2. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... ; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

3. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things The decisive battle has been won, we have superior weapons, the front advances, ultimate victory is assured... 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... ; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

4. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things The decisive battle has been won, we have superior weapons, the front advances, ultimate victory is assured...... yet the fiercest fighting is still ahead of us! 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... ; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

5. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things The decisive battle has been won, we have superior weapons, the front advances, ultimate victory is assured...... yet the fiercest fighting is still ahead of us! WHAT LIFESTYLE PRIORITIES SHOULD WE CULTIVATE IN LIGHT OF THIS? 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... ; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

6. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

7. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

8. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

9. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things Jesus promised that persistent prayer is the key to receiving the Spirit’s power for ministry (Lk. 11:5-13)... 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

10. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things Jesus promised that persistent prayer is the key to receiving the Spirit’s power for ministry (Lk. 11:5-13)... 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 9 So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened...

11. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things Jesus promised that persistent prayer is the key to receiving the Spirit’s power for ministry (Lk. 11:5-13)... 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 11... Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?...

12. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things Jesus promised that persistent prayer is the key to receiving the Spirit’s power for ministry (Lk. 11:5-13)... 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

13. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things Jesus promised that persistent prayer is the key to receiving the Spirit’s power for ministry (Lk. 11:5-13)...... & the early church proved his promise (see Acts 1,2,4,6,10,12,13)!! 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

14. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. “Men on earth were to have a partnership in the work of God. Prayer fitted and prepared them for this work. To praying men, the Holy Spirit gave authority to do His work and use His name. It was through prayer that the Holy Spirit was given. Prayer is still the only secret of true Church extension, prayer that is guided from heaven to find and send forth God-called and God-empowered men.” (Andrew Murray, The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer, p. 27)

15. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. “Christ meant prayer to be the great power by which His Church should do its work, & neglect in prayer is the great reason why the Church lacks greater power over the masses in Christian & in heathen countries... The power of the Church to bless rests on intercession— asking & receiving heavenly gifts to carry to men. When... we trust in our own diligence & effort to influence the world... the presence & power of God are not seen in our work as we would wish.” (Andrew Murray, The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer, p.12,13)

16. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Would those who know me well say that I believe Luke’s thesis?” 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

17. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Would those who know me well say that I believe Luke’s thesis?” “Am I making progress in my intercessory prayer life?” 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

18. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Would those who know me well say that I believe Luke’s thesis?” “Am I making progress in my intercessory prayer life?” PRAYER-LESS > PRAY-ING > PRAYER-FUL 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

19. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Would those who know me well say that I believe Luke’s thesis?” “Am I making progress in my intercessory prayer life?” “Is helping my people develop in intercessory prayer one of my core leadership goals?” 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

20. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Romans 8:26 The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

21. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another...

22. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things As the world-system becomes more potent & insidious in its selfishness... 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another...

23. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things As the world-system becomes more potent & insidious in its selfishness...... we must become much more intentional about real loving community! 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another...

24. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Does our home group have a community ‘center-of-gravity’ that attracts others into orbit – or are we merely a collection of ‘wandering stars?’” 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another...

25. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Am I relating to my people like a good shepherd – or like a hireling?” 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another...

26. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things “Am I relating to my people like a good shepherd – or like a hireling?” “Is my time-investment enough to be energized & feel joy – or is it inadequate & so fellowship feels like a burdensome obligation?” 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another...

27. 1 Peter 4:7,8 Living Near the End of All Things 1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is near... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another... 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more.