TOGETHER (3)

IN MINISTRY

1 Peter 4:7–11 KJV 1900

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

OVERVIEW

Not every Christian works in full-time church ministry, but every Christian is called to full-time Christianity. And this includes ministering to one another. God wants us to serve one another in love and show hospitality by opening our hearts and homes to others. He has also endowed us with spiritual gifts that He wants us to use in ministering to one another.

GOALS

At the conclusion of this lesson, group members should:

Recognize that every Christian is called to be a minister. 

Determine to show Christian love through hospitality. 

Seek to discern and use their spiritual gifts in ministering to one another.

Introduction

God has a specific calling for every Christian. Although our vocations may differ, we are all called to minister to one another as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes people think that it is only the pastor who is to serve the church, but the Bible tells us that every member of the church is a minister.

God has called all of us to be involved in ministry.

We are all called as ministers of Jesus Christ and have received mercy to minister for Him.

2 Corinthians 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

The world is not going to edify or encourage Christians in their service; we are the ones who are to live out our calling to minister to each other.

Verse 7 of our text establishes the context of our passage. Peter writes that "the end of all things is at hand." He has in mind the return of Jesus Christ and reminds his readers to live in the light of His coming.

One of the incentives for godly living is to live in constant expectancy of Christ's imminent return.

The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ has promised to return and that prior to His return, there will be troublesome times.

Indeed, in the book of 1 Peter, we learn that the early church was experiencing many difficulties.

First Peter was probably written between 63-64 ad. During that time, a huge fire burned in Rome for a week, destroying almost three-quarters of the city. Emperor Nero made the Christians the scapegoat for this fire and began intense persecution of the church.

First century historian Tacitus wrote of this particular period for the Christians:

Therefore, first those were seized who admitted their faith, and then, using the information they provided, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much for the crime of burning the city, but for hatred of the human race. And perishing they were additionally made into sports: they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps.

1 Peter referenced the persecution that the church was facing at least fifteen times in his short letter, most significantly when he talked about the "fiery trial"

1 Peter 4:12 KJV 1900

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

they would face, referring to the official persecution from the Roman Empire.

It was in the midst of such trials that Peter reminded the church to minister to one another. If there would be any encouragement for these first-century believers, it would have to come from the church. Although our circumstances are differ-ent, the reality is the same. God designed the local church to be a center of spiritual encouragement to one another.

So how do we minister to one another? This passage gives us three ways:

1. Minister in Love

Ministry starts with who we are, not with what we do. As Christians, we are called to minister to one another in love. It is to come from within and make a difference without.

Passionate

We ought to minister in a love that is fervent.

Verse 8 says, "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

The word fervent means "stretched out, earnest, intent, or constant." A church that is fulfilling its purpose is one that is characterized by an intense loving spirit for the Lord and for one another.

Our natural tendency is to become self-centered.

We easily make even our church attendance revolve around what we get out of it. But God calls His people to be reaching out in love to encourage one another. Arrogance is big-headed, but love is big-hearted.

Sometimes we come to church looking for what we can get out of it. What are ways we can look for opportunity to show love to others at church?

the word fervent:

"The word pictures an athlete straining to reach the goal.

It speaks of eagerness and intensity.

Christian love is something we have to work at just the way an athlete works on his skills. It is not a matter of emotional feeling, though that is included, but of dedicated will."

The love in which we minister is spread across a family of believers. Notice the phrase "among yourselves" in verse 8. It is easy for us to think about love and to talk about love, but we as Christians should actively show love to each other in all that we do.

No one comes to church to hear the criticisms and complaints of the world—we can hear those anywhere else! But people do come to be loved.

Passionate

POSSITIVE

The love that we minister in is not only passion-ate, but also positive. Verse 8 tells us "for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

The word cover means "to hide, or to hinder the knowledge of a thing." This is not to say that if someone you love does something wrong, you ignore it or refuse to correct it. It does mean that when you love someone, you don't broadcast his or her shortcomings just for the sake of it.

It means that you don't make a big issue out of every meaningless frustration that arises. And it means that you cover over sin that has been repented of by forgiving and restoring. True love does deal with sin, but once it is dealt with and forgiveness is given, the sin is covered. Resentment is careful to keep books, but love keeps no books.

Psalm 103:12 KJV 1900

12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Aren't you thankful that God does not keep tabs on our sin? As far as the east is from the west, He has removed our sins and no longer holds a record of it. And He tells us that when we love each other with a Christlike love, that love will cover a multitude of sin. Can we love God and others enough to let certain things go, or do we need to win every fight?

When our sin has been dealt with before the Lord, Christ's love covers it, and we can go on doing the work of the Lord. Love covers, and it heals.

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

True love ministers to one another in a way nothing else can.

Minister in Love 

Minister with Hospitality

Besides ministering in love, we should also minister with hospitality. Hospitality is a form of natural love.

A great church ought to be one that is given to hospitality. All of us—not just A TEACHER — should have a spirit of hospitality one to another.

The Tool of Hospitality

In verse 9, the Bible says to "use hospitality," which means to be "loving to guests or strangers."

Hospitality is like a tool. It works to open hearts for both fellowship (with one another) as well as to the gospel (with unbelievers).

In New Testament times, hospitality was important because there were few inns and poor Christians could not afford to stay in them. Persecuted saints in particular needed a place to stay where they could be assisted and encouraged.

Often, when Christians would come through a town, they would find lodging with another Christian. That was just the way it was. People were ready to bear one another's burdens.

As archaeologists have excavated homes in the ancient city of Ephesus, they have found a particular carving with ichthys chiseled into stone. The early Christians would put this stone at the front of their doorstep. It was a combination of the Greek letters IXOYE, which was an acrostic standing for the Greek rendering of "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour."

The Christians in Ephesus used it to announce to others in that pagan city, "We believe that Jesus Christ is God, and He is our Saviour." It was a silent expression to every guest who came into their home, as well as to the children who lived in the home, that this was a place where people followed Christ.

Hospitality is so significant that Paul gives it as a requirement for pastors in both Timothy and Titus.

1 Timothy 3:2

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Titus 1:8

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

But hospitality is not limited to only those with a full-time ministry job. Every Christian should care for others through loving hospitality.

Romans 12:13

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Discussion

What are some of the best ways to show hospitality to others? What are some tips you have discovered to make showing hospitality more doable?

Most of us have, at some point in our lives, been refreshed and touched by the warm hospitality shown to us when we visited someone's home.

We should also learn to willingly open our hearts and homes to our neighbors, friends, and one another in the body of Christ. Hospitality is a powerful tool to demonstrate Christ's love and acceptance to others.

The Tool of Hospitality

The Test of Hospitality

Being hospitable is important, but so is the manner in which we do it.

Verse 9 tells us, "Use hospitality one to another without grudging." The word grudging means "murmuring; a secret debate or displeasure."

God wants more from us than just doing kind things; our actions must come from the heart.

A Christian who shows hospitality but does so grudgingly is not truly loving others.

God calls us to minister to one another in love and with hospitality. And He has given each of us unique spiritual gifts with which to demonstrate both.

Minister in Love 

Minister with Hospitality

Minister with Wisdom

God has given each of us different spiritual gifts that He wants us to use to minister to one an-other. We are more effective in ministering when we use our individual gifts to serve each other.

Spiritual gifts are a significant component of the way that we serve each other. In fact, the New Testament lists the spiritual gifts in at least three different passages—Romans 12 (we looked at this list in our first study), 1 Corinthians 12, and here in 1 Peter 4.

So how do we use our gifts? First, we need to understand what our gifts are.

Discern Your Gifts

Verse 10 says, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

The word gift translates from the Greek word charisma, which means "a gift of divine grace (charis), or an enablement by the Holy Spirit."

God has enabled us with an edifying gift at the moment of our salvation that we can use to minister to others.

Every gift and talent God provides is solely because of His grace. Spiritual gifts are not for us to draw attention to ourselves but for us to serve others. To minister is "to serve; be a servant or attendant; to wait upon, or to supply one's needs."

1 Corinthians 12:7

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1 Corinthians 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Warren Wiersbe said, "Each Christian must know what his spiritual gifts are and what ministry (or ministries) he is to have in the local church.

It is not wrong for a Christian to recognize gifts in his own life and in the lives of others. What is wrong is the tendency to have a false evaluation of ourselves."

The Bible teaches that every believer has received a spiritual gifting from God—no one is forgotten or excluded.

Romans 12 provides a list of the different gifts which God uses in the church today. (As we noted in our first study, there are some spiritual gifts which were temporary sign gifts no longer given today as a spiritual gift. We are looking specifically at the permanent edifying gifts.)

Notice again this list:

• Prophecy (discernment)

Service 

Teaching 

Encouragement 

Giving 

Ruling (administration) 

Mercy

Those who are blessed with the gift of service will enjoy finding ways to serve God in the local church. It could be cleaning the worship center, helping a class, or serving as an usher. Others who are gifted in giving would willingly give beyond their tithes and offerings. Mercy givers would be inclined to visit someone who is lonely and express God's love to them. Those with the gift of teaching are able to articulate biblical truth in an organized fashion and put an application to it.

While we differ in our gifts, that is never an excuse for us to ignore our responsibilities from God. You may not have the gift of giving but that does not exempt you from giving to missions. God has wired different people to gravitate toward different ways to serve the church.

All the gifts God has given us are gifts of grace that He expects us to steward wisely for the ministry. Verse 10 tells us to"minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." The word steward means "the manager of another's household or goods." Manifold means "various or diverse." Gifts are not ours to choose whether we want to use them or not. Rather, they are God's grace given to us and we are to steward them responsibly.

Discern Your Gifts

Display Your Gifts

The next step after we have discerned our gifts is to put them to use.

Gifts such as mercy and teaching require speak-ing.

Verse 11 instructs us how we are to speak:

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." The phrase "as the oracles of God" means that our speech should be as if it was the very word of God or directly from God. When we speak, we are to be ministering God's truth to people.

To someone recuperating in the hospital, we can remind them that God hears their prayer for healing, and He will answer.

God’s grace is sufficient

To someone that is lonely, we can encourage them to cast their every care upon God.

Needing wisdom - let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally.

When we use a speaking gift, we need to be mindful that we speak God's truth according to His Word, not our own ideas. We have the responsibility to represent God in this world, and to do so effectively, we must live in His power, not our own. As verse 11 states, we minister "as of the ability which God giveth."

2 Corinthians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

In our service to God, it is normal that we grow weary at times. Even the Lord Himself was weary after ministering to the multitude. As Jesus and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee, He laid His head on a pillow and fell asleep at the back of the ship (Mark 4:38). Here was our Lord Jesus Christ who was fully God and fully man, and He was weary.

Discussion

What have you found helps bring spiritual renewal when you grow exhausted through service to others?

We too will feel weary in the ministry, which is why we need to rely on God's strength, not our own. When God calls us to minister, He also supplies us the "ability" or the "force, power, or might" to serve Him.

The key to ministering in the power of God is to abide in Christ daily and draw on His strength.

When we do things in our own strength, we will find ourselves feeling depleted.

John 15:4-5

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

As we minister with our spiritual gifts, we need to realize that we are doing it for God's glory and for His people. If we miss that, we go off track of God's intention for our gifting.

Curtis Hutson said, "The measure of a man's greatness is not how many people serve him, but how many he serves."

Our Christian liberty is given to us so that we might be able to serve others.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Is there someone today that God could use you to touch personally? Perhaps we are too busy with our own affairs, rushing in and out of church that we miss the opportunity to minister to someone whom God brings across our path to minister to.

As we seek to minister to others, we begin to experience true joy because we are doing what God intended us to do.

Booker I. Washington said, "I think I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."

Conclusion

Christ has called us to minister to one another, and the wonderful thing is that He has also provided the perfect example of how to minister— Himself.

Mark 10:45 KJV 1900

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

If God humbled Himself and came to Earth to serve men and ultimately shed His blood for them, it behooves us to follow His example and minister in love to one another. Instead of waiting on others to serve us, let us take the initiative to minister to the needs of others.

The early Christians were exhorted to encourage one another in the midst of intense persecution.

Today, we might not face the same fiery trial as they did, but we still live in a broken world where everybody needs encouragement, and the church is the place where people ought to find it.

We're reminded today to minister with a love that persists, restores, and heals. We should also use hospitality to serve one another as well as discern and use our gifts in the ministry for the glory of God.

Perhaps today you realize you've been serving yourself all the while just like the world does.

Perhaps you've not paused to consider the needs of those around you. It is not too late to put aside your selfish interests and attend to the needs of others. As you live your life for others, you will experience lasting joy and satisfaction comes with obeying God’s call to minister one to another.