HOW TO LIVE IN THE LAST DAYS
Peter 4:7-11
INTRODUCTION: In the tough times in which we live one of the greatest truths of God’s Word that brings
peace to so many Christians is that our Lord Jesus Christ may return at any moment: 1 Peter 4:7. Today
we will be talking about how to live in the last days. Peter wasn’t wrong when he wrote those words even
though that was 2,000 years ago. We are living in the last days: Acts 2:17; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews
1:1-2. From the Day of Pentecost when the church was born to this very day, we have been living in the
last days. That is what the apostle Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:5 and James our Lord Jesus half-
brother wrote about: James 5:8. Even John the beloved apostle wrote: 1 John 2:18. Every believer today
should be living as if our Lord’s coming is at hand because it is! When did Jesus say He would be
coming again? Matthew 24:42-44. If Jesus is coming suddenly what should the lifestyle be in these last
days?
I. WE SHOULD BE LEARNING OF JESUS COMING!
We must be students of the Bible’s teaching on the coming of our Lord: 1 Peter 4:7. We need to get a
serious mind! We need to learn about Jesus’ Second Coming! We need to learn that science is not the
answer to mankind’s problems; our Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to mankind’s dilemmas. Many believe
when they receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior their troubles will be over. That is not the case at
all in fact often the new Christian finds more troubles trying to live as a twice born person in a once born
world. Our suffering for Jesus Christ will all make sense when He returns for us: Romans 8:18. Nothing in
this crazy life makes sense unless we live in the light of Christ’s soon coming.
II. WE OUGHT TO BE LOOING FOR HIS COMING!
We ought to be looking and longing for our Lord Jesus coming. 1 Peter 4:7 KJV. We are to be looking
for and longing for our Lord’s coming at any moment. Jesus coming again has been immanent since the
time of Peter right up to this very day. We ought to be longing for our Lord’s return and praying for it! 2
Peter 3:11-13. Yes, our prayers do make a difference. Matthew 6:9-10. When our Lord, the Prince of
Peace returns there will be peace in both Jerusalem and in the entire world for 1,000 years. Psalm 122:6.
III. WE OUGHT TO BE LONGING FOR JESUS COMING!
Do you know what the last prayer in the Bible is? It was prayed by the apostle John on the Isle of
Patmos: Revelation 22:20. Are you praying that prayer? We all ought to be! We should be learning of our
Lord’s return. We should be looking for Jesus return to the earth. We should be longing for Jesus’ return
to this earth.
IV. WE SHOULD BE LOVING AT HIS COMING!
When our Lord Jesus returns to this earth, He should find us with hearts full of love for Him and for all
mankind! 1 Peter 4:8. The word used for “love” in this verse is God’s love: “AGAPE” love. Our Lord Jesus
spoke of the last days: Matthew 24:9-14. Oh, what a sad commentary. Because iniquity will increase, the
love of most will grow cold! Why should we grow in the love of God and mankind as things go from bad
to worse on this earth? Because love is the greatest virtue that we can have! 1 Corinthians 13:13. The
greatest virtue that you can have is the love of God in your heart! Matthew 22:36-40. Not only is the love
of God the first commandment but it is also the greatest commandment! Our love for one another
announces to our world that we are the disciples of Jesus Christ! John 13:34-35. The love of Christ
compels us to die to ourselves so we can live for Christ! How does the Word of God tell us that we can
know we are saved? 1 John 3:14-15. Love costs. This is the kind of love we are to have in these last
days: In 1 Peter 4:8. Peter actually brings forward a teaching from the Old Testament: Proverbs 10:12.
Peter here is contrasting hatred and love. Hatred takes joy in exposing the weakness in others. Love
does not rejoice in iniquity. Love tries to cover over other’s sins. Now Peter tells us that love offers
hospitality that costs as well: 1 Peter 4:9. Peter is saying that real love is very practical. It is a love that
costs and a love that covers and a love that shares!
V. WE ARE TO BE LABORING UNTIL JESUS COMES!
We are commanded to be laboring for our Lord until He comes! 1 Peter 4:10-11. We are to be good
stewards for our Lord’s glory and mankind’s good. A steward is one who manages the materials and
affairs of another. In other words, God has entrusted us with His spiritual gifts, and we are to use those
gifts to glorify our Lord and to bless others for Christ’s glory! We are to be busy bringing others into God’s
kingdom! As we see the day of the coming of the Lord drawing near we out to be engaged in the work of
the Lord! All the gifts God has given to His church are divided into two main categories. He divides them
into the speaking gifts and the serving gifts. Peter says in the last days there is going to be a famine for
the Word of God! We are called to use the speaking gifts given to us for God’s glory and mankind’s good!
How our world needs a word from God from His stewards! But Peter also speaks of serving gifts! The
serving gifts: leading, planning, working, lifting, giving all of these gifts are serving gifts. If we use our
speaking gifts and serving gifts for God’s glory, we will receive a reward. 1 Peter 4:11. All our gifts,
whether speaking or serving gifts are to the end that “God in all things may be praised through Jesus
Christ!” That is the bottom line and the purpose for each of us.