November 5, 2023
Morning Service

In the last two messages, Peter has made it clear to us that suffering is a part of our journey in following Jesus.  That suffering will come in many forms including being hated and persecuted by the world (attacked from the outside).  Just as this evil world did not accept Jesus, we too will find ourselves rejected, made fun of, and singled out as being different.  The disciples rejoiced to be found worthy to suffer in the Name of Jesus as I hope we do as well.  Our suffering also will at times come from inside of us as we battle our flesh to put our wants and desires second to what Jesus is calling us to (attacked from the inside).  To deny ourselves and “take up your cross and follow after Me” (Matt. 10:38) can be very difficult at times and rightfully defined as suffering.  Today Peter continues the idea of having the “mind of Christ” towards suffering.  Jesus knew suffering was coming but accepted it as a vital part of the journey to bring Him to the place He needed to go.  The same is true for us.  Suffering/trials/persecutions all cause us to grow in our faith maturing us to be the people God has called us to be.  Peter gives us what we need to focus on during our times of suffering.

1Pe 4:7-9 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers.  (8)  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS."  (9)  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

            Notice how Peter gets our attention after even over 2000 years have passed; “the end of all things is at hand.”  Wow, that is certainly on our mind today with Israel being under attack and our eyes fixed upon all that is happening there.  Peter commands us two things here to be focused on.  “Be serious and watchful in your prayers” and “have fervent love for one another.”  First, we are to stay focused on our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Don’t let fear or anxiety about all that is happening around us to draw us away from God, but instead let it should push us to be “serious and watchful in our prayers.”  Do you find that to be true in your life?  In times of trouble/suffering/anxiety I find comfort in talking with my Father more than in anything else.  My relationship with Him is the anchor that holds my feet on the ground through all of the storms of this life.  Are you taking your prayer life serious?  Are you being watchful of the things of God transpiring around you especially in the times of struggle?  Struggle should draw us to Him; “I must tell Jesus; I must tell Jesus I cannot bear my burdens alone.”  Utilize prayer as an aspirin for your soul being both serious and watchful in them.

            Secondly, in times of trouble Peter tells us to get our eyes off of ourselves and love those around us; love fervently!  He tells us that “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (Proverbs 10:12) Love never fails (I Cor. 13:8).  As Jesus followers we can’t be separated from love; love for our Savior and love for our brothers/sisters; choose love every time.  Loving those around us covers a multitude of our shortcomings.  It is not easy to love others when things are not going well in your life, but we are commanded to do so.  During a time of struggle/suffering don’t push those around you away, embrace them and love on them.  We are to get our eyes off or ourselves and be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  Peter seems to stick that in at the end, but it really jumped out at me; do this all without grumbling!  Many of us don’t mind to suffer and struggle as long as we are able to tell someone about how difficult we have it; am I right (ouch)?  Woe is me!  Look at my suffering!  If it weren’t for bad luck I’s have no luck at all, doom despair and agony on me! This is not God’s plan for our suffering.  As we struggle we are commanded to continue to love those around us and Peter now dives deeper into how we do that.

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

            Each of us has been gifted by God to be a part in the Body of Christ (church).  Since it is God given, we must be good stewards of that gift and find our place to use that gift to both build up the church and glorify God.  Peter here mentions only two gifts, speaking and ministering, that can be used for that purpose.  The two “gift chapters” in the Bible are Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 (read them both this week) and it is there Paul goes deeper in listing the spiritual gifts.  Romans lists ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and showing mercy as gifts that can be used within the church to make it stronger.  In Corinthians Paul has a more diverse listing.  He mentions wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in different tongues, and interpretation of those tongues.  Before this list Paul emphasizes the point that not everyone has the same gifts but the purpose of the gifts is the same.

 

1Co 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  (5)  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  (6)  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  (7)  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

            Each of us is given different gifts/abilities, but they are given to us for the same purpose; “for the profit of all.”  This is the basis for our cry within the church that we are “Better Together.”  Where I am weak, you may be strong.  Where I excel you may struggle.  When each of us use our gifting, and do it well, the entire church prospers and we are all the better for it.  The church is called “the body of Christ” for a reason.  If God is going to do something in this world, it will be through His church (His body).  We all play a part in that just as the different members of our body make us better as each does its part.  Paul explained this well also in Corinthians 12 how we are one in body, but each play an individual role to play in the whole.

 

1Co 12:12-18 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  (13)  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  (14)  For in fact the body is not one member but many.  (15)  If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?  (16)  And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?  (17)  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?  (18)  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

            This is another thing in this world that we all understand, we have one body but different parts, that God now uses to open our understanding to a deeper spiritual truth.  The church is one, but it is made up of many members working together. Is one gift any greater than the other?  Not really, but some gifts are more visible than others but that does not make them any more valuable.  The key point for each of us to grasp is that we need to be doing our part within the body and doing it well.  Sometimes it may seem difficult for you to identify what your gift is and then to find a place to put it into action.  Ask yourself what you are good at, what do you really feel good in doing?  What are you compassionate about?  If the answer comes quickly, then it is very likely you can identify your gift.  Do you love to organize things and you are good at it?  Seek out where the church may need some organization and offer your help.  Are you a good cook and love to do it?  Volunteer for the ministries we have that you can do that and the list could go on all day long.  It is very easy to see that if each of us seek to put our spiritual gifts into action the impact would be enormous!  Each of us working side by side making our church stronger and bringing glory to God through it.  There is no place for jealousy or envy as it is God who gives you your gift and expects you to be a good steward of what He has given you using it for the profit of all and to glorify God.

            Peter is encouraging us that during our times struggle/suffering keep your eyes on Jesus and continue to love those around you.  Don’t isolate yourself pulling away from the two areas that can aid you in overcoming the struggle.  Love God and love your brothers especially in the tough times.  Do your part to use your gifts/abilities for the profit of all and feel free to ask for the help of others who are gifted where you are weak.  It is how God has designed our church to function.

 

Heavenly Father draw us closer to You in the times of struggle and thank You for giving us each other to minister to one another as we walk together this journey to one day see You.