Meditation Back

Meditation is distinct from mere reading — especially so-called "speed reading." It means not just running the words quickly through your mind, aiming only to grasp a minimum of meaning, but pausing enough to ponder their significance, and trying to feel their emotional weight by pressing them into the heart. Meditation seeks to experience the truth of the text — not just pass information through the mind, but truly grasp it with our affections.

Jack Davis is right in waving the flag for "a more reflective and leisurely engagement with Scripture" in our day (Meditation and Communion with God: Contemplating Scripture in an Age of Distraction, by John Jefferson Davis. 10.00 kindle Footnote on the book which I got 04 16 2016

 

 

As culture has become at once more secular and more religiously pluralistic, a renaissance of interest in the spiritual disciplines has been sparked in evangelical Protestant circles. Mounting levels of stress, burnout and spiritual dryness among those in ministry has only stoked this desire for spiritual nourishment and renewal. John Jefferson Davis helps us recover the practice of meditation on Scripture as he explores the biblical and theological foundations rooted in the arrival of "the age to come" in Jesus Christ. Indeed by virtue of our union with Christ, the Triune God of the Bible draws near to his people so that they may also draw near to him. Meditation on God's revelation has always been central to enjoying communion with the Father through the Son and in the Spirit. Davis gives us fresh and practical guidance on removing the obstacles that block our fellowship with God and listening to Scripture in ways that can enrich our worship, faith, hope and love.

 

). Far too often, we are far too rushed when we come to our Bibles. According to Davis, the nature of modern life, and the "information overload" we have through television, smartphones, and endless new media "makes a slow, unhurried, and reflective reading of Scripture more vital than ever"

Gospel Maturity

1. The Gospel Is for Maturity

 Out of a good desire for growth and maturity, it’s tempting to focus our attention on our own lives. We assess our relationships. We evaluate our priorities. We may even zero in on our own heart issues like pride, lust, envy, or greed. And while it’s healthy to realize our own need for change, it’s possible to divert our eyes and hopes from what truly transforms.

Paul wanted the same thing we want in our own lives and churches—maturity. But to bring that about, he directed the gaze of his people toward Christ, not their own cares. He described his ministry like this: "[Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ" (Col. 1:28).

We know Paul desired to preach nothing but "Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2), but do we subtly assume this kind of preaching is really for the unconverted? Paul had a different understanding. He was convinced the same gospel that saves the lost also sanctifies the found. Maturity is the goal, and the proclamation of Christ is the means. He insisted that the spiritual sight of Christ brings growth, vitality, and transformation to the soul.

Paul proclaimed the glories of the King so that believers would grow. We should do no less

Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Expository Preaching - Dr. John MacArthur

Charles e Whisnant, Charity F. Whisnant

 

Yep its us

 

God Communication With Believers

There is no inteligent sentence, no sane explanation that really can completely explain this mysterious ways that our Saviour and Lord can communitate with the hearts of those who have become His by His salvation

These were some books that a preacher at the TG4 Conference bought.