November 4, 2018
Morning Service

In the first part of chapter 4, Peter reminded us that to choose to follow Christ is to choose to suffer for Him.  Jesus accepted the suffering He had to endure as part of His journey and so should we.  Peter encouraged us to have the same mind of Christ when it comes to our attitude towards suffering.  We are to readily accept it and rejoice in it as an opportunity to share in Christ’s suffering and to grow in our faith.  Suffering for Christ done with the proper attitude will always draw us closer to Him.  He takes the pain and turns it into joy.  Peter asks us to focus on some of the basic things that should always be in on our mind.

 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

·        One thing we can all agree about is that time is flying by.  We are talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas already and it feels like summer just started.  We as family seem to be busier than ever.  Our time has become a very precious commodity that seems very difficult to get a good grasp on.  Our plans for next week turn into next month and before we know it is next year!  Peter is calling us to a reality check to not get caught up in the here and now and lose our focus on the eternal.  If Peter tells us nearly 2000 years ago that “the end of all things is at hand,” how much closer is it now?  Paul told the Roman church this:

 

 Romans 13:11  This also, knowing the time, that it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

·        “Wake up!”  Don’t get so caught up in our busy lives that we fall asleep spiritually.  Peter encouraged us to be “serious and watchful in our prayers.”  Our time in prayer and Bible study are vital in keeping us in tune with our walk with the Lord.  It keeps our feet on the ground spiritually and keeps us from getting too carried away with things of this world and the busyness it offers.  It helps keep us with the proper focus on life.

·        How are you doing with that?  Is your prayer and Bible study a priority in your daily routine or do you just try to work it in as you go?  Would you describe it as “serious and watchful?”  Are you “awake” when it comes to the Lord’s return?  Peter now pushes our focus to another important thing that should always be on our mind.

 

 1 Peter 4:8-9 And above all things have fervent love to for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.  (9)  Be hospitable to one another, without grumbling;

·        Love never fails.  Love and our decision to follow Jesus cannot be separated.  We love others because our God first loved us.  Peter uses the adjective “fervent” to describe the love we are to have for each other.  Fervent is defined as hot or boiling and also it means to be earnest, excited, animated, unceasing and intense.  Does that describe how you love others?  It should because that type of love is how our Father loves us and it is that kind of love that “covers a multitude of sins.”  We love because we are loved.  Peter also puts in the attitude clause as well.  It is not “what” we do but “why and how” we do it.  We are to “hospitable” which means generous, compassionate, and kind to those who have nothing to give back to us.  And we are to do this without grumbling, complaining or hypocrisy but with a loving servant’s heart.  It becomes not what we do but who we are.  He now continues that thought of serving others.

 

1 Peter 4:10-11 each one as he received a gift, ministering it to yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  (11)  If anyone speaks, let it be as the words of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.

·        Peter here explains to us that we all have been given a gift that we can use in a twofold way.  We can use it to love and exhort our brothers and also in using it we can glorify God.  Here he mentions speaking (preaching/teaching) and ministering (serving) but there are many God given gifts that are listed in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 which are both called the “Gift chapters.”  Let’s look at what Paul lists in his letter to the Roman church.

Romans 12:4-8  For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function,  (5)  so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.  (6)  Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; (7) or ministry, in the ministry; or he who teaches, in the teaching;  (8)  or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who gives with liberality; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.

·        God has given each of us gifts and abilities and it is our job to identify that gift and then to use it for the good of our church and to the glory of God.  Just as we are to be good stewards of our money, we should be good stewards of using our gifts wisely as well.  A steward is the person in charge of managing the affairs of a household.  He makes sure money is spent wisely and everything is planned and scheduled to be sure life runs smoothly.  Peter calls us to identify our gift and then manage it well making sure we are using it to its fullest potential; being a good steward with it.   God has given us our gifts and desires us to use them to serve others thus bringing glory back to Him.  There is nothing more rewarding or brings you more contentment than using the gifts God has given you for the purpose He gave them to you to do.

·        What happens when we are not good stewards of our gifts?  Who suffers?  It is both your opportunity to imitate Jesus and glorify His name through your actions and it is your church as well.  Each of us is given different gifts and when each of us use that gift within the church we are better.  When we do not utilize our gift, the church suffers; we are not as good as we could be.  God’s will is always done, but sometimes it becomes burdensome on a few to do more rather than many to do little.

·        I often challenge you to set your goal to live a life that is perfect in God’s eyes.  It is a goal we can never attain but shoot high miss high; shoot low miss low.  Perfection within the church should also be our goal.  Perfection can only be attained when each of us collectively utilize our gifts to make our fellowship the best we can be.  Is that attainable?  Probably not, but don’t be the weak link; use your gift to make us all better and more effective in our goal to glorify our loving Savior and win souls for heaven.

·          As we all use our abilities partnered with the right attitude following the guidance of the scriptures we as the church will become a light in this community.  Will we be perfect?  No, but we can be excellent.  We can be growing and as Paul puts it “reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”  With that we have made the full circle and return to our first reminder from Peter today; “the end of all things is at hand.”

 

The challenge for us is to not get caught up in the busyness of life but always be looking for opportunities to be good stewards of our gifts and use them to minister to others and bring glory to God our Father.  Keep your focus on the task that is at hand; let your prayers be serious and watchful and loving others fervently.

 

Heavenly Father please grant us opportunities to shine brightly for You and to love our brothers.