1/10/16 – Love Covers It All | New Journey Baptist Church Sermon Podcast

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1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Context: Live as if Jesus is on His way back right now.

I. SELF CONTROL AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (7)
A. Do only what Jesus would approve of when He returns & we will not hurt our fellowship with Him now.
B. Our relationship with God cannot change because it is based on Jesus.
C. Our fellowship with God can be disrupted because of our sin.

II. SINCERE LOVE (8)
A. If we are not going to do anything else we should love one another sincerely.
B. If we love another earnestly we will look for reasons to get along rather than to fight.
C. Love is not blind. Love is a blindfold.
D. Jesus does not cling to who we were or what we have done. He looks for reasons to love us. (Romans 8:1)

III. SERVICE WITH A SMILE (9-10)
A. Treat all as if they were guests in your home you were glad to host.
B. Give to others as if whatever you have is just on loan from God. (2 Corinthians 8:8-14)
C. God has hosted & been generous to us out of His love. We do the same with others to picture that truth for the world.

IV. FROM GOD FOR GOD (11)
A. The gifts of God include spiritual gifts and these are given by God to be used by us to glorify God.
B. All glory belongs to Jesus because He is the One who has dominion over all things.

NEXT STEPS:
1. Wait actively for Jesus rather than passively.
2. Be stewards of grace rather than hoarders of hope.
3. Cover sin with love rather than bring it back up constantly